What makes you continue to read a blog post or article?
An attention-grabbing headline? Interesting stats? A clever turn of phrase?
All of those things can pique interest, but they won’t keep your eyes on the screen. For that, you need a story.
The benefits of storytelling
Your job is to create a narrative that draws your readers in and keeps them interested. When you get it right, they’ll share your content with their friends and colleagues, greatly expanding your reach.
Do it poorly, and they may read your article; they may even buy something from you. But they won’t remember you or your business because you won’t have made a lasting connection.
Share Your Stories
One of the best ways to build relationships and grow your audience is to share your stories.
Tell your readers what it was like when you got started, about the lessons you learned, and how your life and business improved because of your experiences.
Personal anecdotes don’t need to be business related to have a real impact.
Did you notice a fantastic new marketing strategy while standing in line at the grocery store reading the trashy magazine headlines? Share the story.
Did you learn how to better treat customers by dealing with your phone company? Tell the story.
By making a connection between a memorable event and your business, your readers will remember you long after they click away from your website.
Write Case Studies
Another incredibly powerful storytelling technique is your case studies.
Tell your readers exactly what your awesome client did to double their income last year or how your other client took your advice and grew their mailing list by 250% in just six months.
These beefed-up testimonials (because that’s all a case study is) will keep your readers interested in learning more from you, and they will be more memorable too.
Connect Unrelated Stories
Are you ready to really make an impression?
Make unusual connections right in your story. Share about the struggles Frodo faced as he made his way to destroy the ring and how that relates to business right now.
Or talk about the squirrel in your backyard that bravely defends his territory every time you take your dog out and how it reminds you of your early days in business when you held on to the idea that competition was bad.
By making these connections between completely unrelated topics, you can quickly craft a blog post that will get your readers thinking and that they’ll remember for a long time to come.
Need some more storytelling blog ideas?
Ideas for Storytelling
When it comes to business blogging, there are a lot of different ways to approach it. But one thing that all successful business blogs have in common is that they tell a story.
Whether you’re sharing the story of your company’s founding, highlighting a customer’s success, or simply sharing some industry news, stories are a powerful way to connect with your audience. Here are nine ideas for incorporating storytelling into your business blog:
1. Use customer testimonials:
Customer testimonials are a powerful way to tell your brand’s story and show the human side of your business. Share a testimonial from a satisfied customer on your blog and help your readers see how your product or service has helped others.
2. Share your company history:
Share the story of how your company was founded and what its mission is. Your readers will appreciate knowing the backstory of your business and will be more likely to support your brand.
3. Highlight your team:
Introduce your readers to the people behind your business. Share stories about your team members and their roles in the company. This will help your readers connect with your brand on a personal level.
4. Feature a customer or client:
Write a blog post featuring one of your customers or clients. Share their story and explain why they chose to work with you. This type of post will help create a sense of loyalty among your readers.
5. Tell a success story:
Everyone loves a good success story! Share an anecdote about a time when your business achieved something great. This could be anything from landing a big client to increasing sales by X%.
6. Industry news.
Keep your readers up-to-date on the latest industry news and developments. This helps to position you as an expert in your field and shows that you’re always staying on top of the latest trends.
7. Company culture.
Give readers a behind-the-scenes look at your company culture. This helps to humanize your brand and give potential customers a sense of what it would be like to work with you.
8. Tips and advice.
Offer your readers helpful tips and advice related to your industry or area of expertise. This helps to establish you as a thought leader and provides valuable information that your readers can use.
9. Product Spotlight.
Highlight a new product or service that you’re offering. This is a great way to generate interest and get people talking.
No matter what approach you take, remember that storytelling is key to creating a successful business blog. By sharing stories, you’ll be able to connect with your readers on a deeper level, helping you build relationships that will last long into the future.
Avoid the Awkwardness
One word of caution here, though. Don’t just toss in a story just because you think you need to hook them in.
You’ll know when you’re doing this if you can’t easily transition it from the story to the purpose of your article. If you find yourself saying something like, “Oh, that’s enough of this personal stuff, now it’s time to get back to business,” you’re trying too hard.
Your stories should naturally flow into your business if you want to make a big and lasting impression.
And trust me when I tell you, when you get this right, you will suddenly find your posts being shared and your profits soaring.
So go and give storytelling a try today and see how it feels. It may take a few to get the hang of it, but in no time, you’ll be a master storyteller.
