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Are You Telling (and Selling) with Your Business Story?

By

Once Upon a Time

Photo (CC) by UNE Photos, on Flickr

Stories!! They amaze. They bring out our emotions. They stop and make us think. They help us connect.

All of these, plus others you might add, are why stories are so important when you are marketing your business. Having your customers connected to your business is what branding and marketing is all about. Stories turn customers into your ambassadors.

If you follow small business in the popular press and trade journals, you probably have noticed that the idea of storytelling is generating a great deal of interest. Hubspot, in 2014, suggested it will be the big trend over the next five years.

Why might that happen? Because we are naturally drawn to and intrigued by the story. Good conversation is good storytelling. It has characters you can relate to and often we can identify with those characters and the challenges they face. Plus everyone wants to pull back the curtain and see what goes on behind the scenes. It’s that Wizard of Oz moment.

Storytelling is not new. We have depended on stories every time we network with people. It is the stories in those conversations that we remember. The same holds true now as we build relationships online.

Today’s push for content marketing makes pulling back the curtain a great approach. Let people hear and see how you got started. Give a face to the people who make your business what it is. Talk about your events.

And remember that everything does not need to be work-related. In fact, research finds that consumers want to hear about life outside of the business.

Another great story idea is to highlight a customer. In a recent issue of my monthly newsletter, I highlighted a story of a business owner I have met in my work.

Stories, such as Larry’s, build connections. They help build a strong tie between your company and the customer.

As a small-business owners, you all have great stories to tell. Your story is interesting and compelling. The passion you show brings the story to life.

Here are two articles that might help you expand and enhance your storytelling.

If you are in business, you already are using stories without even realizing it. Keep going. Build on your efforts. Tell your story in all of your marketing.

I look forward to hearing your story.

About Glenn Muske

Glenn Muske is an independent expert on rural small business, working as GM Consulting – Your partner in achieving small business success. He provides consulting, and writes articles for county extension agents and newspapers across North Dakota. Previously, he was the Rural and Agribusiness Enterprise Development Specialist at the North Dakota State University Extension Service – Center for Community Vitality.

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