It has become popular to talk about brand in terms of a story. Let’s be as clear as possible with this, a brand is not a story. If it is then it’s created using William Burroughs ‘Cut Up Method’.
Innovation should be a top priority for every organization, and today I want to shine a light on one of the most innovative and creative leaders in business history, Walt Disney. Could you learn anything from Disney? Nike CEO Phil Knight thought so, and while I was the Director of Brand Planning and Marketing Insights at Nike, he directed me to study Disney’s business practices to see if we could discover anything of use to...
When I was approached by a commissioning editor two years ago with the idea of writing Brand Storytelling: Put Customers at The Heart of Your Brand Story, I would have never imagined how the very topic I’d been writing about and trying to evangelize on a public stage would become a leading innovation during one of the most cathartic moments in modern day history.
What’s a story without a villain? Most storytelling experts will tell you that though not every hero necessitates a villain, a great story will include an anti-hero or bad guy because these characters instigate conflict – and tension typically tends to make the narrative more exciting.
More and more, brands are finding their way to the intersection of brand and entertainment, adopting Hollywood’s tools and techniques that lead to blockbuster story brands. Rightfully so in an attention economy that rewards brands that are both meaningful and interesting.
