#1 The Power of Framing in Storytelling

Good day Brewers,

Before I go into framing..

I would like to thank you for being 1 of the 15 subscribers of this newsletter.

It means the world to me that you take precious time off your busy schedule to read this.

If you’re also writing to 15 people..

You’re doing great!

I write for my audience.

But I also write for myself to learn, reflect and improve!

Hence, you'll see me exploring and experimenting with creative ideas.

Thank you for being on this journey.

So, let’s dive right into it!

Estimated reading time: 739 Words - 3 mins 6 secs

What is framing?

Every situation you’ve ever experienced..

They come with multiple messages or lessons to be learned.

It’s all about perspective.

Framing is the way you shine light on a specific moment to bring out the MOST IMPORTANT aspects of your story.

But why framing?

Framing a story is like fitting a puzzle piece into the right spot.

It helps the audience understand the bigger picture and the purpose of the message.

How difficult is framing?

Most people skip the step of accurately pinpointing the exact message of their story before telling them.

That’s why they struggle with being concise, and their audience gets lost in their story.

You don’t want this to happen.

Identify your message first.

That’ll help you frame your story to be aligned with this message.

It’s that easy!

When should you not use framing?

In almost every situation, you’d want to use framing to tell a story.

However, if you’re presenting facts or discussing sensitive or controversial topics, avoid framing the story in a way that could be seen as misleading or manipulative.

Here's an example..

The other day, I was out shopping with my girlfriend.

We came across this Thai milk tea stall.

I had to grab my favorite Thai milk tea for sure.

M was my go-to for all drinks, with 25 percent sugar level.

I know how unhealthy these sugary drinks can be!

While I was taking a look at the menu, something caught my eye.

M: $3.80L: $4.20

Also, there was a section showing the volume of each cup.

M: 16 oz.L: 23 oz.

My brain started processing this equation logically.

Guess what I got?

Yep! I got the M!

Just kidding.

I took the L up my ass.

$3.80 to $4.20, that’s a 10 percent increase in price.

But 23 oz versus 16 oz, that was a 50 percent increase in volume.

This was a deal too good to pass up.

The stall could have priced it in a more reasonable manner.

M: $3.00L: $4.20

But that would have encouraged more people to purchase M rather than L.

This means less revenue for the business!

Everyone who’s going for value (like me) would have purchased L!

I’m proud that I got the better deal.

For the business, it was also a win!

They made their pricing a no-brainer so they could generate more revenue.

BUT WAIT.. there's more..

After reading through my friends' comments, I felt like I was cheated on.

I chose the L option, which was more valuable based on pricing versus quantity.

But more calorie intake means it’s worse for my health.

I would have to spend more time and money exercising and managing my weight for the calories gained!

Now I regretted picking the L.

Got to burn those off!

See you at the gym.

Bye!

Notice how this story was framed in two ways?

Even though it was the same situation..

Story A focuses on the power of PRICING PSYCHOLOGY.

Story B focuses on how sometimes, LESS IS BETTER.

Magical isn’t it?

That’s the power of framing.

Master it and you’ll be able to brew a story with a unique blend of coffee beans that will get your audience hooked to you.

I hope you guys enjoyed this one.

Thank you for reading till the end.

I appreciate you.

P.S. If you know anyone who'd be interested in this, share it with them! (:

As a reward, here’s a sneak peek of what’s coming to your inbox next week!

“Why observation matters in Storytelling.”

Your Barista,Pang

Struggling with telling stories? Reach out to me here.