Why telling your story matters as an entrepreneur

When you’re a business owner, especially a small business owner or entrepreneur, you tend to exist in a unique place. You are likely wearing many hats across your company, or at least did when you first got your start. You may have numerous success stories, and some stories to share about failures, too.

The truth is your story will be inspiring to countless people. It may be exactly what another entrepreneur needs to know they’re on the right track. Or it may lead potential customers to choose you over a competitor. It may even help position you as a thought leader within your industry. In short, your story is so important as you build your business. Here’s why.

Storytelling is an effective tool for helping others learn. It helps people connect with you and your business or brand, as well as build trust. It helps people feel closer to you and your brand. And it gives you a clear, straightforward, and intentional way to talk about who you are and what your company stands for.

The great thing about telling your story is that it’s authentic and yours to own. That’s what will make it so memorable when you share it. It’s one of the most powerful things you can do for your business.

Once you’re ready to open up and share your story, there are many outlets where you can get it out for public consumption. When there, it can help you build your identity as an entrepreneur, help you find your biggest advocates, draw in customers, and so much more. Here are some ways you can use different platforms to help you get to the next level with your storytelling.

·      Create video content. Video is a highly effective method of storytelling, as viewers can literally see the passion in your voice. Video is a great way to provide a human touch to who you are, helps your audience empathize with you and what it took for you to get where you are. It’s also an easy tool to share with others.

·      Blog and guest blog. If you have a blog on your own website, use your site as a platform to share your story and to continue to detail how it appears within your organization. If you are affiliated with organizations that match your expertise, reach out to them to inquire about providing content for their newsletters or websites. You could also consider reaching out to your local newspaper to supply a guest column. The key here is to be authentic, to stand out from the crowd and to successfully build trust with your audience.

·      Speak at events. You may be shooting for a TED Talk, but there’s nothing wrong with starting smaller. It’s okay to get your feet wet speaking to smaller groups. Inquire with any professional groups you may be associated with and start practicing sharing your story in the way that makes the most sense to that group. The more comfortable you are speaking to an audience, the more opportunities you’ll find down the road.

·      Get social. A study from Sprout Social shows 70 percent of consumers feel more connected to a brand when its CEO is active on social media. Fortunately, social media is also a great outlet for sharing who you are and what drew you into your business. Take advantage of reels on Instagram. Consider your capacity to easily share YouTube content across platforms like Facebook and Twitter. You may even want to share original blog content on LinkedIn. The more active you are, the better you’ll connect with the audience you want to reach.

You have a story to share, and you’re the only person who can do it effectively. I encourage you to put your story out into the world. Your customers, colleagues, and other business owners want to hear it.

Do you have other insights into how you’re currently sharing your story? Feel free to discuss them in the comments below.

Jim Allen is a business leader and entrepreneur who has built one of the top-producing real estate groups in the Triangle. He is President of The Jim Allen Group, which is consistently named one of the top real estate teams in North Carolina and even North America.