Jul 6, 2023
What makes a story grab your audience’s attention?
With all the stories going around, it’s hard to make a story stand out. Just opening my email today, I got a handful of stories about people who took a cruise, went gardening, took the kids to the beach, went to the dentist, went for a medical checkup (with a little TMI) and …well you get the idea.
Each story was designed to hook my interest. Most marketers - let’s face it - get the same advice. Just tell a story. People will listen. You’ll engage with them. That’s all you have to do.
But some stories capture our attention and go viral.
We can use an analogy from the news media. The story of Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos has gone extremely viral. If you get hooked, you'll find all kinds of stories, videos, podcasts, and more.
Yet other stories about medical actions don't capture our attention. Several years ago, NPR investigated the Merck company's role in popularizing bone density tests. Few people read the story. When they do, they don't get hooked.
In this podcast episode, you'll learn about specific factors that make a story go viral, in business or in the news media.
You'll also learn to recognize stories that can only be called cringeworthy...stories that are destined to disappear, and frankly the storyteller hopes they'll be buried forever.
Finally, you'll get examples of memorable business stories, by real people that combine persuasiveness with staying power. You'll see the contrast between those strong stories and the stories that would be better left untold.
When I work with clients, we focus on finding a story that will not just be memorable, but will support their brand and build credibility. Click here to learn more about my flagship program, the Strategic Intensive.
FREE guide - 3 common storytelling
mistakes (and the 1 simple way to fix them)
The Merck Company story is reported here
by NPR.