We are living in a time of bigger-better-faster, competing against millions of other brands that want to be noticed. Not overwhelming at all, right?

In today’s world of marketing it’s no longer enough for your business to produce a pretty image, there needs to be an emotional tie. Powerful connections help build loyalty and trust which are two things that you cannot buy but have everything to do with the success of your brand and ROI.

You might say, well, my brand doesn’t have a story to tell. That’s just not true. Every brand has multiple stories to tell. From the day the brand was conceptualized to what it is today and every employee in between. Here are a few questions “what” questions you should be asking yourself to help kickstart your brand storytelling.

What is your brand’s purpose?

To be able to effectively tell your story, you must first know your reason for being in business.

Sounds pretty straightforward but often times business leaders miss the mark on this. Write down what’s important to your company and what makes you different from the rest.

What’s your history?

The foundation of great brand storytelling is being able to tell the history behind your company and the products or services you sell. People want to connect to your brand on a deeper level, it’s important to let customers in and show them how your company came to be. Even the most not so interesting products interesting histories.

Example: Burt’s Bees products started as a candle making business back in 1984 when Burt Shavitz picked up a hitchhiker, Roxanne Quimby. They hit it off and Roxanne started using Burt’s leftover beeswax to make candles.

What is your company’s mission?

Your company’s mission is it’s purpose to the core. Figuring out your company’s mission will help you create a strong sense of identity and purpose in your community.