When it comes to marketing and brand strategy, one name that stands out prominently is Donald Miller, the man behind StoryBrand. His incredible approach to marketing hinges on the power of storytelling, emphasizing the importance of clarity, empathy, and guiding the customer through a narrative journey. StoryBrand isn’t just a framework; it’s a philosophy that transforms how businesses communicate with their audience. Here are 20 of our favorite Donald Miller StoryBrand quotes. Enjoy!
Quotes About Storytelling
1. “Story helps because it is a sense-making mechanism. Essentially, story formulas put everything in order, so the brain doesn’t have to work to understand what’s going on.”
2. “Here is nearly every story you see or hear in a nutshell: A CHARACTER who wants something encounters a PROBLEM before they can get it. At the peak of their despair, a GUIDE steps into their lives, gives them a PLAN, and CALLS THEM TO ACTION. That action helps them avoid FAILURE and ends in a SUCCESS.”
3. “What stories teach us is that people’s internal desire to resolve a frustration is a greater motivator than their desire to solve an external problem.”
4. “Nearly every human being is looking for a guide (or guides) to help them win the day.”
5. ”Storybrand principle one: The customer is the hero, not your brand. When we position our customer as the hero and ourselves as the guide, we will be recognized as a trusted resource to help them overcome their challenges. Positioning the customer as the hero in the story is more than just good manners; it’s also good business.”
There you have it: Every story in a nutshell, which is exactly how you should build your website’s unique message. Miller breaks down the essence of storytelling into a simple, yet profound formula. Every compelling narrative follows this arc, and you can use this formula to connect with your potential clients on a deeper level. As you position yourself as a guide and the client as a hero, you and your client will win the day, as Donald Miller would put it.
Simplicity is Key
6. “The more simple and predictable the communication, the easier it is for the brain to digest.”
7. ”People are drawn to clarity and away from confusion.”
8. “Having clear calls to action means customers aren’t confused about the actions they need to take to do business with you.”
9. ”So what’s your message? Can you say it easily? Is it simple, relevant, and repeatable?”
An important thing to remember is to always have a very clear Call to Action. By providing clear directives, you empower your customers to take decisive action. Just keep it simple, and you’re sure to capture your audience.
Client Focus
10. “Customers don’t care about your story; they care about their own.”
11. “Your website is likely the first impression a potential customer will receive about your company. It’s almost like a first date. The customer simply needs to know that you have something they want and you can be trusted to deliver whatever that is.”
12. ”What we think we are saying to our customers and what our customers actually hear are two different things. And customers make buying decisions not based on what we say but on what they hear.”
Just to add onto those quotes a bit: to capture your audience’s attention, you must shift the spotlight onto them and their needs, aspirations, and challenges. Clarity is paramount in communication. Ambiguity breeds hesitation, while clarity instills confidence.
Beating the Competition and Creating Value
13. “Even if we have the best product in the marketplace, we’ll lose to an inferior product if our competitor’s offer is communicated more clearly.”
14. “In every line of copy we write, we’re either serving the customer’s story or descending into confusion; we’re either making music or making noise.”
15. “Create reciprocity. I’ve never worried about giving away too much free information. In fact, the more generous a brand is, the more reciprocity they create. All relationships are give-and-take, and the more you give to your customers, the more likely they will be to give something back in the future. Give freely.”
Competing solely on the basis of product features or quality isn’t enough. Effective communication is the key differentiator that sets us apart from the competition.
16. “What if the problem wasn’t the product? What if the problem was the way we talked about the product?”
17. “Simply put, we must show people the cost of not doing business with us.”
Highlighting the consequences of inaction compels customers to recognize the value of your offerings. By showing your clients the potential losses they might incur, you motivate them to take the desired course of action.
Empathy and Connection
18. “Never assume people understand how your brand can change their lives. Tell them.”
19. ”Everybody wants to be taken somewhere. If we don’t tell people where we’re taking them, they’ll engage another brand.”
20. “When we empathize with our customers’ dilemma, we create a bond of trust. People trust those who understand them, and they trust brands that understand them too.”
Creating these bonds and relationships is so important. By empathizing with your clients and figuring out where they are coming from and where they want to go, you will beat out the competition every time.
In essence, Donald Miller’s StoryBrand framework isn’t just a marketing strategy; it’s a philosophy rooted in the power of storytelling. By embracing clarity, empathy, and a customer-centric approach, your business can forge genuine connections with your audience. In a world filled with noise, StoryBrand offers clarity and guidance, empowering others as they try to figure out this crazy world of marketing.
We are huge StoryBrand fans and love incorporating it into our client’s marketing to help them better market their business. As a StoryBrand Certified Guide, I use the StoryBrand framework to help practices like yours better market their business. To find out more, book a Discovery Call with me. Storybrand works; give it a try!
PS If you’re totally inspired by these quotes and you need more from Donald Miller, he’s got 2 awesome books that you can find on Amazon: Marketing Made Simple and Building a StoryBrand.
