Maybe Stories are just Data with a Soul

Let me start by saying the title of this post came from a TED speech given by Brené Brown, called “The Power of Vulnerability”. My blog, however, is not based on what she so eloquently spoke about; instead, it is about what the phrase “maybe stories are just data with a soul” makes me think of.

To those of you who blog regularly, there is often talk about different products and services that are loved and appreciated. I am not by any means a blogger extraordinaire, however, I do appreciate a blog post that makes me want to experience something new and different. A post that has that kind of power is not only evocative, but it is necessary for the continuously growing community of shoppers who research products online before they go to buy them at their local store(s). Think about how back in the 50s and 60s commercials were longer and often were full stories that were sometimes incorporated into the show it was backing. Those stories sold our parents/grandparents on various products, because they were hearing about the products’ story from a trusted face, here’s a perfect example. These stories, are what propel sales and in return create trackable data, be that sales, impressions, page views, etc.

So often today we concentrate on getting page views and aggregating our material that we forget that we are telling a story or that we are making a personal connection to a product, a service and/or a retail location.  Whether or not you realize it, someone is relying on your opinion, so telling the story of your excursion is something that others not only look forward to reading, but also will rely on for creating their own opinions. You may not know them, but for all intents and purposes, they believe they know you and therefore trust you. Though you may look at your data as numbers and a part of your business, your data is really your followers, your blog’s soul. Readers help bloggers find their voice, by letting them know what they do and don’t like to read, which in turn creates a collective soul that each reader feels connected to and feels special to be a part of.

In essence, each blog creates an experience for the reader. Whether you are posting about laundry detergent or salsa, you are creating an experience that they will take with them. It will become a part of them and they, in turn, will think of you when they see that product. To me, that’s bearing your soul, albeit in a different format than you are used to, but none the less you are creating a soulful experience that to some may just be data, but to me, it’s a story with soul.

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