Sharing Someone Else’s Story

Sometimes when you’re customizing PLR content, you'll think of a story that's perfect to include. The only problem is the story is not yours to tell. It's a story that belongs to a loved one, friend, or co-worker. You know the illustration fits perfectly but you're not sure how to share it. Here's what to do…

Get Permission

Before you do anything, it's important that you ask the person whose story you want to share if you can. If you don't ask permission and you publish someone else's details, you could damage that relationship and even end up in legal trouble depending on what you share.

You can start the conversation by approaching the other person and saying, “I'm working on a project about ABC topic and I’d love to share your story about ABC with my audience. Would you be up for that?”

Write the Story

Assuming you received permission, it's time to create the story. Start by creating a messy first draft. Write down all of the details as best you understand or remember them. You can edit or change this content later. But for now, just focus on the story.
When you've finished writing your first draft, it's time to edit it. During this editing phase you may realize you still have some questions for the other person. If that's the case, set aside some time to follow up and get the additional information you need.

Be Sensitive

Writing about someone else's life can open old wounds for them. In some situations, this can be a good thing because it opens the door for more healing. But it may still be painful for the person you're writing about.

As you work on this content, tread carefully. Be kind and ask questions without being judgmental or hurtful. Remember that your goal is to help people and that includes the person whose story you're sharing.

Show a Draft

Once you feel like you've captured the other person's story, it's time to ask for their feedback. Show them what you have so far and explain that it's a draft and still in need of polishing.

The person whose story you're sharing may love it and feel it’s perfect as-is. But they may also ask for changes to the piece. For example, a mother who's sharing the story of her teenage daughter’s eating disorder may want you to omit the name of the treatment center where her daughter receives help.

Explain Your Syndication

When you have a final draft ready, be sure to share it with the person you've written about. This is also the time when you'll want to share where this content will appear. Be specific so there are no unwelcome surprises for your interviewee.

You may say, “I’ll be sharing this story on my blog in (month). As part of my promotional strategy, I'll also be posting excerpts to social media networks and I might talk about it on my podcast or in my newsletter.”

Follow Up

On the day the content goes live, reach out and let the person know. Thank them for sharing. If you’re getting positive feedback include that with your message so you're interviewee knows that their story is making a difference.

Adding stories to PLR content is a great way to customize it. Whether you share your story or someone else's, stay focused on your ultimate goal—connecting with and inspiring your community.

Grab your free checklist that shows you step-by-step how to share a friend’s story on your blog or website! Join our free Facebook group and grab your copy!

The 4 Essential Elements of Good Stories

I used to struggle with my content marketing. I wanted to create content that would connect with my audience but no matter what I posted, I couldn’t get any engagement. I knew I was sending a good amount of traffic to my blog and social media channels so I was stumped.

Finally, I decided to take some actual training in content marketing to help me examine and diagnose my problem. During the training, we reviewed my website, blog, and social media channels. And we quickly pinpointed the problem. My content was too sterile. It sounded like I was talking at my audience instead of having a conversation with them.

I learned how to overcome this problem by weaving stories into my content so it felt more natural.

When it comes to personalizing your content with stories, it can be helpful to understand what makes a good story. These four elements can guide you through the storytelling process…

Goal

Every compelling story starts with a goal. Sometimes, the goal is simple like learning how to use new software. Sometimes, the goal is more complex like seeking a life partner or learning how to eat in healthy ways.

Before you tell a story, pause to reflect on the goal. For example, my goal was to boost her engagement rate and get more feedback from my community about what they wanted to see from me.

Motivation

Motivation is the why behind your goal. It’s what keeps driving you forward even in the face of obstacles and setbacks. Motivation can differ from person to person. You may be motivated to learn new content marketing skills because you want to advertise your business.

But your friend may be motivated to learn content marketing because she wants to earn enough money to bring her husband home from his job. In my case, I wanted a deeper connection with my target audience.

Conflict

Conflict is the obstacle between what you want and how you'll achieve it. Conflict is sometimes internal such as not being sure of the next move, doubting yourself, or getting stuck in a negative mindset.

Sometimes conflict is external. This happens when a force outside of yourself is preventing you from accomplishing your goal. For example, you lack the software you need to create a website or you lack the time to build your business.

Overcoming

The final element in any good story is the moment when you overcome an obstacle and achieve the results you wanted. How you overcome depends on your conflict. For example, you may have been dealing with negative thinking and a conversation with a friend helped you let go of those thoughts.

With external conflict, the overcoming is usually the result of taking action. If your goal was to build your own website and your conflict was that you’re not good with technology, then your moment of overcoming may have been purchasing an online course to learn how to use WordPress.

The best way to learn how to use stories in your content is to study how other marketers weave stories into their topics. The more you do this the easier it will get to see how the four elements work together to create gripping stories



Sharing stories is easy when you use our checklist – join our Facebook group now and get your free checklist!

Customize Your PLR with Stories

I love PLR content! I frequently buy it to use in my own business.

If you aren't sure what PLR content is, let me explain. PLR stands for Private label Rights. Private label rights are a special right or license you purchase which grants you the right to use content written by someone else as your own. Normally, using someone else's content can be considered plagiarism. But with PLR content, the author is giving you the right to use their material. 

What does this mean? Usually, this means you have the right to modify or re-write the material. You also have the right to claim to be the author. And you have the right to sell or give away the material as your own.

This is a very affordable way to get quality content for your site. Perhaps your writing skills aren't as good as you would like. Or perhaps you just don't have the time to create your own content. And in either case, hiring someone to create content for you can be very expensive. 

There is a downside however. Whereas a ghostwriter will be creating content only for you, PLR content may be sold to a multitude of users. And the internet loves original content and can actually punish users of duplicate content.

That's why it is so important to personalize your content.

When I talk about personalizing PLR content I get a lot of confusion. Many PLR users always post the content exactly as-is because they are afraid they'll “mess it up”. Or they may not understand they have the right to edit the material as they see fit.

While personalizing PLR isn’t necessary, it can help you strengthen the bond you have with your community.

Imagine you’ve purchased PLR on the topic of weight loss mistakes. You could use it as-is but if you take some time to personalize it, you’ll get more traction. You can do that by sharing a story from your own life, like the moment when you realized you’d eaten a whole bag of chips only to discover it wasn’t a single-serving bag. Or when you admit that you skipped your morning workout two days in a row. Moments like that make you relatable in the eyes of your audience.

Here are three more benefits of customizing PLR with stories…

Stories Grab Attention

You may not realize it but stories are around you constantly. You hear stories of heroism or tragedy on the news. You watch fictional stories on Netflix. Your best friend shares stories about her day with you.

Using stories is a powerful communication technique. It gives readers and website visitors a reason to pause and pay attention. They want to know what’s going to happen next and how the story ends.

Stories Invite Conversation

Just as you hear stories all day long, you also talk about them all day long. You do this when you gossip about a co-worker at work, when you recommend your Netflix must-binge to a friend, or when you repeat a news story to your spouse.

But stories invite conversation, too. Telling readers of your parenting website about your toddler’s tantrum can lead to discussions on what causes tantrums, tips on how to spot them before they happen, and more.

Stories Create a Feeling of Belonging

Not only do stories create conversation they also help the people feel like they belong. Every day, your community is bombarded with ideas of what they should look like, how they should parent, what they should wear, how they should eat, etc.

It can get to the point that your visitors feel like everyone else has a wonderful life. But when you share a story and peel back the curtain, it creates a bond. Suddenly, your people don’t feel alone any more. They can look at your blog and proudly say, “She gets me!”

Customizing your PLR with stories doesn’t have to complicated or time-consuming. It only takes a few minutes to add a relevant story to your content. Doing this will grow your community in new and exciting ways!

Need a source for great PLR articles? Here's where I go!

Network Marketing Isn't Perfect

You've heard the spiel...


No boss!
No alarm clock!
Unlimited residual income!
Financial freedom!
Time freedom!
Little to no investment required!
Low risk!


It sure sounds perfect, doesn't it?  Who wouldn't love to work with something like this?  It sounds great!


And it is.  But like everything that sounds too good to be true, there is a catch. 


Network marketing can be hard.


Think about it.  Most of you have probably already joined a Network Marketing company.  You might even still be with them, although many of you have already quit. 


Did you see any of the "unlimited residual income"?  Were you able to quit your job and spend endless hours on the beach living a life of leisure?  Probably not.  Does that mean it's a scam like all people say?  Your friends all laughed at you when you tried to recruit them.  Did they all just know better than you?  Or maybe you just aren't cut out to run your own business.  And besides, network marketing isn't a REAL business anyway.  Isn't it some sort of pyramid scheme?  No wonder it didn't work! 


Let me tell you the secret to network marketing.  That thought process is why you didn't see all the benefits promised.  Because deep in your heart, you don't believe it's a real business.  Deep down inside, you still have doubts that it's a legal, legitimate, profitable business-model.  You aren't sure you are capable of running your own business.  On some level, you may not even be sure you deserve to be that successful.  And you're working with and trying to recruit people who feel the same way.


The world is full of people who think network marketing is a scam.  They've been raised to believe that the only way to be successful is to get a "good" education, get a "good" job, work all the time, save as much as you can, and then retire.  And that used to be true.  But if you look around now, you will see that times have changed.  People with "good" educations and "good" jobs aren't saving enough to retire.  Some aren't even making enough to live well. 


So if network marketing has all these faults, how do some people make BIG money?  Simple.  They broke free of the old mindsets that hold most people back.  They embraced network marketing whole-heartedly.  They went "all in" from the day they joined their companies and never looked back.


They acknowledged that this is a legitimate, legal, and VERY PROFITABLE business model.
They understood that it is a REAL business and like any real business, will require work.


They understood that any business requires an investment - of time, of money, of resources - to succeed.  And so they obtained the tools and training necessary to ensure their success.  They were not afraid to invest their time and money in improving their skills, knowing they would reap the rewards down the road.


They knew that no alarm clock didn't mean they could sit around all day and do nothing.  Most of them still get up early in the morning.  Because businesses don't run themselves.  They are willing to work HARD for 3-5 years so they can live hard and play hard afterwards.


They took responsibility for their own success or failure.  Low risk doesn't mean no risk.  They knew they weren't going to recruit Aunt Sue, Cousin Jimmy, and Brother Bob and then retire.  They knew they had to find the right people, with the same mindset they had.  And then they had to work with their new team and train them and teach them the right way to build their business.  They knew that they had to learn all they could about sales and marketing and their products and the comp plan.  And they knew if they didn't do these things, they would fail but it would be their fault.  Not the company's fault.  Not the product's fault.  Not network marketing's fault.  


These are the people who have built a great business inside network marketing.  No, it's not perfect.  It takes work.  It takes commitment.  It takes investment.  But do you want to know why it's better than anything else?  Because you can do it too.  You just need to embrace the mindset that says it possible.  Then go "all in" until you reach your goals.  Unlimited residual income.  No boss. No alarm clock.  FREEDOM!  Try doing that with your job!


Ready to get started with the best company today?  Let's find out!

Social Boundaries Build Confidence

When it comes to social media, boundaries are important. If you have too few boundaries, you could end up oversharing. This can lead to damaged relationships in real life and depending on what you’re oversharing, the loss of your reputation.

To stay comfortable and confident on social media, use these tips…

Set Helpful Limits

Rose liked to lie in bed and surf social media on her phone before going to sleep. But after doing this for several weeks, she noticed the habit was increasing her anxiety and making it difficult to get a restful night’s sleep.

Try this: next time you’re on social media, take a moment to check in with yourself. Are you feeling stressed or overwhelmed? Are you getting anxious? Are you comparing your life or business to someone else’s?

When it comes to social media, one of the smartest things you can do is to create limits for yourself. You may decide that you’ll only check in on social media once a day or you may want to set a time limit when you browse.

Ban Negativity

Your friends on social media are entitled to their opinions. But that doesn’t mean you have to hit like on every single one of Aunt Betty’s political rants or inform your sister that she shared a fake news story (again).

You can choose to hide status updates from people that are consistently negative or that bring you down. A good idea to follow is the three strikes rule. If someone is negative on social media for three posts in a row, hide them.

You can hide friends on Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks without having to unfriend or unfollow them. The other person never gets notified that you’ve hidden their content. It’s a great way to distance yourself from unkind remarks and unnecessary drama.

Create a Separate Account

Nicole creates art that makes people think. She likes to explore controversial themes in her work and she’s not afraid to push the envelope. But some of her family members don’t agree with her views and aren’t supportive of her creations.

So, Nicole started a private Instagram account where she shares her art. This allows her to post about her hobby without dealing with negativity from her relatives.

Just like Nicole, you want each of your social media profiles to serve a specific purpose. You might have a Facebook account for staying in touch with distant family and loved ones. But you might dedicate another account, like Instagram or Twitter to sharing your business content.

Social media can be a wonderful tool for connecting and communicating and promoting your business. To get the most out of each network, keep your social feed positive and uplifting. Follow people who inspire you and share your own thoughts authentically.

Connecting With Your People

The people closest to you may not always be the most supportive of your business. They might be too familiar with you to see what makes you special. Family and friends, who can be the greatest source of love and acceptance, can also be a great source of criticism and frustration.

With social media, you get the chance to connect with others based on your shared interests. People who 'get' you can do a great deal to lift your self view and increase your confidence.

So, how do you connect with others and build your own supportive tribe?

Join Online Communities

Start by joining groups. Facebook has a group directory that you can browse. You can find groups based around hobbies, careers, or lifestyle.

Look for groups that have a few thousand members and are active with users regularly posting. Some group owners may have a form consisting of 2-3 questions that they’d like you to fill out. Answer as truthfully as possible. You don’t want to be deceptive and risk being removed from the group later.

Pay Attention to Privacy

Keep in mind that privacy settings can vary by group. On Facebook, an open group is one where anyone can see the posts, even people who aren’t members of the group. That means if you post in a discussion in an open group, your friends may be able to see it with a bit of digging.

But Facebook has another option called closed groups. Anyone on Facebook can see who the members are, but in order to see the discussions taking place, you have to join the group. This can be ideal if you want to participate in a group but you don’t want your posts seen by everyone on social media.

Respond to Posts

Once you’re approved to join a group, you can go ahead and dive in. Try to comment on three recent threads. Make your comments personal and don’t be afraid to share your unique perspective.

Aim to respond to a few threads throughout the next week or two. This lets the other members get to know you and learn more about your personality.

Ask Questions

Once you’ve interacted on a few topics, it’s time to jump in. Start your own discussion by asking a question and seeking opinions. Don’t ask about something controversial just to get attention.

Instead, focus on asking a question that requires a complex answer. A simple yes-or-no question won’t allow you to start a deeper discussion. Instead, try to ask a “Why…?” or “How…?” question. These tend to invite more conversation and give you a chance to learn more about other members.

The great thing about online communities is that they expose you to perspectives from around the globe. This allows you to learn new things and broaden your own horizons by making new friends.

Be Willing To Be Real

If you crave genuine connection online, you have to be authentic. Some people mistakenly believe that to be authentic, you have to share your entire life online with absolutely no filters. But that’s not true.

You can be authentic and build lasting relationships without oversharing or annoying your community. Here a few ways to show your true self to your online friends and followers…

Share the Bad

Most people automatically share their good moments on social media. They take a selfie of their new hairdo or post about their vacation adventures or proudly display their latest commission check.

There’s nothing wrong with publishing these details online. But if you only show the good side of your life, people may struggle to trust you.

You’ll appear more genuine if you post about your bad moments occasionally. This means you can go ahead and upload that post-workout gym selfie, broadcast a shot of your messy workspace, or share a snap of how your fuzzy your hair looks after you ran in the rain.

Present a Slice of Life

Sometimes, being authentic can be as simple as posting about a common occurrence that other people can relate to. For example, Faydra Koenig, a crisis coach, frequently posts photos of her coffee cup from Starbucks.

She shares the images to show the unusual ways servers attempt to spell her name. She does it in a light-hearted way without embarrassing anyone or shaming them. She simply has a laugh and lets her friends in on the joke.

Participate in Conversations

You wouldn’t take your friend to a crowded restaurant and spend the entire meal ignoring her. If you did, your friend wouldn’t feel loved. She’d be upset and wonder why you bothered inviting her if you had no intention of spending time with her.

It’s the same concept with social media. If you have friends and followers responding to your updates, take a moment to engage with them. You don’t have to write lengthy responses. When a friend comments, you can say something simple like, “Thanks for listening!” or “Love hearing your perspective on this!”

Own Your Quirks

What do you geek out about? Maybe you love collecting action figures from your favorite Sci-fi movies and you’re always adding new ones to your collection. Maybe you live for ugly Christmas sweaters or you’re obsessed with trying different recipes.

Sharing something you love and showing off your inner dork is a great way to be authentic online. You’ll attract other people who geek out over the same things and you’ll have a good supply of frequent content since your hobby is already part of your life.

You can be authentic online and still have your privacy. The key is picking which parts of your personality and life you’d like to showcase online.