Creative Formatting: Making Your Content Pop

Your words might be pure gold—but if they're presented as a wall of text, you might lose your audience before they even start reading. Let's dive into the world of creative formats and explore how thinking outside the box can make your content absolutely pop in ways that AI just can't match.

The Power of the Scroll-Stop

When was the last time you were scrolling through social media and something made you stop dead in your tracks? Chances are, it wasn't just the content—it was how that content was presented. Maybe it was an eye-catching infographic, a clever comic strip, or an interactive quiz. That's the power of creative formatting at work.

Format Arsenals: Your Creative Weapons

Alright let's get to it.

1. Comic Books (Don't Roll Your Eyes!)

Comics aren't just for kids or nerds anymore—they're powerful storytelling tools that combine visual and textual elements in brilliant ways. Imagine explaining how a bill becomes law:

• Option A: Write paragraphs explaining each step
• Option B: Create a comic strip that visually guides readers through the process

Which would be more memorable? Yeah, I thought so.

2. Character Cards

Think baseball cards, but for your content. Each card features:

• Photo or illustration
• Key stats or facts
• Brief bio Perfect for introducing multiple people or concepts quickly and memorably. Writing about Civil Rights Movement leaders? Character cards give readers instant, digestible snapshots of each person's contribution.

3. Interactive Infographics

Unlike their static cousins, these babies turn your content into a mini-adventure. Readers can:

• Click
• Hover
• Scroll
• Explore data their way

Imagine writing about climate change—let users adjust variables and see how different actions impact global temperatures. It's not just presenting information; it's creating an experience.

Designing Your Format: The Smart Way

The key? Let your content guide your format choice. Don't just pick a cool format and try to shoehorn your content into it. Ask yourself: "What's the best way to present this particular information?"

For Comics:

• Start with a storyboard
• Sketch out panels
• Break content into visual chunks
• Remember: Less text, more visuals

For Character Cards:

• Create consistent templates
• Focus on crucial information
• Make it visually appealing
• Keep the format uniform

For Interactive Infographics:

• Start simple
• Don't overwhelm with options
• Focus on key points
• Let interactivity enhance understanding

Tools of the Trade

Not a designer? No problem! There are tons of tools to help:

• Canva
• Tableau
• Pixton
• Storyboard That

Remember: The goal isn't to create a design masterpiece—it's to present your content in an engaging, memorable way. Don't let perfectionism hold you back from experimenting.

Real-World Format Magic

There are already some cool examples of creative humans who do this.

The New York Times Example

Their "You Draw It" series is a masterclass in engaging data presentation. Readers draw their guess on a graph, then see how it compares to reality. It's informative, interactive, and sticky.

The Oatmeal's Approach

They tackle complex topics with humor and simplicity. Their comic about the backfire effect explains psychology in a way that's both entertaining and unforgettable.

Advanced Format Adventures

Want to get more fancy with it?

1. Typographic Storytelling

Imagine:

• Font size growing as tension builds
• Words literally shattering during dramatic moments
• Text arrangements forming relevant images It's not just pretty words—it's making typography part of the story itself.

2. Tactile Print Materials

In our digital age, physical touchables pack a punch:

• Story-telling postcards
• Unfolding brochures revealing narrative layers
• Story boxes with QR-coded items

3. Choose Your Own Adventure Videos

Create branching video narratives where viewers:

• Make choices at key points
• Explore different paths
• See consequences of decisions Perfect for educational content or product exploration.

4. Large Format Storytelling

Think beyond screens:

• Trade show poster series
• Room installations
• Corporate headquarters narratives Make your story unfold in physical space.

5. AR Content Layers

Use augmented reality to:

• Add video overlays to print
• Create virtual experiences
• Trigger content through physical objects

6. Soundscape Narratives

Tell stories through crafted audio:

• Voice
• Music
• Sound effects Challenge yourself to convey information through sound alone.

7. Collaborative Story Murals

Start with a basic outline and:

• Let audiences contribute
• Watch it evolve
• Create community engagement Turn content into a living, breathing piece.

Your Creative Challenge

Take a current project—maybe a blog post, report, or social media campaign—and reimagine it in a different format. How could it become:

• A comic strip?
• A set of character cards?
• An interactive experience?
• A soundscape?
• A collaborative piece?

Don't worry about execution right now. Just brainstorm. Push yourself beyond your usual format. You might be surprised at what you come up with.

Why This Matters in the Age of AI

Sure, AI can generate text or simple images, but it can't:

• Understand nuances of human engagement
• Anticipate how readers will interact with content
• Create emotional connections through clever design
• Think outside the box in truly creative ways

That's all you, baby.

Remember: The goal isn't just to create content that's consumed—it's to create content that's experienced and remembered. By thinking outside the box and experimenting with these formats, you're creating something uniquely human.

So go forth and format creatively. Push those boundaries. That's where the magic happens.

Check out this whole course on my YouTube (FREE) and click here to download the worksheets (ALSO FREE).