One idea, 3 posts
So I sent out a short video to my email list last week explaining my struggles with visualising the final stage of the framework — ironically titled The Shift from Text to Visuals.
I finally created a visual post. It took more time but I am really happy with the end result. It is something I was reminded of from Rand Fishkin of Moz:
“…if I were starting fresh, I’d spend far more time per piece of content (often in the ideation and validation phases) and less time pumping out content against some pre-conceived schedule.”
In this instance I actually started to write down my thoughts and this became the starting point for the final visualised post.
As I always say it is not about visuals being better than text, it is all about using the right tool at the right moment to access the thinking needed to solve a problem or communicate an idea.
The simple fact is that as businesses need to create and innovate to stay relevant the typical left-hand of the brain logical thinking that business is built on may simply not be fit for purpose.
Micro experiment
As such I actually ended up writing 3 different posts, with three different strucutres.
While it was the constraint of not being able to activate the visual side of the mind that prompted me it proved a great opportunity to run a little micro experiment applying some of the thinking I have been discussing lately.
Whereas the other two would have typically sat in my drafts folder unread I decided not only to share my work but also share my thinking for those who are interested. This is one example where we can directly compare a visual post to other forms and begin to assess.
I believe that the message and story that is communicated is different (if only slightly) across all three.
You can read each version here:
It raise some questions that I am interested in exploring further:
- What is the best tool for increasing engagement
- What is the best tool for improving understanding and comprehension
- What can be said in one form that is harder in the other
Clarity of thinking
While I started out with the writing out the post, I believe that the ideas really came together in a ‘compelling narrative’ when drawn and based on the initial feedback it is much more engaging.
Ok, now that I wrap this up I am realising that this actually counts as the 4th post related to the one idea but who’s counting….
