Self-Paced Tutorial Videos

The Bloomberg Connects team has developed a set of videos to help you level up your content creation. You can watch as many or as few of these videos as you need, and you can always revisit them.

There are a few ways to enjoy this content, so you can get the benefits even if you're short on time: watch the videos (each 5-10 minutes long), read the key takeaways for a high-level summary, or download the PDF transcripts to read the content alongside or instead of watching.

More videos will be added soon. Share any comments or feedback you have about this content with your Bloomberg Connects contact.

Series 1: Sparking Creativity

In this set of six videos, key insights and open-ended questions provide inspiration as you begin to build your guide.

Where to Start

Set yourself up for success by reviewing the basics of creating a digital guide.

Key Takeaways

1. Determine the outcome first: Figure out what you want your visitors to walk away with. Make sure that this message gets woven throughout your guide.
2. Think big, but start small: Think about everything you want to cover and all the stories you want to tell. Then break the project down into manageable chunks.
3. You are the experts: Your team has a wealth of information and expertise about your organization. Trust that knowledge!
4. Use diverse voices: Consider your whole community (including curators, conservators, educators, artists, performers, and docents). Everyone has a story to tell.

Sparking Creativity: Where to Start | Transcript & Takeaways (PDF)

Think Like Your Audience

Remember that knowing your audience is central to building a successful guide.

Key Takeaways

1. The app is an extension of your brand and communications channels: Consider how to continually add to your story and keep visitors coming back.
2. Put yourself in your visitors' shoes: Look at your organization from the perspective of someone who knows nothing about you.
3. Think through different visitor journeys: Remember that people will use your guide in different ways, from different places, and consider how to build a great experience for everyone.
4. Make it personal: Interview your staff, colleagues, and visitors to offer exclusive perspectives and personal insights.
5. Have fun and enjoy the process: Content that is interesting and enjoyable to create is a joy to hear.

Sparking Creativity: Think Like Your Audience | Transcript & Takeaways (PDF)

Scripting Sense

Learn about essential approaches to script writing and writing for the ear.

Key Takeaways

1. Start with a plan: Align your team on objects of interest, what you want your visitors to know, and how you want them to feel.
2. Consider how your stops work together: Make sure your audio stops work individually as well as build towards larger narrative.
3. Look closely: Spend time in your space and with the objects you're writing about, so you can effectively guide your visitors' eyes to things they might have otherwise missed.
4. Remember — you're writing for audio: People absorb information differently through audio. Writing for the ear is different than writing for the eye. Read your script out loud as you go.
5. Don't assume your visitors are experts: Approach your content with the idea that your audience doesn't know much about you or your collection, but wants to.

Sparking Creativity: Scripting Sense | Transcript & Takeaways (PDF)

Immersive Audio

Consider the many ways in which audio can be a key component to your guide.

Key Takeaways

1. Think about voice and tone: Consider using a broad selection of people from across your organization to bring your stories to life.
2. Consider sounds beyond the speaker: Recording the ambient soundscape can provide a sense of authority and help place a visitor in a time or space.
3. Passion is contagious: Seek out the people on your team who are enthusiastic about your collection — wherever they sit within your organization.

Sparking Creativity: Immersive Audio | Transcript & Takeaways (PDF)

Picture This

Examine the importance of using images to support your content and give your visitors a glimpse beyond what they could get on their own.

Key Takeaways

1. Consider how your audio can work with your images: Explore how your audio can encourage close looking and advantage of having a device with images that your visitors can hold in their hand and zoom in on.
2. Images can show what's not there: Offer up a new perspective that visitors couldn't get on their own. For example, show the inside of an object, a before and after or a restoration project, or an installation shot.
3. It's a blank canvas: Be creative with your images. Consider how you can use your images to help with wayfinding and navigation, or how they can best engage children.
4. Show who's talking: Increase the impact of an audio clip by including an image of the speaker, so visitors can feel a deeper connection to the person.

Sparking Creativity: Picture This | Transcript & Takeaways (PDF)

Why Video

Learn about the benefits of using short video (1-2 minutes, maximum) to offer personal insights and powerful storytelling.

Key Takeaways

1. Opportunity to show behind the scenes: Use video to show visitors behind-the-scenes content and spaces, like your archives or an artist's studio.
2. Video can bring objects to life: Videos show movement. Take advantage of this by showing objects in use or in motion, demonstrating games or daily rituals, or showcasing musical instruments.
3. Interviews can add dimension: Short staff interviews can help introduce visitors to the personalities and expertise they'll get elsewhere in the guide.
4. Remember, your videos will be viewed on a phone: The smaller format is more forgiving of cuts and edits, giving you leeway to put out videos that are shorter, more playful, or less formal than you would put on your website.

Sparking Creativity: Why Video | Transcript & Takeaways (PDF)