You ever read something so good, so clear, and so exactly what you needed that you immediately regret not reading it sooner? Yeah. That was Building a StoryBrand for me. I’ve had this book sitting on my TBR long enough to collect dust in multiple formats, and now that I’ve finally cracked it open, I get the hype. It’s clean, simple, actionable—and honestly, kind of a must-read if you’re doing anything remotely business-related.
Hype Report
This book does exactly what it says its going to do. Goodreads readers rate this 4.27 stars. I’m damn near an evangelist. Appropriately Hyped.
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Aesthetic
The Dustjacket
As with many business, marketing, and personal/professional development books, this cover is mostly utilitarian. Bright red, so you notice it on the shelf. Bold title that is easy to read. Plenty of real estate taken up by the author’s name and the “Over 1 Million Copies Sold” badge. One simple graphic of a bullhorn. It certainly gets the job done. It’s not beautiful, though. The author’s name and title text compete for top ranking in the hierarchy. The graphic is oddly positioned to overlap the word Brand for no conceivable reason. The badge fills the whitespace at the top while the graphic leaves whitespace at the bottom, which makes the whole cover look off balance. The use of black and white in the text seems to be related to hierarchy. The white copy is what they expect you to read first, followed by the back copy. But it makes little visual sense that way. Luckily, the spine is cleanly laid out and very legible, making this a-okay for shelving. The entire back cover is praise for the book, which to me feels overkill. The inner flap is so packed with text – TLDR!
Interior
The interior of the book is very clearly laid out. There is a clear hierarchy of titles, special treatments for sectioning and examples, and the use of images and illustrations to enhance understanding. The reading experience is very easy and clear.
Did the design affect whether I bought the book?
No. This book had been on my TBR for some time and I have seen it very highly recommended. I went in looking for it.
Summary
In Short
Miller walks you step-by-step through a proven framework to clarify your brand message so that customers can understand your offer.
From the Publisher
When you apply the StoryBrand framework your brand will stand out. Developing that framework to clarify your message and grow your business is about to get a whole lot simpler. . .
Since the original publication of Building a StoryBrand, over one million business leaders have discovered Donald Miller’s powerful StoryBrand framework, and their businesses are growing. Now, the classic resource for connecting with customers has been fully revised and updated, making it an even more powerful tool to prepare you to engage customers.
In a world filled with constant, on-demand distractions, it has become very hard for business owners to effectively cut through the noise to reach their customers. Without a clear, distinct message, customers will not understand what you can do for them and won’t engage.
In Building a StoryBrand 2.0, Donald Miller not only deepens his teaching on how to use his seven universal story elements—he’ll provide you with one of the most powerful and cutting-edge tools to help with your brand messaging efficacy and output.
The StoryBrand framework is a proven process that has helped thousands of companies engage with their existing customers, giving them the ultimate competitive advantage. Now you can have access to the perfected version, making it more essential.
Whether you are the marketing director of a multibillion-dollar company, the owner of a small business, a politician running for office, or the lead singer of a rock band, Building a StoryBrand 2.0 will forever transform the way you talk about who you are, what you do, and the unique value you bring to your customers.
Character Analysis
Stories of brand messaging and storybrand methodology are peppered throughout this book. They are generally short and to the point, illustrating the steps that Miller recommends.
Writing Style
As the subheading suggests, the writing is clear. Every concept, every step, every reason for taking that step, and every projected result is spelled out for the reader. The language is simple and straightforward, but absolutely does not talk down to the reader.
When customers understand how you can help them live a great story, your business will grow.
Themes
The theme is growing your business by clarifying your brand message and implementing it literally everywhere that you talk about your business. While there are many different examples, this book stays on track with that one message and does not falter.
Critical Evaluation
It is easy to read, easy to understand, and easy to see why this book has sold over a million copies. There is probably an unnecessary amount of praise included, but since that is one of the elements that is discussed in the book, it is not surprising to find it there. Some people might find it “salesy,” but it is, in fact, practicing what it preaches and showing you how to do the thing – be clear about your messaging. In my experience, one of the most difficult things about brand messaging is to make it simple and make it clear. This book gives you a framework to do that. They also offer free use of their [StoryBrand.AI](http://StoryBrand.AI) to help you set up your StoryBrand StoryScript to get started. Naturally, this is a gateway for a larger product, but the free area of the tool is helpful.
Customers generally don’t care about your story; they care about their own.
Personal Opinion
I have seen this book around for years…since the first edition came out. I have heard it recommended over and over. It has sat on my TBR list for AGES! Now I am a little bit irritated with myself for not reading it sooner. This is going on a list of Marketing Must Reads at some point. I do have questions about how this could be applied to bloggers, freelancers, or personal brands specifically, but I think that with a little tweaking, it is just as useful. I guess I’ll have to let you know once I’ve given it a try!
Recommendation
If you have a business, sell something, or are building a brand – read this book. That’s it. No notes.
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May your life be as full as your bookshelf and as long as your TBR list.
Happy Reading!
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