
Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime
Try Prime
and start saving today with fast, free delivery
Amazon Prime includes:
Fast, FREE Delivery is available to Prime members. To join, select "Try Amazon Prime and start saving today with Fast, FREE Delivery" below the Add to Cart button.
Amazon Prime members enjoy:- Cardmembers earn 5% Back at Amazon.com with a Prime Credit Card.
- Unlimited Free Two-Day Delivery
- Streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows with limited ads on Prime Video.
- A Kindle book to borrow for free each month - with no due dates
- Listen to over 2 million songs and hundreds of playlists
- Unlimited photo storage with anywhere access
Important: Your credit card will NOT be charged when you start your free trial or if you cancel during the trial period. If you're happy with Amazon Prime, do nothing. At the end of the free trial, your membership will automatically upgrade to a monthly membership.
Buy new:
-55% $12.17$12.17
Ships from: Amazon.com Sold by: Amazon.com
Save with Used - Acceptable
$8.81$8.81
Ships from: Amazon Sold by: 2nd Life Aloha

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Image Unavailable
Color:
-
-
-
- To view this video download Flash Player
-
-
-
-
-
-
7 VIDEOS
-
Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen Hardcover – Illustrated, October 10, 2017
Purchase options and add-ons
More than half-a-million business leaders have discovered the power of the StoryBrand Framework, created by New York Times bestselling author and marketing expert Donald Miller. And they are making millions.
If you use the wrong words to talk about your product, nobody will buy it. Marketers and business owners struggle to effectively connect with their customers, costing them and their companies millions in lost revenue.
In a world filled with constant, on-demand distractions, it has become near-impossible for business owners to effectively cut through the noise to reach their customers, something Donald Miller knows first-hand. In this book, he shares the proven system he has created to help you engage and truly influence customers.
The StoryBrand process is a proven solution to the struggle business leaders face when talking about their companies. Without a clear, distinct message, customers will not understand what you can do for them and are unwilling to engage, causing you to lose potential sales, opportunities for customer engagement, and much more.
In Building a StoryBrand, Donald Miller teaches marketers and business owners to use the seven universal elements of powerful stories to dramatically improve how they connect with customers and grow their businesses.
His proven process has helped thousands of companies engage with their existing customers, giving them the ultimate competitive advantage. Building a StoryBrand does this by teaching you:
- The seven universal story points all humans respond to;
- The real reason customers make purchases;
- How to simplify a brand message so people understand it; and
- How to create the most effective messaging for websites, brochures, and social media.
Whether you are the marketing director of a multibillion-dollar company, the owner of a small business, a politician running for office, or the lead singer of a rock band, Building a StoryBrand will forever transform the way you talk about who you are, what you do, and the unique value you bring to your customers.
- Print length240 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherHarperCollins Leadership
- Publication dateOctober 10, 2017
- Dimensions5.71 x 0.88 x 8.65 inches
- ISBN-100718033329
- ISBN-13978-0718033323
There is a newer edition of this item:
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now
Frequently bought together

Related Climate Pledge Friendly items
- Sustainability features for this product
Sustainability features
This product has sustainability features recognized by trusted certifications.Forestry practicesMade with materials from well-managed forests, recycled materials, and/or other controlled wood sources.As certified byThe Forest Stewardship Council
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) supports responsible forestry, which is a vital solution to combat climate change. Choosing FSC-certified products – whether furniture, building materials, paper, rubber, or textiles – helps protect forests, wildlife, clean water and supports the Indigenous Peoples, forest workers and communities who depend on them. Choosing FSC-certified products can also help to mitigate climate change by supporting responsible management of the world’s forests. For a better future, choose FSC. - Sustainability features for this product
Sustainability features
This product has sustainability features recognized by trusted certifications.Carbon impactCarbon emissions from the lifecycle of this product were measured, reduced and offset.As certified byClimatePartner certified
The Climate neutral label by ClimatePartner certifies that the carbon footprint of a product was calculated and all associated emissions were offset. Additionally, ClimatePartner encourages companies to set ambitious reduction targets and reduce their products' carbon footprints. The certificate number can be entered on ClimatePartner’s website for additional information such as the supported carbon offset project(s). ClimatePartner is improving lives by helping companies tackle climate change with practical solutions.Certification Number9FLWGB - Sustainability features for this product
Sustainability features
This product has sustainability features recognized by trusted certifications.Carbon impactCarbon emissions from the lifecycle of this product were measured, reduced and offset.As certified byCarbon Neutral Certified by SCS Global Services
Carbon Neutral Certified by SCS Global Services enables companies to demonstrate carbon neutrality for their products by reducing carbon emissions throughout their operations and offsetting their remaining carbon footprint through the purchase of carbon credits. SCS Global Services is a global leader in third-party environmental and sustainability verification, certification, auditing, testing, and standards development. SCS is a chartered Benefit Corporation, reflecting its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices. - Sustainability features for this product
Product Certification (1)
Products with trusted sustainability certification(s). Learn moreProduct Certification (1)ISCC PLUS certified products are created using raw materials like recycled plastics and bio-based materials, which can reduce fossil fuel consumption. - Sustainability features for this product
Sustainability features
This product has sustainability features recognized by trusted certifications.Carbon impactCarbon emissions from the lifecycle of this product were measured, reduced and offset.As certified byCarbon Neutral Certified by SCS Global Services
Carbon Neutral Certified by SCS Global Services enables companies to demonstrate carbon neutrality for their products by reducing carbon emissions throughout their operations and offsetting their remaining carbon footprint through the purchase of carbon credits. SCS Global Services is a global leader in third-party environmental and sustainability verification, certification, auditing, testing, and standards development. SCS is a chartered Benefit Corporation, reflecting its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices. - Sustainability features for this product
Product Certification (1)
Products with trusted sustainability certification(s). Learn moreProduct Certification (1)ISCC PLUS certified products are created using raw materials like recycled plastics and bio-based materials, which can reduce fossil fuel consumption.
From the brand

Books by Donald Miller
Scroll right for more
-
Shop the Collection
-
Build Your Brand
-
Grow Your Small Business
-
Build Your Coaching Career
-
Find Purpose in Life
-
Books for Marketers
-
Excel in Your Career
-
Donald Miller is the CEO of Business Made Simple, an online platform that teaches business professionals everything they need to know to grow a business and enhance their personal value on the open market. He is the host of the Business Made Simple podcast and is the author of several books, including the bestseller Building a StoryBrand.
From the Publisher

The Secret Weapon That Will Grow Your Business
Listen to the Audiobook

Product Details
- Read by Author
- Length: 4 hours 56 minutes
- Language: English
- ASIN: B072J8WRND
Learn from Donald Miller, who has helped thousands of companies earn millions of dollars by clarifying their message.
![]()
Building a StoryBrand 2.0: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen
|
![]()
Marketing Made Simple: A Step-by-Step StoryBrand Guide for Any Business (Made...
|
![]()
Business Made Simple: 60 Days to Master Leadership, Sales, Marketing, Executi...
|
![]()
Coach Builder: How to Turn Your Expertise Into a Profitable Coaching Career
|
![]()
Hero on a Mission: A Path to a Meaningful Life
|
![]()
How to Grow Your Small Business: A 6-Step Plan to Help Your Business Take Off
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Customer Reviews |
4.8 out of 5 stars 74
|
4.7 out of 5 stars 2,236
|
4.7 out of 5 stars 2,126
|
4.6 out of 5 stars 187
|
4.6 out of 5 stars 786
|
4.7 out of 5 stars 619
|
Price | $17.99$17.99 | $13.29$13.29 | $12.89$12.89 | $13.82$13.82 | $6.87$6.87 | $15.43$15.43 |
Description | Donald Miller deepens his teaching on how to use his seven universal story elements and clarify your message. | Easy-to-understand blueprint to increase sales, grow your mission, and connect with customers. | Learn to lead a team, sell more product, and run a business. | The 8-step plan every self-employed coach needs to be successful. | A transformational, yet practical plan to finding the fulfillment you have been searching for in your life and work. | Learn how to expand your company and reach new customers. |
Job Role | Marketing, branding, communications, business owner | Marketing, designer, copywriter, business owner | Manager, individual contributor, small business owner | Coaches, consultants | Anyone seeking personal and professional development | Small business owners and entrepreneurs |
Real World Examples | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Visuals and Diagrams | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Interactive Content | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
Accompanying Videos | ✓ | |||||
Bonus Online Supporting Materials | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Number of Pages | 304 | 208 | 240 | 256 | 224 | 224 |
Audiobook Length | 7 hrs | 4 hrs and 19 mins | 6 hrs and 55 mins | 4 hrs and 30 mins | 5 hrs and 20 mins | 4 hrs and 36 mins |
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Donald Miller is the CEO of StoryBrand and Business Made Simple. He is the host of the Coach Builder YouTube Channel and is the author of several books including bestsellers Building a StoryBrand, Marketing Made Simple, and How to Grow Your Small Business. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee with his wife, Elizabeth and their daughter, Emmeline.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Building a StoryBrand
Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen
By Donald MillerHarperCollins Publishers
Copyright © 2017 Donald MillerAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-7180-3332-3
Contents
Introduction, ix,SECTION 1: WHY MOST MARKETING IS A MONEY PIT,
1. The Key to Being Seen, Heard, and Understood, 3,
2. The Secret Weapon That Will Grow Your Business, 15,
3. The Simple SB7 Framework, 29,
SECTION 2: BUILDING YOUR STORYBRAND,
4. A Character, 45,
5. Has a Problem, 57,
6. And Meets a Guide, 73,
7. Who Gives Them a Plan, 85,
8. And Calls Them to Action, 95,
9. That Helps Them Avoid Failure, 107,
10. And Ends in a Success, 117,
11. People Want Your Brand to Participate in Their Transformation, 131,
SECTION 3: IMPLEMENTING YOUR STORYBRAND BRANDSCRIPT,
12. Building a Better Website, 145,
13. Using StoryBrand to Transform Company Culture, 157,
The StoryBrand Marketing Roadmap, 171,
Afterword, 209,
Acknowledgments, 211,
Praise for the StoryBrand Framework, 213,
StoryBrand Resources, 219,
Notes, 225,
CHAPTER 1
THE KEY TO BEING SEEN, HEARD, AND UNDERSTOOD
Most companies waste enormous amounts of money on marketing. We all know how mind-numbing it is to spend precious dollars on a new marketing effort that gets no results. When we see the reports, we wonder what went wrong, or worse, whether our product is really as good as we thought it was.
But what if the problem wasn't the product? What if the problem was the way we talked about the product?
The problem is simple. The graphic artists and designers we're hiring to build our websites and brochures have degrees in design and know everything about Photoshop, but how many of them have read a single book about writing good sales copy? How many of them know how to clarify your message so customers listen? And worse, these companies are glad to take your money, regardless of whether you see results or not.
The fact is, pretty websites don't sell things. Words sell things. And if we haven't clarified our message, our customers won't listen.
If we pay a lot of money to a design agency without first clarifying our message, we might as well be holding a bullhorn up to a monkey. The only thing a potential customer will hear is noise.
Still, clarifying our message isn't easy. I had one client say that when he tried to do so, he felt like he was inside the bottle trying to read the label. I understand. Before I started StoryBrand I was a writer and spent thousands of hours staring at a blank computer screen, wondering what to say. That soul-wrenching frustration led me to create a "communication framework" based on the proven power of story, and I swear it was like discovering a secret formula. The writing got easier and I sold millions of books. After using the framework to create clear messages in my books, I used it to filter the marketing collateral in my own small company. Once we got clear, we doubled in revenue for four consecutive years. I now teach that framework to more than three thousand businesses each year.
Once they get their message straight, our clients create quality websites, incredible keynotes, e-mails that get opened, and sales letters people respond to. Why? Because nobody will listen to you if your message isn't clear, no matter how expensive your marketing material may be.
At StoryBrand we've had clients double, triple, and even quadruple their revenue after they got one thing straight — their message.
The StoryBrand Framework has been just as effective for billion-dollar brands as it has for mom-and-pop businesses, and just as powerful for American corporations as it has for those in Japan and Africa. Why? Because the human brain, no matter what region of the world it comes from, is drawn toward clarity and away from confusion.
The reality is we aren't just in a race to get our products to market; we're also in a race to communicate why our customers need those products in their lives. Even if we have the best product in the marketplace, we'll lose to an inferior product if our competitor's offer is communicated more clearly.
So what's your message? Can you say it easily? Is it simple, relevant, and repeatable? Can your entire team repeat your company's message in such a way that it is compelling? Have new hires been given talking points they can use to describe what the company offers and why every potential customer should buy it?
How many sales are we missing out on because customers can't figure out what our offer is within five seconds of visiting our website?
WHY SO MANY BUSINESSES FAIL
To find out why so many marketing and branding attempts fail, I called my friend Mike McHargue. Mike, often called "Science Mike" because he hosts a successful podcast called Ask Science Mike, spent fifteen years using science-based methodologies to help companies figure out how their customers think, specifically in the tech space. Sadly, he left advertising when a client asked him to create an algorithm predicting the associated buying habits of people with diabetes. Translation: they wanted him to sell junk food to diabetics. Mike refused and left the industry. He's a good man. I called, though, because he still has incredible insight as to how marketing, story, and behavior all blend together.
At my request, Mike flew to Nashville to attend one of our workshops. After two days learning the StoryBrand 7-Part Framework (hereafter called the SB7 Framework), we sat on my back porch and I grilled him with questions. Why does this formula work? What's happening in the brains of consumers as they encounter a message filtered through this formula? What's the science behind why brands like Apple and Coke, who intuitively use this formula, dominate the marketplace?
"There's a reason most marketing collateral doesn't work," Mike said, putting his feet up on the coffee table. "Their marketing is too complicated. The brain doesn't know how to process the information. The more simple and predictable the communication, the easier it is for the brain to digest. Story helps because it is a sense-making mechanism. Essentially, story formulas put everything in order so the brain doesn't have to work to understand what's going on."
Mike went on to explain that among the million things the brain is good at, the overriding function of the brain is to help an individual survive and thrive. Everything the human brain does, all day, involves helping that person, and the people that person cares about, get ahead in life.
Mike asked if I remembered that old pyramid we learned about in high school, Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs. First, he reminded me, the brain is tasked with setting up a system in which we can eat and drink and survive physically. In our modern, first-world economy this means having a job and a dependable income. Then the brain is concerned with safety, which might entail having a roof over our heads and a sense of well-being and power that keeps us from being vulnerable. After food and shelter are taken care of, our brains start thinking about our relationships, which entail everything from reproducing in a sexual relationship, to being nurtured in a romantic relationship, to creating friendships (a tribe) who will stick by us in case there are any social threats. Finally then, the brain begins to concern itself with greater psychological, physiological, or even spiritual needs that give us a sense of meaning.
What Mike helped me understand is that, without us knowing it, human beings are constantly scanning their environment (even advertising) for information that is going to help them meet their primitive need to survive. This means that when we ramble on and on about how we have the biggest manufacturing plant on the West Coast, our customers don't care. Why? Because that information isn't helping them eat, drink, find a mate, fall in love, build a tribe, experience a deeper sense of meaning, or stockpile weapons in case barbarians start coming over the hill behind our cul-de-sac.
So what do customers do when we blast a bunch of noise at them? They ignore us.
And so right there on my back porch, Mike defined two critical mistakes brands make when they talk about their products and services.
Mistake Number One
The first mistake brands make is they fail to focus on the aspects of their offer that will help people survive and thrive.
All great stories are about survival — either physical, emotional, relational, or spiritual. A story about anything else won't work to captivate an audience. Nobody's interested. This means that if we position our products and services as anything but an aid in helping people survive, thrive, be accepted, find love, achieve an aspirational identity, or bond with a tribe that will defend them physically and socially, good luck selling anything to anybody. These are the only things people care about. We can take that truth to the bank. Or to bankruptcy court, should we choose to ignore it as an undeniable fact.
Mike said our brains are constantly sorting through information and so we discard millions of unnecessary facts every day. If we were to spend an hour in a giant ballroom, our brains would never think to count how many chairs are in the room. Meanwhile, we would always know where the exits are. Why? Because our brains don't need to know how many chairs there are in the room to survive, but knowing where the exits are would be helpful in case there was a fire.
Without knowing it, the subconscious is always categorizing and organizing information, and when we talk publicly about our company's random backstory or internal goals, we're positioning ourselves as the chairs, not the exits.
"But this poses a problem," Mike continued. "Processing information demands that the brain burn calories. And the burning of too many calories acts against the brain's primary job: to help us survive and thrive."
Mistake Number Two
The second mistake brands make is they cause their customers to burn too many calories in an effort to understand their offer.
When having to process too much seemingly random information, people begin to ignore the source of that useless information in an effort to conserve calories. In other words, there's a survival mechanism within our customers' brain that is designed to tune us out should we ever start confusing them.
Imagine every time we talk about our products to potential customers, they have to start running on a treadmill. Literally, they have to jog the whole time we're talking. How long do you think they're going to pay attention? Not long. And yet this is precisely what's happening. When we start our elevator pitch or keynote address, or when somebody visits our website, they're burning calories to process the information we're sharing. And if we don't say something (and say something quickly) they can use to survive or thrive, they will tune us out.
These two realities — the reality that people are looking for brands that can help them survive and thrive, and the reality that communication must be simple — explain why the SB7 Framework has helped so many businesses increase their revenue. The key is to make your company's message about something that helps the customer survive and to do so in such a way that they can understand it without burning too many calories.
STORY TO THE RESCUE
Mike agreed the most powerful tool we can use to organize information so people don't have to burn very many calories is story. As he said, story is a sense-making device. It identifies a necessary ambition, defines challenges that are battling to keep us from achieving that ambition, and provides a plan to help us conquer those challenges. When we define the elements of a story as it relates to our brand, we create a map customers can follow to engage our products and services.
Still, when I talk about story to business leaders, they immediately put me in a category with artists, thinking I want to introduce them to something fanciful. But that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about a concrete formula we can use to garner attention from otherwise distracted customers. I'm talking about practical steps we can take to make sure people see us, hear us, and understand exactly why they simply must engage our products.
THE FORMULA FOR CLEAR COMMUNICATION
Formulas are simply the summation of best practices, and the reason we like them is because they work. We've been given great management formulas like Ken Blanchard's Situational Leadership and formulas we can use in manufacturing like Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing. But what about a formula for communication? Why don't we have a formula we can use to effectively explain what our company offers the world?
The StoryBrand Framework is that formula. We know it works because some form of this formula has been active for thousands of years to help people tell stories. Talk about a summation of best practices. When it comes to getting people to pay attention, this formula will be your most powerful ally.
Once you know the formulas, you can predict the path most stories will take. I've learned these formulas so well that my wife hates going to movies with me because she knows at some point I'm going to elbow her and whisper something like, "That guy's going to die in thirty-one minutes."
Story formulas reveal a well-worn path in the human brain, and if we want to stay in business, we need to position our products along this path.
If you're going to continue reading this book, I have to warn you, I'm going to ruin movies for you. I mean, these things really are formulaic. They're predictable. And they're predictable for a reason. Storytellers have figured out how to keep an audience's attention for hours.
The good news is these formulas work just as well at growing your business as they do at entertaining an audience.
THE KEY IS CLARITY
The narrative coming out of a company (and for that matter inside a company) must be clear. In a story, audiences must always know who the hero is, what the hero wants, who the hero has to defeat to get what they want, what tragic thing will happen if the hero doesn't win, and what wonderful thing will happen if they do. If an audience can't answer these basic questions, they'll check out and the movie will lose millions at the box office. If a screenwriter breaks these rules, they'll likely never work again.
The same is true for the brand you represent. Our customers have questions burning inside them, and if we aren't answering those questions, they'll move on to another brand. If we haven't identified what our customer wants, what problem we are helping them solve, and what life will look like after they engage our products and services, for example, we can forget about thriving in the marketplace. Whether we're writing a story or attempting to sell products, our message must be clear. Always.
In fact, at StoryBrand we have a mantra: "If you confuse, you'll lose."
BUSINESS HA S AN ENEMY
Business has a fierce, insidious enemy that, if not identified and combated, will contort our company into an unrecognizable mess. The enemy I'm talking about is noise.
Noise has killed more ideas, products, and services than taxes, recessions, lawsuits, climbing interest rates, and even inferior product design. I'm not talking about the noise inside our business; I'm talking about the noise we create as a business. What we often call marketing is really just clutter and confusion sprayed all over our websites, e-mails, and commercials. And it's costing us millions.
Years ago, a StoryBrand client who attended one of our workshops pushed back. "I don't think this will work for me," he said. "My business is too diverse to reduce down to a simple message." I asked him to explain.
"I have an industrial painting company with three different revenue streams. In one division we powder-coat auto parts. In another we apply sealant to concrete, and in another we have a sterilized painting process used specifically in hospitals."
His business was diverse, but nothing so complex that it couldn't be simplified so more people would hire him. I asked if I could put his website on the giant television screen so the entire workshop could see it. His website was thoughtful, but it didn't make a great deal of sense from an outside perspective (which is how every customer views your business).
The man had hired a fine-arts painter to create a painting of his building (was he selling a building?), and at first glance it looked like the website for an Italian restaurant. The first question I had when I went to the website was, "Do you serve free breadsticks?" There were a thousand links ranging from contact information to FAQs to a timeline of the company's history. There were even links to the nonprofits the business supported. It was as though he was answering a hundred questions his customers had never asked.
I asked the class to raise their hands if they thought his business would grow if we wiped the website clean and simply featured an image of a guy in a white lab coat painting something next to text that read, "We Paint All Kinds of S#*%," accompanied by a button in the middle of the page that said, "Get a Quote."
The entire class raised their hands.
Of course his business would grow. Why? Because he'd finally stopped forcing clients to burn calories thinking about his life and business and offered the one thing that would solve his customers' problem: a painter.
What we think we are saying to our customers and what our customers actually hear are two different things. And customers make buying decisions not based on what we say but on what they hear.
STOP SAYING THAT
All experienced writers know the key to great writing isn't in what they say; it's in what they don't say. The more we cut out, the better the screenplay or book. The mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal is often credited for sending a long letter stating he simply didn't have time to send a short one.
(Continues...)Excerpted from Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller. Copyright © 2017 Donald Miller. Excerpted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Product details
- Publisher : HarperCollins Leadership; Illustrated edition (October 10, 2017)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 240 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0718033329
- ISBN-13 : 978-0718033323
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 5.71 x 0.88 x 8.65 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #3,104 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2 in Web Marketing (Books)
- #6 in E-Commerce (Books)
- #16 in Sales & Selling (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
Videos
Videos for this product
0:33
Click to play video
Are you in marketing or storytelling? Watch this!
Mackenzie Schwarz
Videos for this product
1:38
Click to play video
Building A Story Brand Honest Opinion...
The Woods' (Covert Influencer)
Videos for this product
1:59
Click to play video
Building a StoryBrand
Merchant Video
Videos for this product
0:56
Click to play video
An Inside Look at Building A Story Brand
Natalie Jayne Taylor
Videos for this product
1:05
Click to play video
HONEST REVIEW Of Building A Story Brand!
⭐️ Richie REVIEWS It! ⭐️
Videos for this product
0:49
Click to play video
Honest Review of Building A Story Brand
HANNAH / BRAND YOUR DAYDREAM
Videos for this product
0:49
Click to play video
If you want your business to grow, read this!
Naomi Shepler
Videos for this product
0:29
Click to play video
Game Changer for Getting Your Marketing Dialed In
Joshua Stanley
About the author

Donald Miller is the CEO of StoryBrand and Business Made Simple. He is the host of the Coach Builder YouTube channel and is the author of several books including bestsellers Building a StoryBrand, Marketing Made Simple, and How to Grow Your Small Business. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee with his wife, Elizabeth and their daughter, Emmeline.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book insightful and useful for learning the basics of advertising. They appreciate the easy-to-understand writing style and common-sense emphasis. The book provides a nice guide to go through the storybranding process for your business, with actionable steps. Readers praise the solid content and well-thought-out foundations for success. However, some feel the book is repetitive and not engaging.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book insightful and useful for learning the basics of advertising. They appreciate the author's presentation of information and story formula. The book provides a powerful structure for sharing your message that resonates with customers. It is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to master the art.
""Building a StoryBrand" by Donald Miller is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to master the art of clear and compelling business..." Read more
"This book, “Building a Brand Story: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen,” by Donald Miller, is a gem summing up college semesters worth of..." Read more
"...The information is definitely usable and my mind is brimming with ideas of how to put it into practice...." Read more
"...After every chapter, you have the opportunity to put your learning on paper...." Read more
Customers find the book easy to read and understand. They appreciate the author's clear writing style and common-sense approach to storytelling. The exercises in the book encourage readers to apply the principles to their own businesses. Readers also mention that the book provides clarity on key words and phrases.
"...I found it easy to read this entire book although the last chapter about culture didn’t apply to me...." Read more
"...relatable examples and practical exercises, making it easy for readers to apply the principles to their own businesses...." Read more
"...I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to improve their storytelling abilities, as it is an important, if not vital life skill for everyone,..." Read more
"...There's also a small to-do list for those gaps that need more work. Awesome 👍. Book is not long but is packed with good stuff...." Read more
Customers find the book provides a nice guide to go through the storybranding process for their business. It breaks down the strategy into actionable steps that readers and business owners can follow along with. The book is well-written and easy to understand, providing a methodology to look at the story you are putting out there. The model is deceptively simple, but it belies much thought and work after. Overall, it's a transformative guide that provides clarity, engagement, and progress.
"...This book breaks down each step in a way that is clear and easy to implement...." Read more
"...The author uses relatable examples and practical exercises, making it easy for readers to apply the principles to their own businesses...." Read more
"...semesters worth of information on story-telling and construction into actionable steps for the reader and business owner to apply in a fundamental..." Read more
"Relatable and memorable...." Read more
Customers find the book's content solid and well-thought-out. They appreciate the relevant examples and framework for success. Readers say the material merits repeated engagement, is structured well, and easy to comprehend.
"...Miller outlines a powerful framework for creating a narrative that resonates with clients and prospects...." Read more
"...The advice they provide and all of their material is top notch!..." Read more
"...they’re selling what looks like a bootleg version with terrible printing/photo quality and a note on back above the barcode that says “This is..." Read more
"...he discusses how to implement this to build a better website - still spot on material...." Read more
Customers find the book repetitive and boring. They feel it's a long advertisement for the author's website.
"...There’s lots of useful stuff, but it also reads like a long ad for the author’s website...." Read more
"...If your story has no stakes like Don teaches. It's not engaging...." Read more
"...of the book all these references start being a little repetitive and tiring ...." Read more
"...Now to the bad. This book pissed me off, and the only reason I'm not contacting Amazon for a refund is my precious notes...." Read more
Reviews with images

My mind is blown and I'm not even on page 100!
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2024I have a marketing background but when it came to my own website and business, I struggled. Marketing can sometimes be too busy and too wordy. This book breaks down each step in a way that is clear and easy to implement.
I found it easy to read this entire book although the last chapter about culture didn’t apply to me. Access to the online brand script was an unexpected perk to this book. When I finished, I had a clearer picture of the messaging I needed to use across all my marketing.
This book is more than creating a story for your business—it’s a complete shift in how you view your customers (they are the heroes), who the villains are for them, and how your products and services save the day.
I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants a clear marketing solution for their business.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2024"Building a StoryBrand" by Donald Miller is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to master the art of clear and compelling business communication. Miller's straightforward approach and insightful guidance make this book a standout in the realm of marketing and branding.
What sets this book apart is its simplicity and effectiveness. Miller outlines a powerful framework for creating a narrative that resonates with clients and prospects. He emphasizes the importance of positioning the customer as the hero and the business as the guide, a shift in perspective that clarifies messaging and enhances engagement.
The author uses relatable examples and practical exercises, making it easy for readers to apply the principles to their own businesses. Whether you're a seasoned marketer or just starting, the StoryBrand method provides a clear path to articulate your brand's value in a way that captures attention and builds trust.
I particularly appreciated Miller's emphasis on empathy and understanding the customer's journey. His approach helps businesses cut through the noise and communicate their unique value proposition effectively.
Overall, "Building a StoryBrand" is a must-read for anyone looking to improve their business communication skills. It's a practical, insightful, and engaging guide that delivers on its promise. I highly recommend it and give it 5 out of 5 stars.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2021This book, “Building a Brand Story: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen,” by Donald Miller, is a gem summing up college semesters worth of information on story-telling and construction into actionable steps for the reader and business owner to apply in a fundamental way that is easy to digest. This alone proves the book to be invaluable, yet additionally it provides peace of mind that eliminates doubt and instills a sense of confidence in sharing the story behind the brand or business that leads to more satisfied customers and more business.
I’ve only begun the book the day before yesterday, and today I found myself on pgs 75-77 with an example that made me put down the book and log into my Amazon account just so that I could leave a ‘review’ as there is an interesting dynamic at play here! Perhaps with my reading a little late, the Copyright 2017 (by Donald Miller), and as of today it is July of 2021 I have the gift of hindsight in being able to share my perspective on this particular example and perhaps pose an interesting point.
Under the heading ‘The Fatal Mistake’, which maybe ironic (again, I haven't finished the book yet!). In reference to the brand ‘Tidal’ the author states “Rapper Jay Z founded the company with a personal investment of a whopping $56 million [...],” and goes on to conclude that “Tidal existed to help the artist win the day, not customers [...].”
In spring of this year (2021) Jay-Z reportedly sold Tidal for $302 million which reportedly increased his net worth by 40%. This may or may not be true however it is worth noting in taking a look further at the example in the book!
Maybe The Artist is ‘The Customer’, The Industry is ‘The Villain’, Those Who Pay are ‘The Hero(es)’, and the brand (‘Tidal’) is ‘The Guide’. This would make sense as Jay-Z gave us ‘the blueprint’ and seems to me liberating, not fatal. It’s a win-win for the artist (who gets paid more their worth) and the customer (who would pay for any other streaming service, gets to be ‘The Hero’ who uses their coin to set the artist free from ‘The Villain’).
I’ve always respected Jay-Z as an artist and lyricist (he is not in my Top 3 Favorite Rappers Dead or Alive, but in my Top 5 depending on the day), however this example highlighted for me his magnificence as a storyteller and brilliance as a businessman. I just had somewhat of an ‘aha’ moment which truly opened my eyes as I’ve heard talk of this about him before and didn’t fully comprehend the skill involved (which this book has helped me be able to do).
Again, great book! Worth every penny. My mind is blown and I'm not even on page 100! I’m getting back to it now, just wanted to make that point. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to improve their storytelling abilities, as it is an important, if not vital life skill for everyone, including those who are building a brand.
(THANK YOU!)
5.0 out of 5 starsThis book, “Building a Brand Story: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen,” by Donald Miller, is a gem summing up college semesters worth of information on story-telling and construction into actionable steps for the reader and business owner to apply in a fundamental way that is easy to digest. This alone proves the book to be invaluable, yet additionally it provides peace of mind that eliminates doubt and instills a sense of confidence in sharing the story behind the brand or business that leads to more satisfied customers and more business.My mind is blown and I'm not even on page 100!
Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2021
I’ve only begun the book the day before yesterday, and today I found myself on pgs 75-77 with an example that made me put down the book and log into my Amazon account just so that I could leave a ‘review’ as there is an interesting dynamic at play here! Perhaps with my reading a little late, the Copyright 2017 (by Donald Miller), and as of today it is July of 2021 I have the gift of hindsight in being able to share my perspective on this particular example and perhaps pose an interesting point.
Under the heading ‘The Fatal Mistake’, which maybe ironic (again, I haven't finished the book yet!). In reference to the brand ‘Tidal’ the author states “Rapper Jay Z founded the company with a personal investment of a whopping $56 million [...],” and goes on to conclude that “Tidal existed to help the artist win the day, not customers [...].”
In spring of this year (2021) Jay-Z reportedly sold Tidal for $302 million which reportedly increased his net worth by 40%. This may or may not be true however it is worth noting in taking a look further at the example in the book!
Maybe The Artist is ‘The Customer’, The Industry is ‘The Villain’, Those Who Pay are ‘The Hero(es)’, and the brand (‘Tidal’) is ‘The Guide’. This would make sense as Jay-Z gave us ‘the blueprint’ and seems to me liberating, not fatal. It’s a win-win for the artist (who gets paid more their worth) and the customer (who would pay for any other streaming service, gets to be ‘The Hero’ who uses their coin to set the artist free from ‘The Villain’).
I’ve always respected Jay-Z as an artist and lyricist (he is not in my Top 3 Favorite Rappers Dead or Alive, but in my Top 5 depending on the day), however this example highlighted for me his magnificence as a storyteller and brilliance as a businessman. I just had somewhat of an ‘aha’ moment which truly opened my eyes as I’ve heard talk of this about him before and didn’t fully comprehend the skill involved (which this book has helped me be able to do).
Again, great book! Worth every penny. My mind is blown and I'm not even on page 100! I’m getting back to it now, just wanted to make that point. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to improve their storytelling abilities, as it is an important, if not vital life skill for everyone, including those who are building a brand.
(THANK YOU!)
Images in this review
- Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2024Relatable and memorable. Although sales-pitchy for it's own (paid) solutions at times, each chapter built off the last to give a thorough approach to positioning the marketing and sales process to the likes of a well-told story including character development and journey mapping. Ideal for a professional in sales enablement, go to market, sales leadership, and marketing.
Not sure if this was intentional but I appreciated it was leaning toward established, B2B professionals in the mid-size range (1,000 - 10,000 employees). Many suggestions assume there's a network of internal, specialized roles to engage with but not so many/large that "changing the ship's course" is impossible. There were a couple later chapters that gave suggestions geared for start-ups and entrepreneurs which I found less impactful personally.
MANY references to movies to illustrate characters and story structures which correlated directly to Erving Goffman's sociological theories. Also good analogies that I'll be referencing in real life, for example, "When we identify the stones our customers can step on to get across the creek, we remove much of the risk and increase their comfort level about doing business with us"
Top reviews from other countries
- Amazon CustomerReviewed in Canada on September 2, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Really Good
This book gives the right approach to creating your brand story (brand script) and then shows how to use your brand script in your marketing materials (website, one-liner, e-mail drip campaign, request for testimonials and referrals).
- Gerald ZanklReviewed in Germany on January 8, 2025
5.0 out of 5 stars Storytelling as its best
If you would like to tell better stories, read this book. It explains nicely what a great story includes and how you can leverage those elements to craft great stories for yourself or your company.
-
Cliente AmazonReviewed in Spain on October 8, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Molt bo, val la pena llegir-lo
Molt fàcil de llegir i aclaridor
- JacobReviewed in the Netherlands on September 15, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars High value
Most value I have ever gotten out of any book or bought training.
- Miss K M KingReviewed in the United Kingdom on August 1, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing - great resource for marketing
I don’t normally leave book reviews but felt compelled with this one. I’ve been reading marketing books for the past few months to help me grow my business and the majority of them are just waffle with buzzwords thrown about for effect.
This book literally guides you through the process and explains very clearly what is meant by certain terms and how you can correlate that to your own business/product/brand. It’s very well written and any jargon used is explained and examples.
It’s made me understand marketing on a very different level and has taken away some of the overwhelm I’ve felt about it all. The story brand brainstormings’ have been an invaluable tool to help me reassess how to take my marketing forward.
Thank you!