As a CMO, your job is to tell your brand’s story, making it resonate with your audience. So, why not learn from the masters of storytelling themselves – Pixar? Known for its heartwarming and memorable narratives, Pixar has revolutionized the art of storytelling. Here’s how Pixar’s storytelling tips can be translated into your marketing strategy:
Characters Over Successes:
Pixar believes the characters’ efforts are more admirable than their triumphs. This philosophy can be implemented in your brand storytelling. Highlight your brand’s struggles, challenges, and journey, making your brand relatable and human.
Audience First:
Pixar emphasizes creating interesting content for the audience rather than what’s fun to develop as a writer. As a CMO, always prioritize your audience’s perspective. Align your content and storytelling with your audience’s interests, needs, and aspirations.
Simplicity is Key:
“Less is More” – this applies to Pixar’s storytelling and your brand narrative. Avoid over-complicating your story. Keep your brand message focused, clear, and straightforward. Simplicity fosters comprehension and memorability.
The ‘Once Upon a Time’ Formula:
Consider Pixar’s simple yet effective narrative outline. It can serve as a useful blueprint for your brand storytelling, helping to create a compelling narrative that keeps your audience hooked from beginning to end.
Challenge the Comfort Zone:
Just as Pixar challenges its characters with their opposites, challenge your brand to venture beyond its comfort zone. This stimulates innovation and growth and creates engaging narratives of transformation and evolution.
Start with the End:
A clear vision of your end goal can guide your brand’s journey and narrative. It provides direction, helps maintain focus, and facilitates strategic planning.
Passion Fuels Narratives:
Pixar encourages storytellers to share narratives they’re passionate about. Likewise, your brand story should reflect the core values and missions that drive your passion. This creates an authentic and engaging narrative that resonates deeply with your audience.
No Work is Wasted:
All efforts, even those that don’t make it to the final cut contribute to the richness and depth of your brand story. Embrace this philosophy, valuing every idea, effort, and experiment as stepping stones in your brand’s journey.
Pixar’s guidelines serve as excellent guiding principles. However, storytelling is an art. So embrace these lessons, adapt them to your narrative, and watch your brand come alive.