Storytelling Tips

A collage of nine numbered story covers displayed on a black background

Nine steps to great storytelling

By Allen Carroll

It's easy to put together a story, but it's not nearly as easy to craft top-notch narratives. By keeping these principles in mind, you'll get a good start on the path to greatness.

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A small light green circle with a plus sign displayed on a darker green background with topo lines

Getting started with ArcGIS StoryMaps

Allen Carroll

Follow a step-by-step guide to using the new ArcGIS StoryMaps builder.

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A white locator map with royal blue map points and a sample locator pop-up card displaying text and zebras

What is an express map and why should you use one?

Mark Harrower

Most stories happen somewhere. Here's how to add simple locator and distribution maps to your narratives.

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An illustration of the human brain with a door opening into it displayed on a light purple map

Maps, minds, and stories collection

Allen Carroll

Read five stories about the meaning of maps, place-based storytelling, and how our spatial minds work.

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A green color map of the varying tree cover globally against a black background

The myriad uses of StoryMaps

Multiple authors

View some of the interesting and unusual ways storytellers have used ArcGIS StoryMaps.

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A four-square collage of illustrations, photos, and diagrams of famous landmarks

Four ways to tell a story with place

Greyson Harris

Learn four different layouts to create engaging stories with lists of places.

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A black and red dot density map that shows the reported number of COVID-19 cases

Innovative storytelling for COVID-19 communication

Esri's StoryMaps team

Explore the innovative ways that storytellers, from teachers to government agencies, are using ArcGIS StoryMaps for COVID-19 communication.

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A mother and baby rhinoceros grazing in a green field with trees

Creative uses of storytelling for conservation

Esri's StoryMaps team

See some of the interesting ways that organizations have used ArcGIS StoryMaps for conservation.

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A dark green background with small, almost transparent icons arranged in horizontal and vertical rows

StoryMaps graphics packages

Ross Donihue

Enhance your storytelling with a consistent look and feel. Download our custom graphics packages for each ArcGIS StoryMaps theme.

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A collage of three animated map patterns displayed side by side

Getting the most from animated maps

Mark Harrower

Maps that move can be a powerful star of the story, but knowing when to deploy them is key.

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One view of an animated 3D black and gold globe that displays city population by bar height

To 3D or not to 3D?

Mark Harrower

Both 2D and 3D maps are great, but knowing when to use them—and why—is key. Get tips from Esri's StoryMaps team.

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A painting of fruit in and around a large bowl with a dark background

Interactive images in ArcGIS StoryMaps

Multiple authors

Up your storytelling game by using interactive images as maps. Get step-by-step instructions.

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A grey world map surrounded by black and partially engulfed in flames

How to make an awful story

Allen Carroll

Get seven indispensable tips for lousy storytelling.

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Choreograph your maps with ArcGIS StoryMaps

Cooper Thomas

Get techniques for guiding readers through a story with maps.

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Including charts in stories

Cooper Thomas

Elevate your data-driven storytelling with these tips and best practices.

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An ArcGIS StoryMaps sidecar block with a map on the right side and text with map actions or links on the left side

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Supercharge your stories with map actions

Cooper Thomas

Enrich your story and engage interested readers with map actions, configurable toggle buttons that change web maps or scenes in sidecar slides.

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Sharing your stories with an audience

Hannah Wilber

Read a series of short stories that explain five easy ways to get more eyes on your content (without having to spend a dime).

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Nine steps to great storytelling

Adding alternative text in ArcGIS StoryMaps

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