Twenty-Five Selected Case Studies

 

In Chapter 2, we met Barbara and John Varian, owners of the V6 Ranch in California. Barbara could have described her business in a typical fashion: “We have a ranch. People pay to visit and ride horses.” Instead, she said something much more powerful: “We help our guests become someone else, even if just for a day. Come stay with us and you’ll be a cowboy.” The difference between these two statements is huge! The first statement is merely descriptive, whereas the second evokes a powerful, emotional connection.

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Like the V6 Ranch, every business has a way to describe itself in a traditional (i.e., boring) way and at least one much sexier way that stimulates a better response. There are two keys to remember in figuring out the difference for your own project:

1. Give people what they really want. Give them the fish!
2. Sell emotional benefits (“Be a cowboy”) instead of descriptive features (“Ride horses”).

 

Here are twenty-five people from the study, all of whom found ways to differentiate between something merely descriptive and something that evokes a more passionate response.

Name: JASON GLASPEY

Business: Paleo Plan

Fact-Based Description: Weekly diet and recipe planning guide

Emotion-Based Promise: Take control of your health by eating naturally (and leave the details to us).

Name: BROOKE THOMAS

Business: Practice Abundance

Fact-Based Description: Course on running a wellness practice

Emotion-Based Promise: Increase profits while running a smoother, more streamlined clinic.

Name: PURNA DUGGIRALA

Business: Spreadsheet templates

Fact-Based Description: Templates to help frequent users of Microsoft Excel

Emotion-Based Promise: Become an office superhero: Help your colleagues and get your work done quickly.

Name: SELENA CUFFE

Business: Heritage Link Brands

Fact-Based Description: Wine imported from South Africa

Emotion-Based Promise: Drink great wine and feel good about supporting minority-owned vineyards.

Name: PATRICK MCCRANN

Business: Endurance Nation

Fact-Based Description: Group triathlon training

Emotion-Based Promise: You’re not alone! Join a supportive community of amateur athletes.

Name: BRANDY AGERBECK

Business: Graphic facilitation

Fact-Based Description: Visual documentation of meetings

Emotion-Based Promise: Capture your group’s big ideas in a fun way that will ensure a long-term impact.

Name: HEATHER ALLARD

Business: The Mogul Mom

Fact-Based Description: Resources for “mom entrepreneurs”

Emotion-Based Promise: Stay home with your kids and earn a good income without going into debt.

Name: JONATHAN PINCAS

Business: Tapas Lunch Company

Fact-Based Description: UK-based importer of Spanish foods

Emotion-Based Promise: Viva España! Celebrate the Mediterranean lifestyle without leaving home.

Name: REESE SPYKERMAN

Business: Design by Reese

Fact-Based Description: Website and graphic design

Emotion-Based Promise: Your brand is more than a website. We’ll help you tell a story that communicates your core mission.

Name: MICHAEL TRAINER

Business: Reckoning Studios

Fact-Based Description: Media production

Emotion-Based Promise: We’ll document your organization’s mission in a short, professionally produced video.

Name: ALYSON STANFIELD

Business: Stanfield Art Associates

Fact-Based Description: Consulting for artists

Emotion-Based Promise: Attention, artists: Get paid to make the art you love. I’ll show you how.

Name: ELIZABETH MACCRELLISH

Business: Squam Art Workshops

Fact-Based Description: Weekend retreats for artists and crafters

Emotion-Based Promise: Make art in a beautiful lakeside setting with an intimate group of friends.

Name: JESSICA REAGAN SALZMAN

Business: Heart Based Bookkeeping

Fact-Based Description: Bookkeeping and tax preparation services

Emotion-Based Promise: I’ll worry about your money stuff so you can spend time running your business.

Name: KAREN STARR

Business: Hazel Tree Interiors

Fact-Based Description: Interior design services

Emotion-Based Promise: Make your home a restful sanctuary, a place your whole family enjoys.

Name: SARAH YOUNG

Business: Happy Knits

Fact-Based Description: Retail shop that sells yarn

Emotion-Based Promise: Knitting is fun! Come in to learn, restock, knit, or just hang out.

Name: ERICA COSMINSKY

Business: The Small Business Transcriptionist

Fact-Based Description: Service provider that transcribes calls and meetings

Emotion-Based Promise: Capture important information that your customers will value, with basic formatting and layout included at no additional charge.

Name: AKIRA MORITA

Business: Design Kompany

Fact-Based Description: Regional leader in design services

Emotion-Based Promise: You’ll get the best service from our family-owned shop, and we won’t finish until you’re 100 percent satisfied.

Name: DAVID WACHTENDONK

Business: Murder Mystery Maniacs

Fact-Based Description: Group event planner

Emotion-Based Promise: Leave the party planning to us. We’ll bring a fun experience to your group or organization.

Name: EMILY CAVALIER

Business: Mouth of the Border

Fact-Based Description: Ethnic food reviews and “midnight brunch” group experience

Emotion-Based Promise: Have fun, eat good food, and spend time with friends during a unique evening.

Name: RIDLON KIPHART

Business: Live Adventurously

Fact-Based Description: Group tours to exotic destinations

Emotion-Based Promise: Live adventurously by joining us for the trip of a lifetime.

Name: KRISTIN MCNAMARA

Business: SLO Op Climbing

Fact-Based Description: Community gym and climbing center

Emotion-Based Promise: Learn a new, challenging skill in a safe, community-centered environment.

Name: SCOTT MCMURREN

Business: Alaska TourSaver

Fact-Based Description: Coupon books for independent visitors to Alaska

Emotion-Based Promise: You’ll recoup your entire investment by using just one of our coupons—leaving you with 200 more to get the best possible discounts.

Name: JEN LEMEN

Business: Mondo Beyondo

Fact-Based Description: Online life planning course

Emotion-Based Promise: Learn to turn big dreams into reality in a fun, closed environment with other women.

Name: JEN ADRION

Business: These Are Things

Fact-Based Description: Online store that sells maps

Emotion-Based Promise: Our maps will help you remember where you’ve been and dream of where you’re going.

Name: CODY LIMBAUGH

Business: PXTFitness

Fact-Based Description: Personal training and exercise plans

Emotion-Based Promise: Want to get in shape but keep falling off the wagon? I’ll help … and it will actually be fun.

Note: Some of these businesses are operated by co-owners or another form of partnership. To simplify, I’ve listed the primary contact I talked with during my research.