The art of storytelling for demand creation

With so much content vying for attention, it's important to take buyers on an engaging journey. 

Every piece of content you present to them should offer them helpful insights that enable them to make informed decisions about your brand, products and services and offer them the next step closer to wanting to have a sales conversation.

Step 1:  The right content for the right time

So you're familiar with content marketing strategies for demand creation, right?  It's about consistent storytelling across multiple channels using multiple media types that address the key trigger points in the funnel, 52 weeks of the year. 

That's a BIG ask and a BIG programme of work.

Step 2:  Analysing buying intent

Then, a big part of a successful content programme is the ability to capture and analyse  each interaction to determine the performance of that content for every digital engagement before passing across to the sales team as a lead with high-intent markers.

Before you feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the task in hand, think about it this way and consider how you apply it to your planning. 

(You may not need as much content as you think if you plan it in the right way).

Starting out (the plan)

You're about to tell a cracking story down at the pub. You want your mates to be hanging on every word, so you take a swift swig from your chosen beverage as you begin to deliver your belter of a tale.

Awareness (top of funnel)

You start off with, 'You're never going to believe what happened...' Your pals lean in, ready for a good yarn. If you were selling, say, some new fitness gear, you'd talk about someone having a hard time getting off the sofa or munching one too many crisps.

Consideration

Now you've got their attention you dive into the meat of the story. It's like saying, 'So, Dave tried this fitness thing, and guess what...?' You're showing them how it can be done, and the listeners are thinking, 'Well if Dave can, maybe I can too!'

Desire

By this point, your mates are getting excited. They're thinking, 'I fancy a bit of that!' If it's about the fitness thing, they're not just hearing about weight loss, they're dreaming of strutting their stuff on the beach or finally fitting into that shirt they bought two sizes too small.

Engagement

Here's the grand finale. 'So, if you fancy getting fit like Dave, here's how...' You lay it out, show them the way, maybe flash a before-and-after pic of Dave, who's now running marathons and stealing everyone's chips at the pub without gaining a pound.

The killer CTA

It's a blinder of a story, from the first pint to the last call. If you nail it, not only will you have everyone in stitches or on the edge of their seats, but you might just get them to sign up for that marathon... or at least have them buy another round!

You're the sales team's rock star

Not only will you have made efficient use of your budget and resources, you will have delivered leads that inform the sales team of where they are in their decision making cycle.  And made a huge contribution to the sales number.

Before I forget

Remember I mentioned analysing performance of your content?  The only way to do this efficiently is through automation, but that's another story ......

Author:  Shelley Hirst
email:    shelley.hirst@theamigosnetwork.com

If it makes sense

Great content is just one essential part of the demand creation process. 

Take a small step. Ask us to show you how Market Activation™ will help amplify your brand, identify buyers with purchasing intent and create better-informed sales conversations - 52 weeks of the year! 

It can be a complete enabler for small/newly funded businesses or as a programme that's part of a wider demand generation strategy.

Vendors looking to support their partner channels in their demand-creation efforts find it particularly beneficial if they build it into their channel programmes.

Forward-thinking distributors wishing to offer value to vendors and partners by engaging and managing relationships directly with buyers are also creating interest.

And great news for the budget holders - depending on where you sit there are models some customers have adopted that have made it cost-neutral or revenue-positive at source. 

Leads are guaranteed as part of the service.

Contact us for more information, or book directly into our diary for an overview and demo.