6 Tips for Telling More Effective stories in your content marketing

These days, with the increasing volume of noise, online and offline and off-line, the average user's attention span is like that of a sleepy goldfish. Even when you have a wealth of information, it's not easy to connect with your target individuals and keep them interested. There's also a bright side to all this noise, because it's left people starving for something very specific: a human connection.

One of the best ways to build a relationship with others is by telling stories. When we incorporate stories into our posts, we transform the content shared into knowledge. Our work is does not only serve the purpose of earning a profit. we care about coming up with solutions as well as helping our users. Additionally, it aids in creating a sense of context among the different items of content we produce as we weave them together in a greater picture.

Jeff Bullas

Here are six ways to improve storytelling when you market your content:

1. Make an audience to become the hero.

The very first and the most vital aspect of storytelling for your company. The hero is not you, your customer is. If you are focused on your own and your interests, your, the tales you share appear to be "hype" and have an opposite impact. Instead of making the connection you want to with your audience it will turn them off.

This doesn't mean that you should not tell stories of your journey. Sharing your stories is essential. Keep in mind that the audience will experience your tales as if were living the stories. Make sure the experience and message are relevant to the audience.

     2. Find out who your audience is within "The buyer's journey"

There are hundreds of stories to tell, which should you pick? Your stories should be ones which connect with your readers and relate to their needs today. The goal is to share experiences that make people feel encouraged to make the next move by sharing it with them.

The buyer's experience provides a great framework to help us understand the state of mind of our audience as they're deciding whether or not they'd prefer to purchase from us. The journey of a buyer comprises three main steps: Be a Trusted Buyer and like, then know. Let's look at each of them:

Learn: At this stage your target audience only needs to know you exist in any way. They might not be conscious of issues you have to solve. The stories you tell here should paint a picture of opportunities or problems that can draw their attention and interest quick. They should be concise (your readers won't have a lot of a focus on you yet) and provide either entertaining, emotionally charged or even actionable worth.

     3. Don't reinvent the wheel. make use of frameworks

We all know it difficult to tell stories because it doesn't comes naturally. We "tell stories" however, there's a way for telling stories which really resonates to your viewers. Without frameworks, it's difficult to come up with a new idea when you tell a story. Frames enable us to explore new ideas and new ways of thinking that help us to escape from the mental traps that which we're stuck within.

There are a variety of structures to choose from, but my favourite method for presenting stories that resonate with the audience and spur actions can be found in the Crossroads Formula. It is the Crossroads Formula breaks up the stages of the Buyer's Journey into questions, and aligns these questions to the different stages in the Hero's Journey.

     4. Make use of the power of visual storytelling

You shouldn't be restricted to one medium to tell the telling of your stories. While you're telling or writing your tales, you can add visuals that improve the impact on your audience or convey an idea you're trying convey.

Images of visuals are processed more rapidly by our brains and are retained better as opposed to spoken or written words. Vision is our strongest sense and its signals from visual images cut through to our subconscious even without being conscious. They cut up large texts to keep the reader interested. They're able to communicate concepts and emotions in a manner unlike other forms of communication can't.

It isn't necessary to have the Hollywood budget to achieve success in visual storytelling. Have a look at Wait, What's the Story? A blog of Tim Urban with millions of fans ... The blog would have some cash for stunning visuals, but it is full of pencil sketches of stick figures, which appear like work done by an 11 year old using paint software back in the year 1996...

Here are a few simple methods to include images to your content:

Screenshots with annotated notes There is no need for a costly design here, an image that is accompanied by some quick notes will enhance the quality of your ideas to visitors through the use of actual examples to support your argument.

Charts, diagrams -All you need to tell an engaging story is a line. Diagrams and charts help understand data and tell the story of images that reflect the rise and fall of the information. Look at the way Kurt Vonnegut (my favorite author) converts stories from the past into graphs that are simple.

Memes HTML0 Memes Memes are amazing since they use familiar concepts and characters and modify them to a new setting of our subject. In accordance with the simple-exposure effect that we tend to prefer concepts or pictures they are familiar with instead of ones that are new to them.

Quotes imagesThis is a quick and efficient way to add images to your posts. If you use an influential source to support your concept, make a quote picture. This makes the person you quoted look like a rockstar too (which increases their likelihood to promote your blog posts)

     5. Set big goals

Do not rely on your past to discover stories, you can create your own stories by setting high-level goals to your organization.

Goals based on stories, commonly referred to as goals based on stories. They are also referred to as BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) are the kind of effect you'd like to make in the world with your work. The world that which you make day in and day out with the activities you perform.

There are several key benefits to using an BHAG

• The HTML0 format permits you to discuss your company. It makes it simple to speak about your companyA important goal is to be an effective tool that can spark discussion and interest in talking about your business.
• Creates something larger than you - With a big goal it shows that you're doing your work to do more than earn profits, but in order to earn more than profit. It is then possible to engage people who are interested in your cause, and do a part in improving the quality of life by working alongside you.
• It is more important for you and your team This is because a BHAG does not only affect the customers you serve, but also your entire team. The employees you employ will be encouraged by the goal you've established, which will increase loyalty and motivation.

In order for the BHAG to be created the first step is to have a concrete target that's tied to the story you're telling. If you're able to measure it, you'll be able to prove your accomplishments and make it tangible. This should force the person to step out of their comfort environment. The thought of your goals could cause anxiety and leave you wondering "how will I get there?" This pushes your boundaries and prompts you to get involved.

To learn more about how you can make an the BHAG, read this article: Storytelling Secret Weapons - How To Create A BHAG

     6. Create a "secret recipe"

When you were young and your grandmother, mom or the person loved cooking that special dish that you loved. We'll refer to it as "grandma's lasagna". It was a dish which you adored and found it impossible to enjoy another lasagna. In truth, the grandmother did not make any distinctive lasagna, due to the emotional feeling of connection you felt to her. All the others' lasagnas were bland...

It's possible to achieve this "grandma's lasagna" result for your company through the creation of the concept of a "proprietary procedure". The phrase "proprietary procedure" is a way to present a tale of what you are able to do to achieve specific outcomes.

Visualize Brian Dean's Skyscraper Technique There's nothing special about the various aspects of this technique but the phrase "Skyscraper" is a common used by SEO marketing professionals.

Here are some of the key elements of a proprietary process:

1. Create it in 3 stages3 steps is the most effective because it's easy to comprehend and remember.
2. Inform people that you're not typical:It should point to your humanity as well and share your struggles and the frustrations of your viewers.
3. You're different:Though you're able to connect with your customer, you've also completed the task or discovered a secret that allows you to be uniquely qualified to tackle the issue.
4. Let it be clear you're interested in the issue by trying toonnect your efforts to an individual story or even a metaphor that shows the reason you are interested in the solution to this specific issue.

Another instance: I guide my customers through "The Scalable Storytelling Method":

• Find - We search for interesting elements in your story.
• Get crystal clear about how we would like this story to be communicated.
• Delegate - We build an innovative team that you can receive assistance in telling your story.

For more information and examples regarding proprietary processes check out: Storytelling Secret Weapons - A Proprietary Process.

Get your readers involved with higher quality information

Stories can have a significant impact on the quality and engagement of your marketing through content. This can lead to new concepts of how to develop your strategy and give a different understanding of what you want to achieve with marketing. It can also inspire your team to develop even more. Make sure you are confident and transparent about what you are honest and transparent. This helps to create an emotional bond your viewers are in search of.

Beginning with the basics of storytelling and keep a careful watch on how people react when you tell your story. Practice and evaluate your story in normal conversations, and if they pique the listener's curiosity you can incorporate it into your writing.

What do you use to make storytelling part of your writing? Comment below!

Kyle Gray helps entrepreneurs create compelling narratives for their businesses that drive sales, growth and boost engagement. Kyle Gray has worked with hundreds of startup and small companies to design successful and sustainable strategies for content marketing. The publication The Story Engine outlines his method of developing content marketing as well as the art of storytelling for brands simple and efficient.

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