How marketers can use brand storytelling to engage their audience

Every customer is a hero. Your website is their guide
Customers want something that your business can provide. The snag, however, is that there are a multitude of other businesses out there that offer the same product or service. By using brand storytelling, you can illustrate how your product or service can cater to that need better than anyone else.

Your messaging needs to show the customer exactly how their needs will be met, problems solved and pain points addressed – with the least amount of obstacles. It should also illustrate how that customer’s life will be changed by the experience. 

The intention is to build trust, inspire confidence and ultimately get your customer to take that next step. 

It starts with a website – your personal piece of internet real estate to tell your brand story and differentiate yourself from your competitors. You don’t need to invest a lot of capital or hire a specialist to get your website up and running. A Managed WordPress site, for example, gives you a range of Starter Sites to choose from to best tell your story. The advantage is that you can get your website up and running quickly, without needing to worry about the technical admin.

Brand storytelling in practice
Establish the hero of your story – your customer – and define the problem they are currently facing. Next, establish yourself as the guide who can help your customer get what they want and explain how you’ve cleared the path for them to get it. Include a call-to-action to motivate them to take the final step.

John is running late for work and desperately needs to pick up a gift for his colleague. He Googles ‘florists near me’ and finds your business website. Your website promises a huge range of affordably priced flowers and instant turnaround. John also sees that your mobile-friendly website offers convenient in-store pick up for online orders. He clicks the ‘Order Now’ button and places the order as he travels.

In this example, the customer’s needs have been met as promised and they leave a glowing review, essentially becoming a part of your brand story themselves.

You can also use brand storytelling to illustrate how the customer’s life will be changed at the end.

Sarah has a wedding planning service but fears she is losing business because her catering supplier is too expensive and unreliable. She sees a shared post on Facebook for a local eatery that offers catering and clicks the link. Sarah discovers that not only does the eatery cater for weddings, but they are vastly more affordable, the turnaround time is quicker and there is a gallery of photos showing satisfied customers alongside quotes about how reliable and professional the service is.

Tips to get you started

• Speak to your customers’ specific needs and pain points. Show them you understand their challenges and are here to help.
• Explain exactly how you’ve eliminated all the obstacles in their way.
• Use customer testimonials to foster trust.
• Share your values to show why you decided to start your business and what you’re about. Add these to your About page.
• Be human and authentic.
• Remember that it’s about your customers, not you.
• Outline the benefits for your customers. In other words, how their life will improve after they’ve used your service or bought your product (the happy ending.)

Unlike your brand story, which is another important way of winning over your customers, brand storytelling involves using narrative techniques to engage your audience and convert them. Used correctly, your customer will soon be part of your story.