Your Customers are Sitting on Storytelling Goldmine

Bi-weekly news commentary

Hey friend,

How are you? I hope you’re doing well.

The gist:

One of my favorite examples of a unique brand celebration is the New York Times’ Metropolitan Diary. It was started back in 1976 by Tom Buckley as a platform for reader-submitted stories and anecdotes about what makes New York so special. A minimalist sketch accompanies each one-paragraph story and helps visualize the key message or scene. A few years ago, I interviewed Agnes Lee, the Metropolitan’s long-time illustrator. She provided a rare backstage view into the making of this reader-driven program. I’ve been a great fan, as I lived in New York for two rounds - six years in the city (Chelsea), and then seven years in the suburbs (Westchester). So, these quaint stories bring up memories from my stash of experiences living there.

Find out about why user-submitted stories are effective in bringing a brand to life, and how you can take advantage of this tactic.