Have you been wondering how to grow loyalty for your business? Are you frustrated with having different messages across platforms? This blog will introduce you to StoryBrand, a well defined way to understand and create your message before it gets shared with your audience. I’ll take you through what it is and how it affects marketing, then cover where it is used. Now, let’s dive into the framework and how it works to give you a clear, strong message.
First, Context
We humans love a good story, right? Each story has basic elements to draw the reader in and keep them invested in the outcome. Great writers craft narratives which invite the reader to become invested in the story.
Maybe you’ve heard the term ‘StoryBrand,’ a concept developed by Donald Miller. He realized there was a simple formula to all content -whether movies, music, books, or marketing- which made it naturally more compelling. Keeping your message simple, about the audience, and telling them what action you want them to take will help any complex message become understandable.
As Donald Miller investigated what he was seeing, he built a framework for his content. He knew it was too good to keep to himself so he shared it in his book Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen. Using this method, or framework, can help any message you want to create be heard and understood by your audience.
Marketing Your Story
Using the StoryBrand framework builds out your message in the background. This gives you a script to pull from when you need to write anything for your business, from emails to speeches to website content, blogs, and ads. This is a great tool to build brand loyalty, drawing the audience into the story with a clear invitation to join the party.
Think about the commercials and websites you appreciate. Do they tell a story and draw you in? Do you know what you need to do to get that product or service? How does it make you feel? They more than likely send a clear message about the product or services offered and make it easy to understand how to get them. This is why using ths framework is so important to use in any messaging a company wants to share with their customers.
Make Your Message Easy to Understand
One thing which stood out to me as we were going through the intensive training on StoryBrand and how to put it into action is the research about marketing and burning calories.
Did you know encountering ads and figuring out what the creators want you to do can consume calories? When an ad or content is confusing, it causes the reader to ‘spend’ more calories, even if your service or product is the best. If a competitor’s message is clear(er), the reader will hire them because they didn’t need to think so hard. Let’s face it – we all like easy, right? When you exert the energy to simplify your message, potential customers won’t have to and will be more likely to hire you over another company.
The Framework
Now that we’ve talked a bit about the background of StoryBrand, let’s go over the basics of the framework. Each element works together to create a complete script for your company. Additionally, the elements can be used in different combinations to create a set of cohesive marketing components to drive your success through the roof.
- Hero and Guide. Every story has many characters, but the two main ones are the hero (your customer) and the guide (you). When you think about Karate Kid, Daniel is the hero of the story. He would be your target audience. He needed Mr. Miyagi (his guide) to help overcome his three-tiered problem. In the story you build, you are Mr. Miyagi for your customers. When you watch the movie, how much did you learn about Mr. Miyagi? Next to nothing. You learn enough to know he has empathy with Daniel and you can see the authority he has to help Daniel. Everything else is about Daniel. This is how your company messaging should be.
- Transformation. Your customer always changes after working with you, the guide. As you build your messaging, what is the way your target audience would want to feel after your help? How did Daniel transform after Mr. Miyagi helped him?
- There is a Problem. Each problem comes in three parts and ties to the transformation of the hero. First, the external problem. What is happening in their life which causes them to need your service or product?
- You have a Plan. As the guide, you need to have a plan. Customers need to understand this plan in just three steps. Listing each step is overwhelming and could cause them to look elsewhere for help. What are the main three steps needed to start and finish? A very simple version could look like this: 1. Call us. 2. Hire us. 3. Enjoy life.
- Success vs Failure. Your messaging needs to share what your customers will experience when they work with you (success). How will their life be better? This list can be 5-8 ways they will experience success, though you wouldn’t share each one in every part of your marketing. Sharing the failure, or what life would look like if they DON’T work with you should be kept short (2-3 ways their life will get worse). Using these in the right way can go a long way in helping them envision working with you.
Where To Use This Messaging
If you’re getting excited about how this could help you share your company’s message, you may be wondering where to start. And how far to go. Here are just a few reasons why you should start:
- Make your message easy to understand
- Eliminate confusion in your messaging
- Invite your customers to join your cause
- Raise loyalty to your brand
This means you need to be all-in on StoryBrand. Using it in anything you create forms a cohesive message so people aren’t confused about what you stand for or what you offer. Beginning this journey will affect every aspect of your business:
- Emails
- Phone calls
- Flyers, business cards, or any other printed materials
- Yard signs and billboards
- TV and radio ads
- Website content
As a marketing company, we recognize the value of how we share the services and products of our clients. We are using the StoryBrand framework in our to provide a more in-depth content strategy for clients. Through our Business Story Guide service, we can simplify the process for you. Want to learn more? Connect with us to see how we can help you clarify your message so you can grow your brand loyalty. We are ready to collaborate with you on your marketing strategy so you can conquer your marketing goals.