The power of storytelling is universal and has existed since the beginning of human history. Yet in business, we often forget to tell our stories and this is a shame, because stories are one of the best ways to connect with customers and encourage them to take action.
In business, we often focus on objective data, facts and figures, product features, charts, technology and engagement through social media. However, storytelling reaches people on an emotional level. Stories communicate to the listener exactly what you do and what you stand for. Therefore, it’s essential to craft compelling stories, both about yourself and your business.
The human mind simply loves stories. Stories make a company or person relatable. Just like the characters in a book, we see ourselves in certain aspects of the story’s characters. We identify and empathize with them. For a business, this breaks down the barrier between company and customer.
For example, we love underdog stories. There are many websites or businesses that tell this classic story. The owner was down and out, all of the odds were against them, they didn’t know what to do and were nearing rock-bottom, when inspiration came knocking. This spark of an idea led to them founding the business and building the website you’re reading. This is a common story template that follows the classic conflict-to-resolution plot arc.
Stories also work well because they’re interesting and engaging. You can take any kind of content that may be slightly dry or dull, and weave it together with a story to make it much more interesting and dramatic. That’s why we love TED Talks so much. TED Talks often present very difficult or technical information, but it’s put together with the personal story of the presenter to give it life.
We are all natural storytellers at heart, but sometimes it’s hard to come up with the stories that will help our businesses build relationships, stir emotions, and engage our customers.
So, I’ve made a great resource to help you with that. Use these 10 story types as templates to help you create your stories: The Power of Story Check it out!
