People buy into people
You are not just selling a product or service, you are selling you and your unique brand. Always be true to yourself, never attempt to be anything else, Authenticity is key to good storytelling, so always tell your story in your words.
Telling your story helps build connections with your clients, this is happening with every piece of marketing you put out, whether it be on your website, social media or in person networking (remember those times?). Make sure you are showing who YOU are at all times. Create a strong personal connection with your audience by telling them your story.
Knowing your story.
Knowing your story is not necessarily easy, you will need to spend some time brainstorming, really thinking through who you are and what stories you have to tell. Think through what your brand vales are, your colors, all of these feed into your story. My clients are always given a brand questionnaire which greatly helps pull their ideas together.
Think of the stories that have shaped your life, these can be small moments or large impactful moments. Also, take a moment to write down who you are, why you do what you do, and what you have to offer potential clients, this is also a part of your story.
My stories include losing my first husband at the age of 26, travelling the world for 10 years, and becoming an Ex-Pat with my husband and 2 small children. These are all huge events that have shaped my life, but I have small stories too, like the time I dropped my motorbike right outside an English pub. I couldn’t pick it up, I was stuck…Of all the people to come to my aid, it was a group of women, in floaty dresses, not the burly biker men…It’s quite a story, I will tell it sometime.
What is a story?
A story is not a list of facts. Random photos, a list of ingredients or high value promises. A story happens in a particular moment, it pulls at our emotions and it gives us something to care about.
If you want to sell, start with an engaging conversation, your stories are powerful and uniquely memorable. In ‘Stories that Stick’ by Kindra Hall, she talks about the type of stories we should tell, here are a few of ideas taken from her book.
The value story – These are stories that convince clients they need what we provide.
The founder story – Used to persuade clients that your business is worth their investment.
The customer story – Allow those who use your service/products to tell their authentic experiences they have had.
Visual storytelling
This has become an important part of your story telling and your marketing. It gives a visual to your story, and grabs your clients’ attention with unique, on brand images that showcase who you are and truly tell your story. Having tailored images greatly defines you and your brand and will visually tell your story.
So, tell me, what is your story? I would love to hear snippets of what makes you who you are and what drives you to do what you do.
