I’m a big believer in visual storytelling.
This can be a tough one for PR professionals who come from the world of words. Yet, between assignments overlapping into owned media and the increasing use of mobile devices to access content, visual storytelling takes on greater importance.
With this in mind, my blog — which doubles as a laboratory — conducted several experiments in visual storytelling.
Some worked.
Others didn’t.
Thankfully, nothing exploded.
I strove to create original artwork — riffing on an existing image still counts as original artwork by our definition — for roughly 50 percent of the posts.
Below, I’ve captured 16 of these visuals.
.
All in with Business Storytelling
.
Metaphors can create a frame for fresh artwork. In this case, the poker phrase in the headline “all in” carried to the photo, where I added a storytelling bent. Plus, how can you go wrong with depicting Amarillo Slim and Elliot Gould in the same shot?
.
Industry Pundits on Google Using Its Corporate Blog for the “China Bombshell”
.
This is one of my favorite images from the year. A box of Frosted Flakes carries the message while the post revisits Google’s decision to dial down its operation in China.
.
Should HR Be Telling Stories?
.
When Alexander Mann asked me to talk on the connection between storytelling and HR, I put the concept of a timeline to use. Different forms of timelines can tease out visual stories in an interesting way.
.
A PR Perspective on the Demise of Gigaom and a Few Words on Tech Media
.
There’s beauty in simplicity. In writing about the demise of the high profile media property Gigaom, I “borrowed” the infamous Elvis phrase. I refer to this technique as a “word visual” — the use of words to construct artwork. It’s a natural for PR folks.
.
Man Bites Dog; Makes Plea for Your Input on the Name “Ishmael’s Corner”
.
Illustration is underutilized in business communications. In depicting the unexpected phrase “man bites dog,” we again prove anything is possible when it comes to illustrations. Taking the visual a step further, we experimented with motion using an animated GIF.
.
Return of Ishmael’s Greatest Hits
.
I always wanted to do an album cover. The problem is my voice makes my eight-year old grandson sound like Frank Sinatra. But recasting blog posts as songs and channeling Bruce Springsteen, we created this gritty album cover.
.
Seven Issues That Can Crush Today’s Business Writing
.
Keeping with the musical theme, this time using Mary Poppins, we bastardized one of the lyrics to fit our purpose. I should contact Julie Andrews to see if she might be open to reprising the song with our twist.
.
Never Eat Ramen Alone, Speak Like a Human and the Future of Digital Advertising
Viewing any type of “surface” as a potential frame for visual storytelling is a natural way to insert words into the image. I bet you didn’t know that the Surgeon General has determined that “corporate speak” is dangerous to your health.
.
Shaping a Blog Design for Thought Leadership
.
I also consider this a “word visual.” The creation of the flow chart didn’t call for design expertise. Instead, the words carry the storytelling.
.
Google Job Description: Doodle This
.
.
Poking fun at a Google recruitment ad, we again turned to an illustration packaged as an animated GIF with motion. I suspect Google’s HR did not add “mettle,” “clever” and “curious” to desired characteristics for job candidates.
.
Why Organic Search Should Be Called Earned Search
.
The same qualities found in memes can be replicated in the creation of artwork for blogs and other social channels. The iconic photo of John Belushi in Animal House adjusted so he shouts about SEO delivers one of my favorite storytelling techniques: incongruence.
.
