Are you in the storytelling business? We certainly are. With over a decade of experience in telling great stories, we’ve learned a thing or two about capturing audiences with expertly crafted stories.
You might be in the storytelling business as well and not even realize it.
If you’re trying to make content that really resonates with your audience, you probably are. After all, anybody can write mediocre posts, but it’s impossible to create high-impact content without being a good storyteller. That’s why we’re sharing 3 pieces of proven, expert information that you can boost your storytelling strategy and create outstanding content.
#1. Start Small.
One thing that we’ve learned while growing our storytelling business is that you don’t have to have a great story to tell a great story. While that might sound counterintuitive, it’s actually the truth — and a huge relief.
In other words, you don’t have to tell fantastical stories about fighting aliens or sharks to get your customers’ attention. In fact, you can just tell a story about slipping in a puddle at Costco or going to a Grandparents’ Day event with your grandchild because people can relate. In our experience, the more personal a story is, the better. Your goal is to endear yourself to your audience, and that means that you should portray yourself as a normal person.
#2. Work On Your Angle
Any story can be interesting by using the right angle. Our CEO, Shaun Buck, is a master at this. Here’s an example of how he turned a story about washing the dishes into usable content for our Weekend Reading segment.
It used to take me 5 hours to wash the dishes.
I’d start at the sink with my sleeves rolled up and notice a toy on the counter mixed in with the dishes. So, I’d take the toy to my kids’ room, and on the way, I’d notice a sock on the floor, so I’d pick it up to put it in the laundry room, then remember about the clothes in the dryer, so I’d take them out and … and … and …
You probably already know where I’m going with this.
Working from one problem to the next without finishing the one you started before it is exhausting. Flitting from task to task can consume all of your time and leave you feeling like you barely accomplished anything in your day.
So, I put a system in place to keep me focused. The business version looks like this …
(He then goes into a checklist that helps him to keep track of his business-related tasks.)
… When I prioritize my task list this way, I always end the day feeling good. Looking at a task list that has a bunch of check marks next to it makes me feel like those old MasterCard commercials: priceless.
As you can see, it’s not the content of the story that matters. It’s the angle! Shaun uses small events from his life to illustrate broader points, and sometimes he ties these into larger stories — and you can too. It might take some practice, but eventually, you will be able to turn anything into a story, even washing the dishes.
#3. Get Personal.
If you want to make it in the storytelling business, you must get personal. There’s simply no way around it. Your clients will be the most capable of connecting to you when they hear about you and your life.
Of course, there is such a thing as oversharing, so make sure to keep sensitive information private. But for the most part, sharing stories about your family, vacations, pets, and even personal struggles can do a lot in terms of making you appear more relatable to your audience.
By implementing these 3 suggestions into your content-creation strategy, you can improve your overall storytelling, business marketing tools, and customer experience.
If you would like to learn more about our storytelling methods or have questions for our pros, you can schedule a free strategy session here. You can also download our free Content Marketing Guide by filling out the form below.
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