Times are changing fast, innovations appear nearly every month, and consumers constantly search for something fresh. This is basically the situation surrounding any modern industry these days, and things aren’t going to become easier. Customers are now looking for much more than a mere product. They want something more, something to make them feel motivated, engaged, and entertained. Even if the main point of a product or service is to teach you something, to solve a problem, or satisfy a basic need; brands need to do more to go up the sales funnel.
One of the ways to achieve this objective of staying relevant in these fast-paced times is to employ new marketing techniques. That’s where storytelling and gamification enter the picture. These two concepts, when smartly used, can make anything fun, attractive, and relatable. So, we’re here to teach you more about them and why you should consider implementing them into your marketing strategy.
What Is Storytelling?
Storytelling is the art of using words to engage the audience. As the term suggests, storytelling is basically telling a story. However, the term also focuses on telling the story in a way that keeps the reader interested in the content long after they’re done reading it. Storytelling is typically interactive. It presents a story, conveys emotions, and encourages the reader’s imagination.
You’d be surprised that lots of brands in various industries rely on this marketing tactic. You have accommodation services like Airbnb, sportswear companies like Nike, and fitness brands like Goodlife Fitness using it to their advantage. You’re not renting out a cheap room; you’re having a local experience. You’re not buying running shoes; you’re investing in improving yourself. You’re not working out; you’re improving your wellbeing.
It’s even present in other sectors, like the iGaming industry, too. Here, game providers mostly use it to create compelling storylines for their video slots. So, it’s not surprising that slots are the most popular casino game at the moment. Thanks to storytelling, you’re not just spinning reels. You’re going on adventures, looking for treasures, fighting monsters.
Storytelling as a concept can be used pretty much everywhere. You just need a creative team that knows how to apply it to your particular product or service. Storytelling isn’t about highlighting a product’s features. It’s more about highlighting the experiences and emotions you can have thanks to that product.
What Is Gamification?
Gamification is the use of typical gaming elements to make a specific product or service more engaging and exciting. Such elements are points, competitions, unlocking levels, and earning rewards. Gamification keeps users motivated to keep using the product or service even after a long period of time by providing a sense of accomplishment.
This concept can be applied virtually anywhere with a little bit of imagination. Think of learning applications that grant you points and badges for each completed course. Think of brands that give you loyalty points and then reward you once you collect a certain number of points. All this makes you attached to the brand, appreciated, and rewarded for your loyalty.
How to Mix Both?
As we established, storytelling and gamification focus on the customer and the customer journey. The first awakens one imagination, and the second boosts engagement. If you manage to create a compelling story surrounding your service and then support it with gamification elements, you’ll see impressive results and happier consumers. Naturally, all this should lead to increased loyalty, engagement, and, ultimately, revenues.