Nothing engages an audience quite as much as video and images do. So, when it comes to great visual storytelling examples, is it any surprise they’re showing up in the form of brands using AMP stories, Instagram, and Snapchat?
Since Snapchat launched its video-forward social media stories back in 2011, every major social brand has been trying to cash in. Shortly after, Instagram revealed its version of visual storytelling in the form of Instagram Stories. This medium finally made it easy for brands to connect with a broader audience than Snapchat allowed.
Now, AMP stories seem to be the next frontier in video branding. These visual stories allow brands to engage with customers through videos, texts, and images. With full control over the creation of their content, it’s a marketing tool some of the biggest brands and publishers can’t ignore.
It’s hard to jump on board when you’re not sure how other brands are using a tool. So, what are some of the best visual storytelling examples out there? Read on to learn more.
Leo Martinez
When it comes to sharing how AMP stories work, what better way is there to explain than with AMP’s use case.
That’s what Leo Martinez did on his site when he used AMP stories to explain how the AMP product works. Between brilliant images and texts, the explanation is easy to watch and understand.
Martinez breaks down the AMP experience in just a few simple slides. Rather than entirely relying on an article or blog post, this visual storytelling example is ideal for helping viewers understand this new concept fully.
The World Cup
Reporting on developments in sports has never been this much fun. One great example is how The Telegraph used AMP stories for it’s World Cup coverage.
In this visual storytelling example, users swipe through photos and read captions to learn about each of the featured players. Not only are they learning about them, but they’re participating in an interactive experience.
Right now, users are consistently interacting with the content in front of them. Whether it’s on Instagram, Snapchat, or Twitter, there’s always a comment to leave, photo to like, or story to swipe.
This example of AMP stories showcases how we can use the medium to educate and engage at the same time.
The Notre Dame Fire
When a devastating fire raged on the roof of the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, The Washington Post took to visual storytelling.
Through a vivid and heartbreaking series of photographs, videos, and text, viewers were pulled into a minute by minute breakdown of the experience.
The Washington Post took breaking news and found a new way to share it with their audience. Rather than reading through a series of post updates, they compiled everything into an easy visual experience.
It’s a clear example of how AMP stories have the potential to change how we consume new media in the future.
People Magazine Features
AMP stories don’t only work for traditional news media. It’s also taking off in celebrity entertainment.
One of the earliest visual storytelling examples comes from People Magazine. They tapped into the excitement that surrounded the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
This beautiful visual experience highlights the history of the couple, including family meetings and photos of the royal estate. At the height of a frenzy surrounding the Royal Wedding news cycle, People found a compelling way to report on the story.
The AMP story remains one of the most popular examples of use so far. It shows how exceptional content will help you stand out from the competition.
Full Video Experience
Part of the beauty of AMP is that you can effortlessly use mixed media to tell your story on mobile or desktop. That being said, publications that do really well with AMP incorporate more video than anything else.
Wired is an excellent example of how well video works in visual storytelling. In a piece that focuses on the draw of made-for-Instagram museums, they use short clips from various videos to highlight different aspects of museum activities.
Each slide features a short video and quick blurb that explains the draw of every unique activity. As you swipe through, you’re transported to the museum experience in a way that traditional media articles and blogs don’t allow for.
Go on an Adventure
The travel industry is one of the biggest adopters of AMP stories, and for a good reason.
Visual storytelling allows users to see a destination from every angle. Through video, images, and captions, travelers gain more insight into where they’re going in just a few swipes.
CNN recently featured a travel piece on the hidden treasures of Emerald Isle. In ten slides, users get a glimpse of Emerald Isle as well as some tidbits about visiting these unique places.
It’s not only a learning experience about a new location, but it’s also a chance to experience it visually.
For those Instagram aficionados that love to seek travel inspiration in a visual format, AMP stories are going to be the next place they search for new destinations.
Travel Content Marketing
Outside of traditional publications, some brands are turning to AMP stories to sell their offerings.
Hainan Travel is a great visual storytelling example in the advertising space. In a push to get travelers to a small Chinese beach town, they use a bright, summer-infused story that features the best of the area.
Like most of the other examples, it includes both still images and video alongside concise text that highlights the best of the destination. Be transported to the golf course or dive deep into the ocean with a snorkeler, all from one piece of content.
A Guide to Cognac
Sometimes a little brand education can be fun for viewers. One recent example was Remy Martin’s advertising campaign using AMP stories.
The brand didn’t just highlight their cognac and leave it at that. They built a visual and educational experience meant to entice first-time cognac drinkers.
Their crisp branding includes what foods go best with cognac and a secret recipe for the perfect old fashion. Through each one of the slides, they link back to longer articles consumers can click through to read on their own time.
Whether you’re using AMP stories as a way to advertise for your brand or educate your users, it’s evident that it’s a powerful marketing tool. AMP powers more than two billion pages on mobile devices across 900k different domains. For a relatively new tool that’s still growing in reach, it’s pretty spectacular.
Furthermore, with users spending most of their time inside apps on mobile, these types of visual stories find them where they already are. They make it easy for them to swipe from one story to the next, and encourage engagement throughout the experience.
Each of these examples show a unique way that brands can use storytelling to connect with customers. Taking what was once just a stationary image or a page of text, and turning it into an interactive visual experience has genuinely elevated the way we tell stories.
If you’re considering new tools to use over the next few months, think about adding a unique type of visual storytelling to the mix. You’ll be surprised by how far it can take your brand.
