Content Marketing Strategies That Sell: How to Stand Out Online Through Storytelling

Finding the balance between educational content and personal content can be tricky. It’s easy to dish out tips. The problem though is that you can overwhelm your audience and bore them if you just lists tips and give tutorials. It also makes you blend in with everyone else in your industry.

In case this is your first time tuning in, let me introduce myself. I’m Virginia Kerr. And I’m here to help you stand out and make money by up-leveling your social media videos. I’ve been in the TV and video industry for more than 20 years. Four TV newsrooms, hundreds of videos, blogs, and podcasts later, I’m here to share what I’ve learned with women ready to get the most out of their hard work. 

Does video intimidate you? Make you want to hide? I’m excited to help you push through your limiting beliefs and show you that you can shine on video! I’m closing the gap by teaching you easy systems and sharing templates that help your videos get in front of your ideal clients. 

Welcome to This is Virginia Kerr, The Podcast! Let’s get started!

When Should You Storytell?

Storytelling is a powerful tool that can help you stand out and become unforgettable. Sharing your story doesn’t have to be your life’s story, or read like an episode of Grey’s Anatomy. 

It can just be a casual mention when you took your own advice, or what happened when you didn’t. Really, all that’s required is just a small sliver of personality to color your message. Sharing bits of your life lend context to your posts, and help people see that your offer or product doesn’t just sound great on the ‘gram, it also translates to real life.

Go Back in Time

It’s going to be hard for you to reach new customers in your industry if you can’t still connect with how it felt to know nothing about it. You have to be able to still consider your ideal client’s pain points in order to market to them effectively. Being able to identify with their struggles could look like those struggles mirroring your own at one point in time. Share that and you’re infusing your personal life in with sharing valuable information about your offer.

Storytelling Tips and Tricks: The Bottomline

I always recommend to my students that they post something personal at least once a week. This is the glue that’s going to stick in peoples’ minds and keep them coming back for your other content. This connection on a human level is crucial.

Something I try to avoid is posting personal stories when I’m in the middle of a problem or crisis. I’ve found it’s best to share after the issue has begun to resolve itself, or I have found a silver lining. This ensures I’m not just complaining, I’m also sharing what I learned while connecting with people who may have similar struggles.

I like to use what I call “The Ideal Person Sandwich” to make sure you’re post or video is balanced; start with a common pain point, share how you personally overcame it, and then wrap up with a call to action aimed at your ideal client. 

Every post is a chance to reinforce your offer and connection with your audience, but storytelling is especially effective in this regard. The more you insert bits of yourself throughout, the easier it will feel, and I think you’ll be surprised how much it helps your staying power. 

If you liked what you learned here, head on over to Instagram and share it on your IG stories and tag me, @thisisvirginiakerr

For more information about the podcast, or to learn more about This is Video School, visit my website. I would love to connect with you more on social media! You can find me on Instagram or join my free Facebook community, This is Video and Content Strategy, to help you level up your branding, messaging and video so you can grow your audience and convert followers into customers.

I look forward to seeing you there!