How to build a cult of loyal customers?

Hi, how're you today?

So last email we talked about earning through profile views. 

( Missed it? No problem, here go have a quick read. You won't regret it)

https://nerdy-writes.beehiiv.com/p/turn-profile-views-conversions

But for those loyal high paying clients who would swear by you, keep coming back to you AND recommend you where ever they go?

You need something special for that...

A brand story

Yup, one that resonates with their cores.

Because come on, people are FED UP with those boring robotic direct emails and cold messages.

They crave something more raw and emotional.

They crave your story.

So come, let's build it right here, right now.

What is a brand a story?

A brand story is very much like every other story...it has a relatable beginning, a conflict, a resolution.

And you're the protagonist here.

It also happens to be the what makes people

• find some mutual connection

• find the trust to invest in you

• keep coming back for more

• recommend you to others

• remember you

I challenge you to think of a single brand without a core story behind.

You got one minute?

I asked this in a post in LinkedIn and this is one of the comments…

Only that IKEA does in fact, have a story.

I linked it here…go have a read after this. Its a solid reference.

Now that we have the definition out of the way…

Lets get building.

How do I write my own brand story?

Every brand story has 3 core elements.

1. Status quo

2. Conflict

3. Resolution

1) Status quo

Or in other words...the beginning of your epic story.

• Who you were starting out?

• What were your struggles?

• Where were you stuck in?

These are the what your ICP relates to.

That is where they see themselves.

That is where THEY are.

Be as authentic as you can and please, DON'T be embarrassed to show vulnerabilities. 

Nope, they do not weaken your brand's stand. If anything, they just make you seem more "humane" and not some fictional perfectionist.

Because your audience has weaknesses.

How will they trust you would understand them instead of belittle them if you never suffered something too?

Basic human psychology, nothing complicated. 

To help you see as an example.

This is who I was...

I used to be a broke college kid swelling up with guilt every time I had to ask dad for money.

The coward girl shying away from opportunities thinking "I am obviously not good enough".

The foolish girl "waiting" for things to happen, for "others" to lead the way instead of taking things in my own hands.

Now, who were you?

2) The conflict

Will you be interested in how I woke up in the morning, brushed my teeth with mint toothpaste, had a toast and coffee for breakfast and went off to uni on a public bus?

I am guessing no…and that you're probably cursing me for wasting your time

(Ok, sorry😋😋 )

But there, you see no one is actually interested in "normal".

Umm, no matter how weird and concerning that sounds...it's true.

Every story needs a spicy conflict.

OK, maybe not spicy buy SOMETHING.

You got your status quo...then what?

• HOW did you realize something was missing?

• WHEN did you start taking action?

• WHAT obstacles did you face?

For your brand story...

This would be the turning point.

Again, as an example here's mine.

I wanted to be financially independent.

But for that I had to get out of my cocoon try things out.

Found out online writing by chance.

And guess what?

Tried everything I could thereafter.

Opened accounts in Upwork, Fiverr, Medium, 10s of writing websites I don't even remember the name of.

Guess what I got? Nothing…crickets.

Then started content writing in X. Used to 

• post 3X/week

• DM tons of people

• drop 100s of comments

But that didn't work out. 

6 months of mind numbing hard work...

And I got 

• 234 followers

• grand total of $0 

• PURE FRUSTRATION 

Then came into LinkedIn, God knows why.

And that's where I 

• met my community 

• landed my 1st client 

• earn 1.5K in 3 months

Ton of hard work, bucket loads of failure, a healthy pinch of feeling like the most useless piece of shit to hit earth.

And voilà, something nice happened after all.

In other words, this is the part where you share you journey, your failures, your successes.

Spill it all…don’t sugarcoat it.

The more authentic you are, the more blind trust you build.

3) Resolution 

After all you've been through, you must have "something" you would do differently or "something" which would have made the journey soo much easier and faster.

That is the something you sell.

Be it products or services.

That is the end result.

Because you

• felt what your audience felt

• went through to find your own way

• know what was needed

That is WHY your audience trusts you enough to 

• let you guide them

• bring them similar results 

• give you their hard-earned money 

This only happens when your story hits their core and resonates.

That is when they 

• swear by you

• keep coming back

• recommend you wherever they go

A brand story might seem like a small thing.

But it's THE secret behind loyal consumers.

Now it's your turn, fill in the gaps and build your story.

Also, I didn't really share what my resolution was did I?

Well, here it is.

(I just WISH had it when I was stuck in the rut)