When it comes to content creation, we often give too much importance to the tools. The first and a big advantage of concept boards is that it doesn’t require much time to be done. This is something that Scott Bradshaw worked hard to challenge me with. The tools are powerful, and they are important. But the ultimate value in storytelling comes from how you use them. Think of the most amazing sunrise you’ve ever seen, or the most moving creature you’ve ever met. How did those emotions and experiences form? It’s like pulling air out of your lungs and into your eyes.

We often talk about how important it is to tell stories. We hear from people who are nervous about pitching stories or about approaching speakers at events who might want to work with them. Stories are powerful; when used well they can lift someone out of a place of helplessness and give them a sense of purpose, direction, or power.

When stories are told, they carry more weight than when they are just facts. We recognize the value in narrative; it helps us build empathy and connect with others. But stories need context to do their job well. context means that you need to know more than just the bare facts of a story, like if it was just told on TV. You have to know how it ties into other stories, or past events, or how it builds to something larger. This is why it’s important to write down everything you learn in the telling of a story so that you can include it when choosing a source for your next story.

This is an argument I have had with friends. They think that telling stories is inherently valuable. As a blogger, though, I think your goal should be to create content that people want to read. You can do that by balancing interesting narrative with useful information. If you focus on the interesting bits and omit the boring bits, you won’t have a good story. Asking people to stop and think about something is a great way to inspire them.

There are many forms of storytelling including writing blog posts, infographics, podcasts and videos. All of these forms of storytelling contribute to building a strong brand and helping you stand out from your competitors. When you think about what is the most important component of your business you will find out that it is not money or tools, but rather the stories behind them that will continue driving your success. You have to find ways to tell your stories while using the media you have available.

We often think of storytelling as information that’s clear and logical, something we can understand and use. But storytelling is also about values, beliefs and desires. It’s always been that way, but now we’re confronted with an unprecedented level of information—via Facebook, Twitter, blogs and forums—that sometimes makes us blur the lines between fact and fiction. Inquire here for procedure on how to finalize your concept board.