The Everyday Storyteller

Today, I thought would take a step back and go over a few of the basics to help anyone that’s new to storytelling or looking for inspiration around how you can brand yourself better on - and offline.  And for anyone that’s being doing it a while, these are a great reminder and a time to check in.  Number 1 - Get to know your audience.  It sounds obvious but you’d be amazed how many small brands (a...

Right now there are people trying to dictate our country’s narrative. What can and can’t be said, in the ‘public interest’ whilst the same voices turn a blind eye to corruption happening right in front of them, their inflammatory words fuelling a fire we never thought would burn again in this country. It’s fundamentally wrong. And it sucks.  Today I am dedicating this episode to freedom of speech...

We consume over 100,000 words a day. Every which way we look, someone or something is vying for our attention. So how do you cut through all the clutter and get the people you want to listen to what you have to say.? Here are my top tips for grabbing attention in your content, including emails and social media captionsP 1. Use emotional content to increase effectiveness. Even adding emojis make a...

Just because you’re maybe not the world’s greatest writer, doesn’t mean you can’t tell your business stories with prowess. In fact, you’re probably telling great stories all the time when you speak with customers and chat to your friends and family. But I know that when it comes to stopping to think about your stories and write them down, it can be quite the different experience.  So how do you ge...

Take the time to recognise your own strengths and the power that owning your story gives you to create a life that’s right for you.  But also to inspire and give hope to other women that, no matter what you’ve been told or made to feel in the past, your story is unique to you and you have every right to tell it. Your way, your voice, your story.  For women with something to say, The Everyday Story...

I used to be so fearful of getting emotional when I spoke in meetings that for years, I simply kept quiet. I would hide my true feelings - because that’s what you did in the corporate world right? Well, not any more.  Being emotional doesn’t make me unprofessional. All the evidence of my work, the experience my customers get, the results I deliver for them, that’s enough for others to see how prof...

Business storytelling is a powerful tool to engage your audience, create connections and motivate them to take action. Which, funnily enough, is exactly what your website should be doing for you. But all too often the only story I see on website is on the About Me page.  I share 5 tips for using storytelling techniques across every page (or through any of your marketing content) Stories are always...

In episode 88 I shared my secret sauce questions that you can ask your customers to get all the really juicy feedback from them. Now with all that info in hand, it’s time to turn it into a story you can use on your website, your social media and in your presentations and proposals with my repeatable template based on Donald Millar’s StoryBrand. Who is your main character? What were they trying to...

I share my secret sauce questions you can ask your customers to ensure you get the content you need for a GREAT testimonial. What triggered you to buy from me? What was life like for you before buying from me and what did you need to change? What was your biggest challenge and how was it impacting you? What did you fear most? What helped you make the decision to buy from me? What did you hope you...

We are not perfect people. I am not a perfect person. We are all works in progress. Sure you can tell a story that makes you sound like the elixir to all our problems in life (buy my course and make a million pounds in a week just like - sound familiar?) But it isn’t going to do a lot if your customer’s can’t see themselves in it. In this episode I show you how to write a story that shows your cus...

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” Mother Teresa. Today’s episode invites you to think about how you can use your voice to help lift someone up, help them feel you support and show them what type of person you are. What better way to use your voice for good? If you’ve enjoyed what you’ve heard, I’d love it if you left a 5 star rating or review. It make...

Unlike all the Hollywood hopefuls, my chances of winning an Oscar are pretty slim but it doesn’t stop me fantasising about what I would say if I did…. This is such a fun way to talk about your journey so far, giving a nod to those that have helped (or hindered) along the way as you’ve developed your business - and yourself. It’s the perfect way to inject storytelling into your content and name che...

Can you tell a story about something dull? The answer is definitely yes (and I’ve written plenty of them in my time!) Whatever you’re selling - sexy or sensible, you’ll be solving a problem for someone - a real life human. And that’s where the interesting story lies. If you’re still unconvinced, take a listen to this episode to be inspired for telling a good story about what you do (even if it is...

There is no wrong or right answer to the question of outsourcing storytelling and copywriting but one thing I am certain of, we are not super heroes. We cannot be good at everything, all of the time. There is no weakness in asking for help. In fact, it can be such a smart business move, it’s quite the opposite. If you’re unsure about investing in someone to help you (storytelling or otherwise) her...

This year's International Women’s Day is all about embracing equity, wrapping our arms around a collective narrative and taking action to drive change to create an inclusive world for all - where all voices matter.  Yes this fight needs to be more than something we just write about - but our words do matter and hold weight when used correctly.  On this most important day, I share my idea...

From spooky goings on in my house to our eternal quest for meaning, I explore why we love ghost stories so much and how we can apply it to our own storytelling. And I take you through an exercise to explore what shared experiences you have with your ideal clients and what questions they are seeking answers to - the answers to which will help you tell stories that really resonate. For women with so...

Imagine being able to unblock whatever is holding you back from sharing your customer success stories? If the idea of sharing case studies, testimonials and success story fills you with dread, even though you know you probably - no definitely - should be doing more of it. Or if asking your customers for a review brings on a hot sweat even though you know their really happy with what you’ve helped...

Don't waste your time, money and effort creating a brilliant brand story to tick a box and then doing sweet FA with it. Here are five ways to stop your brand story from gathering dust and ensure all the hard work you put into crafting it converts into lovely new relationships and sales. On your website. If you don't use your story to update your about me, you're missing a trick (it's ready-made co...

Today I'm sharing one of my favourite marketing and storytelling hacks. The 'So What?' Test. If your customers can quickly understand your value, aligned with the problem they are trying to solve, they are more likely to buy from you. Yet many businesses bury that value underneath a load of marketing fluff designed to make them look clever without ever thinking about the customer. With this foolpr...

If you didn’t catch this the first time round, today’s episode is a special extended show looking at why figuring out your brand story may be the best thing you do this year. If you want to learn more about this subject and work through your brand story step-by-step that will you to talk confidently about who you are and what you stand for, check out the following episodes: Ep #55 - Lesson 1 - You...

When does applying a bit of creative license turn into defrauding your audience? And does it matter? Answer: YES. Adding dramatic details to your stories is all part of painting a more engaging picture for your audience. As is creating an imaginary scenario to help your customers see what working with you or using your product could look and feel like for them, providing it's clear it's fictional....

Unless you've been hiding under a rock recently, you'll have heard about the rise of AI content creators. ChatGPT, Jasper, and even Canva are getting in on the act. I can see its appeal - we're all strapped for time and money but the big question for me is - can you use AI to create stories? Yes, of course. But don't expect them to do anything for you. Storytelling is exclusively human. It's not a...

If you meet someone for the first time and you tell them a story, they’re 22x more likely to remember you the next time. So why do we (me included) feel it necessary to recount our whole CV, all the way back to our weekend paper round when we’re asked to introduce ourselves? Here are three tips to help you build storytelling into how you describe yourself and your business so that no-one forgets w...

I’ve been so inspired by the women I work with, driven by their past experiences and determined to share their knowledge or learn from the tough times they’ve experienced, turning the negative into positive life affirming actions that helps others and bring joy, and hope to the world. In this episode, I explore how you can use your voice to make a difference. Here are some ideas to get you started...

Business owners who don't tell their story are 92% more likely to fail in the first 2 years of trading. Before you start panicking, that stat is entirely made up but I bet it made you look?! Fear is a potent emotion and, as such, should be used wisely when telling your stories. Trying frighten your audience into doing something send an unmistakable message about who you are and what your brand sta...