17 Story Ideas to Create a Rock-Solid Brand

Whether it’s your personal brand or your company’s brand story, stories are the key.

As a former corporate buyer, I’ve spent the latter part of my career sharing the secrets of how companies can break through the noise to reach their desired customers more easily. I’ve seen the evolution of social media from a novelty to a game-changing tool for businesses.

However, in the crowded digital space, it can be tough to stand out. That’s where your online brand becomes extremely important. Using story ideas to create a rock-solid brand online has become a game-changer. 

Luckily, with simple video and written stories, you can catch the attention of your audience, build trust, and move them closer to action. 

Here are 17 story ideas to create a rock-solid brand:

Use these storytelling methods to set yourself and your company apart, either through simple selfie videos, or written blogs and posts.

First, here are some ideas to create your personal rock-solid brand story:

1. Tell your story: Let your audience get to know the real you! Don’t be afraid to reveal the embarrassing stories from your childhood, the quirky habits you have, or the cool hobbies you’re into. It’s like a trust fall – except instead of catching you, your audience gets to laugh at you (in a good way).
2. Show some personality: Don’t be a cardboard cut-out of a human being! Inject some of that sweet, sweet personality into your social media posts. Tell some jokes, share some memes, and show off your dance moves (if you’re brave enough). It’s a great way to make your audience feel like they’re hanging out with a real person, rather than a corporate robot.
3. Impart your expertise: You’re a smarty-pants, so share that knowledge with the world! Give your audience valuable insights and information that they won’t find anywhere else.
4. Stay in the know: share the “tea” of your industry, as the cool kids say. Share the juiciest news and latest trends with your audience, so they can feel like they’re in the know.
5. Educate your audience: Teach your audience how to do stuff – related to your work or not! Whether it’s a unique way to use your product, or how you make a perfect steak, or how to knit a sweater for their greyhound (seriously, how awesome is that?), give them the tips, tutorials, and how-to guides they need to be successful.
6. Flaunt your products: Show off your products like they’re your babies (but no 529 plan needed!). Use video to illustrate how they work, what makes them special, and why your audience needs them in their lives.
7. Address common concerns: We all have fears and doubts – even your customers. So use video or written stories to tackle those common concerns head-on. Show your audience that you’re listening to them, that you care about their worries, and that you’re here to help.

Next, here are some ideas to create a rock-solid company brand story:

1. Showcase your team: Let the world get to know the crazy cast of characters that make up your company! From the wacky warehouse worker to the slightly-sane CEO, give your audience an insider’s peek into the inner workings of your organization. Humanizing a business builds trust. Trust me (see what I did there?).
2. Be a good neighbor: It’s time to show off your halo! Highlight all the good deeds your company has done for the local community, whether it’s sponsoring a charity run, volunteering at a soup kitchen, or speaking at the local middle school (God help you on that one). It’s like being a superhero, but without the spandex and the cool gadgets.
3. Showcase your company mission: It’s time to get sentimental! Share the story behind your brand’s mission and why you’re passionate about your work. Maybe you’re trying to save the world, maybe you’re trying to make the perfect cupcake – either way, let your audience know why you care, so maybe they will, too.
4. Tout your company culture: Why be normal when you can be weird? Highlight what makes your company distinct and why your team members love working there. Maybe you have a tradition of wearing chef’s hats on Fridays, or maybe you all speak in pirate accents (I’ll need video of that).
5. Celebrate your wins: It’s time to pop some champagne! Share your victories and milestones with the world, whether it’s hitting a sales goal, winning an award, or just surviving a particularly rough Monday.
6. Share your company’s growth: It’s time to get nostalgic! Describe how your company began, from the early days of working out of mom’s garage.

Lastly, here are some ideas to showcase your customers:

1. Put your customers on a pedestal: Make them feel like the kings and queens they truly are! Share their glowing testimonials and stories of satisfaction to highlight the jaw-dropping value of your product or service. Let them bask in the warm glow of your adoration!
2. Showcase user-generated content: Let your customers do the heavy lifting for you! Share their awesome photos, hilarious videos, or tear-jerking testimonials. Trust me, they’re better at selling your stuff than you are!
3. Shine the spotlight on a customer and their cool accomplishments. Maybe they climbed a mountain, ran a marathon, or built a house out of pool noodles. Whatever it is, make a big deal out of it! They’ll love the attention and you’ll stand out.
4. Thank a customer for being a rockstar to work with. Seriously, some customers are just the bee’s knees (old timey phrase quota reached). Give them a shout-out and let them know they’re appreciated. You might just make their day.

To sum up, using video and written stories on social media is like adding champagne to your morning OJ – it’s the perfect way to liven things up! By sharing stories, you’ll create a brand that stands out from the crowd, builds trust faster than a speeding bullet, and leads prospects down the path to enlightenment (or at least to the next step in your sales funnel). Cheers to that!

Read this next! What is a Brand Story Mosaic