Importance of Good Communications and Story Telling

Just in case you have forgotten, you hear stories all day long. That might be on the radio or a clip of a television commercial before a video. You will always remember at least one story because they've impacted your life.

Stories have been linked to human communication behavior for centuries. Stories can be used to tell many different things and illustrate the power that stories have in persuading, informing, influencing, and motivating action. Nowadays, the emergence of storytelling in various fields has gained recognition by practitioners like public relations, marketing communications, and more.

An influential paper from 1992 highlights the importance of understanding and implementing stories in public relations. In their study, Heath and Toth explain that the reason “perspectives tend to become widely believed” is because they are embedded into stories that are told and retold through interpersonal conversation and mass media. Nowadays, communication strategists use storytelling in all sectors as a tool to reach out to the public with messaging as well as to influence their behavior.

What Makes Storytelling Important in Communication?

It's proven that effective use of storytelling can have a direct impact on your brain because it activates more areas than mere facts and figures. So, stories are key to a successful product, service, or brand awareness campaign. As communication strategists, they know this and have taken steps to make sure it's been effectively utilized for your company.

What Makes a Professional a Good Storyteller?

The most influential communicators are storytellers who know how to use words, images, motions and sounds in the right balance to engage their audience. They understand how to use data on their audience's behaviors to develop compelling content that touches the heart.

Getting to Know the Audiences

It's vital to understand who your audience is and to develop a strategy that suits their needs. In addition, you should never take your audience for granted because they're the key to effective communication. It's important that communicators understand the impressions you create with them because different audiences react differently to these impressions. A targeting approach based on the demographics of your listeners helps you increase the effectiveness of the story you're telling, thus drawing in more reactions from your target audience.

Be Truthful

Sometimes it can be hard to stay true to your brand's story or vision. This can happen if you are struggling to find a way to connect with the core message of your brand. It is important, then, to maintain consistency in your brand and stay true to what you are trying to accomplish.

Choosing the Character to Pursue Your Audience

The last thing you want is to be seen as an impersonal brand in your marketing messages. People want to connect with stories through a character that they identify with. So, when you're crafting your marketing messages, it's important to choose a character that the audience can empathize with and form an emotional bond with.

Use Authentic Examples to Learn Storytelling

Everyone knows that story crafting is a powerful way to resonate with your audience. It doesn't mean copying someone else's story and pasting your brand on it - but rather finding inspiration in their success. Being up-to-date with the new trends and successful examples is crucial to finding your own voice in this creative space.

Use Different Channels

When it comes to a story, different platforms affect the impact it has on an audience. Some are easier to use than others, which can be a benefit or a detriment. But unfortunately and fortunately, your audiences react differently and engage with the story in different ways in each platform. In this digital age, there are more tools available than ever to express and tell stories. Therefore, communication strategists need to be aware of platforms that work best for their company or organization.

What makes storytelling the best marketing tool?

Successful marketing is more than just conveying information. It's about striking an emotional chord with your listeners to compel them to action. The most effective way for you as a marketer is to use storytelling: it's wired precisely into human brains.

Stories not only allow us to consume information but also allow us to experience it. Emotion is involved in any story because it's what causes us to feel. Humans have been telling stories for thousands of years, and still do every day. But how do you create a story specifically tailored to the needs of your business?

• A point of resolution is an important part of any story: it adds context, energy, and depth to the narrative. Your audience needs to see that you're committed to following through with what you promise. That's when your listeners will feel empowered and confident in your message.

• With the rise in a focus on storytelling and using strong words to describe how we feel, it's now more important than ever to make sure your writing includes descriptive vocabulary. Your listener will be able to "see" what you have in mind. For example, rather than just speaking about "clients," use words like customers or people involved to bring your story to life.

• Keep your stories simple. Don't focus on complexity. The most important thing is to keep things relatable and easy to follow so anyone can understand. Talk about the problem and the solution, and be sure to share how you're able to help the client solve their problems.

• Ready to humanize your content? Sharing your story can help. Talk about how the challenge changed your way of thinking, shaped the outcome, or helped you become a better person. Not only will this make it more personal, but the audience will be able to see that this is something they are familiar with and relate to. By making it relatable, you're allowing the audience to have a piece of your story in addition to their own personal experience.

Storytelling can be an effective way to build trust with your audience, given the right tools and guidance. Understanding your audience is where a strong brand begins. It's a point of view that you craft through the process of story-telling.

The importance of communications and storytelling

The power of stories is that they allow you to show the world from a different perspective, give people a reason to change or take action, and let them participate in your vision. People love stories because it's how our brain builds the world around us. Stories are an excellent tool for communicators because they bring people together, and provide common ground and fellowship.

Whether you are presenting in a boardroom or pleading your case to people online, there is an increasing need for personalized communication. Yet too often, communicators rely on tired techniques like PowerPoint, with bulleted lists and talking points that usually result in being ignored, and tuned out despite the fact that these techniques worked effectively a little over 100 years ago.

Communicators should always be motivated by a desire for engagement and understanding.

Communicators are using storytelling for a reason – to engage with their audiences and make them interested in what they have to say.

Stories are one of the best methods to communicate something that you think others will be interested in. They're an excellent way to push your audience outside its comfort zone, especially when they share minimal or no knowledge on a specific subject.

When you tell an authentic story about how you struggled with writing your first sales proposal or explain the efforts it took to change the organization's structure to allow for remote work, it provides people with hope. They can see their current situation and know that they will eventually get over whatever hurdles they find themselves in with hard work.

When people create content with intention, they can inspire and influence positive change. At its best, content marketing can show rather than tell.

And remember, a good story can inspire people to feel better about the world. It shows them that there is a problem worth solving, something they can do to fix it, and ultimately what they did to make a difference, which inspires change in others as well.

Conclusion

When you share stories about your first sales proposal and the challenges you faced, people can relate. They will understand the obstacles you faced and be more likely to remember your message.

Sometimes the best idea is to focus on one person who overcame a difficult situation and motivate people by sharing their story.

Effective communication is vital for all organizations. When you use storytelling, it lets you impart your message with a unique perspective that encourages people to visualize themselves within the story. Not only will this help you reach more people but it creates a sense of purpose in those who are on the receiving end of your message.