I was Living Paycheck to Paycheck, but this Moment Changed My Life

I cried in my car, stuck in traffic, frustrated with my life.

Despite 10 years of hard work in a corporate job, I had no savings and felt completely trapped in a life that wasn’t fulfilling.

That day, I made a decision: I would start my own business, even though I had no technical skills, no business background, and no entrepreneurial family members to guide me.

So, I started a business and spent 6 months building it, creating a website, and writing the best copywriting I could...

Still, the challenge was that no one bought from me.

Out of all disappointment, I started to share my personal experience.

That's where things start to change.

I would love to share with you how sharing stories has transformed my business.

They’re simple and effective, and I’m sure they can help you, too.

1. Use Stories to Connect with People

Instead of focusing on fancy closes and scripts, we focused on the people we were about to serve.

One of the first things I aimed to do was create a library of stories featuring individuals similar to those I intended to serve.

When I began the Marketing & Conversion Mastery Masterclass, I knew my audience are service providers.

So, I started assisting business owners in that service industry and kept accumulating a library of stories, including testimonials and case studies.

These stories became highly effective in closing deals because people saw themselves reflected in them.

Stories are a tremendously powerful way to sell without sounding desperate or pushy.

But how do you use them effectively?

First, you must help people achieve results and start collecting their stories and case studies.

Initially, it might start with just one story, perhaps your own story of overcoming a problem or challenge.

As you continue serving people, some will inevitably experience success and share it with you.

However, it’s common for people to forget and leave it there.

You must maintain a “case study mindset” to capture these moments.

When people share their success stories, save them for future use.

You can take screenshots of their messages when they share key success moments.

I often ask them to join me on Zoom as soon as they share their success.

Here are the scripts I frequently use to get them on Zoom, which work every time:

Sharing videos is always the best approach because videos create the most trust.

I use all those testimonial stories in my personal branding video below, which helps me attract many clients.

If you don’t have those case study stories yet...

The question you should ask is,

"How can I get more stories as quickly as possible?"

This means you must do whatever it takes to help people get results with your expertise.

Consider working with people for free initially in exchange for testimonials (stories), and then charge for your services later.

Your story is your most powerful marketing asset.

When I started my business part-time, I had no customers.

I shared stories about how I helped my boss’s company increase its sales.

That was the only story I had at the time to connect with new clients.

Helpful tips:

• Collect Stories: Write down stories of people you’ve helped or your own experiences.
• Match Stories to Problems: Use these stories to show how you’ve solved problems similar to what your potential clients face.
• Share Stories Everywhere: Tell these stories on your website, in emails, and on social media to show people you can help them too.

2. Tackle Objections with Real Examples

Once you have a library of case study stories...

The next step, align your stories with your prospect's top objections.

Start by listing all the common objections on one side of a page and your stories on the other side. Then, match them up accordingly.

This process is crucial.

For example, when a prospect says, “I’d like to buy, but I don’t have a big audience...”

I will respond with, “Oh, that sounds a lot like Valerie’s story.”

I will then share how Valerie launched her business from scratch and now earns SGD 30K per month.

Or

I’d tell the story of Jennifer, who started from zero, did her founding member launch and generated 30 clients in the first 40 days

Using stories in this way helps overcome objections because people relate to situations similar to their own and believe they can achieve similar results.

How to Do It:

• List Common Concerns: Write down common worries people have, like “I don’t have a big audience.”
• Pair with Case Studies/Stories: Find stories that address each concern. For example, if people worry about audience size, share Wendy’s story.
• Use in Sales: Share these stories during sales calls or presentations to show their worries are common and solvable.

3. Match Stories to Your Audience’s Needs

It’s essential to speak to your audience based on where they are in their journey.

For example, if someone is in the earlier stages and may not have a large audience, they will relate to stories of people in similar situations.

In my case, I might say, “That sounds a lot like Jenna story!”

Jenna started her business part-time while working as a school teacher, but she moved forward regardless.

She launched a DIY skincare course and ended up welcoming 23 members.

After 2 years, she bought her dream car!

Alternatively, you might encounter someone who already has an audience but is not generating enough revenue.

I’ll use May as an example. May used to do in-person teaching.

When COVID came, it hurt her business.

So we switched everything to online teaching, which allowed her to not only sustain her business but also reach a broader audience.

By leveraging digital tools and platforms, May transformed her teaching approach and quickly adapted to the new normal.

As a result, she was able to grow her student base to 350 students, beyond her local community and create a thriving online education business.

I learned to tailor my stories to different people.

• For beginners, I share Jenna's story. who started from zero, then bought her dream car.

• For those already in business, I talk about May, who grew her students number to 350 members in less than a year after making some adjustments.

Helpful Tips:

• Segment Your Audience: Identify who you’re talking to—are they beginners or more experienced?
• Tailor Stories to Fit: Use stories that match their level. Beginners need stories about small starts, while experienced folks need growth stories.
• Speak Their Language: Use simple, direct messages that resonate with their current situation.

When you’re thinking about your stories, it’s not enough to just have the stories, you’ve got to be equipped to be able to know when to use the stories and what stories are relevant.

The way we think about it is by categorizing into early stage, middle of the road, and more experienced.

It’s about showing them what’s possible and creating the belief that they can do it too.

The best way to achieve this is by effectively using stories.

I never feel like a ass**le when I’m selling because it’s not about me; it’s about my audience.

It’s about shifting the attention to them and demonstrating what’s possible for them.

I’ve experienced the struggles of trying to make a business work, and I know it’s tough.

But by using stories, addressing people’s concerns, and speaking to them at their level, you can build a business that not only supports you but also brings you joy.

These simple shift changed my business, and I believe they can change yours too.

KC

kclow.com

P.S: Btw, if you are a service provider struggling to grow your business, I have an upcoming 2-hour masterclass where I will share how we overcame similar challenges. Check the first comment below ?? for the link.