Visual Storytelling
First in a 5-part series on maturing social
media practice for synagogues
Hosted by Lisa Colton, President, Darim Online
and Chief Learning Officer, See3 Communications
Presented by Briana Kerensky, See3 Digital Project Manager
Tweeting today? @DarimOnline @ujafedny @LisaColton
@BrianaArden

Agenda
UJA Webinar - Visual Storytelling
Welcome, context, Briana intro and goals
Why is storytelling important?
Why is visual storytelling important on the Internet?
How can I incorporate visual storytelling in my social media?

Communication as Connection

Narrative as Identity

About Me
● Briana Kerensky
○ Digital Project Manager, See3 Communications
○ Digital Marketing Instructor, General Assembly DC
● Favorite digital marketing topics:
○ Marketing for nonprofits
○ Storytelling
○ Editorial calendars
● Avid knitter, baker, hiker, 30 Rock & Parks and Rec re-watcher
UJA Webinar - Visual Storytelling

Goals
● Learn the value of storytelling.
● Learn why visual storytelling is
important, particularly for
nonprofits and faith groups.
● Learn how you can incorporate
visual storytelling into your social
media.

Why is storytelling
important?

UJA Webinar - Visual Storytelling
http://media.web.britannica.com/

Show,
don’t tell.

Why is visual
storytelling
important?

Why is visual
storytelling
important?
● Keeps people interested.
● Breaks down complicated
subjects.
● Reinforces what you just read.
● Puts a human face on nonprofit
and faith-related issues.

Meet your enemies.

So long as the Internet
is full of cats, babies
and gifs, a wall of text
will never keep your
audience’s attention.

Facebook knows that people value photos over
text, and downgrades text-only posts.
Facebook also downgrades posts with photos
completely unrelated to the text.
facebook.com

iMedia Connection: Compelling
visuals can help social posts
generate over 90 percent more
views than generic content.
Photo credit: PostSectet

Instagram puts imagery at the
forefront, and quality is key.
Photo credit: Taylor Swift

Photo credit: Taylor Swift

HighQ: Online video now
accounts for 50 percent of mobile
traffic.
IKAR: Pause Before You Post video https://youtu.be/04SAZ8OpWHo

Visual storytelling breaks
down complicated topics.

Would you rather read a report or
look at pretty pictures?

Visual storytelling
makes data fun!
www.foodopoly.org

Are you better at remembering
names or faces?
Online, we are all better at
remembering faces. Faces
compel us to read longer stories
and stay with us when we move
onto the next article, Facebook
post or cat video.

Most
importantly...

Visual storytelling illustrates
the community and values
of your synagogue.
shalomrav.files.wordpress.com

When it comes to social programs, visuals prove that your
community is a place where people are active (and serves
as an invitation to be engaged).
http://cdn.cutestpaw.com/

How can you
incorporate visual
storytelling into
your work?

When you’re talking
about people...show
the people
http://www.imgmob.net/

Use photos that can
thrive on their own
and don’t need to
be explained.
http://jennhoney.tumblr.com/

Remember Facebook’s 80/20 Rule
http://bluestormdigital.ie/

Show,
don’t tell.

Wrap Up & Questions
UJA Webinar - Visual Storytelling

Great reading and social media
UJA Webinar - Visual Storytelling
● Central Synagogue’s Instagram Account:
○ https://www.instagram.com/centralsynagogue/
● G-dcast: Meaningful Jewish Screentime
○ http://www.g-dcast.com/
● 25 Video Marketing Statistics for 2015:
○ http://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/video-marketing-statistics
● 10 Rules for Visual Storytelling:
○ http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2011/10-rules-for-visual-storytelling/
● 7 Tips for Jumpstarting Your Visual Storytelling Strategy:
○ http://www.convinceandconvert.com/social-media-case-studies/seven-tips-for-jumpstarting-
your-visual-storytelling-strategy/
● Video: Pause Before You Post:
○ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04SAZ8OpWHo

THANK YOU!
Want to chat? Email me at bkerensky@see3.com
UJA Webinar - Visual Storytelling
Thank you to SYNERGY and UJA-Federation of
New York for their support of this webinar series.
● Paid Media: Feb 9, 1-2pm
● Communicating for Social: Feb 25, 1-2pm
● Representing Your Brand Online: Content
Strategy and Planning: March 8, 1-2pm
● Crowdfunding: March 29, 1-2pm
All times above are eastern. Once registered, you will
receive login information for all webinars.