STORYTELLING TOOLKIT

FOR PERSONAL BRANDS

Craft, Connect and Cashout.

ZAINAB OLANREWAJU

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands

 Copyright© 2023 by Zainab Olanrewaju.

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced,

distributed, or transmitted in any form
or by any means, including
photocopying, recording, or other
electronic/mechanical methods, without
the prior permission of the author-
except in the case of brief quotations
embodied in critical reviews and certain
non-commercial use permitted by
copyright law.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands

 REVIEWS OF THE BOOK
Zeeeeee!

I was smiling all through while reading your

storytelling toolkit. This book is unique because
it was written in an unconventional way (the
first one of its kind, and it was fun to read)

Let's not get started on the knowledge there.

I got lots of ideas while reading it, ranging from
hooks to the body of the stories, and CTA.

If this is the free version, the paid version will

be extraordinary 🤌🏼
I love how you touched different areas (Skills).
Even if a person's field wasn't touched, they can
still get amazing story ideas there.

Zainab is a great storyteller! This book and her

LinkedIn post say it all.

Enough of chat-GPTised stories, get this book if

you want to get better at storytelling

I'm super proud of you, Zee.

- Billionaire Winifred Arih,

Creative Health Writer.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands

 Zainab’s book is nothing short of perfection and I
must say that this book is a heartfelt journey
through the art of weaving narratives.

Her words don't just teach; they embrace you,

skillfully guiding you through the realms of emotion
while teaching you everything you need to know
about storytelling.

The simplicity, infusion of humour and authenticity

adds a delightful layer to the reader’s experience.

This book isn't just a guide; it's a companion, a

trusted ally for anyone aspiring to be a great
storyteller. Thank me later!
- Boluwatife Rotimi,
LinkedIn Tech Influencer.

I'm in love. Yes, I said I'm in love because Zainab made

me blush so hard while reading her book.

Talk about reading an edutaining book. This book did

justice to that. From the step-by-step on why your
brand needs storytelling to the emojis, she used to pass
the message across.

In this book, Zainab talks about the importance of

storytelling- how your stories should pass across a
message, and what you want your audience to do after
reading your story-

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands

 She shared how different industries or fields can use
stories with tips and examples.

The best thing you can do for your brand in 2024 is to

get Zainab's storytelling e-book to stand out among
your competitors and have your unique voice.

-Temidayo Jimoh,
Digital Skill Advocate.

Although I know the benefits of storytelling, this

toolkit opened my eyes to the different ways of using
storytelling to drive sales.
The toolkit is so relatable that for a moment, I thought
Zainab was directly talking about me.

Thank you for this clarity and toolkit. More wisdom

and knowledge.
But, this toolkit is too wonderful to be free.

-Zainab Eniola,
Copywriter.

First you got me at the memes. Then, I got hooked

when you spoke about me being my brand, I have
heard a lot about it before but you used storytelling to
tell me again.

(How can Zainab use storytelling to explain

storytelling to me, she's definitely goated)-

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands

You also explained the difference between being a
content creator and being a noise maker.

Going to the rules guiding storytelling. (This one stuck

to me) I shouldn't bore my audience with too many
words, storytelling is good but try to filter out some
things, your audience doesn't need to know everything
only the good part.

And may I thank you for giving graphic designers that

prompt in your book (I've grabbed the expo- evil
laugh). I love every story you wrote in the book. That's
one of the best ways to market and I will be happy to
learn from you and your book.

I love telling stories, and I am very sure this will help

me a lot in my quest to becoming a better content
creator.
-Ibrahim Oiza,
Graphic Designer.

I love the way the book is so detailed and simple that

even someone who doesn't know anything about
storytelling can understand and start to implement it.

I love the use of memes, it makes the book edutaining.

And I must say, the book is just too valuable to be free.
-Vikkie El,
Value Creator.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands

Zainab, your Book Blew Me Away! 😳
Just had to drop you a quick note after diving into
your book on personal branding through
storytelling. Seriously, it's a game-changer! 🔥
Your explanation of what a personal brand is and
why it matters was clear and insightful. It laid a solid
foundation for readers, making the concept
accessible.
Big shoutout for stressing the importance of visuals.
It clicked that it's not just about words; visuals tell a
story too. 💥
Your detailed exploration of story elements such as
hooks, characters, settings, and emotions was
immensely helpful.
It served as a valuable guide for understanding the
building blocks of impactful storytelling.

I loved how you debunked the myth that stories

make content less professional. Your examples,
especially in unconventional niches like
photography, showcased the versatility of
storytelling in various fields.

Who knew storytelling could fit into every nook and

cranny? 🙌
Your book is not just educational; it's like a roadmap
for anyone wanting to spice up their personal brand.
Your examples make it all feel so doable-

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands

 Thank you for sharing your expertise in such a
digestible and practical manner. I'm sure people
who are just like me will find inspiration and
guidance in your book.
-Sophia Nwafor,
Non-fiction Ghostwriter.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands

TABLE OF CONTENT

Foreword

1. Introduction

4. You Are A Brand

7. Why Personal Brands

Need Storytelling

10. Follow The Rules

19. Elements Of A Story

30. How To Use Storytelling

85. Final Note

87. Meet me
 FOREWORD
In "The Storytelling Toolkit for Personal
Brands," Zainab Olanrewaju guides readers
through the art of crafting compelling
narratives for personal brands in the digital
era.

Emphasizing the crucial role of storytelling

in standing out online, Zainab provides
practical insights, highlighting key
principles and pitfalls.

What sets this book apart is its engaging

approach – Zainab uses storytelling to teach
the art of storytelling, making it a must-read
for those looking to enhance their personal
brand through impactful narratives.

A must read for every personal brand that

seeks to standout in the competitive
marketplace.

- Billionaire Cecilia Awofesobi,

The Milliportermaker, The
Porters' Clan.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands

 INTRODUCTION
A few months ago, I was okay with just
posting my stories on LinkedIn.
I knew I wanted to teach brands how
to use storytelling, but I didn't know
how the proper way to go about it.

However, that still didn't stop me from

giving tips on how brands can use
storytelling.

And while I consistently did this,

clarity came.

I figured out that the proper way was

to write different stories that brands
could use if they wanted to.

So, I started creating carousels where

I not only shared story ideas, but also
wrote stories that fit the services they
offer or product they sell.
I was scared when I started, but,
people loved it, so I kept doing it.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 1

 Trust me, I was even shocked when
people began to tell me that the
carousels were flexible for every
niche.

Unfortunately, with the amazing

comments and all, I had to stop
creating and posting the carousels.
I couldn't continue because I got the
idea to convert everything into an
ebook- Not everyone is on LinkedIn.
And that's why you are here- currently
reading this book.
There is no brand that can't use
storytelling. Crafting narrative-driven
content isn't hard if you learn.

So

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 2

 Or, you still want to keep begging
people to buy from you because you
haven't eaten for weeks?

In this book, you get to learn how to

craft incredible stories for your brand.
PS: No, writing stories related to your
niche doesn't make you or your
content less professional!
One of the importance of stories is to
make complex things easy, yeah? So,
you are good to go as long as you focus
on your WHY.

PPS: People love good stories.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 3

 YOU ARE A BRAND

I know you are eager to learn how to

craft compelling narrative-driven
content as opposed to "once upon a
time" story you bore your audience
with.
However, we need to talk about you
first.

Bola is a graphic designer yet, she

claims not to have a brand yet.

Bola!!! Come on.

Most times, you think you don't have a

brand because you don't sell biscuits,
clothes, gadgets et. all.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 4

So, let me break it down so you can
understand:

You can either:

1. Provide Services.

2. Sell product(s).
Or...
3. Do the two together.

Now, our main focus is the first one:

For example, Bola as a graphic

designer provides services by making
designs for different businesses who
intend to have a great brand identity.

These designs Bola make are under

her (she is the face of the brand) and
she needs to work on herself and
position herself as an authority.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 5

If Bola gets a client that needs her
service, she would either make the
client happy or disappoint him.
Doing the former would make her
expertise be commended, but if
otherwise, her expertise would be
condemned.
Simply put, Bola would be commended
or condemned if she does or doesn't do
a client's design well.

Do you get?

Even if you don't pre-order to sell, or

go to market to buy what to sell, you
still have a brand.

And that brand is YOU, Bola. You are

your brand.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 6

 WHY PERSONAL BRANDS
NEED STORYTELLING

Personal brands can't do without telling

stories.
Yes, you read right. Every personal
brand needs storytelling to thrive.

Personal branding goes beyond having a

stunning logo; it has to do with how
people perceive you and people's
perception is influenced by your story.

Below are the reasons why personal

brand needs storytelling:

1. Unique Identity: You would agree with

me that the digital space is now
saturated.

However, this doesn't mean that we

don't have 'noise makers' in form of
personal brands who don't stand out in
any way.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 7

You might be visible, but are you etched
in the mind of your audience?

Noisemaking OSIM my audience love me

It's high time you stopped making noise

and started being intentional about
standing out.

And to achieve this, you need to tell

stories- master the art of storytelling,
especially the ones that resonate with
your personal brand.

2. Builds Connection: You need to

always keep it mind that humans are -

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 8

emotional beings.
Your stories and how you share them
will go a long way in building a deep
connection between you and your
audience.
So, stop hiding your stories, tell them,
and connect with your audience on a
deeper level.

3. Builds Credibility: Your audience will

find you credible if you share your
stories, especially relatable ones.

Make sure they see themselves in your

stories- doing that will make them feel
you understand them and they will find
your brand trustworthy.

4. Enhances Memorability: With stories,

your audience will be quick to remember
you. You will be etched in their
memories and they will always look
forward to your content.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 9

 FOLLOW THE RULES
There are some dos and don'ts to
guide you when creating narrative-
driven content.
Let's talk about them below:

Avoid these when writing stories:

1. Boring your audience with too much

information: Why would you turn a
narrative into a lecture? In as much as
you are trying to engage your audience
with a story, you need to avoid
unnecessary parts.

According to Donald Miller, you are

making your customers burn calories
and it's not nice.

Why do you do that?

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 10

2. Using unrealistic story ideas:
Authenticity matters a lot when it comes
to writing stories.
Why would your story talk about how
you can help brands make billions in
one week with just one design.

No be juju be dat?

Writing stories full of lies would get you

the engagement you seek, but you would
have yourself to blame if your audience
get to know you have deceived them.

3. Feeding them with GPTised content:

Uncle GPT won't give you the story or
emotion you want if you don't prompt
him well.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 11

There are ways to prompt him such that
he wouldn't give you the usual "in a
bustling city... "
And, Bola without editing, posts it like
that.

Wow, bustling Queen

I use Chat GPT for my stories very well,

but with prompts evoking enough to get
the kind of emotions I want.
How you can prompt Chat GPT for
stories that evoke emotions will be in
the paid version of this book.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 12

4. Underestimating the Power of
Editing: If you want your audience to
enjoy your story, make sure you edit it
thoroughly.
Bola, let your excuse for the errors in
your story not be "nobody is perfect!"

We know that already!

Errors in your story will turn people

off, so think about the time you took
to craft the story and proofread.

Cut the fluff, make it short and pass

your message.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 13

 Do these when writing stories:

1. Keep Your Story Simple: While

writing story, keep it in mind to KISS!

Bola is thinking otherwise

You need God o. Bola, it's Keep It

Short and Simple!

Nobody has the time to read through a

long content. Even if you don't have
the time.

Everyone is busy and would rather go

for something that wouldn't waste
their time.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 14

So, please, enough of including
chapters in a story that's supposed to be
very short.

Are you writing a novel?

2. Make Your Audience the Hero: Most

people often make the mistake of
making the service they provide the
hero of the story.

We know your service would make

your audience feel better, but, don't
make them jealous.

Craft your stories such that they will

resonate with your audience's
experiences, challenges, and
aspirations.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 15

 You need to shift the spotlight from
your service to your audience.

You don't know how to?

Don't worry, I will make it very clear in

the premium edition.

You're welcome.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 16

3. Be Authentic: Only share stories that
reflect who you are and the service you
provide.

Bola, don't be confused. The best thing

you should do is show your true self.

Being authentic will go a long way in

building trust and connection with
your audience.

4. Ensure it's Relevant: To craft a

cohesive narrative, you need to ensure
that it aligns with your brand.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 17

Also, make sure it's relevant to your
audience.
As a graphic designer, stick to graphic
design content you want your audience
to see, instead of feeding them with SEO
content.

Shikena

5. Attach Image: It could be more than

one image- it depends on what you are
writing about. You need to ensure that
you use clear and great visuals.

Storytelling×Image= Mad combo!

You can make use of memes too just

like I did with this book.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 18

 ELEMENTS OF A STORY
It's impossible to construct a house
without having the necessary building
materials- and that's the same for a story.

The elements of a story comprise the

necessary details you need to make your
story whole.

The elements of a story are:

a. Hook: A hook is a single sentence that
determines if people would read your
story to the end or not.
It can come in form of a thought-
provoking question or a statement.

Examples of thought-provoking question

hooks:
(i) IF THIS WAS YOU, WHAT WOULD
YOU HAVE DONE?
(ii) HOW MANY TIMES DID THIS
HAPPEN TO YOU?

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 19

Examples of statement hooks:
(i) HOW I TACKLED X BEFORE IT
RUINED ME.
(ii) YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT
HAPPENED TO ME TODAY.

NOTE: Ensure you use a hook and not a

clickbait! Don't use a hook that isn't
related to the story.

b. Character: This is 'why' you are writing

the story or 'who' you are writing the
story for.
This is the hero of the story because he is
representing your target audience and in
every story, customers are heroes.
Your audience should read about the
character and say 'Oh, this is me,' 'Oh,
this will be me soon' or 'Oh, this was me,'
Now, let's say I'm a health writer and I
want to write about the importance of
hydration, I can write:

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 20

It's funny how people believe that water
has no enemy when in reality, it has
many enemies.
One of my friends, Bola never liked
drinking water when necessary. She
always gave the excuse of 'It makes me
frequent the toilet,'
Nobody taught her before she changed
her ways after noticing the effects of
dehydration on her body.
Now, Bola here is the character and she is
representing those who don't stay
hydrated. There are definitely those who
can relate to Bola's story.
c. Setting: This has to do with the time
and place.
When did the story take place and where
did the incident happen?
No, you aren't writing a short story or
novel, but the setting gives your readers
the necessary details.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 21

For example, a story like this won't be
very clear to your audience:

I didn't know where it came from, but the

strong force I felt on my left cheek left me
dumbfounded.
It took me a few minutes to realise that it
came from the man I had exchanged
words with a few seconds ago.

Everyone stared like morons, I'm sure

they enjoyed the little show.

Yes, you are keeping your audience in

suspense, but trust me, they will lose
interest if you don't include when this
happened and where it happened.

Now, let's rewrite it:

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 22

I didn't know where it came from, but the
strong force I felt on my left cheek left me
dumbfounded.
It took me a few minutes to realise that it
came from the man I had exchanged
words with a few seconds ago.
I had no idea that Government buses
were now for madmen.
Everyone stared like morons. They now
had something to gossip about on
Christmas eve.
Now, we have the place- Government bus
and the time- Christmas eve.

d. Challenge: This has to do with the

obstacle the character faces in the story-
aka, the villain of the story.
The challenge above from the story above
is:
I didn't know where it came from, but the
strong force I felt on my left cheek left me
dumbfounded.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 23

And, it shows that our character has a
problem at hand.
e. Conflict: This is where the character is
at a crossroads on what to do.
The conflict might be 'self' as in within
the character, it might be with the
character and other people or with the
character and the society.
The conflict above from in our story goes
thus:
... I was confused on what to do. Was I
supposed to retliate to boost my
confidence? Or should I just save my face
and allow the experience haunt me?

f. Emotion: This has to do with the feeling

that comes with the challenge your
character is facing.
Does your character feel angry, scared,
frustrated, depressed, embarrassed?

Show it- show your readers how they feel!

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 24

I wanted to cry, but I didn't want to see
the maniac happy that he made me cry,
plus, I knew a few people had their
phones up.
I was livid, yes, but, I didn't want to
embarrass myself any further.

Our character here feels angry and

embarrassed.

g. Consequences: This is where your

character begins to ask himself 'What will
I do if I don't tackle this problem?'
So, back to our story, let's see the
consequences of our character not
tackling the problem:
... From his demeanour, I knew he was
ready to give me another slap, so, I had to
confront him.
"Why did you slap me?"

h. Resolution: Now, this when the conflict

is settled and the obstacle is tackled.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 25

 Let's see how our story ends:

... The next thing the man said was "You

should control your mouth when you're
angry,"
The murmurs from others showed they
agreed with him and I knew that I was
wrong.
"I'm so sorry for slapping you, your
words opened an old wound," the man
said.

"I'm sorry too," I said and played with my

fingers.

h. Lesson: This has to do with what you

want your readers to learn from the
story.

Let's share the lessons from our story:

This bitter experience made me realise

that:

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 26

1. If I can't control my mouth when I'm
angry, then it's best to keep quiet.
2. People are going through a lot, so it's
best to treat them with care so we don't
open any old wounds or make the healing
wounds get worse.

i. CTA: CTA means call to action and it

has to do with what you want your
readers or audience to do after reading
the story.

Let's check out some calls to action for

our story:
Let's assume our charcater has a free
class on anger management, she can say:

Not knowing how to control your anger

not only hurts you but other people
around you.
Take a step to managing your anger by
signing up for my free anger management
class via this link...

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 27

or, you might want them to share a
similar experience or other lessons they
derived from the story or even share
their opinions.

1. Have you ever allowed your anger get

the best of you? How was it for you?
Let me know in the comment section
below.
2. Do you think I deserved the slap and do
you think the man was right to have
slapped me?
Let me know in the comment section
below.

3. What other lesson did you derive from

this story and what would you have done
if you were in my shoes?

Other calls to action include:

* Sign up here to get more information on
X.

* Click the link below to get my free ebook.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 28

* Sign up here to get more information on
X.
* Join my master class where you get to
learn X.

* Want to get better at X, click this link to

pay for my course

You're welcome!

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 29

HOW TO USE STORYTELLING

We have finally gotten to the promise

land!

As a personal brand, you can share

stories of:

1. What you do: What problems does

your service tackle? How does your
service tackle them? What results will
bring in after tackling your customer's
problem?

2. What they are missing out: Let them

know what they stand to lose if they
don't seek your service. This can be
fictional, but don't exaggerate!

3. Your Experiences: Motivate your

audience with your stories. It could be to
motivate or inspire- make them relatable
though.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 30

4. Your 'humble beginning: What
challenges did you face while building
your brand? How did your brand come
to life?

5. Your USP: USP means Unique Selling

Proposition and it has to do with what
makes you stand out from your
competitors.

Tell stories about that one thing that

would make your audience choose you
over your competitors!

6. Satisfied Customers: Do you have

customers that were impressed with the
results your services brought? Talk
about them- share their success stories
so your prospective clients can keep you
in mind.
Now, let's see how different personal
brands can use storytelling:
A. GRAPHIC DESIGNER: As a graphic
designer, you might want to:

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 31

1. Write about those who are skeptical of
seeking your service.

2. Showcase your brand values.

3. Debunk some myths or share some

graphic design tips.

4. Share the reviews from your past

clients.

Let's choose the first purpose:

We'll talk about Daniel, a student who

just started his logistic business.

YOU ARE HARMING YOUR BRAND'S

IDENTITY IF YOU DO THIS...

After having thought about the best

side-hustle to go for as a student, Daniel
settled for Logistics.

Knowing fully that creating awareness

was important, he decided to make
flyers- both digital and print.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 32

"That way, I get to distribute to those on
campus and send to my friends to help
me post," he said.

Daniel decided to take the bull by the

horns by designing the flyers himself.

He felt it was something he could do

instead of seeking the service of a
professional graphic designer.

The next day, he started the design

process with his smartphone and had
the flyers ready in a few minutes.

He felt happy that he didn't waste his

money on something he could actually
do.

Blud is playing!

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 33

Unfortunately, disappointment set in
during the first week.

Most people scorned at the flyer

whenever he tried giving them and the
few who collected didn't hesitate to
thrash it when they left his side.

Adding to his frustration, most of the

people he sent the soft copies too,
didn't bother reposting.

"The most important thing is my family

reposted," he said.

Na family go patronise am

He continued with the distribution and

all, but, things got worse.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 34

He couldn't deal with it anymore so he
confided in one of his coursemates who
was a professional graphic designer.

That was when he realised that the

whack design did his up-and-coming
brand more harm than good.

And, he didn't hesitate to seek the

service of his coursemate.

DaniDani, what took you so long?

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 35

 You can end the story (if you want to,
but remember you aren't writing a
novel) and pass across your message.
You can write something like this:
You're probably about to harm your
brand's identity like Daniel or you
have acted like him before.
Then you proceed to let them know
how important it is to seek the
service of a professional graphic
designer instead of harming their
brand's identity by creating whack
designs by themselves.
Now, use that opportunity to
unashamedly talk about your
professionalism (CTA).

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 36

 You can just write something like
this:

A professional graphic designer will

leave you fulfilled instead of
frustrated, so, what's stopping you
from seeking my service?

PS: Just ensure your story has a

purpose.

One of the comments on the carousel

format on LinkedIn.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 37

B. SEO CONTENT WRITER: As an SEO
Content Writer, you might want to:

1. Share successful SEO-writing project

you've worked on. Like a before and
after story.
2. Share tips related to SEO (Search
Engine Optimisation).

Let's choose the second purpose:

We'll talk about aunty Tara, an up-and-

coming SEO content writer

AS AN SEO CONTENT WRITER, HERE'S

WHAT YOU'RE NOT DOING RIGHT...

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 38

 Tara, an up-and-coming SEO Content
Writer just completed an SEO-writing
course and chose LinkedIn as the right
platform to showcase her skill.

On one hand, she posted valuable

content and on the other hand, she sent
cold DMs to prospective clients.

"Jobs can come from either outbound

or inbound marketing," she assured
herself.

In a few months, she got her first

client via outbound marketing.

"Your portfolio shows you I can trust

you with crafting search-optimised
content for my blog, so, I would like to
work with you," Tara read the client's
message with joy.

After a virtual call where they further

discussed, Tara got to work.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 39

At first, the client was highly impressed
because his blog was doing very well.

However, in a few weeks, the blog began

to perform poorly.

Tara couldn't help but question her

ability. "What am I doing wrong?"

It took her countless sleepless nights

and extensive research to realise her
mistake.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 40

Turned out she went against one of the
rules of SEO- she stuffed her content
with many keywords.

Mama wants to do "the

more, the merrier.

She made corrections where necessary

and everything went back to normal.

You can end the story here and write

the message like this:

As an SEO content writer, stuffing your

content isn't the best way to rank on
search engine result pages, you can rank
with less keywords if you do it right.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 41

Now, use that opportunity to add a CTA:
Do you want to get 1% better every day?
Follow me for more SEO tips.

Imagine having someone who doesn't

follow me repost!

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 42

C. PRODUCTIVITY COACH: As a
productivity coach, your pain points are:

1. Share productivity tips such as how-

to guides, balancing work with school
or family, etc.
2. Let them know how you can help
them work smarter and be more
productive.
We'll choose the second purpose:

Let's talk about Mary, the professional

procrastinator.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 43

 IF YOU FIND PROCRASTINATION
HARD TO TACKLE, YOU NEED TO
READ THIS!

Mary was a talented girl with big

ambitions. She aspired to be a student
who would make a difference.

Unfortunately, these ambitions were

difficult to achieve because of one bad
habit that had gotten the best part of her.

When it came to school work, Mary

would only start her assignments a few
hours to the deadline.

And, in the end, she was left with no

choice than to submit poorly done
assignment that earned her poor grades.

Tears overflow!!!

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 44

She suddenly found everything related to
school hard and boring.
Sadly, exams were around the corner, so
she needed the zeal to study.

Mary confided in one of her close friends

who referred her to a productivity coach.
She doubted that Sola, the coach could
help her out- she wondered if she had any
sort of magic.

Fairy godmother

During their first call, Sola knew Mary

was skeptical, so she vowed to prove to
her that she was up to the task.

She followed up with Mary closely to

detect the cause of her procrastination.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 45

In the long run, she detected the cause
and proceeded to give Mary some
techniques on how to manage her tasks
and prioritize them.

She further guided her on how to create a

daily schedule, eliminate distraction and
take short breaks to avoid burnout.

It wasn't as easy as Mary expected, but,

Sola never stopped being her guide.

Mary got better before exams and in a

few months, she went from being a pro at
procrastination to being a pro at
productivity.

Productive Mary!!!

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 46

Since you intend to let your audience
know how you can help them boost their
productivity, end with this:

Procrastination doesn't only steal your

time, it makes you inefficient in
everything you do. .
But, the good thing is you can also be a
pro at productivity like Mary and I'm
here to ensure that.
Send PROductivity to get started.
Or...
With a clarity call from me, you can also
be a pro at productivity like Mary.
Click the link below for a 1:1 session.

Just be creative!!

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 47

See what the character I used (Sola)said
about it.

D. DIGITAL MARKETER: You might want

to:

1. Share tutorial videos, how-to guide,

checklists, etc.

2. Create a promotional content.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 48

 3. Share a client's success story.

So, let's go for the third purpose:

We'll talk about Dennis, the founder of
DenTech, a struggling startup.

Blud needs help.

HERE'S HOW I CAN MAKE YOUR

STARTUP THRIVE!
A few months ago, Dennis, the founder of
DenTech reached out for my digital
marketing service.
During our call, he explained to me that
his startup was struggling to have a
strong hold in the software industry.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 49

And he had reached out to a few digital
marketers who failed to produce the
positive results he wanted.

"I went through your portfolio and

figured out you will be able to handle it,"
he said.

Taking over, I figured out there were

some critical issues to handle.

Smart moves only!

The website was outdated, it lacked

user-friendly navigation, and there was
little or no content to showcase
DenTech's mission, vision and values.

All these I could take care of, but, it sure

would need me to put extra efforts.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 50

So, I crafted a digital marketing
strategy- revamped the website and the
social media pages, created a strategic
content calendar, and worked on
content creation in diverse formats.

Now, I have helped them:

1. Drive web traffic by 200%.

2. Increase social media management by

300%.

3. And boost the company's sale by

400%

Dennis was so elated with this digital

triumph that he doubled my payment
and hired me as DenTech's full time
remote digital marketer.

There, I have succeeded in making my

client happy and fulfilled.

Okay! The story has ended...

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 51

NOTE:
1. The figures are fictional. Copy the
story style, not the figures.
2. Don't limit yourself, please. Highlight
everything you did for the client so
prospects will have an idea of how you
handle your work.
3. I used startup because there are digital
marketers who focus mainly on startups.
Now, to the end and the CTA, you can
write something like this:
I can help you erase the worries you have
about your startup's online presence.
With me, a grand digital triumph is
assured for your startup.

E. PERSONAL BRANDING STRATEGIST:

You might want to:

1. Write about those who doubt your

service.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 52

2. Share a customer's success story.

3. Or, create engaging content for up-

and-coming personal branding
strategist.

Let's go for the first purpose:

We'll talk about Bukola, who doubted

the magic of a clarity call.

Second-hand doubting Thomas

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 53

 HOW I HANDLED A CLIENT THAT
PROVED TOUGH...
Having been on LinkedIn for years,
Bukola felt it was high time she built
her brand.
She revamped her profile and started
posting valuable content with no idea
that she was still missing out on some
things.
A few weeks later, she saw an
opportunity to hop on a call with
Queensley, a personal brand
strategist.

She scrolled past the post, but, on a

second thought, she went back to it.

"I'll just try," she said and clicked the

link.

She hopped on the call, but got more

confused when she was told to niche
down.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 54

 Confusion at its peak

The thought of nicking down scared her

because she had no idea which niche was
the best for her.

She got frustrated and didn't see the need

to continue the call.

She began to lose interest in everything

Queensley was saying that it became
obvious.
Queensley vowed to douse Bukola's
frustration before the call ended, but it
got worse.

"Stop bothering yourself about niching

down for now, just work on these
strategies I'm about to share," Queensley
said.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 55

It took days for Bukola to start
implementing the strategies Queensley
shared with her.

And with the implementation, everything

begin to make sense.

She saw her brand thrive so well

LinkedIn that she couldn't help but
appreciate Queensley

What started with a call that birthed

confusion, ended with a clarity.

Now, end the story and pass your

message across like this:

Doubts will bring your brand down, but a

clarity call from me coupled with a
thorough guide and proven strategies,

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 56

will elevate your brand.
Just ensure you unashamedly talk about
your professionalism and you can help.

The comment from the character in the

story.

F. FINANCE CONTENT WRITER: As a

finance writer, you might want to:

1. Talk about budgeting and saving

techniques.
2. Share financial planning for career,
parenthood or retirement.

3. Share lessons learned from

financial failures.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 57

Let's choose the second purpose:
We'll talk about Brother Femi, the artist.

PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FINANCIAL

RISKS BY DOING THIS...

Femi, a guy in his 20s had a flair for art

and he aspired to be a renowned artist.
His immeasurable desire for art didn't
allow him get frustrated despite the
financial constraint he faced.

He admired other artists and their

masterpieces, but unlike them, Femi
focused on perfevting his craft and left
the financial aspect to fate.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 58

 Blud wants to live by arts alone

As someone who barely had money, he

didn't see financial planning as a crucial
element.
It took his friend's enlightenment, Bode
to realise how important financial
planning is.

"Financial planning is your key to a

fulfilling career, so you really need to put
an end to this financial agony," Bode
advised.
Without further ado, Femi started
working towards having a financial plan.
Then, he realised that there was more
to financial planning than keeping -

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 59

track of money.
At this point, you can decide to end it. If I
were you, I'd end with:
Financial planning isn't limited to only
the Rich. It's very important for
everyone.
OR...
Financial planning helps you get better
via setting goals, budgeting effectively
and protecting you from financial risk.

You see? You have talked about the

importance of financial planning for
career and even debunked the
misconception people have about it.

Well played!!!

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 60

G. HEALTH CONTENT WRITER: As a
health content writer, you need to
understand that health is a niche and it
has sub-niches like:

1. Fitness × Weight loss.

2. Nutrition.
3. Disease Prevention.
4. E. T. C
Now, you might want to:

1. Write to those who underestimate the

importance of good health.

2. Sell a product or offer a service related

to your niche.

3. Share health tips or debunk some

myths to enlighten your audience.

Let's go for the first niche and third

purpose:
We'll talk about Sophia's journey to
strength training.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 61

 Women-power!!!

IT'S HIGH TIME YOU STOPPED DOING

THIS!

Sophia dealt with people's snide remarks

about her body until she turned 17.

She had just gained admission and she

vowed to work on her strength such that
she wouldn't be body shamed anymore.

She discovered a Gym on campus and

signed up there.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 62

 When she finally started, most people
mocked her and the common question
was "What's this slim girl doing in the
gym?"

The sneers were enough to make her

quit, but she was determined, so, she
focused on her strength training journey,
not excluding her overall wellness.

A few months later, there was a

significant change in her body build and
it made people wonder how she did it.

Wonder woman 💃
Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 63
The people in the gym who mocked her
now understood her reason for showing
up at the gym consistently.
Sophia's journey motivated slim girls
around her.
Oya, we have come to the end of the
story...
You can end with:
The Gym is not limited to any body size,
it's for everyone and not only the chubby
people. When you see slim people in the
gym or you see them exercising on the
street, don't ask question.
It's high time you stopped limiting the
gym to just the chubby people. The gym
isn't just for losing weight, you can go
there to:

I never try?

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 64

H. PHOTOGRAPHER: As a photographer,
you might want to:

1. Hunanise your brand by sharing some

behind the scene (BTS) moments of your
creative process.

2. Educate your audience with tips, tricks

and tutorials.

3. Share the challenges or adventure of a

particular image

Let's go for the third one...

We'll talk about Lolu, the owner of Iris

Lens

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 65

LAST WEEK, I MADE A COUPLE CRY...

It's okay to judge me, but you might

change your mind after reading.
So, this couple reached out to me for
their pre-wedding photo shoot and
wedding photo shoot,

They wanted the pictures to be

extraordinary and when I named my
price, they cut it down to the price of
ordinary pictures.

"Is it not just to carry the camera and

click?" the husband asked.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 66

Rather than argue with them, I politely
declined.

Guess who came back just a few days to

their wedding?

Turned out the photographer whose

service they sought made them ordinary
pictures.

"The pre-wedding pictures didn't come

out well at all," the wife lamented.

You think say you dey wise?

Due to the disppointment, they were

willing to pay for my service and even pay
extra.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 67

I desperately wanted to make them cry.
They deserved it anyway.

On their big day, only tears of joy should

roll down their faces and I wanted to
make it happen.

Last week, when I went to show them the

pictures, they were emotional and that
made me proud.

"I wish we hired you for our pre-wedding

photo shoot, " the husband said.

Too late to mend.

I was happy that they finally chose me to

bring their big day to life.

You can end it here...

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 68

This story serves three purposes:
1. It communicates the adventure of the
couple's picture.

2. It communicates the one of the

missions of your brand- bringing big days
to life.
3. It communicates a vital tip for up-and-
coming graphic designers.

Our focus is the first so your CTA can be:

Your big day matters a lot to us, so, let's
help you bring it to life. Book us today
and avoid stories that touch the heart.

Fake photographers plenty

outside!

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 69

I. PRODUCT DESIGNER: As a product
designer, you might want to:
1. Share insights into your design
process- more like behind the scene
(BTS) moments.
2. Emphasise the importance of user-
centered design.
3. Educate your audience on essential
design principles- to help aspiring
designers.
Let's go for the second purpose:
We'll talk about Stacy, a user whose life
was transformed by a product designed
with empathy.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 70

HOW I CAN TURN YOUR STRUGGLES
INTO BOUNDLESS HORIZONS...

Everyone knew Stacy as a passionate

graphic designer.
Her designs were second to none and this
made people seek her service the more.
However, there was one thing that almost
hindered her from having a fulfilling
career.

Devil is a liar!

While people commended her for her

craft, she struggled with visual
impairment.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 71

It was so bad that she went through hell
to get her clients' designs done.
To make matters worse, the graphic
design software she used wasn't easy to
navigate anymore.
And this, she hid thinking that she could
manage the situation.

It didn't get any better, so she began her

search for graphic design software
designed with empathy.

She installed a few software and checked

them out only one had a user-friendly
interface that priortised accessibility.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 72

It was so easy for her to navigate, and the
software had voice-guided prompts and
haptic feedback that made her 'feel' the
design elements on her screen.

Now, Stacy is no longer burdened by the

limitation that once held her back. Her
creativity now shines!

The world is now her stage!

Story has ended... Now, let's pass our

message across.

Stacy's story is an inspiration to many

because the graphic design software was
designed with empathy acknowledging
the pressing needs of users like Stacy.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 72

The importance of user-centred design
can't be underrated. You need to prove
that innovation with empathy would
create a safe space where everyone can
use their unique talents.

Wondering how you can design a product

with empathy?

Send a DM and let's make life easier for

people like Stacy.

You're welcome.

J. PRODUCT MANAGER: As a product

manager, you want to:
1. Talk about the relevance of effective
productive strategies.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 73

2. Share insights on creating user-
personas and conducting usability
testing.
3. Highlight successful product launch
case studies.

Let's talk about the first purpose:

YOUR BRAND WON'T THRIVE

WITHOUT THIS...
When I joined Smartz Corporation as a
product manager, it was facing some
challenges.

They were lost amongst their competitors

and they hardly made sales.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 74

With a thorough market analysis, I
figured out that Smartz's product
positioning was weak while their
competitors clearly communicated their
value proposition.

I swerved into action by spearheading a

team to:

• Redefine our target audience.

• Reassess our product positioning.

• And come up with a clear strategy.

With our revamped online presence, our

market share increased by 50% in 1 year
and our customers' ratings skyrocketed.

I didn't just help Smartz Corporation gain

market leadership, I also helped them
establish a foundation for sustained
growth.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 75

 It's our work.

Story has ended. You can pass your

message across like this:
Your brand won't thrive without the right
productive strategies put in place but
with the right strategy, any challenge can
be tackled.
Want to have a proactive product
management like Smartz Corporation?
Send a DM to get started.

That's all!

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 76

K. VIRTUAL ASSISTANT: As a virtual
assistant, you might want to:
1. Showcase success stories of how your
VA services have positively help clients'
businesses
2. Keep your audience updated about the
latest trends, news related to the VA
realm.
3. Offer tips/ tips/resources for up-and-
coming Virtual assistants.

Let's go for the first purpose.

We will talk about how Becca, a virtual
assistant came through for Kelvin.

Life saver!

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 77

MY DAUGHTER DEFINITELY HATES ME
NOW...

This my client, Kelvin said while we were

on a call.
Turned out he had been an absent father
in his daughter's life and she was starting
to hate him.
He had deadlines to keep to and this
made him so engrossed in his work that
he barely had time for his wife and
daughter.
"My wife understands, but Nancy doesn't.
I unintentionally missed her graduation
party and she has even refused to talk to
me since then," he said.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 78

I felt his pain and I vowed to do
everything to reduce his workload just so
he could have more time for his family.
I resumed my duty as agreed, but the first
week didn't go as planned because Kelvin
was used to fast-paced rhythm of
corporate life.

The subsequent weeks went well as I

helped Kelvin with my organisational
prowess and handled most of his tasks
effectively.
I freed him from the shackles of endless
jobs just so he could spend more time
with his family.
And, one morning, he sent a picture of a
handmade card by Emily that read 'Best
Dad Ever'
He then sent a note of appreciation
where he thanked me for the profound
impact of my service on his relationship
with his family, especially Emily.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 79

I was happy to help Kelvin turn the
missed precious-time with his daughter
into cherished moments.

The story has ended o! Let's go straight to

the point.
No amount of work can replace family
moments. I'm here for every Kelvin.
Book a call with me via the link below so I
can help you maintain a great work-life
balance.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 80

L. MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE: As a
MHA, you might want to:
1. Share your mental health journey from
the challenges to the triumphs- highlight
the key points that led to you seeking
help.
2. Share various mental health
conditions, treatment, and importance of
seeking professional help.
3. Promote mental health awareness
events, campaigns and initiatives.

Let's go for the first purpose:

We'll talk about Festus, a mental health

advocate- let's read his mental health
journey story.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 81

A FEW WEEKS AGO, I DANCED WITH
MY SHADOWS...

Sometimes, I find it funny when people

think I never had to fight my inner
struggles.

Most of them think I have had it all good

from the beginning.

It's okay to think that way, no offense at

all. But, I will tell you this for free:

There was a point in my life when I

allowed my personal demon get the best
of me.
It got to a point where I doubted even my
simple decisions.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 82

I found solace in isolating myself because
the world out there irked me.
Funnily enough, I had to show up for my
audience while I went through this
hellish phase.

I was scared that it would be a shame if

people got to know that I was having it
rough as a mental health advocate.

But, then came a turning point where I

had to accept the need for change.
"There is really nothing bad in practising
what you preach," I said to myself.

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 83

So, I unashamedly reached out to a
mental health profession.
From there, I got relieved of the burdens
I carried with fears and got better.
I was happy to get the relief that I
provided to other people.

Now, you can end here and pass across

your message:
There is no one that wouldn't face his
demon. Even the mightiest will.
I shared this story to encourage those
who help others out, but are scared to
seek help because they are scared of what
others will say.
Seeking help doesn't make you weak!

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 84

 FINAL NOTE

Finally, you are done! But, you can't tell

me you now know how to tell stories.

Have you implemented?

Now, let me tell you about the three Cs of

this book:
1. Craft: This basically has to do with
writing stories- engaging stories-
compelling stories-relatable stories.

2. Connect: Building a deep connection

with your audience is very important and
that's where storytelling comes in.
Tell stories in such a way that your
audience will feel they know you on a per-

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 85

sonal level!
Cash-out: Funnily enough, you are
always eager to get to this part, when in
reality, the first two are very important.
Here is the point where you don't have to
stress before you get your audience to
pay for your service.
So, if I were you, I would consistently
craft compelling stories to connect with
my audience and then, cashout!

You dey find shortcut?

Dey play!!!

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 86

 MEET ME

My name is Zainab Olanrewaju, aka

Zaolat. I am a stolutionist who has a
strong passion for storytelling and a
strong desire to share with you the
concepts that occupy my imaginative
mind.

Got any storytelling ish? You can connect

with me via:
1. LinkedIn
2. WhatsApp
3. Substack
Read more about my done-for-offer here:
TSC newsletters

Storytelling ToolKit For Personal Brands 87