Why stories help you sell
Here's a question I get asked all the time:
“How do I sell in my stories without feeling icky?”
My answer is, and probably always will be: STRATEGY.
Created with intention, your stories can help your audience:
→Get to KNOW you;
Stories are the place to show the personal part of your personal brand. Remember how social media is supposed to be, like, social?
→ LIKE you; and
Sharing a peek behind-the-scenes gives you a chance to find common ground with your audience and build real relationships. Maybe you both need sun ASAP in the morning. Maybe you both can't stop bingeing the new season of Love Is Blind. Whatever it is, it's connection.
→ TRUST you.
Connection and consistency create trust. And when people trust you, they'll buy from you without any cringey selling tactics. Not to mention that you'll have an awesome community that makes Instagram way more fun (I promise!).
But posting a pic of your coffee, the odd selfie, and a link to buy isn't going to yield results. We need to tap into the know-like-trust factor strategically and create story content that shows your:
personality
interests
values
thought processes
unique approach to your work
connection to your customers or clients
customer or client results
reason for sticking with your business, even when it gets really hard
When you have a solid foundation of trust, selling stops feeling icky. You don't need to “convince” people to believe in your work or scare them into taking action because they already understand who you are and the value you provide.
I'll be the first to say that showing up in your stories intentionally and consistently can be tough. And that's why it's a huge part of the work we do in the Collab Club.
In the Club, I work closely with you to develop a story strategy (as a part of your overall Instagram strategy) that feels authentic to your brand and sustainable for your life. So that you can sell your stuff without feeling like a sell-out.
See you in stories!
Sarah
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