In a digital world obsessed with views, clicks, and virality, it’s easy to forget what really connects people to your business. Spoiler alert — it’s not your clever headline or your perfectly placed Facebook ad. It’s your story.
I was reminded of this during my latest Drop The Mic podcast episode with Kevin Bulmer — aka the No Schedule Man. Kevin’s a storyteller, a personal branding guy, and someone who’s lived the evolution from old-school radio to today’s fast-paced digital marketing game.
And honestly, the timing of this conversation couldn’t have been better. With everyone chasing the next AI tool to write their content or generate their next video script, Kevin and I hit pause and asked:
“What actually connects people to your brand?”
The answer is simple — Emotion. Story. Authenticity.
We’re living in the age of AI efficiency. I get it — I’m building with AI every single day. I rely on ChatGPT to help plan social content, brainstorm ideas, and even help me write podcast intros. AI makes us faster. More scalable. But… it doesn’t make us more relatable.
Kevin nailed it in our conversation: “People want to know who’s behind the business.”
Think about it. The posts that go viral aren’t the overly polished, perfectly optimized ads. It’s the behind-the-scenes moments. The personal stories. The “Hey, here’s where I messed up but here’s what I learned” kind of content.
In business — whether you’re running a digital marketing agency, a coaching brand, or a tech startup — your personal story matters more than you think.
When Kevin talked about blending his personal story with his business, it hit me — most business owners miss this opportunity completely.
They’re afraid to share the human side. They stick to “safe” content like service descriptions, generic blog posts, or corporate jargon because it feels professional.
But here’s the kicker — people don’t connect with your services. They connect with YOU.
Your story builds trust. It builds familiarity. And in a world where people are bombarded with thousands of ads a day, familiarity wins.
Here’s why storytelling is the ultimate marketing hack (even as AI takes over):
✅ It builds emotional connection — People remember how you made them feel, not what you sold them.
✅ It differentiates you from competitors — No one has your story. Period.
✅ It scales trust — You can’t be everywhere at once, but your story can.
Great question. It’s not about starting every post with “Back in 2009…” and trauma-dumping your life story.
It’s about weaving authenticity into your content in a way that feels natural. Here’s what I recommend (and what Kevin does so well):
🔥 Document, don’t just create: Next time you’re facing a challenge or learning something new — share that.
🔥 Mix personal and professional: Yes, your client wins matter. But so does the photo from your kid’s hockey game or the story of how you almost quit your business.
🔥 Lean into the emotional side: What were you feeling when you faced that challenge? People relate to feelings, not facts.
🔥 Repurpose your stories: That podcast story? Turn it into an Instagram Reel. That client lesson? Make it a LinkedIn post. Or how about Kevin’s story which I’ve now turned into a blog post.
Here’s what most marketers miss — storytelling isn’t just “nice to have.” It directly impacts your bottom line.
In the episode, Kevin and I agreed: Storytelling builds loyalty. Loyalty builds referrals. Referrals build business.
People will hire you, work with you, and refer you not because your services are cheap or your AI tools are the fastest — but because they know, like, and trust you.
Look, AI is here. It’s not going anywhere — and honestly, it’s a tool we all need to embrace. But if we let it, AI could easily turn marketing into a soulless, templated game of optimization.
Don’t let that happen.
Use AI to amplify your message, but never forget — your story is the real differentiator. And the best part? No one else can steal it.
If you want to hear more about this, check out my full conversation with Kevin on Drop The Mic. You’ll walk away rethinking the way you approach your content — I guarantee it.
Watch the full episode here:
Co Founder of Merged Media & Co Owner of Chatello.ai
He is the co-founder of Merged Media, an award-winning digital marketing agency specializing in AI-powered strategies. A sought-after speaker and educator, Jason teaches "Leading Change in Digital Tourism" at George Brown College and has presented at major events like Affiliate World and AdWorld. From his unique journey as a Japanese rockstar to building a successful agency, Jason combines creativity and innovation to help businesses worldwide scale their growth and achieve transformative marketing results.