Sparkol - Engage Your Audience

Start Strong: 5 tips to capture attention from the beginning

By Aimee Rivers 17 Jul 2018

Times may have changed, but the goal remains the same – to hook your audience with a powerful beginning that draws them in. While I can&rsquo...

Storytelling

Discover Story: 4 Elements of Storytelling that will bring your presentation to life

By Aimee Rivers 10 Jul 2018

Who does your presentation concern? Who will be affected by what happens? Find your story by considering how these 4 elements of storytelling relate t...

Storytelling

Define Who: 5 Ways to Know Your Audience

By Aimee Rivers 03 Jul 2018

Defining your audience is arguably the most important step in business storytelling. For me, the best part of telling a story is the audience. He...

Storytelling

Let Your Voice Be Heard: Storytelling for Business

By Aimee Rivers 22 Jun 2018

Whether the goal is influencing decisions, sharing knowledge, or articulating a new vision, storytelling is an essential business skill that has the p...

News

Sparkol Expands Professional Services Offering

08 Mar 2018

Storytelling

Tell Us a Story This World Book Day

01 Mar 2018

Presenting

Why Marketing and Sales Professionals Rely on Video to Deliver Results

16 Feb 2018

Storytelling

How to record a professional sounding voiceover

07 Feb 2018

Social

Safer Internet Day 2018

02 Feb 2018

News

Introducing New Software StoryPix!

24 Jan 2018

News

Sparkol Exhibiting Education Software at Bett 2018

22 Jan 2018

Sparkol will be at Bett 2018 and we’re excited to show you all the benefits our software for education offers.

We’ll be sho...

Presenting

This is why you should storyboard your presentation visuals

21 Dec 2017

In this super-visual world, it's hard to fully explain our ideas without images. Storyboarding is a great way to figure out how to convey your mes...

News

VideoScribe by Sparkol is a Learning Technology of the Year Finalist

16 Oct 2017

News

Welcome to VideoScribe Version 3

10 Oct 2017

Everyday engagement

Death by PowerPoint, time for another way to present?

13 Sep 2017

Education

What the flip is flipped learning?

11 Sep 2017

News

Give your product heart, build a strong story

05 Sep 2017

Everyday engagement

A 60 Second Elevator Pitch - It Can be Done!

25 Aug 2017

Presenting

Get The Picture - Royalty Free Images From Pixabay

09 Aug 2017

Everyday engagement

Q&A with a professional whiteboard animator

09 Aug 2017

Everyday engagement

Three tips on how to deliver an awesome presentation every time

09 Aug 2017

News

What will you miss about Microsoft Paint?

01 Aug 2017

Presenting

Sound Advice - Royalty free music for YouTube scribes

25 Jul 2017

Productivity

Tips From Rosanne, A #likemyscribe Competition Winner

12 Jul 2017

News

5 ways to stand out and get the promotion, money and respect you deserve

05 Jul 2017

News

5 Reasons To Use Whiteboard Animation Videos Instead Of PowerPoint

23 Jun 2017

News

Sell Faster, To More Customers, For More Money

15 Jun 2017

Storytelling

How to use storytelling in your business presentations

13 Sep 2016

Storytelling can be such an important tactic, but how do you go about creating a great story, for the purposes of public speaking?

Storytelling

A Step-By-Step Process to Tell Compelling Stories and Improve Conversion Rates

08 Sep 2016

I’ve noticed that there’s something that scares most marketers. We love our data. Most marketers find it fun to revie

Presenting

Get your free ebook: How to Nail Your Next Presentation

18 Apr 2016

Everyday engagement

The Careers Coach: 'Only start small talk when you are interested in the other person'

14 Mar 2016

Karin Bodewits is the founder of career platforms ScienceMums and NaturalScience.Careers in Munich, and campaigns to help women bridge the gap between...

Brands

How exclusive messaging speaks to your inner VIP

09 Mar 2016

Some brands will fall over themselves to make you feel special. They'll pour you a scotch, recline your leather chair and massage your delicate eg...

Presenting

6 Steps to becoming a spellbinding speaker

03 Mar 2016

Is it cliché to compare a presenter to a magician? Probably. But speakers can learn many things from these spectacular stage performers. These 6 thing...

Everyday engagement

The Slam Poet: 'If you don't believe in you, why should your audience?'

02 Mar 2016

Solomon Ogunmefun-Brooker is a 24-year-old poet, rapper and musician and 2016 National Poetry Slam Champion. He’s soon to release his debut solo EP ‘T...

Presenting

Master your movements with this body language masterclass

22 Feb 2016

When we think of body language, we often picture complex gestures intended to manipulate an audience. But there's a simpler, more authentic way to mas...

Presenting

What is kinesics and is it the secret to absorbing audiences?

18 Feb 2016

You can't manufacture a connection with the audience. Or can you? An understanding of kinesics could certainly help. Find out what it is and how to ma...

Everyday engagement

The Bar Owner: 'I am absolutely not a party person'

17 Feb 2016

Aurelius Braunbarth is the owner of Hausbar, a Berlin-inspired bar in trendy Clifton, Bristol. With 30 years' experience in the industry, Braunbarth i...

Presenting

How to use your public speaking nerves for good, not evil

16 Feb 2016

'How can I get rid of this horrible sick feeling in my stomach?' Lucy asked. I answered as I always do, that nerves are not the enemy we think...

Brands

Why creating rituals is the key to lasting brand engagement

10 Feb 2016

Dunking an Oreo. Unboxing a new iPhone. Putting lime in your Corona. What do they all have in common? Here's how to find your brand rituals and us...

Presenting

'I've learnt so much by just asking': World Champion speaker Dananjaya Hettiarachchi

09 Feb 2016

How do you go from high school dropout, arrested at the age of 17, to world champion public speaker? Meet Dananjaya Hettiarachchi, the man who made th...

Everyday engagement

The Voice Over: 'I imagine myself with a nice tan and silicone implants'

05 Feb 2016

Tanya Rich is a professional voice over artist and coach. She lectures in voice for recorded media at Bath Spa Uni, runs cabaret show Club Paradis and...

Psychology

What's a group of humans called? How our herd instincts spread ideas

04 Feb 2016

How strong is our desire to copy others? Do we have to follow the crowd? What can herd behaviour in humans teach us about engaging people? Let's h...

Presenting

‘Focus on what you love about what you do’: Top speaking coach Bill Smartt

03 Feb 2016

Being able to nail a presentation is more important than education to your career success. Top public speaking coach Bill Smartt explains how to have ...

Presenting

'Stop, compose yourself, and never apologise': How to handle a public speaking mishap

03 Feb 2016

While it may be impossible to anticipate every mishap, you can learn how to deal with the most common public speaking calamities. Here's how to pl...

Storytelling

Story guru Robert McKee: 'This is not a hobby, this is an art form'

03 Feb 2016

Robert McKee is a legend among storytellers. Famous writers journey thousands of miles to sit at his feet. Why? Here's why Robert McKee is a story...

Everyday engagement

The Mental Health Nurse: ‘I connect with my patients by absorbing their history’

27 Jan 2016

Jess* is a Deputy Ward Manager in an NHS mental health unit. We spoke to her about communicating with the patients in her care and the everyday skills...

Presenting

Muhammad Ali’s knockout technique for persuasive presentations

21 Jan 2016

So you give your presentation. People smile and nod and say ‘that was nice’ and then… nothing. No sales, no signups, no feedback. Try one of these 5 p...

Presenting

6 Stylish ways to close your presentation

20 Jan 2016

All good things must come to an end, including your presentation. But how do you leave your audience on a high? We asked top public speaking coach Dee...

Presenting

Pro speaker explains how to beat nerves and give a confident speech

20 Jan 2016

Public speaking opens you up to scrutiny. How do you make sure you exude confidence, and engage with the audience? This experienced speaker explains h...

Social

This is how an article goes viral

14 Jan 2016

How does an ordinary article reach an audience of millions? Here's how one of mine went viral, what I learned from it, and how you can make it hap...

Presenting

David Bowie’s wonderful way of handling the thrill of live performance

13 Jan 2016

It's sad whenever somebody you admire dies. But the many wonderful things you then learn about them can temper that sadness. Here's something new I en...

Psychology

8 Extremely inspiring words for public speakers

13 Jan 2016

Communicating well – whether it's with your co-workers, customers or followers – isn't always easy. Discover these 8 powerful words and knock your aud...

Presenting

This is what happens when you show a human brain to a live audience

07 Jan 2016

Props in presentations – useful tools or pointless gimmicks? From buckets to balls to brains, here are five presenters whose weird and wonderful...

Presenting

6 Times the fourth wall came crashing down to spectacular effect

06 Jan 2016

The fourth wall is wonderful. But it depends entirely on human understanding and respect. When that respect disappears, the wall crumbles. Here are 6 ...

Social

This little girl wrote a thank you letter to Santa and it’s adorable

04 Jan 2016

When did you last send a thank you letter? Nine-year-old Poppy Stewart sent one to Santa, and it’s more than I can cope with today.

Presenting

5 TedxBristol speakers who wowed the crowd

23 Dec 2015

The speakers at TedxBristol were generally brilliant, but a handful were extra special. It made me wonder – what exactly made these five speaker...

Psychology

Does my dog speak English? Walking and talking with the animals

22 Dec 2015

Can we learn the 'languages' animals use? Do they ever really learn ours? Sarah Goodman found out what it's like when your audience member...

Presenting

How to practise a presentation or speech

17 Dec 2015

In this age of digital communication, we're losing the ability to give a great speech. A little practice would go a long way. Here are experienced spe...

Storytelling

Get your free ebook: The Seven Pillars of Storytelling

17 Dec 2015

Audiences are tired of facts, figures and bold claims. But stories? We’re hardwired to see stories as a gift. Download The Seven Pillars of Stor...

Social

The poetic beauty of Bristol’s passive-aggressive car parking notes

15 Dec 2015

Ah, Bristol. The UK city where parking your car is fraught with etiquette-based danger. Welcome to the unadulterated joys of the handwritten, Bristoli...

Presenting

How to plan and hold a Q&A session

15 Dec 2015

A great speech starts with a cracking opener. But how should it end? Q&A sessions get the audience involved and prove you're interested in conversing ...

Presenting

5 Simple techniques for to-the-point presentations

11 Dec 2015

We're all for walking and gardening. But rambling in a speech? Not on our watch. Try one of these five simple planning techniques for presentation...

Psychology

'This jazz is cooked to perfection': How sounds alter taste and warp reality

10 Dec 2015

Music has the power to alter the way we taste, smell and experience the world around us. It can even change the way we interpret information. Here are...

Presenting

Here's how you write a jargon-free speech that's crystal clear

09 Dec 2015

If you've ever had to sit through a rambling, jargon-filled presentation, use this simple planning technique to ensure yours are clean, concise an...

Presenting

These 8 Christmas movie speeches will yank at your heartstrings

08 Dec 2015

It's that time of year again. Time to do stuff we don't want to do, to make other people happy. Emotions are running high. Let's look at t...

Social

Make your season's greetings glitter this Christmas

07 Dec 2015

Sending your friends and family a holiday letter? Make sure your glad tidings of great joy hit just the right note. Don't blow your own trumpet (too h...

Storytelling

The mouth-watering Michelin-star storytelling of chef Matt Gillan

04 Dec 2015

Have you ever cooked goat? Matt Gillan wants you to. He's a Michelin-starred chef trying to raise the profile of goat meat. To do that, he turned ...

Presenting

How to turn a tedious talk into TED royalty

03 Dec 2015

Some presentation topics are inherently boring, but often a talk is bad simply because it lacks structure. Here’s a simple strategy for making a...

Psychology

5 Scientific reasons to ditch words and let music do the talking

02 Dec 2015

Choosing the right words is hard. But maybe the solution isn't in your thesaurus. Maybe it's in your stereo. Here's how music gets you ins...

Psychology

Charisma is codswallop and we should quit worshipping it now

01 Dec 2015

What is charisma? Something that makes us attractive and worth following. A good thing, isn’t it? No, actually. Charisma is overrated, dishonest...

Social

6 Ways to break bad news so it sucks a little less

24 Nov 2015

At some point, we all find ourselves having to deliver unexpected bad news – a redundancy, an accident, a break-up. It's always going to be ...

Presenting

How a two minute story helped feed and shelter the homeless

20 Nov 2015

Speech writing. What a job huh? Putting words in mouths, lumps in throats, and flames in hearts. Here's a true speech writing story of my own to help ...

Presenting

How do lawyers argue? Here's how you can present like a legal pro

19 Nov 2015

Court proceedings are as old as civilisation itself. For centuries, lawyers have been admired for their ability to sway opinions. What can we learn fr...

Brands

John Lewis's Christmas ads: Have you worked out the obvious formula yet?

19 Nov 2015

In the last 13 days, John Lewis's #ManOnTheMoon advert has been viewed over 13 MILLION times. Why have Christmas adverts become such huge media ev...

Brands

Do customers care if brands are honest? Let's ask Volkswagen

18 Nov 2015

Brand-customer connections can last a lifetime if promises are consistently kept. But what happens when they're not? Here's the cautionary tal...

Presenting

8 Presentation openers that grab your audience from the get-go

17 Nov 2015

Your message is concrete. Your argument is watertight. But are you opening your presentation in the most engaging way? Here are 8 tried-and-tested tec...

Presenting

Want to be less boring? Be more bored

11 Nov 2015

You've got a presentation to write. So you research. You read the internet. But maybe you shouldn't. Maybe you should do nothing at all. Here's how ge...

Social

'What's your emergency?' Talking through life-and-death situations

09 Nov 2015

999. 911. 112. Wherever you are, whatever it is, the emergency telephone number was probably the first you ever memorised. But what's life like on the...

Presenting

4 Annoying things chuggers do that all presenters should avoid

04 Nov 2015

What's less rewarding than stopping strangers in the street to ask for their bank details? Charity street fundraising is a thankless task. Be more...

Education

Schools are engaging parents with these clever tactics

02 Nov 2015

Children whose parents are actively involved in their education are more likely to enjoy better results. But how do teachers get parents involved? Lea...

Presenting

Could this easy 5 step routine cure your stage fright?

30 Oct 2015

Pounding heart. Shaky legs. Sweaty palms. We've all been there. Here are 5 tips (and gifs) to help you beat performance anxiety and get through your p...

Presenting

Hilarious flight crew prove nothing grabs attention like laughter

27 Oct 2015

Public speaking venues don't come much tougher than aircraft. Few crowds are tetchier than air passengers. So what can we learn from the people wh...

Presenting

These 8 selling tips are the only sales training you'll ever need

21 Oct 2015

You've probably never heard of Joseph Ades. But he was a street salesman of supernatural ability. Here are 8 lessons all salespeople should learn ...

Presenting

The magic of QI: Presentation tips to keep your audience quite interested

20 Oct 2015

Comedy quiz show QI has been running for over 13 years. As longtime host Stephen Fry steps down to be replaced by Sandi Toksvig we asked – what ...

Social

Here's how a powerful slogan will unite and excite your crowd

16 Oct 2015

Suffrage hits our cinema screens this autumn. This film about protest got me thinking about slogans, and how effectively they rally people to a cause....

Social

Watch this outer space: Our enduring love for celestial exploration

08 Oct 2015

Nasa recently released thousands of Apollo space mission photos to a free, online archive. Within days, the Flickr account gained 34,000 followers. Wh...

Social

The winning recipe: Why is The Great British Bake Off so popular?

07 Oct 2015

You watch it. Your gran watches it. Even the Queen (apparently) watches it. But what's the secret to The Great British Bake Off's universal ap...

Storytelling

This crazy Tetris fact will change your public speaking FOREVER

30 Sep 2015

Video gaming is an entertainment super-industry. Call of Duty alone has made over $10bn. But Tetris is still the bestselling game of all time. Why is ...

Productivity

Get the new video creator Tawe for free!

24 Sep 2015

We've just launched Tawe, a great new video creator that turns a simple image into a dazzling HD movie. Download free now. Got VideoScribe? Log in...

Presenting

Celebrating 4 of Don Draper's perfect pitches

21 Sep 2015

He's done it. Jon Hamm has finally won an Emmy award for his role as Mad Men's Don Draper, at the 8th attempt. Time then to tip our hats to the most c...

Storytelling

How can your story reach 1.8m people? Novelist Gytha Lodge explains

15 Sep 2015

Gytha Lodge is prolific. She's an award-winning novelist and playwright. 1.8 million people have read her latest book The Fragile Tower, making it...

Storytelling

'Provoke interest and fantasy': How photographer Lucas Foglia tells compelling stories

14 Sep 2015

Critics have described Lucas Foglia's photography as both 'highly lyrical' and 'durably memorable'. Solo exhibitions in London, Ne...

Storytelling

4 Crunching conflicts that add bite to a story

09 Sep 2015

Conflict is the beating heart of every story. If the hero doesn't struggle, why should we care what happens? As storytellers, we simply choose who...

Presenting

Make any stranger your BFF with our first impressions masterclass

04 Sep 2015

We all know that those first crucial moments with someone new have the potential to go horribly wrong. So, with personal and professional encounters i...

Storytelling

The 12 brand archetypes all successful businesses are built on

01 Sep 2015

Successful brands have a strong sense of identity, one that mirrors the hopes and aspirations of their customers. But finding your voice – espec...

Presenting

12 Superstar ways to win the audience participation game

25 Aug 2015

Public speakers are a lot like elite level athletes. Both are the undisputed stars of the show. Sometimes though, it's fun to make the average peo...

Presenting

15 GIFs every presenter will identify with

20 Aug 2015

Did you know that public speaking has been voted more scary than claustrophobia, going to the dentist... even dying alone? Public speaking puts us und...

Storytelling

The importance of being evil: How to create the perfect villain

19 Aug 2015

If you want to make your hero shine, put some polish on the villain. Make your champion’s nemesis – whether it's a physical obstacle o...

Presenting

Should you walk around the stage during your presentation?

18 Aug 2015

Social media can be an amazing catalyst for human goodness. But it also provides a platform for stinging, public mockery. As former British PM Gordon ...

Productivity

Why doodling is the cure for at-work brain farts

05 Aug 2015

"So, that's the idea in a nutshell guys. Bill, I'd love to hear what you think." Bill's mind had wandered and now he's stinking up the room with his s...

Social

23 Popular Instagram hashtags the Pre-Raphaelites did first

30 Jul 2015

Hashtags are your password to the garden of social engagement. Cool young millennials think they're blazing the hashtag trail, but a band of anti-esta...

Education

How one teacher won the student attention war with cool apps

29 Jul 2015

Adeesha Hack is a teacher and edtech enthusiast from Toronto, Canada. She recently brought joy to the Sparkol office with a lovely email about our new...

Presenting

8 Hilarious TV presenter meltdowns that will make your day

23 Jul 2015

"I simply adore presenting to an audience." Ever said that? Me neither. Most mere mortals have their nerves racked by public speaking. So wh...

Presenting

How does engaged feel? Employee engagement has the answer

17 Jul 2015

When somebody engages you, what do you actually feel? It can be difficult to describe, but the employee engagement field can help. Learn to trigger th...

Storytelling

Once upon a time, in casualty: What doctors know about story

06 Jul 2015

It's a well-kept secret, but doctors love a good story. They want and need your story, all its nitty-gritty detail. Because, quite simply, your st...

Social

How to provoke: Lessons in engagement from Richard Branson

30 Jun 2015

I recently came across a retweet of one of the most unappetising images I’ve seen in a long time – a shirtless, smiling Richard Branson ho...

Productivity

Create captivating presentations from a single photo - try Tawe

24 Jun 2015

A picture's worth a thousand words, right? So why do we spend hours turning visual ideas into written presentations? Well those days are over, fri...

Presenting

My children present better than you

19 Jun 2015

I'm constantly amazed by my kids. They're probably the most engaging people I know and always teaching me new stuff. Watching my kids, I realised some...

Storytelling

3 Timeless storytelling lessons from country music legends

12 Jun 2015

Country is the most popular style of music on American radio. More popular even than pop. What's behind the genre's enduring popularity? The a...

Social

Why is Katy Perry so popular?

04 Jun 2015

How off-the-chart engaging do you have to be to attract 50m Twitter followers? Well Katy Perry has more than 70m of them. Discover the secrets to Katy...

Storytelling

How to shock an audience like Alexander McQueen

27 May 2015

Think Alexander McQueen and you think spectacle. But how did he repeatedly stun catwalk audiences? Learn the 4 secrets of McQueen's shocking brand...

Social

Book reviewer uses scribes to inspire millions to chase their dreams

26 May 2015

Malkhaz Geldiashvili's mission is simple: Help people find the courage to do what they're passionate about. We found out how scribe videos hel...

Presenting

5 Practical presentation tips from roller coaster rides

14 May 2015

Forget energy, gravity and hydraulics. We all know that roller coasters are powered by human terror and excitement. So what could a storyteller learn ...

Storytelling

Meet the man telling the greatest story with Manga graphic novels

24 Apr 2015

Siku is one of Britain's leading comic book and concept artists. He's also the creator of the bestselling The Manga Bible and The Manga Jesus. We foun...

Presenting

4 Common traits of incredibly engaging people

17 Apr 2015

What makes a person engaging? Charm. Confidence. Passion? Sure. But make someone feel important and you'll really capture their attention. Find ou...

Storytelling

The 7 universal story plots that still entrance audiences

02 Apr 2015

Plotting the story – a common stumbling block for even the most seasoned storyteller. The options seem endless. But what if there were just 7 un...

Presenting

How to make an SVG for VideoScribe in Adobe Illustrator

01 Apr 2015

Social

How animated words make emotional connections

30 Mar 2015

Animating text so that its size, colour and position changes over time affects how we feel when we read the words. Find out how animated words - or ki...

Productivity

How to turn an infographic into video

18 Mar 2015

Ever created a great piece of content but wondered if you could do more with it? We're seeing a trend for turning infographics into stunning scrib...

Presenting

How to pitch an idea with video

05 Mar 2015

Got a high-flying business idea? Great. But if you need investment to get it off the ground, you'll need a winning pitch. Here's how you make an aweso...

Storytelling

How to make your customer a hero

02 Mar 2015

Your customers no longer want just your product or service. They want to know who's doing what, and why. In other words, they want your story - an...

Storytelling

The secrets to shadow dance group's amazing animated stories

16 Feb 2015

Two years after winning series seven of Britain's Got Talent, Hungarian shadow dancers Attraction have been signed to star in another multi-millio...

Productivity

Explaining your product with video? Get to the point quickly

29 Jan 2015

Explainer videos are one of the most popular uses for whiteboard animations - short scribes about how something works. A recent article from a leading...

Productivity

5 Clear proofs that whiteboard animations boost engagement (infographic)

26 Jan 2015

Two thirds of US businesses want their marketing to be more engaging in 2015. The same number want to become better storytellers this year. Do you? Wh...

Storytelling

How to write an engaging story

16 Jan 2015

We all tell stories, whether we realise it or not - it's how we pass on wisdom and knowledge. A great storyteller creates a lasting connection bet...

Social

Facebook's 4 tips for more video views and social shares

14 Jan 2015

The average Facebook user watched 75% more video in the last year compared with the year before. What does this surge in demand mean for video makers?...

News

Can you help us fail?

03 Dec 2014

VideoScribe was born out of failure. Learning to fail quickly was the best business lesson I could have had. Now, looking beyond VideoScribe, I need y...

Storytelling

8 Classic storytelling techniques for engaging presentations

28 Nov 2014

A good public speaker takes their audience on a journey, leaving them feeling inspired and motivated. But structuring your speech to get your ideas ac...

Productivity

6 Ways to find the right soundtrack for your video

21 Nov 2014

Music is one of the most emotive and engaging tools you can use when making a video. It really can make the difference between a video that wows and o...

News

Sparkol is the best place to work in the South West. Probably.

14 Nov 2014

When I started at Sparkol a year ago, I didn't know what I was letting myself in for. Sure, I'd heard good things. I thought it might be a good place ...

Presenting

4 Nutty tips for engaging your audience

06 Nov 2014

One of my heroes is children's entertainer Nutty Noah. Every day, his task is to engage one of the most easily distracted audiences there is &ndas...

News

Say hey to the people taking VideoScribe forward

21 Oct 2014

Another week, another batch of friendly new starters to introduce. Meet Pete, Chris, James and Ben, our squeaky new Product Developers and Application...

News

One academy alone reaches a million kids with VideoScribe

07 Oct 2014

The International Academy of Science is a not-for-profit organization that creates and delivers educational videos through a program called Acellus. T...

News

Your view – what does it mean to be engaging?

03 Sep 2014

At Sparkol, we're all about helping people to engage their audience. But what does that mean? And how can you tell if your content is engaging eno...

Education

Award-winning teacher flips her classroom with VideoScribe

18 Aug 2014

We've all been there before – leaving a classroom feeling confused, anxious, dreading our homework. But it doesn't have to be this way. ...

Productivity

Why consistency is the key to a killer video

06 Aug 2014

Too many scribes are let down by inconsistent images, a mishmash of fonts and a confusing layout. Make sure your video is visually consistent to ensur...

News

Here's a sneak peek at what Team Sparkol are working on...

31 Jul 2014

We bothered some of the busy bods at Sparkol to find out exactly what they're working on. We bet you can't guess. Read on to find out what'...

Productivity

5 Ways to be more creative (and make better videos)

24 Jul 2014

The idea that some people are naturally creative is a lie. Creativity is a skill you can cultivate, just like any other. If your audience are yawning ...

News

Meet our new starters in development and marketing

17 Jul 2014

This month we welcomed four new members to Team Sparkol. These happy faces will be making VideoScribe even bigger and better over the next year. In tr...

Social

7 Secret strategies to get your YouTube videos seen

14 Jul 2014

With over a billion users visiting YouTube each month, how on earth are your videos going to be seen? Here are 7 clever ways we've discovered to make ...

9 Free tools to pimp VideoScribe

09 Jul 2014

Social

How many of these 12 prominent video-sharing places have you tried?

27 Jun 2014

So you've made your first scribe video, and now you want to send it out into the world. But how do you make sure it's seen by as many people as possib...

Everyday engagement

Psychology behind whiteboard videos – how they increase learning by 15%

16 May 2014

All the research shows that scribe videos improve learning. What do they do to the human brain that make them so effective? One leading psychologist t...

News

Animoto research – 96% online buyers find video helpful (infographic)

01 May 2014

Did you know that 96% of US adults find videos helpful in making purchase decisions? And that 73% of US adults are more likely to spend having watched...

Productivity

Learn in seconds the words that motivate an audience

26 Mar 2014

Take some time to learn your audience's motivation so that you can use the right words to stir them to action. LAB profiling will help you to understa...

Education

New study – why every school should teach coding and embrace video

21 Jan 2014

Today's teenagers are more connected than ever and demand access to vital ICT skills to ensure their futures. A new study reveals just how essenti...

News

Just how effective are scribe videos anyway? (Infographic)

07 Jan 2014

We tested scribes (whiteboard animations) against more traditional talking head videos in a straight A/B test. The results were surprising, especially...

News

Do or die – why video is compulsory in 2014

23 Dec 2013

Spending on video advertising is snowballing, with experts predicting a 40% increase in video spending by the end of 2013 compared to the same time la...

Social

50 Pros on Twitter who will revolutionise your videos

14 Dec 2013

This is one powerful list of talent. Among these 50 professionals to follow on Twitter are film producers, animators, illustrators, scribe video produ...

News

4 Wildly different charities making a massive difference

08 Dec 2013

Sparkol has picked four amazing charities to profile in this season of goodwill. They are all special to us – we are connected to them in variou...

News

Charity transforms hospital in Cameroon – thanks to you

04 Dec 2013

Sparkol has provided life-saving solar panels to Edith's Dream, a charity that takes medical equipment out to poor, rural areas of Cameroon. Thank...

News

Sparkol Advent Calendar 2013

30 Nov 2013

Sparkol is giving out offers, presents, quizzes, competitions and FUN every day of December up to Christmas day. Welcome to the Sparkol Advent Calenda...

Productivity

If these 5 designs don't inspire you – nothing will

18 Nov 2013

At Sparkol we're always looking around for inspiration to create great images and engaging products. We collect lots of the cool things we see on ...

Storytelling

A pro's 4 steps to make powerful visual metaphors

04 Nov 2013

Images are a powerful communication tool in presentations. But clichéd metaphors spoil the effect. Here, in 4 easy steps, is how professional illustra...

News

New starters in development and support

04 Nov 2013

Over the last few months a lot of exciting things have happened at Sparkol's new home. Our team has grown again. We get the lowdown from new arriv...

News

How to make political waves with a single video

11 Sep 2013

A teacher has found herself in a private meeting with the Minister for Education after a scribe video she made went viral. What started as an animatio...