Building your influential voice and brand messaging can be a challenge. And I am known for saying forever, just as people known me forever, “there are a million people who do what you do it’s you that makes a truly unique.” This means that your influential voice and brand messaging comes from your stories. I find more than too often because people live their lives every day that they see their stories as ordinary and boring.
Shift that thinking, and realize that your influential voice comes from sharing the stories of your life. Why? Because people will relate to you. I recently saw a multi-millionaire business owner speak from the stage. He said that the fastest way to grow your brand is to start telling your story.
I completely agree.
Storytelling makes you real, it makes you likable, and it builds trust. It allows people to step into the human side of the person behind the business. Simple storytelling makes people laugh, smile, cry, even get angry sometimes! It’s the power of the story. As a brand messaging coach this is the most important layer of my 6 pronged approach with my clients: building, and sharing the STORIES. And another layer is uncovering the BRAND story.
For a long time in my business, and I’ve been self-employed since 1997, I know ancient times (lol), I did not want to tell my BRAND story. I was afraid of being judged, of having people feel sorry for me. And I’m a warrior; I don’t want people to feel sorry for me! Then it clicked that my story is the journey of why the warrior exists! It is who I AM. The battles I’ve had to fight to overcome the things I’ve overcome. Understanding that the biggest battle is me. It is what allows me to teach you what I teach. My story on a deeper level matters.
The day-to-day stories, although they are important too, and I post them regularly on my blog just go read the wild hair post! Those stories connect on a personal level.
But have your created your influential voice and brand messaging yet? Do you understand how it calls your Tribe?
Do you still believe that you have NO STORY? Maybe we should set up a strategy session and talk!
This video shows the power of your STORY to Brand Message. It is my story. Take 3 minutes, I think you will see the power.
After you’re done reading this article, I want you to do TWO things:
#1. I want you to tell me a story about a time when shared a story and it helped your business. Tell me what changed, and how it helped you. Leave a comment. Share anything you can that you think will benefit the Warrior-Preneur community.
#2. Do you have a friend who you think needs to understand how their story is important to their brand message? Someone like a life coach, a social media marketing expert, or anyone that offers products and services? Send them a link to this article.
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
