If you are running an online business, chances are that you are trying to reach out to your customers and ensure that you are communicating your mission, vision, and values. Doing this in an impersonal environment of the internet can be challenging. This is why every online brand needs to implement storytelling in their marketing strategy. You can talk to people in person, let them know about what you believe in, make them passionate about what you do and what you are about, and increase your conversion rates. Below you will find a few reasons why every online business should use storytelling as a marketing communication tool.
Makes You Unique
If you talk about more than business, you will appear more unique and credible. Having a face behind the brand has worked for many companies, such as Apple and some of the famous restaurant chains. You can communicate what you believe in, how you approach problems, and even give your audience a behind-the-scenes tour, so they can connect with you and understand your beliefs and values. Having a story behind the brand will help you engage with individual customers.
People Buy from People Not Companies
As the old saying states; people don’t buy from brands; they buy from other people. This is true more than ever, in the age of the internet. You want to know the backstory of the person and believe that they are offering the solution for your unique problems. If you can create powerful brand messages through storytelling, you can get them to remember you whenever they come across a problem you could possibly solve.
Emotional Connection
Stories don’t only entertain, but also create an emotional connection. If you are selling products or services online, chances are that you need to personalize your messages and create a strong emotional response. Don’t be afraid to make controversial statements and contradict general belief, provided that you can back up your claims. There are several ways you can create an emotional connection with your potential buyers; making sure that you are sticking to the facts and the figures, still getting them to engage with your brand.
The “Like Me” Moment
One of the most powerful moments in your relationship with your potential buyers is when they realize that you are like them. Don’t be afraid of telling them about your failures and your difficulties in life; they don’t want to see high flyers and smooth sailors; they want you to be human. You will need to complete your market research first and find a dimension you can connect with your audience through shared experiences.
Helping You Communicate Your USP
A good brand story will help you communicate your unique selling proposition. If you are in a highly competitive market, you will need to find a way to stand out and be remembered. Your unique selling proposition will tell your audience why they should choose you instead of other people in your industry, and how you provide more value than most similar brands.
Makes Marketing Communication More Personal
One of the tricks website designers and online marketing companies miss is creating long-lasting customer engagement. You can have the best sales copy and the most professional landing pages, if you cannot get people interested and genuinely engaged with your brand, you will never get high conversion rates. Whenever you are designing your brand messages, make sure that you include a personal story, an anecdote, and allow people to relate to what you are saying. This will also help you explain complicated issues in a simple way.
Customer Engagement
If you would like to achieve business success, it is important that you talk to the market and communication is not only flowing one way. You will need to complete surveys and questionnaires, engage with them on social media, and reply to emails, comments, and contact form suggestions. However, it is also crucial that you listen to what your current customers are saying and let them know that you appreciate their feedback, If you are getting a negative review, value it as much as the five star ones.
Simplifying Complex Issues
One of the reasons why you need to find the right tone to talk to your audience and make sure that they are well informed is making their buying decisions easier. If you can simplify complex issues in your business, chances are that you are reducing your sales cycle and taking out the guesswork from the equation for your potential customers. If you would like to Climb Online, you need to ensure that you are engaging with your audience every step of the way until they make a decision whether or not to choose you over your competitors.
Building Credibility
Of course, your brand image and reputation online is a huge asset that should not be neglected. If you are able to build credibility online and show your readers that you know what you are talking about, you can make your brand more credible. There are so many self-proclaimed gurus online that most people are cautious about who to trust. You should implement reviews and testimonials in your sales funnels and ensure that you are appearing as an authority figure online.
Makes Hard Selling Soft
One of the things that can happen when you add brand stories to your marketing strategy is that you reduce the pressure for your potential customers to buy from you. If you don’t like hard selling tactics, you might want to sell with stories instead. Your stories will make it an emotional and straightforward decision to buy from you, and you don’t even have to try hard. Once you have built reciprocity and established yourself as an expert, you will find that your conversion rates will increase.
If you are able to engage with your audience through storytelling, you can make your hard selling easier and increase your conversion rates. You need powerful brand messages to increase your reputation and create a personal connection with your audience.
- This post has been written by and outside source for Morning Business Chat.