Telling Your Story Authentically

Whether you were a witness to the Internet being born or grew up with it, you have most likely learned how to spot a polished veneer, a staged photo-op or the empty promises of “influencer culture”.  Consequently, you have learned to be a discerning audience and that is why, when it comes to telling your own story, you have a desire to be authentic.

Being authentic, whether you’re marketing a business or just posting on your own social media, is everything. It’s how you build a genuine connection with people. It’s how you earn their trust and, with it, their loyalty.

Telling your story authentically means you must risk being vulnerable and willing to tell the unvarnished truth.  When you have the courage to share the struggle of how you learned a hard lesson, or how you were able to pivot to a new direction, you forge a powerful connection with your audience.

Sharing your failures, challenges, and successes humanizes you. It tells your audience, “I am a person, not a perfectly curated bot.“  It also sparks empathy because when you show you are vulnerable, you create a space for others to feel seen. Someone else is probably going through a similar experience, and your honest narrative gives them permission to feel, to try again, or just to know they are not alone. This builds a sense of community.

Another benefit of authenticity is being memorable.  A story with emotion – joy, frustration, whatever it is – sticks with people long after a list of your accomplishments has faded.