By Ericka Saurit
It’s time to get your story straight.
Why narrative is the most powerful (and underused) tool in your brand toolbox.
Last month, we explored how marketing is a lot like dating and how defining your ideal client helps you know how and when to show up.
This month, we’re talking about something just as essential, but often overlooked: your story.
Because if your brand message is the first thing people see… your story is what makes them stay.
Narrative is one of the most powerful tools you have as a creative business owner. But most designers either skip over it or get stuck trying to make it sound too polished.
Your story doesn’t need to be perfect, but it does need to be true. And it needs to be told with purpose.
Here’s why that matters:
We don’t connect to credentials. We connect to transformation, tension. To the why behind what you do, not just the what. People want to know how you’ll make their lives better.
They want to see their own values, desires, and dreams reflected back to them. And they want to feel something when they hear your story.
This kind of messaging gives even ordinary work more dimension. More relevance. More resonance.
So if you’ve ever felt like your brand doesn’t fully reflect the depth of your work… this might be why. Stop talking about yourself, and start telling a story your clients can see themselves in.
Here’s how to get your story straight:
- Map your milestones.
Grab a sheet of paper and make note of all the key moments that have shaped who you are and how you work today. These could be personal, professional, cultural, educational, whatever. This is yours and only yours—raw and real—the fibers of your one-of-a-kind narrative. - Find the throughline.
Look at this list critically and thoughtfully…what connects those moments? Do any themes emerge? Resilience, reinvention, a belief about what home means, a passion for solving problems no one else sees? This becomes your warp, the foundation for everything we’ll weave and layer on top of it. - Make it relevant.
Remember when I said your story isn’t just about you? Rewrite your story through the lens of your ideal, perfect-fit clients. What do they need to understand about your journey in order to trust your process? What might they also see in themselves through your experiences? Set aside what isn’t useful to them, and amplify what is.
You don’t need a viral origin story to build a powerful brand. You just need to tap into YOUR story.
Because the moment your story becomes clear, everything else starts to align: your messaging, your visuals, your services, your strategy.
It’s not just a story. It’s the foundation of your brand.
Next month, we’ll talk about the flip side of storytelling: what to cut. Because when it comes to brand messaging, the answer to confusion is always no.
DSA Member Special Offer:
DSA members can now save $500 on enrollment in Marketing School for Creatives (MSC), Ericka Saurit’s signature program designed to help creative entrepreneurs build a clear, confident, and consistent marketing strategy—without the overwhelm. With lifetime access to the core curriculum, expert-led workshops, live support, and a library of templates and tools, MSC is a must for any designer ready to level up.
- 12-month access to step-by-step video training
- 25+ expert-led workshops (AI, SEO, PR, Instagram + more)
- Live coaching, event access, and done-for-you templates
- $33,000+ in total value
Pay just $997 (normally $1,497) with code: DSA-500-25
Click here to learn more about MSC
Ready to enroll? Check out here with the discount applied
More details can be found in your DSA Member account under the DSA Member Benefits tab. Reach out to support@dsasociety.org for help. Start building a marketing plan that actually works! Be sure to keep up with Saurit Creative on socials!
