Why is storytelling so important to your brand?

By Marla Dennis
Personal Branding, Business Innovation

and Social Media Savvy Expert

www.ecreativebiz.com

Why is storytelling a key strategy to your compelling brand as a value driven business owner?

People connect to stories. They are humanizing. People can relate to brands through stories. We are looking to tell your story, your life via your brand that inspires others to take an action. Then, all the tech tools make sense and become easy.

Your personal brand is your mark in the world as an authentic, natural, organic, expression of who you are. The content of your personal brand creates a strong emotional connection to the heart, mind, spirit, and soul of your market.

This is where conversion happens.

Here’s what you must do first…define the compelling YOU. (More in a bit how)

Ok, now I know you may be saying, “Does my life really need to be told? Are the every day personal and business struggles, successes, and challenges really making a difference for others?

Yes. More than you’ll ever know.

Humans are wired to empathize with other humans. When we read or hear an inspiring story - we can’t help but apply it to our own lives and seize the moment! The heart of your brand is your everyday stories, photos and videos you share on Facebook, your blog, your ezine, your Twitter posts and more. People take an action when they are inspired. You want that post on Facebook or article on your blog to inspire or educate or both to move people to action. When it’s done in first person conversational and catered to your market’s needs and lifestyles, now you have a winning combo.

Today’s media channels make it easy to deliver a personal brand unlike pre-social media time when traditional mediums (newspaper, TV radio and magazines) required a publicist or agency to do the handy work for you and thousands of dollars. Back in the day I had to plan, design, push, sell ideas and deliver content to the media on my client’s behalf to acquire a decent write up or radio interview. Not anymore. You have all the goods at your fingertips with a creative spin and your authenticity.

Connection. The art of storytelling; it's in your DNA.

Your personal brand is your most powerful asset in your business. Why? It speaks to your emotional core. It connects you to your audience on your social networks and offline. It’s the leading edge in marketing today. You can no longer separate your “personal” from your “business” while marketing. It’s one-in-the-same. And we have the extraordinary power of Social Media to thank for that.

See, many still have a challenge transitioning their offline world onto the virtual world. And, rightfully so. It can be hard to wrap your head around this virtual world and expect people to “get” who you are. Today’s marketing requires us to be very authentic and transparent using Social Media because of the nature of this virtual world. 

The secret is by delivering in authentic conversational form 1^st person (all your marketing), we can translate our offline lives onto this virtual platform that offers outstanding networking and relationship building for our businesses. Essentially, I am giving you permission to be YOU in all your marketing! No “business” façade; the real you in savvy style.

Furthermore, it’s the accumulation of your postings on your networks that form your “personality” and your compelling story, which is your brand. Here’s the good news accentuated by Peter Guber in his book, “Tell to Win”

“There’s a treasure to be discovered, and it’s inside you. Built into your DNA are humanity’s ten-thousand-plus years of telling and listening to oral stories. This veneration of story is a force so powerful and enduring that it has shaped cultures, religions, whole civilizations. Now through telling to win, you can harness this force to achieve your most cherished goals.”

Monetize what comes natural to you. Women are fabulous at this! We love to connect and we are savvy story tellers in everyday life. We love to talk. Tell your story and other stories with emotion, drama, compelling twists and turns. Bring the audience in. We are taking people from their head to their hearts as they listen (video) or read your content with the core of your personal brand at play.

When you master the art of storytelling, you can win at most endeavors because you are igniting the common bond: emotion; and that will always move people to action.

Peter continues…“Today everyone, whether they know it or not - is in the emotional transportation business. More and more, success is won by creating compelling stories that have the power to move people to action. Simply put, if you can't tell it, you can't sell it."

To begin forming your personal brand, answer these four questions:

1. What are your five leading personal qualities that define you the most?
2. What are five passions that light you up and magnetize people to you?
3. Five recent successes and gratitudes.
4. What were some of your most challenging times that resulted in a reinvention or upleveling of your life? (transformation)

Speak your truth! Be you. Your mindfully chosen communities will reward you by being loyal and committed to stick around for a while.

And that’s a sign of conversion. That is how you monetize YOU. So go on…get out there and tell your story with dignity and gusto! Connect with your audience and they will be loyal followers and clients for years to come!

With gratitude

Chief Inspiration Officer

eCreativebiz.com