Tag: storytellling

Maybe it’s a bit mad, but the Passover Haggadah and Facebook are basically the same thing.

Besides the obvious fact that they both revolve around a ‘book’ of sorts, they are also storytelling tools which happen to eat up hours of our lives at a time. They even share the same core value of freedom. The Haggadah tells us the story of how the Jews became free from Egypt, and Facebook was created by one of us Jews and offers people an online freedom which never existed before.

While Passover only comes once a year, millions of us rely on social media everyday – and I got to thinking about how much freedom social media truly provides us – personally and professionally.

 

It’s a hot topic none of us can deny. For the good or bad, social media is in and it’s not going anywhere. Once we embrace the power of social media, there are endless possibilities to how we can use it to our advantage.

Inspired by the Haggadah, we decided to put a social media spin on the famous Four Questions as the Four Sons asked – the wise one, the evil one, the simple one, and the one didn’t know how to ask a question.

1.   SO OVERWHELMING. With dozens of mainstream platforms and new ones being created every day, it’s hard to keep up with the best way to get ‘social.’ How can we stay on top of the game when we constantly have to learn new ways to play?

• TIP:  Focus in on your audience and where they spend most of their time on social media. With your audience at the top of your mind, it’s easy to remove the overwhelm and ensure you stay on the platforms where you need to be.

2.   NO RULES. While there are must-know things across all social media platforms, there are no concrete rules to ensure success. As the social media scene evolves, we must evolve too. Because of the endless ways to communicate and continuous updates, creating your own rules is the first rule of good social media.

• TIP: Social media is all about trial and error. It’s crucial to monitor your insights to determine what’s working for you, and what isn’t. As you analyze this data, tweaking your content and strategy will ensure you are steps closer to achieving your goals.

 

1.  OPEN COMMUNICATION. Social media isn’t just wise – it’s pretty genius. In just one moment, you gain access to the exact target audience you want, with the chance to reach newer and larger audiences in an instant. Forget passive communication, and take advantage of the direct way to connect with your users.

• TIP: Target specific posts to your audience. Create a few versions of one post – one for loyal users, one for potential leads, one for PR channels, etc. Speaking to them individually offers greater value, and also increases the likelihood that the people who you want to reach will see your post.

2.   REAL-TIME FEEDBACK. Social media allows businesses to meet customers ‘face to face’ and provides a quick way to meet the people behind the screen. Though most businesses don’t take advantage of this gift, social media offers the opportunity to get feedback NOW.

• TIP:  Be active. You have the opportunity to learn key factors about who your audience is, their interests, likes and dislikes, etc. Pay attention to them. Listening to your customers is the number one way to get the answers you’re looking for to create quality products and services people really want and need.

1.  COMMUNITY BUILDING. If done properly, social media is the best way to build a worldwide community of people who share the same values as you and your business do. It’s a stellar way not only for you to connect and engage with your audience, but to encourage ways in which they can join as one community, support one another and feel like part of something bigger than themselves.

• TIP: Find ways not just to give information or value to customers, but to involve them in the process. Asking trivia questions, hosting a giveaway, or running a hashtag competition are all ways to engage your community to connect with your brand and with one another.

2.  FREE RESOURCES & REPORTS. Though we already mentioned that there are no rules in social media, most platforms provide free resources and reporting tools to help you understand if your strategy is working or not. While these tools are commonly flashed right in front of us, understanding how to leverage these insights can be time-consuming and difficult.

• TIP: Check out our new platform made to simplify stats, specifically Facebook Insights. By providing a simple way to actually understand the numbers and content behind your page, it allows for an easy way to optimize your strategy and make the most of social media.

And for the ones who never knew how to ask a question…

Okay, we know. We Israelis don’t really need to ask questions anyway, we know it all – but when it comes to social media, it’s important to understand – and we’ll help keep it simple. Stay updated on all things social media with the team at BOMAH. We empower you to use social media to share your stories, build new and large audiences, and achieve your goals, whatever they may be.

Get in touch with us for a free consultation or to ask us anything about your social media – https://bomah.mhdzn.net/contact

“Story, story, story,” says Itzik Yarkoni, CEO & Founder of BOMAH. We had just stepped out of the Tel Aviv offices of the Wix Design Studio, and were met with a stunning view of the Mediterranean Sea. We had just been hired to help formulate their story for an upcoming presentation. Since Wix hosts the largest design studio in Israel with a dynamic team of over 100 designers, the project was itching for a creative and extraordinary edge.

How could we turn 100 people’s stories into ONE that everyone can relate to?  

 

“Emotion, emotion, emotion,” I said, understanding that while content is king, emotional connection is KEY.  I knew this story would have to elicit a genuine connection from the audience. Not only that, the 3 presenters would have to operate on the same frequency to get the one ultimate point across.

Given the explosive growth of ways to communicate in today’s era of Techlightenment, storytelling is a powerful tool when it comes to strengthening any brand and creating a memorable and engaging way to connect and captivate an audience.

So what’s the story with telling a great story? Whether branding yourself, your business, or both, here are 7 rules to remember for anyone who wants to create genuine connection.

1. DO know your ultimate purpose

Always have an end goal. Every good story infuses a lesson or message throughout to allow your audience to learn, connect and get inspired all at once. Determine your purpose and then repeat it a few times throughout your story. This will lock in the message and help your audience remember what you want them to.

2. DO NOT get fancy

No need for big words. The best stories are conveyed when they naturally pour out of you – however you speak is how you should share your story. Keeping it simple is key. Use cash instead of funds. Use rule instead of restriction. Use whatever you know.

3. DO know your audience

You wouldn’t speak to your best friend like you would your grandma, or at least we hope.  Knowing who your listeners are, what what they hope to gain, will ensure you can speak to them in a language they will understand.

4. DO NOT assume anyone knows what you’re talking about

Pretend you’re speaking to a 12-year old boy when explaining anything. When you assume no one knows what you’re talking about, keep the most important facts in, and the ideas short and sweet.  

5. DO hope for Hollywood

Make it interesting. Put your theater mask on and get loud. Use different voices, excite the crowd with movement, and put on a real show. Enhancing your story with movement allows your listeners to dive more deeply into your vision.  

6. DO NOT save the drama for your mama  

Entice your audience with the most dramatic, conflict-filled spot of your whole story. Drawing people into your drama within the first few seconds creates an attentive audience waiting on the edge of their seats to discover what will happen next.  

7. DO leave them wanting more

End with a bang – an unexpected turn, a mysterious question, or a sly hint at uncovering more of the truth. Doing so will help you gain both an air of intrigue and obtain interested followers who genuinely want to hear more of your story.

Use these techniques to infuse your brand with genuine intrigue, and relate emotionally to customers to increase engagement and unleash your mission into the world.

To learn how to create the best digital stories for your social media channels, sign up for our BOMAH newsletter to get insider tips, or get a free 30 minute consultation with us here.

The Power Question to Boost Your Business

By two years old, it’s the only question we have on our mind. Why, why, why? Why is the sky blue? Why do I need a bath? Why can’t I touch that?

Naturally, as we get older, our curiosity weans. We stop questioning the simplicities of life, and instead, get caught up in our common routine flow.

For those of us who aspire to start and run successful businesses or organizations, whether CEO or student, here is a crucial yet simple reminder on why your favorite question at two years old is the most crucial way to boost your business now.

Why ask why?

How do we come up with business ideas? We see a need or feel a lack, and we choose to take action to create a solution for a wider audience. Asking yourself ‘why’ allows you to stay close to the core of your purpose for starting a business. It allows you to touch base with the reason and values where you began your business journey.

As human beings, we share many of the same drives and values – when you share your why, it can connect quickly and deeply with others who resonate with it…and the exact audience you want to reach.

When applying your why to your storytelling strategy, there are two simple steps to take. The first one is to find your why. Take a few minutes answer these questions:

1. What drove you to start you venture?
2. What needs or issues did you see in the world that inspired you to take action?
3. What core values inspired your initiative? What ideals are you passionate about?

These questions are simple. But the answers can sometimes be difficult to find. Putting them on paper can be a valuable exercise for defining your mission and connecting to your core audience.

The second step is to repeat your why to everyone you meet, whether it’s your first meeting with your potential client, or your daily catch-up meeting with your staff. You can never overstate your mission.

From our experience, finding your why is best way to stay motivated, to inspire your staff, to connect with your customers and engage with your followers. Through common ground and shared human experience, you can forge deep relationships that are far more powerful than those created by slick taglines or catchy slogans.

Take the time to find your why. Your what and how will thank you.

To complete the next steps of the BOMAH strategy, remember who your audience is by mapping their ideal locations, demographics, and interests.

To learn more about this step and other valuable social media tips, sign up to receive the BOMAH newsletter or connect with us on Facebook.