Episode 127
From Observer to Creator: Mastering Instagram Stories Today
The central premise of this podcast episode elucidates the imperative of marketing oneself prior to promoting one’s products or services. We delve into the significance of Instagram stories as a pivotal tool for individuals and small business owners, offering a unique opportunity to showcase the authentic persona behind the brand. The episode articulates that these ephemeral narratives, which vanish after a mere 24 hours, serve as a low-pressure entry point for those who may feel daunted by the prospect of content creation. Through the discussion, we impart three fundamental strategies to optimize engagement: the 311 method, the five-second rule, and the Story Starters Framework, ensuring that even novices can effectively communicate their value. Ultimately, we encourage listeners to embrace their distinctiveness and to utilize these insights to cultivate a genuine connection with their audience.
The discussion navigates the ever-evolving landscape of social media marketing, particularly emphasizing the significance of Instagram Stories as a pivotal tool for personal branding and engagement. The hosts elucidate that, contrary to conventional marketing strategies which prioritize product promotion, the effective utilization of Instagram Stories allows individuals and businesses to present their authentic selves. This strategy not only fosters a deeper connection with the audience but also capitalizes on the ephemeral nature of stories, encouraging a low-pressure environment for content creation. The episode further delineates actionable strategies, such as the '311 method', which advocates for a structured yet straightforward approach to posting content that resonates with the audience while alleviating the anxiety often associated with social media presence.
Moreover, the narrative underscores the importance of clarity and simplicity in communication, advocating for the 'five-second rule' to ensure that messages are digestible and engaging. By employing such methodologies, the hosts assert that one can effectively 'market themselves first', thereby distinguishing their personal brand in a saturated digital marketplace. The episode is not merely a tutorial on content creation; it is a clarion call for authenticity in branding, urging listeners to embrace their unique voices and perspectives in their storytelling endeavors, thus cultivating a genuine connection with their audience.
Takeaways:
- This podcast emphasizes the paramount importance of marketing oneself before selling products or services to cultivate authentic connections.
- Instagram stories present an unrivaled opportunity to reveal the human element behind the brand, thereby fostering deeper audience engagement.
- Utilizing the 311 method for Instagram stories allows for structured and purposeful content creation, easing the anxiety of posting.
- The five-second rule is essential for effective communication in stories, ensuring clarity and immediate understanding for viewers.
- Embracing one's unique personality in storytelling differentiates one from competitors, allowing authenticity to shine over polished production.
- The call to action encourages listeners to initiate their storytelling journey by sharing authentic content using the 311 method.
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Transcript
This is Market YOU First.
Speaker:Market YOU First.
Speaker:It's time to learn to sell what you bring to the table,
Speaker:not what you're selling.
Speaker:This is Market YOU First.
Speaker:This is your host, Wes Wyatt.
Speaker:Hey everybody, this is Wes Wyatt, and this is the Market YOU First podcast.
Speaker:Have you ever scrolled through those little bubbles at the top of Instagram,
Speaker:wondering how everyone else seems to have such engaging stories
Speaker:while you haven't even posted your first one?
Speaker:Well, you're not alone.
Speaker:Actually, yours truly is actually in that same boat.
Speaker:And a very large amount of businesses and entrepreneurs
Speaker:never utilize stories,
Speaker:despite them having a up to 70% higher engagement rate than regular posts.
Speaker:Today, I'm going to be breaking down Instagram stories
Speaker:for absolute beginners, just like yours truly,
Speaker:with no tech wizardry required.
Speaker:Okay, so I know I always ask this, but why does this matter?
Speaker:Well, Instagram stories aren't just another social media task
Speaker:that you can add to your endless to-do list.
Speaker:They're 15 second opportunities to show the human behind the brand,
Speaker:to Market YOU First.
Speaker:So while your feed posts might showcase your polished work,
Speaker:stories are going to let you see the authentic you,
Speaker:the person that the customers and the clients actually want to connect with.
Speaker:So in a digital world where everyone else is selling something,
Speaker:stories are going to give you a chance to sell yourself first,
Speaker:to Market YOU First.
Speaker:Okay, they're going to disappear after 24 hours,
Speaker:meaning that mistakes vanish quickly and perfection is not expected.
Speaker:You shouldn't be doing that anyway, but this way it's set in stone.
Speaker:And this is going to make stories the perfect low pressure starting point,
Speaker:even when you've never created content before again, like yours truly.
Speaker:So for side hustlers and small business owners,
Speaker:stories are going to create daily touch points with your audience
Speaker:without requiring expensive equipment or hours of editing.
Speaker:Okay, so here are three key takeaways that are going to help you with this.
Speaker:Number one, you want to start with the 3-1-1 method.
Speaker:Three days a week, post one story with one clear purpose.
Speaker:Okay, so Monday might be a quick office tour.
Speaker:Say Wednesday is the behind the scenes glimpse of your processes.
Speaker:And Friday might be a quick tip related to your expertise.
Speaker:This simple structure is going to remove the what should I post anxiety
Speaker:while building consistency.
Speaker:So there's no need to post daily when you're starting.
Speaker:Just go for quality and consistency and that's going to beat quantity every time.
Speaker:Okay, so number two is use the five second rule.
Speaker:If somebody can't understand your story in five seconds or less, simplify it.
Speaker:Use large text, one clear message per slide,
Speaker:and break complex ideas into multiple story frames.
Speaker:Remember, most people tap through stories very quickly.
Speaker:So front load your messages, try recording your story,
Speaker:and watch it with fresh eyes and ask yourself,
Speaker:would I stop scrolling for this?
Speaker:Number three, embrace the story starters framework.
Speaker:When you're stuck, use these three foolproof story starters.
Speaker:The one thing I wish people knew about was blank.
Speaker:Okay, behind the scenes of blank or quick tip how to blank.
Speaker:Alright, these templates are going to work
Speaker:because they immediately provide value while positioning you
Speaker:as the expert without feeling salesy.
Speaker:Okay, so how do you Market YOU First and make this personal?
Speaker:We've used a couple examples throughout, but here's a couple more.
Speaker:Your Instagram stories should reflect your unique personality,
Speaker:not what everyone else in your industry is doing.
Speaker:So before posting your first story,
Speaker:write down three words that describe your personal brand voice.
Speaker:I know this is only two, but are you playful and energetic?
Speaker:Are you calm and authoritative?
Speaker:Are you, you know, smart and sassy?
Speaker:It doesn't matter.
Speaker:Your story should match this voice consistently, okay?
Speaker:A financial advisor might use clean graphics
Speaker:and straightforward language,
Speaker:while a fitness coach might use more dynamic video
Speaker:and motivational captions.
Speaker:The content that performs the best isn't the most polished.
Speaker:It's the most authentic to who you actually are.
Speaker:Let your competitors blend in with perfect production
Speaker:while you stand out with personality.
Speaker:Alright, now here's your call to action.
Speaker:Your call to action is beautifully simple.
Speaker:What I want you to do is I want you to post
Speaker:your very first Instagram story using the 3-1-1 method.
Speaker:Pick just one day this week, one story with one clear purpose.
Speaker:No filters, no fancy tools,
Speaker:just you sharing something authentic
Speaker:about, say, your work or your expertise.
Speaker:Then screenshot it, save it to your highlights
Speaker:so it doesn't disappear after 24 hours.
Speaker:That's your starting point for building your story strategy.
Speaker:And if you have found any of this helpful,
Speaker:don't forget to like, share, comment, and subscribe.
Speaker:After listening to the podcast, go to weswyatt.com,
Speaker:scroll down to where you can put your name
Speaker:and your email address in,
Speaker:and get on those insider emails.
Speaker:We'd love to send you all the tips, tricks,
Speaker:and nuggets that we find.
Speaker:If you've got questions, click on the thought bubble
Speaker:at the bottom right of weswyatt.com,
Speaker:and that is the chat feature.
Speaker:I don't monitor that live,
Speaker:but I'll get back to you very promptly.
Speaker:And last but certainly not least,
Speaker:go to weswyatt.com forward slash disclaimer
Speaker:for important context regarding this and all podcasts,
Speaker:posts, and info I provide.
Speaker:And thank you for tuning in for another episode
Speaker:of the Market YOU First podcast.
Speaker:Until we talk next time, have a DYNAMITE day.
Speaker:You've been listening to the Market YOU First podcast.
Speaker:You are the most important thing you can sell.
Speaker:We hope you've gotten some useful
Speaker:and practical information from the show.
Speaker:Make sure to like, rate, and review the show.
Speaker:And we'll be back soon.
Speaker:But to find the show notes
Speaker:and everything about the Market YOU First podcast,
Speaker:visit marketyoufirst.com.
Speaker:On behalf of your host, Wes Wyatt,
Speaker:and the whole Market YOU First team,
Speaker:have a DYNAMITE day.
