ReportWire

Tag: Storytelling

  • Just 5 Words: AI Storytelling with Apple Intelligence

    [ad_1]

    When I really started to amplify my work with AI, the most annoying thing was the message: “you have hit your quota, usage reset at 3:00 AM”. That was Claude telling me I have exhausted all my tokens and I cannot work anymore. I had to stop. Go out and take a break. It felt incredibly frustrating but I had no choice, I had to wait until my quota was replenished.

    Since then, I started to experiment with on-device inference. Meaning using models on my own machine, and not via APIs, capped by my current subscription. At the moment of writing, this is still prohibitive. My Mac M1 has 16GB of RAM, which makes it barely usable for coding tasks. The best I can do is to use some 3B (3 billion parameters) model, like Qwen, which is roughly usable for task classification, and impossible for real hardcore coding tasks, the kind that I’m using every day.

    The Unexpected Discovery

    So running inference on my machine basically means 2 things: first, I have to wait until models are becoming more performant (and it seems this is happening now every 6 months or so) and I have to get a better machine, one with at least 64GB of RAM.

    But while I was researching all these AI configurations, I accidentally stumbled upon something called Apple Intelligence. It’s a collection of optimized models which are running on device, and can do decent text and image manipulation. They cannot generate code, or high resolution photos, but they are good enough for low res tasks.

    Now, if only I can imagine a use case for those…

    And here’s how Just 5 Words was born.

    AI Storytelling and Image Generation on device, with Apple Intelligence

    So, it works like this: the user picks 5 random words from a pre-made list, we feed these words to the on-device text model and instruct it to make a short story out of them – don’t ask me about what prompt(s) I’m using, it took me a lot of time to get them right. Once the story is done, feed the story to the image generation model and build an image for that story. Everything stays on device, no API calls, nothing.

    Looks simple.

    Well, in the beginning it was. But the more I worked on it, the deeper I went down the rabbit hole. Sometimes I was hitting some model limitations, like the fact that the text model cannot generate output if a person is involved. I don’t know why, but it’s just how it is. And then I realized the image generation could be further optimized by using different styles and perspectives. So I made a few presets for both styles and perspective.

    And then there was the UX angle: how much of this is free, and how much is ad-gated?

    After a couple of days of back and forth I came up with something not only working decently, but significantly… addictive. I know, I’m the builder, I’m supposed to like what I’m building, but still. There is something really addictive about watching how words are becoming short stories, almost like haikus, and then on top of them ephemeral, gentle images are being generated. It’s… beautiful.

    The Challenges

    Apple Intelligence is not available on all Apple devices. You need to be on iOS 18.4 or higher, and have an iPhone 15 Pro or newer, and to enable it in Settings. That’s a significant limitation and it was the biggest source of friction during the AppStore review process. Initially, the App Review team tested on simulators and it instantly rejected the app. I had to actually send them a message with instructions: test on devices, guys, Apple Intelligence doesn’t work in simulators.

    On top of that, I had to do significant work in the sharing feature. Because what’s a beautiful image on my phone, if no one else can see it? Does it even exist? Joke aside, I built 3 different share sheets, for Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, trying to bank on the short form content that these platforms are prioritizing.

    Try It Out!

    The app is finally live in AppStore, so you can try it out. Remember, you’ll need an Apple Intelligence ready device AND need to have Apple Intelligence enabled on that device.

    Download Just 5 Words for free from here: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/just-5-words/id6753934664 – and let me know what you build. Just share on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok and use the hash tag #5Words, I’ll keep an eye on that one.

    All in all, this was one of the most fun experiments I did recently.

    [ad_2]

    dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)

    Source link

  • Why storytelling drives nonprofit fundraising and advocacy | Long Island Business News

    [ad_1]

    In Brief:
    • Nonprofits use to cut through message overload and emotionally engage donors and policymakers.
    • are pairing personal narratives with economic data to demonstrate measurable community impact.
    • Disability and rely on personal stories to build trust and strengthen fundraising.
    • Combining data with lived experience boosts fundraising success and legislative advocacy.

    Storytelling is not just for : It’s the lifeblood of organizations.

    As people are inundated with endless messaging all around them, capturing anyone’s attention is more challenging than ever.

    Pulling at people’s heartstrings through a compelling narrative can be key to successful fundraising.

    Linking the economic impact to the arts

    LAUREN WAGNER: ‘Creative work is lived experience; it’s expression. And impact has been the way that the arts have led their storytelling for a very long time.’

    The arts sector has historically relied on impact narrative, notes Lauren Wagner, executive director of the Long Island Arts Alliance, a regional arts service organization advocating to make arts accessible throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties.

    “The arts are inherently story-driven,” Wagner said. “Creative work is lived experience; it’s expression. And impact has been the way that the arts have led their storytelling for a very long time.”

    For many years, those stories have been told in isolation, without data anchoring them to their value to the community.

    “One of the things that I try and tackle on a daily basis is shifting the narrative from the arts are a luxury to the arts are essential,” she said.

    Most people don’t think of connecting arts with dollar figures, but Wagner argues that they are integrally linked.

    “My core fundraising philosophy is no story without a number and no number without a story, because I think it’s really important to be able to tell your story in both ways,” said Wagner, adding that when she informed legislators that the arts have had a $330 million impact on Nassau and Suffolk, it got their attention.

    Having participated in the Arts & Economic Prosperity Study a few years ago, Long Island Arts Alliance can provide organizations with individualized impact statements, notes Wagner.

    For example, in a meeting with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul,  the Patchogue Arts Council shared stories of their work and how many kids they reach, demonstrating the direct economic impact on the community.

    “That was really what led to their multi-million dollar grant that they got from the governor’s office,”  Wagner said.

    Sharing a personal story

    WALTER STOCKTON: ‘We really don’t get enough money from the government to keep the homes up the way we expect them to be. Fundraising money becomes very important for that.’

    For Kinexion, a management service organization for nonprofits that provide support for people living with disabilities, programs are funded 100 percent by the government, notes Walter Stockton, president and CEO.

    “Even if you get 100 percent funding by the government, it’s never really enough,” said Stockton, noting that they need to keep each of their 185 group homes in top shape. “We really don’t get enough money from the government to keep the homes up the way we expect them to be. Fundraising money becomes very important for that.”

    For Kinexion, golf outings and dinners are more like “friend-raisers,” as opposed to fundraisers.

    “That’s where you get to tell the story. You tell the story to people about how you got here, what you’re doing, how important the world is of what you’re providing,” he said.

    When a board member has a friend who is interested in the nonprofit field, Stockton will meet with them, sometimes bringing along parents of a child who they helped moved from an impersonal institution into a supportive residence.

    “When you have a child with a disability, you have no preparation for that,” Stockton said. “There’s no class you took in school to teach you how to take care of or even how to emotionally deal with that. So those stories are very, very pertinent to the kinds of things people want to hear when they want to support that.”

    The power of narrative

    DAVID NEMIROFF: ‘People, I believe, want to help their neighbors and sometimes they just need a really good story to help make that happen.’

    Anybody can recite statistics, but telling a story can move policymakers, donors and community members, avers David Nemiroff, president and CEO of Harmony Healthcare Long Island, which has six separate centers and four school-based locations in Nassau County.

    “The story of what’s going on in our communities has significant impact on people and makes people feel a certain way,” Nemiroff said. “And it’s really important for us as executives of nonprofits to be able to share what those dollars are doing for our community.”

    For example, Harmony Healthcare raises funds for “Baby Bundles,” essentials for new moms like car seats, pack & plays and diapers, to help ensure healthy outcomes for babies.

    “Depending on who our audience is, we tell that story in such a way that it definitely drives donors to support it,” Nemiroff said.

    They now offer scholarships for kids who were patients in their school-based health centers and are interested in pursuing careers in healthcare.

    “Storytelling to me is important because it connects our feelings with our actions and it helps give people a reason to give and support,” Nemiroff said. “People, I believe, want to help their neighbors and sometimes they just need a really good story to help make that happen.”

    For their Perinatal and Infant Community Health Collaborative, in which they care for moms and their babies for the first two years, Harmony Healthcare shares graduation pictures and speeches with board members and others so they could see how their dollars are spent.

    “Telling the stories that try to help one another is very positive because it humanizes what we sometimes take for granted when you just see a headline,” Nemiroff said.

    Storytelling can also be very effective in trying to sway legislators for support.

    “When we go to Albany or D.C., if we can bring a patient or board member, we do,” he said. “We’ll  say: ‘This is what you’ve done for me.’ And I think it’s very powerful when they can hear directly from a constituent.”


    [ad_2]

    ARLENE GROSS, LIBN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

    Source link

  • The Mindset Shift I Teach at Harvard to Create Captivating Presentations

    [ad_1]

    There’s a big difference between a person delivering a PowerPoint and someone who’s telling a story. Storytellers captivate and engage audiences. Presenters put people to sleep with boring, confusing, and convoluted slide decks. 

    Be a storyteller, not a presenter. 

    That’s the advice I give to entrepreneurs and business leaders in my Harvard classes on 

    communication skills. The first question they always ask is: “Does that mean we avoid using PowerPoint?” Absolutely not. You can and should use PowerPoint and other graphic design tools to complement your story, but you’ll be far more effective if you build the story first. 

    It might sound like a subtle shift, but once you adopt the mindset of a storyteller, the presentation your audience sees will change for the better. 

    Storytellers storyboard. Presenters build slides. 

    Most people have access to new and cool presentation tools such as AI-generated animations, sleek graphics, and even new PowerPoint features like “designer” that make it easier than ever to generate design ideas. Although the tools are great and will help build better looking slides, they won’t necessarily make your presentations memorable. 

    While it’s tempting to open PowerPoint and start dropping in slides and inserting graphics, the most effective speakers do something different: They storyboard first. Storyboarding simply means laying out the flow of your message before you touch the software. Think of yourself as a movie director who sketches out the scenes before picking up a camera.   

    One of my favorite photos that I show in class is a picture of me and SanDisk founder and CEO Eli Harari standing in front of a whiteboard. We were sketching out ideas and creating the flow of the presentation that senior executives would deliver at the company’s annual analyst meeting. Once we could see the big picture and identify key messages, we began to invite designers and creators into the meetings to help us visualize the ideas. While most people rush to open PowerPoint. Great communicators reach for a pen. 

    Storytellers follow structure. Presenters wing it. 

    The reason most audiences find PowerPoints boring is because they lack structure. Presenters build PowerPoint decks while storytellers build arcs. An arc is a journey taken by a character in a book or movie. Think about the arc you want your presentation to take. 

    For example, a simple storytelling structure used in nearly every Hollywood movie is the three-act play. Act 1 is the set-up where the audience gets to know the characters, their world, and what they hope to achieve. Act 2 is the challenge the characters and heroes face. Lastly, Act 3 is the resolution where everything gets wrapped up in a bow. 

    A good business presentation follows a similar arc: 

    • They use Act 1 to describe the world as it exists today for potential customers and prospects. 
    • Then, in Act 2, they define the problems people face in navigating the world as it exists. 
    • Act 3 offers a solution to the problems and a clear call to action. 

    Presenters deliver information. Storytellers guide their audience on a journey. 

    Storytellers rehearse. Presenters read. 

    One of the biggest differences between an average presentation and a truly memorable one happens before anyone steps on stage. Presenters spend their final tweaking slides, adjusting fonts, inserting charts, adding more text and data. Storytellers, on the other hand, spend more time rehearsing for the performance, their opportunity to share their ideas on stage. 

    If you don’t internalize the message you want to convey, you’ll be forced to read from slides or the notes you’ve written on your smartphone. You’ll have missed the chance to move people, to connect with your audience face-to-face and eye-to-eye. Presenters read to the audience. Storytellers speak to the audience, and they can feel the difference. 

    PowerPoint isn’t the enemy. The problem is starting with slides instead of a story. Don’t be the person who delivers a presentation. Be the person who tells a story people will remember. 

    The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.

    [ad_2]

    Carmine Gallo

    Source link

  • Fuel Curiosity with Immersive Storytelling

    Fuel Curiosity with Immersive Storytelling

    [ad_1]

    Emotional Engagement

    Emotions play a critical role in memory retention and learning motivation. When students are emotionally engaged, they are more likely to invest effort and curiosity in the subject matter. Stories, as we all know, have the power to evoke powerful emotions and leave lasting impressions on us all. 

    [ad_2]

    DE Staff

    Source link

  • The Congressional Medal of Honor Society Launches Student Platform “Path to Honor” Encouraging Self-reflection and Character Exploration

    The Congressional Medal of Honor Society Launches Student Platform “Path to Honor” Encouraging Self-reflection and Character Exploration

    [ad_1]

    MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. —  The Congressional Medal of Honor Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Medal of Honor and supporting Recipients of the Medal, has launched ” Path to Honor,” a free platform designed for middle and high school students. Path to Honor provides first-person views of historical and heroic actions by Medal of Honor Recipients. Path to Honor offers rich storytelling content in a short digestible digital format for students’ self-exploration of the Medal of Honor values.

    “The choices we make during life-altering moments have a significant influence upon our character,” said Medal of Honor Recipient James McCloughan. “With Path to Honor, students can explore real stories and make connections to many aspects of their everyday lives. It’s an important initiative because heroism isn’t reserved for a select few – it’s cultivated within the hearts and minds of our next generation.”

    The self-directed resource is broken down into six core values, each containing three stories from Medal of Honor Recipients:

    • Courage: Can you be scared and show courage at the same time? In these stories, students see courage in action.
    • Sacrifice: Sacrifice is a personal action, and it may cost one everything. But it is always intended for a more important purpose.
    • Patriotism: To many people, patriotism is red, white, and blue, parades, stars and stripes. It’s also hard decisions and overwhelming odds, usually far away from home.
    • Citizenship: We are citizens in many places: home, school, city, country, on teams, and in classes. Active citizens participate in their communities.
    • Integrity: Integrity is often described as doing the right thing. But what if you can’t tell what is the right thing? Or what if the right thing seems impossible?
    • Commitment: Life is all about commitment, to self and others. Sometimes we get frustrated or scared and want to quit. Sometimes, quitting is not an option.

    Backed by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s  Character Development Program, which has trained over 19,000 teachers nationwide, Path to Honor is available as a standalone, self-directed resource for students appropriate for a variety of educational settings. It can also be implemented within class curriculum and overall character development – promoting a positive school culture, supporting social, emotional and behavioral learning goals, or integrating character education into relevant cross-curricular subjects like history, civics or ELA.

    “Path to Honor is a powerful tool for a variety of learning environments, whether as part of social studies curriculum, provided as an extra-curricular activity or assigned for extra credit,” said Catherine Ehlers Metcalf, Senior Director of Education at the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. “The platform draws young people into these real stories so they can see how situations escalate, and ultimately decide how they’d respond. Our goal is for students to exemplify values of strong character by reflecting on Medal of Honor stories and their personal experiences.”

    To access the Path to Honor homepage, visit  https://www.cmohs.org/path-to-honor/. To learn more about the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, visit  https://www.cmohs.org/.

    About the Congressional Medal of Honor Society

    The Congressional Medal of Honor Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Medal of Honor (the United States’ highest award for military valor in action) and its Recipients, inspiring Americans to live the values the Medal represents, and supporting Recipients as they connect with communities across America. Chartered by Congress in 1958, the Society’s membership consists exclusively of those individuals who have received the Medal of Honor.

    The Society carries out its mission through outreach, education, and preservation programs, including the Medal of Honor Character Development Program, Citizen Honors Awards, and The Medal of Honor Museum. As part of Public Law 106-83, the Medal of the Honor Memorial Act, The Medal of Honor Museum, which is co-located with the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s headquarters on board the U.S.S. Yorktown at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, was designated as one of three national Medal of Honor sites.

    The Society’s programs and operations are fully funded by generous  donors. Learn more about the Medal of Honor and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s initiatives at  cmohs.org.

    eSchool News Staff
    Latest posts by eSchool News Staff (see all)

    [ad_2]

    ESchool News Staff

    Source link

  • Master the Stage — 7 Proven Ways to Stand Out As a Public Speaker | Entrepreneur

    Master the Stage — 7 Proven Ways to Stand Out As a Public Speaker | Entrepreneur

    [ad_1]

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    In a world where information is readily available, and competition is fierce, standing out as a speaker in a saturated industry can be a daunting task.

    However, with the right approach and a few strategic moves, you can set yourself apart and make a lasting impact. As a professional paid speaker who has spoken at several organizations and conferences over the last 10 years, there are a few hacks that I’ve learned along the way.

    Here are seven tips to help you shine in a crowded field.

    1. Find your unique voice

    The first step toward standing out is to discover what sets you apart from others.

    Identify your unique perspectives, experiences and expertise that make you different from the rest of the field. Embrace your uniqueness and let it shine through your presentations by being your authentic self. Authenticity is the key to capturing the attention and trust of your audience.

    2. Define your niche

    Instead of trying to appeal to everyone, focus on a specific niche within your industry.

    Specializing in a particular area allows you to develop deep knowledge and expertise, making you the go-to expert for that niche. This targeted approach helps you build a reputation and attract an audience that is genuinely interested in your expertise.

    There’s a saying that I love that says, “Instead of going a mile wide and three feet deep, try going three feet wide and a mile deep.”

    In other words, the deeper you go, the more your audience wants to know.

    Related: The Complete, 20-Step Guide to Ace Public Speaking

    3. Deliver exceptional content

    The quality of your content is crucial for standing out. Invest time into researching, developing and refining your presentations.

    Offer fresh perspectives, valuable insights and actionable takeaways for your audience. By consistently delivering high-quality content, you will build a reputation as a speaker worth listening to. If creating high-quality presentations is not one of your strong points, it’s okay to hire a professional who can make you and your presentation look top-notch so that you can focus on making sure your delivery is exceptional and memorable.

    4. Hone your storytelling skills

    Storytelling is a powerful tool for captivating any audience.

    Develop your storytelling skills to engage and inspire your listeners. Craft compelling narratives that connect with people on an emotional level. Well-told stories will make your message memorable and differentiate you from others in your field.

    Stories that gently tug on the heartstrings of the audience are always a win. Making a head connection (with information) is good, but making a heart connection (with authentic and emotional stories) is great.

    5. Embrace multimedia and technology

    In a digital age, incorporating multimedia elements into your presentations can make a significant impact.

    Utilize visuals, videos and interactive tools to enhance your message and engage your audience. Embracing technology and innovative presentation techniques will demonstrate your adaptability and help you stand out from traditional speakers.

    With all of the new artificial intelligence platforms and software that are now available, it’s a great time to see which ones are a good fit for you and your business. Taking a class or a course in AI isn’t a bad idea.

    Related: How to Grow Your Business With Public Speaking

    6. Network strategically

    Building a strong network is essential for any speaker.

    Attend industry events, conferences and seminars to connect with fellow professionals and potential clients. Seek out speaking opportunities where you can showcase your expertise. Collaborate with other influencers in your field to expand your reach and gain credibility. Make eye contact, shake as many hands as possible, and get as many business cards as possible so that you can follow up. The fortune is in the follow-up.

    7. Continuously improve

    Never stop learning and improving your skills as a speaker. Seek feedback from your audience, colleagues and mentors. Take advantage of professional development opportunities, such as workshops and courses, to refine your speaking abilities.

    By investing in self-improvement, you will continuously evolve as a speaker and stay ahead of the competition. There are always new techniques and strategies being created and developed that you can take advantage of.

    Standing out as a speaker in a saturated industry requires a combination of authenticity, expertise and strategic positioning. By finding your unique voice, focusing on a niche, delivering exceptional content, mastering storytelling, embracing multimedia, networking strategically and continuously improving, you can carve out your space and leave a lasting impression on your audience.

    Remember, it takes time and persistence, but with dedication and passion, you can rise above the noise and become a sought-after speaker in your field.

    [ad_2]

    Jose Flores

    Source link

  • How to Improve Your Brand’s Storytelling by Shifting Your POV | Entrepreneur

    How to Improve Your Brand’s Storytelling by Shifting Your POV | Entrepreneur

    [ad_1]

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    As I emphasized in a previous Entrepreneur article, a big mistake in brand storytelling is assuming that you’re telling a story about your company. It’s really two stories: One about your brand and one about your customer. But you need to lead with your customer’s story.

    How? Shift your point of view by learning to see their story.

    Related: Telling Your Brand Story Is Crucial. 4 Steps To Ensure That It Resonates.

    [ad_2]

    Keith A. Quesenberry

    Source link

  • Zack Oates of Ovation on Building Business Connections through Digital Storytelling | Entrepreneur

    Zack Oates of Ovation on Building Business Connections through Digital Storytelling | Entrepreneur

    [ad_1]

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Soliciting feedback from customers often seems like a daunting task. However, Zack Oates and his team at Ovation have cracked the code with a proven strategy that not only encourages guest feedback, but also establishes a personal connection for exceptional results.

    Zack Oates and the guest feedback platform Ovation have taken a radically different approach to hearing from customers, which stems from their recognition of a critical flaw in the conventional methods: It’s too hard to share feedback.

    As the CEO/founder puts it to host Shawn P. Walchef of Cali BBQ Media when meeting up at the National Restaurant Association Show: “Because the solutions are so bad, guests don’t give feedback. You miss out on over 99% of your guests’ feedback because you make it too hard to give that feedback.”

    The Ovation solution? A two-question survey, delivered via text message, that practically engages customers immediately. Think of it like a digital “table touch”

    Ovation not only makes it much easier for restaurant guests to give helpful feedback and reviews, but also establishes a personal connection that yields exceptional results.

    The simplicity, along with incentives like a chance to win a $100 gift card, encourages participation.

    This accessible and innovative approach, coupled with Ovation’s integration with various platforms like the Toast POS, has opened up valuable channels for direct engagement. Oates emphasizes that their strategy not only garners feedback but also nurtures customer relationships, which is vital to Ovation’s success.

    A human touch working in harmony with technology remains the key to unlocking true customer loyalty, Oates says. Though he recognizes the convenience of technology, he stands firm in the idea that consistency lays the foundation, and that the pinnacle of loyalty is achieved through genuine connection.

    “At the end of the day, regardless of how much technology is in between you and I, it’s about that human connection.” says Zack Oates.

    This approach creates a deep connection and enhances personalized engagement, which not only drives loyalty, but also drives revenue by drastically reducing Ovation cancellation.

    “Nobody cancels Ovation.” the CEO proudly proclaims.

    Oates acknowledges that his strengths lie in building genuine relationships through real digital storytelling rather than orchestrating investor hype. Instead of pursuing a multitude of investors, Ovation seeks the best investors for them. Those are people who share a vision and values and echo the same principle that underlines the Ovation approach to customer relationships.

    “I’m not great at pitting one investor against the other and getting the valuation up,” admits Oates. “The way that I look at it is when you’re able to tell your story, then you’re able to connect to that person.”

    In a landscape often dominated by complex strategies and high-pressure plays, Ovation stands as a testament to the strength of simple connection and authenticity.

    By creating an environment where customers are empowered to share their thoughts and are met with genuine interest, Ovation has not only found the elixir for consistent feedback, but has also unlocked the key to customer loyalty.

    Through their approach, Ovation has shown that technology is necessary, but it’s the human connections that truly make a lasting impact.

    ***

    ABOUT RESTAURANT INFLUENCERS:

    Restaurant Influencers is brought to you by Toast, the powerful restaurant point of sale and management system that helps restaurants improve operations, increase sales and create a better guest experience.

    Toast — Powering Successful Restaurants. Learn more about Toast.

    [ad_2]

    Shawn P. Walchef

    Source link

  • Don’t Give a Sales Pitch to a Journalist — Tell Them Your Story. Here’s Why. | Entrepreneur

    Don’t Give a Sales Pitch to a Journalist — Tell Them Your Story. Here’s Why. | Entrepreneur

    [ad_1]

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    As entrepreneurs, it’s in our blood to always be selling. But when it comes to public relations, pump the brakes on the sales pitch when speaking with reporters.

    Over the years, I’ve watched entrepreneurs, CEOs and business owners jump right into their sales pitches with reporters. I suspect they see this media interview as another opportunity to sell their products to a larger audience.

    That’s not how it works with journalists. Reporters tell stories for a living. They don’t want to hear subjective information on why your product or service is better than others, even if it comes from a client testimonial — they want to hear the story.

    Related: 5 Secrets to Talking to the Media (And Not Sounding Like a Fool)

    Don’t talk about ‘how the sausage is made’

    A popular mistake I see even the smartest entrepreneurs make: They want to tell how the sausage is made. Unless you’re speaking with a trade reporter writing for an industry-specific audience, stay away from the backstory.

    Let me give you an example: A few years ago, I worked with a physician who continued to start each interview with how his surgical procedure worked. I took science and biology classes in college — like most journalists — but I don’t think any of us remember the medical jargon. Journalists don’t want to hear a long lecture on anatomy.

    With most articles, writers have only 1,200-1,500 words to tell the entire story, and if you’re lucky, they will give you 20 minutes to talk at most. In TV, it’s even shorter, with 120 seconds for most on-air segments — so don’t waste the first 10 minutes going in-depth on how the sausage is made. Instead, focus this valuable time on explaining how your procedure is more advanced or different from previous approaches. Start your conversation with the end result; not the beginning.

    This approach applies to any industry — tech, health care, politics, etc. If you’re selling a new mobile app, don’t go into the coding or cloud experience. Keep the conversation focused on the client benefit and value-add from your product, and stay away from any industry lingo. It only confuses the reporter.

    PR sells the story — not the product

    This might sound counterintuitive on the surface, but if you’re hiring a publicist or PR agency, you want to see results that grow your business. That’s understandable, and it will happen. Our expectations are aligned.

    But an interview with a reporter is not the time to ask for the sale. These interviews should be focused on the client or customer. You can highlight this message by focusing on the five Ws of journalism: who, what, when, where and why.

    • Who is your product or service helping?
    • What is different about your product or service?
    • Why should we care?
    • Where is this being used?

    This is just a blueprint and in no way the only approach to your story messaging. At the very least, if you ask these questions before your interview, it will keep you focused on the story versus the sale.

    Related: 5 Media Strategies Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know

    PR won’t save your business

    I get worried when I hear potential clients tell me they are hoping PR can save their business. It’s even more distressing when you hear fear in their tone.

    PR is not going to save your business. If your business is hemorrhaging money before you hire a PR agency, it’s likely a larger issue than publicity alone. Any publicist who says PR can save your business is probably engaging in the same entrepreneurial approach rooted in our blood.

    So what value does PR bring if it can’t save your business?

    PR will bring your product or service more exposure. If news outlets are talking about your storyline, it will always be more credible than any advertisement. And unlike ad campaigns where the promotion ends when the budget ends, media stories continue to reach eyeballs long after the PR campaign is over. In many ways, the cost decreases over time.

    Google doesn’t reveal much about its search algorithm, but they do publicly admit to putting a priority on quality content and news exposure. If Entrepreneur or the New York Times is writing about your business, search algorithms will rightly prioritize your business with search. It gives your brand the added exposure needed for the search lift.

    Just remember, the effects of PR don’t always happen overnight. A targeted media campaign will drive traffic to your website or store, but your end product still needs to be interesting. And that’s probably the most important point to remember: Brag about what is interesting, not what you’re selling.

    [ad_2]

    Mark Macias

    Source link

  • How To Create Compelling Stories Through This Storyboarding Process | Entrepreneur

    How To Create Compelling Stories Through This Storyboarding Process | Entrepreneur

    [ad_1]

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    This story was originally published on Under30CEO.com

    In the ever-evolving world of digital marketing, explainer videos have become a valuable tool for simplifying complex ideas. Compelling narratives are at the core of successful explainer videos. Storyboarding can help marketers create videos faster and communicate with the audience more efficiently. Let’s learn in more detail how you can use storyboards in your video marketing campaigns.

    Storyboarding is a process that originated in the film industry. It involves creating a visual representation of your video’s narrative flow. It’s like creating a comic strip for your video, where each box represents a different scene or shot.

    Related: Don’t Know What to Write About on LinkedIn? Use This Formula to Never Run Out of Ideas.

    With its help, marketing teams can significantly enhance the effectiveness of explainer videos by visualizing key scenes and optimizing the narrative flow. By sketching out each scene, you can see how the story unfolds from start to finish, identify any potential problems, and make necessary changes before the production begins.

    Storyboards also allow for experimenting with different narrative structures and visual styles. You can play around with various elements, such as camera angles, character positioning, and scene transitions, to see what works best for the story.

    Steps to create an effective storyboard for explainer videos

    Creating a storyboard for your explainer video is an integral part of the video production process. With the advent of online tools, this process has become significantly more streamlined and efficient. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create a compelling storyboard using an online tool:

    1. Write a script

    Begin by crafting a well-structured script. This script serves as the narrative spine of your storyboard, outlining the key messages and flow of your video. The language used should be clear, engaging, and tailored to resonate with your target audience.

    2. Create a series of frames

    Once your script is polished and ready, it’s time to translate it into visual frames. Log into your chosen online storyboard tool and create a series of frames or boxes. These frames will correspond to different scenes or shots in your video. The quantity of frames you’ll need depends on the length and intricacy of your script.

    3. Visualize the key scenes

    Start populating each frame with visuals that represent the action described in your script. Most online tools come equipped with a library of pre-designed elements like characters, props, and backgrounds. Select those that accurately depict the action and emotions you want to convey in each scene.

    4. Insert dialogue and direction

    Next, add the corresponding dialogue from your script to each frame. Most online tools provide a feature that allows you to add text to each frame. Use this feature to insert dialogue and any other essential details, such as character movements, camera angles, or changes in the setting. This will help guide the production team and ensure everyone understands the vision for each scene.

    5. Review and revise

    After filling in all the frames, take a moment to review your storyboard. Does the story flow coherently? Are there scenes that seem unclear or unnecessary? Are any elements not contributing to the overall message?

    6. Solicit feedback

    Don’t work in a vacuum. Share your storyboard with others, ideally, those who represent your target audience. Many online tools offer simple sharing options that enable you to gather feedback effortlessly. The insights you gain from this step can help enhance your storyboard, ensuring it resonates with your intended audience.

    7. Finalize and proceed to production

    Once you’ve refined your storyboard based on the feedback received and made the necessary adjustments, you’re ready to move forward. You can now confidently transition to the production phase, where you’ll bring your storyboard to life.

    Final Say

    Leveraging the power of online storyboard tools can simplify and enhance the process of creating a compelling storyboard. As you navigate through each step, always keep your audience at the forefront of your decisions to ensure your resulting video resonates and drives conversions.

    In conclusion, storyboarding is an invaluable tool for crafting compelling narratives for explainer videos. By visualizing key scenes and optimizing the narrative structure, marketers can create engaging explainer videos that resonate with their audience and drive conversions. So, if you’re planning to produce an explainer video, consider starting with a storyboard. It could make all the difference in your video’s success.

    [ad_2]

    Under30CEO Staff

    Source link

  • Discover the Transformative Power of Words in Building Your Brand | Entrepreneur

    Discover the Transformative Power of Words in Building Your Brand | Entrepreneur

    [ad_1]

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    How much weight do words carry in building our personal brand? A lot!

    Building our own brand and that of our company, especially if you are executives or founders, revolves around what you do and what you say about what you did. As someone who focuses on building brands for entrepreneurs, executives and startups, and crafting impactful messages, I am mindful of the transformative power of words. They have the ability to evoke emotions, alter our body chemistry and create connections, all of which directly shape brands. Brands develop over time through the messages we consistently and deliberately share with the world.

    Let’s delve into the world of brand building, supported by research, and explore how we can use words to influence listeners and cultivate authentic brands. Whether it’s crafting compelling pitches for investors, inspiring articles and narratives or mastering the art of persuasion in sales, these strategies will help you harness the potential of words to establish genuine connections, evoke emotions and enhance your value to others.

    Related: 6 Powerful Brand Storytelling Tips For Marketers

    Supercharge your narratives with emotions

    We’ve all been there: a story sounds too “smooth” or too “perfect” we tend to suspect their reliability and not remember them well, since we can’t see ourselves in them or feel something about them. So then, when you craft narratives, make sure to demonstrate vulnerability and authenticity and use descriptive language that engages the senses with universal themes and values. Those points can make you become more relatable and somewhat reliable.

    For instance, instead of explaining product features, share a story that showcases its transformational impact on a customer’s life — a storyline that others can relate to from their own life — and use emotional descriptions (i.e. “Before they used the product they were frustrated and overwhelmed by the overload of work, but once they used it they were focused and felt free to handle other aspects of the business”).

    Another example: an entrepreneur selling sustainable clothing can narrate a story about how their eco-friendly clothes reduced allergy symptoms among sensitive people who got their “lives” again after moving to that product, along with positively impacting the environment.

    Provoke curiosity and intrigue

    Creating curiosity can be a strong tool to draw attention, share your knowledge in your domain and connect others to you. It can be done when you use suspenseful language that leaves the other side wanting more from you, whether it’s one person or an audience of clients, and even a social media post, and pose thought-provoking questions that challenge conventional thinking. In practice, begin investor or client presentations with intriguing questions that spark curiosity and set the stage for captivating discussions. For instance, a speaker addressing an audience about the future of artificial intelligence can ask, “Can you imagine a world where machines surpass human intelligence?” or “Do you think modesty is a relevant practice in the workplace today?”

    By the way, some words such as “imagine,” and “what if you…” can really get the other side moved and curious, and open their mind to new possibilities — all thanks to you.

    Leveraging social proof and influential language

    Incorporate testimonials, case studies, or success stories to build credibility and authority, emphasizing the impact and value your work has had on others. Highlight prestigious affiliations, endorsements or partnerships to further establish credibility and influence.

    By showcasing the success stories of previous ventures or collaborations, you emphasize positive outcomes and garner trust. For example, a startup founder can include quotes from satisfied clients or highlight partnerships with industry-leading organizations to demonstrate the value and trustworthiness of their brand.

    Related: A Brand Story Is What You Need to Share Your Entrepreneurial Vision. Here’s How to Create One.

    Tailoring language to individual communication styles

    Look carefully at others’ communication and personality types, and adapt your language to resonate with different styles. Once the other side feels you understand their world they connect and trust you more. Use words that align with their values, motivations and communication preferences, empathize with their perspective and address their specific needs.

    In practice, when communicating with analytical individuals, provide data-driven evidence and use precise language that appeals to their logical reasoning. Or when presenting to a CFO or any finance executive, use terms like “return on investment,” “risk mitigation” and “data-driven insights” to appeal to their analytical mindset.

    The power of words extends beyond ordinary tips and tricks; it lies in the ability to evoke emotions, forge connections and build a distinctive personal brand, whether you use it in a face-to-face interaction or online. By implementing those strategies, such as crafting emotionally charged narratives, provoking curiosity, leveraging influential language and tailoring communication styles, you can captivate your audience, evoke emotions and leave a lasting impact of a credible personal brand. Embrace the transformative power of words and witness the profound difference it makes in building authentic connections and shaping your personal brand in the business world.

    [ad_2]

    Lirone Glikman

    Source link

  • Beyond KPIs: How Finance Leaders Can Tell the Story of Profitability | Entrepreneur

    Beyond KPIs: How Finance Leaders Can Tell the Story of Profitability | Entrepreneur

    [ad_1]

    As finance leaders are increasingly embraced as strategic figures within businesses large and small, the many hats worn by them continue to expand. And it makes sense. Financial leaders bring critical insights that can help your business grow and thrive.

    The newest development for these financial leaders is their role as “Chief Data Storytellers.” With increasing pressure to uncover trends and key performance indicators (KPIs), finance leaders need to convey the meaning of their data with storytelling prowess.

    But how can finance leaders begin using storytelling to convey the importance of data as well as their insights and strategies for the future? To find out, join us for a free webinar, Beyond KPIs: Finance Leaders Tell the Story of Profitability, presented by Oracle NetSuite and Entrepreneur.

    Kevin Galloway, a professional storyteller, actor, educator, and presenter will share his top advice for how financial leaders can advance their storytelling ability. He will be joined by business development expert and keynote speaker Terry Rice, who will lead this informative and insightful conversation.

    Attendees of this webinar will learn how to:

    • Become a key storyteller in your organization through purposeful and compelling data
    • Convey impactful insights to key stakeholders across departments and teams
    • Sell your ideas effectively and lead efficiently through a challenging economy
    • And more

    The Beyond KPIs: How Finance Leaders Can Tell the Story of Profitability webinar will take place live on Thursday July 27 at 12 p.m. ET | 9 a.m. PT.

    [ad_2]

    Entrepreneur Events

    Source link

  • 5 Compelling Reasons Why Storytelling is Crucial for Your Success | Entrepreneur

    5 Compelling Reasons Why Storytelling is Crucial for Your Success | Entrepreneur

    [ad_1]

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Our stories are the stuff that binds the human race together. As business leaders and entrepreneurs, understanding how to convey your experiences in a powerful way will impact your bottom line. Guaranteed.

    It is your job to understand your story.

    It is your job to articulate your story to a desired audience.

    It is your responsibility to do so with integrity.

    The gift of entrepreneurship offers you a stage to convey your story to an audience hungry to connect with you and then buy your product or service. Without the underpinnings of a quality narrative, your service and product are simply a service or product in the sea of a million others. It does not matter if you are a coach, a real estate agent, a therapist, a clothier or a chef — your business is your story.

    Long gone are the days of flashy jingles and product-driven campaigns — audiences are clamoring for more. The need to connect on a visceral level is where you will capture the attention. Potential clients and customers want a glimpse behind the scenes to understand who you are and why they should trust you.

    Related: How to Use Storytelling to Sell Your Brand and Vision

    Case Study: SPARE, by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex

    Let’s talk about the “new-ish” book, SPARE, by Prince Harry, that launched in January of 2023. The Duke of Sussex’s story is like no other on Earth. His mother commanded headlines as a jilted spouse and an unparalleled humanitarian. Princess Diana’s fickle relationship with the press became part of her son’s story.

    Harry inherited her rogue pursuit of autonomy and clearly understands the power of the press. With a dash of irony, Harry’s book is a categoric annihilation of his hatred for the media.

    “Spare” is a powerful example of how storytelling can be used to connect with a broader audience and convey a powerful message. By sharing his personal experiences in a relatable and nuanced way, he has built trust and empathy with his readers while also challenging negative narratives and taking ownership of his narrative.

    Prince Harry has created a profound channel many people can identify with by recounting his struggles with mental health, his relationship with his family, and his experiences serving in the military. This has allowed him to build a sense of trust and empathy with consumers, which has helped to further his message of advocating for mental health and social justice.

    Harry understands the power of his story and how it moves people to act and think differently. Without his raw accounts, his book would simply be a historical look at the life of an independent royal.

    Related: Stories Are Entrepreneurs’ Most Powerful Tool. But What Ingredient Gives Them Power?

    The importance of reverse engineering your story:

    Whenever I curate a story for a CEO or brand campaign, I start from the end. Ascertaining your audience, their pain points and their desires help me strategize with clarity. When we understand the desired outcome, we have more clarity on the branding path we must take.

    The art of storytelling is not only a trend in 2023 in marketing and public relations. It is a non-negotiable for strategic growth. Storytelling for entrepreneurs weaves an interlocking connection with your consumers and audience.

    The power of our stories establishes brand identity and facilitates a connection to the people you need in your ecosystem. The emotional nuances of our words help entrepreneurs connect with their audience, build a strong brand identity, and establish themselves as thought leaders in their industry.

    Top reasons why storytelling is changing the landscape in business:

    1. It builds a connection with the audience: Telling a compelling story can create an emotional connection with your audience. By sharing personal experiences, struggles, and successes, entrepreneurs can build trust and empathy with their audience, which can lead to stronger relationships and customer loyalty.
    2. It helps to communicate a message: A well-told story can be an effective way to communicate a message or idea. By using anecdotes, metaphors, and other storytelling techniques, entrepreneurs can convey complex concepts in a way that is easy to understand and remember.
    3. It makes the brand memorable: Stories have the power to make a brand memorable. By creating a brand narrative that resonates with the audience, entrepreneurs can make their brand stand out in a crowded market. A memorable story can help the audience remember the brand long after the interaction.
    4. It differentiates from the competition: A good story can help entrepreneurs differentiate their brand from the competition. By sharing unique experiences and perspectives, entrepreneurs can position their brands as distinct and appealing to a particular segment of the market.
    5. It establishes thought leadership: Entrepreneurs who share their experiences and insights can establish themselves as thought leaders in their industry. By providing valuable information and advice, entrepreneurs can build credibility and attract a following of loyal customers.

    Where to begin

    Start this journey by taking inventory of who you are and why you do the thing that you do best. Dive deep into potential customer’s pain points and use a narrative that relates directly to this demographic.

    Next, start sharing. It is as simple as making a phone call, writing a blog or speaking your truth on national television. Test out your strategy with a valued colleague- and once it is perfected, don’t look back.

    [ad_2]

    Julie Lokun, JD

    Source link

  • How to Boost Your Brand With Social Media Storytelling | Entrepreneur

    How to Boost Your Brand With Social Media Storytelling | Entrepreneur

    [ad_1]

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    In recent Entrepreneur articles, I’ve been talking about the power of brand storytelling through a three Rs approach and by considering your brand’s social identity. It may be easy to imagine how to tell a brand story in traditional media like TV ads or even print ads, but what about social media? Social media is an important part of most marketing communication strategies today. The average percent of marketing budgets spent on social media has increased from just 3.5% in 2009 to over 15% in 2021.

    Consider social media’s differences

    Traditional forms of digital marketing communication consist of well-crafted visual and verbal messages. That is a part of social media content, but it also involves listening and creating custom messages in response to consumers. Real-time discussions, scheduled brand posts, curated related third-party content, shared consumer-generated content and paid influencer content combine into a social media plan. While marketers can’t control all the brand messages, they can manage the conversation through storytelling. How?

    Related: 5 Reasons Brand Storytelling Is Critical to Your Marketing Strategy

    Search social communities for story insights

    Confirm that the brand is active on the social media platforms where current customers and prospective customers are most active. To tell the right stories, you must be in the right places. Once you identify the most active brand community platforms, study the content and interactions that occur on them. Each social platform is unique and comes with different expectations from users and brands.

    The most engaging and effective content on Facebook or LinkedIn is different from Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Social media listening can help you understand the differences by collecting data from brand social mentions and other relevant conversations. Also, research social platform algorithms to learn what each emphasizes in determining what content appears in a person’s social media feed.

    Social media can tell stories in multiple ways

    Research conducted by my colleague Michael K. Coolsen and I found that YouTube brand advertising videos that told a complete story received more shares and views than ones with less or no story development. Shares and views increased as stories developed with the greatest improvement in engagement with four and five-act stories following the five-act story structure known as Freytag’s Pyramid.

    However, much of social media takes different forms such as 240-character tweets, 15-second TikTok videos or Instagram and Pinterest photos. Even on YouTube, the popular 6-second YouTube bumper ads can present a challenge to tell a complete story. For these social media platforms, think of each post as a small part of the larger story.

    Plan the plot for a bigger brand story that leverages all five acts expressed in social media on a daily or weekly basis over a longer time. Schedule on a content calendar to ensure the right story is told in the right order to the right audience. YouTube bumper ads can also be scheduled so that individual users view them in a specific order over time.

    No matter the form or time, a series of social posts can take you on an emotional roller coaster where tension is created and then released, producing emotions that your audience will want to share with others. Below are suggestions on how to tell a story on social media in each act of Freytag’s Pyramid.

    • Act 1 — Introduction: Show your brand’s history, people and mission or vision. Or describe the background of your typical customer as the protagonist in a story.

    • Act 2 — Rising action: Simply posting the same promotion or benefit won’t draw or keep interest. Build up tension through obstacles leading to a big action, reveal or turning point.

    • Act 3 — Climax: Depict the brand or customer reaching a defining moment and discovering a solution or conquering a challenge with your product or service.

    • Act 4 — Falling action: If your story depicts an obstacle overcome, show the outcomes for the brand or consumer. If your story is about an opportunity seized, illustrate the benefits.

    • Act 5 — Resolution: Display the brand or customer winning in a final victory. Give a glimpse of the ultimate brand and customer goal or the “happily ever after.”

    Related: Win More Business by Copying Nike’s Storytelling Playbook

    Each of the five storytelling acts can be told through a combination of brand-created posts, shared third-party content, reposted consumer-generated content and paid influencer content. Remember to leverage the power of both verbal and visual communication to fully illustrate each act’s message and meaning.

    The way you release your brand stories into the world through social media matters. Be more strategic by researching social media platform differences, searching social media communities for story insights and considering the larger plot in your brand stories as told through a five-act story framework.

    [ad_2]

    Keith A. Quesenberry

    Source link

  • Entrepreneur | Charlie Eblen of Single Tree BBQ on Becoming the

    Entrepreneur | Charlie Eblen of Single Tree BBQ on Becoming the

    [ad_1]

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Just Do It. For Charlie Eblen, founder of Single Tree BBQ and host of Single Nation Podcast, that famous slogan is both a motto and rallying cry.

    “We really believe that we can be the “Nike of Barbecue.” says Charlie Eblen to Restaurant Influencers host Shawn Walchef of CaliBBQ Media.

    The motivation behind that mission is not to be the top-selling BBQ restaurant and corner the market. Instead, the entrepreneur credits his push to a more noble cause; he wishes to use BBQ to impact the community.

    Eblen has turned to technology to increase his digital hospitality. Taking steps, like implementing an upgraded POS system, is done with the customer in mind.

    “We went with Toast to be able to start doing stuff like having a loyalty program,” says Eblen of the change. “Being able to tell our loyal fans of Single Tree Barbecue that we’re opening a brick and mortar, that we’re going to partner with Heroes Den (a local live music restaurant in Murfreesboro, TN) and we’re going to have live music and we’re going to have a great bar. We’re going to have an amazing barbecue.”

    In addition to technology upgrades, Eblen has dove head first into the new media world of podcasting with the Single Tree Nation podcast. After a push from Digital Media Guru Shawn Walchef, he wasted no time putting ideas to action and broadening the scope of Single Tree’s impact.

    “The purpose of my show is really that it doesn’t have anything to do with Single Tree BBQ. It has everything to do with our community and helping build our community through barbecue, digital hospitality, and online storytelling.” explains Charlie Eblen of the weekly podcast.

    The most apt description of Eblen’s growth as a restaurant influencer is summed up in his own words: “It’s been amazing.”

    ***

    ABOUT RESTAURANT INFLUENCERS:

    Restaurant Influencers is brought to you by Toast, the powerful restaurant point of sale and management system that helps restaurants improve operations, increase sales and create a better guest experience.

    Toast — Powering Successful Restaurants. Learn more about Toast.

    Restaurant Influencers is also supported by AtmosphereTV – TV to Enhance Your Business. Try AtmosphereTV.

    [ad_2]

    Shawn P. Walchef

    Source link

  • Entrepreneur | 5 Ways Storytelling Can Make You a More Impactful Leader

    Entrepreneur | 5 Ways Storytelling Can Make You a More Impactful Leader

    [ad_1]

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Science shows that our minds are hardwired to tune into stories, and people who can tell the best stories are perceived as more attractive. The ability to tell a compelling story offers a subtle way for entrepreneurs to shift others’ thinking and make a genuine impact in the world. Great storytellers sweep us into their milieu, motivate us to take action and inspire us to become more than we are.

    Here are five ways that learning the art of storytelling can help you positively influence the world around you:

    1. The authentic nature of your stories builds trust

    You don’t have to think of yourself as a storyteller or a “creative” to make an impact. Whether you realize it or not, you have spent your entire life creating stories and images of other people. In fact, your whole perception of reality is just the story your brain has created for itself.

    This is the natural, usual way for humans to think. Our brains are wired to develop a seamless story about the world, so you already have decades of unconscious practice telling convincing, intricate stories.

    You don’t have to “force it” to be a compelling storyteller. Simply practice talking about your life. Learn how to distill the most valuable details and, above all, remain authentic. Your audience will be able to sense the truth of your stories and feel like they can trust you.

    Related: Why Storytelling Is a Skill that Every Entrepreneur Should Practice

    2. Your stories help make deep, lasting connections

    Even if you aren’t directly speaking about your values, vision or principles, the stories you tell can, in turn, tell the world all about who you are. Your stories will help you connect with people from all different places, generations and lifestyles because they will resonate deeply.

    For example, people who consistently read stories from a particular person begin to feel personally invested in the author’s life. They feel as if they know the author and want to get even closer. Meaningful, lasting connections can quickly grow from these types of relationships.

    3. You build a community of like-minded people

    Stories are able to bring together people who share a common thread with you and each other. Having authentic, engaging stories is the perfect foundation for an impactful, tight-knit community because it imparts new information and allows your audience to imagine themselves in that role and feel more connected and ready to act.

    One well-known example of this is Nasty Gal founder Sophia Amoruso’s community of supportive, empowered women that all came together as a result of her sharing an honest memoir that recounted her journey as an entrepreneur, author and woman blazing her own path through the world of business.

    Chris Dixon at Andreessen Horowitz, a partner of prominent venture capital firms in Silicon Valley, is another example. He is arguably the most sought-after venture capitalist in the crypto scene, so startup founders devour his writings and would follow his advice. Dixon’s influence helps him to attract the most lucrative and promising startups and to be dubbed the world’s top crypto investor by Fortune and other business magazines. Another investor, Paul Graham, has become an idol in the American startup scene not only by co-founding Y Combinator but also through his industry-related and philosophical writings on his website and Twitter (Graham has over 1.6M followers).

    Related: Stories Are Entrepreneurs’ Most Powerful Tool. But What Ingredient Gives Them Power?

    4. Your stories are your legacy

    If nothing else, think about this: The only story the world knows about you is the one you’re telling. That old saying, “If you want something done right, do it yourself,” also applies to the story you leave behind.

    In his book, Yours Truly, longtime Wall Street Journal obituary writer James R. Hagerty wrote, “Someday, your life story is likely to be boiled down to a few lines. If you leave things to chance, your obituary is almost sure to be solemn, formulaic and full of errors — an obligatory final chapter written in haste by others.”

    To avoid this, start preserving your personal story as soon as possible. Record your experiences, insights, feelings and inner voice as a way to not only build a worthwhile legacy but also get to know yourself on an even deeper level.

    Developing your story also helps you reflect on your present and look at your life from a different angle. “Reviewing your life story helps you think about what you’re doing with your time on Earth and whether you’re on the right path. It isn’t too late to improve the narrative with a stronger ending,” concludes Hagerty.

    5. Sharing your story can be the catalyst for someone else

    Finally, you can never know how and when your story might completely change someone else’s direction in life. Simply being honest and vocal about your life could be the catalyst needed to inspire the next world-changing leader or give someone the courage to forge a new path for themselves.

    Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian is an excellent example of this. His life motto has always been to “make the world suck less,” and his entire career has backed this up. From Reddit alone, Ohanian has enabled thousands of people to publish books, start businesses and create their own inspiring communities.

    Related: The 5 Elements of Storytelling Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know

    Stories provide so many benefits to us as humans. They help us shape our identities, teach and learn social values, provide comfort, hope and courage, and create social connections that transcend generations, cultures and time.

    Learning how to tell an evocative story will not only trigger emotional connection but provide a common ground that helps you communicate with people from all walks of life, inspiring change and leading others to a better future.

    [ad_2]

    Anastasia Chernikova

    Source link

  • Blavity Inc. Launches ‘Home & Texture,’ First-Ever Curated Home, Interior Design and Commerce Hub for Black and Multicultural Millennials

    Blavity Inc. Launches ‘Home & Texture,’ First-Ever Curated Home, Interior Design and Commerce Hub for Black and Multicultural Millennials

    [ad_1]

    Home & Texture Roll Outs Editorial Storytelling, Shoppable Content, and Creator Partnerships to Best Reflect the Individuality, Lifestyle and Cultural Heritage of Consumers

    Press Release
    –

    Feb 16, 2023 06:00 EST


    LOS ANGELES, February 16, 2023 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Blavity Inc. – the corporation that builds solutions for Black and multicultural audiences and enterprises who want to reach them and reaches more than 250 million monthly consumers across its media portfolio, including 21Ninety, Travel Noire, Shadow and Act, and Blavity.com – announces the launch of its newest lifestyle brand and commerce vertical Home & Texture. 

    Home & Texture marks the first-ever curated home, interior design, and commerce hub dedicated to Black and multicultural consumers. While the home decor market is forecasted to hit $202 billion by the end of 2024, and this consumer segment makes up 60% of the growth in the home improvement category in the U.S., it is historically underserved with relevant home, DIY, and buying content and resources. Additionally, as more multicultural millennials are aging and buying homes, Home & Texture fills a current void in the publishing space by providing storytelling and shoppable content that reflects their individuality, lifestyle, and cultural heritage.

    Merin Pasternak, the Senior Vice President of Commerce & Consumer Media, and Melody Bostic Brown, the Associate Vice President of Consumer Media at Blavity, will lead the home brand. The team will drive the content strategy for Blavity’s commerce-first lifestyle brands 21Ninety and Travel Noire, and will lead Home & Texture’s curated editorial storytelling and commerce to inspire and engage audiences in a way that consistently drives action. With millennials transitioning into home ownership and growing their families, Blavity Inc. will leverage its trust with consumers to drive inclusive change in media.

    “Blavity was founded to fuel inclusivity across all business and lifestyle categories, specifically for Black and multicultural millennials. Home & Texture is a category disruptor – providing much-needed information and shoppable content that is curated to speak authentically to this underserved consumer segment, which is among the fastest growing in this category,” said Morgan DeBaun, CEO and Founder of Blavity Inc. “We’re excited to expand our growing media portfolio with this launch and guide readers as they put down their roots, raise families and turn houses into homes.”

    Home & Texture launches with content franchises and key tentpoles featuring creators, entrepreneurs, and community-driven content, including:

    • House Tours: House tours profile entrepreneurs, creators, and single parents, including Carmeon Hamilton, David Quarles IV, and Laquita Tate. The franchise looks at home designs and decor inspiration from the Black and multicultural community.
    • My Homebuying Experience: This UGC and influencer-driven content discusses the joys and unexpected scenarios around becoming first-time homeowners, as well as design hacks and product reviews.
    • Bad to Bougie: This franchise covers transforming old, unattractive pieces into fabulous accent pieces. It shows how to maximize your budget and reimagine furniture and decor sustainably.
    • D-I-WHY: This tentpole explores the “why” vs. the “why not” approach to home renovations and refreshes. It provides insights and how-tos around specific home projects that are worth taking a hands-on approach and defines those that are best left to the professionals.
    • Everything Must-Go…Into Your Home: This tentpole leverages an organic beginning-of-the-year refresh buzz with the best deals on home furnishings and appliances through “everything must go” clearance sales. In addition, we’ll highlight product reviews and listicles about home furnishings and appliances and offer UGC-driven contests.
    • First Time Around: This tentpole touches a vital segment of the Home & Texture audience and buyers — first-time homeowners. For BIPOC millennials, creating a beautiful home is exciting, yet it also presents a lot of unknowns and discoveries. We offer them guidance.

    For more, visit HomeandTexture.com.

    ABOUT BLAVITY INC.

    Blavity Inc. is a corporation that builds solutions for Black and multicultural audiences and enterprises who want to reach them. Founded in 2014, Blavity Inc. is home to the largest network of platforms and lifestyle brands serving millennials & Gen Z through original content, video, and unique experiences. The company has grown into a market leader for Black-owned media, reaching over 250 million millennials and Gen Z per month through its growing brand portfolio, including Blavity, 21Ninety, Home & Texture, Travel Noire, AfroTech, Shadow & Act, and Blavity TV.

    Source: Blavity Inc.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • 3 Timeless Elements of Storytelling That Will Grow Your Business

    3 Timeless Elements of Storytelling That Will Grow Your Business

    [ad_1]

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    I run a digital marketing agency. If we are able to track a client’s revenue and connect it to the ads we run (an ecommerce client, for example), we can tell them — to the cent — how much they make in revenue for each dollar they spend on ads. If that sounds like a numbers game … it is. But when I pitch clients, I don’t lead with numbers.

    When I pitch a client, I don’t tell them we can generate $34.12 for every $1.00 they spend on ads. Surprisingly, that’s not what seals the deal. Don’t get me wrong, the numbers are important, and I share numbers in every pitch I make, but they’re not the most important thing. What matters more than numbers, or any other detail I could share, is whether or not I can tell a good story.

    Frankly, numbers bore clients. They’re just a box to be checked. If I start to talk numbers too much, the client’s eyes will glaze over, and I can see that what they want to say to me is, “Yes, yes, the numbers are good enough, I see that, check the box, move on, now tell me a story!” Not that they’re looking for just any story, they want a story they can identify with. They want a story that shows that my agency has worked with someone like them before and that we got great results. But that’s not all they want. Here are three elements your story should include in order to convince your clients they want to work with you:

    Related: Harness the Power of Storytelling to Transform Your Business for the Better

    Storytelling Element #1: A hero

    In his book, The Hero With a Thousand Faces, author Joseph Campbell laid out what we all now call “The Hero’s Journey.” To simplify, the hero is comfortable at home, when suddenly there’s a call to adventure. He leaves home, faces challenges, overcomes obstacles and comes back home a changed person. This story is told over and over again in books and movies, from The Hobbit to Star Wars to Harry Potter.

    However, while every story needs a hero, where many entrepreneurs make a mistake is in assuming they or their company is the hero. As Donald Miller explains in his book Building a StoryBrand, “When we position our customer as the hero and ourselves as the guide, we will be recognized as a trusted resource to help them overcome their challenges.”

    Your customer is Bilbo Baggins, and you are Gandalf. You are the Obi-wan Kenobi to Luke Skywalker. You are Dumbledore, and your customer is Harry Potter.

    This technique has helped at least one entrepreneur raise over $8 billion for her clients. “Most firms in our industry go into a meeting with a polished pitch that’s all, me, me, me,” says Stacy Havener, CEO of Havener Capital Partners, an agency that helps investment boutiques build, launch and grow funds. “We flip the script. When we help our clients raise money, we tell them to make their prospect the hero.” Havener explained that in one case, the strategy resulted in a $10 million commitment after just a single initial meeting.

    Related: 8 Tips That Will Help Your Storytelling Deliver

    Storytelling Element #2: A challenge

    There’s no more boring story than, “We wanted to do XYZ, so we went to work, and we did it.” Where’s the excitement in that?!

    Entrepreneurs are tempted to tell this kind of story because we don’t want to admit that we ever face any challenges. We want the client to believe that if they work with us, everything will go flawlessly, without a single hiccup. However, when we leave this important element out of our story, we not only hide the truth, but we shoot ourselves in the foot because we’re missing a great opportunity to show the client something important about ourselves — that we know how to overcome challenges.

    Juliana Garcia has helped business coaches generate millions in revenue using her trademarked technique, which she calls “Elegant Vulnerability®,” to share their challenges. “You don’t have to have the perfect story or hide the parts of your story that you feel ashamed to share,” she says. “Your clients don’t need you to be perfect. When you share your own challenges, you show up as a relatable human authority. This helps clients to gain a deeper sense of trust, and they’re willing to pay you more.”

    According to Garcia, there is an ideal ratio when sharing your challenges. “Balance 50% personal stories to be relatable and 50% business training to show you are a true expert. High-paying clients come to you when they resonate with who you are and at the same time feel like you will get results.”

    This is the future of storytelling online. A reasonable client expects there to be challenges, but they want to know that when you face one, you’ll figure it out quickly. There’s no better way to show a client you’ll take care of them, no matter what, than to tell them a story about when you overcame a big challenge.

    Related: 5 Ways You Benefit From Sharing Your Story Of Struggle

    Storytelling Element #3: A lesson

    What’s the third element in crafting your winning entrepreneurial story? “Victory, of course!” Sorry, no. Telling about how you faced a challenge and were victorious in overcoming it can be helpful, but it’s much less important than talking about the lesson you learned from the challenge.

    Ever heard someone ask, “What’s the moral of the story?” Someone who was famous for including lessons in his stories was Aesop, a Greek slave born around 620 B.C. Some of Aesop’s most famous stories, known as Aesop’s Fables, include “The Fox and the Grapes,” “The Hare and the Tortoise” and “The Goose and the Golden Egg.” In each fable, Aesop included a lesson — something practical the listener could learn and apply easily in their own lives.

    Including a lesson in your story isn’t designed to teach your customer a lesson they can apply so much as to show them that if something goes wrong while they’re working with you, you’re smart enough to not only fix it but make sure it never happens again. Ironically, by sharing your past challenges or mistakes, you build the client’s confidence in you.

    My business is very personal because I sell services to clients. You may sell products and never get to know your customers. Regardless, storytelling is vital to fuel your growth because whether you’re working with clients or customers or selling services or products, people do business with businesses they know, like and trust. Nothing I’ve found helps people feel like they know you, get to like you and develop trust in you than telling stories that include the customer as the hero, an exciting challenge and a lesson learned from facing the challenge. Try incorporating this kind of storytelling into your marketing and sales strategy, and watch how your customers rally around you.

    [ad_2]

    Andres Tovar

    Source link

  • Tell a Life Story in Comics Without Drawing: Storytelling Stickers by Stella Grace Tan

    Tell a Life Story in Comics Without Drawing: Storytelling Stickers by Stella Grace Tan

    [ad_1]

    Introducing storytelling stickers: a new, easy and quick way to visually tell stories without drawing for hours or hiring an artist.

    Press Release
    –


    updated: Aug 2, 2019


    AUCKLAND, New Zealand, August 2, 2019 (Newswire.com)
    –
    ​​​​Artist and designer Stella Grace Tan from Lines and Grace is releasing the brand new “The Story of You” collection. Now, anyone looking to tell their story visually in minutes can do so without any drawing skills or new software to learn. The Story of You will be released on Aug. 8, 2019.

    Lines and Grace is known for creating stickers for people who love to journal creatively so they can tell the story only they can — the story of their lives.

    Thus, for the first time, Stella Grace has created an entire product line of her Storytelling Stickers that are designed and engineered for visual storytelling.

    The collection will be sold exclusively on the website linesandgrace.com, where the limited products are scheduled to sell out by the end of the season.

    The storytelling stickers are designed to showcase every person’s everyday life story in a manga or comic-inspired format, with coloring stickers that allow storytellers the freedom to color in their unique looks and personalities. With the wide array of hairstyles, they can find one for each of their significant others, who play important roles in their story.

    Complete with different face angles, body poses, speech bubbles and comic panels with already drawn backgrounds, telling the story of one’s life becomes a rich and visually appealing experience that lets one re-live life’s special moments, re-learn life’s greatest lessons, and re-love the story that is uniquely theirs.

    Being an engineer herself, Stella Grace has taken great care in designing the storytelling stickers. They come in swatch format (imagine a spreadable hand fan) so it’s easy to find the right stickers and a breeze to pack up and re-arrange on a whim. She made sure that the body stickers are cut precisely to fit the face stickers seamlessly. Even the white border around the stickers has been reduced 80% to only 0.03 inches, compared to the usual 0.25 inches on popular mainstream stickers, so that the characters pop out of the background but still look cohesive with the rest of the elements. She has chosen the traditional media of stickers so they can be added to the storyteller’s favorite medium, where they are already telling their stories, such as in personal journals or cards.

    Educators looking for storytelling materials and crafters who like to tell their story will also love the option of getting the face and body figures in snow white cardstock coloring die-cuts.

    The collection also includes a limited set of face and body digital stickers, colored personally by Stella Grace, for those who prefer someone color it for them or prefer to print their own stickers.

    Each individual storytelling sticker set has its own name. A few examples are:

    • Storyteller Extraordinaire
    • Storytelling Starter Pack
    • Hair & Make Extender Pack
    • Body Basics Extender Pack
    • Pretty Panels Extender Pack

    The Story of You collection ranges from $8 to $165 USD.

    Stella Grace is excited to welcome storytellers young and old to her new handmade product line collection, which will let them tell their invaluable stories visually.

    CONTACT INFO

    For more information about The Story of You collection or for an interview with Stella Grace Tan, please write to contact@linesandgrace.com. Media high-res photos are available upon request.

    FOOTER

    About Lines and Grace

    Stella Grace Tan started designing storytelling stickers after she was faced with a very real problem. She loved writing in her journal but found less and less time to read through the invaluable life lessons she had noted. She realized that a lot of everyday invaluable life experiences and good stories were often overlooked due to a lack of visually stimulating media. Current visual media demands a lot of skill and time. Many amazing storytellers had neither the skill to draw, the time to learn to draw by hand or learn new software, or the budget to hire an artist. After months of drawing and designing these storytelling stickers by hand, Stella Grace has initiated a simple, yet revolutionary, way of visually telling stories in comic format.

    https://linesandgrace.com

    Source: Lines and Grace

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • TransAkron Raises Awareness and Shares Stories of Akron Transgender Community

    TransAkron Raises Awareness and Shares Stories of Akron Transgender Community

    [ad_1]

    Press Release
    –


    updated: May 31, 2018


    AKRON, Ohio, May 31, 2018 (Newswire.com)
    –
    The Gay Community Endowment Fund (GCEF) of Akron Community Foundation has unveiled a new photojournalism series aimed at fighting stereotypes, increasing inclusion for the transgender community, and celebrating Pride Month.

    Created by award-winning photographer Shane Wynn and writer H.L. Comeriato, the TransAkron series shines a light on trans, nonbinary and gender-nonconforming people in Akron, Ohio. The project captures the lived realities of these individuals and tells the stories of their journeys while adding a data-driven narrative about the transgender community nationwide.

    The TransAkron project is part-narrative and part-resource, and at the Gay Community Endowment Fund, we are proud to be on the front lines of advocacy through storytelling.

    Phil Montgomery, Chair, Gay Community Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation

    The photos and stories can be viewed online at TransAkron.com.

    The TransAkron series features the stories of eight individuals, including U.S. veteran Giovonni Santiago, who opened the country’s first transgender-specific clinic in the Veterans Affairs system, and Rylee Jackson, who, after experiencing a dozen foster homes and four different high schools, found joy through her love of dance. 

    “The idea of TransAkron originated in early 2017 when I had a conversation with Shane Wynn — a local artist and advocate — about her photography and how we could use images to humanize people and advocate for the GCEF’s important work in the community,” said Phil Montgomery, advisory board chair of the Gay Community Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation. “The TransAkron project is part-narrative and part-resource, and at the GCEF, we are proud to be on the front lines of advocacy through storytelling.”

    TransAkron was made possible thanks to funding and support from the Gay Community Endowment Fund and several community partners, including ArtsNow (an innovative nonprofit that connects arts and culture through collaboration) and the EXL Center at The University of Akron. The series’ writer, H.L. Comeriato, is a former University of Akron student who was identified by faculty member Dr. Heather Braun.

    “People are often unaware that their friends, neighbors, civil servants, police officers, doctors, etc. identify as trans,” said Nicole Mullet, executive director of ArtsNow. “Breaking down that sense of ‘other’ helps us come together as a community. We are Akron – all of us.”

    Established in 2001, the Gay Community Endowment Fund accepts grant applications for programs and services that positively impact the LGBTQ+ community and Greater Akron as a whole. It also raises awareness about equality issues and rallies the LGBTQ+ community around a common philanthropic purpose. Since its founding, the GCEF has invested nearly $475,000 into local causes that change the lives of LGBTQ+ people in the Greater Akron community. Recent grants have advocated for countywide nondiscrimination protections, supported a mentoring program for LGBTQ+ college students, and raised awareness about domestic violence in the LGBTQ+ community, among other critical initiatives.

    To support the Gay Community Endowment Fund, please visit GayCommunityFund.org. Gifts of all sizes will make a permanent difference in the LGBTQ+ community. For instance, a gift of $600 could provide safe housing and basic living essentials for one homeless LGBTQ+ young adult, who is more likely to become a victim of violence, abuse and human trafficking than their heterosexual peers. Likewise, a gift of $100 could provide HIV testing and prevention education for five LGBTQ+ people in Akron. All gifts are fully tax-deductible and are invested and grown over time, so gifts made today will continue to multiply for generations to come.

    For more information about the TransAkron project, please visit TransAkron.com.

    CONTACT:

    Phil Montgomery
    Chair, Gay Community Endowment Fund of
    Akron Community Foundation
    330-714-8178
    ​monty.phil@gmail.com 

    Source: Gay Community Endowment Fund

    [ad_2]

    Source link