When
it comes to your brand, could you tell us exactly
what it is that you stand for?
If
you answered 'no' then you need to keep reading...
Creating
a story for your brand is an essential part to selling more stuff
online – so much so that 80%
of people actually want brands to tell more stories.
So
then why is it so often overlooked by many Ecommerce
merchants?
Why
is brand storytelling SO important?
We
don't have to tell you that the Ecommerce industry is growing at a
rapid rate. Consumers are shopping online more than ever before, so
as a store owner, it makes it even harder to stand out from the
competition.
And
that's why brand storytelling is so valuable because it distinguishes
your business apart from the rest. It's the reason why some of us
would rather purchase Pepsi, ahead of a similar brand – because
Pepsi tell a great story that consumers love.
A
good story will build relationships with your customers, show how
your product came to exist, and it's something that should be
embraced across every single channel that you own.
So
how do you create a great story? Check out our 5 top tips:
1.
Show off your personality
This
is a fundamental rule to great storytelling. You need to show your
customers that face behind the brand so that they can resonate with
you. And what's the first step to showing that you're human? Stop
trying so hard to sell, and start focusing on your awesome
personality because sales will flow naturally from that.
Take
a look at this tweet from Oreo.
Known for a brand with tons of personality, Oreo is a company that
excels at storytelling. As you can see, this tweet is fun, shareable
and it's subtle in the way that it sells their new product...
It
just goes to show that you don't have to go for the hard sell all the
time. Be creative and show your audience who you really are.
2.
Inspire your customers
As
the hero of your story, you need to become a brand that your
customers look up to. Whether it's through ads, videos, the text on a
website or images, the reason we have a favorite brand is because
they've inspired us using powerful marketing materials. In order to
sell more products, you need to create a story that helps your
customers understand that your product will make them feel truly
great!
Check
out the homepage of GoPro.
They sell cameras, something that any average Joe can do. But what
sets GoPro apart is the story that they tell. By using powerful,
actionable headlines such as “This is your life. Be a hero” they
leave the visitor feeling positive, empowered and inspired to buy the
product.
3.
Build trust
One
of the main reasons that people won't make that all important sale is
because they don't trust you yet. Building trust isn’t an easy
thing to do and it can take years for a brand to stand out tall as a
leader in their niche...
But
don't lose hope just yet!
A
great way to help you build trust is by calling on your previous
customers to help tell your story for you. Featuring testimonials
from people who have bought your product and loved your service is
the perfect way to build up that all important trust.
Take
Desk.com
as a great example. On their homepage they feature a sliding banner
that's full of testimonials from clients using the product. Not only
do these show potential customers that this is a brand that can be
trusted, but they also help visitors understand how beneficial the
product can be for their business.
4.
Have a little attitude
As
we've already mentioned, you need to use the story of your brand to
become a leader rather than a follower. And nothing screams leader
more so than having a little attitude. Now when we say attitude, we
don't mean that you should be cocky with your messaging. A little bit
of attitude can help you, so long as it's done right...
Again,
it's all about how you make people feel with your brand story. By
connecting to their emotions and making them feel good can really
help tell the right kind of story. Take Nike
as the perfect example. Their messaging is consistent in every single
piece of marketing they produce. It offers an air of attitude, but an
attitude that makes the visitor want to take action...
5.
Show them why
you exist
The
reason you exist is a powerful story in itself. It shows you have
passion for what you do and it'll help you earn a ton of respect from
your customers for sharing it. Customers need to know that you care
about what you're doing, otherwise they will go elsewhere.
For
example, check out Toms.
They make it evidently clear on every message that the reason they
exist is because they want to help people. Whenever a customer buys
their product, they will donate to people in need. This is an
organization that have managed to create a cool product that people
love to wear, and also make those people feel good about buying
because they are also helping others in the process:
If
you can use the reason why you exist to make your customers
understand why they should buy from you then you've done a great job
of telling your story.
Takeaway
As
you can see from our 5 top tips, great storytelling is all about how
you make your customers feel. Speak in their language to connect with
them, make them feel empowered to want to buy your products and use
your story to show them that you are a leader. Once you've got your
brand story together, make sure that you align it across every
channel so people will instantly recognize who you are.
Do
you have anymore tips? Let us know in the comments below! And don't
forget, if you're looking for an Ecommerce
solution
then give us a call today.