What Disney/Pixar Can Teach Us About Blogging
29. Jun, 2010 
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It’s obvious that the writers that have come up with some of the truly awesome and inspiring stories told by Disney/Pixar don’t need to jump into the realm of blogging. However, not only would those writers be able to have countless readers awaiting their next post while clutching onto their favorite plush doll in anticipation, but they would be able to truly teach us how to reach the epitome of passion blogging.
Telling a Story
When it comes to blogging, regardless of what the subject matter of the next post is going to be about, it’s imperative that every post tells a story that others can easily connect with. That story can either offer enlightenment, information or solve a nagging problem for others that involved in a similar interest, thereby finding your blog that can offer such benefits.
When Pixar goes out to tell a story, not only do they paint a picture, they construct a masterpiece each and every time they go to work. That image is put to life by lifelike characters that either have similar paths to walk, or completely different outlooks on a single issue. The perfect example of how bloggers can really make a difference in showing passion in their work is to use the “Toy Story” approach.
Setting the Scene
Toy Story sets the scene by showing the innocence of a young boy playing with his toys much in the way most children do at that age. As he is pulled away from his toys, the room is scanned and we see a bunch of toys lying around, left in the state in which they were last placed by Andy, the young boy. There are many different kinds of toys including some of the classics that most of us had way back in the day and there are of course, new ones that are still nice and shiny intermingled with one another placed in different, yet somewhat ‘harrowing’ scenarios.
Apply to Your Blogging
Don’t simply rely on the title of your post to attract eyes, although catchy and baited titles do help, make sure you begin to paint the picture soon within your post. Layout the scenario, describe the challenges and create the image that you want your readers to really ‘see’ beyond the words on their screen.
Trigger the Storyline
After a short time of viewing the environment, the toys suddenly pop to life and begin to interact with one another. After some quick name drops and one liners here and there, we are quickly thrown into the storyline that places us right in the middle of the upcoming challenges that are included in the lives of such toys. Once we hear that Andy is expecting an extremely busy and present packed birthday party, the story comes together when all of the main characters discuss the anxieties and concerns of any ‘new additions’ to the toy box.
Apply to Your Blogging
You’ve set the precedence of the post and laid out the overall scenario with basic but introductory information that begins to pull your readers in. This point is the make-or-break phase where your reader will either decide to hang on or click out…don’t let them click away before you trigger your storyline. Start to hit on the main topic with the challenges that you are about to solve for your readers and then hit them with the how you will solve those challenges.
Pluck the Heart Strings
What Disney and Pixar are masterminds at, is playing on the emotions of the viewers. There are many different examples of this in the movie including the symbolic part of the movie when Woody is brushed aside and felled to the ground by Buzz’s spaceship packaging. We’ve come to connect with Woody as the ‘head toy’ in Andy’s room and when the entrance of a newer, shinier toy comes in to challenge the ranks, there is a bit of a feeling of abandonment anxiety introduced into Woody’s world.
Apply to Your Blogging
Readers are looking to connect, period. I’m not saying to go out and play the role of the victim, rather, play the role of an authority of your chosen market in explaining in great detail as to why your readers need to visit your site and visit often. Open up as much as possible and share your own challenges with your readers and in some way, show them how you’ve overcome the similar challenges that your readers are running into. Don’t be afraid to be emotional and let your passion to help your readers display heavily through your blog.
Feed Their Emotions
Quite possibly, one of the most hard hitting stories told in the Toy Story series is portrayed in Toy Story 2, when Jessie the Cowgirl relives her story about the time her owner, Emily, grew up and moved on with out Jessie. Those three minutes told such an emotional story that although you knew it was from the perspective of a toy, the guts of the story has been known to generate many tears from the eyes of thousands. This story grabbed onto the fear and anxiety of being left behind; something that is a common fear of many.
Apply to Your Blogging
Again, I’m not condoning the style of taking advantage of your readers nor am I asking bloggers to make their readers cry. Quite the contrary as the main reason people are searching for certain blogs is how to solve a problem. My main blog, The Bipolar Spouse, is based on some of the difficult challenges that come along when managing a relationship with one afflicted with bipolar disorder. This topic is rarely ‘entertaining’ and it does tend to become depressing sometimes to write my posts, but I’m fulfilling a need for many that are in such a scenario. Readers of that site are looking for answers, hope and strategy and based on my experience, I’m able to provide those answers and they are emotionally connected to the blog.
Conclusion
If you are truly looking to push a message out there and connect to others that share your same desire, the main take-away is to constantly tell the story of your passion. Your articles should always maintain an ever increasing link between the rest of your articles and keep your story going, which will pull your readers deeper into your blog, finding common ground and making an unbreakable connection with you. Sure, SEOs tell us to write for the search engines, but the search engines aren’t going to help you meet your personal goals, only your human readers can.
What Say You?
As a blogger, are you really pushing your message with real emotion in such a way where you are inviting your readers to truly connect? How can bloggers improve their emotional output to increase trust and authority and also to better provide the needed answers to their readers?
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