Introduction
Will Smith once said, “No one is better than this guy at finding what is most authentic in every moment of a story.” And when it comes to storytelling, there is no denying Hollywood's storytelling king, Michael Hauge. With accomplishments like "Writing Screenplays That Sell" and "Selling Your Story in 60 Seconds," as well as being a script consultant for A-list actors like Will Smith, Tom Cruise, Julia Roberts, and Morgan Freeman, it's clear that Hauge knows a thing or two about crafting captivating stories.
But how can these storytelling secrets be applied to your business? In this blog post, we will dive into the six storytelling secrets shared by Will Smith and Michael Hauge and explore how you can leverage them to create compelling narratives for your brand.
1. The Setup: Introduce the Hero's Problem
The first secret is all about setting up the story by highlighting the problem that your product or service solves. Just like in a movie, you need to show the "before" picture of your hero and make the reader feel sorry for them. Describe how their life was impacted by the problem, emphasizing the negative emotions and the fear of change. By showing the bad qualities that your product or service fixes, you can create empathy and capture your audience's attention.
2. The Crisis: Igniting Change
In the second secret, the crisis, you need to present a wakeup call for your hero. What problem were they tolerating? This is the moment where they realize that a change in direction is necessary. Uncertainty is a key element here, as you guide your hero through the process of moving through new things and making commitments. Describe the moment they made the decision to purchase your product or service, as this serves as the turning point in their story.
3. Pursuit: Overcoming Challenges
The pursuit is where your hero starts using your product or service to overcome challenges. Take your reader on a journey by describing the actions, feelings, obstacles, and experiences your hero faces. Show setbacks and then demonstrate how your product or service helps them overcome those setbacks. Create a movie-like experience where your hero gets closer to a big win with the help of your offering.
4. Conflict: Embracing Hardship
The fourth secret revolves around embracing conflict and showing the hard parts of the process. Highlight failures, mistakes, concerns, and criticisms. Write about the moment your hero wanted to quit but pushed through. It's important to remember that most advertisements are too good to be true, so showing hardships and vulnerabilities creates trust with your audience.
5. Climax: Achieving Goals
The climax is the moment when your hero accomplishes their goal. Describe what happened, who they were with, and how others reacted. Engage your readers' senses by using vivid sensory details such as sight, smell, taste, touch, and sound. The more vivid the details, the more likely your readers will be to make a purchase, as they will relate to the hero's success and the emotions associated with it.
6. Aftermath: Transformation and Benefits
Finally, the aftermath showcases the transformation your hero experiences after using your product or service. This is where you can demonstrate the effects on their life and the unexpected benefits they gained. Show how your hero lives a new life, how it impacts others around them, and the lasting changes that occur. Don't forget to include one meaningful lesson that your product or service brings to the table. For example, if your product brings freedom, depict the hero traveling the world and experiencing new adventures.
In conclusion, by applying Will Smith and Michael Hauge's storytelling secrets to your business, you can create compelling narratives that engage your audience and drive action. Remember to set up the hero's problem, ignite change through a crisis, overcome challenges in pursuit, embrace conflict, achieve goals in the climax, and showcase the transformation in the aftermath. By crafting stories that resonate with your audience, you can establish trust, inspire action, and ultimately grow your business. So, are you ready to tell your brand's story?