Via LinkedIn Groups

Group: Professional Writers
Discussion: Content That Tells a Story

To try and bring a storytelling quality to my website I began my home page with this:

Let’s say you asked me this question: “Why should I work with you? Why do I need your help?” Here’s what I would say. “The old ways of communicating are no more. The landscape and language of business is changing at warp speed. A unique customer experience begins with your voice. A clear, creative, authentic voice. And in this social media world, we want to know who you are, what your business means and how your business changes lives.
Posted by richard pelletier

Via LinkedIn Groups

Group: Professional Writers
Discussion: Content That Tells a Story

This would seem to lend itself well to a task-oriented approach to writing a user guide (and maybe this is what Julie is saying).

A user guide should answer the user's question, "What can I accomplish with this software?" The answer would be the narrative ("You can create a brochure"), to which we add the software steps and (sparingly) the technical bits. This is an entirely different question than "What does the software do?" which is most often the question a developer will ask and which leads to dull "interface tours" that are irrelevant to users.
Posted by Scott Spinola

Via LinkedIn Groups

Group: Professional Writers
Discussion: Content That Tells a Story

Here's a high-level example of how I've implemented a story-telling approach in technical documents: Imagine that you're describing the idea (for example, setting up system security parameters, managing user accounts) to your grandmother, or your neighbor while chatting over the fence. The kind of narrative you'd use ("Well, once you've installed this software, you'll want to limit who can get to the important files that control the system. So you should determine who <blah blah> and adjust <this or that> …") leaves out the technical details and forces you to focus just on a narrative flow. You'll discover quickly if there isn't a storyline, and if there isn't, maybe you need more information from the developers, or maybe the product has some gaps that you can point out to the development team.

If you find yourself coming up with a storyline that works, this might become the rudimentary outline for your document or chapter. An outline like this might differ a bit from the typical "describe a feature, here's how to use it" approach that is often used.
Posted by Julie Bettis

Via LinkedIn Groups

Group: Professional Writers
Discussion: Content That Tells a Story

Carolyn, I agree, and I think this is something that applies even in "traditional" technical documentation. Even the most dry, complex deliverable can and should follow a narrative thread. And when you've put a story structure like this in place, it can lead your audience through those technical details by providing context and keeping their interest.

Telling a story seems most naturally suited to describing concepts, but it can apply to organizing task information as well. As an editor and writer, I like to add value for my users by including that hint of story-telling in my documentation whenever possible.
Posted by Julie Bettis

Via LinkedIn Groups

Group: Online Lead Generation
Discussion: Content That Tells a Story

And still nothing would happen unless you invest on crowd sourcing to your page. Yes crowdsourcing can not be done without good social content, but without crowd sourcing even fantastic and the regularly updated social contents are not of any value.
Posted by Paramita Duttaray

Via LinkedIn Groups

Group: On Startups – The Community For Entrepreneurs
Discussion: Content That Tells a Story

That's certainly true, but that's just part of the story. Any effective content tells a story that has a direct impact upon the potential customer — they don't care about what you're saying until they realize it can effect THEM directly in a positive way. Tell a story about your company and it's just so much "blahblahblah." Tell a story about your CUSTOMER and now you're saying something.
Posted by Jim Schakenbach

Via LinkedIn Groups

Group: A Solo Business – Solopreneurs And Business Owners
Discussion: Content That Tells a Story

Carolyn, thanks.

I agree with your premise regarding the importance of 'story' in content.

Mac
Posted by Mac MacPherson