By Danielle Wallace, owner of Chayil Media Publishing and member of NAWBO Alabama
It’s easy to look around and think you need to do exactly what your competitors are doing to stay relevant.
Maybe you’ve caught yourself scrolling through their posts or trying to mimic their strategy, hoping it’ll work for you too. But you know what? Your audience doesn’t need another version of what’s already out there. What they’re really looking for is a business that feels real, relatable and different.
That’s where your brand stories are super important. Sharing your stories sets you apart from the crowd and makes you memorable. So, let’s get into how you can tell your stories in ways that grab attention and leave competitors in the rearview.
1. Instagram Carousels
Instagram Carousels allow you to tell a multi-part story that keeps viewers swiping for more. Each slide can focus on a different aspect of your brand’s journey or show off different products and their stories. For example, a bake shop could use a carousel to show the step-by-step process of creating their popular chocolate lava cake. It could include the ingredients and quotes from happy customers.
2. LinkedIn Carousels and Newsletters
Similar to Instagram, LinkedIn Carousels let you share multiple images or graphics in a single post, ideal for presenting complex information such as case studies or success stories in a digestible format. For a business coach, a carousel could break down their unique coaching model step-by-step, showing off client testimonials and results as proof of success.
When it comes to LinkedIn Newsletters, you talk about stories that define your business. Share the chapters of your business journey, unpack the big wins and give a shout out to the milestones. If you’re an attorney, you could dish out a weekly LinkedIn Newsletter that’s filled with your take on trending news in your industry.
3. Instagram Threads and Twitter
On Twitter and Instagram Threads, use the immediacy of the platform to share quick, impactful thoughts from your business operations or client interactions. A business coach could post snippets of client wins or personal stories about their coaching philosophy. An attorney could bring followers into the heart of their day, unpacking the story behind a recent legal update or sharing quick reflections from cases they’ve worked on.
4. YouTube
YouTube is where you can let your storytelling shine with long-form content. It’s the perfect place to share the deeper aspects of your business that don’t fit in a quick post or tweet. For example, if you’re a florist, you could create a video series about the meaning behind different flowers and how they inspire your arrangements. Show your process for sourcing blooms, crafting bouquets and working with clients for weddings or events.
5. Weekly Email Marketing
Email remains one of the most effective ways to reach your audience directly. Send out a weekly that shares stories that tie into your offers.
If you’re a personal trainer, tell the story of a client who went from overwhelmed to empowered, thanks to your program. Share their journey in a way that makes people think, “I want that too,” and end with a call to action to work with you.
If you’re a designer, share how a client came to you feeling stuck, and how your designs helped them stand out in their industry. Stories like this build trust, show the impact of your work and make the next step (like booking a consult or clicking “buy”) feel like a no-brainer.
When you focus on storytelling that connects the dots between your audience’s needs and what you offer, you’re creating an opportunity for connection and action.
6. Finding Your Brand Stories
To keep your content fresh, take a little time each week to jot down what’s happening in your business. Think about the big stuff, such as hitting a milestone, and the small wins, like a customer’s happy reaction to something you did. You can also dig into the past and talk about how you started your business, how things have changed or moments that really shaped what you do.
These notes will be a cool bank of stories that you can share on social media, in emails or anywhere else you connect with your audience. People love hearing the real stuff, and this is how you’ll always have something amazing to share.
At the end of the day, your stories make your brand unique. It’s the reason your ideal client or customer chooses you over anyone else. So the next time you catch yourself tempted to copy a competitor’s ideas, take a breath and remember, your audience isn’t looking for the same old thing. They’re looking for you. Your wins, your lessons, your journey. Start sharing those stories and watch how much closer your audience feels to investing in your offers.
About the Author…
Danielle Wallace is the owner of Chayil Media Publishing, where she is a storytelling-enthused copywriter and video marketer. As a former TV news reporter, she loves flipping facts into sales-driven narratives. She’s also the founder of The Virtuous Creative, which is a blog and podcast, where she encourages Christian women creatives in business to boldly show up in life and business while giving God all the glory. Chayil Media Publishing can be found here.