How do you brand your story?

There are two angles to consider here. The first is topic of branding. This is a process within itself whereby you will need to truly understand first your why ... what is your brand representing, offering, positioning itself. The second is the actual story itself .. knowing the impact that you wish to make with your storytelling is also going to shape the direction of your storytelling. Set the two, align them, and you will then have a great starting point to then come forward and curate the details.

If I share in relevance with my personal brand, so, to brand my story, I keep it real. I show who I am and what I believe in. I use the same style and message across everything – from how I talk to the way things look. It's important to connect with people by being genuine and letting them see the real me. Whether on social media or podcast, I aim to be consistent and relatable. The goal is to share my experiences in a way that's easy to understand and feels true to who I am.

Branding your story is like painting a clear picture of who you are. First, know why you're telling the story and what you aim to achieve. Then, understand your audience well - their interests, desires, and what they connect with. Craft your narrative with authenticity and consistency, staying true to your brand identity. Be genuine in your storytelling, and be ready to adapt as needed to keep your audience engaged.

SHOW don’t tell. Take readers on the journey of your own life, showing the side of life that you have passed along during your journey to the way up. Align visuals and messaging tonally and symbolically to deepen the connection. Your unique viewpoint should permeate narratives.

Branding your story with The Story Catcher model involves weaving your unique brand identity through each narrative. Use the Recognize-Relate-Remember framework to align your stories with your brand’s values and mission. Hero, Hurdle, Harvest structures offer a compelling framework: position your brand as the mentor for the hero, provide solutions as tools for overcoming hurdles, and ensure your brand’s value is the harvest. Consistently infuse brand elements—voice, style, and core messages—into stories to foster strong brand recall. This branded storytelling will not only capture attention but will resonate emotionally, leading your audience down the path to conversion.

I find it helpful to have a specific reader in mind when crafting a new story. What does that person want to learn? What entertains them? Rather than a faceless large crowd, think of one human being you're telling a story to. What do they want to hear?

"You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." - Mark Twain Think about who will be reading or listening to your story. What are their interests, values, and needs? Understanding your audience helps you tailor your story to connect with them on a deeper level, making it more engaging and impactful.

It is important to start with the end in mind. Think through the emotions you want your audience to feel, or what you want them to learn. Now work backward and craft the story to lead to this end result! Be a harsh critic, and ask yourself if this would be enough to move you.

Storytelling is a structure. So to find and follow a core structure will give you the best chance to demonstrating connection value for your audience. Always keep the core principals - or layers as I call them in my storytelling model (the sprout model) - this will guide your story. Be sure to know the impact you want to make, the people that you are telling the story to, set starting context and direction, move into the main event and what in particular it is you are addressing, then bring clarity, conclusion and a lasting impression to the end point ... not forgetting to nurture the story with creativity, energy and perspective.

"There's always room for a story that can transport people to another place." - J.K. Rowling Build a compelling narrative that captures your audience's attention. Develop a clear beginning, middle, and end, and include elements that make your story unique. Use vivid details and emotions to draw your audience into your world.

Branding has to be consistent to be recognizable to your audience. So, it's critical to brand all the stories your organization shares. But what elements would make your story consistently branded? Here are some examples: - Voice and tone - Visual elements (photos, graphics, videos, etc.) - Design elements (logos, fonts, color schemes, etc.) - Language

Creating brand guidelines and easy-to-use templates helps to maintain consistency across your brand stories, and it also saves time when creating new content and onboarding new writers and designers to your team.

"Consistency is the true foundation of trust. Either keep your promises or do not make them." - Roy T. Bennett Keep your story’s voice and message consistent across all platforms. Whether you’re writing a blog post, a social media update, or speaking at an event, ensure your story’s core elements remain the same. This builds trust and recognition with your audience.

Branding a story involves crafting a narrative that not only tells but also sells, resonating deeply with the target audience while aligning with the brand’s core values. Start by clearly identifying the essence of your brand—its mission, vision, and unique value propositions. From there, weave these elements into your story, ensuring consistency in tone, style, and messaging across all platforms. Create characters and scenarios that embody your brand's values and voice, making the narrative relatable and engaging. Visual elements, such as a consistent color palette, logo placement, and font choices, should also reflect your brand identity. Incorporating customer testimonials and real-life success stories adds authenticity.

Showcasing your authentic personality, passion, and uniqueness hinges on your ability to share your story through a lens that highlights your unique perspective or approach to relatable problems or experiences. Use anecdotes, insights, and humor denoting your character. To avoid sounding arrogant, focus on inclusivity and empathy, acknowledging contributions from others and the relatability of your journey. To steer clear of boredom, vary your content formats and storytelling methods, incorporating visuals, examples, and interactive elements that keep your audience engaged. And remember to *always* connect your uniqueness to value for your audience by emphasizing what sets you apart. Be true to you! 🖤

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." - Ralph Waldo Emerson Authenticity is key to a powerful story. Share your true experiences, feelings, and insights. Authentic stories resonate more deeply with audiences because they come from a place of honesty and realness.

"The art of life lies in a constant readjustment to our surroundings." - Kakuzo Okakura Be ready to adjust your story as needed. The world changes, and so do audiences. Stay flexible and open to feedback, and be willing to tweak your story to keep it relevant and engaging. This adaptability helps your story stay fresh and impactful.

Knowing what problem your brand solves is cool but that's not enough. You need to explain how that solution is going to transform your customer's life. Remember: people don't buy when they understand, they buy when they feel understood.

Don't underestimate the power of showcasing the leaders behind your brand. Your audience wants to hear their perspectives. The who, how, and why drive strong engagement and, most importantly, provide the human connection behind your brand and your product.

Just remember that all communication is an opportunity storytelling. The moment you view it through that lens you can really open yourself up to enhancing the impacts you can have every day through your life. Storytelling is not just for that big moment.... it is for the every moment. Stories. Change. Lives.

Our clients know brand does not create story. Story creates brand. That’s one of our first principles at SG. A brand is simply the story that plays in a consumer’s head every time they hear your name. It’s the story they tell themselves and the image they wish to project to others by using your product. For example, we believe we are more creative when we use Apple products, have a greater love of the outdoors when we wear Patagonia, are more adventurous when accompanied by a Yeti cooler, are a more rebellious group when we use discord, feel more secure when we see Visa verified. A name, a logo, are story prompts. Without story, brands have no meaning.

Compelling narratives do more than entertain. They connect emotionally, making complex ideas relatable. Think of a sustainable clothing brand showcasing the journey of organic cotton, from seed to garment. Highlight real value through your story. Show how your product or service solves a problem or improves lives. Make it interactive! Polls, quizzes, and user-generated content keep your audience engaged. Think of a travel company asking for followers' dream destinations to curate personalized itineraries. Authenticity is key. People connect with genuine voices. Storytelling is more than marketing – it's about building relationships that last.