Although there are a lot of books and blog posts describing the importance of storytelling as a personal brand building tool, there are a few that share a practical system for creating your own stories.
The exception is Raf Stevens’ No Story, No Fans: Build Your Business Through Stories that Resonate.
No Story, No Fans is the first book that not only tells why storytelling is an essential personal brand building tool, but provides a detailed description showing how to tell your own firm’s story in today’s social marketing world.
Setting the storytelling stage
The introductory chapters provide example-filled descriptions of the importance of storytelling and its power. These chapters build a bridge between important earlier studies of storytelling, (i.e., Annette Simmons The Story Factor, Chip Heath & Dan Heath’s Made to Stick, etc.) and relates them to today’s business environment.
Highlights include numerous examples, accompanied by links and QR codes to help readers seemly access the examples, blog posts, and TED-videos demonstrating best storytelling practices at work.
Part 1, by itself, is reason enough to read No Story, No Fans. You’ll discover resources that will expand your understanding of the basics of storytelling and access examples of storytelling best practices at work.
3 steps to storytelling success
Part 2, The Matryoshka Principle, based on the image of Russian “nesting” dollars, describes a simple 3-step process for creating your own stories. The steps include:
- Catch. Step l involves finding your story, learning to listen and engaging others in order to identify the key elements of your story, or your firm’s story. This fact-finding ensures that you’re stories will be accurate and relevant.
- Create. Step 2, the production phase, involves designing your story and producing your story.
- Connect. Step 3 involves telling your story and selling your story, i.e., engaging others to pass your story along to others in today’s connected world.
Like the earlier chapters, the text contains links to relevant examples. Each chapter ends with a brief conclusion, In Sum: The Elevator Pitch, which summarizes the key ideas from each chapter.
Raf has been blogging about storytelling for over three years now. He’s built an international audience at corporatestoryteller.be. Before writing No Story, No Fans, he has worked with numerous international companies, guiding them in using storytelling as a business tool, and given dozens of workshops and lectures about corporate storytelling to blue chip companies.
Is No Story, No Fans for you?
If you’re concerned that the information you’re sharing online and in person may be missing the point because your messages are too detailed or too technical, you’ll gain a valuable new perspective from No Story, No Fans. You’ll discover a practical process for aligning your message with your prospect’s hearts and dreams, multiplying the effectiveness of your personal brand building. Please share your comments about No Story, No Fans, or other storytelling books you may have read.
Author:
Roger C. Parker is an author, book coach, designer, consultant who works with authors, marketers, & business professionals to achieve success with brand-building books & practical marketing strategy. Visit Roger’s blog to learn more about writing productivity tips or to ask a question.
