Every day, you hear some big company spout about how it started generations ago. You might think that just because you have a small business, you can’t use storytelling to your advantage like big companies do. If you need to find more information on how to do that and so much else, that site is a good resource. Just because your business is small doesn’t mean you can’t capture audiences with your story.
Don’t Shy Away from Telling How Your Business Started
People love to hear about how their favorite businesses started from humble origins. Did your business start in a garage or a small room you rented in a building? It doesn’t matter if your business was started in the bedroom of your apartment; people will identify with it.
What you’re trying to do is give someone a story they can identify with. Also, your story gives people hope that they, too, can change their lives if they work as hard as you do. Just because you didn’t start your business with a billion dollars from your dad doesn’t mean people don’t care about how your business started. Use the origins of your business in your promo materials, and people will connect with you because of it.
Use Emotional Storytelling to Build a Bond
Your small business could involve a story that you can tell people how you overcame something. A great example of this is if you were overweight and you decided one day to open up a gym. You can show before and after pictures of yourself and talk about the struggle that you went through.
Appealing to someone’s emotions is a great way to create a bond. The person might have never heard of you their entire lives, but once they identify with your story, they’ll definitely understand where you’ve been. That’s the power of storytelling and why so many businesses use it.
A person who knows that you understand their pain points and have a way to solve them is someone who will become a customer. They know you have the solution they’re after because they’ve seen how it has transformed your life. There is no better advertising than showing how you overcame diversity using the product or service that you’re offering.
Your Story Can be Your Brand’s Identity
How many products do you buy every day that have a story behind them? Think fried chicken, cookies, and a whole host of products that are all associated with one individual person. All of those people have a story, and you do, too. What is your story? Did you start your business from scratch and build it up to where it is now?
Don’t be afraid to be the spokesperson for your small business, and allow your story to ring clear. It’s hard to get used to all the attention at first, but after a while, you’ll get used to it. It can feel like your life is under a microscope, but as you get used to your new position, it’ll all become second nature for you.
The real excitement is when people are genuinely interested in your story. Customers will ask you questions, and you’ll enjoy walking them through how you became successful. Their interest in you will become inspiring, and it will help fuel your desire for continued greatness. It’s hard to believe now that you’ll enjoy all the attention, but as your business successfully takes off, you’ll understand why it’s so thrilling.
Stories are for More than Entertainment
Hopefully, you will see how you can use storytelling to your advantage. Every single small business out there has a story, and there’s no reason why yours can’t be front and center. Use your story to your advantage and use it to connect with your customers in ways that traditional advertising simply can’t do.
