How can you tell a great story virtually?

Infact more than what you want to achieve, you have ask - What do your audience want to achieve and are you in a position to help them. If the answer is YES , then you have the permission to tell a story .

Telling a great story virtually is done by shifting your thinking to the available framework. Albrecht Dürer was one of the first artists to understand the power of mass communication. I use a combination of images/video, narrative (beginning, middle, end) and involvement. One wants to make the story relevant to the readers, and engender the right mood. As someone who is telling stories about the environmental crisis, I want to inspire a sense of urgency without destroying hope.

We need to understand the first "W" that is "Why" to know the purpose first, always. Without addressing the "Why"... the story will not be relevant nor resonate with your audience. Ensuring the context of your story ties back to the "Why" is always key.

I think it is important to know the feeling we want to create among our target audience. People tend to remember how they felt after reading a good story or watching a memorable advertisement or a movie. Once we are clear about the feeling we wish to evoke, it is easier to start .

The intention behind the storytelling can direct the tonality of the story and also in many ways the grammar of it as well, which ultimately will result in a compelling story that stays with the audience!

Face to Face or rather in person is the best format of interactions when one needs to tell a story. Nonetheless with the advance of video conferencing, presentation deck, videos, sounds and music to complement it with never beat the genuine connection of one's passion regardless of the format we choose.

Purpose and audience type often determines the format that one chooses for our messaging! While a picture may say a thousand words, fortunately the written word still carries a lot of insight and analysis that audio-visual may not be able to capture in detail. As a seasoned communications practitioner it has taken me time to correctly assess what format works best for diverse kinds of content and my advice would be to be unafraid to experiment and be unconventional about our format choices!

One cool thing too…with the huge range of high-quality tools at our disposal, don’t discount yourself as someone who can learn to design basic stuff. I’m not a designer, far from it, but when I got familiar with tools like Canva, Loom, Unsplash, etc. I was able to start telling more rich, nuanced, multi-modal stories, which is especially important in the digital space where visuals rule supreme.

There is a reason why the world of cinema is as big as it is. It is a powerful carrier of universal messages. However, don't let that take away from other vessels, such as books, or podcasts.

No matter what format you use, it’s always greatly beneficial to accompany your creation with a short video trailer in order to give it a good chance of being noticed in an ocean of content.

Hooking your audience is the most crucial aspect of great storytelling, especially in the time of depleted and fractional attention. One must think of what will the wow factor be, which can easily become the most powerful takeaway a listener has from your storytelling. This of the wow factor first and slowly weave your story around it. Build up to the wow factor and then lead out from there. The wow factor could be a hidden character, a cliffhanger, a twist, a new scene or a hidden message that slowly reveals itself. Your wow factor should wow instantly and stay with the listener, even after the story is over.

For me, it always helps to tailor my story to the preferences and interests of the virtual audience. I spend some time considering the demographics, their interests and needs that help me craft a story that resonates with them.

Structuring stories can be fun however they need not follow a linear mode. They could start with the heroine saving the day and then progress on that journey on how she achieved it! The best stories to my mind are those that inspire, typically those are filled with characters who are humane and include humour, compassion and kindness in equal measure!

The part that I have seen missed most in a business story context is ‘setting the scene’. Drama is created when expectations are broken, so you need to make sure everyone is aware of the expectations. This can be as simple as referring to the business plan to point out where you all believe you are heading. When you get to the dramatic incitement (the issue that is going to stop your business achieving its targets) they will be ‘hooked’ in on your solution when you get to that part and eager to act/buy/embrace your idea.

There is a variety of ways to structure a story and there is no one set way to do it. You need to think of the meaning and point you want to convey and the structure that best help deliver that message. For example if you want to tell a story about a process you can start with the conclusion and then jump back to the start so people will be more focused on the journey. Or, if you want to tell multiple interconnected stories you can think of a nested loop structure.

Structure is important but it doesn't have to dictate the story. But a story most often has a beginning, middle, and an end. And most often we are drawn by a story where there are obstacles and there is growth. Authenticity always captivates.

Structure is what ties everything together. A beginning, middle, and ending is comprised of 6 essential plot points: 1. Hook 2. Conflict 3. Initiation 4. Journey 5. Resolution 6. Call to Action

I have used Pecha Kucha - a visual storytelling methodology, to engage my audience. I include images, videos, animations, slides, or even virtual backgrounds to help illustrate key points and maintain interest.

In the world of storytelling, the personal touch often captivates, but the allure of unforgettable tales resides in weaving fiction within mystical landscapes, where remarkable characters personify diverse archetypes. These fictional realms become mirrors reflecting our own emotions, aspirations, and challenges. Characters, like threads of a tapestry, interweave to form a rich narrative that lingers in our memories. From the Sage's wisdom to the Hero's journey, these characters embody universal traits that strike a chord with each of us. Through these captivating stories, we embark on journeys of self-discovery and find solace in the ethereal.

Start a podcast, or record a reel every day, just to practice your skills of storytelling. It doesn't have to be perfect, just start and know what you want to work on.

A note on delivering stories virtually. Don't look at your own image on the screen. Don't even look at the participants' videos. Look into your camera and speak directly to them! That little "eye" on your webcam represents all the eyes of the audience. This is the closest you get to virtual "eye contact".

I think the issue of "virtually" is distracting. When one writes a story, his/her audience will read it alone and at different times. So in terms of reception, do as you would with a written story. In terms of reaction is where the real difference is though with a written story you may receive ratings or thoughts.

Share personal anecdotes and relatable stories to establish a connection, use emotions, your eye expressions, and with great tools like holding the person's image or sharing the area which has greater link to the audience belongings, or Question that might have shared you before the sessions. Try to more connect with the audience. Allocate time for questions and discussion at appropriate points during the workshop. This encourages interaction and allows participants to seek clarifications or share their perspectives. Speak clearly and at a moderate pace. Ensure your audio and visual setup is of good quality to prevent any distractions or technical difficulties.

Add vulnerability to your storytelling.Vulnerability in storytelling doesn't mean or equate to crying. But, it does mean that you are "allowing yourself to be deeply seen," as Brene Brown said. Don't we all want to be seen, heard, and connected?

Periodic check-in helped engagement, and if time permits, adding audience input to the storytelling is great. I also memorized some details about the participants, which helped customize my interactions. It helps to elicit information before the session for this.