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How to Share the "Story of You" on your Website
By: Susan McKenzie
Your clients want to know you. In the offline world, you would invite a good client out to lunch or coffee, and in the online world you can do almost the same… even better!
Building an online business in today's new economy places you in a highly competitive marketplace, yet those who understand how to enjoy rapport with their clients will prosper. Building relationship and trust online takes time and effort but you will be rewarded richly!
Establishing rapport is best done in relational story form. Your auto-responders, newsletters, and blog posts should all be written in a relational form, as if you are talking conversationally to your ideal client in their own language.
Would you like to know how to set yourself apart from all the hundreds of thousands of online competitors?
Knowing how to craft a compelling story about you (not just your products, services, and business) will give you the edge over other marketers in your niche.
There's a common saying, "Facts tell and stories sell." In the New Economy nothing could be more true!
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Stories are the relational super glue that bond families, marriages, organizations, and nations!
Let them see and/or hear you! You can use videos, audio, and photos to offer clients a peek into your world. People want to see your face and they want to know who you're connected to and what you're interested in. It's kind of like inviting them into your kitchen for coffee. This is part of your brand.
Share from your heart… be unique! Don't be an "imitation" of someone else, no matter how much you wish you were! It just won't come across as genuine and you will turn clients away.
Share your unique selling proposition: What is the reader going to get from visiting your site? Be direct. What is the problem you are solving in a way that sets you apart from everyone else?
Include the "story of you" … a brief life story:
Today's best business coaches, such as Sandi Krakowski and Dani Johnson, begin their seminars by sharing their life stories. It's normally very brief and to the point… no fluff! The purpose is to come alongside your client so she can identify immediately with who you are and will be open to embracing what you have to say.
- Include a few key points about your life. Be transparent. You don't have to embarrass yourself, but be real. Know what your ideal client is thinking about, talking about, and is wanting. Talk about those things in your own life story and you will build instant rapport. Let them know you understand how it feels to be in their shoes!
- Share a low point in your life… one that you have overcome. Share your journey and your successes. Your ideal client will connect with you and be inspired! It might be a weight problem, financial challenges…. basically, where you hit "rock bottom" and how your life turned around. What is the urgent, pressing problem you are addressing for them… and how you found the unique solution that no one else has. Keep it personal and don't be a salesperson.
- Share your vision… why you're doing what you're doing. What will happen is that your ideal client will feel a strong connection to you. They're going to say, "I feel the same! Show me how I can be part of what you're doing!"
- Share a clear call to action… whether it's your free gift, a newsletter, or whatever you want them to do. You want them to opt-in so that you can continue connecting with them.
Use BOLD to stand out. Break up your text. Use short paragraphs. People like to skim and if there is a lot of text, long paragraphs, and complex wording they're going to check out early and not read through. Mix a few photos in. This is true for all online writing, by the way!
Now, here's the only hard part… If you're like many people, writing the story of you is a little tougher than writing about someone else! The majority of people strongly dislike writing about their own lives.
It feels like they're facing a big mountain in their path, when really if only they knew that together as a team we can make it over the mountain and see a whole different view from the top!
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Do you feel uncomfortable writing about your life? Does it seem like a daunting task to begin putting the pieces of your life together in such a way that you are genuine and real to others without being embarrassed?
The biggest challenge I have been hearing from my clients is that they feel their story is not interesting … or that if people really knew them it would turn clients away.
Here's something I can do to help you: Give me an hour of your time and let's write your story together.
Share your story with me, along with a description of your products/services. Using your key words, I'll craft a compelling "About" page and you can edit and make changes, as desired. If you have WordPress (highly recommended) I'll even upload it for you and add your SEO details, tags, etc., as well as adding your page to the navigation bar.
Having invested thousands of dollars and hours into my copy writing education so that I can best serve my clients, I would love the opportunity to serve you!
I am an aspiring copy writer who has completed copy writing training from Sandi Krakowski (ARealChange.com) in order to provide better service for my clients.
I am willing to provide above average skills at below-market prices in exchange for your help in building my portfolio. As an added benefit, your website will be included in my portfolio throughout the rest of my writing career.
I'm offering a ridiculously low price for a web-page, including the one-hour interview, using your prime keywords, uploading the completed page into your WordPress site, and placing it into your navigation bar – all for a mere $57. If you are a non-WordPress owner you will receive your web-page in Microsoft Word delivered to your email. I can't wait to serve you!
Let's build your web-page now!
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$57.00
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My daughter, Jill, and me
Life stories are my passion and I've been helping people share their stories orally and in print for the past 13 years. I have a great desire to help others see just how powerful their own lives are, even with all the mistakes, injustices, and wrong turns! I enjoy listening to people's hearts and seeing some of the missing pieces come together, like a beautiful mosaic. When a beautiful Life Story Book arrives in the mail or a web-page is published, I'm just as excited to see a client's story in print as my own! I look forward to sharing your wisdom with the world!
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
I am also like all the others are saying so excited about your “product”; everybody loves to read or listen to somebody’s life-story. Such a blessing for many people.
Hi Olga… stories are such a fun way to introduce ourselves and to make an outstanding introduction! Thanks for stopping in 🙂
I think people long to be around other “real people.” The image of keeping up with the Jones’s is exhausting and people can truly relate to others with “flaws.” Thanks for the reminder about being grounded in reality and humanity.
I met a 70-year old man at the hot springs this morning, who when he heard I wrote “life story books” immediately began to share his story… and his opening line was, “I used to work for money… money, money, money….” – then he had a stroke and now he enjoys every day and the people in his life, and treasures his family – true wealth! He’s learning to be real… what a great lesson for us all, to let our stories help someone else… and in the process, just being real. Thanks so much for sharing, Beau!
You are absolutely right about the “Facts Tell and Stories Sell”. Even though the Internet seems cold and impersonal, people are still searching for ways to “connect” with others. And they can relate to you when you reveal your true self. Good Luck with your Web-Page service. It’s such a valuable offer!
I appreciate you, Carol!
What a gift you are offering Susan! I love how you are just following what Sandi says and you are DOING it! Yay! Plus you are an amazing writer.
Your words bring JOY, Rachelle! And yes, Sandi Krakowski is certainly the best… because she makes it so simple that we can take what she gives us and run with it! Thanks so much for sharing, Rachelle!
So many go through life putting their “best face” on for the world to see and yet the relationships that mean the most are those that are based on time’s when we have been at our lowest…with all of the grime and grit showing. People want to know people as they truly are…
I totally agree with you, Denny! Those relationships go very deep especially when we can learn to love thru thick and thin! You are a great example of that kind of love and commitment!
Susan, Thanks for encouraging all of us in this way. It is simply doing the steps, one at a time, as you describe, but always needs to be from our heart as you say — we can’t tell someone else’s story — We have each gone through different experiences, yet somehow we’re all connected because we’re reaching out to help the others get their stories out there. Your message is powerful and encouraging! I, too, absolutely love reading your posts!
We sometimes don’t realize how valuable our stories are, in connecting with others. We hold back and “play little” … but now is the time for us to be that beacon of light which can help guide someone else through the storms we’ve already conquered! I know your stories helping many, Sue!
Always love to read your post and eagerly waiting for the next one. Thank you Susan for a awesome sharing …Bravo!
Susan, what you’ve shared here is the basis for developing ANY relationship, but where it’s most needed (because people just don’t think about it) is in online marketing. And that is “opening the kimono” as the expression goes … so people can see through your story who you really are. What you offer is invaluable!
You’re a blessing, Sharon, and I much of what I’ve learned in honing my copy writing skills I owe to you… you really have been a true blessing to me! Thanks so much 🙂
Susan, I love reading your posts. As I read that, it felt like you were reading the words to me. I can’t wait for the next one!
Thanks so much for your kind and encouraging words, Donovan! I hope it inspires you to write the “story of you” soon… I’m looking forward to reading it!
I so needed to read this. When I write about post traumatic stress, I am so used to hiding it that I feel sick inside sharing my story. But we have been through so much, I know we could be on Oprah. I have never met anyone yet who went through all what Ken has. So thank you for this article – it came at the right time.
Elvie, I’m so glad we can encourage each other to be more “visible” in the transparency of our life stories. I hope one day we can meet in person! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂