How to use slideshows for storytelling in marketing

When you do marketing, you need to tell stories and stories sell. Stories stay in mind. But how do you tell a story using a slideshow? Many people think slideshows are boring. They put too many points. They read from the slide. That is not storytelling.

This article will teach you how to use slideshows for storytelling in marketing. You will also get storytelling presentation ideas. And you will learn 8 storytelling techniques. Read slowly. Try each method.

Why storytelling in slideshows works?

A good story makes people feel something. When people feel, they remember. When they remember, they buy. That is marketing.

A slideshow is just a tool. You can make it dull. You can make it lively. The difference is storytelling. A normal slideshow gives information. A storytelling slideshow gives emotion, then information and emotion comes first.

In India, we love stories. We grow up hearing stories from grandparents. We watch films with strong stories. So when you market to Indian people, use storytelling. A slideshow is a perfect way.

How to use slideshows for storytelling in marketing step by step

Let me explain the method. Do not just read. Do it.

Step 1 – Start with a problem

Every story has a problem. In marketing, your customer has a problem. Show that problem in the first slide. Do not start with your company name. Do not start with thank you. Start with the problem.

Example – You sell a water filter. First slide shows a mother worried about dirty water. That is the problem. That is the story start.

Step 2 – Show the struggle

After the problem, show the struggle. What happens if the problem stays? Show the pain. But do not make it too sad. Just show real life.

Example – The mother tries boiling water. It takes time. The taste is bad. The child still falls sick. This is the struggle.

Step 3 – Bring the answer

Now you show your product or service as the answer. But do not just show the product. Show how the answer fixes the problem. Show the change.

Example – The mother buys your water filter. Now water is clean. No boiling. Child is healthy. This is the answer.

Step 4 – Show the happy ending

Every good story has a happy ending. Show how life becomes better. Use a picture of a smiling family. Use a small video if you can.

Example – The mother saves time. The child plays outside. The family drinks water without fear. That is the happy ending.

Step 5 – Ask for action

At the end of every story, you ask the listener to do something. In marketing, that something is buying, calling, or visiting. Make this slide clear. One action only.

• Example – Slide says "Buy your water filter today. Call 1800-xxx-xxx."
• That is the basic method. Now let me give you better storytelling presentation ideas.

Storytelling presentation ideas you can use right now

Here are some ideas. Use them in your next slideshow.

Idea 1 – The before and after story

Show one slide of life before your product. Show another slide of life after your product. Use big pictures. Use few words. This works very well for fitness, beauty, home cleaning, and food products.

Idea 2 – The customer journey story

Pick one real customer. Tell his full story. Where did he start? What problem did he face? How did he find your product? How did his life change? Put this in five to seven slides. This is a very strong storytelling presentation idea.

Idea 3 – The failure to success story

Tell a story of failure first. Maybe your own company failed before. Maybe your customer tried many things and failed. Then show how success came. People love failure to success stories. They feel real.

Idea 4 – The small change story

Sometimes a small change makes a big difference. Show this in your slideshow. Example – A shopkeeper started putting one small sign. Sales went up. Show that small change. Your product can be that small change.

Idea 5 – The comparison story

Do not compare features. Compare stories. One slide shows a person using a normal method. That person is tired, unhappy, slow. Next slide shows a person using your method. That person is happy, fast, relaxed. This comparison tells a story without numbers.

These five ideas are easy to make. Try one tomorrow.

8 storytelling techniques for slideshows

Now let me give you the 8 storytelling techniques. Use these techniques inside your slides. Do not use all eight in one slideshow. Pick two or three.

Technique 1 – The one line story

Every slide should tell a story in one line. If you cannot say the story in one line, your slide is too heavy. Example line – "This mother had no clean water." That is a story line. Then show a picture. Then next line – "Now she has clean water." That is the change. Keep lines short.

Technique 2 – The question story

Ask a question on the first slide. A question that hurts a little. Example – "Do you still boil water like your grandmother?" This question makes the person think. Then answer the question in later slides. The whole slideshow becomes a search for the answer.

Technique 3 – The three act story

Divide your slideshow into three parts. Act one – problem. Act two – struggle and search. Act three – solution and happy ending. This is a very old storytelling technique. It works for marketing too. Label your slides clearly. Act one slide one to three. Act two slide four to seven. Act three slide eight to ten.

Technique 4 – The character story

Pick one character. Give that character a name. Show that character in every slide. Example – A man named Raj. Raj has dirty water. Raj tries boiling. Raj buys your filter. Raj is happy. People remember Raj more than they remember your product name. That is the power of a character.

Technique 5 – The surprise story

Start your slideshow like a normal presentation. Then on slide three or four, put a surprise. A shocking number. A sad picture. A strange fact. The surprise wakes up the audience. After surprise, give the solution. This technique works very well for social cause marketing.

Technique 6 – The small step story

Do not ask for a big change. Ask for one small step. Tell a story where a person takes one small step and gets a small win. Then another small step. Another win. This technique is good for services like courses, training, or coaching. Each slide becomes one small step.

Technique 7 – The sound story

Use sound in your slideshow. Not background music only. Use real sounds. The sound of boiling water. The sound of a child coughing. The sound of clean water pouring into a glass. These sounds tell a story without words. Use this technique in a video slideshow or a narrated slideshow.

Technique 8 – The repeating line story

Pick one line and repeat it two or three times in your slideshow. The line should be short and strong. Example – "Clean water is not a luxury." Say this line on slide one. Say it again on slide five. Say it one more time on the last slide. The repeat makes people remember the line. And they remember your message.

These 8 storytelling techniques are very easy to use. Practice one technique every week.

How to write slides for storytelling

Writing a storytelling slide is different from writing a normal slide. Follow these rules.

Rule one – One feeling per slide

Do not put many feelings in one slide. One slide is for sadness. One slide is for hope. One slide is for happiness. Mixing feelings confuses the audience.

Rule two – More picture less text

A storytelling slide should have a big picture. The picture should show a feeling. Text should be very small. Ten words or less. If you need to write more, make a new slide.

Rule three – Use real photos

Do not use fake stock photos with smiling models. Use real photos of real people. Your customer. Your team. Your office. Real photos tell real stories. Fake photos kill stories.

Rule four – Write like you talk

Write the way you speak at home. Use words like "you", "we", "us". Ask questions. Give short answers. Do not write formally. Formal writing is for government papers. Storytelling is for people.

Rule five – Keep one idea per slide

One slide is for one idea only. If you have two ideas, use two slides. Do not put a list of five points. A list is not a story. A story moves from one slide to the next slide.

Common mistakes in storytelling slideshows

Avoid these mistakes. They kill your story.

Mistake one – Starting with introduction

Do not start with "Hello my name is" or "Our company was founded in". That is boring. Start with the problem. Start with the pain. Start with a question.

Mistake two – Using too many words

Your audience cannot read and listen at the same time. If you put many words on the slide, they will read. They will not listen to you. Keep slides empty. Keep words few.

Mistake three – No emotion

Some people make slideshows with only facts and numbers. Facts do not sell. Emotion sells. Add a sad story. Add a happy picture. Add a moment of surprise. Without emotion, there is no storytelling.

Mistake four – Long slideshows

A storytelling slideshow should not be long. Ten to fifteen slides is good. More than twenty slides is too much. People lose interest. Keep your story tight. Remove any slide that does not move the story forward.

Mistake five – Forgetting the action

At the end of every story, the listener should do something. In marketing, that something is a purchase, a call, a sign up, a visit. If you forget to ask, you lose the sale. Always end with a clear action.

How to practice storytelling for slideshows?

You cannot learn storytelling by reading only. You must practice.

Practice method one – Tell the story without slides

Before you make the slideshow, tell the story to a friend. Do not use any slide. Just talk. See if your friend understands. See if your friend feels something. If the story works without slides, it will work better with slides.

Practice method two – Make a rough slideshow first

Do not make perfect slides in the beginning. Use paper. Draw rough pictures. Write rough lines. Show this rough slideshow to a colleague. Get feedback. Then make the real slides. This saves time and makes your story better.

Practice method three – Time your slideshow

A good storytelling slideshow should be short. Five to ten minutes maximum. Time yourself. If your slideshow is longer, remove slides. Shorter is always better for storytelling.

Practice method four – Record yourself

Record your voice while you show the slideshow. Listen to the recording. Do you sound like a robot? Do you sound like a real person? Fix your tone. Make it natural. Make it friendly.

Using these techniques for Indian marketing

Indian people love stories. But Indian people also want value. They want to know what they will get. So balance your story with clear benefits.

When you make a slideshow for Indian customers, use local examples. Talk about local problems. Show local faces. Use local languages if possible. A story about a mother in Mumbai works better than a story about a mother in New York.

Also remember that many Indian people watch slideshows on mobile phones. Keep your slides simple. Keep text large. Keep pictures clear. Mobile screens are small. Your story must work on small screens.

One final example

Let me show you a complete small example. Suppose you sell a cheap solar lamp for villages without electricity.

• Slide one – Picture of a child studying under a dim kerosene lamp. Line – "This child breathes smoke every night."
• Slide two – Picture of the mother worried. Line – "The mother saves money for kerosene. But the child still coughs."
• Slide three – Picture of your solar lamp. Line – "One solar lamp. No smoke. No kerosene cost."
• Slide four – Picture of the same child studying happily. Line – "Now the child studies bright. The mother saves money."
• Slide five – Picture of your lamp with price. Line – "Buy one solar lamp today. Call 1800-xxx-xxx. Give light. Give health."

Conclusion

You now know how to use slideshows for storytelling in marketing. Start with a problem. Show the struggle. End with a happy picture and an action. Use the storytelling presentation ideas like customer journey or before after. Pick from the 8 storytelling techniques like character story or one line story. Keep slides short. More pictures. Less words. Make your slideshow for mobile first. Practice with a friend. That is all. Go make your slideshow today.

FAQs

1. What is the first step to use slideshows for storytelling in marketing?

First step is to find a real problem your customer has. Put that problem on slide one. Do not put your company name first.

2. Give one simple storytelling presentation idea.

Use the before and after idea. One slide shows life with problem. Next slide shows life after your product. That is a very easy storytelling presentation idea.

3. Which of the 8 storytelling techniques is easiest for beginners?

The one line story technique. Write one line per slide. Each line tells one small part of the story. Very easy to start.

4. How long should my storytelling slideshow be?

Ten to fifteen slides. Not more than twenty. Not less than five. Ten slides is the best.

5. Can I use these techniques on a phone?

Yes. Use big text. Use full screen pictures. One idea per slide. Works well on Indian mobile phones.