Published:

05/09/2011 03:02pm

How Your Story and The Stories Your Clients Tell Will Help Your Business

It’s all about a good story. AND what makes a good story stick is TRUTH. Authenticity, true voice, and focused messaging come as a result of powerful storytelling. Storytelling is not a new technique but it’s being used in new ways. Consumers are now savvier than ever, and they want to know who they’re doing business with. The must know, like and trust you to invest their hard earned dollars.

It’s not enough to have a strong brand anymore. Your brand is still vital and important element of relationship building but it must be supported with your voice to the right people in the right way. You must be more transparent than ever, and let people know who you really are before they choose to do business with you. This concept is hard for some to grasp especially for those transitioning from corporate or “day job” scenarios to the entrepreneurial lifestyle. There’s a misnomer that you cannot mix your business and your personal life and nothing could be farther from the truth when you’re an entrepreneur. Because when you’re an entrepreneur it’s all personal.

Simply put, you must tell your story, so people relate to you before they buy. The new marketing model is all about building genuine relationships and collaboration. That’s why many women are succeeding beyond their wildest dreams.

It goes beyond storytelling. In addition to a great story you have to have social proof. Although storytelling and transparency are huge components of copywriting trends, it’s not enough to simply tell your story. You must have buy-in. Consumers must believe your story, resonate with you, and believe that others believe in you too before they decide to do business with you. Through your story people may begin to know, like and trust you when you tell your story. They are still more likely to believe you when they have social proof and peer reviews.

While traditional copywriting formulas like including features and benefits are still relevant they are not enough to fully convince savvier consumers your product or service is for them. Testimonials do help support believability and consumers want social proof that what you offer works. Period.This means that you must not only share your testimonials and do exactly what you promise you’re going to do; you must over deliver so the people you work with become raving fans.

Your copywriting efforts and brand must be represented in social media platforms organically with an authentic following to support any messages your marketing, advertising, and promotions are generating. Of course you need solid copy to engage the conversation and then the rest becomes viral. Think word-of-mouth marketing on the Web.

-Are you REALLY telling your story?
-Are you delivering on your promises and then some?
-Do the people you work with regularly share your message with others no strings attached?

If you can honestly answer YES to all of these questions you’re heading in the right direction.