Authentic Storytelling Techniques

I dropped 3 client deals in 2024 because I refused to fabricate "success stories” and bring forced engagement. This is not about ethics. This is not about morals. This is about the power of authentic storytelling. Let me break it down: Audiences have built-in BS detectors. The moment they sense fabricated stories: → Trust evaporates → Credibility crashes → Connection breaks Here's what happened when I shifted to purely authentic storytelling for my clients: Client A: The engagement rate jumped from 1.2% to 4.7% Client B: Lead quality improved, closing ratio up 35% Client C: The content resonated so deeply that competitors started following The authentic storytelling framework that transformed results: 1/ Real Struggles ↳ Share genuine challenges without sugar-coating 2/ Honest Process ↳ Detail the messy middle, not just the glossy result 3/ Actual Results ↳ Present true metrics, even when imperfect 4/ Learned Lessons ↳ Reveal what you'd do differently next time 5/ Human Elements ↳ Include emotions and personal reactions When I implemented this for a career coach: Instead of: ❌ "How I helped a leader get a 3x salary increment overnight." I created: ✔️ "How I helped a nearly lost leader who was tired of linear salary get a 3x raise with these 7 additions over a month." The result? 7 qualified leads in 48 hours. Authentic storytelling isn't just a marketing tactic. It's your most powerful business asset. Because in a world of fabricated success, honesty cuts through the noise. P.S. What's one authentic story you've been hesitant to share that might actually strengthen your connection with your audience? PPS: If you also want to get similar results, my DMs are open to talking about new projects.

You're not connecting through your stories because you're holding back. It's harsh, but true. As storytellers, we often believe we need to have the perfect narrative arc figured out before we can truly move audiences. But the truth is, your real story - even the messy, unresolved parts - has the power to inspire and resonate on a deep level. So, unfold authenticity in your tales: - Share your struggles and doubts - Celebrate the small victorious moments  - Write from your unvarnished, genuine perspective Your vulnerability is not a weakness as a storyteller - it's your secret weapon. So take off the mask of the flawless literary craftsman. Stop waiting to share your stories until you've manufactured perfection. Start pouring your raw human journey onto the page - the good, the bad, the ugly, the beautiful. It's your authenticity and emotional truth that unlocks a profound connection with readers and listeners. I hope these reflections inspire you to peel back another layer in your creative work. Your candor and openness is the key to taking your storytelling impact to the next level. ~~~ Do you agree that vulnerability is a storytelling superpower?  If these ideas resonated, feel free to share this perspective with others. #businessstorytelling #perspectiveshift #communicationtips

I stare at the video screen in frustration. "Anna, you have a habit of telling two things in your stories. To tell an impactful story, you need to focus on one point. One story, one point," my storytelling coach, Matt, says. Matt is one of the best storytellers in the US. "Look at it this way: You can use the same story but craft it differently to make another point," he says. "That’s the beauty of storytelling." When I started my adventure in storytelling, I wanted my stories to convey multiple points. But I've learned that to tell my story with impact, I had to choose one message. We all have stories to tell, but finding the core message can sometimes feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. If you've ever struggled with pinpointing the main theme of your narrative, you're not alone. Here are three techniques to help you uncover the heart of your story: 1. Begin with the End in Mind. Think about the impact you want your story to have on your audience. What do you want them to take away from it? By envisioning the result, you can work backwards to identify the key message to drive your story forward. Example: if you want your audience to feel inspired by your resilience, your core message might revolve around overcoming adversity. 2. Identify the Turning Points. Look for pivotal moments in your story where a significant change or realization occurred. These turning points often highlight the essence of your narrative and can help you zero in on the core message. Example: If a turning point in your career was realizing your passion for storytelling, your core message might be about the power of following your true calling. 3. Ask Yourself 'Why?' Repeatedly. Continuously asking "why" about different aspects of your story can peel back the layers and reveal the underlying message. This technique, often called the "Five Whys," helps you dig deeper into the reasons behind your experiences and actions. Example: Why did you start your own business? To have more control over your work. Why did you want more control? To pursue your creative ideas freely. Why is pursuing creativity important to you? Because it leads to innovation and fulfilment. Hence, your core message might be about the importance of creative freedom in achieving personal and professional satisfaction. Finding the core message in your story is about understanding the impact you want to create, identifying pivotal moments, and continuously questioning your motives. These techniques will help you craft a compelling narrative that resonates with your audience. P.S. What's the core message of your latest story? Share below, I'd love to hear it. - Hi, I’m Anna Ong. I am the creator and host of What's Your Story Slam, an event similar to stand-up comedy, but instead of jokes, people tell stories. Our events provide a platform for people to connect and inspire each other through storytelling. Keen to learn more? DM me, and let's chat!

Storytelling is science AND art. Those startups that don’t tell stories in their marketing? Yeah, you’ve never heard of them. They never make it to the surface. If you want to captivate your audience, focus on these 3 storytelling techniques: 1/ Tap into the senses I once heard a speaker describe a marketplace. As he spoke, I could almost smell the rich aroma of spices. Cumin, turmeric, coriander. A touch of lavender. The chatter of vendors haggling with customers. Rhythmic clanging of metal pots and pans. The vibrant colors of fresh produce and handwoven textiles. I could almost feel the rough texture of burlap sacks under my fingers. Engaging all five senses makes your audience feel like they’re in the middle of the story. Describe sounds, smells, textures, and tastes. Anchor your story in a tangible setting. Create emotional connections to characters and settings. 2/ Subtext is as powerful as text What’s not said can be more powerful than what’s spoken outright. Think of it as the art of the unspoken — where the real story lies beneath the surface. Use dialogue that hints at deeper meanings (i.e. what’s the character really thinking?) Use actions and reactions to reveal emotions (i.e. show inner conflicts through subtle cues). Build tension with the unsaid and let your audience read between the lines and fill in the gaps. Subtext adds layers and depth. Depth equals engagement. 3/ Contrast is king Juxtaposition makes your story more compelling and memorable. It’s about mixing contrasting elements to surprise and engage your audience. Combine humor with serious themes. Use lighthearted moments to underscore deeper messaging. Mix the ordinary with the extraordinary (i.e. place everyday characters in extraordinary situations). It goes without saying: All of this applies to stories for your startup, across your: → Landing page copy → In-product content → Emails and social posts You name it. Experiment with these techniques. Refine your approach. Stories will transform your messaging from mundane to mesmerizing.

𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼! Let's face it, we can craft and tell coherent stories that bring the audience through an emotional roller-coaster on social media, or when we're giving a rehearsed speech. However, how can we tell impactful stories when we're caught off guard? For example, during a Q & A, a panel discussion, or a podcast interview. Or a job interview (there're questions you can anticipate and prepare for, but that's a topic for another day). How can you quickly gather your thoughts and share a short story without rambling on and on? Here's a quick and simple framework I share in my "Speaking Under Fire" workshops: • 𝗦ituation you Faced - Quickly share what's the context of the situation you faced - What challenges confronted you? What was at stake for you? Where was it? Who was involved? • 𝗧houghts and Feelings - How did that make you feel? 𝘉𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘷𝘶𝘭𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 give others a glimpse into your inner world - values, thought processes, etc • 𝗢bservable Actions - This is the "meat" of the story.What did you do about the situation? Be as specific as possible, and as relevant as possible. • 𝗥esult of your Actions - What happened in the end. It could be a positive outcome, but it doesn't have to be the case. That's where vulnerability comes in, e.g. the business ultimately failed, the relationship faded, etc. • 𝗬our Takeaway - 1 or 2 quick reflections of what you've learnt - about the subject matter, about yourself. Avoid the cliché "the moral of the story is _____" because people switch off. Just a quick, "I've learnt that ____" suffices. 𝘌𝘹𝘵𝘳𝘢 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦: 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘶𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭-𝘰𝘯 "𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘥𝘦" Of course, this is not an invitation to "spin" untrue stories. Authenticity is key because people can detect inauthenticity from a mile! It's important to be curious about the world, go on "mini-adventures" and take some calculated risks. Reflect on your experiences and keep a "story-bank" so you will have meaningful anecdotes to pull out when the situations call for it. Try it! I invite you to share your stories in the comments below and I will reply to every one of them! ❤️ 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭? 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦. ✋ 𝘍𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘛𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘐𝘯𝘧𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭! 🤝 𝘎𝘦𝘵 𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘈𝘵𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘉𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘖𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘈-𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘴! 👉 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘰𝘯 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘊𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘤𝘰𝘯 🔔 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. #WholeHearted #MagneticStorytelling