In the fast-paced world of media pitching and content creation, generating new ideas for stories is both an exciting challenge and a necessary task. For professionals in PR, marketing, or communications, coming up with fresh, attention-grabbing angles is crucial. But what if you could take a single topic and turn it into multiple compelling stories that cater to different media outlets? That’s where the power of “your topics | multiple stories” comes into play.
This article will show you how to break down your brand story, uncover hidden gems, and strategically craft various narratives from one central idea. You’ll learn how to pitch multiple media outlets with ease, keep your content fresh, and make the most of your research and resources without burning out. Let’s dive into how to create multiple stories from your brand’s core message, ensuring your content resonates with diverse audiences and attracts media interest.
What Makes “Multiple Stories” Work?
Multiple stories aren’t just about coming up with a lot of content; it’s about creatively spinning one core idea into a variety of narratives, each with a unique angle. This strategy allows you to maximize the impact of your content while avoiding the stress of constantly having to come up with new, unrelated ideas. By diving deeper into different aspects of one topic, you ensure that your content remains relevant, fresh, and tailored to different audiences.
Here’s why breaking your main story into multiple pieces works:
- Fresh Perspectives: A single story can take on different meanings depending on the audience. With each new narrative, you gain a fresh perspective on the same idea, which can make it more engaging and informative.
- Expanded Reach: When you pitch various versions of your story to different outlets, you can reach a broader audience. Different media channels have unique readerships, and catering your message to fit their needs will enhance your reach.
- Ongoing Content: Rather than focusing on a single, comprehensive article, you can stretch your content over time. This approach keeps your brand in the public’s eye and ensures you’re always providing fresh, new insights.
Finding Hidden Gems in Your Story
Creating multiple stories doesn’t mean simply recycling the same message. Instead, it’s about uncovering hidden gems within your initial narrative that can lead to entirely new story ideas. Let’s walk through how you can identify these gems:
1. Start with the Basics of Your Story
To begin, ask yourself the following questions:
- What does your brand stand for?
- How are you impacting the community or your audience?
- What specific results are people seeing from your services or products?
Answering these questions helps you uncover different facets of your brand’s story that may not be immediately obvious. By identifying key themes, you’ll be able to create distinct narratives. For instance, if your brand is about simplifying complex concepts, one story could focus on how you help customers reduce stress by simplifying their decision-making process.
2. Dive Deeper into the Community Impact
Next, examine how your brand or business impacts different groups. Each of these groups can represent a new angle for a story. For example, if your nonprofit provides educational resources to low-income families, one story might focus on the challenges faced by one community, while another might tell the story of a student’s success after receiving your help.
By approaching your narrative through the eyes of different people or groups, you can generate multiple unique stories from the same core idea. Each story becomes a lens into a different part of your work.
3. Revisit Your Values
Your brand’s values are fundamental to your story. Reflect on how each value is expressed through your services or actions. For example:
- Integrity: How does your organization demonstrate integrity in its operations? This could translate into a story about ethical business practices or transparency.
- Community Engagement: A piece focused on how you engage with local communities or contribute to social causes can be another distinct story.
Don’t overlook the value of reinterpreting your brand’s core principles in different ways, as these can become the foundation for a range of articles.
Key Practices to Implement for Creating Unique Stories
Now that you’ve identified the potential for multiple narratives, it’s time to implement strategies for creating these stories. Here’s a guide to ensure that you’re not just creating new content, but content that resonates:
1. Answer the Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How
To break down your main idea into several stories, consider the who, what, when, where, why, and how of your narrative:
- Who is impacted by your brand or service? Who can you interview to provide personal insight?
- What are the challenges, solutions, and benefits associated with your topic?
- When did key events happen, or when can your audience see tangible results?
- Where does the story take place? Can you tell a location-specific story?
- Why should people care about your story? What’s the broader impact of your brand’s mission?
- How is your story relevant to today’s world? How is it different from what’s already been done?
By answering these questions, you’ll find new angles to tell your story in a way that connects with different media audiences.
2. Gather Insights from Internal Sources
The perspectives of your team, volunteers, or customers are invaluable when creating diverse stories. Talk to your staff, board members, beneficiaries, and others connected to your brand. You may discover angles or perspectives that you didn’t consider, giving you more material to work with.
3. Review Past Stories and Data
Look back at your organization’s history and previously published stories. How have they evolved? What’s changed over time, and what new twists can you apply to an older narrative? The power of revisiting past content lies in the ability to build upon it while keeping it fresh.
4. Focus on the Problems You’re Solving
Every brand, whether nonprofit or for-profit, solves a particular problem. Think about the pain points your audience faces and how your solution makes a difference. For example, a tech company may have an overarching story about simplifying tasks for busy professionals, but within that, you can create stories about how different industries benefit from their solution.
By framing your stories around problems and solutions, you’re creating narratives that highlight the tangible value your brand provides.
Getting the Media Interested in Your Story
Pitching the media effectively is crucial for getting coverage and expanding your reach. Here’s how to ensure your stories attract media attention:
1. Shape Your Story to Fit Different Media Audiences
Each media outlet has a unique audience, and it’s essential to tailor your story to fit the needs and interests of that audience. A local newspaper might be more interested in community-focused stories, while a national outlet may care about broader trends. Study the media outlet’s past stories and audience to shape your pitch accordingly.
2. Present a Variety of Angles
When you pitch a media outlet, offer them multiple versions of the same story. Highlight different aspects, such as a specific event, an individual story, or a case study that illustrates your brand’s impact. Providing diverse options gives the media more reasons to cover your story.
3. Stay Relevant and Timely
The media is driven by timing, so ensure your stories are relevant to current trends or events. Tie your narrative to relevant news, holidays, or industry trends to make it more appealing. For example, if you run a wellness brand, you could pitch a story about stress management techniques during National Mental Health Month.
4. Build Relationships with Journalists
A long-term relationship with journalists can increase your chances of media coverage. By consistently providing valuable content and engaging with media representatives, you can build trust and establish your organization as a reliable source of stories.
Final Thoughts: How to Make the Most of Your Brand Story
Creating multiple stories from one central topic is a powerful way to keep your content fresh, relevant, and engaging. By taking a holistic view of your brand, identifying hidden gems, and implementing effective story creation practices, you’ll be able to develop a wide array of stories that resonate with different audiences.
Remember, the key to success is not just in the quantity of stories but in the quality of each narrative. Tailor each story to the needs and interests of your audience, and stay focused on the heart of your brand’s mission and values.
By following the strategies outlined in this article, you’ll be able to pitch stories to the media with confidence and clarity, ensuring that your brand stays visible, relevant, and top-of-mind. Whether you’re a nonprofit, a small business, or a large corporation, leveraging multiple story ideas from a single theme is a game-changing approach to content marketing and media outreach.
FAQs
Q1: How can I identify the right angles for my brand’s stories?
Answer: Start by answering key questions about your brand’s mission, values, and impact. Talk to internal sources and review past stories to find new perspectives.
Q2: How do I pitch multiple stories to the media?
Answer: Tailor each version of your story to fit the interests of the outlet and its audience. Offer different angles, such as case studies, interviews, and results-based narratives.
Q3: How can I keep my brand’s stories fresh over time?
Answer: Regularly revisit your content, update data and statistics, and explore new angles or untold stories within your organization. Always keep an eye on trends and be adaptable.
Q4: What’s the best way to stay organized when creating multiple stories?
Answer: Use content planning tools and spreadsheets to outline your story ideas, track pitches, and ensure you’re hitting various angles for different outlets.