Your written words can have a far greater impact, so long as you know how and where to frame them. Here’s how framing works, including an example from a few hours ago.
I had a coffee after dropping my son off at university. While my cappuccino was being made, a piece of an idea came to me. So, I grabbed a napkin to jot it down.
The piece of an idea was for a client of mine. He’s the managing director of a well-known packaging company. I was playing with some words regarding environmentally friendly packaging.
Our team will help you produce packaging that disappears with grace, not guilt.
It was only after putting my glasses on to start writing, that I noticed the ‘100% recycled’ stamp on the flip side of the napkin. So, I framed my words with the stamp.
Though this was just a part of an idea and didn’t make the cut, the fact that it was framed on a recycled napkin gave it impact.
It caught the barista’s attention.
He then took a photo of it to show to the manager.
She shared it on the company’s social media accounts.
I shared it with a few friends, again, there was far more interest than a poorly-written note deserved.
It was the framing that made all the difference. It was also the story behind the framing of the words, which made it interesting enough for me to share with you.
The wording of the note itself was garbage. Think what would have happened, if that was the finished, creative idea!
Make it work for you
Now imagine your next important message. Something you want people to take notice of.
Once you’ve decided what you want to say, give your creativity a chance to shine. Think of the best ‘thing’ to frame your message on. And how best to share it.
For example, on the palm of your hand. Then take a photo of it, with your palm facing forward as if to signal STOP! That could work, if you’re protesting against something and have a short message. It would work on social media, too.
Look for a creative connection. Get the framing right and it will massively multiply the impact of your message.