Who’s The HERO Of Your Story?

If you’re a small business owner or an entrepreneur in 2020 and you’re not using storytelling in your online content, then you need to start – and you need to start now and, who is the hero of your story anyway?

Seriously though …

The power of storytelling to market a brand, product, or service is immeasurable.

It is exponential.

It is essential.

Not all people are natural storytellers – I get it.

 

It takes some time to get used to putting yourself out there and sharing your vulnerabilities with the world. It also takes practice, which is one of the many reasons I am so passionate about sharing my Top 5 Storytelling Tricks and my 5 Day Content Experience with readers.

And if it is still something that overwhelms you as a business owner, then we should chat. As a ghost writer, I help people discover their unique voice and hone in on what they have to offer their target audience. But, more on that another time…

Today I want to talk to you about a very important element of every good story – regardless of if it’s in the pages of a book, an article on LinkedIn, or an instagram post –

 

… and that is the HERO.

 

Every story needs one, just like every story requires a problem or obstacle to overcome. This is where the hero comes in because they are the one who will ultimately solve the problem. Now, the hero can essentially be almost anyone – it can be you, it can be someone you know, or it can even be a fictional character (all authors are entitled to take some creative license – just as long as you don’t take it too far).

If you are new to storytelling, it can take some time to adjust to thinking creatively in this way. Be patient with yourself and use these storytelling prompts to get started:

A HERO should:

1. Be relatable.
2. Have likeable characteristics.
3. Have a solution to the problem that’s presented.
4. Be credible.

A HERO should not:

1. Come off as preachy, boastful, or a know-it-all.
2. Make the problem TOO easy to solve (remember, a little bit of struggle is good – too much and the reader will lose interest; too little and it won’t be believable).
3. Possess superhuman qualities (because it’s important to be relatable).

You may be asking, “Ok, great. Now how do I take these prompts and actually apply them to my content marketing?”

Let’s say, for example, that the product you’re selling is an energy drink. Enter the character that is feeling sluggish. Perhaps she’s a mom of two, working outside the home, and finding it difficult to prioritize her self-care and nutrition. Cue the hero – she’s a down to earth, non-judgy woman who has similarly struggled. Until recently, she was exhausted all the time, felt guilty for EVERYTHING because, you know, “mom guilt,” and knew she had to make a change. Then she discovered the electrolyte-replacing, immune-boosting, vitamin-infused power drink that gave her the energy she required to get through her day – and then some.

In the interest of time, I won’t walk you through the rest of the story, but you can probably anticipate what comes next. The hero – in an approachable, non-sales-y way, shares her story of how she got her mojo back. Essentially, the hero has solved the problem.

Now, that was just one example, but I’m hoping that by sharing it, you have a clearer picture of what it would look like if the product or service was yours, and if the scenario reflected the problem or obstacle that you wish to solve for your prospective customers.

Once we can put the fear of storytelling aside (confidence comes with practice – I promise you), this type of exercise actually becomes fun.

Add to that – it’s a personal, relatable, and experiential way to attract more people to your network and it sets you apart from more traditional marketing strategies that are, quite honestly, past their prime.

Have fun with storytelling, create likeable heroes, and see your engagement soar!