Visual Communication

Guidelines for Great Visual Communication

Visual Communication

Effective online video marketing requires great online videos that would communicate your message in the best way possible. Most corporate communicators have been trained to convey their messages in words but recent marketing statistics show that online videos are the most effective way to capture the interest of internet users. And most consumers now are internet users.

Who are the visual communicators that you know? They sometimes speak in a rapid tempo and you may feel dizzy trying to keep up with them. Their clothing and accessories are usually color coordinated. Visual communicators’ workplaces are often organized, attractive and decorated with photos and pictures. They have an uncanny ability to see things other people miss and can read emotions from your facial expressions. In business environments, they need to see visual media or observe a situation to understand what you are trying to communicate or to validate your accomplishments. If you prefer listening or hands-on communication, you may be experiencing problems communicating with the visual communicators in your life.

Yes, videos are very effective but considering that billions of videos are uploaded online each month, the competition for the viewers’ attention is very stiff. The standards of a great video two years ago will no longer hold true today owing to the big improvements in quality of production and content. Following are some Visual Communication tactics to produce videos that will have a good chance of capturing the attention of your target audience.

  1. Acquire the Proper Training

Attend seminars or courses on video production including how to use cameras and other equipment as well as shooting techniques.

  1. Learn to Improve on Existing Content

There are very few original ideas that have not been tackled these days. Learn to creatively tweak existing content so that they look fresh and new. For example, look at TV ads especially the popular ads of your competitors and see why they capture the attention of viewers and make your own unique version.

  1. Pay Attention to Small Details

Small details could ruin an otherwise great video, so pay attention to them. They can become distractions in your video. For example, a plant in the background could look like something growing out of the subject. Props and graphics should provide support to the subject instead distracting attention from it.

  1. Use Good Lighting Techniques

Use natural lighting if possible. Light from a camera’s flash usually creates what looks like a white dot on a person’s forehead as well as a distracting glare if a person wears eye glasses. Avoid backlighting directly at the back of the subject. Position the backlight light at a 45 degree angle from the subject.

  1. Guide People to Appear Natural

Don’t just tell your model or talent to be natural. Motivate them as well as help them to be comfortable. If they are relaxed, they will most likely appear and sound natural.

Capture your subject’s real personality and represent it on the video naturally. You can have a good idea about a person’s personality through conversations. Then take a shot of what you believe is representative of his or her personality. Don’t Photoshop your subject until they are unrecognizable.

Don’t let your subject wear sunglasses unless he or she is outdoors. If he or she will be talking to the viewer, there should be eye contact.

Don’t include awkward poses in your video. Show your subject’s movements even in interviews. A video without movements is not interesting.

  1. Aim for Clear Images and Good Music

Use appropriate equipment to achieve clear videos. Then use good music to complement the images shown in the video.

  1. Make the Videos Short and Personal

If you can convey a complete message in 90 seconds, the better. Three minutes is already too long for an advertisement. Let a person tell a story. It will be more compelling than a lot of jargon.

There are more video creation tips depending on your video marketing strategies.

8. Select the Environment

Visual communicators like attractive, clean and organized environments. At home, go to an area that is neat and uncluttered, with a minimum of visual distractions. Communicating outdoors in a garden or park is often desirable. Even a coffee shop or quiet restaurant is conducive to communication. Writing on a paper napkin or small sketch pad will help facilitate communication. In the work environment, you may choose a lobby area, conference room or company library. Using visual media like a flip chart, white board or sketch pad will shorten the communication time. Visual communicators also like to use colored pens, pencils and markers. They will likely appreciate your thoughtfulness in making these materials available. Be sure to use them as well when exchanging information

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