The way a brand tells its story through images can make a significant impact. Not all visuals are created equal, and it’s up to PR and communication teams to take charge of the visual narrative. Our recent webinar featured insights from agency and corporate PR executives on how to create compelling visual stories that resonate with both reporters and consumers.
Key Takeaways from the Webinar
The session covered several vital aspects of visual storytelling in PR, including:
The Role of Visuals in Corporate Storytelling: Visuals are more than just supporting elements; they are central to conveying a brand’s message. Our experts emphasized that images, infographics, and videos help simplify complex stories, evoke emotions, and make a lasting impression on the audience.
Why PR Should Own the Visual Storytelling Process: PR teams are uniquely positioned to shape the brand narrative. The panel discussed the importance of PR professionals taking ownership of visual storytelling, ensuring that images align with the brand's voice and values and meet the needs of both the media and the target audience.
Crafting Authentic Visual Stories: Authenticity is crucial in visual storytelling. The webinar explored how to identify and create visuals that are both newsworthy and appealing to consumers. This involves understanding the types of images reporters seek and the stories that consumers find relatable.
Creating Multimedia: Visual storytelling goes beyond static images. Our panelists shared strategies for leveraging multimedia, including video content, infographics, and social media visuals, to tell a brand story effectively in a digital age.
Why Visual Storytelling Matters
Effective visual storytelling can significantly enhance brand perception and create stronger connections with the audience. By owning the visual narrative, PR professionals can shape how a brand is perceived and ensure it stands out in a crowded media landscape.
Missed the Webinar?
If you missed this insightful session, don’t worry! This recap highlights the key strategies shared by our expert panel. Keep an eye out for future webinars and resources to help you master the art of visual storytelling in PR.
Meet the Panelists
Jane Maynard is the Digital Marketing Manager for Velodyne Lidar, Inc., where she integrates public relations with digital marketing efforts. Her responsibilities include managing website content, SEO strategy, social media implementation, internal and external communications, and brand management.
Before joining Velodyne, Jane spent over 15 years as a freelance graphic designer, writer, and photographer, serving clients from small businesses to large brands. She launched the popular food blog This Week for Dinner in 2007, which she continues to run. Her blogging experience includes co-founding a business connecting brands with influencers, editing for online publications, writing for sites like Disney's Babble and Cosmopolitan.com, producing a podcast, and developing recipes professionally. She started her career in corporate communications at Cricket Communications.
Samara Finn Holland, Senior Vice President of Influencer Marketing at Kaplow Communications, is an integrated communications professional with over a decade of experience working with influencers. Samara develops integrated engagement strategies for clients looking to drive action and behavior change through compelling content and digital storytelling. Her expertise spans across all consumer categories including beauty, lifestyle, food, health, and wellness.
Starla has nearly 20 years’ experience developing, managing and producing creative projects. At Edelman she leads the Seattle and Portland area Creative and Content Production Teams, which work across integrated accounts in technology, retail, consumer branding and social good. She first cut her production teeth in the early days of reality television and then moved into commercial production and eventually grew to run full agency creative teams. She has built and established integrated creative production practices from large firms such as Wunderman Thompson to small boutiques agencies working with brands like Volkswagen, Samsung, Levi’s, Microsoft, Savers, AT&T, PEMCO and others. A devoted mom, Starla is raising a blossoming artist, her daughter Sav, and the next generation’s great computer prodigy, her son Zander.
