A Good Video Starts with a Good Storyboard

You wouldn’t build a house without a blueprint, would you? Creating a corporate video without first creating a storyboard is the same thing, according to a commonsense storyboard tutorial recently published on ReelSEO.com.

A storyboard is a graphic illustration displayed in sequence used for the purpose of pre-visualizing a video. Essentially, it’s the process of drafting out, frame by frame, how you intend to communicate your message before you start filming.

Many people underestimate the importance of storyboarding and try to dive right into creating a video. However, storyboarding is the most vital step to the production process—even the pros do it—and it will save your company time, money and frustration down the road.

Getting Started
You don’t have to have an art degree or expensive computer programs to build a storyboard. Stick figures or clip art work just fine, since this process is about transitioning the great ideas from your head onto paper, then eventually into a great corporate video.

Sketch your video frame by frame, and be as detailed as possible with the technical requirements. Just like writing a story, you should include the Who, What, When, Where and Why in your storyboard:

Who are the characters in each scene?
What is the message and how is it being delivered?
When does the scene take place?
Where does the story take place? What is the background?
Why is this scene important? Cut back on superfluous scenes that don’t add to the story.

Share your vision with the video crew and key players involved in the production before filming. The more specific you are during this planning process, the easier it will be to transform your storyboard into a video. Lastly, stay flexible! Revisions and cuts are part of the storyboarding process. With thorough planning and a clear vision, the end result will be a more concise and focused corporate video.