1. How to tell an engaging story
Iowa Nonprofit Summit
November 2013
Altoona, Iowa
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2. Welcome!
• Who is this guy (@ctrappe) ? Where I came
from … where I’m heading
ChristophTrappe.com
UWECI.org
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3. Rules, rules, rules!
• Got a question? Ask it. That increases your
chances of it being answered.
• Share your thoughts, experiences, opinions,
etc.
• This session is on the record…  You may
Tweet. you can find the slides here:
http://unitedwayofeastcentraliowa.org/marke
ting/midwinter2013/
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4. Today!
Telling stories
Takeaways:
• How to identify stories
• Identifying the best way(s) to tell them
• How to execute efficiently
• Identifying channels, measuring results
• Tips on making time to respond and talking
with people on all those channels.
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5. Stories
• Who can tell me something that has
happened that’s:
– Interesting
– Worth sharing
– Possible: That you shared at breakfast this
morning, dinner last night, mentioned on the
phone, calling home?
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6. Stories
• What made it worth sharing?
• How do you know?
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7. Source:
http://www.getpaidtow
riteonline.com/brainwriting-infographic/

8. I have a story …
• Traffic tickets story from Gazette…
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9. Stories
• Could you picture somebody driving past a
church ….
• And praying?
• What else?
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10. Stories
OK…. Are you sold, yet?
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11. OK… but telling a story isn’t enough!
Take a guess: What’s the
average attention span
nowadays?
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12. Attention spans
Avg: 8 seconds
Down 4 seconds from 2000
Attention span of a goldfish: 9 seconds
Source: http://www.statisticbrain.com/attention-span-statistics/
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13. Attention spans
OK… that’s funny, but what does it mean to us:
We need to get to the point!
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14. Attention spans
Simplify
Then simplify some more
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15. How to spot/develop a story?
• Pay attention (gym example, outside, etc.)
• Write down ideas …
• Bring them up to co-workers (at home
maybe?) Is this interesting? What do you think
of this?
• Does it fit into our mission?
– Why would we share it? How does it fit into our
business goals?

16. How to spot a story – Hold That
Thought!
• Your stories need to fit into your business
goals!
• What would sharing a story accomplish?
– Engaging
– Entertaining
– Eye opening
– Educational!
What are your business goals?
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17. Examples of business goals
• Be the community connector
• Raise funds to improve the community
• Connect people to resources
Can you verbalize how this story fits into those
(or your) goals?
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18. Once we have story, let’s share it…
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19. Identifying the best way(s) to tell them
True/False? Every story fits on every channel!
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20. Stories
Who has a story that was shared in a print
brochure, for example?
Can you share details?
….
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21. #INPOS13
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22. Execute efficiently
•
•
•
•
Keep your eyes open
Write down ideas!
Make the time. Find the value!
An easy way: Record things on video/audio
– “I’m out. I don’t have the equipment.” Anyone say
that? Let’s look at the equipment you have.
• Summaries and pictures
• What are you most comfortable with?
• Share stories on channels. Don’t have a “scoop
attitude.”
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23. Stories – What to do
• Share authentic stories (Doesn’t mean to share
everything!)
• Involve real people
– Clip art/models >>>> Authentic/Real people
– Explain why this is important. One (off-camera)
comment from a client shown in video: “I hope this
will help donations.”
• Explain it simply.
– 21st century skills >>> Skills you need in tomorrow’s
jobs, for example
• Be specific!
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24. Stories – What not to do
•
•
•
•
Use big words
Use acronyms
Make up names
Look for reasons why not to share it.
– Ask people (interviewees) nicely. Give them the
option. Don’t assume people don’t want to
participate.
• Share confidential things!
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25. Stories
If it doesn’t feel right to publish,
probably shouldn’t be
published … but figure out
what’s amiss, fix and then
publish!
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26. Your brand voice
• How do you want to come across?
• Example for United Way in Cedar Rapids…
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27. Brand voice
Serious, but fun. But not silly!
Definitely not markety!
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28. What’s markety?
• Avoid words like this:
– This FANTASTIC event.
– Everyone has/will have fun.
– Biggest event ever.
– The best
– The fastest
– The slickest
From: ChristophsBlog.com
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29. Measuring success
How are we going to do
this?
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31. Measuring results
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32. Time management
• Do you check emails? Voicemails?
• Same for social/website/etc. Check if anyone
has said something and respond ….
• Could set time periods for this. Set
expectations … especially social.
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33. Time management
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34. But everyone
knows marketing.
Wait, what?
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35. #INPOS13
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36. OK. I’m tired. Time for a break…
On your own… (make a plan!)
• Pick a story (one you’ve featured or know of)
• Does it fit into business goals?
• Tell the story in 15-20 words!
• Outline how you would share on the different
channels!
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37. #INPOS13
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38. Group discussions
• Please share with your neighbors!
– What’s your story?
– What was hard?
– What was easy?
– What will hurdles be?
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39. Class discussion
What did you learn?
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40. Did we go over time?
Questions?
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41. We didn’t go over time?
Please fill out the evaluations before you go!
Stay in touch:
ctrappe@uweci.org
319-804-9853
Twitter.com/Ctrappe
ChristophTrappe.com
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