Common pitfalls of first-time Miroverse Creators


Userlevel 7
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Hello Miro Heroes 🤗

As some of you may know, me and @Helena Brandist are reviewing all the templates our Miro Creators are submitting to Miroverse. 

We noticed a number of common pitfalls of first-time Miroverse Creators so we decided to add a couple of updates to our guidelines: 

  • When creating Miroverse profile, please add your photo, bio, current role, and links to your social accounts/your website;
  • A high-quality cover image for your template has to showcase part of an example template that you like most and that best represents your template (no branded promotional images);

  • Your template and its description has to be written in English;

  • If submitting an educational template, please provide examples to indicate proper use. (Here are some examples: Alex Ivanov's Team Canvas or Julia Cowing's Customer Question).

For a full list of requirements, check our official Miroverse checklist

 

A question for experienced Creators: I’m curious to know what are some other recommendations you have for those who are submitting their first template? What helped you to finish up your board? 


11 replies

Userlevel 7
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Thank you for your tips @DWestgarth @Steven Sampson-Jones @Henrik Ståhl @Emily Webber @Said Saddouk 🤗

I’m sure this will be useful for first time Miroverse creators 👏🏻 Even after seeing more than 1000 templates we’re still amazed by your creativity every time!

Userlevel 7
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@Anna Savina Wow, that's impressive! Keep up the good work! 👏

Userlevel 7
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@Henrik Ståhl haha, yes, we reviewed and edited all 1000+ templates :) 

@Henrik Ståhl @Emily Webber love the start view recommendation — it’s another issue that I see pretty often.

@DWestgarth love that you mention frames and frame connections — super powerful for building a cohesive narrative! 👏🏻

Userlevel 3
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Love all of the suggestions above but just to add my spin:

  • Signposting with instructions for use/ facilitator prompts is very helpful (Think like speaker notes on a powerpoint presentation)
  • Lock down background/ window dressing elements for live sessions
  • Frames and frame connections are very useful in large and dispersed boards
  • Break up your text areas with images, gifs, videos and other visual elements
  • Give participants some space to experiment, play around and learn as they go
  • Remixes and spin offs are a great way to start building out your own templates!
Userlevel 6
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Some thoughts @Anna Savina:

Choose title for the template, that people can find in with the search (keywords).

Add some "how to use" instructions in a frame on the board itself.

Lock/Unlock stuff that should be locked/unlocked.

If possible reduce the load of the board by compressing or converting the used images on the board.
 

Rgrds Said

Userlevel 7
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@Emily Webber Oh wow, I didn't even know about the last one – and never thought about numbering sections. Great advice! 👌

Userlevel 1

I think you have most covered… but a couple of other tips

  • Setting the start view is my top one (already mentioned)
  • Group shapes to keep your layout intact, rather then lock them
  • Make it easy for people to navigate by numbering sections
  • Once you are happy with your board, create a fresh new board to copy on to. Then submit that fresh board to the Miroverse - otherwise your activity history will be copied over (including any comments you have from reviewers)
Userlevel 7
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Great initiative @Anna Savina & @Helena Brandist! So… did you actually review all of the 1000+ templates in Miroverse?! 😮 

My recommendations: 

  • Just like @Steven Sampson-Jones writes, showcasing an example with pre-populated content is super-valuable. I really appreciate it when using other people’s templates, and yet I’ve managed to forget about adding examples myself when submitting to Miroverse on more than one occasion. 🙈 
  • Set a start view! I keep forgetting this and it drives me insane every time I see the result of my error. 😅 
  • Give the zoom level/zoom size (I like the term “zoom size” but I think the official Miro term is “zoom level,” if I’m not mistaken) proper thought before submitting your template. Personally I’m still not sure I agree with the “always start at 100%” dogma, but I have become much more aware of the zoom size and the impact it has when creating templates. 
  • Whenever you’re unsure about something while working on your template, browse the Miroverse for inspiration! Either look at similar templates (or templates within the same realm as your own) or look at templates created by people whose visual structure you find appealing.

Hope that’s helpful. 😊

Userlevel 7
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Love the facilitation notes idea @Steven Sampson-Jones! Super helpful for those who doesn’t have a facilitator background/training. 

Userlevel 4
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My two cents on this topic is showcasing an "example" with some sample stickies already populated, just out of view of the 'starting grid' of your fresh template. I usually include some "hot tips 🔥" or "facilitation notes 💡" to help participants and for those who copy my boards. I would say keep it simple, but I like to be as creative as possible and make it as bespoke as possible whether that's remixing tried and tested formats, or experimenting with new concepts to experiment on the community with!

Userlevel 7
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@Henrik Ståhl @Johanna Torstensson @Said Saddouk @Steven Sampson-Jones @Emily Webber @Maria Piera Mattioli @DWestgarth Would be curious to know what you think! 😎

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