Picture this: you come across an Instagram carousel that starts as a story. You look up at the owner of the post, only to find that it’s a company post and not an individual’s post. Hmmm, interesting. You read the first panel, and it hooks you so well, before you know it, you’re swiping till the last slide. Wow. You get the message, but wow. Who knew an ad could get so interesting? You immediately give an enthusiastic like and rush to the comments section to see if anyone was as wowed as you were.
You see, that’s the power of storytelling in social media marketing! Most importantly, in social media marketing, engagement is everything. Likes, comments, shares, and quoted reposts are great reactions that could help your brand reach a wider audience.
WHAT IS STORYTELLING?
Storytelling is a powerful marketing technique used by brands to connect emotionally with their audience. It’s not just a marketing tool. By writing inspiring narratives with positive and relatable messages, a properly crafted storytelling copy is key to building trust and sales for your business.
It turns passive viewers into engaged followers and customers.
HOW LONG HAS STORYTELLING BEEN AROUND?
Storytelling has been around for centuries, and some even claim it is as old as human language itself. Throughout history, stories have been used to pass down knowledge, culture, and traditions. However, from a marketing perspective, storytelling emerged as a major strategy in the last few decades, when brands realized that audiences connect more with narratives than with straightforward promotions. So, just like we established storytelling as a tradition, storytelling as a marketing strategy is not just a passing trend; it’s here to stay.
Some interesting facts and statistics about storytelling:
If you’re wondering why storytelling works so well, here are some compelling reasons
- Stories are remembered up to 22 times more than plain factual information.
- Storytelling can boost conversion rates by up to 30%
- A compelling story is at least 70% remembered, while a purely statistical marketing copy might only be 10% remembered.
The takeaway? People connect with stories on a deep level, making them more likely to engage, share, and act on a post that tells a story rather than just delivers information.
EFFECTIVE STORYTELLING FOR SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING: A 5-STEP GUIDE
Have you ever come across storytellers on Instagram?They could be anyone (from business coach to book reviewer) who consistently delivers content through engaging stories. But how do these brands effectively use storytelling on social media? Here’s a simple 5-step guide for you:
- Begin with a hook: Similar to the opening scene of a movie, how you start matters. Whether it’s an image or a catchy sentence, you need to make your audience curious enough to stick with you.
- Make it relatable: This often involves using relatable every-day experiences, emotions, and challenges your audience can connect with.
- Engage with suspense: This can be done by structuring your story content in a way that makes your audience want to keep reading, watching, or swiping.
- Flow naturally: Don’t be pushy with your marketing or make the story feel like an ad. Instead, weave your brand’s message seamlessly into the story while still making it make sense.
- Finish with a Call to Action (CTA): A clear CTA tells your audience what to do next. It is usually included at the end. Whether it’s encouraging a comment, sharing, or a visit to your website, always remember to make sure your audience knows what to do next.
CONCLUSION
Storytelling is not just about what you’re offering, rather it’s about how you make people feel. It’s an appeal to the emotions of your audience to connect to the relatable parts of your story. If you haven’t tried out storytelling before, you can use our five-step guide to get started.
Let’s talk; do you desire to hire a professional for your social media marketing needs? Get a quote from us today!
For corporate website building, click here.
