story telling or story selling

In any business, story telling is a powerful tool, specially if you are in the direct sales industry. If share at the right time in the selling process, it can allow you to connect with your customer, engage with them and tell them why they need your products or services or why your solution will work for them as it did for others before.A good story should possess the power to hold the attention of your customer. It should provide an entertaining experience for the listener and be easy to remember and retell, just like The little red riding hood story. Recreate the experience, make them feel like they would be in that situation by using sensory details, smell, taste and feelings.The keyshere is to relate the story to your audience. By having different stories for different scenarios, it will help your customers with their respective problems. In short, a story for each problem. A few example of stories would be like; "I had a customer with the same questions" story, "Somebody that didn't want to change vendors" story. This is more powerful then any brochure or testimonials.Listen very carefully to what your customer is telling you first, you will then be able to relate to him with the right story (like you help someone else in a similar situation story) to help him solve his problem or meet his needs. That way your customer will see that you care about him and want to help him. You will establish a connection with him and he will be able to relate to you.Every story has these five elements in them; 1-A Hero (your client) and his situation(he is broke, he is lost, no job, no time,hungry)I know you get the idea here. 2-He has a reason to go on a journey, a quest(why does he want to change, why does he want something different, what are his goals) 3-A huge challenge was met (he doesn't have the resources available now, does not know how to get the girl in the tour, does not know how to start his own business) 4-With my help the client overcome the obstacle(get the tools he needs to fix his problem,Just think about Donkey when he save Shrek with the Dragon at Fiona's wedding, You are like Donkey but Shrek(your Client) is still the hero. 5-A powerful delivery (increase his gain, profit, money, bought a house,help more people, get the girl!)Here you have it.Now it is time to Practice. Start with your family and friends, and ask them what tone, excitement, visual/facial expressions, they like best and why.Relax and enjoy the story telling process just like you did when you were a kid. My Favorite is The three little pigs. The more I read it to my kids the more comfortable I am. I enjoy changing the expressions on my face, the pause in the reading (to see the look on their faces), the tone of my shaky or scary voice, the excitement it rises, it all become more naturally and more fun each time!Story telling is an art and practice makes it better. Use it in your selling process to explode your business!

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