Public Relations & Social Marketing Insight

Twice this week I've been asked for alternatives to iBooks Author that students can use to create multimedia books. This is probably a good time to share the three options that I usually recommend. These are listed in the order in which I typically recommend them...

Referencing his book The Dangerous Animals Club, Tobolowsky said, "True trumps clever any day of the week. So I really try to make sure that all of my stories in the book are (1) true, and (2) that they happened to me. It's far more important to tell a true story even if it's not perfect in all the details than to make up a clever lie."

Although many see content marketing as just that—marketing—smart marketers know that what they're delivering is a great story. At the heart of that is truth, education, and personality—however imperfect it all may be. Small business owners are directly involved in all aspects of their business and have personal connections with customers. It stands to reason, then, that they have a wealth of powerful stories at their disposal. Want to become a content marketing rock star? Grab attention and connect with potential customers through those stories. Here's how to do it authentically....

As more companies invest in content marketing, PR practitioners have an unparalleled opportunity to share engaging narratives with key audiences to raise awareness, build relationships and motivate action.

...For PR people, story marketing presents an opportunity that almost can’t be overstated. Content Marketing is attracting huge chunks of marketing resources.  According to a survey by the Content Marketing Institute, 25 percent of total U.S. B2B marketing budgets were devoted to it in 2012 and 60 percent of respondents plan to increase their commitment in 2013....

The power of stories has become a part of our cultural dialogue. From articles in Fast Company to The New York Times, and applied across different topics from sports to business to marketing, story is the genre of choice for 2012.

In fact, Direct Marketing News forecasted this to be “the year of the story,” and London-based agency BergHind Joseph identified it as a trend among the Global Fortune 500, even dubbing its 2012 Global Players study, “The Power of Storytelling.” We also find companies such as Nike, Google, Kimberly-Clark, and 3M, among others, using storytelling as a means of communication and leadership.

When it comes to brands and marketing, the application of story now needs to go beyond the traditional and ubiquitous tool of brand story; rather, it’s about engaging consumers in a brand’s stories and using the construct of stories and storytelling to create powerful connections. While the transition to digital media drove a focus toward content, today with ever more social tools and communication media, there’s a need for cohesive and meaningful connections in a marketing world that is now labeled “always on,” demanding more of brand communication. This is where story comes into play....

[Storytelling hits its stride as large organizations look for breakthrough opportunities to connect with customers or other key audiences ~ Jeff]

I believe in the premise of amazing, interesting, human, wacky, irreverent, or timely so much that I co-wrote a book in 2010 that is partially devoted to it—especially the human and timely components. But here’s the truth: I’ve worked with more than seven hundred companies as a marketing consultant, and I’ve come to realize that while “be amazing” can work, it’s also extraordinarily difficult.

Telling someone to be amazing is like telling someone to make a viral video. There’s no such thing as a “viral video.” There are videos that become viral, but they are few and far between. The marketing of “be amazing” is the marketing of the swing-for-the-fences home run hitter. There are two by-products of that approach: an occasional home run, and many strikeouts.

You can do better. You can break through the noise and the clutter and grab the attention of your customers by employing a different approach that is reliable, scalable, functional, and effective. It’s simply this: stop trying to be amazing and start being useful....

...So the question is: Why is a story so important to your personal branding strategy? First of all, it sets your brand apart as unique. Every brand has its own story to tell, but yours is the only one of its kind. What drives you? Why did you enter the field that you find yourself in today?

You’d be surprised at what details will intrigue the reader and give your audience an idea of what your brand is really about. Perhaps one of the most effective characteristics of a story is that it humanizes your brand. It’s easy to launch a brand, but the story behind it can leave your target audience wondering where it came from.

What is your actual purpose? What drives your actions? Was it the right opportunity at the right moment? Now consider how your brand has affected others. How have you impacted the lives of those involved with your brand? Has it always gone smoothly? Are you new at this? What’s your experience prior to the creation of your brand? What is the story behind your personal brand?

While the story for your brand might satisfy your present audience, the aspects of your personal brand story can turn you from just a brand into the personification they can truly relate to.... 

Consumers don't care about you. They care about what you mean to them. And meaning comes from stories. When you tell your company story, you become more relatable. And when consumers relate to your brand, they'll buy from you.

Social media allows you to tell your stories at scale and build powerful relationships with your customers. In the past, storytelling to the masses was expensive and only possible via large media firms. Now, storytelling is free, or near-free, via accessible social media tools. 

Here are seven simple ways you can become a more effective storyteller on social media