Your blog is a story that progresses, with twists and turns.
The primary reason to create and maintain a blog is to get an audience that grows and is excited to keep reading what you have to say.
This way, you are giving your users a reason to come back, essentially fulfilling the destiny of a blog, which is one of the biggest content marketing techniques to build and hold traffic on your website.
Companies can create blogs to optimize SEO marketing, educate their consumers, and upsell products. Content marketing techniques are constantly evolving, but no matter how much they evolve, the roots are the same.
We are humans, speaking to humans, sharing stories, and trying to connect with each other. In this article, we will focus on how to incorporate storytelling in your blogging strategy, from a personal blog perspective.
Many of these tips can pivot and be applied to companies as well. Think of the greatest books you ever read? What captivated you? Why do you go around asking all of your friends to read them? What made those books so incredibly special, and sometimes life-changing?
1. The Protagonist
You are the protagonist in your blog. You have a story to tell, and there is definitely an audience out there waiting to hear it. The protagonist is the starting component of all good content marketing techniques.
When starting your blog, focus on your first posts and give a sense of who you are, be transparent, and point to the direction you will be heading.
Define your tone and style. Will you be funny?
Funny sells!
Will you be a realist, commenting on current events?
Are you planning to share your journey on how you overcame depression?
Remember that all stories have been told, what makes your story different is simply YOU. Once your audience begins to relate to you, you are 50% done with having a successful blog. Do not be afraid to show you, the real you. The most amazing vlogs and blogs I follow are people who are real, making it extremely easy for me to connect with them and root for them.
2. What is Your Conflict or Goal
Once your audience is captivated with your enchanting, transparent personality, you move on and introduce your conflict or goal. Here is where you will share what drove you to start a blog in the first place. Content marketing techniques to engage audiences need conflict and goals. Without that, we are sailing in the dark, destination unknown. For an entrepreneur, here is where they would share what problems they faced that pushed them forward to create amazing, an innovative product or service.
For a company, here is where they can also emphasize how their story started and what their vision is. For a personal blog, let’s examine the following example. All great stories have conflicts and goals. People tend to use blogs to share personal stories of overcoming health issues, getting back in shape, finding love, finding their personal truth, building their dreams, and so on.
If for example, your blog is about weight loss and exercise, share your story before introducing the vitamins or exercise programs you are using.
Take care of your audience and pass on any knowledge you gained through the process. This is why they are following you.
If you do this right, and they truly connect with you and your problem, then they will connect with any solution you are promoting.
Great content marketing techniques need to have a foundation of trust.
3. Consider Your Reader’s Point of View
Write as you speak. This way, your reader (s) will feel that they are having a private conversation with you. People do not connect with brands, robots, or companies. They connect with people. Be human, and sound like one too!
Ask questions and answer them
Write in short sentences
Address your reader directly, as if he/she is the only person reading it
Do not be afraid to use the word ‘you.’
Use the word ‘I’ to remind them you are human
Free your mind and use unique, funny words. Make up words if you need to.
I once heard a child use the word ‘Great-tastic’ to describe their day! It stuck with me, and I even used it in some of my writing. Do not steal my word! Use analogies to connect with your readers If your blog is about weight loss, make a connection between a job you love and an exercise routine you enjoy. For example, you heard the phrase “pick a job you love, and you won’t have to work a day in your life” right?
Give it a spin and explain to your readers than when they pick an exercise routine they love, they won’t have to exercise a day in their lives!
4. Inspire Your Audience
Half of the reason we read blogs is to feed off the energy of the blogger. We are constantly looking for the secret we do not know!
We are all seeking inspiration to make our lives more enjoyable.
The art of storytelling needs to include tons of inspiration and encouragement.
A good way to inspire is to set goals for your readers, and have an open line of communication with them, being social media, email, or other.
Ask for their feedback and engage them in your writing. When you communicate with your readers, make them feel special, and take the time to give a proper reply.
Take your focus off from going viral and zoom in on that one reader who reached out to you. Make a difference to them, and your blog will take care of itself.