The Stakes in a StoryBrand Website: Enhance and Improve your Message
Now that we’ve broken down and shown some of our work in the ‘Header’ portion of the StoryBrand Website, let’s dive into the ‘Stakes’ section. ‘The Stakes’ plays a pivotal role in captivating the audience and driving meaningful engagement. Let’s delve into what ‘The Stakes’ entail, why it matters, and how it can elevate the impact of your StoryBrand website.
What is ‘The Stakes’?
‘The Stakes’ represent the consequences, both positive and negative, that the customer faces based on their decision to engage with a product or service. It essentially answers the question; “What does the (the customer) stand to gain or lose?”. This highlights the real-world implications of the customer’s choice, making the narrative more relatable and compelling. If only there were a ‘The Stakes’ section to life itself, we’d all feel like we were winning all the time.
The Importance of ‘The Stakes’
- Emotional Connection:
‘The Stakes’ create an emotional connection with the audience. By understanding the potential outcomes of their decisions, customers can relate their personal experiences to the product or service offered. Emotional resonance fosters a sense of empathy and understanding. This is particularly true of a brand that comes to mind that rhymes with Dis-knee…where the emotional connections run generations deep across all their businesses.
- Clarity and Relevance:
Clearly defined stakes help customers understand the relevance of the product or service in their lives. It provides context, helping them see how what you’re offering can address their specific needs or challenges. This clarity is essential for making an informed decision.
- Motivation to Act:
Knowing the stakes motivates customers to take action. Whether it’s making a purchase, signing up for a service, or engaging with content, understanding the potential consequences compels them to move forward. This motivation is crucial for conversion and driving desired outcomes.
- Memorability:
Well-designed stakes make a story memorable. When customers can vividly remember the stakes associated with a product or service, they are more likely to remember the brand. This memorability reinforces brand recognition and loyalty. Remember, the jingles? They’re hard to forget because they memorable!
Crafting Effective ‘Stakes’
Designing compelling stakes requires a deep understanding of the target audience. Here are some key things to consider:
- Know Your Audience:
Understand the aspirations, fears, and challenges of the audience. Tailor the stakes to resonate with their emotions and experiences.
- Be Specific:
Specificity adds credibility to the stakes. Use concrete examples and data to highlight the potential outcomes. Specific stakes are more convincing and relatable. This is not the time to be vague and broad, or you risk losing the customer’s interest quickly by trying to target the wrong audience.
- Highlight Positive and Negative Stakes:
Balance is key. Highlight both the positive outcomes (achieving dreams, success) and negative consequences (missed opportunities, challenges) to provide a comprehensive point of view.
- Use Storytelling:
Integrate the stakes into a strong narrative. Storytelling makes the stakes more engaging and helps customers visualize the impact of their decisions.
In the end, the ‘Stakes’ in a StoryBrand Website is the glue that binds customers to a brand long after the service or transaction is completed. By understanding and addressing the real-world implications of their choices, businesses can create powerful connections with their customers. Crafting effective stakes requires empathy and clarity of customers needs. When done right, this element transforms a website from a landing page to a relatable and impactful experience, driving conversions and building relationships.
An Effective ‘Stakes’
Snyder Wrestling Series is a compelling example of how ‘the stakes’ can motivate a parent to make the decision to enroll their athlete in a wrestling camp. Pairing your emerging athlete with world-class instruction in order for them to become a successful wrestler is the goal. Otherwise, they lose the opportunity to improve not just their wrestling skills but also have fun with under the instruction of professional athletes. After all, who better to train your athlete than the best?
An additional example of an effective ‘Stakes’ can be seen at United Safety Associates. They showcase the importance of safety by list the consequences of not choosing their products or training services as a way to emphasize the importance of their offerings. By highlighting potential risks or negative outcomes that could result from not using their safety solutions, they aim to make potential customers aware of the stakes involved.
Your StoryBrand Website should reflect exactly what your target audience stands to achieve with you as their partner right beside the cost of what it will cost them if they choose not to.