Storyconnect The Podcast

In order for people to respond to your products, sometimes those products need a human element. Maybe even a super-human element. In this episode, Mcxie Hurst, marketing manager of Peoples Telephone Cooperative in Quitman, Texas, talks about how their “Super Steve” promotion took their broadband offerings to new heights. Website: www.peoplescom.net

WordSouth had the honor of being asked to present at the 2016 RTIME, the Rural Telecom Industry Meeting & EXPO presented by NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association. VP of Telecom Andy Johns and Managing Editor Noble Sprayberry traveled to Orlando in February to present “Sharing Your Story” f0r RTIME attendees. Before they left, WordSouth President & CEO Stephen V. Smith interviewed Andy and Noble about their presentation. He learned that they would be sharing three important concepts at RTIME: Leading with your story Selling with your story Telling your story the right way Join Stephen, Andy and Noble as they offer a preview of the RTIME presentation.

There is a lot of talk these days about incorporating storytelling into your marketing efforts. But what kind of stories are effective? In this episode of StoryConnect: The Podcast, WordSouth’s Andy Johns speaks with Carrie Huckeby, chief marketing officer for WK&T in Mayfield, Kentucky, and Ardmore Telephone in Ardmore, Alabama. Carrie gives practical examples of how her companies are engaging customers through the power of storytelling.

Telling your own story is one thing, but there is great power in having your customers tell your story for you. In this episode of StoryConnect: The Podcast, WordSouth’s Andy Johns speaks with Shannon Sears, the director of commercial operations for West Carolina Tel headquartered in Abbeville, South Carolina. Shannon talks about a residential development that WCT serves with fiber, where the general manager is a strong advocate for the work WCT is doing in the area.

There is a wealth of information about user habits inside your network, and marketers can harness that information to drive sales and increase ARPU. But how? Allison Brausen recorded this interview prior to presenting at the 2015 StoryConnect conference on the topic of “Harnessing Network Data for Target Marketing.” Allison is the senior manager of marketing campaigns for Calix, a leading global provider of broadband communications access systems and software. She oversees the planning, execution and ROI measurement of marketing outreach for Calix product launches, customer events, promotions and specialized initiatives. In this episode of StoryConnect: The Podcast, Allison talks about how marketers can put network data to work in their organizations.

Jim Keiffer is President of Keiffer Energy and Management Consulting. His four decades in the natural gas and electricity industry include many year leading marketing as well as customer strategy/support for TVA. In this episode of StoryConnect: The Podcast, Jim talks about how utilities can increase customer participation in their programs. This interview was recorded just before StoryConnect: The Conference in September 2015.

Laura Withers is Communications Director for NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association. She was our guest on StoryConnect: The Podcast in September 2015 to discuss NTCA’s Gig-Capable Provider program. This interview led up to Laura’s personal appearance a few weeks later at StoryConnect: The Conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee.