Stories turn ordinary content into compelling content. They make it easier for your readers and listeners to relate to your content. They also help your content become more shareable. That’s why every time you’re done creating a piece of content, pause and ask yourself, “What story could I tell?”
Share your story.
Sometimes, the story might be from your own life. It can be a funny story, a happy one, or even a sad one. But make it relevant to the content you’re creating and your readers will find it easier to connect with you.
Don’t be afraid to get real in your stories and share the emotions you experienced. For example if you’re writing about how to stop emotional eating, you might talk about how caring for your aging parent left you feeling sad and alone, so you turned to food for comfort.
But what if it’s not your story?
You may have come up with the perfect story to include in your blog post or in your lead magnet. The only problem is that it happened to someone else and isn’t yours to tell. It might be the life coach that told you how she found the strength to leave an abusive partner and turn her life around. It might be the solopreneur who watched her child battle a serious illness and learned how to automate her business so she could stay by her child’s side.
If you’d like to tell someone else’s story, start by reaching out to that person. Tread gently here as some stories can leave lingering wounds, even after they’ve ended. So, remember to be kind and respectful when you ask. You might say something simple like, “I’m about to publish this [blog post/e-book/course] about [topic] and it made me think about your situation. Would you mind if I shared your story?”
Depending on where the other person is in their journey, they may or may not be willing to let their story be told. If they are willing, you can offer to share their story and give them final approval. You could say, “I’ll write your story down. Once I do, would you look at it to make sure it’s accurate?”
Let the other person share it.
You might find that some people want to tell their stories and would prefer to put it in their own words. In this case, you can use their story as a featured guest segment. Once you’ve received their story, read it carefully. If you have questions or feel information was left out, gently ask your guest poster for clarification.
Whenever possible, try to include a relevant story in your content. Doing this helps readers connect with and enjoy your content.
Whatever your business, having a positive impact on the people you serve is important but if you’re feeling stuck or not sure where to go next it can cause you ‘freeze’ and not do anything. If you need some help getting unstuck and moving forward, check out Momentum Monthly.