We’ve all been there earlier than.
You’ve received an ideal thought. This lead gen video goes to be the following Dropbox success story.
You discuss to your video staff. You write the script. Everybody is happy. You shoot the video. World-domination, an IPO, and/or promotion are mere frames away. You launch the video. That add click on has by no means felt so good.
…
Then the crickets begin. And if you watch the video you notice… “that is nothing like what I had in thoughts!!”
What provides?
Shoulda made a storyboard.
Some individuals suppose a storyboard has received to be a Pixar-level murals in and of itself. Or that you just’ve received to have the ability to draw or be artistic to make storyboard. That couldn’t be farther from the reality.
Right here’s a easy course of we use to make storyboards so there’s much less of an opportunity of botching manufacturing.
It’s Acquired To Begin As An Define
Storyboards (sadly) aren’t magic. For those who don’t know what you’re going to say, there’s no saving it.
There are a couple of widespread outlines you should use to get began. Listed here are two each video marketer ought to have of their software belt:
1. Hero’s Journey
Right here’s a hyperlink to a free Google Doc template that spells this out.
Tales from Star Wars to Dropbox’s legendary explainer have harnessed this framework to make high-growth movies.
It goes like this:
- Meet the Hero, Bob.
- Bob has received an issue.
- He tried this, that, and the opposite factor they usually didn’t work.
- Then he discovered the answer which works like this __________.
- Bob received this candy, positively emotional pay-off + name to motion.
2. Downside, Agitate, Remedy
Take a look at this hyperlink for the Google Doc template
Tacky infomercials have made BILLIONS with this framework.
The concept is when there’s a urgent drawback you don’t need to let up on the ache, however preserve urgent ahead so it’s clear how a lot they want your answer.
Right here’s a breakdown:
- Do you could have this drawback?
- Listed here are the issues making your drawback worse.
- This answer focuses explicitly in your huge drawback.
- Buyer testimonials or proof.
- Profit recap and name to motion.
Select Your Software program
My software program of alternative is Google Presentation. One as a result of it’s free, however two as a result of it’s acquainted and has nearly zero roadblocks to getting began.
For those who’ve received some paper, a mobile phone digicam/scanner and a Google account you’re able to go.
Right here’s a useful, free slide template you should use. Or should you love to do the pencil-to-paper methodology, listed here are a couple of printable phrase docs.
For those who’re trying to get a bit extra fancy you may check out StoryboardThat.
Spotlight Your Crucial Frames
Inside a two minute video chances are you’ll not have a ton of scenes, however there’ll all the time be a couple of essential frames.
Each advertising storyboard ought to have frames for:
- Opener
- Downside Assertion
- How the Resolution works ← Typically probably the most essential to storyboard.
- Name to motion ← This can be a shut second when it comes to storyboard want.
Body 1 – The Opener
The principle purpose within the first body is to create a way of thriller. For those who’re engaged on a lead gen video, that is doubly necessary since a customer is often buying and selling their contact data to scratch the itch of their curiosity.
Body 2 – Downside Assertion
That is the body that ought to get your viewer’s head nodding (or qualify out those who shouldn’t be watching anyway). In case you have any darkish or miserable frames, that is the place they’ll go.
Body 3 – How Your Resolution Works
My favourite body of all. That is the place your advertising chops come into play. You may shave main day off a proof with a well-thought-out answer body. Binge watch the reason part of some late night time infomercials to see this one carried out exceptionally properly.
Body 4 – Name-To-Motion (CTA)
With out this you would possibly as properly go dwelling. This isnitty-grittytty body, with a very powerful issue being readability. Is your URL simple to learn? Did viewers see the place to click on? Does your data keep on display lengthy sufficient?
One necessary word: some frames are necessary to script properly however don’t really want their very own storyboard. For instance, profit statements are essential to a script, however so long as your wording is true, your imagery might not be as important.
Doodle Your Frames
Almost each video I make begins as a doodle. Paradoxically, I can’t draw but it surely doesn’t take sophisticated pictures to get the thought throughout. My go-to pictures? Stick figures for individuals, and labeled rectangles for objects.
A few of the keys you’re going for are:
- Positioning. Present the artist or videographer how the scene must be setup.
- Timing. Get throughout how the audio goes to be timed in opposition to the visible.
- Transitions. How a lot data is an excessive amount of in your scenes? When do you have to minimize? Take note of how your scenes are flowing into one another or if it looks like they’re not altering for a protracted time period.
Do A Dry Run
The principle worth of storyboards is having the ability to run by means of your script and really feel how your video goes to go BEFORE you’ve spent the money and time on manufacturing.
So hearth up your script, pull out your key frames and do a dry run. That is the step the place the heaviest tweaking and revisions will are available in and by doing it on the storyboard stage you’ll be saving your self money and time.
John Lasseter, Pixar’s Chief Artistic Officer places it properly.
“I’ll by no means let one thing go into manufacturing except it’s working improbable in that model with the nonetheless drawings. As a result of irrespective of all the nice animation you are able to do won’t ever save a foul story. We’ll work and rework and rework and rework these reels — generally thirty instances earlier than we let it go into manufacturing.”
Go Forth And Storyboard!
Whereas it looks as if a bit extra work upfront, dropping in a storyboard step can save main time in manufacturing.
In case you have any suggestions of your individual, please share them under!
A Visible Storyboarding Template
Lance talks fairly a bit about utilizing visible aids in your storyboarding, and we couldn’t agree extra. So we determined to make our personal inner storyboarding template accessible for everybody.
The primary web page is a fast tutorial information on find out how to lay out your pictures, and what to make use of all these fancy little bins for:
Web page two is the necessary one although, as you may print as many copies of this clean storyboarding template as you could lay out your whole pictures!
This straightforward however highly effective software is extremely necessary, whether or not you might be filming your individual movies in-house, or working with an company in your creatives. Storyboarding every scene in your video permits you to ‘see’ the pictures earlier than you begin organising, and saves time and confusion if you’re able to movie. Even a easy, stick-figure storyboard goes a protracted approach to making higher video. Obtain the template and get began!
