From Concept To Creation: How Your Storyboard Affects Your Message

A storyboard is one of the vastly simple remote support tools that helps you relay complex concepts throughout your marketing campaigns. It can help you stay on time and within budget. Today, WebToq offers up a bit of insight into how to create a storyboard and why these simple expressions are crucial to your marketing campaign.

Storyboard Defined

Storyboards are used in all types of production, including comic books, plays, and more. Specific to marketing, your storyboard is a simple visual representation of the ideas in your head. It is one of the early steps in video content creation. MasterClass explains that storyboards can be either hand-drawn or created using software.

Storyboards Save Money

A storyboard is a great way to keep yourself on track. Remember, your short film/commercial/marketing video does not have to be a major blockbuster to bust at the bank, but a quick look at a few that did can show you some of the pitfalls you might encounter during video creation. Your storyboard can help you plan, get feedback, and make better decisions throughout production.

Other Ways To Save

It’s worth noting that his storyboard is not the only way to save on your marketing message. Before you begin production, make sure that you know the best platforms to reach your customers. Even if you wind up spending more initially, a greater ROI can offset these expenses. You can also keep costs low on video production by using stock footage. You can usually find a subscription-based video provider that offers royalty-free footage in HD quality without having to plan, produce, and overpay for the types of footage you need, down to your video background.

Writing The Script

Your storyboard/production has to have a script. The words behind the message are what will drive the concepts. Lead finder Voila Norbert explains that your message should target your audience and their pain problems and showcase how you can fix them. Your script doesn’t have to be super detailed, but it should get straight to the point and segue into showcasing the best of your product or service.

Determining Your Objectives

Another important part of the storyboard process is thinking ahead to your desired outcome. Remember, not every marketing message is intended to create a sale then and there. There are many different marketing models. AIDA is one example. This is where you create awareness, then interest, then desire, and then action. Your first video may be simply to spread awareness and create desire. In doing so, you may be able to capture more followers on your social media presence before creating a call to action. Keep your immediate and long-term objectives in mind, and don’t try to pack too much information into a single promotional reel.

Where To Release Your Materials

Once your storyboard is done, and your message is ready to go, where do you post? Virtually any social media platform will work, but make sure that you are not over-saturating your newsfeed. The number of times you post your content depends on the number of followers you have. On Facebook, for example, one post per day when you have fewer than 10,000 followers is ideal.

While you may not think much about the storyboard process now, it’s a crucial part of your overall marketing endeavors. Your storyboard not only helps you stay organized and craft a better message, but it’s easily editable at this point so that you’re not wasting time changing things once production begins. When your goal is to save money on marketing, your storyboard can help, especially if you use stock footage, remote support tools and take the time to know your desired outcome before you get started.

WebToq unifies messages making marketing, sales, and communications easier for your company.

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Best Branding Practices Every Small Business Should Implement

Your business brand is a collective concept with many forms, including visual, reputational, and emotional. How you present your company will directly affect your success, which is why it is crucial that you focus on creating a cohesive, well-planned brand. Here are a few branding best practices that can help your company identify itself.

Identify Your Target Market

One of the most important efforts in market research is identifying your target market. First, you want to know your customer base and competition. Start by looking at specific characteristics of the demographic you want to reach. For example, determine the age, income, gender, and geographic area of the customer. Then look at the industry as a whole and the structure and finances of the business in the industry. What are consumers buying, and what are they missing? Then you can find your niche and your target audience from there.

Hire a Graphic Designer

Some elements of your brand you can do on your own. For example, you can figure out your mission statement and how to relay what you stand for as a company. However, there are specific elements better left to professionals. A graphic designer is a great place to start. You need someone who can help you create a professional visual brand that stands out and isn’t dated. When working with them on design ideas, be sure to keep information organized using a free PDF editor tool to combine images. You’ll be able to send files back and forth with the designer and make notes, highlight important concepts, and add text to imagery when you want to, without worrying that elements will be lost in lengthy emails.

Communicate Sustainability Efforts

Sustainability is not only important for the environment, but it is also important for brands as well. Consumers expect companies to do their part to communicate and practice sustainability. This means making a statement visible on your website discussing the importance of using sustainable practices and how your company intends to do it. For example, you can discuss your intent to use recycled packaging. Maybe your company pledges to use local resources only. Transparency is key to this part of your brand. Don’t be afraid to share behind the scenes of the production. Because consumers are becoming more conscious of company morality, you can make a name for yourself just by showing how you run your company. 

Focus on Social Media

Social media is a vital element of marketing. It’s one of the best ways to get your brand out to the public and reach your target audience. It is also the best place to establish your visual brand. With the help of your graphic designer, you can create an online look using your logo, brand colors, and tagline. Given the importance of social media, you may want to hire a social media marketing expert. Research shows that the most effective way to reach your market is to post with clear intentions.

Be Accessible

Want to make a name for yourself quickly? Start with the customer service. Be accessible to customers. That means making sure you answer all inquiries quickly and be honest about mishaps.

Branding has plenty of room for innovation. Follow these proven best practices, but don’t be afraid to explore ideas. As long as you make a positive impact, your brand will stay strong.

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