Welcome back to Storytellers Grove! In this episode, we’re talking all about brand storytelling. I’m joined by Cyndi Zaweski, an award-winning journalist and content strategist who has built a following of over 80,000 readers online. Cyndi uses her StoryCraft framework and decades of journalism experience to help business owners tell better stories. Through her newsletter and social media content she provides regular tips and insights you can use right away.
Finding your Through line and Creating an Anti-Vision
In this episode Cyndi and I discuss her StoryCraft framework, and she shares that she has clients start off with an “anti-vision” to help them get clear on what they want. I loved this idea because I truly believe you don’t know what you really want until you know what you don’t want. She also encourages her clients to find the through line that connects all of their ideas and passions. Rather than niching down we discuss becoming more of yourself and strategically tying it together through story.
Brand Storytelling > Quick Growth Hacks
Cyndi and I also discuss the importance of not getting sucked into trying to hack the algorithm. There are so many people out there selling “proven systems” and strange hacks to gain more views, but Cyndi explains the most sustainable strategy is focusing on storytelling and thought leadership rather than gimmicky hacks. Cyndi also has firm boundaries with social apps, she doesn’t follow competitor accounts hoping to learn something and she doesn’t doom scroll.
In this episode, we’ll discuss:
- How Cyndi’s journalism background influences her brand storytelling approach on Instagram.
- Actionable tips for refining your storytelling techniques.
- The impact of effective storytelling on attracting more aligned clients.
- Why focusing on authentic brand narratives is more beneficial than chasing quick growth hacks.
