As I sat in the bleachers listening to another someone-put-me-out-of-my-misery college commencement speech, I tried VERY hard not to grab my phone and doom scroll Instagram (because my mama raised me better than that).

But the speaker was making it near impossible! 😩

That’s when my mind drifted back to the only graduation ceremony in my life that I could recall.

The speech did not come from a big name celebrity. It was given at a tiny high school graduation ceremony by a 17-year-old named after a character in the Narnia series: Aslan.  

Her name may be memorable, but her presentation was even more so. She didn’t spew off a bunch of inspiring quotes gathered from Reddit or recite a Robert Frost poem (standard protocol). 

Instead, she told a STORY.

Her high school became a kingdom filled with young warriors in training. 

• They battled biology tests and 5-page essays. 

• They traveled to kingdoms far away on field trips.

• They defeated mighty foes on the football fields and basketball courts.

• They learned the power of procrastination and of friendship.

There were very few dry eyes left in the room that night.

She was SHOWING how meaningful and transformative her high school years had been WITHOUT TELLING.  She never once said, “My school is awesome,” or “I’ve learned so much.”

And this was the best sales pitch a parent could have ever heard for that private school.

Often when we sell, we are tempted to share a bunch of facts and figures. 

Nobody:

Schools: Our kids are in the 90th percentile on tests, we won 2 back-to-back state championships…

But decisions are first made emotionally THEN justified logically.

Aslan didn’t realize it, but she had unlocked the secret to selling: STORYTELLING.

A savvy salesgirl like you may be getting ready for the day, putting on your lipstick, and wearing your best shade of red to turn heads and capture attention, but are you using storytelling in your marketing?

Storytelling helps you stand out. It makes you memorable, and it helps you sell more.

How? BRAIN SCIENCE. 🧠

When we experience storytelling, it releases the “love hormone,” oxytocin, in the brain. That oxytocin rush can help you strengthen relationships, improve trust, and transform readers into loyal clients.

and here’s where it gets REAL good…

Loyal clients typically make up 60-70% of total sales and are twice as likely to purchase products than new clients.

But storytelling is not as easy as it seems. The key to an effective sales story  is ✨transformation✨. You must illustrate change and show readers WIIFM (what’s in it for me?). 

Without the element of transformation, you’re just retelling an event which is just as exciting as listening to Great Aunt Sue share a play-by-play of her latest bingo game. Nobody wants that.

Be more like Aslan and less like Aunt Sue.

5 Tips to Add a Storytelling ✨Sparkle✨to Your Email Marketing

#1. Start with the end in mind. 

• Example: I want readers to listen to my podcast about creating routines.

#2. Identify possible themes.

•  Example: productivity, goal achievement, order, peace, wasted time.

#3. Illustrate the theme with a story of transformation (positively or negatively).

• Brainstorm: Think about a time when you _____. What were the benefits or pitfalls?

• Example: The time when I bought a package of $60 rib eye steaks on a whim but kept forgetting to cook them until the expiration date passed and I had to throw them away.

#4. What was learned?

• Example: I learned that a plan could have saved me money and given me the thing I was craving most (juicy steak).

#5. Transition to your call to action.

• Example: Listen to the podcast and learn how to create a routine that helps you make the most of your time so you can get the thing you’re craving most in your business.

Want to learn how to add more storytelling to your marketing? Join the FREE Email Storytelling Challenge in October. You’ll get a weekly email with examples of different types of storytelling methods and tips for how to write your own. Complete the weekly challenge and fill out your bingo card to win prizes (while also winning the hearts of your clients 🫶).

Too busy? Your time may be too valuable to spend on email marketing, but email marketing is too valuable NOT to spend time on. You can get words that work (even when you don’t want to).

So if you’re ready to grow your online business using story-driven emails that connect with dream clients and convert them into loyal customers so you can make more sales, check out meganwisdom.com.

Connect on IG: @meganwisdomwrites