Become a Branding Mastermind: A Complete Guide to Crafting a Powerful Brand Story and Voice. An equivalent to a 10-hour course.

The power of storytelling in your marketing strategy.

(Okay so first of all if you're not already sitting with a notebook or some device to type notes on, you'll miss out.)

In today's market when competition is touching the skies. It is very important to capture your audience's attention. And, the best way to do it is through storytelling marketing.

Whether you're a startup, a large corporation, or a B2B company, incorporating storytelling in your marketing strategy can help you stand out and create meaningful connections with your audience. In this article, you will get to learn exactly that. How to become a great storyteller for your brand.

?

The more the world is leaning towards AI the more the importance of stories and authentic branding is increasing.

Understand your story, then narrate it the best.

?

People, clients and your customers don't connect with a logo, they connect with a person, the face, the brand, the story and the emotions.

?

Stories bring in that tinge of emotion you would need after a page of logic.

You need to put data in storytelling and make it digestible.

?

Stories make taking things in easier. Even after all of us know that Spider-Man is not real, we all would stand up to defend Tom Holland. Isn't that right?

Oh, I surely would!

Okay, think for yourself.

"This is how you can make 1000$ in one day."

?

Or maybe it can be - "This is how I made 1000$ a day, it wasn't easy for you it can be."

?

?When I and You came into the equation it made it easier for your reader to see themselves in your position, someone who's earning 1000$ a day.

?

Now I would write the exact way I have been able to implement storytelling in marketing myself.

?

Do you want a definition?

Well, let me give you one by my side.

?

"Storytelling marketing is the art of using narratives to communicate your brand's message to your target audience."

It's all about creating a genuine emotional connection with your customers through a compelling story that resonates with them on a personal level. In simple language, we've always been connected with stories, it is the time when you ignite that back.

What is the importance you may want to know?

Today's customers are more interested in brands that convey their value and identity through their stories. Storytelling humanizes your brand and offers a unique way to set yourself apart from the crowd.

?

Plus, you built trust, loyalty and long-term business success with your customers.

?

What storytelling can do for brands?

As Gregory Ciotti said, "Stories are how we understand ourselves, and until we can understand ourselves, we can't understand our customers."

?

Effective storytelling has the power to change your audience's perception of your brand.

?

So what do you have to do and what it would do for you?

?

• Craft an amazing narrative that resonates with your audience.
• Inspire your audience to take action in your favour.
• Emotional connection= Built brand recognition.
• Set yourself away from the crowd.
• Increasing consumer loyalty.

How to integrate storytelling marketing into your content?

?

Social media campaigns, Product descriptions, blog posts and email newsletters all of them can have stories.

By using storytelling marketing you can make your content relatable and engaging.

Leading to higher engagement rates and more conversions.

?

These are the elements of powerful brand storytelling.

?

1. Empathy- Your audience should be able to see themselves in your story.
2. Attention-grabbing- Establish a distinct voice and make sure you show your personality through every content which goes out.
3. Authentic - You should be honest about your value and should know how to communicate them. If you are saying that simplicity is your value then your content should show it. The majority of brands have simplicity as their value. Still their brand?

- Using filler words.

?- Filled with jargon.

- Using super formal language.

- Monotonous instead of boring.

-Implemented a task instead of - we did this.

4. Relatable- Avoid using jargon simply. Okay, I'll tell you one rule which makes it easier for you to do that. Imagine- You're sitting on your balcony thinking about the day, and how it has been till now.

What do your thoughts sound like?

Let me guess…. Are they like?

"I, as a dedicated, cooperative and hardworking professional have been able to implement one of the case studies which was indeed a tedious task."

Ouch. No right?

Exactly no one thinks like that.

It's more something like-

"Yeah so I did this case study, damn it was easy for me. I should work harder you know, I have been doing great."

This means, when no one thinks like this, no one innately understands this language. It takes them time to process something which sounds so hard.

Make your language as easy as your thoughts sound. You can edit it to be a little polished but that's the rule.

If you don't think like that. Stop writing that.

5. Consistency- I am bad at this one but your audience should know when to expect things from you. The offers sales services and more.

6. Provoken action- Find a place in your story as compared to the market did with Aleksandr- to place your call to action and push the audience into becoming customers.

?

All the questions you would have to ask yourself to tell a great brand story.

1. What is your origin story? -We all know what is an origin story. Where your company came from? What are the events that brought this company into existence? If you have to think about some brands being great at storytelling.

Think about these-

Dove. - Talks about your real beauty and going against the toxic culture of "pretty."

Analogue Wonderland- Founded in 2018 this is a British mother and son duo Mary and Paul aimed to make film photography fun and accessible for everyone.

Luca + Danni - A beautiful page with their story and their beginning.

They have filled their page with childhood photographs and it's heartwarming.

耐克 - The one and only. They are never the main focus of their products. Their campaigns are all about making their customer the main character of every story they tell.

And how can I NOT mention my favourite- 苹果

I am using one right now but it's not only that we find their products amazing. BUT… Because they have conveyed their story in the best way possible.

Steve job's keynote speech in 2007 announcing iPhone was one of the best ways I have heard anyone announcing a product till now.

There's a reason why people are lining up in the streets for the latest iPhone.

It's not the fact that it has a faster 6-core CPU more of us don't even give a dam about but the loyalty that customers have and the feeling of connectivity is through their amazing branding and network.

??

2. This is the time when you build your hero's journey.

One of the most popular storytelling templates that you can use and build an amazing brand story.

- Who is your hero?

-What are their needs and wants?

-What is their problem, and how are they solving it now?

-How can your brand step in to help them?

-How would they hear about you?

-What solution are you offering?

-What do transformation and a better future look like?

How to write a hero story for your brand?

Once upon a time- they have a past.

They are always like… - How do they behave and what are the problems that exist in their world what are they doing to solve them?

But they have this one problem- what is the challenge they are primarily facing every now and then?

They have been trying to solve it for a long- what is the current solution to their problem?

But still, the problem was… - what's wrong with the solution that they are using currently what they need to change about it and what would make it perfect.

Until one day- How they would learn about your brand?

Unlike their current solution, it is… - what are the differentiator and the complete solution for their problem.

Their wish came true- How does the future look like with them and how you can showcase the transformation?

??

3. Now let's think about your brand personality.

yes, your brand does have a personality. And they fix in the spectrum. Let's see.

I know you would love an example because this seems a bit confusing.

okay.

I'll give you a picture with some examples.

Better??

Why are these important in the first place?

Well, brand archetypes help you represent the key archetype with their help you can identify your brand personality.

This framework was developed by Carl Jung.

?

And as I have already given you an example with an image I don't think I need to invest more time talking about brand archetypes. This is pretty self-explanatory.

?

4. Define the brand's value and purpose.

Now this would help you like a compass for crafting stories.

Don't share random stories we share the stories which are aligned with our brand and communicate our values the best.

And now what is the brand value and purpose?

1. Purpose.

Okay, think about some brands.

Brand purpose is that sentence that communicates the value you create in the lives of your customers. It should revolve around your brand story.

2. Brand values.

You would have to keep your brand values clear and concise.

what is brand value?

I would rather give you an example.

阿迪达斯 - Performance, passion, integrity, diversity.

Just like this, the company I am working with is.

Zoftware - Passion, efficiency, simplicity and trust.

ZARA USA - beauty, clarity, functionality, sustainability.

?

5. Define your brand story and purpose.

Okay now either you're working for a brand or own a brand or something in between

Do this.

Draw two columns. And list your goals and the existing resources you can count on to achieve them.

Those resources do not have to be money-related, you can have anything like social media following or maybe your content or maybe your employees.

I would recommend you look forward to the Blueland blue land's story page.

The way the mission is conveyed is beautiful. You can see how it would appeal to-minded people.

6. Write your brand story.

Finally, we're here.

Now here are some quick points you would have to consider before you jump right in.

- what context works best for your customer?

- what are their challenges and solutions?

- Why your brand exists in the first place?

- How you're changing your hero's life?

-What is the future you have seen for your brand?

-What is that one unique thing your company can offer and deliver?

?

Now with this, you would have to develop a concrete brand voice.

The tone of voice for your brand is very important.?

This is the stage when you write some guidelines for style and writing and EVEN formatting.

?

7. Last but not least - Share your brand story. Across the entire organization, everyone should know about your story. Your brand story should revolve around a narrative for your brand.

You would have to use storytelling marketing to inform marketing and public relation campaigns as well as let your HR team know this.

So they can share this story with upcoming employees as they would be the first point of contact with them.

Share your brand story, during onboarding, or maybe you can also make a nice video that properly explains everything. Your brand story is the basement for the building of content and communication your brand would be doing in future.

Don’t underestimate the power and the impact of it.

And, get the set story. For your brand.

You have to make your brand story a living document revolving around the company and you would have to review it regularly and make sure it reflects feedback from your customers.

?

Now here I am adding a sort of conclusion in a beautiful graphic so you can understand more advantages.

?

?

I know this is the time when I should close this article and stop talking.

?

But this is also the time when I tell you the secret sauce of turning leads into customers.

So hang around for a minute and keep your notebooks open.

1. Attracting leads.
2. Craft a brand story, start communicating and use personal identity and their challenges to pitch services through any medium that is working for you.
3. Use their pain, points and goals to target.
4. Nurturing leads.

Use storytelling to maintain the connection you have finally built you would have to talk about your products as if they are the best thing in the world.

keep remembering how Steve Jobs give a presentation when he was launching the iPhone. Throughout the sales funnel, you have to keep your audience engaged with your stories. This can be through emails, campaigns, blog posts or social media content

I have around 6,000 followers for my newsletter. *not this one of course* but the one I have been running for the past 2 years. And my opening rate is over 60%.

I feel that's great because you forget that you have signed up for any newsletter after a week.

You would have to create your newsletter with stories in a way that they can't help but open it.

5. Closing leads. Now you would have to close the deal with an amazing offer, social proof, case sites or testimonials you have curated for years. This would be effective and act as a value proposition.

Now with this, I would LOVE to take a leave because this is more than enough and I feel instead of a copy or storytelling marketing course you can just go through this guide and save it. Take care and all the best with storytelling marketing.