I have always loved reading fairy tales. They have all the ingredients of a captivating story: action and drama, goals and adventures, conflict and resolution. Fairy tales draw us in and allow us to live in an alternate world, side-by-side with the heroes and heroines for the duration of the story.
Public relations is also all about telling a good story. A great public relations campaign includes all of the exciting elements that draw a reader in and teach them a little bit about another world, your world. Life may not be full of dragons and gold, but by reading fairy tales, we can learn how to craft a great story and energize our public relations campaigns and our reader’s lives.
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Here is how reading fairy tales can help you craft the ultimate story for your public relations campaign.
Hansel and Gretel
Some fairy tales, such as Hansel and Gretel, were originally cautionary tales for children, passed down by parents and village elders. They told children not to wander off into the forest or misbehave. The villain in Hansel and Gretel may be the witch in the forest, but the actual antagonist is the mother, who sends the children off into the forest to fend for themselves. By using characters relatable to the audience, such as the evil stepmother or forest creatures, the children are more likely to internalize the story and change their behavior. The same is true of stories crafted for public relations. Using examples that your target audience will understand makes you more likely to captivate their attention and spark a story that travels across generations via your fans.
Rumplestiltskin
Rumplestiltskin is another fairy tale that can help us craft our public relations stories. It is a fairy tale with multiple morals, one of which is to always tell the truth. Rumplestiltskin kept every one of his deals and always was extremely honest. He gave many second chances to those he encountered and this is one of the reasons this story is so captivating. Give Rumplestiltskin another read to help your public relations campaign gain an honest approach, and your audience will help spread your message like wildfire.
Public relations is no longer just about sending messages and convincing readers to listen. A great communicator now uses the various public relations channels to send a message that excites their audience in a way that makes them want to spread the message for you, over and over. This mirrors the passage of fairy tales from generation to generation. They have remained relevant because they contain a valuable message that is widely applicable. This effective new form of public relations is best done through expert storytelling.
What are some of your favorite fairy tales?
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