When we think about the stories we read as children, they had characteristics: a beginning, middle, and end; a climax or conflict; and some sort of moral lesson. Great content on social media can also convey a similarly rich message when done correctly.
A story isn’t just about words – a great story teaches us something about the world and ourselves. And tells a good story.
Today, we’re seeing more innovative uses of storytelling incorporated into brand building as customers demand more from companies. More people want to understand the ethos and mission of a brand to see if that is committed to something meaningful (such as rather than just buying something because it’s ‘cool’.
So, what’s the best way to tell a story on social media? Let’s look at 7 great ways to do it!
A story is essentially a sequence of events with some key elements. With social media, you have plenty of options to tell stories in new ways that cross the boundaries of traditional storytelling and advertising. While you may have some restrictions (for instance, length), you also have a number of tools at your fingertips.
Before you develop your social content as part of a campaign or advertising strategy, it’s important to look ahead at your end goals and work back. Ask questions like:
Show, Don’t Tell
based or not, it’s better if you show your story rather than tell it. But, what does this mean?
In the realm of social media, this might be as simple as creating a compelling video, or infographic, or using a stunning visual in combination special data with a catchy title to get your message across (or at least the gist of it) quickly. After all, you only have a few seconds to get your message across, so why not make it as clear and visually inviting as possible?
Technology company, is a great example of this ‘show, don’t tell’ storytelling. While they do have promo videos to show off their newest camera, the majority show how their cameras are used and the results are pretty spectacular. It’s not only the GoPro crew that posts videos but millions of customers who want to share their sporting feats.
Write Like a Writer
Do you have experience writing copy, fiction or non-fiction? The truth is that while a bit of experience helps, you don’t really need to be an expert in any genre to nail storytelling on social media.
What will grab attention, though, is creativity, boldness, and the type of message that cuts to the chase – or at least gives a hint of the amazing things to come.
Depending on your audience, sometimes this will incorporate more of a story which includes some typical narrative elements. Think of the hero’s journey, for instance: it typically incorporates an unexpected hero (the protagonist) who B2C phone List finds themselves in a situation where they must do something life-changing (save the world from destruction).
If you are able to invite your audience in using the same tools that fiction writers do, you probably will get them engaged from the get-go. Plus don’t forget the importance of when it comes to search and social media, the right keywords mean getting to the right people.
