Tell Me a Story

My reflection in a Graceland door

I've read quite a few articles lately about the power of storytelling in advertising and it makes a lot of sense. People connect with stories, they identify with characters, and they seek out the emotions they found in stories in their own lives.

Take, for example, how one time... I went to Memphis because the main character in a movie I love went to Memphis. Boy howdy was I disappointed when I didn't have the same life-changing epiphany he did when I got there. I did, however, get to see Graceland and that made up for it. 

Point being, a good story with powerful emotions can be an excellent marketing tool. All of the advice I've been reading lately has suggested using the story of your company to connect with customers. People aren't as interested in giving their money to nameless, faceless companies (who obviously use stock images in their advertisements) as they are in helping a real person accomplish their goals or live their dream. It's the emotion they're looking for. In an attempt to connect to the feeling of living their own dream, they might be willing to help you with yours.

So use that About page on your website, or the back page of your menu or brochure or program booklet, to tell the story of your company. Where did it start? Who are the main characters? What hurdles have you or are you still trying to overcome? Give a little bit of your heart to your customers and they may just be willing to give a little of theirs back.

Resources for crafting the story of your business:

A Quirky Experiment Proves the Value of Story Driven Content

How to Tell Your Company's Story

Your Story is Your Marketing Strategy

Or hire Stark Modest Designs to do it for you!