Mark Twain + Tech: Three Reasons to Incorporate Storytelling Into Your Business Now

Bet you never expected to see those two together unless of course you’re reading some dystopian Reddit fan fiction. But it turns out with the multitude of exuberant millennial tech CEOs popping up all over the world with innovative ideas, stories are more important than ever. Whether you’re a new graduate or are a seasoned business person with a millennial kid of your own it’s time to take note of the ways millennials have shaped the quality of marketing and perhaps even dust off your old fountain pen. ​

This summer, Francesco Marconi, a strategist at the Associated Press, maintained a public diary of his struggles and triumphs with success which you can read here https://medium.com/frankly-speaking The result is a success story that he notes is “still being written”. It’s a must-read and one theme not to overlook for OC business leaders is Marconi’s reasoning for why companies must tell a story.

In this eye-catching, unconventional guidebook he stresses when targeting millennials: we’re not fighting ignorance, but lack of interest. 

So with this in mind  here are three tidbits to implement now.

• Forget “abouts” and stand alone data and focus on “why”. Say why it matters and make it hit home for your audience.
  

• Marconi’s piece gathered 110,000 views on medium and a huge draw for its readership was that it was delivered in 5 part installments so the audience could feel they were included in the events. And when you’re telling your company’s tale or your own don’t close off the narrative, invite the consumer to join in the story! ​

• Have I hit you over the head enough? Millennials need stories and in SoCal we have more millennials than you think! Despite data that seems to suggest millennials gravitate toward more concentrated  metropolitan areas like Seattle or Chicago according to the OC Register Los Angeles and Orange County combined rated 5th for the most 20-29 yr olds and has experienced rapid growth adding 90,000 twenty-somethings since 2010 that exceeds any other area including NYC!"

Written by Julie Schulte