Great Example: Using An Interesting Story To Lead Into Your Point
TweetI occasionally like to point out the usefulness of telling a story to create interest, engage emotions, and make your point in a way that connects with your readers. I noticed a tweet today that led me to a blog post that does an excellent job of using a story to lead into the blogger’s message.
Drupal 7, the cocoon and the butterfly by Dries Buytaert grabbed my attention immediately with the short tale of the man, the cocoon, and the butterfly. The little story was interesting. The “moral of the story” was educational. And the entire tale was the perfect lead-in to a topic that is technical in nature, and not generally one that would be all that engaging.
Sure, web geeks like to hear about upcoming versions of their favorite apps, but a quick scan is usually sufficient, and the blogger may not really connect with the reader in any significant way. Dries, however, does a great job of connecting with his readers by using the tale as a lead-in. The little story’s lesson was a great way to introduce the main topic Dries wanted to discuss.
If you’ve ever wanted to be better at engaging your blog readers, I recommend reading Dries’ post, whether you care about Drupal or not. Just as the story of the man and the cocoon had a lesson to be learned, Dries’ post also imparts a lesson in effective use of storytelling when blogging.
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Tags: Dries Buytaert, storytelling
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Excellent Donna
And to back that up I can remember a good story forever so it has real time impact and if it’s good enough lifetime impact
Nice one
Thanks
Recent post by John Sullivan ..Tony Robbins Breakthrough
Exactly, John. That long lasting impact that a story has makes a big difference.
I definitely agree with you on this one Donna. Telling a story is beneficial in numerous ways.
1) Visitors find your content more interesting and therefore have a little more trust.
2) Stories are hypnotic whether people realize it or not.
3) If the story is well placed, it can lead into a convincing introduction to an affiliate product.
4) Visitors will see your site as one that delivers a rare quality that is harder to find these days. That makes them more likely to come back again. Then you have yet another chance to monetize their traffic.
I am sure I could come up with more reasons than that.
Recent post by Kathy ..Spam Is Slowly Becoming A Thing Of The Past
I like your benefit number 4 the most, Kathy. Content is becoming a commodity these days, and being able to create compelling content is getting rarer. Storytelling helps create that, I believe.
nice tip
.. there are a few funny intros I’ve read about certain embarrassing situations which can lead people to reading further to avoid that.
I read that Drupal 7 post… that was quite an intro. And its nice to watch commenters respond in the same metaphorical manner which makes the post more interesting
Recent post by Cindy ..Social Media Discs
Oh yes, Cindy, an embarrassing situation can be a very effective story tool. Everyone can relate! I think I read the Drupal post before anyone commented, so I didn’t know they responded in the same way. Very cool.
I have been working on crafting my blogging skill and definitely my story-telling has been improving.
I actually want to write a full-fledged true life story on my blog, but I have been afraid to thus far. Don’t think the write is up to snuff yet. Maybe one day…
Recent post by Wayne Howard ..Does This Salt Have Savor- The Salt Review
Get rid of the fear! Your writing is probably not going to get much better. And that’s ok. Your writing is absolutely fine! Just do a quick spell check and maybe even read the post out loud to yourself (out loud works best) and then go for it. Don’t wait, man. Go for it. Tell the fear to take a hike!
I was expecting to see one of your very own interesting stories leading into a very succinct point! Oh well. That book does sound interesting though. I’ll definitely check that out.
Recent post by Laura Davis ..Plan Now for Christmas
I promise to share some stories now and then, Laura. Of my own.