Why I’m Embracing AI πŸ€–, plus Crafting Stories That Engage 😍

Published 8 months agoΒ β€’Β 5 min read

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Louise here, and I can't believe it's Friday already! Okay, well, it was when I started writing this. It's now Monday... πŸ€¦πŸ½β€β™€οΈ

A good lesson I've learned is not to be too hard on myself when I don't achieve my goals. Instead, look for opportunities to learn...

On the plus side, I did enjoy a good and productive week last week, and I'm looking forward to another one.

Now, onto why we're here...

Today, I want to talk about using AI as a solopreneur and small business owner and share some nuggets from a client coaching session last week.

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AI is quickly changing how we do business, but is it right for your business?

Much of my time lately has been invested in learning how to use AI effectively while still staying true to my values.

AI in business is becoming commonplace.

You can't look at your inbox or go on social media without seeing the hype.

Think people trying to sell you "1000 miracle prompts" that will make you a fortune tomorrow (avoid those, by the way) to the multitude of tools that are being released daily (I'm looking at you AppSumo πŸ‘€ with all of your temptations!)

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From customer service bots to content creation, it can help solopreneurs achieve more. However, it’s essential to consider potential implications and ask questions.

  • Is AI the right choice for my business?
  • Which tools should I use?
  • Can it help with content creation whilst still retaining my brand voice?
  • What are the different ways it can help me?
  • Is it ethically right to use AI?
  • What are the implications of data security?

And so many more questions...

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It's easy to see AI as a threat. However, many big companies see AI as a tool to augment employees, not replace them.

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As a solopreneur, I see AI as a huge lever to help me get so much more done or the same amount done in less time...

It's enabled me to develop a virtual team that specialises in doing tasks that I'm not very good at or don't enjoy much and doing them far better and more quickly than I ever could. The truth is we've all been using forms of AI for quite some time, and it's becoming far more powerful and accessible to people like you and me. Of course, there are concerns, but Y2K didn't turn into the disaster that many forecasted, and the predictions that mass adoption of computers would bring more leisure time and replace jobs were wildly wrong.

AI has the potential to be a powerful enabler for businesses, and I am embracing it.

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🎧Client Coaching Spotlight: Crafting Engaging Social Media Stories to Increase Sales and Boost Engagement

This week was about creating relatable and engaging social media stories that sell.

Storytelling is a powerful tool that can captivate your audience, evoke emotions, and ultimately drive sales. Connect that to identifying relatable truths that resonate with your audience, and you have a compelling way of boosting engagement and attracting sales.

As with everything in marketing, it all starts with deeply knowing and understanding your audience. You can create stories that truly connect with them by knowing and understanding their strongly held beliefs, fears, pains, and desires.

An example of a relatable truth in a coach holiday business could be women wanting a stress-free getaway without the hassle of dealing with stubborn husbands who won't ask for directions when they are lost...

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To create an effective story-based social media post, follow these six steps:

  1. Identify relatable truths specific to your audience.
  2. Determine the lesson or moral of the story.
  3. Generate ideas that combine the relatable truth and the lesson.
  4. Outline, edit, and include a call to action in your story.
  5. Experiment with different techniques like humour, dialogue, and evocative language.
  6. Vary your social media post formats to keep your audience engaged.

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Remember, stories are not just about entertainment; they have the potential to move people along the chain of beliefs.

By agitating your audience's pain points and providing solutions through your products or services, you can increase your chances of making a sale without resorting to hard calls to action.

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Imagine your social media posts are like a captivating storybook. Each post is a chapter that has the power to grab your audience's attention, entertain them, and ultimately lead them to take action. Like a great storybook, your social media posts should have relatable characters, exciting plot twists, and a clear moral that resonates with your audience.

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Think of your relatable truths as the underlying themes of your story. These are the common experiences, beliefs, fears, and desires that your audience shares. Tap into these relatable truths to create a strong connection.

For example, if you're in the coach holiday business, you could highlight the relatable truth of wanting a stress-free vacation without your other half refusing to ask for directions when you get lost on the way.

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The lesson or moral of your story is like a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered.

Make sure your moral aligns with your brand and showcases the benefits. Experiment with the structure to keep it engaging, evocative and dramatic. Incorporate dialogue, humour, and relatable truths.

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Mix up photo posts with text posts or other formats. Even if there's no image, organise your content in a visually appealing way with your sentence and paragraph structure or bullets. By creating and sharing captivating stories, you'll engage your audience and move them towards your desired action.

Well, that's all for today. Let me know if you found this helpful or would. like me to write more on this topic.

Until next time, take care

Louise

Louise Beattie

​Forge & Flourish​

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