Storytelling through Linkedin and Social Media - How's it effective for your business?

In the world of LinkedIn, everyone is telling a story. With the universe of content out there, we must ask ourselves what makes our stories stand out.

      The way we tell stories has changed. Social media has changed. I remember life as a twelve year-old, putting together websites on a platform called Piczo and linking them out of the now defunct Bebo. Little did I know that I was learning to move traffic from channel to channel as far back as then. I recall the first time I created a ‘viral’ video as a thirteen year-old – the sense of thrill and achievement I got from engaging my audience remains with me to this day. 

       That feeling, that thrill – that is what has pushed me. Fast-forward to 2018, and I can honestly say that without social, my business wouldn’t exist. Vindicta Digital was conceived ‘overnight’ after months of planning. Alongside my digital agency I have promoted my own personal brand on social media. “The Digital Guy” was a term I endeavoured to be recognised in, and I eventually succeeded in this. A key factor in my success has been adapting to new ways of storytelling, engaging my audience every step of the way.

       The genius of technology has created a world where we can share a story in dozens of ways, ranging from a six second Snapchat clip to a lengthy written blog post. Your story need that thumb-stopping reaction that halts someone scrolling through their feed to look at. When you are on Facebook, for example, posts should reflect an awareness of your entire social graph. Give your audience different visuals that are related to the unique purpose and character of the platform. It’s all about context – these networks are social, after all.

  If you really want your story to be seen on social, however, you need to be putting that content out on a regular basis. Reflect your professional journey to your followers – articulate your vision and share your ups, your downs and your ambitions. It’s not as simple as sharing daily posts across every platform. Understanding the social differences between these platforms is key. We must also understand that time is 2018’s most valuable possession.

“We are all storytellers. We all live in a network of stories. There isn’t a stronger connection between people than storytelling.”

--Jimmy Neil Smith, Director of the International Storytelling Center

  We have to give our followers value in exchange for that precious asset. Give them something human, engage with them, and talk to them about what they want to talk about in the worlds they inhabit. I feel that one of the most important tips to follow is to simply let your personality flow through your social media. Don’t worry about being perfect – nobody is, and you shouldn’t aspire to be. People respond better to someone who is able to share a full story, complete with its ups and downs. Why? Because this is life. Nobody trusts the perfect man; the perfect man is a myth.

Once upon a time, LinkedIn was composed of facts and figures, with men in suits preaching about stats and other stuff that nobody engages with outside of the boardroom. Thanks to genuine storytelling, LinkedIn is becoming a more humanised platform. I see LinkedIn users developing online personalities, sharing intimate moments of their lives. Let your personality flow, and let your story reach beyond the office!