Tag Archives: storytelling

4 Ways to Communicate Your Brand

Speak Your Brand Panel

Speak Your Brand Panel; Photo Courtesy of Justin Gillen

Recently, I hosted a panel discussion Speak Your Brand: How to Communicate Your Message with Ease. The panel consisted for four branding experts: video gal Holly Gillen, style expert Tania Sterl, mojo coach Dibi Silber and photographer Alyssa Peek.

Thirty women entrepreneurs came together with a common goal: to clarify their brand messages so they can easily communicate and create connection with potential clients.

That’s the power of a clear brand:

When you have a powerful message you become magnetic to prospective clients.

Here are four ways you can speak your brand message:

Find your voice

Think about your favorite book, movie or TV show. What keeps you reading, watching and tuning in? Great storytelling and a clear point of view.

What is the message you are here to share? What separates you from others in your industry? By clearly defining your unique perspective you will stand out from others in your field and create connections with clients and customers.

Dress for Success

You have just 7 seconds to make an impression.

7 seconds.

What impression are you making when you walk in a room? Do you clothes represent your brand?

Selecting clothes that accent who you are and what you want to say is more important that being on trend. A statement necklace, a fabulous pair of shoes or a beautiful scarf will make you stand out in a crowded room. Wearing these items can also start a conversation and open opportunities.

Consistency is Key

Potential clients and business partners will Google your name before working with you, so it’s important to put your best photo forward. As an entrepreneur you’ve probably taken professional headshots for your website. So why does your LinkedIn profile have a picture of you at the beach? Professional photos used on your website should also be used on your social media profiles to create consistency and reinforce your brand.

Silence the Inner Critic & Embody Your Brand

You can have the right clothes and image, but if you don’t feel confident on the inside, you won’t make a positive impression. When networking, giving a presentation or meeting with clients, the inner critic may creep up and whisper ‘Who are you to do this?’ Don’t let this sabotage your success. When you hear that voice whisper, remember to let go of perfection, let your personality shine and be your unique self.

As Oscar Wilde once said, “Be You. Everyone Else is Already Taken”

Want to create a strong brand message? Sign up for a complimentary 30-minute session to get started.

Storytelling Spotlight: Your Story Can Inspire Change

MirandaBartholomew

This week’s Storytelling Spotlight features Miranda Bartholomew, founder of Conversations Matter. The brand is a platform for important dialogue covering topics such as relationships, sex, marriage, faith, parenting, education and more.

Bartholomew moderates these conversations on her blog, at speaking engagements and in her upcoming book, Parenting with the End in Mind.

Q:What inspired you to share your story by writing Parenting with the End in Mind?

 Miranda Bartholomew (MB): I was inspired to write the book because I was reflecting on the lessons I have learned over time and the person I’ve become as a result. I’ve also been strongly engaged in the upbringing of my younger brother and sister the past 10 years and have observed things that work and things that I personally would do differently. The environment, the support, the habits learned in that environment and overall development of a child, both good and bad, remain with them as an adult. Deprogramming yourself is extremely difficult. Hence the idea of Parenting with the End in Mind.

My mission is to help adults who care for children to come up with a blueprint which reflects the values or characteristics they want to make sure their children demonstrate by the age of 18. Ideally we should have a plan before having children. However, if we have young ones there’s still time to refine the plan to make sure our children have the utmost potential to be a world changer.

Q: Why did you choose public speaking as a platform to share your story?

MB: Public Speaking is very natural and comfortable for me. I have always been attracted to it and hope to transition to public speaking full time. My book will be my vehicle to help me grow my audience and increase speaking opportunities. Conversations can transform our lives for the better, can inspire and can literally change the world.

Q: What hesitations did you have about speaking and how did you overcome them?

MB: The only hesitation I had was a negative seed planted by someone else – my lack of credentials. To overcome it, I simply had to throw out that assumption and adopt a different thought process. “Just get them in the seats. Once you get them there you can share your personal story and then inspire change!”

I focused less on what others might be expecting from me and more on what I know I can sincerely give: my story, my energy, my confidence, my personality, and innovative concepts. What I have to offer is worth listening to!

Q: What advice can you share with people who are just getting started with speaking?

MB: Speaking helps me accomplish my mission, which is to inspire change. Speaking leads to dialogue and conversation. If you’re just getting started, I suggest you don’t turn back! Take a moment to reflect and understand why you’re doing it.  Then commit and execute. Simple as that. You WILL surprise yourself each time and likely say “Did I just do all of that?”

 

If you’re ready to use public speaking to share your story and inspire change, sign up for a complimentary session today.

 

What Music Can Teach You About Storytelling

When I was 8 years old, I received the best birthday gift a young girl could ask for -tickets to see my first rock concert. At the time, I was excited to see a live show by my favorite band, Bon Jovi. Looking back I realize how much that experience impacted my life – as a music fan, as a person and most recently as a business owner.

You don’t have to write a hit album or tour the country to be a great storyteller. Here are 4 key things music can teach you about storytelling:

  • Create a message that resonates with your audience. Musicians write about universal themes like love, heartbreak, loss and happiness, yet the message feels so personal. If you think about your favorite song, it feels as if it was written specifically for you. In business, your message should follow a similar format. If you can have a message that resonates and feels as if you are writing about your audience (your customers or clients), then that builds connection and makes them feel understood.
  • Engage your audience – At  rock concerts you’ll notice the artist will hold out the microphone to the audience so they can sing along or get the audience to waive their hands or get up on their feet. That’s engagement and engagement is key. As a business owner, you can have thousands of people on your newsletter list or following you on social media. However, if they are not engaged in your message or offerings, they won’t convert and buy your products or services.
  • Create an experience – Creating an experience takes on many forms at concerts – from the light shows, and fireworks, to trapeze stunts over the crowd, or wild costumes and make-up. In business, there are so many opportunities to create an experience: sending welcome gifts to new clients, the music played in a store or even the check-out process from an online purchase. By creating an experience your business becomes memorable in the mind of the customer and that will make you stand out from your competitors.
  • Find your voice – What is your message? What is the song you are here to sing? No matter which art form you use – writing, speaking, painting – you have to find your voice and share your perspective. If you’re unsure of your message, try to think about what you want to be known for in your work or your industry.

As an 8-year old child I had no idea that that concert would be a defining moment for me or begin a lifelong relationship with a band. But I have remained a Bon Jovi fan for over twenty years for many reasons. Their music resonates with me. The band continues to create an experience with their albums and live concerts. They have a unique point of view which keeps me engaged.

How can you use these same techniques to build lifelong customers? I’d love to hear from you so post your thoughts in the comments below.

If you want to find your voice and create a powerful message, sign up for a complimentary 30-minute strategy session.

How to Craft a Talk That Sells

Do you remember that classic scene from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off in which Ben Stein gives a dry lecture to a group of high school students? With a monotone voice and information that doesn’t interest his students, it’s easy to see why the students check out.

But what happens when you have an engaging delivery, interesting content and your message still misses the mark?

You get great feedback, but you don’t walk away with any leads or sales.

Or you get lots of smiles and nods, but little engagement from the audience.

Or worse…You hear crickets.

If you’ve experienced any of the above, it’s time to revisit your content. Here are three ways you can craft a talk that will make an impact:

Begin with the end in mind

If you’re having trouble deciding what information to include in your talk, ask yourself these questions: What would you like the audience to walk away with? What are the key points or lessons you’d like them to remember?

What information does the audience need most to solve their biggest challenge? If you’re not sure, ask a few of your current clients to get their perspective.

Once you’ve boiled the information down to a few bullet points, use those to build your talk.

Get clear on your target audience

If the audience isn’t connecting with your materials, perhaps you are speaking to the wrong group. For example, if you are trying to engage women in their 50s about their retirement needs, but the women attending your talk are young professionals, your message is going to miss the mark. It’s important to get clear on who it is you are trying to reach and make sure you speak at events that are geared towards that target audience.

Share a personal story

If you’re like most business owners, you started your business because of a passion or a need. Think back to why you began your business and share a story about what inspired you to get started or a challenge you faced and the solution you created as a result. Stories create authenticity and connection, and will make you memorable.

Ready to hone-in on your message and craft a powerful talk? Sign up for a complimentary 30-minute strategy session.

What is the Message You are Here to Share?

“What is my story? I have so much to say, how can I narrow it down to one key message?”

 

I hear this question often in my conversations with entrepreneurs. Simplifying your message is a challenge especially if you have 15-20 years of experience to share.

 

In the video below I share an exercise to help you get clear on your message. Watch the video and then share your thoughts in the comments below.

 

 

 

 

Now I want to hear from you. What is your favorite story? What is the story you are here to share? Post your thoughts in the comments below.