Every single one of us is a storyteller. No matter which industry you work in — whether it’s beauty, education, wellness, fashion — we all use our storytelling skills to capture an audience and draw them in. So why digital storytelling?
And … what separates a mediocre storyteller from a great one?
On social media, it’s the difference between someone scrolling past your post versus someone staying to watch, re-watch, like, and even share your content. Likely, if you have a social media presence, more likes and views is what you’re looking for, which is why it’s so important to understand storytelling and specifically how to do it online.
Here are my 5 tips for mastering digital storytelling.
1. Know You Have a Story to Tell
First things first when it comes to storytelling is knowing what kind of story to tell and the way in which to tell it.
Especially in the beginning, you might find yourself questioning how much you really have to say and if you even have anything that’s worthy enough of people listening to. However, the answer is YES, you do have ideas worth listening to. Sometimes you just have to make the first move and put yourself out there, and you’ll be surprised at how many people resonate with your message.
2. Don’t be Afraid to Get Personal
Depending on your brand, there is such a thing as too personal, but that doesn’t mean you should shy away from speaking about things that you’ve experienced firsthand. Your unique perspective and experiences can help you bring a story to life, and can make viewers feel seen and related to on many levels.
3. Consider Video
More and more, the world is turning to video content (especially with Instagram’s new announcement that they will be prioritizing video posts over static images). So, it’s important you consider the value of video. Yes, it takes more time to create, but you can tell a much more impactful story through video compared to using a static image and written caption.
When creating a video, there are many more things to consider — voiceovers, soundtracks, transitions, visual cues, and overall video quality. Let me break some of these down:
Voiceovers
If your story involves a Voiceover, make sure you have a quality microphone that can properly record your audio. Secondly, make sure to speak slowly and clearly. There’s nothing worse than a poorly recorded voiceover!
Soundtracks
You should always select some type of background music, because it helps boost the cohesiveness and overall production value of your video. Furthermore, the type of music you select has a huge impact on the mood and perception of your story. Do you want the message to be upbeat and happy, or moody and emotional? Carefully select soundtracks that match your story.
Video Quality
There is nothing worse than a poor quality video! It will be extremely difficult to get people to like, share, and engage with your video if it’s blurry or hard to read. Use a good quality camera to ensure you maximize resolution.
4. Employ Different Visual Cues
Long spoken narratives can be difficult to pay attention to over a long period of time. This is why it can help to switch things up by using a variety of visual clues. If you break the content up using other supporting videos or images, it will help illustrate your story even more and keep the viewer engaged.
5. Don’t be Afraid to Try
One of the biggest learning lessons in storytelling and digital storytelling especially, is figuring out what sticks and what doesn’t. Not everything will go viral and that’s okay!
By trying out lots of different stories as well as ways of telling them, you can really test what works with your audience and what isn’t so engaging.
Overall, it’s important to put yourself out there. If you want to make an impact online, mastering digital storytelling is essential!
Resources
Join The Storytellers Café – My free training community to help you create an impact through your story
Enrol in The 5-Day Content Experience – Learn how to repurpose your content like a pro…in 5 minutes a day!
Email: catherine@catherinenikkel.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profitablestories/
Need help telling your story in your own voice? Let’s make it happen. Schedule a consultation with me here
