StoryBrand is a great group of people who help business clarify their message. Donald Miller began the company some years ago as he learned how to simplify his own message. I have been interested in his books and other products for some time. I signed up for his newsletters, emails, etc. and watched as his company grew.

StoryBrand did grow and it offered a live workshop to help other companies clean up the information they offer to prospective clients. Given our location, heading to Nashville for a live workshop wasn’t in the cards so I hoped they would offer an online workshop as they have done for other products. They did. Yet, I still didn’t discuss it directly with Jim and Jay. I kept absorbing all the information the company put out publicly and incorporated it as best I could.

Fast forward to spring 2016. It was time to update the website and I knew it really needed an overhaul. StoryBrand offered the online workshop again so I talked to Jim and Jay about it. We decided to make the investment. As soon as I finished the school year with the kids I dug into the class. Then I edited the website and edited it some more. It was a challenging process, but absolutely worth every dollar and hour spent.

In December, J.J. Peterson gave me a call and we talked about how StoryBrand had made a difference for Tranquilo Bay Eco Adventure Lodge. Now, to be fair, the numbers we discussed with regard to growth of our business are so much more so than just changing our messaging. This has helped immensely, but 12 years in business, trade shows, work with groups, and increasing our available units has also had a significant impact. The increase in individual travelers rather than groups or people booking through travel professionals is the number that ties most closely to our work with StoryBrand. And I must say that the investment in the StoryBrand workshop has paid off more so than any of the other marketing related tools (SEO assistance, business listings, etc.) we have used in the past.

The Building a StoryBrand Podcast is live now. Its feature guest is John Lowry who discusses negotiation skills with Donald Miller. I learned a few new things to consider that I didn’t learn in law school or years practicing law – always a nice bonus. The phone call between J.J. and me is at the end of the podcast. Take a listen. Look out for a sloth and a little bit of Van Halen.