The Bottom LineRead time: 3.5 minutes. Hey Reader, Ever feel like your marketing materials could put a sloth to sleep? You're not alone. Most businesses drown their audience in a sea of features, benefits, and jargon so thick, you could build a life raft out of it. And your prospect would need it due to death by a thousand boring marketing materials. But what if there was a way to ditch the dull and become the marketing messiah your ideal clients have been desperately seeking? Enter the StoryBrand Blueprint, a framework by Donald Miller, that'll have you crafting your brand and marketing messages that resonate deeper than a Celine Dion ballad at karaoke night. Let's face it, people don't buy products, they buy solutions (and a little bit of emotional connection, but hey, that's a story for another day). The StoryBrand framework helps you position yourself as the guide, the Obi-Wan Kenobi to your wide-eyed Luke Skywalker (your ideal client, of course), leading them on a quest to slay the dragons of their problems and claim the ultimate prize: success (and, hopefully, by success, you mean working with you!). Okay, enough metaphors (although, seriously, wouldn't working with you be like winning the lottery?). Let's break this StoryBrand thing down into bite-sized, actionable chunks that you can use in your marketing today. Step 1: Unearth Your Ideal Client, the Hero of Your Story First things first, let be very clear. YOU are not the hero of this story… your prospect is… so you gotta know who you're saving. Are they stressed-out CEOs drowning in to-do lists? Perhaps they're burnt-out entrepreneurs on the verge of a business breakdown? Get specific! Imagine them, their struggles, their deepest desires. For example, if you're a high-end business coach, your ideal client might be a brilliant but overwhelmed solopreneur. They crave freedom, impact, and a life that doesn't revolve around the never-ending email vortex. Step 2: Desire Unveiled: What Makes Your Hero Tick? Now, delve into your hero's deepest desires. What do they REALLY want? Sure, they might want a thriving business, but dig deeper. Maybe they dream of spending more time with family, traveling the world laptop-free, or finally achieving that elusive work-life balance that feels more like a myth than reality. Remember, our solopreneur from Step 1? Their burning desire might be the freedom to travel the world while their business continues to thrive, on autopilot, making them money in their sleep (wouldn't that be nice?). Step 3: The Villain Revealed: Unleash the Dragons (Your Client's Problems) No hero's journey is complete without a worthy adversary. Here's where you identify the villains – the internal and external roadblocks that prevent your hero from achieving their desires. For our solopreneur, the villains could be a lack of time management skills, fear of delegation, or the ever-present tech gremlins that threaten to derail their day. Or it could be fear of failure or even fear of success or some other negative or limiting beliefs. Step 4: Enter the Guide: You, the Jedi Master Here's the moment you've been waiting for! This is where YOU step into the story as the wise guide, the Yoda to your hero's Luke. You understand their struggles, you've slayed similar dragons yourself (or at least have a killer battle plan), and you offer the path to ultimate victory (working with you, of course!). Remember, you're not just selling a service, you're offering hope, clarity, and the promise of a transformed business and life. You need to be able to communicate your ability to help through relating to the prospect. Step 5: Charting the Course: Your Action Plan to Slay the Dragons Don't leave your hero stranded! Outline a clear, step-by-step plan that shows them exactly how you'll help them overcome their challenges. Show them the “3 steps” to overcome their issue. This could be a free consultation, a downloadable roadmap, or a sneak peek into your signature program or whatever. They need to clearly see the path. Think of it like giving them the lightsaber training manual before they face Darth Vader (a.k.a. their biggest business challenges). Step 6: The Call to Action: The Hero's Journey Begins (With You as Their Guide) Now is the time to make the ask! Don't be shy. Tell your hero what action they need to take to embark on their journey. This could be scheduling a call, downloading a free guide, or enrolling in your program. Forward action is the key. Remember, the call to action can be subtle or direct. You could offer a free consultation to "map out your path to freedom" or invite them to join your mastermind group, the "Entrepreneur's Inner Circle." Finally, paint a vivid picture of the contrasting outcomes. Show your hero basking in the sunshine of success after working with you. Describe the transformed business, the newfound freedom, and the fulfillment of their deepest desires. Don't be afraid to get specific! For example, talk about the solopreneur who, after conquering their time management dragon with your coaching, is now sipping margaritas on a beach in Bali, their business running smoothly on autopilot. Juxtapose that with the bleak alternative. Describe the hero's life if they continue battling the villains alone. Will they remain a prisoner of their to-do list? Will their business dreams forever remain just that – dreams? By showcasing the stark contrast between success and failure, you light a fire under your ideal client's seat, making them even more eager to grab your call to action. Remember, storytelling is about creating an emotional connection. By weaving these elements – the hero's desires, the villains they face, and the path to transformation you offer – you'll craft marketing messages that resonate on a deeper level. So ditch the boring marketing points and learn how to tell stories and guide narratives. Your ideal clients, the future Luke Skywalkers of their world, await your guidance. Nicholas “Story Telling” Kusmich P.S. If you're ready to craft your own story-driven marketing plan, but need a hand getting started, don't hesitate to reach out! Let's chat and see how I can help you become the ultimate guide for your ideal clients. . |
Founder of the H2H Media Group is best known as a Leading Digital Advertising Strategist and for having the highest ROI's in the industry (up to 30,973.32%). Working with A-List clients, including top thought-leaders, NYT Best Selling Authors, Top Inc 500, and fast-growth companies, he creates advertising campaigns that don’t suck and allow you to scale your business at will. Get a free copy of his bestselling book GIVE and subscribe to his newsletter at https://www.nicholaskusmich.co/
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