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There’s Nothing Better Than a Good Story

By November 15, 2018February 16th, 2023No Comments

A simple and powerful way to create connections.

Since the beginning of time, stories have transported us to a different time and place. More importantly, they have the power to insert us into the story as if we are experiencing it ourselves. Great stories resonate with us because they share a belief or value that we embrace. That’s why they’re memorable and persuasive.

Movies are a great example of compelling storytelling. It’s why we laugh, cry, cover our eyes, or yell at the screen when one of our values is violated. Most of the information we experience in our everyday lives is in the form of a story: texts, news, sports highlights, reality shows, or even a conversation with a co-worker.

In its purest form, a story has three fundamental elements: 1. a character 2. overcoming an obstacle 3. to reach a goal. The same factors apply when you build your business story.

Building a Powerful Business Story

Let’s apply the format to your business. A business with a product or service (the character) wants to bring awareness (the obstacle) to consumers to make a purchase and share their positive experience with others (the goal). That’s a simplistic example, but creating a powerful and lasting connection between your business and your customers is a complicated marketing journey.

What a Powerful Business Story is Not

Let’s look at a standard business story, “Tom needs a lawnmower to cut his grass. He went to the store and bought a Lawn Monster 27″ mulching lawnmower with premium direct drive, ultra mulching blade technology, and electric start. Tom loves how great his lawn looks, and it takes less time to cut than with other lawnmowers. Buy a Lawn Monster mower today!” The story does communicate the product, points of difference, and a call to action to buy one, but it’s a pretty dull story. It creates no connection because it’s product-focused rather than customer-focused.

A Better Approach

Now let’s reword it to create a connection. “To the homeowner who understands the value of reliable lawn equipment, and considers a well-trimmed lawn a reflection of themselves. Who politely dismisses the compliments from friends and neighbors, but quietly feels a sense of pride. Lawn Monster mowers don’t cut grass; they make lawnscapes.” The difference between the two stories is apparent. The first one has no personal connection, and the second one puts the consumer into the story by connecting what the brand stands for with what the consumer believes or values.

Connections like the above are far more likely to turn consumers into customers and hopefully into cheerleaders for your business. Nike is a good example. It sells all types of athletic equipment, but what it sells is entirely different from the story it tells. Nike’s brand stands for achievement, perseverance, discipline, and dedication. You can see it in their tagline, “Just Do It.”. It resonates because it’s the same thing that the little voice in our head says when we’re deciding whether to go to lunch or to go for a run. Great relationships are built on shared values–not products.

We’re interested in hearing your story and how we can help you with your next print marketing project. Let’s talk.