On a site called StoryMails, it’s only fitting that I tell my story.

For the past 20+ years I’ve been involved in internet marketing. I began by building and selling sites. Then I did SEO for those sites. That was followed by some affiliate marketing, a big dose of Google Adsense and the last 10 years doling out marketing advice to small business owners.

Interspersed in all of this has been email marketing. But sadly, it was the wrong kind of email marketing. I was guilty of doing what many email marketers (including you?) do. I was sending a nonstop series of sales pitches. Basically turning emails into those annoying flyers you get in your home mailbox.

But, then I had an AHA moment,

People DON’T like Flyers
People DO like Stories

Think about that for just a moment. Stories are fundamental to civilization.  Odds are your parents read you bedtime stories when you were little and I’d wager every good movie you’ve ever seen and every good book you’ve ever read was based on a story.

From Crisis to Connection: How Storytelling Saved a Business

The StoryMails chapter began in the chaos of the Covid-19 shutdowns. One of my consulting clients had a friend who needed help. The young man had a car detailing business on the brink of collapse. With lockdowns in full swing and customers scarce, his dream was slipping away. He was trying to save the money he had. Buying ads would have just been futile. Our only viable option was email, so that’s where we started.

Through trial and (much) error, we started sending out emails, not with the typical flyers or promotions, but with stories. Stories that entertained, sparked interest, and made people feel connected to the business. Slowly but surely, the tide began to turn. Customers weren’t just returning—they were sharing the stories and looking forward to the next one.

That experience taught me a valuable lesson: people don’t want to be sold to; they want to be entertained, engaged, and valued. And that’s exactly what my email writing business does. I don’t do flyers, and I don’t do sales promotions. I tell stories. Stories that entertain. Stories people actually want to read.

In a world where most emails are ignored, my stories stand out. They create connections, build loyalty, and most importantly, they work. That’s how a  business was saved and that’s how StoryMails continue to help others thrive today.

The number one thing I’ve learned through this process, is to email something,

People Want to Read

Thanks for reading my story,

Jim
The StoryMail Scribbler

PS: Image generated by my grand children. Far too much hair . . .
PPS: On the first episode of the “Tonight Show” Ed McMahon asked Carson what his role should be. Carson replied, “Ed, I don’t know how I see my own role. Let’s just go down and entertain the hell out of them.” If it’s good enough for Johnny Carson . . .
PPPS: If you’d like to see exactly how my StoryMails can entertain your clients go here