This week’s guest is Melanie Deziel, keynote speaker, author, and founder of Storyfuel. Rain and Melanie discuss keeping up with communications & marketing in the midst of a crisis, Melanie’s Content Creation Framework, and some unique & creative ideas to use in your marketing today.
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If you follow my podcast, The Storytelling Lab, or you’ve attended one of my workshops or keynote speeches, you may know that there’s a bone that I often pick with my contemporaries in the storytelling space.
Everyone is talking about storytelling now; it’s a huge marketing buzzword.
They talk about what we need to do (tell stories!) and why we need to do it (they inspire action more than data and product features!), but… almost NO ONE talks about how to do it.
They talk about the big picture strategy from a 50,000 foot view, but rarely talk about the actual tactics we can use to achieve it!
Well, this week's guest is different -- she talks tactics.
Melanie Deziel is the founder of Storyfuel, an amazing keynote speaker on brand storytelling, and the author of a new book, The Content Fuel Framework.
As I try to accomplish a similar mission of teaching storytelling tactics through short form video, Melanie is automatically “my people.”
I have to say, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a clearer roadmap for people to follow when telling brand stories in their content marketing.
Every time I give a workshop, I see people stressed about how and where to start, as well as how to sustain and be consistent, with their content creation.
Melanie has an easy-to-follow “framework” that can create up to 100 pieces of content out of just one content idea! This is HUGE.
Using her framework, marketers, creators, business owners, etc., can use a grid of 10 different focuses (the story to tell) and formats (where and how you tell it) to come up with tons of unique and creative ways to tell stories.
She makes it simple. And that is so powerful.
This episode falls on a time when events and speeches are getting canceled left and right, kids are stuck at home, and the world is turned upside down. We talked at length about being forgiving to ourselves when we can’t accomplish the amount of content creation we want to, but also established how to make the practice easier on ourselves by following a framework.
If you struggle with how to systematically get your ideas out of your head and onto the paper, microphone, or screen,
this episode will teach you how!
Some highlights from our conversation:
How to approach business and communications in the midst of this global pandemic
Focusing on putting out more than “panic products”
How good marketing always comes from the heart: you have to be honest
Always try to think about your audience’s reality in your messaging
Melanie’s new book: The Content Fuel Framework
How to best share your message with an audience if you aren’t a trained marketer or content creator
Why people find content creation stressful
Why your first step should always be to create a plan
Why story should determine format (and not the other way around)
You have to first figure out your story: ask yourself what you want to talk about or share with your audience
Why storytelling is the key to connecting with people
Why packaging your message in a story works better than with data
How to pick and choose your messaging based on your audience
Why you should think about your audience as people you serve: you are there to help & to give value
Melanie’s Content Fuel Framework: every piece of content is made up of a purpose and a format
Using people as a inspiration for content
Creating process focused content: how-to guides, recipes, infographics
Sharing your story through numbers
Creating easy graphics
Hiring interns or students that are trying to boost their portfolio
Creating creative audio: there is more than just podcasts
Repurposing content
Using quizzes in your marketing
Thinking about marketing in a way that makes your audience better customers
And managing your schedule by batching content
With everything happening with COVID-19, we know it’s been a crazy week for a lot of our listeners. Our hearts are with you.
We are still committed to bringing you quality storytelling content, so if you’re stuck at home and looking for things to listen to, we will continue with our weekly release schedule! Stay safe ❤️
As always, I hope you enjoy the episode!
Peace and Love,
Rain
Follow Melanie on Twitter @mdeziel
On Instagram @meldeziel
And check out her book: The Content Fuel Framework: How to Generate Unlimited Story Ideas (For Marketers and Creators)
For more storytelling tips and tricks,
Follow us on Instagram @sixsecondstories
Visit our website sixsecondstories.com
Hosted by Rain Bennett (@rainbennett | Twitter) (rainbennett.com)
MORE related content:
More on practical marketing during the COVID-19 outbreak
Visit Melanie's Storyfuel
Watch Melanie's talk at Content Marketing World: Think Like a Journalist
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