MENTORS & INFLUENCERS
STORYTELLING BRANDING
Behind every brand is a story. Sharing our stories authentically, transparently, and with compassion, and by placing our clients at the heart of the stories we tell about the WHY of our business, is how we demonstrate that we understand their challenges and needs. Storytelling has become the bedrock for our branding work and how we help our clients grow engaged audiences and communities that are built on trust and relationship. Through our stories, we convey our values, what matters to us, why we care about something, and how we show up.
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There are many drivers in building a brand story that reflects and communicates the vision and values of a business in a way that is compelling. We start by naming the WHAT, WHY, and HOW for the business. Then we work with our clients to define their mission, vision, and values, which provides a blueprint for the business that we refer back to throughout the branding, business, and content development process. We work with our clients to frame the ‘problem’ and challenges that the business aims to solve in a way that highlights listening, understanding, and service, along with the potential for insights and positive outcomes.
When we develop a brand by investing in discovering, excavating, defining, analyzing, and refining the brand story, the bonus is very often a resonant visual identity, and a values-aligned content strategy are revealed during the process.
We are grateful for the opportunity to learn from authors like the ones shared here and have benefited a great deal from their experiences and perspectives and from the tools and resources they share. Their work has helped expand our work. We’ve grown our understanding and capacity to confidently and gracefully guide our clients through this essential and transformative phase of the business development process.
Park Howell
Author & Speaker | The Business of Story
After being named Advertising Person of the Year in 2010 by the American Federation of Advertising, Park knew that branding influenced by big advertising agencies no longer worked and that the internet was leveling the playing field and the masses would now own the story. The old way had become irrelevant. Thank goodness!
This gave way for change, and Park went on a quest to find answers. Like all good quests, they’re personal. This led to the realization that story has been a part of his soul since, well, always, which led him to Joseph Campbell’s The Hero’s Journey story framework.
Park recognized the power of branding immediately, and the Story Cycle System™ was born. His work now is to help leaders of purpose-driven challenger brands and their people excel through the stories they tell.
Park knew that branding influenced by big advertising agencies no longer worked and that the internet was leveling the playing field and the masses would now own the story.
“Every brand has a story to tell, but the best brand stories aren’t about what you sell.”
– Melanie Deziel
Melanie Deziel
Author & Speaker | Story Fuel
As one of the world’s leading experts in branded content, an international keynote speaker, and a skilled virtual presenter, Melanie Deziel has taught brand-building enthusiasts around the globe how to brainstorm better, think like journalists, and tell better brand stories.
Melanie is also an experienced online educator and has delivered countless webinars and digital keynotes, which led her to develop and teach multiple courses online in digital marketing and social media, including a Master’s-level online course in content marketing.
From this impressive body of work, she wrote her bestselling business communications book, The Content Fuel Framework, which identifies 10 different focuses of content that resonate, and how to tailor them across 10 different formats. Filled with practical strategies and valuable templates, The Content Fuel Framework takes the pain out of coming up with compelling content with a foolproof tool that can generate countless exciting ideas and topics that can be applied and multiplied across any number of platforms.
Melanie Deziel
Story Fuel
As one of the world’s leading experts in branded content, an international keynote speaker, and a skilled virtual presenter, Melanie Deziel has taught brand-building enthusiasts around the globe how to brainstorm better, think like journalists, and tell better brand stories.
Melanie is also an experienced online educator and has delivered countless webinars and digital keynotes, which lead her to develop and teach multiple courses online in digital marketing and social media, including a Master’s-level online course in content marketing.
From this impressive body of work, she wrote her bestselling business communications book, The Content Fuel Framework, which identifies 10 different focuses of content that resonate, and how to tailor them across 10 different formats. Filled with practical strategies and valuable templates, The Content Fuel Framework takes the pain out of coming up with compelling content with a foolproof tool that can generate countless exciting ideas and topics that can be applied and multiplied across any number of platforms.
“Every brand has a story to tell, but the best brand stories aren’t about what you sell.”
– Melanie Deziel
Donald Miller
Author & Speaker | Story Brand
When we’re clear, when we say just what we mean — in a way that matters to our clients and customers, we attract our people and build community. It is when we clarify our message and take the guesswork out of what we do, why we do it, who it’s for, and how it makes a difference for our clients and customers that we put up the virtual beacon for our brand, and communicate how our services and offerings will benefit potential clients and customers.
On his teaching and coaching platforms, StoryBrand and Business Made Simple, Donald Miller is on a mission to take the mystery out of growing a business by developing frameworks and teaching practical skills that help propel entrepreneurs and business owners through the business development process.
In his book, ‘Story Brand,’ Donald Miller walks readers through the proven ‘Building a StoryBrand’ system, which includes seven universal elements of powerful stories to dramatically improve how they connect and engage with their clients and customers and to grow their businesses.
The ‘Building a StoryBrand’ process includes:
- The seven universal story points all humans respond to;
- The real reason customers make purchases;
- How to simplify a brand message, so people understand it;
- How to create the most effective messaging for websites, brochures, and social media.
Whether you’re just starting out as an entrepreneur or you’re an established and savvy business owner, the Building a StoryBrand process will transform the way you talk about who you are, what you do, and the unique value you bring to your customers.
“Never assume people know how your brand can change their lives. Tell them.”
– Donald Miller
Explore our other mentors and influencers
who have helped shaped our work and
doing business the wholehearted way.
HUMAN-
CENTERED
BUSINESS
VALUES-ALIGNED BUSINESS, LEADERSHIP, & ACTIVISM
DIVERSITY,
EQUITY, & INCLUSIVITY
STAGES OF BUSINESS &
LEGAL
MONEY &
FINANCE
THE
CREATIVE
PROCESS
DESIGN,
COLOR, & TYPOGRAPHY
HUMAN-
CENTERED
BUSINESS
VALUES-ALIGNED BUSINESS, LEADERSHIP, & ACTIVISM
DIVERSITY,
EQUITY, & INCLUSIVITY
STAGES OF BUSINESS &
LEGAL
MONEY &
FINANCE
THE
CREATIVE
PROCESS
DESIGN,
COLOR, & TYPOGRAPHY
HUMAN-
CENTERED
BUSINESS
VALUES-ALIGNED BUSINESS, LEADERSHIP, & ACTIVISM
DIVERSITY,
EQUITY, & INCLUSIVITY
STAGES OF BUSINESS &
LEGAL
MONEY &
FINANCE
THE
CREATIVE
PROCESS
DESIGN,
COLOR, & TYPOGRAPHY