THE STORYBOARD METHOD, A GOOD TOOL FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP

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Film historians do not agree on whether it was Howard Hughes' "Hell's Angels" (1930) or Walt Disney's "Three Little Pigs" (1933) when the Story Board method was first used to describe film shots and sequences prior to production. What does seem to be confirmed is that it was "Gone with the Wind" that was the first film to be storyboarded in its entirety prior to filming. 

It was born as a planning and co-ordination tool for filming of a film and consisted of illustrating the shots to be taken on cards that were placed in order on a blackboard to which all those responsible for the production had access. If any changes were necessary, they were made directly on the card without the need to repeat the entire script.

Advertising was quick to adopt this tool as a form of presentation, which agencies used to explain an advertising spot. Once the storyboard was approved by the client, it was passed on to the production company for analysis and budgeting for filming, editing, etc.

The storyboard is ultimately a tool that allows to explain through sequences a certain circumstance, an argument or a process. It can be used in different formats, but the most common is the comic book format.

AN EXCELLENT TOOL FOR THE ENTREPRENEUR

The question at this stage is:

HOW CAN AN ENTREPRENEUR TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS METHOD?

Obviously, we are talking about a tool for communicationwhich can making it much easier to explain various strategic aspects of the project to different stakeholders, internal partners or external actors. We can illustrate the problems or needs faced by the customer; explain how the product or service solves the problem. Purchase, usage or consumption behaviour can be explained with a Stryboard.

It can also be used to explain how the money comes into the company. The processes The internal processes or interactions with suppliers, customers or users can be explained more clearly. The Storyboard method can be a way to "prototype" a product or service in order to test and validate it in the market. The storyboard is, therefore, a tool that can be used to versatile and infinitely useful. The images are great allies to tell stories or understand situations. Only a few are needed a dose of creativity that lead to extracting as much as possible from the storyboard method. 

HOW TO MAKE A STORYBOARD?

Before recommending some of the excellent tools available on the Internet to create a storyboard, it is good to think about the procedure to follow in order to achieve a satisfactory result.

1. Define your objectives. When you are going to use a storyboard you are doing it to get something out of someone. Clearly identify what you want to achieve from your presentation.
2. Establish from beginning to end the story you want to tell. A simple argument can be described in a few words, but if your message is longer or more complex you should write a script, which is nothing more than a description of the images and text you are going to use. This is called narrative sequence that will help you to Establish how many frames you need to elaborate your message.
3. Define the format that best suits your objectives, your audience, or the medium you are going to use. There are several ways of arranging the bullets, from top to bottom, from left to right or in the form of a comic book.
4. It uses cinematic language. For example, do you want to start by posing a problem? image from a magazine in which it becomes clear that statistically the problem or need that exists. This accompanied of the appropriate textss will help you to introduce the topic in a very effective and eye-catching way that connects with your audience. The programmes discussed below offer a variety of ways to record text - in balloons, as in comics, if you want to present a conversation, with clouds if you want to illustrate thoughts, or with superimposed posters, and so on. 

WHAT TOOLS DO I HAVE?

As we said before, there are several programmes to make a storyboard. One of them is Shotbox, which allows you to make storyboards collaboratively with members of your work team. Storyboard Generator stands out for its ease of use. Canva also offers you the option of making your own storyboard with a multitude of resources. But perhaps the programme presented by the more appropriate balance on possibilities and ease of use, is StoryboardThat.

It will provide you with the basics of the free version of Storyboardthat - Tutorial (see +)

Advantages of the STORYBOARD for entrepreneurs

The storyboard is a very useful tool for entrepreneurs because it allows them to visualise and plan the story of their project in a clear and organised way.

SOME OF THE MAIN ADVANTAGES OF USING STORYBOARDING IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP ARE:

1. Organisation: It allows the ideas and events of the story to be arranged in a logical and coherent sequence, which helps entrepreneurs to identify and solve potential problems before they arise.
2. Visualisation: The storyboard allows the story to be seen visually, which helps entrepreneurs to better understand what their project will look like in reality.
3. Saving time and resources: By planning the story in advance, you can avoid wasting time and resources on last-minute changes and adjustments.
4. CommunicationThe storyboard is a useful tool for sharing the vision of the project with the team and investors, which helps align everyone in the same direction and facilitates decision-making.
5. Creativity: Storyboarding is a tool that fosters creativity and innovation by allowing entrepreneurs to explore different scenarios and options for their project.

Practical examples of storyboarding start-ups

HERE ARE SOME PRACTICAL EXAMPLES OF STORYBOARDING START-UPS:

1. A technology company developing a project management application: in storyboarding, the different scenarios that a user might face when using the application are presented, from creating a project to assigning tasks and tracking progress. In this way, the workflow can be visualised and possible problems or improvements can be detected.
2. A sustainable fashion company that wants to launch a new clothing line: in storyboarding, present the garment designs and show how they integrate with the lifestyle of potential customers. You can include images and descriptions of the sustainable materials used and how the garments are produced. In addition, you can show how the garments are packaged and shipped to minimise the environmental impact.
3. A consulting services company that helps other companies improve their online presence: In storyboarding, different scenarios can be presented, such as the launch of a new website or the creation of a digital marketing campaign. It can show the different steps that need to be taken to achieve the objectives, such as market research, content creation and social media promotion.
4. A health food company wants to launch a new product: in storyboarding, you can present the different ingredients and how they are combined to create the final product. You can also show how the product is produced in a sustainable way and how it is packaged and distributed to minimise the environmental impact. In addition, you can present different usage scenarios of the product and how it is integrated into a healthy diet.

These are just a few examples of how storyboarding can be used in start-ups. The key is to visualise different scenarios and present them in a clear and concise way so that investors and customers can easily understand the company's value proposition.

Success stories of companies using storyboarding

HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF COMPANIES THAT HAVE USED STORYBOARDING AS A TOOL FOR THEIR SUCCESS:

1. Pixar: The animation company used storyboarding as an integral part of its creative process for films such as "Toy Story" and "Finding Nemo". The storyboard served as a guide for the film's visual narrative and helped the animators visualise the story before they began work on the animation.
2. Apple: Steve Jobs was a great advocate of storyboarding as a communication tool. He used storyboards to plan Apple's product launches, such as the iPod and iPhone, to make sure everyone on the team was on the same page.
3. Airbnb: The founders of Airbnb created a storyboard to visualise their idea of renting out air mattresses in their flat to help pay the rent. The storyboard helped them develop their concept and explain it to others.
4. Tesla: Elon Musk used storyboarding as a tool to develop his ideas for the Model S and other Tesla electric vehicles. Storyboarding helped Musk and his team visualise the design and functionality of the vehicle before production began.

In short, storyboarding can be a valuable tool for any company, as it helps to visualise the narrative and key concepts before starting to produce or launch a product or service.