As a storytelling strategist, I am big on sharing your story to impact your business in an
impressive way. Does that sound too simple? It’s a simple idea that requires complex strategy.
There is a lot of noise out there. Businesses, corporations, and entrepreneurs are all fighting to be heard in the same space. You need to stand out and set yourself apart from the competition. Facebook ads and posts, Instagram, and Linked in are great avenues for keeping your name out there, but they all have limitations.
Social media is useful for keeping your noise level up, but it doesn’t set you apart. Everyone is on a social channel doing similar marketing. And let’s not forget we had a recent day where Facebook and its associated businesses were out for a day. What is your go to when your current marketing plan fails you? You need other avenues, and media is a massively successful way to market yourself.
So, why storytelling? It has been well proven that customers don’t buy your product or service because it stands out. They buy because of your WHY. Do you know what your WHY is? It comes from your story. Life experiences shape us, define our values and purpose. I am not talking about labels. I’m referring to who we are as an individual. Trustworthiness, serving
community, driven, analytical, compassionate, leader, or an influencer.
I have seen people transform by sharing their story. They grow in strength, confidence, and leadership. They discover their why. That is why you need to share your story. It is in the act of sharing your story that you solidify your WHY, then everything else, your personal life, relationships, and your business, fall into place.
You may understand at this point the personal growth and transformation that occurs with connecting to and sharing your story. How does that benefit you from a more practical sense? Because that’s what goes through our minds when we are making decisions. What’s in it for me? Here are some nuggets I can share with you.
Exposure equals revenue, it is a direct correlation. The more exposure you receive the more revenue you gain. Make sure you have a call to action with each exposure. Having a book is the number one way to getting on a Podcast, TV, and in magazines. The value of visibility and getting discovered is the most effective way to get noticed.
You are a legend of your own story. I encourage you to put it out there in a big and bold way. Collaborate on a book or write your own, share in a magazine or on a podcast. Even a story that is written and tucked away in your private place is an empowering process. But, sharing it to the world and showing up brave, courageous, and real is an extraordinary place to reside and rejoice in who you are, and what you have to offer.
There are so many reasons to write your story, for both personal and professional reasons. It energizes your mind and gives clarity. It gives lightness to your soul. It puts you in an influential position to help others heal and squash their demons. Doing this will attract potential customers, it builds confidence, and confidence is a leading trait of leaders. If you are a leader, you are an influencer. You can leave your imprint on the world.
For the entrepreneur, who wants to leverage the new paradigm of storytelling marketing, use this method to optimize the scope of your brand and unveil you as the authority in your space so you can dominate your industry, impact our culture long term, and find a viable pathway to a life of authenticity, integrity, truth, and honor.
You likely are asking yourself “How do I go about this? I am not a writer.” For starters, you can contact me, and we’ll set up a Discovery Call. Learn about me and how I help people with their story and how to effectively distribute it. It doesn’t have to be me, but you will need to do some research.
Where does your target market hang out? What podcasts do they listen to? What magazines and blogs do they read? Consider streaming TV, it’s a large and growing market. Look into the many different podcasts and publications and find the ones that are aligned with what you are and what you do. This is where social media can help. Put yourself out there and advertise your interest in participating in one or more of these areas.
There is so much opportunity out there. But you need to be resourceful, and you need to be visible. You won’t be found otherwise. Are you ready to level up your business? Then now is the time to immerse yourself in media opportunities. Go bold and brave. Do not let yourself stand in your own way. I challenge you to get started, one step at a time.
If you are struggling with starting on your story, I will give you some tools that I use.Take a note paper, journal, whatever your preference is. Write down one to three lemons in your life. These are the BIG things in your life that have influenced and shaped you. You are who you are because of your life experiences.
The next thing I want you to write down is the essence of your story. What do you think it is? Is it about healing? Being victimized? Grief? Shame? Suffering? Perhaps it is about divorce or job loss, infertility.
Follow this with a Letter to Your Lemon. It can be more than one lemon if they intertwine with each other. Write an honest letter as if your lemon was a person and you want them to know your feelings. Are you still hurting? Have you reconciled or forgiven? If you are still on the healing journey, this is where you open your heart and spill your guts. Nobody but you will read this.
Now, write an outline or bullet point the essential topics in your story. Prioritize them as most to least impactful. You should start to see the flow of a story taking shape. This is the foundation of your story. Decide where you want to start sharing it. Do you want to write it or verbalize it? Wherever you wish to begin, that is where you go.
Remember, people love hearing about other people’s stories. It helps them connect with you. They will be drawn to you and want to be a part of your circle. They will want to do business with you. There is great power in storytelling!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Michelle Faust is the Founder of Lemonade Legend, a company offering both print and media exposure through her anthology series, digital magazine, a publishing house, podcast, virtual stages, and now as a producer of two streaming TV shows featured on Zondra TV Network. The inception of The Lemonade Stand started with her own self-realization that she had a story herself of learning how to acquire a fearless attitude due to having a severe hearing loss which had impacted her own self-worth and created limiting beliefs. Her story is full of vulnerability, courage, and learning how to cope in a world which values perfection by developing her alternative strengths. After 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry, she elected to leap into the entrepreneurial world and follow her heart, which ultimately led to the creation of Lemonade Legend. Her mission is her passion that not only provides a powerful resource for women (and a few brave men), struggling with their own lemonade challenges but is emerging into a community of like-minded people who want to share, support, and lift up their sisters and brothers.