He Who Tells the Story Best Wins

There is truth to that. And maybe there are a thousand variations of telling the story best. With social media, you have the long tail effect.

Applying the concept to your content or stories - given a large enough availability of choice - for example the content of a blog - a large population of customers - virtually everyone online who is conducting a search - and negligible stocking and distribution costs (online) - social network mechanisms engage to help spread your content. That is if the content appeals and is useful to someone.

I searched for my blog's name the other day and found a wealth of information that supports this idea. Wikis, discussion boards, comments to posts, aggregation sites, not unlike FriendFeed, where people had referred to my content and built upon it. That is good feedback - actually great feedback. This is where the content becomes used and worked upon through participation and discussion by people who know people who I do not know - without me watching or "managing" it.

The person who tells the story or version of the story best wins. With social media, it's possible to have many winners.

Comments

[Joe Raasch]

Hi Valeria,

If each of us took a short time to reflect on the brands or products we love AND purchase, most of them have offered a compelling story. Either one they tell us, or one where they set conditions that allow us tell ourselves a story...and we are loyal.

Twenty years ago, a used car salesman said to me, "Facts tell, stories sell."

Still true today.

Please keep telling your story!!

Cheers,

Joe

[NWGuy aka @NWGuy]

Valeria,

It is amazing how stories/blogs weave together. After reading Seth's blog about the importance of headlines I bump into yours, Stories Sell. Attract with the headline, close with the story.

BTW, have noticed that with Twitter activity your blog is getting shorter. My guess is you have more in-depth thoughts also, when is your book coming out?

[Valeria Maltoni]

@Joe - story is paramount and it is the person or company that tells the most compelling one that wins. It is the how as much as the what. And how relies on context as well. Thank you for the encouragement.

@Bruce - my posts vary in length. If you look back, this week I have given readers plenty of copy ;-) I need to get myself one of those recorders so I can start telling the book in my commute, which is the only time when I am not doing other work.

[kare anderson]

• Whoever most vividly describes the situation usually determines how others feel about it, discuss it and act on it.

• That's why vivid self-descriptions are vital.

• Our conferences and other events can also be seen as unfolding stories .... when storyboarded
http://sayitbetter.typepad.com/say_it_better/2007/10/storyboard-your.html

[DR Wright]

Having a good story to tell and knowing how to tell it is very important. Most entrepreneurs have not stopped to think about how to tell the story in a compelling way.

Dr. WRight
The wright Place TV Show
www.wrightplacetv.com
www.twitter.com/drwrightl1

[Richard Becker]

Valeria,

Your words were echoed today by mainstream media. Somedays it does not seem so, but the mainstream will be going in the same direction ... looking for ways to make their content better and more portable.

Going a step further, I am sometimes equally amazed when those stories come back to us off line ... people we might never know read something.

All the best,
Rich

[Valeria Maltoni]

@Kare - I was reading about improv and marketing just a couple of weeks ago. Also, I was involved in customer events where the learning was weaved inside the conversation and collaboration - those were amazing experiences for everyone. Thank you for sharing the link to your post.

@Letitia - entrepreneurs are much closer to the customer, there are less layers. They know from experience that story connects. Glad to meet you, virtually. I'll go check out your show.

@Richard - that is the meaning of connected, isn't it? Content that is more useful and usable that people share and build on hopefully to improve their lives, their work, teams, etc.

[Deb]

Good point - it's the story that sells the product. Better yet, it's the story that gets other people talking.

Deb @debworks

[Colleen O'Donnell Pierce]

I believe this concept holds true for big business,too. I think of several companies I admire and it generally comes down to their story. I do feel that small biz will soon overtake big biz, however, and a new economy will emerge which is centered on small firms. They are more agile, more personal, and synergize with local economies.

[Colleen O'Donnell Pierce]

Enjoyed your piece, and will subscribe - thanks!