We all love telling stories. The temptation to narrate our experiences to people or telling them how we feel is quite irresistible. It just gives us a kind of satisfaction. That’s why - we’re often seen telling our experiences to our friends or upload countless statuses on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
However, the interesting question is - why we love doing so?
Let me explain why!
When we narrate a story to someone - we allow him to connect with our life and experience things we’ve experienced earlier. This helps him better understand our experiences and remember them for a long time. Moreover, after narrating a story - you can easily tempt him to do something you want him to do. For example, if you want him to purchase your product - you can easily persuade him to purchase it.
Due to the above-mentioned reason, most businesses have also started using this art of storytelling to sell their products. They’re implementing various ways of storytelling like UX Stories, Scenarios, Storyboards, etc. In this post, we will explain everything about UX stories in detail. You can go through the post and get more familiar with the concept. Have a good read:
Here's All You Need to Know about UX Stories
What is a UX Story?
A UX story is a well-accounted detail of the events happening within an app from the user perspective. It will briefly tell how your product will work after it's created.
Why UX Stories Are Important?
UX stories are important because:
A. They Summarise the Whole Experience
Do you know what's the purpose of creating user stories? They're created so that users can understand the whole process in simple words. UX stories just give you a brief idea about how your app will work after it's created.
B. Makes it Easier to Understand the Working of Your Product
How will you explain the working of your app to a person who doesn’t have any technical knowledge? Well, you can't – unless you know how to make someone understand your point in a layman language. UX stories can make the job a lot easier for you.
C. Helps You Explain Topics that You Can't Detail Directly
Usually, it's not that easy to detail certain topics properly. However, UX stories help users better connect with what you're saying and understand your point.
D. UX Stories Better Persuade Your Audience
Like we've mentioned earlier, UX Stories narrates your product from the user aspect. Hence, he can better connect with what you're saying and it will be easier to persuade him into doing whatever you want.
Components of a UX Story
1. User
The most important part of your UX story. If there's no user – there will be no UX story.
2. User's Goal and Motivation
Here comes the next important part. You can't create a good UX story – until you don't know what are your user's goals and what motivates him? You should never skip it.
3. Context
A context as a setting or a time – around which your UX story occurs. It makes users easily understand your UX story by assuming himself in the real life situation.
4. Plot
Next comes the plot of your story. It's a series of events that happened during the context resulted in your UX story.
5. Insight
Insight is that part of a UX story in which you pour your experience and wisdom to communicate with your audience and make them understand the purpose of your story.
6. Visual Portion
Visual elements like images, animations, and videos increase the value of your UX stories 10 times. They help users understand and connect better with it.
Remember! Visual elements are an integral part of your UX story. Don't forget to include them.
How to Write a Good UX Story
Want to write a good UX story? Well, then you'll keep the following points in mind:
1. Always Keep User as the Center of the Story
You can never expect users to connect with your UX story unless you're not keeping them as the center. So, make sure that your UX story is centered around them. Narrate experiences they face in daily. Only then you can expect a positive reaction from them.
2. Share Unique Experiences
I've noticed one thing about great UX stories. They don't just blabber about anything – they narrate unique experiences. They tell about things that happen around us but we never notice. Perhaps, that's the reason they're special and we're always tempted to read them.
3. Keep Your UX Story Simple and Interactive
Do you want people to like your UX story and engage with it? Well, then you've to keep it simple and intuitive. They admire stories that are easy and can be understood when you read them for the first time. They can better engage with them.
So, while creating a UX story – ensure that it’s so easy that even a layman can understand it.
4. However, don't skip any detail
Keeping your UX story simple doesn't mean that you've the liberty to skip some details. Don't forget to include them – no matter what the scenario is. It's not wise to skip important details just because you want to keep your story simple.
5. Keep the Engagement Alive Until the End
Let me ask a simple question:
Will you watch a movie until the end – if it has an over-the-top story that you can't understand or able to connect with?
Never!
Exactly – the same case is applicable to your UX stories. You can't expect someone to read them if there is no engagement. You've to keep it alive till the end and keep your readers bound to their seats. Teach them something they've never learned before. Narrate experiences they never had. Your story will create wonders.
6. Your Story Should be Understandable to All Users – from Young Children to Old People
The secret behind successful UX stories is that they're understandable to all types of users – small kids, teens, middle-aged people, and old people. These stories are so simple that everyone can feel connected to them. The experiences they detail aren't very rare – they're always around you – but you didn't pay any attention.
If your story has all the above-mentioned qualities, it's great. Otherwise, you should think about making some enhancements in it.
Difference between User Stories, Scenarios, User cases, and storyboards
There are different ways of storytelling. UX Stories, Scenarios, User cases, Storyboards, etc. However, not all of them are same. Here's the basic difference between all of them:
User Stories
User stories are well-accounted details of events from the user perspective.
Scenarios
A scenario is a detail of events happening on the technical level.
User Cases
User cases are the situations that a user may face while using an app.
Storyboards
In this way of storytelling – stories are told in a sequence of pictures and drawings
Risks of UX Stories
You need to be careful while creating UX stories. They're not always beneficial. If not properly executed – the UX stories can be risky. Here's the risk of poorly executed UX stories:
Sometimes in pursuit of creating a great UX story – you may end up forgetting whether your product can meet all the needs or not. As a result, your story may convince your audience but you may end up delivering a product that doesn't satisfy your needs.
Example
Let us assume a situation!
You've created a UX story for the smartphone you're going to launch soon. In the story, you've mentioned your smartphone as a revolutionary gadget with a high-end camera, a powerful processor, large RAM, etc.
Now, you wanted your story to look so great that you ended up forgetting about your capabilities. You bragged a lot and convinced a large group of investors.
However, when it came to releasing your smartphone – what you delivered was a phone with ordinary specifications.
Now, imagine the reaction of your audience. Will they believe in you again?
No, they never will.
Hence, it's important to check for data and facts while creating a UX story and then create a story that's authentic.
Conclusion
UX stories are the new face of digital storytelling. Instead of boring ad campaigns and task checklists – they offer a natural way to engage with users. Moreover, they allow you better know and connect with your audience. What I believe is that there can't be a better way of communication than UX stories. They just persuade your customer to purchase your product.
Even if UX stories are beneficial – they also pose a risk to your business if executed poorly. So, while creating a UX story make sure to cross-check the facts. Don't make promises that you can't fulfill. Otherwise, customers will lose trust in your brand.
Stay tuned for more updates!
