Pageflow is a user-friendly tool that allows you to tell multimedia stories in a fascinating way. So far, Pageflow has been used for multimedia reports, online magazines, digital newsletters, annual reports, virtual award ceremonies, event documentation, longreads, product presentations, virtual tours, e-learning, data stories, travel reports, final theses, online applications, as a PowerPoint alternative, and more.
To get the most out of Pageflow, you should be aware of the opportunities and challenges this tool offers. In this article, we provide a brief introduction to help you get started and make the most of your multimedia stories.
Opportunities and Possibilities
With Pageflow, you can easily create impressive and interactive stories by combining different media types such as text, images, videos and audio, infographics, and more. This creates a unique narrative depth that offers your readers an unparalleled experience.
Preparation and Technical Requirements
Before you start with Pageflow, make sure you have the necessary source material and technical requirements for producing media content.
Pay attention to high-quality photos, graphics, audios, and videos in HD quality in a 16:9 format. This aspect ratio roughly corresponds to the screens of most desktops and laptops.
Pageflow always zooms into background images and background videos to provide a full-screen display on all screen sizes and aspect ratios. Essential content, motifs, or graphics should always be positioned or selected within a "Safe Area" so that they also work in portrait mode (9:16 within a 16:9 background).
In our new story format "Pageflow Next," separate mobile versions of images and videos can also be used for optimization on smartphones.
Knowledge of editing software for editing graphics, images, videos, and audios can be very helpful in cutting, shortening, coloring, or incorporating graphics into raw material.
Planning and Storyboard
Good planning is crucial for the success of your web story. Create a storyboard to plan the structure of your story and the arrangement of media content. This will help you set priorities and develop the dramaturgy of your story.
Be creative and make sure your media content is meaningfully linked to maximize the added value for your readers. A well-thought-out combination of text, images, videos, and audio can make your multimedia story an impressive overall experience.
Storyboard Software:
https://miro.com/en/storyboard/
Media Formats and Cross-platform Optimization
Pageflow supports various media formats such as background images, background videos, videos, audio, 360° images, as well as embedded videos from YouTube and Vimeo or infographics from Datawrapper.
Edit all media content beforehand so that they are ready for use when uploading and inserting into Pageflow. When determining your motifs, always pay attention to a Safe Area of 9:16, so that essential components of your background images and videos look good on all devices.
For the general workflow, we recommend selecting files to be used in advance, naming them clearly for clarity during later selection, and storing them in a separate folder. You can upload all different file formats at once using Drag 'n Drop.
Subsequently, your files are automatically transcoded into different quality levels, sizes, and target formats, so that the best possible version can always be played depending on the device and internet connection.
In general, we recommend uploading images and videos with a 1080p resolution (1920x1080 pixels) or higher, up to 4K.
Pageflow Classic vs. Pageflow Next
In summer 2022 we've added a completely new story format to Pageflow. You can now choose for every new entry, if you want to build a "Classic" or a "Next" story. See the differences in this screenshot from our entry type selection:
Tips for Success with Pageflow
- Know your target audience: Think about who will consume your web story and how to best tailor the content to the needs and interests of that audience.
- Experiment with different media: Use the variety of media that Pageflow offers to emphasize different aspects of your story and appeal to your readers in different ways.
- Decide for each part of your story why exactly which medium works best. Perhaps an engaging image with atmospheric sound makes more sense at one point than showing another video?
- Focus on a clear design: A clear structure and consistent design make it easier for your readers to understand your web story and maintain their attention.
- Use interactivity selectively: Consider where interactivity in your story makes sense to increase the added value for your readers and more deeply involve them in the story.
- Be critical and continuously work on improvements: Regularly review your story to identify possible weaknesses and make improvements.
- Get feedback: Have others review your story. This helps you view your work from different perspectives and recognize potential areas for improvement.
- Learn from others: Look at successful web stories for inspiration and ideas for your own projects.
Conclusion
Pageflow offers you great possibilities to bring multimedia content precisely to the web. With the right preparation, planning, and a creative approach, you can take advantage of this tool's opportunities and master the challenges.
Enjoy creating your own captivating web story!