Many entrepreneurs believe that once they build an online community and amass thousands of followers, selling will be practically effortless. So it becomes a not-so-pleasant surprise when they announce a new course, book, or event, and nobody bites.

Just because people like and comment on your posts doesn’t mean they’ll buy from you. Two different motivations are feeling compelled enough to press a button and feeling forced to pull out a credit card. Tapping into the latter requires some serious sharpening of your storytelling skills.

Stories sell. That’s a fact. But it’s not enough to type up a short synopsis of your life experience. You have to craft and cultivate a narrative that appeals to your reader’s desires and addresses their fears while simultaneously providing them with a solution.

Related: Do a Deep Emotional Dive to Tell a Better Brand Story

In other words, they start selling before they’ve earned the right to do so.

People buy from who they know, like, and trust. So if your people aren’t buying what you’re selling, chances are you’re making one of the following mistakes.

1. Your story is all over the place

You’re sharing bits and pieces, but the dots aren’t connecting. Every piece of copy or messaging feels like a standalone episode instead of part of a larger arc that brings people back to the core brand story of you: who you are, what you do, how you can help, and why they should care. Your audience might enjoy your stories, but they don’t understand what you’re really about and how you can help them.

And guess what? It’s your job to spell this out for them in a way that builds rapport and leads them back to your business.

When you don’t have a coherent brand story nurtured and refined, it isn’t easy to make an emotional connection with your audience. People want to know who you are, what you stand for, and how you can help them. They don’t just want a list of your professional accolades or humblebrag tales of your life experience.

Related: How to Craft a Compelling Brand Story That Drives Sales

2. You’re not bringing the point home

Your story is pretty much a giant meandering anecdote. The actionable lesson isn’t clear to your audience, and they don’t see how what you’re saying applies to their lives, problems, or desires. When you’re focusing too much on yourself, and the point is buried under a pile of extra details that don’t matter, you fail to provide enough value to make your audience care about what’s in it.

How to craft a story that sells

If you want to turn your followers into customers, you have to take the time to cultivate a brand story that’s emotionally resonant, relevant, and inspiring. This involves taking a step back and being honest about who you are, what makes your story unique, and how you can use it to benefit your audience.

Here are a few tips to help you get started:

• Make sure your brand story is reflected consistently across all your content. Don’t just focus on your website or your social media posts. Make sure your story is woven into every aspect of your business, from how you talk to your customers to the language you use in your marketing materials.
• Include clear calls to action. Spell out your point, so your audience is clear on the value you’re giving. Before you publish anything, ask yourself: What do I want my audience to do as a result of reading this? What’s the lesson or takeaway?
• Weave social proof into your storytelling. Client stories, testimonials, and case studies are a great way to make your brand story come alive and give your audience tangible evidence that you can help them.
• Ask your audience for feedback. Get curious and do a small survey asking your audience what’s holding them back from buying (the answer might surprise you). Tailor your content accordingly.
• Make a juicy offer they can’t refuse. Sometimes, it’s not the content that isn’t appealing but the actual offer that needs work. If your audience finds your content useful but not your products or services, take a look at your offer and see where you can sweeten the deal.

When it comes to converting followers into customers, storytelling is vital. By taking the time to cultivate a powerful brand story, you’ll open the door to creating a deep emotional connection with your audience. And with consistent effort over time, you’ll find that selling to them becomes easier and more natural.

It’s not about bragging or being self-promotional. It’s about creating a relationship with your audience that inspires trust and confidence. It’s about selling your offers while genuinely connecting with your people on a heart-to-heart level.

That, my friend, is the power of storytelling.

Related: You Need to Start Converting Your Social Media Followers Now. Here’s How.

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