Playing Santa ๐ - Spreading Joy With Storytelling
18 days till Christmas means your attention span for my newsletters is likely getting shorter and shorter. ๐
So, letโs jump right to the menu.
Todayโs Plan ๐
๐ Uncovering the power of stories and how it can accelerate audience growth
๐ 3 Frameworks to spread joy through storytelling
๐ A storytelling formula you can steal
Christmas lights are up, TimBiebs are being ordered, and the holiday break is in sight.
Growing up in a family of 7, the holiday season was always my favourite. December in my household included secret Santa, non-stop sibling pranks, and eggnog in the fridge. Iโm sure you have your own stories. ๐
You see, stories bring us together. Thereโs a reason we cozy up to Hallmark movies at this time instead of COVID graphs. Stories are warm. Theyโre inviting. And they draw us in.
To build a meaningful connection - whether with your weird Uncle Frank visiting from Holland or your audience, you have to foster relatability.
Stories are THE single most powerful way to do that.
How to Start Sharing Stories:
Wondering how to get started? Here are 3 frameworks for spreading cheer and building close-knit communities through stories:
1: Break Rules
Storytelling doesnโt abide by any guidelines. The golden nugget here is: Do something out-of-the-box and surprise your audience.
Think about the things you do to make your family and friends smile. Do you send them a boring note? Or do you personalize your message with memes, inside jokes, and emojis?
My moneyโs on the second. ๐ฐ
Tip: add flavor into your content to evoke emotions and bridge the distance between you and your audience. Ask yourself: would I open this and smile?
Fill your content with feelings and experiences. Show the real YOU.
Facts are for validation, stories are for connection.
2: Give People Avenues to Share Their Own Stories
As much as I advise people to share their own stories, I always remind them to lend a listening ear to the stories of their audience.
Urge people to share their experiences. Do it via a podcast, a newsletter, a LinkedIn Live, a Twitter Space, or simply through a regular social media post.
When building a brand: Reciprocity is key. ๐
3. Sprinkle Some Positivity and Garnish Your Stories With Hope
Write stories that spark emotion. A little happy memory here and a little kindness there and et voila! you have a story that will move people.
Figure out how you can tweak your story to make it a carrier of hope.
Bonus ๐
What makes a compelling story? When it evokes emotion and validates the insights presented. Steal this storytelling formula to delight people and also boost your brand visibility.
๐ฒ ACTION BYTES
Onto you now:
If you havenโt yet, start sharing stories with your audience.
Personal or professional anecdotes, lessons learned while traveling or trying something new, your most favourite moments and others.
Remember: The most authentic way to create an impact is to share stories.
๐กRIFF OF THE DAY
A good reminder for Festive Szn :
Thanks for reading! I try hard to make it a newsletter you look forward to each week, so if you have any suggestions about content youโd like to see or ideas that sparked, let me know.
If you enjoy reading the newsletter, forward todayโs copy to a friend. โ
Stay outtaโ trouble and catch you next week.
โ๐ป Joel
Wanna learn more about building your voice online? Check out my 2022 Spring Cohort Class.
You can also learn more about my work on Twitter, or LinkedIn.