Does Your Story Influence?

Image by luc legay via Flickr

The best story told is the one that causes a person to do something. I can remember like it was yesterday sitting in the back seat of my grandparents Oldsmobile listening to my grandmother tell stories that had been passed down from her mother. As a young guy, I could never really tell if they were true or fiction, but I do remember that the way she told them they had to be real. It was obvious that they impacted me because I’ve never forgotten them.

The connection point between a brand and a consumer is often times their story. What makes Maker’s Mark stand out as a premium bourbon isn’t just because it’s made in Kentucky or it’s packaging. What makes it stand out in my opinion is that the consumer can connect with it’s history and their story.

What causes people to be inspired by Virgin? It’s because they see hope and possibilities through the story of Sir Richard Branson.

Look at the prosperous brands in your city. I could almost gaurantee that those who are successful are those that have been around for a while and have a story that people feel connected to.

Social Media Provides an Opportunity to Tell Your Story

The most powerful thing about social media isn’t its tools. It really doesn’t matter if it’s Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, YourSpace etc. The most powerful thing about social media is that it provides a platform for brands big and small, individuals from big cities and small cities have an opportunity to tell their story. The reason why people want to connect with you isn’t just because of your social status, it’s because somewhere they resonate with your story. The reason why people feel connected with many of the social media celebrities is because they recognize the potential of what can happen when a nobody with a strategy and a few tools can become a somebody.

What Your Story Should Include:

• Transparency – Be open
• Authenticity – Be who you say you are
• An Emotional Hook – That which causes people to believe or connect
• Consistency – Be you, always you and nothing but you

What else should your story include? What is it that causes people to want to connect to a brand or and individual? What are you doing to tell your story?

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Tagged as: Facebook, MySpace, Richard Branson, Social media, Social network, Twitter