I have a friend who works in real estate. Sometimes, he’ll ask me for advice on digital marketing. My number one tip is to start a blog. He’s always a little taken aback by that idea — and I get it. Blogging is a big time investment.
But I can’t help it. I’m a content marketer. I love blogging, and I think it’s one of the most effective ways to promote a business. Now, I’m not going to suggest that every small business needs a blog. In fact, I think a lot of small businesses would be better off without one. But I’m going to suggest it to you, because you’re a HubSpot reader. You understand the importance of content marketing, and you want to make it work for your business.
What is storytelling in marketing?
Storytelling in marketing involves using a narrative structure to connect with your audience on an emotional level and to get them to take action.
The most effective marketing stories are those that are customer-centric, meaning they focus on the customer, not the brand. This helps to build trust and credibility and can ultimately lead to more sales and conversions.
Marketing stories can take many forms, from video to blog posts to social media updates. The key is to use a narrative structure to create a compelling story that gets your audience to take the action you want them to take.
Why is storytelling in marketing so effective?
There are many reasons why storytelling is so effective in marketing. Here are just a few:
• It helps you connect with your audience on an emotional level. People buy from people, and when you share your brand’s story, you’re showing your audience the human side of your business. This can help you build trust and create a stronger connection with your customers.
• It makes your content more memorable. People are bombarded with marketing messages every day, and it’s easy for your brand to get lost in the noise. However, when you tell a story, you make your content more memorable. This can help you stand out from the competition and increase brand recall.
• It can help you explain complex ideas. If your business offers a product or service that’s difficult to explain, storytelling can be a powerful tool. By using a narrative, you can break down complex ideas and make them easier for your audience to understand.
• It can help you build brand awareness. When you tell a compelling story, people are more likely to share it with their friends and family. This can help you increase brand awareness and reach new potential customers.
What are the elements of storytelling in marketing?
So, what’s the secret to great storytelling in marketing? It all starts with a compelling narrative.
We’ve all seen those boring, run-of-the-mill brand stories that lack a clear beginning, middle, or end. The key to making your brand story stand out is to make sure it follows a clear and simple narrative structure.
A good brand story should include the following elements:
• A relatable hero: Your hero is the main character in your story. In this case, your hero is your ideal customer. Your hero should be relatable and easy for your audience to identify with.
• A problem or conflict: Every great story has a problem or conflict that needs to be solved. This is where your audience’s pain points come into play. By identifying the problems your audience is facing, you can create a compelling conflict that will hook them from the beginning.
• A guide: In many stories, the hero has a guide who helps them navigate the conflict and come out on the other side. In your brand story, your guide is your company. Your guide is there to help your hero overcome their problems and live a better life.
• A solution: Every great story has a satisfying ending. In your brand story, the solution is the happy ending. By using your product or service, your hero is able to overcome their problems and live a better life.
• A call to action: Your call to action is the next step you want your audience to take after they’ve read or watched your brand story. In many cases, your call to action will be to buy your product or service. But it could also be to sign up for your email list, follow you on social media, or contact your sales team.
1. A hero
Every story needs a hero, and your brand’s story is no different. This can be your brand as a whole, a specific product or service, or even a customer.
Your hero should be the focal point of your story. What drives them? What are their goals? What challenges are they facing? How does your brand help them overcome these challenges and achieve their goals? Answering these questions will help you better understand your hero and, in turn, help you better tell your story.
2. A conflict
In this stage, you’ll introduce a problem that your character faces. This could be anything from a challenge to an opportunity. But, it’s important to note that the best conflicts are those that your audience can relate to.
If your conflict is too extreme or too bland, you’ll lose the attention of your audience. You want to find a happy medium that shows your character facing a problem that’s just big enough to grab the attention of your audience, but not so big that they can’t relate to it.
3. A resolution
The resolution is the final piece of the narrative puzzle, and it’s where you’ll provide the solution to the problem you introduced in the conflict.
In the resolution, you’ll want to show how the character overcame the conflict and how the conflict helped them grow. You’ll also want to show how the conflict, and the character’s growth, led to a change in their life. This change is what we call the transformation.
4. A moral
The most memorable stories are the ones that teach us something. Look for a moral to your story that can be used to inspire, motivate or connect with your audience. The moral doesn’t have to be stated outright, but you want to make sure it’s clear to you and your team.
The moral of your story can be used to connect with your audience on an emotional level. If you can tap into your audience’s emotions, you can motivate them to take action. This is a powerful tool that can be used to drive sales and build brand loyalty.
How to use storytelling in marketing
Now that we’ve covered what storytelling in marketing is, let’s discuss how you can use it to connect with your audience and grow your business.
1. Identify your target audience
Before you start telling stories, you need to know who you’re telling them to. Your target audience will shape the type of stories you tell, the language you use, and the marketing channels you use to distribute your content.
If you’re not sure who your target audience is, you can use Alexa’s Audience Overlap Tool to find websites that are similar to yours and see what their audience looks like. This will give you a good idea of who you should be targeting with your marketing efforts.
1. Know your audience
Storytelling is an art, and like any art, it requires a deep understanding of your audience. You wouldn’t write a symphony for a rock concert any more than you would write a hip-hop album for a string quartet.
Before you begin crafting your story, take some time to get to know your audience. What are their pain points? What are their dreams? What are their fears? What are their goals? The more you know about your audience, the better you’ll be able to craft a story that resonates with them.
One of the most effective ways to get to know your audience is to create a customer persona. A customer persona is a detailed profile of your ideal customer. It includes information like their age, gender, occupation, income level, and more. The more detailed you can make your customer persona, the better.
2. Choose the right story
Once you have your target audience in mind, it’s time to think about what kind of story will be most effective.
For example, a new company that’s trying to build trust with potential customers might want to share a personal story about why they started the business.
On the other hand, a more established company might want to share a story about a customer who had a great experience with their product or service.
Your story should be relevant to your target audience and help you achieve your marketing goals.
3. Make it authentic
Customers are smart. They can tell when a story is authentic and when it’s not. So, if you’re going to tell a story, make sure it’s real.
For example, if the story involves a customer, get a testimonial. If the story is about your company, use real employees to tell the story.
If you’re going to invent a story, make sure it’s clear that it’s a work of fiction. Use it to illustrate a point, but don’t try to pass it off as real.
4. Make it visual
You’ve already heard that videos are a great way to tell a story. But, not everyone has the time or the budget to create video content.
Luckily, you can still create visually appealing stories with images and graphics.
To create a visual story, you’ll need to decide what type of visuals you want to use. You can use stock images, custom graphics, or even create an infographic.
One of the best ways to tell a visual story is with a presentation. You can use a tool like Storydocto create a product proposal or a simple presentation with images and graphics, and then add text to tell your story.
You can also use a tool like Slides to create a more interactive slideshow with video and audio.
No matter what type of visuals you choose, make sure that they are high-quality and relevant to your story.
5. Make it shareable
The most successful marketing campaigns are those that get shared. The more your audience shares your content, the more people you’ll reach.
Make it easy for your audience to share your content by including social share buttons on your website and blog. You can also create social media posts with shareable content, such as quotes and statistics, that link back to your website.
Storytelling in marketing: the bottom line
In the end, storytelling in marketing is about building a connection with your audience. It’s about creating content that’s engaging and that resonates with your customers. It’s about taking a step back from the hard sell and focusing on the bigger picture.
If you can nail storytelling in your marketing, you’ll be able to grow your business, build a loyal customer base, and make a real impact in your industry.
Conclusion
Storytelling is a powerful way to connect with your audience — it’s human and personal. Use these tips to craft compelling stories your customers will love, and watch your brand grow.