Why I Became a StoryBrand Certified Guide

StoryBrand

Oct 8

You may have seen that Annie Schiffmann is a StoryBrand Certified Guide and have no clue what that means. Find out how this certification will help your company, project, or organization get even better results from your marketing efforts and how it has affected Downstage Media’s offerings.

Focusing on Social Media Wasn’t Enough

There’s a big problem with social media marketing that no one ever talks about: It takes up so much time and so much energy that many brands think that is where they need to put their attention. It’s constantly pulling focus, telling you to make a TikTok, post on Instagram, or get on Clubhouse.

Performing arts organizations that are strapped for resources - especially time and staff - often gravitate towards those nagging voices in their heads. Many times because they’re using social media themselves and as they’re scrolling they start to think, “Ugh. I really gotta make a TikTok.”

For too long, I was adding to this problem by solely offering social media marketing to my clients.

Using the StoryBrand Frameworks with Clients

The pandemic shook things up, causing many of us to rethink the way we do things. I’m no exception. I had seen clients spending all of their ad dollars on social media ads, only to have all of those leads fizzle without a solid website. Or another brand that had build brand awareness with their Facebook Page, but wasn’t seeing great ticket sales because they hadn’t built an email list to directly communicate with those same people.

So, I started offering marketing consulting, and recommending that clients take a closer look at their websites. Or their email marketing. Or recommending a lead generator of some sort to build that email list.

The results were astounding. One performing arts nonprofit that I worked with adjusted the text on the home page of their website and, in one weekend, with one email, brought in $4000. They were thrilled.

Another client created an email marketing system, and a lead generator, and rethought her website and was able to focus solely on her voiceover work because she was booked for six months in advance. I’ll never forget the image she posted on social media of a truck delivering her professional recording booth to her house. All paid for with her increased voice over earnings thanks to our work together.

Many of these successes were from using the frameworks created by Donald Miller based in his book Building a StoryBrand and using the courses laid out in Business Made Simple.

Becoming a StoryBrand Certified Guide

In the summer of 2021, I knew the best way to serve clients was to become a licensed StoryBrand Certified Guide. I wanted to fully incorporate the Storybrand framework into my client’s marketing strategies. The StoryBrand method uses narrative structure to help your marketing unfold like a play where each audience member is the star. These concepts click instantaneously with those in the performing arts since they are professional storytellers and understand narrative structure better than most anyone.

By seeing the potential with the StoryBrand framework, I realized there was more than just consulting that I could offer clients in order for them to get the best use of their marketing budget.

What Downstage Offers Now

In Live Q&As Donald Miller gives one on one coaching. Annie Schiffmann leads a small group online.

Now, we sit down together and discuss a nine-point checklist to find out how healthy your marketing is. You can take the StoryBrand Marketing Assessment and get your in-depth report. Once you have your report, Downstage Media can:

implement the elements you need for you with our Done For You services
take you through an intensive two-day workshop and help you work a five-point marketing plan with the Done With You: Enhanced StoryBrand Marketing Livestream
Or learn to Simplify Your Social Media with workshops using your marketing assets.

Does Your Marketing Need Direction?

If you are feeling like you are being pulled in too many directions, and not getting the results that you want from your marketing, let’s find out what’s going on. Schedule an Intro Call to discuss your goals and current obstacles. Then we’ll discuss desired outcomes so you can move forward and get the guidance you need.

SCHEDULE AN INTRO CALL

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