What is a StoryBrand Guide?
If you’re familiar with Storybrand, you know what a guide is, but for those who don’t know what either is (which is probably the reason you are reading this), I want to give you the full scope, with a twist. We’ll call it the guides tell-all or at least some. In this blog, I’ve interviewed a few guides to share insightful information to help you better understand Storybrand, marketing, and even provide some helpful info on how to grow your business.
As a guide myself, I joined this wonderful community back in December of 2019. At the time, I was working for a commercial real estate company and was slowly piquing curiosity about freelancing.
Going through the certification, I met a ton of wonderful people that were so passionate about starting a business, scaling their business, and solving business problems. Their dream soon became mine. I decided right then and there I was going to have my own business.
Almost a year later, I finally went full time as a freelancer and am slowing but surely growing my business. I haven’t looked back since and I have Storybrand and the wonderful guide community to thank that for that. These are my people and once you get to know a little more about them in this interview, you’ll want them to be your people too.
Alright, let’s dive in.
WHAT IS STORYBRAND?
“Here’s the thing: most business leaders struggle to talk about what they do. The StoryBrand Marketing Framework helps companies clarify their message so their business starts growing again.”
- Kurt
“StoryBrand isn’t just a marketing framework, but a mindset shift in how businesses and organizations communicate to their customers.”
- Ryan C
“A messaging filter for your business/brand, so your audience knows what you do and how they benefit.”
- Ryan R
WHAT IS A STORYBRAND GUIDE?
“A StoryBrand Guide is the Yoda of Marketing & Communication. We are in the background helping our heroes (client’s) reach their full potential. We guide them on how to use proven storytelling techniques to reach their customers so they can provide the products and services that fulfill their clients needs.”
- Josh
“A StoryBrand Guide is a person who is certified by StoryBrand to execute the StoryBrand Framework. We serve businesses most often through digital marketing, but each of us brings their own unique gifts and experiences to the StoryBrand process! It’s a very cool community of super-nerds.”
- Katie
“A StoryBrand guide is a certified marketer who’s vetted, trained and licensed to implement the StoryBrand 7-part communication framework. The use of “story” is big now, but our framework is different in that we make the customer the hero of a story. Brands that focus on customers' problems and clearly communicate are the ones that are noticed and paid attention to in a noisy and cluttered marketplace.
StoryBrand has helped thousands of companies, from micro-businesses to Fortune 500 companies, transform and grow with this framework. It’s an honor to be able to use this communication tool to help my clients and their clients transform lives.”
- Michelle
ARE YOU A SOLOPRENEUR OR AGENCY?
“Solo Agency I’d say. I’m one person but I contract out parts of the work that aren’t in my wheelhouse.”
- Angel
“I’m a solopreneur...for now. The StoryBrand community is full of talented freelancers so there’s always someone ready to help if I need a hand.”
- Kurt
“My company B3 Advisors is a marketing agency and we specialize in creating clear messaging and then building amazing websites for our clients.”
- Mitch
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
“4 years - Certified in the very first group. I’m one of the original 20.”
- Ryan R
“I’ve been a guide for 9 months. I was certified in February 2020 - the last in-person class before everything went virtual.”
- Kurt
“July 2020”
- Angel
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH A STORYBRAND GUIDE?
“We’ve got skin in the game. Every Guide makes a pretty huge financial investment in this framework — and we do it because we know it will help us better serve our clients.”
- Paige
“Not only do we have training in how to create marketing that truly works, but we have the benefit of the StoryBrand community. When we get stumped, we have a bunch of really talented people to lean on. So yes, you might be hiring one Guide, but they’ve got over 700 other Guides in their back pocket to “phone a friend.”
- Katie
“SB Guides are trained in how to use the StoryBrand 7 Part Framework. This expertise will drastically decrease the time it takes to arrive at a clear message for your company. Not only will you save time, but you’ll be amazed at the wealth of messaging material you’ll have. A SB Guide will show you how you’ll have 7 different buckets you can pull from when it’s time to write emails, website copy, social media posts, press releases, and many more.”
- Mitch
HOW HAS STORYBRAND CHANGED YOU PERSONALLY & PROFESSIONALLY?
“StoryBrand has allowed me to start and run my business after being let go from a corporate role after 13+ years.”
- Ryan R
“Mindset is the biggest one. It’s given me access to a community of people that operate on a higher level than I’ve played at before in my career. It’s paid off immensely in terms of my confidence to charge what I’m worth and feel like I’m providing real value instead of a commoditized service.”
- Angel
“Becoming a StoryBrand Marketing Guide has given me new skills to help my clients reach their growth goals. It’s amazing what the rights words will do for your business. I’ve gotten to know a lot of great people in the StoryBrand community who have encouraged me and challenged me to be a better consultant and overall person. Thanks to StoryBrand, my wife Kaylee and I are on track to pay off our house early using Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps.”
- Kurt
“I remember experiencing that aha moment back in 2016 while listening to Donald Miller teach at the StoryBrand Marketing Workshop. It was incredible seeing a room full of business owners and marketers discover the power of StoryBrand for their business.
I walked away from the training with a new perspective on my role as a marketer. It corrected so much of what I disliked about marketing. Instead of putting the emphasis on myself and our business, it allows us to elevate our customers and put the spotlight on them.”
- Ryan C
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST REWARD THAT’S COME OUT OF BEING A STORYBRAND GUIDE?
“The biggest reward is seeing our clients thrive. I absolutely love it when they show us how their messaging is increasing their bottom line or when they call and say “Shutdown the advertising. We can not keep up the work!”
- Josh
“I’ve been a SB Guide since December of 2017. The biggest rewards for me have been working with amazing clients and other StoryBrand Guides. It’s really cool how SB attracts good people as clients and as Guides. I’ve also seen my business grow and my knowledge of marketing, copywriting, and execution have also increased.”
- Mitch
“Having a proven framework to pour my creativity into has been a game changer. My way with words is now anchored by a clear understanding of how those words fit into a story that’s truly compelling on a deep, universal level.”
- Paige
“The guide community of extremely talented, generous marketers who are peers and collaborators is one of the best parts of being certified.
We’re always open to give assistance, feedback and help to our fellow marketers. StoryBrand attracts a high caliber of friendly, talented (and fun) people that I’d want to be friends with as well as work with.
And helping a business owner get the clarity in their business messaging and marketing is inspiring. For some clients, it’s been years struggling to grow because they weren't communicating clearly and/or wasting money on marketing.”
- Michelle
HOW HAS YOUR BUSINESS CHANGED SINCE BECOMING A GUIDE/CERTIFIED AGENCY?
“The team at Agency Boon has been blessed to help 100s of businesses leverage the power of StoryBrand in their business. For many years we were really offering “all things to all people” and StoryBrand has helped us focus on finding the right clients.”
- Ryan C
“My income has tripled since I quit both of my jobs at the two Agencies I was working at before. I’m streamlining my own processes to fit how I work and think instead of trying to fit what I do into someone else’s box. I’m in control of my time and finances in a way I’ve never been able to achieve before.”
- Angel
“Prior to becoming a StoryBrand Guide, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue designing websites as my side gig. Business was slow and I didn’t have many systems in place to help my business scale. Becoming a guide gave me the resources and knowledge to produce better results for my clients and significantly grow my business.”
- Kurt
“It’s allowed me to grow faster than I could on my own. While I have other industry credentials and certifications, being a StoryBrand guide gives me the backing of a trusted name, respected brand and a proven framework that’s helped thousands grow their businesses.
The guide community gives me access to 500 fellow marketers who are here to help one another succeed and partner with for additional work.
StoryBrand’s continuous training and resources keep us informed and updated so we never have to seek outside training to stay current.”
- Michelle
“Becoming a Guide has given me clarity on the services I want to offer. My certification gave me the confidence to drop long-form content writing from my offerings and focus more on brand messaging, voice and tone, and strategic, conversion-driven copywriting. It feels good to have found my sweet spot after being in business for 10 years.”
- Paige
AS A GUIDE, WHAT IS ONE TIP YOU WOULD GIVE SOMEONE TRYING TO START THEIR OWN BUSINESS?
“I would recommend entrepreneurs to keep things as simple as possible at the beginning. Spend a lot of time engaging with potential clients to better understand their needs and then craft the business while implementing their feedback.”
- Ryan C
“Two-part tip that’s about the same idea: join a community and work with a coach! Both are aspects of being willing to ask for and receive help and guidance from people that are already where you want to be.”
- Angel
“Be patient. In our fast-paced world, we expect everything to happen overnight. Building a business takes time. Set realistic expectations and then work hard to make them become reality.”
- Kurt
“Don’t try to do it alone. Take part in a community, invest in a business coach, join a mastermind, rely on others who’ve gone before you. You’ll get there faster and earn more with peer guidance and professional connections.
We’re social beings and for many online business owners going at it alone, having an active and helpful community from various business stages, niches and even countries will give you insight, encouragement and direction to help you grow faster than you could on your own.”
- Michelle
“Hire a Guide! Or at least read Building a StoryBrand & Marketing Made Simple and then get a subscription to BMSU. There is a lot to do in starting a business and you want to make sure to start on the right foot. It's like cooking, you need the best ingredients to make the best food. Also don’t be afraid to fail but make sure to learn from your failures. Bad habits are hard to break.”
- Josh
“Take the time to use the SB7 framework on your own messaging. I’d also say you should invest in the Business Made Simple University platform. Once you do that, take the courses in this order: 1. Mission Statement Made Simple 2. StoryBrand Messaging Course 3. Communication Made Simple 4. Marketing Made Simple.
These courses will give you the foundation you need to start and grow your business the right way.”
- Mitch
“Let go of the monkey bars. I have this phrase literally have tattooed on my inner wrist — my first-ever freelance client shared it with me. You have to let go of what’s behind you to move forward, even if it feels scary. It’s okay to start small and dip your toes in the water at first. Starting a business isn’t for everyone, but you’ll never know if you don’t try.”
- Paige
“Use every opportunity as one to learn. This can go two ways. First, you might have to take smaller projects than you’d prefer. But focus on building that trust, building those referrals, and building that portfolio. I had a tiny project turn into a massive one over the course of a few months and I wouldn’t have had that opportunity if I didn’t say yes to a small project to start. Second, learn from everything around you. What billboards catch your attention? Which websites do you hate using? And answer why. If you can articulate what’s good and bad of other people’s writing and marketing, you’ll be one heck of a marketer in no time.”
- Katie
There you have it folks! So much knowledge and inspiration being dropped in one blog. If you’re in the process of starting your own business or even just starting a side gig I've included a few links from my fellow guides where you can go, follow, or sign up to learn more about them and how to successfully thrive in your business. I also want to mention that this post is in no way affiliated or sponsored by StoryBrand. I just want to share helpful information to those looking for it.
Have more questions about StoryBrand or becoming a certified guide, simply click here to learn more.
Alright, that’s it for now. Keep a lookout for more tips, hacks, design tutorials, and info like this one!
Ciao Creatives!
-Berenice
Business Name: B3 Advisors LLC
Business Website | Linkedin | Business LinkedIn
Business Name: Intensiv Agency
LinkedIn
Business Name: Paige Worthy LLC
Website
Business Name: Michelle B. Griffin LLC
Website | LinkedIn | Twitter
Business Name: Ryan Crozier
Website | LinkedIn | Instagram
Business Name: CareerBrand LLC
Website | @RyanRhoten for everything.
Business Name: Guide MKTG
Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
Business Name: Murphy Marketing
Website | LinkedIn | Instagram
Business Name: Optim Strategies
