What’s a brand story, exactly? Let’s think of it this way. Ever been to a party and met someone you couldn’t get away from fast enough? Nothing interesting to say – a real yawn-er. Or what about the new bestie you just met at an event, because they were fascinating! You’d want to hang out with them because they tell great stories, are super interesting, and there was just something about them that clicked.
Your brand is exactly like that. It’s your company’s identity and personality – it’s what helps potential users or customers know if they like you, trust you, and want to give you all their money!
Brand communication is always evolving and your ability to continually sell your story is what helps you stand out. It’s not just a marketing tool. How you tell your story determines how your audience feels and connects with you.
Extend your reach beyond your channels
Looking for ways to capture your audience and tell your brand story goes beyond your website. You have to know where they are and how to find them. Telling your story through social media, podcasts, and videos expands your reach and impact.
Take Red Bull as an example. Apart from having one of the most popular advertising slogans: “Red Bull Gives You Wings,” this Austrian company has solidified its brand identity by having one of the most successful marketing strategies in the world. Their packaging, level of international awareness, and extreme sports event series have placed them in the top 3 in the energy drink game.
We don’t have to go as extreme as Red Bull and do stuff like a space diving project. You can learn how effective communication strategies are by making use of various platforms and meeting the audience where they are. This gives your brand a more dynamic presence by engaging with different people and maximizing storytelling.
Stand out in a crowded market
One of the best ways industry giants solidified their brand identity was through brand storytelling.
Companies like Apple have mastered storytelling as a powerful strategic business tool. Apple became recognizable because Steve Jobs, its co-founder, was known for his excellent storytelling. They continued this storytelling through the years and we can see that with ads like their Mother Nature ad.
A good story can make your audience feel good, but a great story makes your audience take action. Creating and writing stories will never go out of style. Storytelling in business helps you create a unique brand persona that makes you stand out from your competitors.
Connect with your audience using emotions
Two salespeople walk up to you. The first one says, “Would you like to buy a cold drink?” and the other one says, “It’s a hot day. Why don’t you relax and cool off with a cold drink?”. Chances are, you’d likely buy from the second person. But why is that?
One of the best ways to increase customer engagement is by creating content that reflects real-life situations and experiences:
- Don’t be afraid to express emotions in your communications because this makes your brand more human.
- Prioritize connecting with consumers’ emotions and create an identity for what they’re about.
- Be empathetic and understand the challenges and needs of your customers, creating a connection with them and fostering loyalty and trust.
- Actively engage with your audience on social media platforms to show that there are real people behind your brand who care about their customers.
Use brand stories to attract the right audience
You need to learn how to reach your target market effectively. The main goal of every brand’s marketing strategy is to attract the right audience. Your brand story should be a magnet for customers who share similar values and beliefs. What’s the point of putting all that money, time, and resources into marketing if you’re targeting all the wrong people?
Researching and understanding your audience is a great way to reach them. You can do this by creating user personas.
When you know who your customers are, you can market your brand to them and create relevant content to grab their attention.
Targeted messaging also helps you craft messages that speak directly to the emotions and motivations of your audience.
Use language, tone, and imagery that resonate with them, making them feel seen and understood.
Communicate value effectively
Having value as a brand means knowing who you are, what you believe in, and how you work. You’ve got to take time to create value because it goes beyond listing features. It shows how your product or service addresses the needs and desires of your customers.
A company with value is a memorable company. Think Coca-Cola. Its values are leadership, integrity, collaboration, passion, accountability, quality, and diversity.
Coca-Cola’s value has remained the same for many years and no matter where you are in the world, it always promises the same set of principles.
Communication improves customer engagement. Your message should be straightforward and clear for your target audience to understand. Your brand should also show what it’s offering and how it benefits customers.
You can make your brand valuable by:
- Keeping it consistent on all platforms
- Developing an effective marketing strategy
- Engaging with your customers
- Having a unique selling point
- Using different storytelling and content management tools.
Leave a lasting impression
When you effectively stand out, you create a brand identity and your brand becomes more memorable. Creating a connection with your audience will get you there because an emotional connection goes beyond a transactional relationship.
Communicating your value helps your audience understand what your product does and why it matters to them. By focusing on attracting the right audience, your brand story becomes a powerful tool for building a community of loyal customers.
Look into your current brand narrative and its effectiveness. In this journey of brand storytelling and identity, we’re not just selling products or services, we’re creating and shaping experiences, fostering connections, and leaving lasting impressions that turn qualified leads into paying customers.Contact us to help you tell your business’ story and build brand value.