Writing a story instead of simply promoting or selling?
Just curious. When do you write stories instead of simply promoting or selling? This thought crossed my mind as I was writing a fact-based article for Ezine, which will be submitted once I've accumulated a few more articles. Do any of you mix stories with fact-based articles or only when you promote products?
With this article I'm writing, I actually re-edited the tone a little so that it sounds less like "boring and cold facts" but more "informal and reaches out to the consumer". However, I'm very wary of coming across as being too pushy and over-annoying if I mix stories with facts.
I love stories - if they're directly related to the content, and especially if they help me to better understand the concept. Some of the best copywriters on earth teach the use of storytelling in order to better connect with your readers and sell.
Haha... I re-edited my article because yeah, no one likes being lectured to. Also, I will come back to my articles for a "fresh review" later so that I can look at them from a new perspective. And I agree that stories are cool because well, it is fun to read the writer's personal touch. And often, there's something we can relate to and there's useful info and so on. But best of all, story content is not totally clinical and dry and doesn't strike the reader as "elitist, arrogant and annoying" because a lot of articles supposedly geared at "intellectual readers" don't bother with explanations and adopt an assumption that the "reader knows all'.
Hmmm... looks like I just need to be able to integrate stories well into my articles. Gotta do some research on this, then.
Another great benefit of putting stories into your content - it makes them harder to rip off.
If another marketer rips off my content and starts talking about their two kids and two puppies and their Grampa LeRoy and they have none of those, that'd be just weird.
Nicole makes a good point. I find a nice anecdote or two can fill out an article that might have been a bit short, too. And it always helps to add a more personal touch.
You bring up something that occurred to me early on about article services like Ezine Articles. They are very "how-to" oriented. You don't really get that much simple reporting or storytelling there and the proprietors don't seem to encourage it. Of course, for marketing purposes, everybody seems to be compelled to teach or review something.
Lots of bloggers are more story oriented, though. If your stories can create a healthy following, you could probably use some of Lynn's methods to monetize the blog. I suppose most anybody who can write can make money online one way or the other.
Nicole: Well, my private life is pretty "bland" and also, I'd like to keep it "private". So, my style of storytelling will have to do. I can inject a bit of humor, I guess. And so on.
Wade: Uh oh, so it's not okay to use storytelling for Ezine Articles? Darn... looks like I'll have to write another article. Oh well. I can add on more stuff to this present article and then slice it up into short posts for quick reads on my blog. ;D
I have a couple of fishing blogs, travel blogs and gardening blogs where it's all about the stories as a way to get more sales.
When I tell a story about going to one of my fishing hot spots and used a specific lure or artificial fly to catch a huge trout for supper my readers want that lure or fly. If I just tried to promote that same thing I would never make a sale at all.
LOL - no wonder folks want that lure or fly - the expectation of food. Wonderful way to "lure" them into a purchase. Sharing information at its finest!
Stories are so powerful. Guess that is one reason we begin reading to our little ones - sometimes even before they are born.
Writing a story instead of simply promoting or selling?
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And often, there's something we can relate to and there's useful info and so on. But best of all, story content is not totally clinical and dry and doesn't strike the reader as "elitist, arrogant and annoying" because a lot of articles supposedly geared at "intellectual readers" don't bother with explanations and adopt an assumption that the "reader knows all'. 
I can inject a bit of humor, I guess. And so on. 
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