There’s a reason so many of us flock to the movies or spend hours reading novels – it’s because we love to get lost in a good story. If you ever listen to a good conversation, you’ll notice that a lot of connection happens when people share stories with each other.
Storytelling is a powerful technique for building relationships. It’s an age-old concept that brings people together and keeps them engaged. It doesn’t matter where in the world you’re based or how much funding your startup has.
A good story holds the listeners’ interest, builds feelings of connection between narrator and audience, and provides a satisfying conclusion.
Good stories give big voices to small ventures. That’s why it’s mission-critical that brands take the time up front to fully develop their approaches to storytelling.
On a daily basis, consumers (myself included) face advertising overload. Marketers are constantly competing for my attention. But truthfully, only the best storytellers get my attention.
Let me tell brands the secret of how to get my attention in this age of advertising overload:
- Make truth the cornerstone of everything you create. Your story should feature real people, real situations, genuine emotions, and facts. As much as possible, it should show, not tell. It should explain–in terms people can relate to–how your company adds value to my life.
- Your story should offer a fresh perspective: What’s interesting about your company? Why is it important to me?
- Even if your company sells to other companies, focus on how your products or services touch the lives of actual people. By the way, when writing about people, follow this rule: Be specific enough to be believable and universal enough to be relevant.
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This article was first published on 18th October 2017
ebukaeze
Ebuka Ezeji is an analytical digital strategist who has implemented end-to-end digital strategy solutions for several international and Nigerian brands. Ebuka was recognized by the CEO of Google Sundar Pichai at the just concluded Google For Nigeria event for his contribution to the Google Digital Skills for Africa project.
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