“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” – Dr. Seuss

Dr. Seuss. Altogether, his books have sold over 600 million copies. Back in 2000, when Publishers Weekly put together a list of the top 100 best-selling children’s books of all time, 16 of them were written by the good doctor. In 2012, however, the amazing evergreen brand of Seuss … received a profuse boost!

For the first time ever, five Dr. Seuss books cracked the top fifty best-sellers list all at once. That had never happened before – but now, 21 years after his death, Seuss was suddenly selling more than ever before. Why? Well, this sales bonanza was linked to a very specific event – the release of the animated film adaptation of The Lorax, which helped the Seuss catalog reach a whole new audience.

Now – wouldn’t it be grand if your brand had that kind of helping hand?

Showing the Glory of Your Story

When any brand successfully transitions its story to film, it reengages its current followers – and expands its appeal to an entirely new audience. That’s exactly what The Lorax did for Dr. Seuss – and what a Branded Film can do for you.

The Branded Film is a relatively new and powerful tool for professionals and entrepreneurs. That’s because, in recent years, due to advances in digital technology, the costs of producing these kinds of movies have dropped considerably, while the ability to “share” these movies (through a variety of online outlets) has increased considerably. The Lorax, strictly speaking, isn’t a Branded Film – but there are plenty of other examples where the movies’ success translated directly to their subjects’ careers.

Rudy, the 1993 sports film which chronicled the uplifting story of a Notre Dame student who desperately wanted a shot on the football team turned Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger into a successful motivational speaker and best-selling author. Similarly, you might not know the name Michael Moore today, if he hadn’t started making himself the main subject of his controversial documentaries. You can argue with his politics, but you can’t argue with his huge celebrity profile.

Then there’s Justin Bieber. Before his current legal problems cropped up, his management team produced a concert documentary, Never Say Never in 2011. This was the ultimate Branded Film event – as Forbes put it in their article, “The Secret Behind Justin Bieber’s Success” (Feb. 25, 2011), “Never Say Never was a brilliant way for the Bieber brand team to tell its story.”

Getting Your Production Done to Perfection

If you’re considering producing a Branded Film for your business, here are a few tips on how to make sure your story gets told the most effectively:

• Search High and Low for a Talented Pro

There’s nothing worse than a Branded Film that looks like it was shot by a junior high school kid using a video camera for the first time. A professional videographer who properly light and shoot your “scenes” properly is more than worth the price.

• Let Others Praise Your Wonderful Ways

Your Branded Film shouldn’t just be you talking about how great you are. Instead, tell your story through other people’s words. Your relatives, clients, business associates all can weigh in – and through the proper questioning and editing, you can easily structure the kind of imagery you want to communicate.

• Avoid a Fail by Telling the Wrong Tale

There are hundreds of different stories you could tell about yourself – but only one right one. We’ve made it our business to thoroughly study the art of storytelling so we can craft the correct narratives for our clients. Make sure yours is honest, relevant and offers the kind of emotional connection that will hook your viewers.

A Branded Film can be the ultimate personal marketing tool. By presenting your story through a compelling high-quality presentation, you become a flesh and blood person your audience can bond with – and not just another businessperson trying to make a sale. You also create more personality-driven opportunities for yourself.

Or, in the words of everybody’s favorite doctor…

“And will you succeed? Yes indeed, yes indeed! Ninety-eight and three-quarters percent guaranteed!” – Dr. Seuss