I had the idea and luckily me, the opportunity of setting up the first English-language online magazine in Western Greece, which allowed me to showcase the beauty of this lush, green area of the Mediterranean and the fascinating stories of its characterful and extremely animated people. From passionate biologists carrying out work for Archelon, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece, to the energetic volunteers of the Zakynthos SAR (search-and-rescue) and their selfless efforts, to unearthing the stories of British soldiers lying in forgotten graves, having survived bloody battles in the Napoleonic Wars, only to succumb to fever - never to leave for their homeland.
I created a platform to share the stories of remarkable individuals and their intriguing efforts. Writing about people and their stories has always been a cornerstone of my marketing, and I have a passion for creating marketing content that engages readers and encourages them to take action. Sniffing out a story is a great skill for any marketer with a love and flair for writing.
We humans have been telling stories since the beginning of time. They help us to process our emotions, to connect with others, and to gain a better understanding of our place in the world. Storytelling encourages us to think, reflect, and learn from our experiences. It can also be a powerful tool for self-expression and communication.
My five year old self was enthralled by the spine-chilling tale my Irish granny would tell me a bazillion times over - of the wailing banshee. Its shrill cries seemed to echo through the air, heralding a dark omen of death. I was captivated by the grisly story, my eyes wide with delight as my granny would enrich the plot with every retelling. Her words were alive with colour, painting vivid pictures in my mind of the ancient creature, its long black hair cascading down its deathly pale face and beady eyes that pierced the darkness of the night. I would sit in absolute silence, eager for the next twist and turn of the story as my granny's voice soared and dipped to a whisper with the suspense of it all. Granny, bless, wasn't very PC. Now, looking back, I can see that this is definitely not the kind of story suitable for young children in this day, but she knew how to spin a yarn. My granny clearly understood the basics of crafting any type of narrative and these can be summarised into 5 great points:
1. Characters that readers can empathise with and cheer for.
2. A stimulating plot with interesting facts and benefits.
3. A vivid and descriptive setting.
4. Natural dialogue and language - know your audience.
5. Clear themes and objectives that readers can relate to.
By following these five steps, you can create content that stands out and resonates with readers (and scares small children).
If you or your marketing team need support creating content that engages your target audience and encourages them to take action, consider leveraging my content creation skills to craft stories that stand out. Whether you're looking for a full-scale strategic campaign, blogs, brochures, awards applications, press releases or ghostwriting thought leadership pieces - I have the experience to get it written up.
Content that stands out and resonates with readers...and scares small children!
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