Storytelling Techniques Will Grow Your Business
Have you ever told a story that had your listeners engaged and fascinated and wanting to hear more? That is storytelling. Storytelling is the art of bringing a story to life in a memorable and entertaining way. I’m going to share some powerful storytelling techniques with you to empower you as an entrepreneur.
This morning I shared a true story with my online community in my email message to them. Here it is…
Last night I dreamed of hosting a small group event where I passed out my card deck at every table. Then I had everyone take a card, share it with their table mates, and have a discussion. Then one person from each table came up to the podium to share their thoughts and conclusions with the group. I have no idea what the cards were about because I haven’t created my card deck yet!
To better clarify what I am referring to here, a card deck is like a deck of playing cards, except each card is designed by you and is a part of your life or business you want to share with others. For my business I will create two card decks; one that will go through each of the multiple streams of income I have created in my online business, such as affiliate marketing and information product creation; and another where I will repurpose the 50 ways I use relationship marketing to increase my bottom line to earn huge profits, from my book of the same name.
Top Tips for Great Storytelling Techniques
Great storytelling begins with a great story. How you tell a story is very important, but what you tell is just as important as how you tell it. Whether you’re speaking to a group, writing a report, or a clever email, a great story is the foundation for success.
There are all sorts of great stories. Some are:
- Funny
- Insightful
- Inspiring
- Suspenseful
- Poignant
- Educational
No matter if your story is humorous or tugs at the heart strings, there are important things to remember when creating a great story. Here are some top tips for creating a great story.
Top Tip #1: Choose the right story for the right audience
Your story might be perfect, but is it perfect for this audience? Be sure your story is the right one for the group you are trying to influence. You wouldn’t want to talk about your hunting trip with an audience of vegans nor would you want to talk about alternative meat products with an audience of hunters. Get the right story in front of the right audience to ensure the message is well received and lands the point you are trying to make.
Top Tip #2: Have a clear beginning, middle, and ending
Every good story has a clear starting point, middle, and a conclusion. Make sure your story follows this format so your audience can move along to the natural conclusions you want them to have. Forgetting key elements of your story or assuming people will fill in any blanks could leave them confused. Good stories hit the high and low notes, so the audience is fully engaged and committed to the story.
Top Tip #3: Make the characters interesting
Good storytelling helps the audience imagine themselves in a similar situation. Develop the characters of your story so the audience feels for them and can relate to what’s going on. Make your characters interesting and multidimensional. If you are the character of your story, use humor or relatable emotions to help the audience fully understand where you are coming from. You want the audience to have a strong emotional investment in what’s happening to the character.
You’re sure to have some great stories that will delight, entertain, and educate your audiences. Be sure to structure them in the right way so you make the most of your content and get the most engagement. Be sure to choose the best story for your audience, make sure to have a clear beginning, middle, and ending, and develop your characters so people can relate to them. Following these storytelling techniques tips and concepts will help you develop a great story that will leave your audience wanting more.
Practical Uses for Stories that Engage Audiences
Storytelling doesn’t have to be overwhelming. There’s no need to overthink what a good story is or when to use a great story to connect with your audience. Most typical reasons you connect with your audience are an opportunity to share a story. While some stories are more formalized and planned, some stories can be anecdotal and off-the-cuff.
Here are some practical uses for stories that will engage all types of audiences:
Share Stories With Your Audience Via Email
Having a list is a wonderful way to connect with people. Email subscribers expect to get valuable information from you regularly. This is a great opportunity to share an anecdotal story about your day or what’s happening in the world at the moment.
Email is a great way to use your personality in conjunction with storytelling. If you’re funny, share a tidbit of something that happened to you or someone you know that will get readers laughing. If you’re philosophical, share an inspiring story that will uplift and encourage your audience.
Use Stories to Illustrate Your Point When Dealing One-to-One
Engaging clients or customers face-to-face or one-to-one is a great time to use stories to build credibility or illustrate what you are teaching. Telling personal stories in an intimate setting like coaching or a sales call can humanize the experience and make things more personal.
Use coaching time to share an example of a time when you were confused, uninformed, or baffled, and how you got out of the situation and became wiser and better equipped to deal with life. Your clients and customers will appreciate your vulnerability and access to your inner journey.
Use Social Media to Engage Followers with Your Stories
Social media is a great outlet to share stories. Some platforms like Instagram offer an option called “stories” to share day-to-day information. Use the video features to express yourself, share a fun or interesting story, and build engagement and authority.
Consider creating a themed form of storytelling on social media. Have fun with it – share your commentary on the weather every day or pick a funny theme you can focus on that will make you stand out from the crowd. Consistency and enthusiasm are the keys to engaging people and building your audience.
There are very practical uses for stories in your everyday marketing and engagement. Stories aren’t just for platform speakers. You can find unique ways to use stories to engage and excite your audiences – whether you are sending them a quick email, a sales page, or engaging them via social media. Please reach out to me to share how you have used these storytelling techniques to enhance and grow your business.
I’m author, publisher, and entrepreneur Connie Ragen Green and would love to connect with you. If you’re new to the world of online entrepreneurship please check out my training on How to Sell Yourself and Your Stuff and learn how to gain an unfair advantage with an abundance mindset when it comes to building a lucrative online business.
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