How can you collect and analyze storytelling feedback?

Gauge or ask for feedback in the moment. You will find that most people will be honest. Provide opportunity for interaction - you see it all the time on social media - provoking engagement and interaction.

We all know the power of a good story. It can captivate your audience, drive engagement, and leave a lasting impression. But how do you know if your stories are truly landing? Well, one of the most straightforward ways is by directly asking for feedback. Here's how I would do it: 1/ Create interactive polls with questions like, "Did this story resonate with you?" or "What part of the story did you find most impactful?" 2/ Craft compelling questions at the end of your post, prompting followers to share their thoughts. Examples include, "What stories would you like to see next?" 3/ Encourage comments by responding thoughtfully to existing ones. This fosters a conversation and allows you to directly address any questions or feedback.

Adding a personal touch or a benefit while asking feedback from the audience can get better response when you request your audience for direct feedback. For example, you can ask question like, what would you like to see next? Or, Which part of the story you enjoyed the most, comment below and get a dedicated mention in the next story.

An easy way to get instant feedback is to add an "Uneeded CTA". This is a CTA that isn't pushing a product, or service. Instead, it's just looking for a response. You'll see this a lot of times on LinkedIn with the "P.S." at the bottom of the post

To collect and analyze storytelling feedback, you can ask your audience for their thoughts after sharing your story. Encourage them to provide specific feedback on what they liked and what could be improved. You can also use surveys or feedback forms to gather structured responses. Analyze the feedback by looking for common themes or patterns in the responses. Pay attention to both positive and constructive feedback to understand what resonates with your audience and how you can enhance your storytelling.

Qualitative data is vital when it comes to storytelling. Are people messaging you about it? Do people bring it up in conversations? That's when you know your story resonated

When I present a story to my audience during public speaking, I like to pay close attention to how my audience respond to my presentation. I would observe their posture, facial expressions, and gestures. If I tell a joke, I also look for signs of laughter, tears, or surprise. But if I see them frowning or looking confused, then I know my joke didn't stick, and it probably backfired. By observing these emotional reactions, I can get feedback LIVE on how well my story is doing.

Beyond words, your audience's behavior speaks volumes. Here's what to watch out for: 1/ Likes, comments, and shares are great indicators of how well your story is resonating. A high number suggests your audience is actively engaging. 2/ If your story includes a call to action (CTA), a high CTR suggests your audience is interested in taking the next step. 3/ Are people reading your entire story or dropping off halfway through? This can tell you if your story's pacing or length needs adjusting. Lastly, I would your LinkedIn analytics to track these metrics and identify trends. Look for patterns in engagement based on different storytelling elements.

When I'm sharing a story before an audience, I often record audio or video of my performance. It can be harder to try and recall where people laughed, gasped, or clapped, but with a recording, it makes it easier to study your performance and how the audience reacted to your story.

I would always like to observe the awkward silence and deep breaths at the end of the story, especially after you've delivered your punchline or moral of the story. If the audience remains confused, it could be a sign that something could be improved further.

Yup! Benchmarking your storytelling against industry standards helps you understand how you stack up. Here's how I would do it: 1/ Research reports on LinkedIn content engagement for your specific industry. These often provide insights into preferred content formats, lengths, and storytelling techniques. 2/ Take a look at how your competitors are crafting their stories. Analyze their content structure, language, and visuals for inspiration. Lastly, remember that benchmarking isn't about copying. Use it as a guide to see what resonates within your industry and identify areas where you can differentiate your voice.

Benchmarks provide a tangible measure of storytelling effectiveness and can be a powerful tool for improvement. They allow for a more objective assessment of your storytelling skills, as they offer a standard to strive for or surpass. It's crucial to remember that while industry best practices and competitor analysis provide valuable insights, personal goals and customer expectations are equally important, as they ensure your storytelling remains focused on the outcomes you seek.

Comparison is good, but don't let this obsession with competition hold back an important part of storytelling - which is being you. The more you compare, the more you can lose yourself. Measure yes ... but always remember to be you.

Establish benchmarks based on past storytelling performances or industry standards. Comparing current feedback against these benchmarks can help you gauge your progress and identify areas for improvement.

Feedback from your audience lets you know if your story resonated. Feedback can be immediate or delayed. It can be verbal or non-verbal. What's the best way to ensure feedback leads to positive results? Be open to it. You can't change if you refuse to welcome opportunities for change.

Once we have the data in hand, it's time to analyze and learn! Here's how I turn feedback into actionable insights: 1/ I categorize feedback by group comments and observations based on common themes. This helps me identify recurring issues and areas for improvement. 2/ I identify patterns and look for overlaps between direct feedback and behavioral data. This creates a clearer picture of what's working and what's not. 3/ I iterate and improve using the insights to refine my storytelling approach in future posts. I would adapt my structure, language, or even consider incorporating different storytelling formats like videos or interactive content.

Look for Patterns and Trends. Analyze the feedback data to identify common themes, strengths, and areas for improvement. Patterns and trends can highlight recurring issues or successes, guiding your focus for future storytelling efforts. Prioritize Actionable Insights. Focus on feedback that provides clear, actionable insights. While all feedback is valuable, prioritize suggestions that you can realistically implement to improve your storytelling.

Responding to your audiences feedback either in the moment or post the moment will only help to improve your storytelling outcomes in the future. Through my lens, storytelling is for every communication - the best thing about that is that to practice it and gain feedback is FREE! Test, learn, smile and repeat!

For me, collecting, AND analyzing feedback is a continuous process. I would actively seek out, and incorporate diverse perspectives from as many people as possible who witnessed my story. I believe that if I can continuously refine my storytelling, I can leave a lasting impact on my audience.

Implement Feedback Loops. Create a system where feedback is continuously collected, analyzed, and acted upon. Regular feedback loops ensure that you’re always aware of your audience’s evolving needs and preferences. Show appreciation to those who take the time to provide feedback. Acknowledging their contributions not only fosters goodwill but also encourages them to continue supporting your growth as a storyteller.

Feedback Diversity: Seek feedback from a diverse range of audiences to get a broad perspective on your storytelling. Different audiences can offer unique insights based on their backgrounds and experiences. Quantitative vs. Qualitative: Combine quantitative data (e.g., ratings) with qualitative insights (e.g., open-ended responses) for a comprehensive understanding of your storytelling impact. Peer Review: Share your story with fellow storytellers or mentors before presenting it to your target audience. Their expertise can provide valuable insights and suggestions for improvement.

Be open to continual feedback during your storytelling and communication itself. I call this "The Dance". Responding in the moment and being receptive to live feedback!

Direct feedback is the best way to go, but also evaluating who is giving the feedback is essential. For me, I utilize friends, family, coworkers, fellow freelancers, and sometimes I do a trial story for potential clients and ask for their direct feedback regarding my style, the story itself, and how we can best mesh these elements to their goals.

Record your story and review with your mentor. Get someone who would have "critical eyes", someone more experienced in this particular domain". Review the recorded video together and explore different methods of delivery or engagement on the spot.