Why Storytelling?
As people, we are naturally storytellers. As a business, you need to be.
Your logo, your website, your ads, your photography. We don’t want people just to see it and keep on going. We want people to see what you’re putting out into the world and for them to know who you are and what you do, but we also want them wanting more.
Creating a brand today has more possible steps than ever before. There is also more competition than ever before. And when it comes to making a decision about which business we want to support by purchasing from, we don’t want to spend our money on a business where we don’t like the people who own it, or we know that our values align, that we feel connected to. And that is where storytelling comes in.
Every person and every business has a unique story.
The journey that got you to the position you are in now, the challenges you faced, the knowledge you have, the values you hold. These are all aspects of your personal (pretty badass) story. And storytelling is how you are going to take all of these awesome bits of you, and share them in a way that people understand and really connect with.
When people get excited about working with the brand, not only do they want to spend money with you, they are ready to invest and spend more money on what you’re offering. Now the question, how do we get your story ready to share?
Thinking about your story.
1. Who are the people that you want to hear your story?
Think about their ages, what stage of life they are in, what they do for work, the things they might be interested in, what hobbies or activities that they do, the places they like to go,
2. What are the key points that you are going to be able to connect with them about?
It can be easy to forget that the audience we group together is actually just a bunch of individual people with different backgrounds, goals, dreams, and lives. Look at the people listed in Point 1 and think about what what you could connect with them over.
3. What challenges might they be facing that you have been through or you can help with?
Your business should be aimed at solving a problem for your clients. What are the main problems that you are providing a solution for? Then list out specifically how your product is helping them.
4. Where are you wanting to share this story? And, is your audience there?
Depending on where you want to share the story will help shape how and what you need. Telling your story on social media is going to look differently than it will if you’re using email marketing or in person. It is also important to make sure that your audience is actually in the places that you’re going to be sharing!
5. What sort of voice, tone, and relationship do you want to have with your audience?
How formal or informal do you want to be? Do you want to be friends with your audience? Or viewed more like a teacher or educator?
6. What are 3-5 values that you want people to associate with you?
What values do you hold dear? What is actually important to you? Listing out these values and making sure that you build your business and share your story in alignment with these core values will help your audience understand and connect even if you pivot or change your offer.
7. Tying it all together!
Your story is a combination of who you are, what you do, and why you’re doing it. Why and where you are sharing your story will help determine the shape that it takes. Keep an eye out for our post coming up about how to write your brand story!
