Brand storytelling

Almost four decades ago, Apple soared to prominence, airing their iconic “1984” ad during Super Bowl XVIII. Crafted by Chiat/Day and directed by Ridley Scott, the 60-second spot, inspired by George Orwell’s novel 1984, portrayed a dystopian future where crowds of men mindlessly follow the words of a dictator on a television screen disrupted by a defiant British woman.

Amid a turbulent political era, the ad made a powerful statement, subtly targeting American politics and rival IBM. It said, “We’re not just different; we’re revolutionary.” Today, it stands as one of the greatest Super Bowl commercials.

We thrive on storytelling. Why? Stories resonate, forging connections, captivating attention, and evoking emotions that foster meaningful relationships with your brand. As we navigate this storytelling landscape, this article unfolds actionable insights for crafting a compelling brand story that engages and converts.

Why Is This So Important Right Now?

In the dynamic landscape of the past few years, businesses have undergone significant transformations due to factors like the pandemic and market shifts. Amid these changes, it’s striking that many brands have evolved their operations while leaving their messages untouched. This oversight becomes more pronounced as businesses grapple with challenges and changing customer expectations. Moreover, in the current landscape, where recruiting and retaining talent is increasingly challenging, brands recognize the need to address their internal audience—their staff.

Your brand message needs to adapt to attract and have not only customers but top-tier talent. This shift in focus makes it clear that now is the moment to delve into the crucial conversation of crafting compelling brand stories that resonate both externally and internally. This dialogue can be a game changer, influencing how brands communicate their values, culture, and unique offerings.

How Does Your Brand Story Build Loyalty & Trust?

Can you describe your brand in 20 words or less? More importantly, would you receive a consistent response if you polled everyone in your organization, your customers, and your vendors?

Consider this scenario: An Uber is en route, and you have 20 words to convey who you are, what you do, and why it matters. Could you articulate it within those 20 words before they arrive? We’ve observed varying responses from participants in our boot camp strategy sessions. Divergent answers within your leadership team can signify multiple versions of your brand story, preventing consumers from trusting your brand. This challenge is compounded when there are further discrepancies in how your brand story is portrayed across your website, content, and social media. Such misalignment prevents different consumer trust.

Your brand story is the cornerstone of all marketing efforts. A unified and aligned brand narrative is a solid foundation to guide your endeavors and allocate resources effectively.

Crafting Your Unique Value Proposition Through Storytelling

Have you wondered what sets your brand apart from the competition? The key lies in emotional connections to our brands. To validate these differentiators, we need evidence. The best approach is to engage with your customers directly to get their perceptions. By probing what distinguishes your brand in the marketplace, you gain invaluable facts and insights, often derived from conversational data. While not always tied to metrics, this qualitative feedback captures the emotions driving consumer decisions. Recognizing that 95% of purchases are emotionally motivated, it's critical to understand how customers feel about your brand.

External feedback is crucial in substantiating internal perceptions of your brand’s identity and differentiation in the market. It’s important to emphasize that labeling something as a unique value proposition or core value isn’t sufficient; there must be supporting evidence or customer stories. Without such substantiation, it remains an ideal rather than a tangible reality.

Common Storytelling Mistakes & How To Avoid Them

Unlock the power of impactful storytelling by steering clear of common pitfalls such as:

• Lack of Authenticity – Avoid positioning yourself as something you’re not. Tropicana’s 2009 redesign was met with confusion and backlash, resulting in a 20% sales drop. It starts with building trust and vulnerability and sharing relatable experiences in your storytelling.

• Avoid Buzzwords & Jargon – Customers don’t understand industry buzzwords and jargon. Simplify storytelling by removing these terms. Instead, connect emotionally through personal brand stories, experiences, and testimonials.

• Simplify Stories – Consumers spend less than 20 seconds making a purchase decision. Avoid overloading them with complex messages. If you can’t convey your brand story in 20 words, craft a simple, focused, and consistent narrative for better audience engagement.

• Not Targeting Your Audience – Tailor brand stories to the customer buying journey and buyer personas. Understand their pain points, challenges, goals, and aspirations to provide compelling, targeted messages and solutions.

How To Tailor Stories For Diverse Demographics & Personas

Begin by defining your buyer persona—consider demographics, frustrations, goals, motivations, and behaviors. Utilize a template for creating a comprehensive buyer persona. Simultaneously, understand the emotional narratives associated with your products or services. For instance, ordering pizza isn’t just about the food; it’s about ensuring a positive environment for your family and kids.

Identify the emotions linked to experiences with your brand, tying them back to the buyer persona and crafting stories that address specific problems. Additionally, identify obstacles preventing your target audience from choosing your brand, enabling you to tailor compelling narratives.

How Social Media Shapes Business Brand Storytelling

Reach your customers where they are! You don’t need to cover every platform. Identify where your customers are most active and concentrate your efforts there. Social media can be a powerful tool for sharing brand stories. Sixty-four percent of marketers attribute increased sales to their video use, and 70% say video is the most effective method of converting qualified leads. Putting a face to the story through video creates engaging content, fostering authenticity, trust, and stronger relationships with your customers.

To refine your brand storytelling, consider these actionable tips. First, dedicate time with your team to reassess your brand story. What is it today, and has it evolved? What messages are you conveying to your customers, and have their needs shifted? Investing time in this process will yield long-term benefits. Secondly, pose the same questions to your customers. Conduct surveys and gather feedback on their perceptions. With this information, you can craft a compelling brand story that captivates and resonates, driving engagement and conversions.

For more brand marketing insights, follow John Gamades and Lisa Perry. For a step-by-step guide on developing a brand strategy, check out How to Develop a Brand Strategy by Lisa Perry.

This article was written by Lisa Perry and John Gamades.