How to Beef Up Your Brand Through Storytelling

While voice actors are paid to talk, many have difficulty speaking to what they provide and attracting people to more than just keywords describing their instrument.

How can you become more than just a teller of other people’s stories?
Learn how to tell your own effectively in today’s VOX Daily.

In this article

1. A Story For the Storyteller
2. How To Tell Your Story
3. 7 Things To Consider When Telling Your Story
4. Some Helpful Links To Check Out
5. What’s Next?

A Story For the Storyteller

When you’re in business for yourself, the last thing you want to do is shy away from opportunities that are suited to you and prospects who could work with you.
I find it interesting that while voice talent are hired to perform and narrate stories for other people and their brands, most find that communicating their own story and selling people on their services is difficult.

How do I know?
After more profile reviews, email exchanges, phone calls and conversations than I can count, I’ve discovered and can confirm that public relations and branding is a struggle for a great number of people.

How To Tell Your Story

There’s a big difference between telling A story and telling YOUR story. First, you’re going to need understand your voice, your business and what you are offering to people.
Answer the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How.

• Who do you serve?
• What do you do / provide? What motivates you?
• When do you work (business hours)?
• Where are you situated? Where are you in your career?
• How do you get the job done? How do you prefer to do business?

Describe your business in terms of a character sketch if you can. Once you have answered the basics and have drafted an image of your company, its purpose and your mission, you will have more than enough material to work with to teach people about your brand.

7 Things To Consider When Telling Your Story

• Brand
• Personal story
• Voice type
• Vocal characteristics / timbre
• Educational background and training
• Creative process
• Best work

Some Helpful Links To Check Out

Want to tell you story but need some help arranging the finer details or with branding? I’ve compiled a list of articles and podcasts that will help you form your story and bring clarity to your brand. Many of these resources will also help you to be more confident in your brand and choices:

• How Well Do You Know Your Voice?
• How to Make People Crave Your Voice
• Committing to Choices
• I Am Enough (podcast featuring Nancy Wolfson)

What’s Next?

Once you have your story ironed out, start using it! You can include it on your website and post it on your profile at Voices. Another idea is to not just write the story but to read it aloud. Read it so many times that it gets internalized and can serve as your “pitch” when out in public.

Here are a few links you can check out that will help you with storytelling in general:
Pat Fraley on The Subtle
Jason Hildebrand’s work on The Prodigal Trilogy
4 Less Than Obvious Reasons Why Authors Hire Narrators
Remember, your story isn’t going to be heard unless you tell it. What’s your story?
Best wishes,
Stephanie
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