What’s your story?

Back in school, one of the popular phrases used to guide us when answering questions was “go straight to the point, don’t tell stories.”

It made sense then because no professor wanted to spend time reading what they considered “junk.”

Students are fond of beating about the bush when they’re not sure about their answers and so tell stories.  

But in the real world – it’s a whole different level.

There are three types of stories which can inspire people to take massive actions.

There are three types of stories which can inspire people to take massive actions.

#1 Imaginary stories like Aesop’s Fables and The Brothers Grimm fairy tales which can inspire.

#2 Stories of real successful people like Mahatma Gandhi, Steve Jobs, and Oprah Winfrey; these can inspire people to take actions.

But the most powerful type of story which can help people to do something miraculous is:

#3 Your Own Story

I “modeled” content that I saw worked well. I made “value posts” sharing some tips that I didn’t actually experience myself…

I was creating content just to get likes, comments, and shares. I was creating content to position myself like an expert…

And I learned it was the wrong strategy. On top of that, this type of content doesn’t work well.

What works? Being authentic YOU! Sharing stories. Sharing lessons you learned. Sharing from your REAL experience.

That’s what people like, not the boring and typical “How to” content that they heard 1000x before.

Stories matter. I want you to use more stories.

Stories engage our emotions and make us feel connected. Storytelling is one of the most effective tools in marketing due to its ability to make us feel an emotional connection with our target audience.

In fact, telling stories is the difference between an engaging multimillion dollar brand online and other struggling brands.

𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗘𝗟𝗟

This popular saying has long been accepted by marketers sales people and business owners around the world.

As a proven method for engaging audiences and ultimately making more sales.

The notion that stories have the power to convey ideas, engage potential buyers and drive sales is supported by solid evidence from psychology.

One of the biggest lessons i learned in sales is not to push features and benefits down people’s throat, in an effort to make a sale rather, inspire people to buy with the story of your journey.

You need to stop focusing on the features and benefits of your offer.

To most people it simply comes across as yet another sales pitch and 95% will simply scroll past.

Instead focus on telling your story,

What inspired you to start your business or offer your service 
The changes its made to you, your life, your freedom

Don’t sugar coat it. Be honest about the challenges you’ve faced.

The things you found hard. The times you felt uncomfortable.

Nothing is one size fits all, what you are offering may not be the best fit for where someone is currently.

You can make your brand more memorable for potential buyers and create an emotional attachment between them and your company which will help drive sales over time.

Stories tap into our emotions and imagination in ways facts simply cannot.

Everyone has a story. It includes your journey, mess and message.

All parts of your journey is worth connecting with your audience, including failures:  

A lady got pregnant in her teenage years out of wedlock and instead of giving up on her dreams; picked herself up and decided to start a business so her kid would never lack (founded Adija food storage).

A boy was from a wretched family and acted dumb in school, so he never had anyone believe in him until his mum held him of too high standards he had no choice but to change his family trajectory and become a world class surgeon (Ben Carson).

Stories build trust and authenticity

Story telling is one of the most effective tools in marketing due to its ability to make us feel an emotional connection with our target audience.

“Everybody loves a good story, if you want to sell your product to customers, your vision to investors, or your ideas to the world, you’ve got recognize the power and importance of great story telling.” – Susan Beesley

Stories are the sauce to your personal brand

Raymond VY Tan once said regarding stories to your business: “your personal stories are like love songs”

It connects your ideal audience emotionally and repel others.”  

He went on to say as regards personal branding, the role stories play:

The beauty side of personal branding is that nobody is exactly the same. Everyone has its own unique story to tell and connect their ideal audience.

It is how you communicate and connect your ideal audience and clients through your personal stories that make your business unique and attractive.

How to use Storytelling in Branding?

Stories have the power to connect people like nothing else. And the good news is, you already have a story – your own story. Whether it’s a past failure, a current pursuit, or a significant achievement, your story is your power.

You don’t need many stories to become successful, You only need to learn how you can tell one story in many ways.

For me, creating content with examples and stories gives me more exposure. Don’t stop at just one story. Learn how to tell your story in many different ways to keep your content fresh and engaging. And don’t forget to document your journey along the way.

By incorporating storytelling into your content, you can build trust with your audience and establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry. So what are you waiting for? Start telling your story today and watch your content soar to new heights.

CONCLUSION 

Please know that your past experiences, your story can inspire 1000s and 1000s of people.

What you need is the courage to share your story

5 thoughts on “What’s your story?”

  1. Awesome post! I also believe in the power of story telling. It’s one of the reason’s I started my blog. I thought my story could help break the stigma on mental illness and spread awareness on a genetic disorder I have called Turner syndrome. I was nervous at first about telling my story, but the feedback I have been getting has been so encouraging.

  2. I love this post and the concept. Our stories are what connects in all aspects of our life – social, work, family. As someone starting to create content ai think this is a great remind to not lose your story in the pursuit to get followers, readers, clicks and more. Thanks!

  3. Some of the world’s most successful brands, like Apple, Nike, and Coca-Cola, have built their empires on the back of captivating story telling that tap into our deepest desires and aspirations. Great post!

  4. True, telling a story evokes emotions and one is also able to connect with the one telling it

Comments are closed.