Storytelling in a Young, Mobile World


Mobile use in the United States has now surpassed desktop usage. Amazingly, we are looking at 51% compared to 42% in our present day world. For example, take a look at how device usage has changed at Forbes, one of the most reputable and long-standing publications. Five years ago, 5% of visitors to its website used mobile devices. Now a staggering 50% of visitors visit through mobile.

Clearly, mobile has become a media game changer, and how people use mobile is very different than how they use desktop. That means your mobile site – and how you tell your company story – needs to be ready for its modern day audience.

So, how can you become the best mobile storyteller out there? Consider a few different strategies:

Use a user-friendly categorization system (meet the #)

Mobile users are pretty savvy about locating information they are looking for and rely heavily on a new card catalog, aka the hashtag. Relevant hashtags act as the matchmaker to their interests. After your story is complete, include the over-arching topics with a nifty # tag and you’ll see your audience grow to new heights.

Don’t bury the lead

If you have a really important point, especially one that is uniquely different than anything else out there, say that first. Mobile audiences may not stick around to get to your grand finale, so spell it out right away to hook them into the rest.

Consider a mobile app

Storytellers, listen up. According to Nielsen data, 89% of media mobile time is via an app. Consumers really prefer this vehicle to mobile sites, so accommodate this preference into your strategy.

Realize a story goes beyond words

Small business owners already realize that the story has become just as much about the visual as it is about the words. With interactive videos or small photo captions, brands can tell a story without writing many sentences at all. Today’s social media platforms support this approach to storytelling and enable brands to portray a very intricate tale. While all social media applications may not work for your brand, there are certainly a couple platforms that will help you reach your audience in a powerful way.

Your people will always play a part in the next chapter

The best (and maybe most perplexing) part about storytelling in a mobile world is that it’s become a two-way dialogue. Oftentimes your words won’t even have context until people start publically commenting on it. This is sometimes what people pay attention to the most, so be sure to talk back to this feedback in a constructive way. Embrace both the positive and negative commentary and use this as a diving board into your next chapter. And, if you want to know what you need to talk about next, be sure to ask. Your audience will always lead you to an amazing, and often unexpected, story.

What it all means

Storytelling in a mobile world is a whole new ball game. You still need your fundamental building blocks of a story – you need to be engaging and informative and have a tale that unfolds in a dynamic way. But storytelling becomes very concise in the mobile world, and that means how you tell your story needs to become that much more refined. Your opening line needs to snag readers in the first few words; the content needs to convince them to progress through the article; and your conclusion needs to be dynamic enough to be shared.

If you get really good at storytelling you will always have a long line of people that are waiting for the next installment. But if you fall flat, chances are pretty good your audience will find a new author.

This article is made possible by Checksforless.com. For more than 35 years, Checksforless.com has provided over 500,000 businesses with high quality business checksdeposit slips, and other banking supplies with easy ordering and fast production times; all at the guaranteed lowest price in the nation. Our discount business checks are easily customizable and compatible with over 4,500 software programs including QuickBooks® and Peachtree/Sage®. Email or call us toll-free at 800-245-5775.

References:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/lewisdvorkin/2015/11/18/inside-forbes-how-we-see-storytelling-changing-in-a-mobile-world
http://www.smartinsights.com/mobile-marketing/mobile-marketing-analytics/mobile-marketing-statistics