Discussions  about  employee  and  customer  communications  today  often  focus  on    topics  such   as  engagement,  effective  digital  campaigns,  effective  brand  differentiation  and  social   activation,  or  brand  differentiation.

A  key  to  all  these  areas  is  developing  and  telling  a  great  story  that  reflects  why  your  key   audiences  should  support  you.  With  attention  spans  shrinking  and  the  the  volume  of  content   exploding,    it’s  a  great  time  to  look  at  everything  you    produce  and  post  from  the  perspective  of   the  story  it  tells.    Is  it  really  a  good  story?  Here  are  five  ways  to  check.

  1. It  is  Interesting  and  a  little  different?   Your  key  audiences  aren’t  going  to  click  on  a  link   or  read  a  story  that  they  heard  from    others  time  and  again.  What  is  there  about  the   topic  that  will  catch  the  reader’s  eye  and  make  them  want  to  learn  more?
  2. Does  it  address  issues  that  are  relevant  to  your  audienceDoes  your  story  give  them     information  and  insight  they  can  use  to  address  important  issues?    If  not,  don’t  waste   their  time  by  posting  it.
  3. Will  it  lead  to  action?  Be  clear  about  what  viewers  and  readers  should  do  about  what   you  want  readers  to  do  and  look  at  it  through  their  eyes  before  you  post  it.
  4.  Are  the  characters  in  the  story  interesting?  Tell  stories  built  on  experiences  of  customers   and  employees  and  use  these  examples  to  reflect  your  brand  differences.
  5. Do  you  have  good  photos  and  video?  These  are  are  critical  for  sizzle.   There  is  no  excuse   for  not  providing  them  today.

When  you  have  crafted  a  good  story,  adapting  it  for  multiple  uses  is  almost  easy.

five-questions-for-a-stronger-story

Go Dawgs!

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Go Dawgs!