Just Story It

This article is not about how to craft or deliver better business stories. But it is about personal qualities you the biz storyteller need to cultivate.

I don't see many articles like this, yet the topic is an important one. Author and content marketing Guru Brian Clark suggests 5 traits are essential to be able to find, craft, and share your biz stories in ways that grow your business.

The traits are:

1. Empathy
2. Curiosity
3. Observation
4. Packaging
5. Caring
6. The Why

I agree completely. To learn more about each of these -- what they are, why they are important, and how to cultivate them -- go read the article!

This review was written by Karen Dietz for her curated content on business storytelling at www.scoop.it/t/just-story-it 

If you want a clear explaination of why marketing is all about connecting emotionally with prospects and customers, then this is it.

Even better -- the author Douglas Van Praet provides a 7-step process for us to craft marketing materials that connect emotionally.

That is what our biz stories SHOULD be doing. Sometimes they don't. You can use Van Praet's 7-step process to craft or refine your business stories so they can do the work you want them to do.

Van Praet also offers us a video as a terrific example of his Step #4 "Shift the Feeling". I know you'll like it.

Have fun with this one -- I hope it gets your creative juices flowing!

This review was written by Karen Dietz for her curated content at www.scoop.it/t/just-story-it 

Here are 6 quick tips for how to up your visual storytelling game to augment your business stories.

I like these because anyone can do them. Yeah!

Thanks to author Lou Hoffman for sharing these nifty ideas.

This review was written by Karen Dietz for her curated content on business storytelling at www.scoop.it/t/just-story-it

When finessing your biz stories and creating content using stories, I love what both the author of the aritcle, Miranda Miller, and Robert Munsch say: "Let your audience love you first." 

In other words, don't try to influence anyone to do anything until you have established a relationship and given something of value  with your audience first without expectation of an immeditate economic transaction.

A story can be a gift. So can other things. And the author provides some ideas here.

Overall, this is a nice piece with good reminders, and I really like the insights on ways to connect with your audience in order to build your business.

This review was written by Karen Dietz for her curated content on business storytelling at www.scoop.it/t/just-story-it

Now here's a very creative post! Author Vince Robisch shows us how we can take one of our biz stories, cut it up, and send it out in a series of emails.

Brilliant! This notion is not new, but I like how Robisch shows us how to partition the story into 3 parts that preserves the story arc. We now have an email series to send out.

It's a fun article to read and I think it will get your creative juices going. 

Have story will travel!

http://moderncopystudio.com/can-you-really-tell-your-brand-story-through-email/ 

This review was written by Karen Dietz for her curated content on business storytelling at www.scoop.it/t/just-story-it 

This is a quick but very useful article about what NOT to do when beginning a story.

The post is geared toward creating sales copy -- on your website or promo materials.

And here is what I love -- the author, Nick Usborne, explains why 'hooks' often don't work and gives an example.

Then he shares an example of what does work. 

Beginning and ending a story are two areas where most people have trouble. Usborne helps us get started in our storytelling the right way.

In the end he elevates story sharing from a simple transaction (let me hook you so I can sell you something) to relationship marketing/sales (let's get to know each other so you can evaluate whether my product/service is a good fit for you).

Thanks Nick for these great insights and tips!

This post was written by Karen Dietz for her curated content on business storytelling at www.scoop.it/t/just-story-it 

Can you share a digital story and have it go viral?

Maybe yes, maybe no. To help us figure this out is a new tool that analyzes videos that have gone viral, determines the elements that made it go viral, and share the results with us. Along with a whole bunch of analytics.

I took a brief look at the app and played with it a bit. And I think it is really cool.

I chose the characteristics I was looking for in a viral video and then an example popped up so I could watch it. And learn. And gain some ideas/inspiration. Pretty neat.

And I got a total kick out of the (Welcome to) The Motherhood video!

Don't know if this tool will really result in a better ability to make viral videos, but I certainly think it will help. Go play. Have fun. Your next video just may go viral!

This review was written by Karen Dietz for her curated content on business storytelling atwww.scoop.it/t/just-story-it

Hey -- what a great example that Michael Harris has put together for us! Here are two examples -- one of a story used in sales that DID NOT work. In other words, no sale resulted.

In the second example we have a story that DOES work -- resulting in a sale.

If you are incorporating stories into your sales process, then this post is for you. We need more examples of what works and what does not work in order to refine our storytelling and grow our businesses.

Enjoy this post and I hope you get some good ideas for how to tweak your stories for better results!

This review was written by Karen Dietz for her curated content on business storytelling at www.scoop.it/t/just-story-it 

Hey folks -- are you using any of these buzzwords in you biz stories?

If so, then you might want to STOP! Some of the candidates might surprise you. Some I bet you will cheer for being the winners.

In any event, here's some Friday Fun for you -- now go vote for the ones you want banned!

This review was written by Karen Dietz for her curated content on business storytelling at www.scoop.it/t/just-story-it

Well here is a fab post that summarizes biz storytelling into 3 points of view so you can grow your business. If you need a refresher or just some inspiration as 2013 unfolds, you will enjoy this article.

The author Paul Jun sums it up the process of crafting biz stories into results as follows:

1. Be willing to be vulnerable. He cites Brene Brown's TED talk on vulnerability which is a masterpiece and must-view video for storytellers. Just search this site for Brene Brown and you'll go right to the link. Or click the link in the article :)
2. Share stories -- they enchant your audience. Yep! And I like Jun's story that he shares, along with a link to Seth Godin to explain why biz storytelling is so important.
3. Focus on the why -- not the what. Storytelling is about creating meaning. When you share the 'why' it inspires action. Anwer the few questions he poses and you'll be good to go for crafting stories that people re-share.

Now there are actually 4 parts to Jun's post, not 3. The last one is 'practice'. You get better over time at crafting and sharing your stories. So keep practicing! 

As Jun says at the end, "Remind yourself of two things: You can either write content that is dry, safe, and has no personality, or you can write something daring and transparent — something that will shake the floor beneath your reader’s feet. You have this power within you. All you need to do is use it."

This review was written by Karen Dietz for her curated content on business storytelling atwww.scoop.it/t/just-story-it