Which is more likely to draw you in?
‘Hey you, buy my stuff!’
Or
‘Can I tell you how I discovered that you can look and feel 10 years younger by changing one simple thing?’
I think we all know the answer is not the direct sale pitch! These days the market is flooded with messaging. Information is available in the palm of your hand 24 hours a day. Because of that, people have become very savvy at screening out the things that don’t interest them. They are looking for more than a sales pitch and that is why storytelling is such a powerful tool when it comes to marketing.
Why You Need Storytelling In Marketing
The more promotional sales messages people see in your content, the faster they will stop reading. And if they aren’t reading your content, then how can you tell them about all of the great ways your business can help them?
On the other hand, people love a good story. They love to peek behind the curtain of a business, they love to hear juicy gossip, and read about relatable things that might have happened to them. Storytelling in marketing is a great way to tap into people’s emotions and illicit a response from them. And if they like what you have written, you just might convince them to like, comment, or share your content.
There are three reasons that storytelling in marketing works…
1: Interest
It is way more interesting to read a story than it is to read a page of facts and figures. There is a reason that children love to have a story before bedtime. It engages their curiosity, it transports them to a wonderful world, and they are entertained. While we may not hang out to read Cinderella ten times in a row as adults, we still want to be captivated by a great story.
Most people never lose their love of learning. Curiosity gets the better of us, and we let ourselves get pulled into a tale that is compelling. We will invest time into finding out what is going to happen in the end. When people read your content they are investing time and energy into your business because they are truly interested in what you have to say.
2: Trust
Stories have a magical way of gaining trust. By sharing a personal story with your readers, they will feel like they know you a little bit better. You can build your relationship with them in this intimate storytelling moment. If they like what they read, then they will return for more stories in the future.
3: Memorability
Let me ask you this, is it easier to remember a line of statistics, or the content of a great story? Unless you have a photographic memory then you are going to say the story. Using this tactic in your marketing allows your business to be more memorable to your readers.
How Can You Use Storytelling In Your Business Marketing?
The simple way is to create interesting content that your audience will want to read. Don’t be afraid to get a little bit personal and to craft a tale that is compelling. Don’t simply talk about your products and services, instead paint a picture of the life your clients would have if their biggest problem was solved by your business.
Tell them about your brand, about your vision, about the dreams you have for your business. People want to connect with people. So if you can show them the person behind your business, then you will have a greater chance of building that vital trust aspect.
You should always have storytelling in mind when you are crafting your content, including your:
- Blogs and articles
- Regular ewsletter
- Social Media Posts
- Brand Story
- Advertising
- Marketing Material
- Quotes and Proposals
For your story to have the most power, you need to have a plan for how you are going to tell it and across which mediums. That is where I can help you. A comprehensive digital marketing plan will allow you to reach your target audience with the right kind of content. Don’t hesitate to contact me today and we can work out how you are going to maximise the use storytelling in marketing your business.