Storytelling Is Not New
Storytelling is not new. It is proposed as the best way to communicate with people and to promote or sell your product, service or business.
In a world where communication comes at us from all angles, it is often difficult to see through the haze of imagery and words. It often goes amiss when people are setting up their own business or launching a new product — and that’s where the right support can make all the difference.
The think6 Story
Since it is our 20th year in business, we’d like to invite you into our story.
Think6 was launched in 2006 as a full-service marketing agency, up a mountain, in a loft — yes, it was that basic. I had worked with agencies in England and wanted to offer clients more than promote and dump. I had just completed a European-funded project and declined a lovely, secure job. Must have been bonkers. I decided to take control of my own destiny. Since I’d been working in tourism, I could see that there were opportunities to work in this sector — offering traditional marketing services as well as acting as a leaning post, someone who became genuinely invested in the client’s business and provided unbiased advice.
That’s where it started. As a small business marketing advocate at heart, I passionately wanted to see who I was working with succeed, because success breeds success. I believe that wholeheartedly.
As one year progressed into the next, we found ourselves working in all sorts of sectors, because whilst the nuts and bolts of any industry are different, the principles of marketing remain the same. And let’s face it — to be sustainable in rural Ireland, small businesses have to be adaptable.
I could at this point tell the story of Botox applications — who knew! Or the story of the cures night that needs to be repeated, but I’ll hold those for another day. Fair to say, I’m full of useless and useful information in equal measure, but the stories and the worlds they come from often help me explain, share or develop an idea. In some ways, the worlds we’ve worked in collide or coincide, but all add to our story.
Investing in the Story — Tourism Development in Action
Working as a tourism marketing consultant Ireland-wide over two decades, some of the most rewarding work has come from helping businesses find and tell the story that was always there.
Take, for example, Erne Water Taxi. We worked with Barry at the beginning of his business when he was just getting off the ground. There were some difficult conversations around his vision — maybe not difficult, more thought-provoking — around the bigger picture and the controversial question of price versus value versus worth. We encouraged Barry to celebrate his talents as an accomplished architect and the story behind the building of his boat. From there we were able to open up a wider conversation with him around:
- Sustainability — the use of materials and manpower to build the boat
- Diversification — the move from engineering into tourism
- Storytelling — building the tourism product around stories
- Regenerative tourism — giving people a sense of place
- Branding — building a brand of culture, regeneration, collaboration and sustainability
- People — utilising the people who work for you and with you
This is tourism development at its most meaningful — not a campaign or a logo, but a considered, layered approach that helps a business understand its own worth and communicate it with confidence.
It is with great pride that we can say we have retained a great relationship with many of the businesses we have worked with and have been part of their story.
Barry Flanagan — “Wow. Congratulations on 20 years in business Teresa. Thank you for all your help and guidance over the years.”
Let’s Write Your Story
Have you been thinking about a new project recently? Perhaps you have a business you wish to elevate, or you’ve found your unique niche but are struggling to highlight it and target the right audiences. Whether you need a tourism marketing consultant, support with tourism development or simply some honest small business marketing guidance, we’d love to hear from you.
Feel free to get in touch and let’s write your story together.