How to Use Your StoryBrand BrandScript (Examples Included)
Updated December 2025
A StoryBrand BrandScript gives you one clear story that guides your entire marketing system. Without it, content takes longer to create, websites convert poorly, and you end up reinventing the message every time you sit down to write. As a StoryBrand Certified Guide and content strategist, I’ve helped hundreds of founder-led brands use a BrandScript to clarify what they want to say and communicate it consistently. In this post, you’ll learn what a BrandScript is, why it works, and how to apply it to your website, emails, and visibility strategy.
Why Your Marketing Feels Harder Than It Should
What Happens When Your Message Isn’t Clear
What a StoryBrand BrandScript Actually is
Why Every Thought Leader Needs a BrandScript
How To Maximize Your BrandScript
Common BrandScript Mistakes
What Happens When You Use Your BrandScript Strategically
Spotlight Strategy 1-Day
Why Your Marketing Feels Harder Than It Should
Donald Miller introducing the PEACE Framework at the 2025 Coach Builder Summit, where StoryBrand Guides gather for advanced training and certification work.
If your marketing feels scattered, you’re not imagining it. When your message isn’t clear, every piece of content takes longer than it should. Emails feel repetitive. Your website doesn’t convert the way you want. Even writing a simple social post becomes a chore.
It’s frustrating because you’re good at what you do. You have the expertise. You have the results. Yet communicating that value in a way people instantly understand feels harder than it should.
The truth is, most founder-led brands don’t struggle with content. They struggle with clarity. And clarity is exactly what a StoryBrand BrandScript is designed to give you.
I have trained directly with Donald Miller, the author of Building a StoryBrand, and I see him regularly as part of the StoryBrand Certified Guide community. I have led dozens of companies through the StoryBrand Marketing Livestream. I have also trained hundreds of StoryBrand Certified Guides, which means StoryBrand trusts me to teach other Guides how to use this framework correctly.
As a Guide and content strategist, I have helped hundreds of experts, speakers, and small teams turn scattered ideas into a message they can use everywhere. The moment the message becomes clear, the marketing becomes simple.
What Happens When Your Message Isn't Clear
Without a clear message, your marketing becomes harder, slower, and less effective. Your team can’t stay consistent. Prospects don’t understand the value you bring. And you end up reinventing the wheel every time you write something new.
A confusing message doesn’t just cost you time. It costs you opportunities. Website visitors bounce. Email subscribers disengage. AI platforms scrape your content and can’t quite figure out how to describe what you do.
When people can’t articulate your value, they don’t buy.
A BrandScript fixes that.
What a Storybrand BrandScript Actually Is
A StoryBrand BrandScript is a simple tool that clarifies what you want to say so customers understand it instantly. It’s built around a proven storytelling framework: you position your customer as the hero, you take your place as the guide, and you organize your message so it speaks to what people actually care about.
Donald Miller and me at the Coach Builder Summit. I continue to train with StoryBrand so the tools I bring to my clients stay sharp and current.
A BrandScript has seven parts. Together, they help you explain who you serve, the problem they face, how you help, and the results they can expect. When these pieces are clear, your website, emails, and content finally work together instead of competing for attention.
Just like an actor uses a script to know exactly what to say onstage, a BrandScript gives you the words and structure you need to communicate clearly in your marketing. Instead of improvising every time you sit down to write, you start with a simple narrative that keeps you focused, confident, and consistent.
After being trained directly by Donald Miller and working closely with the StoryBrand team for years, I’ve seen this tool transform entire marketing systems. I’ve led dozens of companies through the StoryBrand Marketing Livestream and trained hundreds of StoryBrand Certified Guides, which means StoryBrand trusts me to teach other Guides how to use this framework correctly. I continue to train with Donald and the StoryBrand leadership team, so everything you learn here reflects the most current version of the framework.
At its core, a BrandScript gives you one message your entire organization can follow. No more reinventing the wheel every time you write something new. No more contradictory language across different platforms. When you start with a BrandScript, everything downstream becomes easier and more effective.
Why Every Thought Leader Needs a BrandScript
When you run a business that depends on your ideas, clarity isn’t optional. It’s the foundation everything else sits on. Whether you’re a keynote speaker, a consultant, a founder, or the face of a growing brand, people hire you because of the way you think. Your message has to be clear, repeatable, and easy for others to share.
A BrandScript gives you that clarity. It helps you talk about what you do in a way that feels simple, confident, and aligned. It becomes the narrative your entire team can follow, whether you work with contractors, a marketing assistant, or a rotating mix of designers and writers. Instead of guessing at what to say, everyone uses the same language, which saves time and builds trust with your audience.
I see this over and over with experts who come to me feeling stuck. They have a brilliant offer, real results, and a growing audience, yet their marketing feels harder than it should. The breakthrough happens the moment we clarify their message. Once the BrandScript is in place:
writing becomes faster
Content becomes more consistent
Their website converts more effectively.
AI tools even begin to surface their expertise more accurately, because the narrative across their digital footprint becomes unified.
If you want speaking inquiries, sales calls, and warm referrals to come more easily, you need a clear and consistent way to describe what you do. A BrandScript gives you that anchor.
How To Use Your BrandScript
1. Your Website
Your BrandScript gives you the language for your homepage, services pages, speaker page, about page, and calls to action. Instead of guessing at what to say, you follow a clear narrative: the problem your audience has, the solution you offer, and the results they want.
Most clients who work with me are shocked at how quickly their website comes together once the BrandScript is finished. It makes every decision easier.
What Thought Leaders Can Learn from Junk Mail About Clearer Websites
2. Your Email Strategy
A BrandScript shapes your welcome sequence, nurture emails, lead magnets, newsletters, and promotional campaigns. It keeps your writing grounded in a message people recognize and trust.
If you’ve ever felt like your email marketing sounds different every time you send something, this is the fix.
How Can a Clear BrandScript Boost Your Mailchimp Campaigns?
3. Your Content System
Whether you’re posting on LinkedIn, recording a video, or preparing talking points for a podcast, your BrandScript gives you the through-line. It keeps your voice consistent. It ensures each piece of content points back to the problem you solve, the plan you offer, and the transformation you help people achieve.
This is also how AI tools learn your message. When your content aligns with a single narrative, AI can surface your expertise more accurately.
4. Your Sales Materials
Your proposals, one-sheets, pitch decks, and workshop descriptions become clearer and more persuasive when they follow the BrandScript. Instead of listing features, you speak to the story your clients are living through. You become the guide who helps them move forward.
Improve Your Sales Game: How Storytelling Can Drive Revenue
5. Your Thought Leadership
If you’re a speaker or consultant, a BrandScript helps you tighten your keynote, shape your point of view, and communicate the transformation you deliver. This is often where clients feel the biggest shift. They finally sound like the expert they truly are.
The Content Production Team: How to Turn Thought Leadership into a Scalable Marketing System
Common BrandScript Mistakes
A BrandScript is simple, but it’s powerful only when it’s used correctly. After helping hundreds of founders, speakers, and marketing teams clarify their message, I see the same mistakes come up again and again. If you can avoid these, your BrandScript will work harder for you.
1. Writing from your perspective instead of your customer’s
Your BrandScript only works if it starts with what your audience wants. When you center your own process or credentials too early, your message becomes harder for people to understand. Lead with their story, not yours. Your authority shows up naturally once the message is grounded in their needs.
2. Making the problem too vague
A clear problem creates tension, and tension creates interest. When your problem statement is soft or overly broad, your message loses its edge. Be specific about what your audience is struggling with so they instantly recognize themselves in the story.
3. Treating the BrandScript like a script to copy and paste
Your BrandScript isn’t meant to appear verbatim on your website or in your emails. It’s a strategic tool that guides your language. The BrandScript shapes the message. It doesn’t replace the message.
4. Overcomplicating the plan
Your plan should feel simple, doable, and reassuring. When you add too many steps or load it with jargon, people mentally check out. Most audiences can only process three clear steps. Keep it focused.
5. Creating the BrandScript and then never using it
This is the biggest one. A BrandScript only works if you use it consistently. It should inform your homepage, your speaking points, your email strategy, your content, and your sales conversations. Without implementation, it becomes another document sitting in Google Drive.
6. Updating other parts of the brand but leaving the message untouched
Your audience changes, your offers evolve, and your positioning shifts. Your BrandScript should evolve with you. I recommending reviewing my clients’ BrandScripts at least once a year to make sure the message still reflects the work they want to be known for.
Additional Resource: Applying StoryBrand in Creative Industries
A conversation about how creatives can use a BrandScript to clarify their message. Even though my work has expanded since this was recorded, the core ideas still apply.
This conversation was recorded during my early work with artists and creatives. While my client base has expanded to experts, speakers, and founder-led brands, the principles in this episode still offer helpful examples of how a BrandScript simplifies your message.
Use a BrandScript Strategically
Once your message is clear, everything else gets easier. Your website starts converting because people finally understand what you offer. Your emails feel purposeful instead of rushed. Your content becomes more consistent because you’re not reinventing the story every time you sit down to write.
You start sounding like the expert you already are. Your audience hears the same message no matter where they find you, which builds trust and strengthens your reputation. Even AI tools begin to describe your work more accurately because every piece of content points back to the same narrative.
Most clients tell me they feel lighter once their BrandScript is finished. They stop second-guessing themselves. They start creating with confidence. They gain momentum because they know exactly what to say.
A BrandScript doesn’t just simplify your marketing. It gives you the clarity you need to grow.
Spotlight Strategy 1-Day
If you want a message that feels clear, confident, and unmistakably you, a BrandScript is the best place to start. And you don’t have to figure it out on your own.
During a Spotlight Strategy 1-Day, we’ll clarify your message, organize your best ideas, and build a simple plan you can use right away. You’ll walk out with a BrandScript you understand, a narrative that feels honest and strong, and a content direction that supports your business goals.
If you’re ready for clarity that makes every part of your marketing easier, let’s talk.
Should you use a StoryBrand BrandScript or the PEACE Framework? The answer depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. Learn when to use each framework, how they work together, and why understanding the difference can help you create better marketing, faster.
Businesses assume they need a bigger audience. But many customers tune out much earlier than that. It just isn’t clear to them what the business does or why it matters to them. This post breaks down how messaging friction slows down sales, referrals, and conversions, and how to spot it before it costs you more business.
Most businesses aren’t losing customers because their product is bad. They’re losing customers because their marketing is too hard to understand. Downstage Media’s upcoming live session, How to Talk About Your Business So People Actually Buy, will teach founders and B2B business owners how to simplify their talking points so customers engage faster and buy with more confidence.
Your LinkedIn Company Page isn’t struggling because you’re posting too little. It’s struggling because LinkedIn prioritizes people over logos. Here’s how employee engagement multiplies reach and helps your content travel further.
New goals are easy to set in January. What’s harder is sticking to them when motivation fades later in the year. This post breaks down the three supports every business needs so progress doesn’t disappear in February, May, or the middle of summer.
If your marketing feels scattered, you’re not alone. Most experts, founders, and speakers work way too hard for far too little traction because their message isn’t clear. This guide walks you through how to use a StoryBrand BrandScript to simplify your message, strengthen your content, and make marketing finally feel doable.
If you keep calling your work “consulting” or “just working with me,” you are shrinking the perceived value of your expertise. The right name turns a loose idea into a structured offer that clients understand, remember, and trust. This post shows you how to name your offers and processes so they feel valuable, future ready, and easier to sell. Keep reading if you want clients to say yes faster.
Engagement posts are a smart way to build brand awareness. Used well, they boost visibility, train the algorithm, and keep you top of mind.
You built a beautiful Squarespace website. The messaging is solid, the visuals are on point—but the traffic? Crickets. If you’re wondering why no one’s finding your site (and what to do about it), this post breaks it down. Learn why long-form content still matters, how blogging can be your website’s best traffic engine, and what a smart strategy really looks like—especially for Squarespace users who’ve done the brand work but still feel invisible.
Confused about StoryBrand Certified Guide vs Coach? Here’s what changed, why it changed back, and what it actually means for your marketing.
When Ari Siegel, founder of History By Mail, landed a coveted spot on Shark Tank, he turned to Downstage Media for help crafting a pitch that would resonate with both the Sharks and millions of viewers. Here’s how we shaped the message, rehearsed every word, and got ready for a once-in-a-lifetime moment on national TV.
You don’t need a massive following to grow your business—you need a smart content strategy and the right systems. In this post, Annie Figenshu breaks down why email marketing still outperforms social media, how to build trust with a smaller audience, and what to focus on if you’re ready to stop chasing followers and start seeing results.
You like how StoryBrand makes your customer the hero, but applying that same thinking to blog posts, videos, and emails is a little murkier. This post shows how to use the StoryBrand framework as a jumping off point for your content marketing efforts. The result is customer-focused content that’s easier to create and more effective at building relationships.
Service-based businesses often overlook holiday marketing, but with the right strategy, you can stand out, boost engagement, and increase revenue. By focusing on what your clients need for the new year and automating your marketing, you’ll position your business for long-term success. Don’t let the season pass you by—take charge of your holiday campaign today!
Get your email marketing ready for the holiday rush with a fully optimized email funnel before Halloween. Personalization is the key to boosting engagement and driving sales, as Mailchimp’s "This Holiday, It’s Personal" report shows that targeted emails can increase open rates by 29%. Start now and let your automated email campaigns work seamlessly through the busiest shopping season, leaving you free to focus on your business.
Discover how to use AI to streamline your content creation without losing the clarity that the StoryBrand framework provides. In this post, I share five steps to train AI on your brand voice and offerings, helping you create customer-focused content that converts while saving you time.
The Power of a Clear Brand Message: It's not easy to connect with your audience right now. Discover how a clear and compelling brand message can transform your business. Learn why a clear message drives revenue. Plus, learn what you must do before, during, and after you craft your brand message so you can get the most out of your marketing.
Struggling to make your sales pitches resonate? Discover the transformative power of storytelling in sales. Learn how the StoryBrand framework can help you connect with potential customers, increase engagement, and boost your revenue. Dive into our guide and register for the Close More Sales with Storytelling webinar to refine your skills and drive your business forward. Limited spots available – don’t miss out!
You want to send emails out regularly, but life gets in the way. If you don’t find a sustainable way to manage your email marketing, you risk losing potential revenue. Plus, you might find yourself stuck on the content hamster wheel, always scrambling to keep up. Evergreen content is your new best friend. Create an email automation around that content and you will be able to relax and focus on other areas of your business. Here’s how to do it.
Struggling with inconsistent messaging and low engagement in your email marketing? Discover how a BrandScript can transform your Mailchimp campaigns. Learn how clear, compelling messaging can boost open rates, click-through rates, and strengthen your brand identity. In this blog post, I'll share practical steps to implement a BrandScript and real-life success stories that prove its impact. Ready to elevate your email marketing strategy? Read on to find out how!
Ever struggled to explain what your business does in a few seconds? You're not alone! A strong one-liner is your secret weapon for capturing attention and sparking curiosity. In this post, we explore the importance of a one-liner and how our Pitch Perfect One-Liner Workshop can help you craft a compelling message that resonates. Learn about common challenges, our proven framework, and hear success stories from those who’ve transformed their business communication. Don’t miss this opportunity to make a memorable impression and elevate your marketing game!
Marketing budgets are tight right now. A recent Gartner survey of 395 CMOs and marketing leaders shows the average 2024 marketing budgets have dipped to 7.7% of overall company revenue, down from last year's 9.1%. That means that you have to be absolutely clear on how to make the most of your marketing to make it count.
In this blog post, I’m going to talk about the StoryBrand Marketing Livestream as a way to get the most out of your marketing dollars for the rest of the year.
At Social Media Marketing World 2024 there were 5 sessions about LinkedIn. I watched them all so you don't have to. Here's what you need to know.
Our email inboxes and social media feeds are overloaded with marketing advice. It’s easy to tune it all out. But small adjustments to your content marketing strategy can make a big difference in your results. In this blog post, you’ll learn about Downstage Media’s PAGER zine and how you can get practical, tactical ideas sent straight to your door.
Business owners hate how much time social media eats up in their day-to-day operations. Automating content - versus simply scheduling it - frees up hours every week. At Downstage Media, our favorite tool for scheduling and automating content is MeetEdgar. Let’s break down specifically how we use it with the PAGER method for our clients, so you can figure out if it’s the right tool for you.
If you had a goal of going to the gym regularly, you wouldn’t start by going seven times a week. Or, if you did, you probably wouldn’t be able to keep that up for long. Posting on social media is the same way. In this blog post, you’ll learn a sustainable way to post 4-5 times a week. By gradually building up to this pace you’ll be able to keep up with both your social media marketing and everything else you have to do in your business.
Building customer relationships. Growing audience. Growing customer relationships. Building audience. That’s the marketing mantra for many companies. If you’re not building relationships with your current customers, you are always on the lookout for new ones. And if you’re always on the lookout for new customers, you are missing out on opportunities to keep your customers coming back to you.
Let’s break down the final stage of the 3-Stage Marketing Strategy. Here we’ll discuss ongoing content and sales so that you know what to focus on in your marketing in order to build relationships and grow audiences. Or, is it the other way around?
Some online summits are a little… thin with speakers pitching more than presenting. It’s hard to know if the Coach Builder Summit is going to be worth carving out two days of your schedule for. Let’s go through what Coach Builder Summit is, plus give you 5 insider tips you may not have considered. When you see more info about it cross your desk, you'll be confident that you thought through your decision.
You’ve heard that social media posts with links in them don’t get in front of as many people. So what can you do? Read this blog post for step-by-step instructions on how to make no click content with the PAGER method so your reach doesn’t get throttled.
StoryBrand Guides have access to keynotes, frameworks, and tools designed to help them grow their businesses. The challenge is figuring out how to turn those resources into client work and revenue. That’s what inspired an internal StoryBrand pilot called What Does This Make Possible? Today, that idea has evolved into the StoryBrand Guide Podcast, co-hosted by Annie Figenshu and Tyler Pigott.
Should you use a StoryBrand BrandScript or the PEACE Framework? The answer depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. Learn when to use each framework, how they work together, and why understanding the difference can help you create better marketing, faster.
Businesses assume they need a bigger audience. But many customers tune out much earlier than that. It just isn’t clear to them what the business does or why it matters to them. This post breaks down how messaging friction slows down sales, referrals, and conversions, and how to spot it before it costs you more business.
Most businesses aren’t losing customers because their product is bad. They’re losing customers because their marketing is too hard to understand. Downstage Media’s upcoming live session, How to Talk About Your Business So People Actually Buy, will teach founders and B2B business owners how to simplify their talking points so customers engage faster and buy with more confidence.
Most founder-led brands generate ideas faster than their teams can publish them. In this live workshop, Annie Figenshu introduces the Content Production Team framework, a simple system that helps small teams publish content more consistently without overwhelming the organization.
Content is easier to create than ever, and audiences are skeptical of its authenticity. If brands don’t adjust, their content will continue to be ignored. This post shares insights from The Marketing Algonquin, a private roundtable of New Jersey-based marketers, on the shift from creation to curation so your content earns what’s hardest to win: audience trust.
Most leaders have a hard time communicating clearly, which leads to checked out teams and missed opportunities. This post breaks down how improv principles fix that, so your ideas actually land and your audience gets on board.
Your LinkedIn Company Page isn’t struggling because you’re posting too little. It’s struggling because LinkedIn prioritizes people over logos. Here’s how employee engagement multiplies reach and helps your content travel further.
AI adoption is accelerating, but without clear positioning and documented messaging, it simply scales confusion. Drawing on new books by Allison Shapira, David Newman, and Erika Heald, this post explains why AI strategy for leaders starts with judgment, differentiation, and strong content foundations.
If your visual identity doesn’t match your message, people feel the disconnect before they understand why. In this conversation with designer Lee Seidenberg, we break down how to create a visual identity for thought leaders that reinforces authority instead of diluting it. Read on.
Being everywhere with your marketing sounds ambitious, but it often leaves teams stretched too thin and messages unclear. A focused marketing strategy helps people understand what you’re known for and gives your team room to do better work.
Budgets are tighter, trust is harder to earn, and content alone doesn’t carry the same weight it used to. This post explores why your network has become part of what clients are really buying, and how intentional relationship-building increases trust, retention, and long-term value.
New goals are easy to set in January. What’s harder is sticking to them when motivation fades later in the year. This post breaks down the three supports every business needs so progress doesn’t disappear in February, May, or the middle of summer.
If your email campaigns feel unpredictable, it’s probably not a tech issue. It’s a list issue. This post breaks down why cold emailing quietly damages deliverability, what spam filters actually look for, and how to rebuild your email program on permission, trust, and long-term visibility.
If your marketing feels scattered, you’re not alone. Most experts, founders, and speakers work way too hard for far too little traction because their message isn’t clear. This guide walks you through how to use a StoryBrand BrandScript to simplify your message, strengthen your content, and make marketing finally feel doable.
Every thought-driven brand faces the same challenge: the ideas come fast, but the content process lags behind. The Content Production Team helps you choreograph the content by defining who does what so your thought leadership becomes consistent, scalable, and effective.
If you’re a thought leader or the face of your brand, you’ve probably invested in a beautiful website that may not convert the way you want. In this post, web designer Kristin Madeja shows you how direct response marketing principles can help your site move people from “This looks nice” to “I’m ready to book.” You’ll learn about clarity, calls to action, testing, and photography, so your audience takes action.
Many thought leaders let their company blogs go quiet, which means their best ideas disappear the moment they speak them. New research shows exactly why 2026 is the year to revive a neglected blog and how content created with strategy can strengthen authority while influencing AI search results. This post shows you what works now and simple steps to bring your blog back to life.
If you keep calling your work “consulting” or “just working with me,” you are shrinking the perceived value of your expertise. The right name turns a loose idea into a structured offer that clients understand, remember, and trust. This post shows you how to name your offers and processes so they feel valuable, future ready, and easier to sell. Keep reading if you want clients to say yes faster.
Every thought-driven brand faces the same challenge: the ideas come fast, but the content process lags behind. The Content Production Team helps you choreograph the content by defining who does what so your thought leadership becomes consistent, scalable, and effective.
Email marketing has gotten more sophisticated. So even platforms like Mailchimp that may have seemed simple when you first signed up, require a little know how in order to get your money’s worth out of it. This blog post breaks down why working with a Mailchimp Pro Partner can help you get the results that you want so you can use email marketing to gain and retain clients.
You keep putting off blogging because it feels like too much work, and as a result, prospects lose interest and clients drift away. In this post, you’ll learn how to blog in a way that saves time, builds trust, and makes follow-up effortless so you can keep the clients you have and attract the ones you want. If you don’t blog yet, you’ll learn exactly how to start. If you already blog, you’ll see how to make it even more effective and how to contribute to Orbit Media’s annual blogging survey. Read the full post to start.
The Content Entrepreneur Expo isn’t just another industry event. It’s where creators, consultants, and founders go to sharpen their content strategy, meet real collaborators, and build businesses with staying power. Annie Figenshu—author of Simple Social Media and co-author of The Content Entrepreneur—will be there in Author Alley, ready to connect.
Growing your email audience shouldn’t feel like a guessing game. If you’re not sure what to offer, where to promote it, or how to keep it fresh, you’re not alone. In this post, you’ll get a simple, doable plan to build a healthy list filled with the right people. The kind of list that keeps your audience engaged, your content working, and your business moving forward.
Engagement posts are a smart way to build brand awareness. Used well, they boost visibility, train the algorithm, and keep you top of mind.
A cozy table. Sharp minds. And one very good reason to keep talking marketing offline. Here’s what happened at the first Marketing Algonquin.
You built a beautiful Squarespace website. The messaging is solid, the visuals are on point—but the traffic? Crickets. If you’re wondering why no one’s finding your site (and what to do about it), this post breaks it down. Learn why long-form content still matters, how blogging can be your website’s best traffic engine, and what a smart strategy really looks like—especially for Squarespace users who’ve done the brand work but still feel invisible.
Confused about StoryBrand Certified Guide vs Coach? Here’s what changed, why it changed back, and what it actually means for your marketing.
Blogging isn’t just another marketing tactic; it’s the backbone of a successful SEO strategy. Learn why consistent, strategic blogging can make or break your search engine rankings and overall online visibility.
High-stakes moments don’t give you time to clarify what you meant. When a message isn’t sharp, even a strong idea can lose the room. This post breaks down what happened in the Tank, the messaging work History By Mail did with Downstage Media ahead of the pitch, and what founders can learn about preparing their message before the pressure hits.
AI adoption is accelerating, but without clear positioning and documented messaging, it simply scales confusion. Drawing on new books by Allison Shapira, David Newman, and Erika Heald, this post explains why AI strategy for leaders starts with judgment, differentiation, and strong content foundations.
Being everywhere with your marketing sounds ambitious, but it often leaves teams stretched too thin and messages unclear. A focused marketing strategy helps people understand what you’re known for and gives your team room to do better work.
If your marketing feels scattered, you’re not alone. Most experts, founders, and speakers work way too hard for far too little traction because their message isn’t clear. This guide walks you through how to use a StoryBrand BrandScript to simplify your message, strengthen your content, and make marketing finally feel doable.
Every thought-driven brand faces the same challenge: the ideas come fast, but the content process lags behind. The Content Production Team helps you choreograph the content by defining who does what so your thought leadership becomes consistent, scalable, and effective.
You keep putting off blogging because it feels like too much work, and as a result, prospects lose interest and clients drift away. In this post, you’ll learn how to blog in a way that saves time, builds trust, and makes follow-up effortless so you can keep the clients you have and attract the ones you want. If you don’t blog yet, you’ll learn exactly how to start. If you already blog, you’ll see how to make it even more effective and how to contribute to Orbit Media’s annual blogging survey. Read the full post to start.
High-stakes moments don’t give you time to clarify what you meant. When a message isn’t sharp, even a strong idea can lose the room. This post breaks down what happened in the Tank, the messaging work History By Mail did with Downstage Media ahead of the pitch, and what founders can learn about preparing their message before the pressure hits.
When Ari Siegel, founder of History By Mail, landed a coveted spot on Shark Tank, he turned to Downstage Media for help crafting a pitch that would resonate with both the Sharks and millions of viewers. Here’s how we shaped the message, rehearsed every word, and got ready for a once-in-a-lifetime moment on national TV.
I’ve returned to my maiden name, Annie Figenshu. If you’re searching for Annie Schiffmann or wondering what the name change means, here’s the clear answer and what hasn’t changed about my work.
You like how StoryBrand makes your customer the hero, but applying that same thinking to blog posts, videos, and emails is a little murkier. This post shows how to use the StoryBrand framework as a jumping off point for your content marketing efforts. The result is customer-focused content that’s easier to create and more effective at building relationships.
Discover how to use AI to streamline your content creation without losing the clarity that the StoryBrand framework provides. In this post, I share five steps to train AI on your brand voice and offerings, helping you create customer-focused content that converts while saving you time.
Marketing budgets are tight right now. A recent Gartner survey of 395 CMOs and marketing leaders shows the average 2024 marketing budgets have dipped to 7.7% of overall company revenue, down from last year's 9.1%. That means that you have to be absolutely clear on how to make the most of your marketing to make it count.
In this blog post, I’m going to talk about the StoryBrand Marketing Livestream as a way to get the most out of your marketing dollars for the rest of the year.
At Social Media Marketing World 2024 there were 5 sessions about LinkedIn. I watched them all so you don't have to. Here's what you need to know.
Some online summits are a little… thin with speakers pitching more than presenting. It’s hard to know if the Coach Builder Summit is going to be worth carving out two days of your schedule for. Let’s go through what Coach Builder Summit is, plus give you 5 insider tips you may not have considered. When you see more info about it cross your desk, you'll be confident that you thought through your decision.
Get the scoop on why the book Simple Social Media won’t be available on Amazon at first, what to expect when it does become available, and why that is good for you! Learn how SMBs will benefit from this new marketing resource!
You’ve never heard of Creator Economy Expo before. So… is it worth your time? You don’t want to take days out of your business attending an event that won’t yield results for you in the upcoming year. In this blog post, I’ll talk about what it is, why it’s worth considering, and how to get it at a discount. So you can decide if it’s a good fit for you and your brand.
It’s not always clear how you can use StoryBrand on your social media. Much of the StoryBrand Framework is based around using marketing to increase sales - but social media is different than a website. And no one wants to turn their social media channels into a spammy billboard. Here you’ll learn a StoryBrand-inspired formula for writing copy on your social media posts, as well as different ways to use existing assets in your marketing - lead generators, BrandScripts, and more - in a way that works on social media.
Struggling to get your social media posts noticed? It might not be your content—it’s your strategy. By combining the StoryBrand BrandScript with Downstage Media’s PAGER method, you can create social posts that not only resonate but also drive real results. In this post, you'll learn a step-by-step approach to crafting clear, engaging content that doesn’t turn your feed into an endless ad, but a true engagement tool.
General Content is the “G” of the PAGER method, and it can be the most confusing because it’s the most vague category. But these are the posts that show your audience that you understand who they are and you know how to solve their problems. Read on to understand what these posts are, see them in action, and learn how to implement them into your content mix so you can turn your audience into your community.
It’s time to simplify social media for small businesses and brands. The PAGER Method is a social media strategy that you can easily use on any platform and in any niche. You’ll know what to create, ensure that your content isn’t too salesy, and still promote the events and initiatives that your business needs to survive. Here, get an overview of Downstage Media’s own content method with examples. This is the basis for Annie Figenshu’s book, Simple Social Media.
If you don’t post on social media about your promotions, initiatives, or events your audience won’t know what you have going on business-wise. So you can start to question whether all of the time that you spend posting is worthwhile at all. Here you’ll learn a simple system to create posts that will help you reach your business goals without making your account seem like a salesy billboard.
It can be hard to make the most of your email marketing. You don’t have the time to learn how to send out more than a quick blast but you don’t have the time to learn anything more. Annie Schiffmann is Mailchimp Certified and takes you through how that special training can help you reach your goals for your company.
No one wants to spend time crafting an email that will be ignored. Learn these best practices gleaned from Mailchimp’s Content Optimizer to get your audience to actually read the emails you send out.
The StoryBrand Marketing Livestream is a two day investment in your business. But if you don’t take time to prepare, you could get a low return on that investment. Learn success tips from facilitators who’ve ushered hundreds of attendees through the workshop.
The internet is full of marketing advice, predictions, and trends for the new year. Many of them, though, don’t quite apply to an arts-focused brand. Here, I’ll take some marketing trends for 2022 and filter them through the lens of the performing arts, offering my insights for how brands in the arts can use them now.
You do more copywriting than you think. Any post, email, or webpage where you want a reader to take action counts as copywriting. Unfortunately, lots of copywriting misses the mark which leads to lower clicks, conversions, and sales. In this post, you'll learn simple copywriting tweaks that will personalize, activate, and strengthen your work so you can connect with your audience.
The prices for online courses and coaching programs varies wildly - with some as low as $47 and others are high as $5000. So when you’re considering an online course and a coaching program, it’s important to know what’s in store, and how it compares to other comparable courses. Downstage Media has partnered with Business Made Simple to offer a suite of online courses and a marketing mentorship as well. Here’s what you can expect to pay, and what is included, and how it compares in the marketplace.
Like what we’ve done for your company? Think other organizations need to get their work out there? Here are the easiest ways to leave us a review that will answer the questions our potential clients often have. Whether you prefer to fill in the blanks, tap record, or write on a form, answer these five questions and you’re all done!
Understanding the difference between a hashtag and a handle can instantly strengthen your social media presence. If you’ve been guessing or mixing the two, you’re not alone — and it’s hurting your visibility. This post breaks down both tools in plain English and shows you how to use them strategically so your content is easier to find, easier to engage with, and easier to manage. Keep reading to make your next post clearer and far more effective.
Annie Figenshu is keenly aware that many companies are pressed for time, and every minute counts. She helps brands make the most of their content marketing so that their hard work is shared with the world. Annie is certified in both StoryBrand and Mailchimp, has two kids with Beatles-themed names, and is afraid to think what a day without coffee would look like.
StoryBrand Guides have access to keynotes, frameworks, and tools designed to help them grow their businesses. The challenge is figuring out how to turn those resources into client work and revenue. That’s what inspired an internal StoryBrand pilot called What Does This Make Possible? Today, that idea has evolved into the StoryBrand Guide Podcast, co-hosted by Annie Figenshu and Tyler Pigott.