This is the first in a series of stories I’ll be blogging about on the impact stories have on our lives and for our brands.
Stories are central to the human experience. Delivering information with emotional impact, they engage and entertain us.
People want to learn, seek inspiration and connect with others through stories.
Companies and brands that connect with audiences by telling compelling stories that matter to them instead of directly promoting their products, are remembered most.
Because video is a very powerful way to tell a story, more and more companies are embracing video storytelling to more deeply engage with consumers and develop stronger relationships with them.
Honda is one such company. Through its “Dream the Impossible” series of documentary films, the company connects viewers with the idea that nothing is impossible if you follow your dreams.
Directed by Oscar-nominated and other prominent filmmakers, the films feature people like professional surfer Laird Hamilton, artist Clive Barker, and Deepak Chopra, as well as with Honda engineers, sharing stories of success, perseverance and failure.
Started in 2009, the campaign has resulted in a tenfold increase in web traffic and significantly improved brand image and recognition.
Honda’s “Dream the Impossible” films, “The Undying Dream” being the most recent, are among many examples of powerful video storytelling which serves as a kind of emotional glue that connects us to each other.
What examples have you come across? Are there any films, videos or anecdotes on the power of story that you’d like to share? Please post them in the comments below and let’s keep this conversation going.
