You did it! You finally made the transformational decision to hire a StoryBrand Certified Guide for your business. After scouring the directory, you contacted a few potential options and scheduled some initial calls. You are feeling excited and nervous all at once. The problem is that you have no idea what to expect during these calls and you hate blindly venturing into the unknown. We get it. To put those fears at ease, keep reading to learn exactly what to expect when meeting a StoryBrand Guide for the first time and how you can show up to your initial call prepared.
What to Expect During the Initial Call
All StoryBrand Certified Guides and StoryBrand Certified Agencies have their own unique processes for getting to know prospective clients. However, most will begin by scheduling an initial call, often referred to as a “Discovery Call”.
Rest assured, this is not a sales call. Instead, a Discovery Call is an opportunity for you and the StoryBrand Guide to get to know each other. After the call, you will both be able to determine if your needs are a good fit for the certified guide’s services and abilities. Think of it as a free strategy session. While you talk through all of your marketing needs, hopes and dreams, the StoryBrand Guide gets to know your business. At the same time, you get to know the StoryBrand Guide, their processes, and their experience.
Are All StoryBrand Guides the Same?
Keep in mind that although all guides have been trained in the StoryBrand Framework, not everyone has the same expertise. Some guides are copywriters, while others are designers or even entire marketing agencies. In addition, there are guides who prefer to focus on specific projects, like email marketing, content creation, or sales funnels. No two StoryBrand Guides are exactly alike, but that’s a good thing. That means, no matter what your marketing needs are, there is a guide out there for you.
Although every guide is unique, there are a few commonalities we share. As Certified StoryBrand Guides, we all:
- Have a deep understanding of the StoryBrand Framework and will implement the same proven formula.
- Are certified by StoryBrand but are not employed by StoryBrand.
- Want to find the best guide for you and your business.
- Serve as a marketing consultant.
- Take the time to listen to your goals and needs.
- Create a marketing strategy personalized to your business.
- Want to see your business grow.
This means that each of your Discovery Calls will look a little different. However, we are all dedicated to helping you find success and achieve your business goals.
What Happens After the Discovery Call?
Once you’ve finished chatting, most StoryBrand Guides will follow up with a no-pressure email outlining the overall marketing strategy and specific projects that would create the biggest impact for your business.
With Agency Boon, you can expect to receive your personalized recommendations with clear, transparent pricing shortly after our Discovery Call. If you decide to move forward, we happily jump right in. If you choose to go another route, we won’t ever pressure you to work with us.
In fact, if we discover that we aren’t the right fit for you, we will happily connect you with another StoryBrand Guide who is. The awesome thing about the StoryBrand Guide Community is that we are very interconnected and generous with one another. We know that we succeed when you succeed, even if that means we don’t end up working together directly.
How to Prepare to Meet a StoryBrand Guide For the First Time
Now that you know exactly what to expect when meeting a StoryBrand Guide for the first time, I’m going to let you in on a few pro tips that will help you get the most out of your conversations with potential Guides.
Tip #1: Select a Maximum of Five Guides to Interview
Have you ever stared blankly at the hundreds of options in the bread aisle wishing someone else would just pick for you? The guide directory, unfortunately, is about as overwhelming. It connects you with thousands of qualified professionals, which sometimes feels like too much of a good thing. To make the directory feel less daunting, use the filters to narrow down your search results and then pick five guides, or less, to interview.
We understand that it can feel intimidating to choose the five perfect candidates out of so many options. However, if you spend too much time interviewing guides you’ll hit decision fatigue before you ever get a chance to transform your marketing materials. Don’t drive yourself crazy searching for perfection. Just pick a few who seem like a good fit and jump in.
The good news is that many StoryBrand Guides operate a lot like us. They want to help you, not force you to work with them. So, even if you don’t pick perfect candidates for your initial calls, many guides will be willing to connect you to another guide who may be a better fit for your project.
Tip #2: Write Out a List of Questions
Next, you will want to write out a list of questions to ask the StoryBrand Certified Guides you meet. You may want to create a simple template you can use to easily compare your conversations.
If you need ideas, here is a great list of general questions you could ask. During the discovery call, you will want to make sure you talk about:
- Your Marketing Needs
- Budget
- Timelines
- Specific Requirements (such as non-disclosure agreements)
- Communication Expectations
Tip #3: Jot Down your Goals and Expectations
You also want to make sure that you, and your potential StoryBrand Guide, know what you hope to get out of the experience. It is a great idea to discuss:
- Marketing Goals
- Expectations
- Current Struggles
- Previous Experiences with Marketing
Rest assured that even if you show up to the Discovery Call empty-handed, your Guide will be prepared to lead the conversation through many of these topics. A good StoryBrand Guide will want to help you find the best fit for your business just as much as you do. However, feeling prepared ahead of time puts many business owners at ease.
Tip #4: Skip the Directory
This last tip will save you hours. Think of it as the fast track to success.
We know that choosing the right StoryBrand Certified Guide for your business is a big decision. Although the StoryBrand Guide directory is an amazing tool, it can be very overwhelming. So, instead of spending hours scouring the options for the right one, we are going to let you skip the directory entirely by scheduling a call with one of our StoryBrand Certified Guides.
You see, we’ve been StoryBrand Guides since StoryBrand became a thing. That means we know StoryBrand, and the StoryBrand Guide Community, extremely well. So, we can help you get results faster than you would by scouring the directory on your own.
During our call, we will help you identify what marketing efforts will make the biggest impact for your business. Then, we will either make those dreams a reality or connect you to someone who can. We want nothing more than to watch you wow potential customers, generate leads, increase sales, and grow your business. Schedule a call and get started today!
