Summary

The article discusses the importance of sharing authentic stories instead of ego-driven content in order to engage with followers and turn them into loyal customers.

Abstract

The author expresses their boredom with the explosion of ego-driven content on social media and emphasizes the importance of sharing true stories instead. They cite a Stanford University study which found that stories paired with statistics have a 65-70% retention rate. The author suggests using tools like blogs, ebooks, videos, podcasts, and webinars paired with social media to share stories, but warns against letting ego drive the content. Instead, they recommend understanding the needs of followers and ideal clients, and sharing stories that offer solutions to their problems. The author suggests surveying customers, understanding what followers are searching for, and sharing customer stories as ways to avoid ego-driven content.

Opinions

The author believes that ego-driven content is becoming increasingly dull and that people are smart enough to see through it.
The author believes that sharing true stories is a more effective way to engage with followers and turn them into loyal customers.
The author believes that understanding the needs of followers and ideal clients is key to creating content that offers value.
The author believes that customer stories are a genuine and honest way to share how much a business is appreciated.
The author believes that offering an engaging story and a solution to followers' problems is more important than sharing how fabulous one thinks they are.

Are you sharing your story or your ego?

With the explosion of video as a sharing tool, we see an explosion of content.

Some of this content is amazing, a lot of this content is terrible, and a lot of this content is filled with ego.

Anyone with a mobile phone and a social media account can evangelise about their business or personal success and harass you with ego-driven content.

It is not just the influencers who can get caught up in ego; small business owners and individuals also have the same issues.

It can be boring

I don’t know about you, but I am bored with the explosion of ego. I don’t care about the car they (rented or posed next to) drive, that they quit the nine to five and are supposedly living the dream.

Nor do I want another promotion for another course, workshop or webinar about how anyone can achieve this in just a few minutes each day.

Almost anyone with a camera can purport to be an expert. Let’s also not forget that I make $10k per week while I sleep videos.

This mass saturation of white noise and false economy should not be fooling anyone. It is “look at me” content.

Do not be fooled or impressed by this ego-driven work as a small business or individual. It is short term, and it is why they appear and disappear quickly from your feed.

REMEMBER — People are smart, and they want you to cut through all this white noise. Don’t get caught up in thinking you need to be like other ego-driven individuals. It is becoming incredibly dull!

Sharing your story

Story definition — An account of past events in someone’s life or the development of something.

A story is a perfect way to convey meaning, and when they are shared with statistics, the retention rate of your readers/viewers is around 65–70%. Stanford University.

Are you telling a true story or an ego story in the content you create?

With so many tools like blogs, ebooks, videos, podcasts, and webinars paired with social media, the message can become driven by ego.

However — when you use these tools well and stay clear of ego-driven content, the results can be exponential. By truly understanding your followers/ideal clients and knowing what they need, you can engage with them and turn them into loyal followers.

Ego-driven content can drive these same people away from you as you are not sharing anything of value.

Using these online tools correctly allows your ideal customers to get value from what you are sharing, as they want to be a part of the journey that you are on. This is for small businesses, influencers and individuals alike.

The truth inspires them in your stories, and they feel you understand their needs.

How to avoid ego content

Survey — Ask your customers/followers what they want. Get their valuable input about the topics you should focus on and the content they want to see.

Understand what your followers/ideal clients are searching for and the problems they are looking to solve. You can direct your content to answer these questions.

Customer story — As a small business

By sharing a case study or specific customer story, you can remove yourself from ego-driven content. Customer created content is genuine and honest and is an excellent way for others to see how much your business is appreciated.

Conclusion

Your story must benefit your followers/ideal clients. It is not about sharing how fabulous you think you are, and our digital/social media is already full of this type of thing.

Offer an engaging story and a solution to your ideal client’s problems, and leave the ego at home.

How are you going to share your story?

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Thanks, Kelly