Have you ever struggled to engage with an audience, to convey a message that’s a bit dry or boring? We’ve all been there; 30 million PowerPoint presentations are shown every day, and no doubt as many speeches are given. Considering how monotonous these can be, it’s no wonder that people aren’t always paying as much attention as we’d like.
The problem is that if somebody doesn’t want to learn about a subject, they often won’t. So how can you take someone that’s falling asleep at the back of the room and turn them into an attentive audience member? Stimulate them; make them want to engage with your message!
Stories are at the heart of human communication, and have been the best way of explaining something – and grabbing people’s attention in the process – for thousands of years. We’re not suggesting you get out your art kit and start painting on the walls though, there are far more effective methods for the modern day…
Video is one of the most powerful tools at our disposal, and the evidence of its popularity is seen through services such as YouTube; over six billion hours of videos are watched each month, just on that particular platform. It has taken over the Internet because it’s flexible and, most importantly, it’s entertaining. People like to enjoy things!
You don’t need to recreate a biblical epic of course; three minutes or less is the perfect length to keep things interesting. Any longer and a viewer’s attention span would give up on video sharing sites, and it’s a similar case with your audience – even if they are trapped in the room with you. In fact we’ve found that it’s always best to keep things simple.
By keeping the visuals straightforward they’re more likely to stick in the viewer’s mind, and the message is more likely to be communicated successfully. Less is often more! Combine that with a distinct and clear voice over – with a dash of humour added to lighten the mood – and you’re on to a winner. There’s still one more ingredient to add though, one which practically guarantees the audience’s attention…
What makes any story engaging? There needs to be a central character, whether that’s a caterpillar with dietary issues or an employee facing the problems of their entire computer system being changed. The audience needs to relate to the situation, to empathise with the protagonist.
Usually it’s best for this character to be in the same position as those watching the video, because this way the audience is now involved in the story; it’s a video about them, and they have a reason to pay attention. Not only that but they’re going to want to watch until the end – everyone wants to know how a story ends. A word of advice – make it a happy ending!
So there we have it, a recipe for the perfect video! No more bored-looking employees falling asleep at the back of the room, no more colleagues pretending to have read your newsletter! Well, if only it was that easy. Anyone can film their cat and put it on YouTube, but explaining the sort of topics you want to convey requires slightly more work. There’s a script to write, visuals to film, and not to mention the time and equipment that goes with it. It’s worth it though – it’s far more successful a medium than those tiresome PowerPoint presentations – but rather than fly it solo, you might find that investing in a little help from the experts is well worth your while.
About the contributor: simpleshow have been experts in explanation since 2008, having produced thousands of videos for clients such as Microsoft, Boots, M&S, eBay and Novartis – you name it, there’s been a simpleshow for it! Our distinct style of video is perfect for explaining any topic, be it a new product, service or internal topic such as change management.
Our classic style features simple black and white illustrations moved into position by two hands, whilst a voiceover reads out the narrative. It’s visually striking and memorable. By cutting out the clutter, we ensure that your audience is more engaged with your topic, and more likely to listen to anything you want to say.
There’s no secret to our success – it’s all lined out for you in the blog above! What we do have is the experience and know-how to get to the core of your message, to turn it from just another one of those 30 million PowerPoint presentations into something truly memorable.
Find out more at http://simpleshow.com/uk-en/