Looking into the marketing crystal ball of 2015, more attention than ever is being directed by major brands to content marketing via social media channels.

That’s nothing really new.

What is new, however, is the engine behind their social media strategy: Storytelling.

As I’ve often said, what’s good enough for a big brand is even better for a small business when we adapt it for our specific needs. Rarely do we want to try to exactly copy a big brand marketing strategy or tactic. However, learning from their grand schemes and big budget investments and making it personal for our businesses’? You bet.

In a recent list of 2015 marketing trends and predictions  on the Newscred blog, Kylie Jane Wakefield and Lauren Mangiaforte provide a solid list of predictions and tips. Of course, we find the standard parlance about the rise of content and social marketing on the list such as “be funny” and “make it mobile”.

Refreshing, however, was point #4 – storytelling.

Michael Brenner runs strategy for Newscred and he sums it up well with his prediction:

“Storytelling will topple other marketing silos, emerging as the ultimate audience-reaching tactic. Existing marketing silos will fall apart as content, data and technology emerge as the only way for brands to reach consumers through storytelling.”

I couldn’t agree more and the best part is – small business can do this better than big brands. You are closer to your customers because you actually know them in real life. This makes for a much more authentic relationship and that makes for the best stories.

As we reach the mid-point of the decade it’s evident that storytelling for small business will be an ever more important part of your marketing mix and a powerful tool. As you begin to tell the story of your brand, you’ll discover the benefit of a great story is the amplification your business will enjoy when your happy customers pass it along to their friends through social story sharing.

It’s an exciting time to grow a small business  by leveraging social media through story sharing. The websites and creative tools have never been more simple and accessible – it’s designed to drive your success through 2015.

Happy New Year – let’s go!