How do you refine storytelling goals and objectives to meet your audience's needs?

Know your audience in a way you can describe it as a your network person, a friend of yours, one who exactly know at what jokes is going to laugh for sure o which film is making him/her cry. You better know its media source of info, what/who influence it, what does it listen to/ watch/ read.

Nowadays, there's an audience eager to devour content on virtually any topic you can imagine. Therefore, if your completed work hasn't found its way to its intended audience, don't be disheartened! Somewhere out there, there's someone – maybe a quirky night owl, an enthusiastic adventurer, or a bewildered seeker – who's ready to embrace your work with open arms. Your goal? Hunt down that ideal reader or viewer who's either got an eclectic taste or an astute mind. Keep the momentum alive! Let your creativity flow and your words or visuals sparkle as you consistently share your work. It's all about that unyielding persistence to connect with that perfect recipient.

I once attended legendary screenwriting coach Robert McKee's three-day STORY screenwriting in course at the LAX Sheridan. He said all great writers know their audience in a God-like way. Which means business storytellers are in the same position. Think of it as understanding the genre of film being created. You wouldn't produce a horror film if you're going to appeal to young families. Or a documentary on flooding caused by wildfires if your audience is eager for a comedy. When I think of my audience I try to imagine the most skeptical, adversarial person in the room and then I tailor the narrative arc and stories to that one person. Because I know that if I can win them over everyone else will come along for the ride, too.

Actually, don’t think about your audience at all. Say what you want to say and your authentic audience will follow. Surprise them Get them out of their comforts zones. Make them think. Tell them something they didn’t know they wanted to know. You can’t do that by crafting something based on data.

Before delving into storytelling, it's crucial to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the company's overarching strategy. This entails delving deep into the organization's objectives, values, mission, and strategic aspirations. Moreover, it's vital to clearly define your target audience. Creating personas is a potent tool for grasping the context in which your employees operate, revealing their desires, challenges, preferences, and even cultural inclinations. This profound understanding serves as the sturdy groundwork upon which you'll construct compelling and impactful stories that resonate with your internal audience.

A key component in the success of every story post on LinkedIn is it's purpose. You are not just narrating an experience, but offering reader a favourable return on their time. Cut out any part that doesn't add to your overall message.

I think the purpose of your presentation goes beyond just raising awareness, generate leads, build trust, drive action, etc. Those are all inherent to a narrative-driven presentation. What you really want to ask yourself about the purpose of your talk are these three things: What do you want your audience to think, feel and do when you are finished? What is your call to action?

A story isn't just a series of words or images; it's an experience that takes shape through the format you choose. For example, Instagram offers a more visual medium where audiences follow their passions. Meanwhile, Facebook invites people to share their thoughts, opinions, and life's milestones with cherished connections. Books, films, and video games? Each extends an invitation to traverse realms of imagination, offering unique levels of audience immersion, agency, and interactivity.

First imagine telling your story with no props, no slipes, no presentation crutches of any kind. Can you own the room by simply telling it well? Once you get that down, then decide if you need imagery and other devices to make it stronger. Quite often, those elements just get in the way of a true story well told.

The best way to find the singular narrative of your message is to use the ABT (And, But, Therefore) agile narrative framework we teach at The Business of Story. It enables you quickly focus your message from your audience's point of view. Identify your audience, describe what they want relative to your offering AND articulate why it's important to them. That's your statement of agreement in your ABT. BUT why don't they have it? What is the problem you are there to reveal and solve? That is your statement of contradiction that lights up the primal problem-solving, decision-making limbic brain. THEREFORE, what does success look like to them and how will you help them achieve it? That's your statement of consequence. Message crafted!

A great story includes key elements like a relatable hero, a formidable antagonist, and an epic confrontation between them. To make the story authentic, there must be a main character the audience can connect with, a relevant challenge to overcome, an honest struggle to defeat this challenge or antagonist, and a valuable lesson. Various narrative frameworks can be employed, such as Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey, the Three-Act structure, the Inverted Pyramid, the Pyramid Principle, the Rule of Three, and the Pixar Pitch.

In order to make a story compelling and engaging, it's important to harness curiosity and unravel mysteries, secrets, and emotions to the hungry reader. After all, readers are intrigued by the unknown, craving to know more about characters who might just be their mirror image or an enigmatic figure from another world. The questions linger: Who are they? What's their purpose? And why should we invest our precious time diving into their world?

Facebook’s algorithms favour celebrity, entertainment and gossip over content that is local, community focused or newsworthy. I would take advice dispensed on this platform with a grain of salt