Storytelling And Why It’s So Important In Selling

Do you know the reason why stories work so well in selling?

Well, when your brain sees something, the first thing it tries to do is analyze it.

“What’s this?”

“How does this help me?”

“Why should I keep watching or listening or reading this?”

“Why should I pay attention to this?”

“Is this interesting?”

But all of these questions are asked subconsciously.

What a story does is help you bypass these subconscious questioning.

And that’s because over time our brains have been wired to let stories in.

It’s how our ancestors passed the time when they still lived in the caves and bushes.

Even boring subjects become interesting overnight because stories break the analytical frame your brain is in and makes it easier for ideas to be planted.

Ask any student, the most interesting subjects were the ones whose teachers found a way to weave storytelling into their teaching.

Stories are one of the few times we let our guard down.

It is one of the few ways we can participate in powerful emotional experiences together.

Rumour has it that in lots of cinemas around the world people broke down in tears when Thanos beat the Avengers.

Even though they knew it was just a movie, the experience was so powerful they felt like a part of it – they completely forgot.

Some of the biggest movements in the world have largely revolved around storytelling – religion, politics, business, culture, art etc.

What do you think Christianity would be like without a Bible filled with stories?

Why do you think the average human being’s interest goes up once they smell gossip?

Why are gossip blogs almost never out of business?

Our brains can’t help it.

Stories are addicting.

If you want to be a better salesman, tell better stories.

Or rather, fill your brain with great stories.

Or better still, go out there and live a life filled with experiences so you can have stories to tell.

You have no idea when they could come in handy.

Selah.

Uche Okoro

Writer. Sales & Marketing. Business & Investing Afficionado.

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