Six Tips for Telling Stories that are more Effective in Content Marketing
Nowadays, despite of increasing the amount of information that is available, both on-line and off-line the average person's attention spans are roughly the same that a goldfish sleeping. All the information available is helpful however it's hard to connect with your target audience and make them feel valued. However, there's a bright side for all this information since it has left people hungry for something distinct: a human connection.
One of the best ways to develop a rapport with other people is to tell stories. When we incorporate stories into our content, our content can be transformed from information was shared into a knowledge. This shows that the things that we accomplish earn us more than profit. we're committed to solving the issue and assisting our viewers. This also helps to establish the proper context for every article we create when we combine them in a greater overall picture.
Jeff Bullas
Here are six ways to develop better stories to help you market your content
1. Find an audience for the hero.
The fundamental and essential step to telling a story for your business. You aren't the only character, your customer is. If you focus on your own and your passions, your narratives will be perceived in the form of "hype" and have negative impact. It's instead of building connections with your viewers that they'll turn them off.
It doesn't mean you shouldn't talk about your life. Sharing your stories is essential. Be aware that people will experience your stories like they are living the events. Make sure the content and story are relevant to the audience.
2. Find out where your customers are in "The buyer's journey"
There are hundreds of stories to relate, so which ones will you choose? The stories you tell ought to be a hit with your viewers and will be appropriate to their current needs today. It's crucial to convey your story to make people feel motivated to go ahead with you.
The buyer's journey provides a useful framework to provide a framework for us to understand the thoughts of our customers as they consider whether or not to purchase from us. The Buyer's Journey comprises three key steps: Knowing, Like and trust. We'll look over each one of them:
Be aware: At this stage the target market only has to know about your existence in any way. It is possible that they are unaware of the issues that you are able to resolve. Your stories should paint a picture of an opportunity or a problem that can entice your viewers and motivate them to investigate fast. These stories should be short (your readers won't have much focus on them at this point) and should provide entertaining, emotionally charged or even tangible benefit.
3. Don't reinvent the wheel. Utilize frameworks
In many cases the telling of stories isn't something we do easily. Sure, we "tell stories" but there's a method for telling stories which really resonates to the viewers. Lack of frameworks can be equivalent to creating a fresh story each time you share a story. Frames allow us to take in different angles and discover different ways of thinking which allow our minds to break free from the common mental ruts we find ourselves stuck in.
There are many different designs available. My favorite for telling stories that truly connect with the audience and inspire actions is the Crossroads Formula. It is the Crossroads Formula breaks up the phases of the Buyer's Journey into questions. It then connects them to the various stages that comprise the Hero's Journey.
4. Use it the power of images to tell stories
You don't have to limit yourself to only one media in your storytelling. When you're creating or telling stories, you can include visuals to increase the impact or the message you wish to transmit.
Visuals are processed faster in the brain and they are stored longer than simple text or spoken word. Vision is our strongest sense and visual information is inserted into our minds and we don't even realize that we are doing it. They are able to split large text messages and keep readers interested. They can convey ideas and feelings through ways other forms of communication aren't able to.
It doesn't require to have a Hollywood budget to achieve success with its visual storytelling. Check out Wait But Why? A blog by Tim Urban with millions of people following him ... There is a possibility of being able to purchase incredible visuals. However, the site is full of sketches that appear similar to work created by a child using Paint software in the year 1996...
Here are some easy ways of including images in your website:
Screenshots that contain annotations Do not require expensive layout for this. A screenshot along with some quick notes can enhance the quality of your ideas you convey to your visitors by showing actual examples to support your writing.
Charts and graphs -All you require for telling a great story is a line. Charts and graphs help in the process of taking data and make an image-based story that reflects the fluctuation and growth of information. Look at the way Kurt Vonnegut (my favorite author) transforms classic stories into simple graphs.
Memes Memes Memes Are fantastic as they use familiar concepts and characters and modify them to fit the theme of our information. As per the mere-exposure result that people are more drawn to ideas or images that they are already familiar with, rather than ones which they've never encountered.
Quotes imagesThis is a simple and effective way to include images to your posts. If you are able to add an opinion from an influencer in support of your idea, you can change it into an image that resembles the quote. It makes the person quote look like a rock star (which suggests they're more likely spread the content)
5. Set big goals
Do not rely on the past for stories. You could create your own story by setting goals that are big to your organization.
Stories-driven goals, commonly referred to as BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) will have the effect you would like to leave to the world by your efforts. Your future is created each day through the things you do.
There are a few key advantages of using a A BHAG
- It allows you to discuss your company and your business.A major goal can be a great tool for sparking discussion and interest in discussing your company.
- This HTML0 code is a way to create something bigger than you. It's something greater than yourself. with a major objective, you prove that you're carrying out the tasks that you're doing to achieve more than make money and also to earn much more than just making money. This lets you engage those who share an interest in the mission of your organization and to play your part in making the world better through collaboration together.
- The creates greater meaning for both you and your team It is a way to give meaning to both your team members and yourself. A BHAG doesn't only concern your customers as much as your whole team. Employees will be enthused by the vision you have established, which will increase enthusiasm and loyalty.
In order to create a BHAG you need to set a goal that is specific and linked to the narrative you're telling. If it's measurable you can share your accomplishments and make it concrete. The goal should be to force the individual to push themselves beyond their zone. Your goal-setting process will cause a bit of worry and you'll be wondering "how can I get there?" This pushes your boundaries and prompts you to do something about it.
If you want to know more details about how you can make a BHAG, check out: Storytelling Secret Weapons: How To Create A BHAG
6. Create a "secret recipe"
When you were younger and your mom, grandmother or a person you knew would prepare that special dish that you loved. We'll call it "grandma's lasagna". It was a dish you enjoyed so much that it made it impossible to eat any other lasagna. In truth, it was her favorite lasagna. was not special. lasagna however, because of your personal bond you had with her all the different lasagnas seemed boring...
You can create this "grandma's lasagna" impression for your business through the creation of an "proprietary technique". A proprietary process can be employed to produce an account of the procedure that helped you can achieve certain results.
Imagine Brian Dean's Skyscraper Technique The Skyscraper Technique isn't anything unique in the particular features of the method, but the phrase "Skyscraper" is an everyday phrase used by SEO marketing professionals.
Below are some of the key elements of a procedure which is unique:
- It should be 3 steps.3 steps works best since it's easy to remember and comprehend.
- Let people know that you're not atypical:It must show your humanity, as well as the fact that you have experienced the struggles and frustrations of those you're promoting to.
- Make yourself stand out:Though you can relate with your clients, you've conducted your research or found something that is uniquely qualified to solve the issue.
- Make your heart shine brightly toonnect to your project to your personal experience or the use of an analogy that shows how much you value working on this particular issue.
Another example: I guide my clients through the "The Scalable Storytelling Method":
- Explore - We discover some of the most intriguing parts of your existence.
- Definition - We are clear on how we want the story to be told.
- Delegate - We create an innovative team that will assist you in with telling your story.
For additional examples and details about proprietary methods look up: Storytelling Secret Weapons - A Proprietary Process.
Send your message to the world with better quality content
Storytelling has the potential to have an enormous influence on quality and engagement of your plan for marketing via content. This can spark new ideas of what to develop and add a new dimension of your goal that could motivate the creator to think of new ideas. Be confident and open about your honesty and openness. This helps build the kind of emotional bond that people are searching for.
Start small with your storytelling and be on the lookout on how your audience responds to your story. You should also practice and test your story in normal conversations If they spark the attention of your readers, apply it to your writing.
How do you create narratives with your works? Tell me in the comment section!
Kyle Gray helps entrepreneurs create engaging stories to promote their company that drive sales, growth and improve engagement. Kyle Gray has worked with a variety of startup companies and smaller businesses to devise effective strategies to market via the use of content. His publication The Story Engine outlines his strategies for making marketing with the use of content and storytelling for brands easy and effective.
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