Today I read an email from a favorite author. He advises, “When you introduce an idea, make it personal. Maybe add a short paragraph on how you came up with the idea”
So I’m applying this concept to my recent article, “How to Share an Idea without being dull.”
How did I come up with this?
First, I needed a topic. I went through back files to find something I could modify and reuse. And there it was: How to teach without being preachy.
What triggered that idea? Well, I was getting a lot of emails that seemed to talk down to me.
Another marketer complained about an email beginning “You’re looking for the love of your life..” She’d been happily married for over 30 years/ She wasn’t looking for anything.
And I’ve had to go back and change “should” sentences.
That’s it. Pretty boring, isn’t it?
That’s living proof a story can be boring.
I remember attending a book reading by an author back when they were more common than they are now. She’d written a book on loneliness, way back before that was a hot topic. Someone In the audience asked her why she’d chosen this topic. She answered truthfully, “My publicist thought it would be a good idea”
The truth is, if you’ve got a boring story, it won’t save your content. That’s also true if you’ve got an unbelievable story or a story how you did something people don’t want to know about. In the latter category, I’d put “I gave up chocolate for life” and “I get up at 5 and start writing.”
I’ve been somewhat guilty when I talk about fitness, as I actually like going to the gym. (That’s a story people love to hate).
So here’s what I conclude:
1 – a story isn’t always the answer
2 – a story usually IS the answer
3 – it has to be the ‘right”story Otherwise don’t tell it.
Gift: 3 mistakes most people make when they tell a story
Do you want to tell an interesting story that will make people want to buy from you? The secret is to make them say, “I want what they’re having.”
But it doesn’t start with your story. It starts with their backstory. You aren’t telling a story. You’re selling with a story. It’s called story selling. I prepared a whole course at this link.
You’ll learn
how choosing your characters can help a story sell
How setting your story in a scene can help a story sell
Why you’ve got to get them saying, “I want what she’s having.”
Priced for quick sale at this link.