184 Do Stories Make You Money? How Strategic Storytelling Drives Revenue
Strategic Storytelling
We all hear that stories are powerful—but do they actually bring in sales? In this episode of Strategic Storytelling, I break down how stories make money for your business, both indirectly (as a smart marketing tool) and directly (by increasing conversions). You'll learn what makes a story profitable, how to align your storytelling with strategy, and what to avoid if you don’t want your content to fall flat. Whether you're writing a landing page, planning a campaign, or building your brand, this episode will show you how to use stories not just to entertain, but to earn. What...
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183 Looking for a business mentor? Don't listen to their story!
Strategic Storytelling
A Guide to Solopreneur Branding This book contains a detailed discussion of the archetypes discuss here. Free with Kindle Unlimited. FREE: What is your archetype? ...and then learn more about your archetype from my book. . I wrote this quite a while ago and it's still good. (an Educator). (a Role Model). (also a Role Model)
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182 Use These 3 Storytelling Superpowers To Connect and Convert
Strategic Storytelling
What do invisibility, time travel, and telepathy have in common? It's not just a party game or a job intervew question, "Choose your superpower." These 3 storytelling superpowers that can transform your marketing. In this episode of Strategic Storytelling, we’ll explore how to: Make your writing “invisible” so your message becomes the star (not your clever wordplay) Use time travel to guide your audience from frustration to solution Tap into the power of telepathy to respond directly to your client’s unspoken desires Whether you're writing sales pages, emails, or social...
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181 Why Your Own Story Is The Best Content: Ignore the gurus and "do you!"
Strategic Storytelling
IN this episode of Strategic Storytelling, we explore why your real, everyday stories—not dramatic or overly polished ones—are often the most powerful for your content. As an example, I talk about ]how comedian Loni Love stayed true to her voice despite pressure to "play a character," and how that lesson applies directly to your brand storytelling. If you've ever been told your story isn’t “exciting” enough, or you're not being "vulnerable" enough, this episode is for you. You will learn... Why “authentic storytelling” doesn’t mean airing all your struggles The...
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180 Finding your strategy from your story
Strategic Storytelling
Struggling to find the right words for your marketing? In this episode, we unpack why your business story isn’t just relatable — it’s a strategic treasure trove! You’ll discover how storytelling becomes a diagnostic tool to uncover your most powerful marketing message. Whether you're a coach, freelancer, or creative entrepreneur, your story already holds the key to your branding, positioning, and message. We'll explore three story types that reveal your value proposition, brand positioning, and unique angle.. The breakthrough is in the story you've already experienced. You...
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179 How To Sell a Service that Seems Frivolous (by discovering why it's not)
Strategic Storytelling
A lot of solopreneur marketing challenges become easier with a story -- and with knowing the clients' backstory. In this episode, we’re tackling a challenge many solopreneur service providers face: how to sell when your offer seems “non-essential” or even frivolous. From personal shopping to manicures, pantry organizing to lighting setups — these services are often dismissed as luxuries. But as the backstories reveal, the real value often lies beneath the surface. You will learn ... ... many non-essential services can be critical when you understand why people buy ... ...
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178 Strategic Reinvention: The Best Story to Explain How You Got Here
Strategic Storytelling
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177 Storytelling Prompts for Business Stories
Strategic Storytelling
Have you ever faced a blank page, saying to yourself, “I know I need a story…a good story…for business. But I keep drawing a blank.” And most of the story prompts—those questions beginning “Tell me a story about” are not designed for business. They’re designed to get your personal stories. So you get prompts like, “What was your proudest moment…” which rarely helps your business. As I’ve said many times, a business story serves a purpose. It doesn’t just amuse and entertain. It supports your strategy…which is rarely about helping you feel good about yourself....
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176 How To Generate Buzz For Your Products With Client Backstories
Strategic Storytelling
If you’re a small service-oriented business, you want to get people to talk about you! But how do you do this? Small companies—especially service-based solopreneurs—can’t generate buzz the same way as big companies. They need to dip into their client’s backstories. When someone says, “You seem to be talking to me!” -- that's how your buzz begins! In this episode, I talk about what it means for a solopreneur to create buzz. It’s not the same thing as big-company buzz. You’ll get examples of stories that never became the subject of conversation, and how...
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127 How to Demonstrate Your Expertise By Telling Stories (Encore)
Strategic Storytelling
"You're the expert." How do you feel when you hear those words? You'd better get used to hearing that sentenence if you're a service-based solopreneur! Because when you sell a service, you’re selling expertise. You’re offering knowledge and skills beyond what “everybody” has. You hire a licensed electrician because a handyman might do the job...but you want to be sure they won't set the place on fire by mistake. You hire a professional decorator because you want someone with flair who adds something to the project…something your best friend just can't do. So how do...
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In this podcast episode we are going to look at casting the characters in your story.
We’ve already talked about the villain. The other characters are the hero, the guide and the cheerleaders.
Who is the hero of your story?
The hero has a problem. Often it’s a serious problem. Sometimes it's trivial, like a leaky faucet. You have a more dramatic story when the hero has a serious problem that requires steps to solve.
You are the guide who solves that problem. We will talk about the guide's role in the next podcast.
Here's what we cover and what you will learn.
-- There are 3 kinds of heros - you, your client, or an imaginary person.
-- There are 3 qualities the hero possesses - these will surprise you. The hero can’t be a loser even though the hero brings you a problem.
People don’t want to identify with losers: so who do they choose?
What about the hero who’s the client of a lawyer or tax preparer? The hero doesn’t do a lot of work, but the hero can’t be totally passive.
-- Finally, what happens to the hero? You don't wave a wand but your client -- the hero -- does come away as a different person.
The hero sells your story. The hero is the client. The prospect turns to your story and sees the hero as a mirror. That’s the essence of a selling story.
Other podcasts you may like:
The villain in your story - episode 148
You don’t have to be passionate to be a passionate advocate - episode 135
What is a persuasive story - episode 46
Cast the characters of your selling story --the workbook: A fill in the blanks guide to choosing the characters for your story. Click here for more.
How to tell a story that sells. Choosing characters is just one component.
If you'd like to work with me, learn about the Strategic Intensive coaching program.
Learn about the five archetypes of small business branding when you click here.