Online Presence. Branding is a vital component of today’s marketing. Factors such as advertising, social media, and offline events all contribute to a business’s brand experience.
But without the element of storytelling, your branding efforts can fall flat.
Infusing storytelling into your brand is one of the most powerful ways to distinguish your business from its competitors, connect deeply with your audience, have online presence, and tap into the emotions that lead people to say “Yes!” to your products and services.
Your Story Makes You Unique
Every business has competitors. As a result, products and services that are unique can become the norm when others offer the same thing. Every successful business is copied over time.
Having a compelling story around your brand is something that few competitors are able to duplicate. Each business has its own unique story that defines its origins, mission, and value.
Your brand story is the best way to distinguish your business from its competitors.
Stories Connect With a Sharing Audience
Social media makes it easier than ever for people to share their stories. Businesses with a brand story can connect with their audiences when that story resonates with their experiences.
Customers are unlikely to share information related to the products and services you offer. Instead, they share their experience of those products and services through stories.
A satisfied customer will tell a friend about the problem your product solved for them before they talk about its features or price.
Businesses who understand this are able to leverage this sharing by creating stories around the value they provide to their customers.
Brand Stories Go Beyond the Logical
A brand story gives your audience something that stays with them long after they’ve used your product or have seen your advertisement. Stories tap into the emotions that influence the decisions people make.
Product descriptions and traditional marketing language work at a logical level. But a powerful story stirs emotions. This places your brand deep within the hearts and minds of your audience, which fosters greater awareness, trust, and loyalty.
Creating Your Brand Story
Today’s technology gives you the opportunities to create and share your story. Social media, live streaming, and virtual reality technologies are transforming the ways in which customers experience brands.
This makes your story an essential component of your entire marketing strategy.
Every story needs a central character. This could be your business, a member of its team, or the customers themselves. Stories can be told from different points of view. Consider the central characters of your business and how they can define your story.
Your brand story should have a voice and persona. It should represent the core values and mission of your business. Your voice must reflect the needs and interests of your ideal customers.
The most engaging stories are those that keep audiences engaged over a period of time. Include open loops in your storytelling by introducing new events or characters and avoiding an immediate resolution.
Think about that book that you just couldn’t put down because you had to know what was coming next. The same elements of the story can be used for your brand.
There are many ways to create a powerful brand story. Understanding why it’s important to your online presence and knowing how to implement storytelling allows you to draw your audience into your brand experience.
Let us know how you’re implementing storytelling in your branding efforts. If you think your business lacks a compelling story, let us know in the comments section so that we can help you increase the awareness, engagement, and loyalty of your customers.
