We live in an age of distraction and endless noise where everyone is trying to get our attention.
In this new attention-driven world, the best way to grab people’s attention and captivate them is through the power of storytelling.
But not just any kind of storytelling, a long story must be made very short… you have to hook people fast, provide value right away and then encourage viewers to share, like and comment to build influence with the search and social media algorithms that dominate our world today.
This makes video storytelling the most effective medium to spread a message and build a meaningful brand today.
In this age of information and data overload, the people who stand out from the crowd are the storytellers.
The most legendary brands of the Internet age are built on the personal narratives and brand-driven storytelling of their founders.
Whether it was Steve Jobs building tools for creative rebels at Apple, Richard Branson telling the story of how purpose-driven business can change the world at Virgin or Elon Musk’s grand vision at Telsa of a post fossil fuel energy system, their use of storytelling was a crucial part of their success.
Why Video Storytelling?
Consistently making videos requires courage and vulnerability. Most people don’t have the stomach for the trolls that come out of the woodwork when you share your truth on social media platforms like YouTube and Facebook.
But if you build the habit of making videos regularly, then video storytelling will be the game changer that builds your personal brand and spreading your message across the Internet.
Traditionally, the most effective way to build influence was through public speaking on a stage at a conference or event. This is still effective but video storytelling is even better.
Why? Because video storytelling can give you 100x the reach of public speaking simply by using inexpensive ads to boost your videos to exactly the people who would resonate with your message.
The creative leaders of tomorrow will be the greatest storytellers as Rolf Jensen, the former director the Copenhagen Institute for Future Studies points out:
“We are in the twilight of a society based on data. As information and intelligence become the domain of computers, society will place more value on the one human ability that cannot be automated: emotion. Imagination, myth, ritual – the language of emotion – will affect everything from our purchasing decisions to how we work with others. Companies will thrive on the basis of their stories and myths. Companies will need to understand that their products are less important than their stories.
The highest-paid person in the first half of this century will be the storyteller.
All professionals, including advertisers, teachers, entrepreneurs, politicians, athletes and religious leaders, will be valued for their ability to create stories that will captivate their audiences.”
Storytelling is how humans have passed on knowledge and wisdom since the beginning of recorded time. Learning the fundamentals of storytelling and developing the technique to captivate people with your stories is essential today if you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or a creative leader in your community.
How are you telling your story? Are you doing public speaking gigs or making videos regularly? When someone Googles your name, does content come up that shows your influence and creativity?
Video storytelling is the most powerful way you can show that you’re differentiate from all the other people that dream but don’t step up and take action.
With traditional degrees and resumes losing their signally power in a fast-changing world, we all have to become storytellers and build personal brands that demonstrate our skills and abilities that we can offer to the world.
Want to make video storytelling a bigger part of your career or business?
Download my free Video Storytelling Toolkit and turn your iPhone or Android into the ultimate storytelling tool.
