Have you ever been fishing? You need a rod, some string, and a very important thing: a hook! The hook is the shiny, pointy part that catches the fish’s attention and helps you reel it in.
Now, imagine your business is like a person with a fishing rod. And your customers are the fish. How do you get their attention? You need a special kind of hook. Not a metal one, but a storytelling hook for business!
This is the secret: storytelling. Telling stories isn’t just for bedtime or campfires. It’s one of the most powerful tools in the world. And when you use it for your business, magic happens. This is storytelling business.
Let’s go on an adventure to discover how to grow your business with storytelling.
Chapter 1: Your Business is a Hero on an Adventure!
Every great story has a hero. Luke Skywalker. Moana. The hero has a problem to solve and goes on a journey.
Your business is a hero! And your customer is another very important hero. Here’s how the story goes:
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The Problem: Your customer has a problem. Maybe their tummy is rumbling (hungry!). Maybe their bike tire is flat. Maybe they’re bored.
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The Guide: Your business comes along, not as a boastful king, but as a helpful guide (like Yoda or Hermione Granger). You understand the problem.
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The Plan: You have a solution! Your yummy sandwich, your quick bike repair, your fun board game.
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The Success: You help the customer fix their problem. Their tummy is full, their bike zooms, they’re having fun! Everyone is happy.
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The Warning: You help them avoid failure (a grumpy belly, a long walk, boredom!).
This simple story is the heart of brand storytelling. It’s not about saying, “WE ARE THE BEST!” It’s about saying, “We see your problem, and we can help you win.”
Chapter 2: Crafting Your Super-Shiny Story Hook
Okay, so we have our hero’s journey. But we still need that first storytelling hook for business. The thing that makes someone stop, look, and listen before they swim away.
A good hook is like a surprising first line in a book. Here are some storyteller tactics for great hooks:
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Start with a Question: “Ever been so hungry your stomach growled in class?” (Hook!) “We make snacks that fit secretly in your pocket.”
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Tell a Tiny Story: “My little brother Mark always lost his mittens. Mom was frustrated. So, I invented Mitten Clips!” (See? A story!)
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Use a Fun Fact: “Did you know a lemon can power a small clock? Our Zesty Lemonade is that powerful for your energy!”
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Be a Little Mysterious: “The secret to the fluffiest pancakes isn’t in the milk. It’s in the whisk. We found it.”
This hook is the start of your storytelling marketing. It pulls people into your world.
Chapter 3: The Three Fishing Tools: Hook, Line, and Sinker
Think of your whole story like fishing gear.
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The HOOK: The surprising start we just talked about. (This is your storytelling hook for business).
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The LINE: The body of your story. This is where you explain your business story. “I started with one lemonade stand. It rained that day, and only three people came. I was sad. But then I asked them what they liked. They said ‘more bubbles!’ So, I learned to make fizzy lemonade. Now, I have a recipe that makes everyone smile!”
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The SINKER: This is the part that makes it stay in their mind. It’s your call to action, wrapped in feeling. “Don’t let a boring drink ruin your sunny day. Taste the sunshine! Come get a glass today.” It makes them remember you and want to be part of your story.
Using all three tools is how business storytelling works. It attracts, interests, and makes them remember.
Chapter 4: Where to Cast Your Line: Everywhere!
You can tell your business story anywhere you talk to people!
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On Your Sign or Website: Instead of just “Tim’s Toys,” try “Tim’s Toys: Where Every Pack Holds a Treasure Hunt Adventure.” That’s brand storytelling!
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When You Talk About It: If a friend asks about your bracelet business, don’t just say “I sell bracelets.” Say, “I make ‘Friendship Bracelets’ that come in two halves. You keep one, and your best friend gets the other. It’s a connection bracelet!” This is storytelling for business pitch.
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On Social Media: Post a short video showing the “making of” your slime. The glitter falling, the mixing, the big stretch! That’s storytelling marketing in action.
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In Emails or Messages: “Remember that super-blue slime you liked? Well, it has a cousin… Galactic Glow Slime! It glows in the dark. Want to see?” You’re continuing the story.
This is storytelling in business communication. It makes every message more interesting.
Chapter 5: Your Treasure Map to Start (Don’t Worry!)
If you’re thinking, “business storytelling where to start?” here is your simple treasure map:
Step 1: Find the “Before” Picture.
What was life like before your product? (Tired? Bored? Thirsty?)
Step 2: Find the “Spark.”
Why did YOU start? Was there a problem you saw? A moment of inspiration? (“I spilled juice on my favorite book and was so sad. I wished for a spill-proof bookmark!”)
Step 3: Show the “Struggle.”
Was it hard at first? Did you fail? This makes you real. (“My first bookmark fell apart! The glue was all wrong.”)
Step 4: Reveal the “Solution.”
How did you fix it? What is your product? (“After 10 tries, I found the perfect glue! Now my Book Saver Bookmarks are strong and waterproof!”)
Step 5: Paint the “After” Picture.
How does your customer feel now? Happy, powerful, smart, relieved? (“Now you can read anywhere—at the pool, at breakfast—with no worry!”)
Congratulations! You just built a story. Practice telling it. This is the core of how to grow your business with storytelling.
Chapter 6: Real Life Magic: The Lemonade Stand & The Space Adventure
Let’s see two businesses use stories.
Biz 1: The Amazing Lemonade Stand.
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Bad Sign: “Lemonade. 50 cents.”
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Storytelling Sign: “The Thirst Crusher! After a hot soccer game, I dreamed of the perfect drink. It’s not just lemonade. It’s a Soccer Ball Splash with secret blue berries! Recharge your superpowers here. 50 cents.”
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See the difference? The second one has a hero (a thirsty soccer player), a guide (the kid who dreamed up the drink), a plan (the secret recipe), and success (recharged superpowers!). That’s storytelling business magic.
Biz 2: The Backyard Astronomers.
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Bad Pitch: “We let you look at stars. $5.”
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Storytelling Pitch: “Have you ever wanted to touch the stars? Last summer, a shooting star flew over my house. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. So, my dad and I set up our super telescope. Now, we help other kids find the Sparkling Spider Nebula and Jupiter’s moons. For $5, you can go on a 15-minute space adventure from my backyard. Want to see Saturn’s rings?”
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This isn’t selling a look; it’s selling an adventure. This is a perfect storytelling for business pitch.
Chapter 7: Be a Great Storyteller: Your Tactics Bag
Here are more storyteller tactics for your bag:
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Use Your Senses: Don’t just say “cookie.” Say, “the smell of warm, chocolatey cookies that floats right to your nose.”
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Keep it Simple: Use words a 2nd grader knows. Big words are confusing.
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Be You: No one has your exact story. Your voice, your jokes, your style—that’s your power.
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Practice: Tell your story to your dog, your mom, your pillow. The more you tell it, the better it gets.
The Biggest Story of All: Yours
Remember, storytelling for business isn’t about making things up. It’s about finding the true, exciting story that’s already there. Your business started for a reason. You help people in some way. That’s a story worth telling.
Your storytelling hook for business is your friendly wave. Your story is the fun conversation that follows. And when people believe in your story, they will want to join it. They will become your customers, and even your friends.
So, pick up your magic fishing rod—your imagination and your true voice. Craft your shiny hook. Tell your story with excitement. And watch as you reel in the most amazing catch: people who believe in you and what you do.
Now, go on. Your business adventure, and its story, is just beginning. What’s your first chapter going to be?
Summary for Your Storytelling Quest:
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Your Hook: Your surprising first sentence to grab attention.
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Your Story: You are the guide helping the hero (customer) solve a problem.
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Your Places: Your sign, your pitch, your website, everywhere!
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Your Start: Use the Treasure Map (Before, Spark, Struggle, Solution, After).
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Your Heart: Be true, be simple, be you.
That’s the secret power of storytelling in business communication. Now, go tell your tale.
https://youtu.be/3hl5NsfrdK8
7 Simple Storytelling Hooks You Can Use to Captivate Your Audience
“Tell stories,” everyone says. “It’s a great way to connect with your audience.”
Easier said than done. Plus, you can tell the best stories in the world, and they won’t matter if your hook sucks.
If you’re struggling with getting people to read stories you think are great, this is for you.
Here are 7 Simple Story Hooks that you can use :
1. Open with a spoken line from your story that causes or relates to a strong emotion in it
“Congratulations, and welcome aboard. We’ll get you a desk on Monday.” I had just landed my dream job. Or so I thought.
“Pack your bags. We’re going to Paris.” I ran upstairs, and as I reached for my dresser, I paused and smiled. It would be the adventure of a lifetime.
“I’m sorry, but foreclosure starts on Friday.” I was numb. How did it come to this?
See?
Start by telling a crucial turning point of the story that relates to a powerful emotion in it, and boom- your reader is hooked.
This has been done time and time again. It works.
2. Start with one word that summarizes an important part of your story
Disappointment. It hit me in the gut like a locomotive.
Tingles. Every cell in my body danced like we would on our wedding day. The woman of my dreams had just said yes to me, forever.
This works really well, especially when it relates to a strong emotion in a critical moment of the story.
The best part is, it’s easy. You just summarize what you or someone else in the story felt at that critical moment of the story.
A brief note- Don’t just use any word to open your story, or people will keep moving.
Use
A) An emotion
B) A word that relates to or describes an emotion
C) A descriptive word that sticks out and describes an important part of your story
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3. “What would you do if…”
This is a great opening line. It lets you talk about your lived experience while putting your audience directly in your shoes.
“What would you do if you realized you had almost been framed for a crime you didn’t commit?”
“What would you do if you were suddenly offered a raise and a contract for a job you weren’t even sure you wanted anymore?”
It’s a powerful way to start, because you capitalize on one of the key reasons why we tell stories- to connect to your audience through empathy.
4. Open with an extreme action or reaction.
“I slammed my hand down on the desk. “Enough,” I yelled. “We’ve been indecisive about this for too long. We’re figuring this out, and we’re figuring it out now.”
“I pushed the pedal all the way to the floor. I knew I was going too fast, but I had to get away from the insanity.”
It works.
People like to be captivated by action, and starting with this cuts to the chase, giving them exactly what they want as quickly as possible.
5. Contrast with being casual.
“There are things you shouldn’t be thinking about when you’re in a tailspin at 70 mph. Things like, “Damn, I’m probably going to throw up that frappuccino.”
“Handcuffs on my wrists, shoved into the back of a squad car. Home sweet home.”
Take something extreme and then contrast with something casual- something that feels like a totally disproportionate response to the extreme situation you just described.
If you’re looking for something easy to grab your audience, this is a simple and easy way to do it.
6. An unexpected pivot
Readers like to be surprised and then to understand the thing that surprised them. Start with something that sounds a certain way, but then pivot quickly to the unexpected.
Examples:
“I made $300,000 from software sales last year. Here’s why I wish I made about half of that”
“I went to prison for 6 months on a trumped-up charge. It was the most instructive 6 months of my life. Here’s what I learned: “
“I got to live in Hawaii for free for a whole year. I absolutely hated it.”
“I found out my wife was cheating on me. I was relieved. Here’s why :”
Contrast is interesting. And when it comes to content, interesting is preferable to boring, every time.
7. Start with the end.
It’s powerful to just start with the end or a brief summary of your story.
“I made $200,000 in three months selling an app. Let me show you how I did it.”
“I’ve traveled around the world three times. Here are my top five places you should visit.”
Simplicity rules. Don’t keep your audience waiting. Telling them what the story is about right away lets them decide if it’s something they want to read, and once they do, they’ll quite likely keep reading as long as the way you tell it isn’t a total snooze fest.
5 Best Storytelling Hooks to Start Your Story
Your audience decides if they want to listen to you in the first few seconds of your story.
Make it count!
You only have one chance to make a first impression!
Whether you’re sharing a personal anecdote, delivering a presentation or writing a novel, the way you begin your story sets the tone for everything that follows.
Here are five powerful storytelling hooks you can use to captivate your audience.
5 Storytelling Hooks
Storytelling Hook #1: Jump into Action
Start your story right in the middle of the action (with forward momentum). Make your character do something, whether it’s stepping, walking, shouting, or biking.
Example 1:
“I stood in front of the manager’s door, took a big breath, knocked three times, and slowly opened the door. As I peeked in, I saw my manager and the head of HR. I immediately knew this wasn’t good.”
Example 2:
“The tires screeched as I rounded the corner, heart pounding in my chest. I had only seconds to escape before they caught up with me.”
Storytelling Hook #2: Start with Dialogue
Share the exact words that were used in a crucial moment of your story.
Example 1:
“‘Mom, I have something to tell you.’ And with those words, I began the conversation that would change everything.”
Example 2:
“‘This is it,’ he said, handing me the envelope. ‘Your entire future is inside.’”
Storytelling Hook #3: Pose a Question
Start your story with a relatable question that makes your listeners think about their own experiences.
Example 1:
“Have you ever wondered what it would be like to walk away from everything you’ve ever known and start over? That’s exactly what I did when I packed my bags and moved halfway across the country.”
Example 2:
“Do you remember the first time you felt truly alive? For me, it was the moment I decided to take a leap of faith and pursue my dream career.”
Storytelling Hook #4: Describe the Character
Describe the unique traits of the character—traits that are relatable and paint a vivid picture in your audience’s heads.
Example 1:
“October 2014. I was 16 years old. Trucker cap. Long hair. Baggy pants. And covered in pimples.”
Example 2:
“She was a whirlwind of color, with mismatched socks, a crown of wild curls, and eyes that sparkled with mischief.”
Storytelling Hook #5: Use a Cliffhanger
Start your story as close as possible to the most crucial moment of the story. Show your listeners that this moment is going to be huge, but don’t share everything yet.
Example 1:
“I was standing in my room with a letter in my hand. I knew this was it. I knew this letter would change my life forever.
But let’s wind back to when it started.”
Example 2:
“The phone rang at 2 AM. I knew nothing good ever came from calls at that hour. As I reached for the receiver, my mind raced with possibilities. But first, let’s go back a few hours.”
Final Thoughts
Give these five storytelling hooks a try. They will help you grab your listener’s attention.
But to really sustain their interest, you also want to understand how to tell the most interesting stories possible. For that, you may want to check out this next article in which I share my favorite ways to spice up your stories.