Why 87% of Readers Prefer Personal Stories Over Generic Advice

Don’t say “how to” do it; say “how you” did it.

Image from Lummi.ai

Advice is everywhere. There’s no shortage of blog posts, podcasts, and TikToks promising “the ultimate guide” to success. They all tell you what you should do:

• Start waking up at 5 a.m.
• Post every day on social media
• Be consistent

But here’s the thing — that’s not what most of us actually need. We don’t want to be told what to do. We want to know how you did it.

It’s one thing to say,

“Build your network to grow your business.”

But it’s way more helpful when someone shares,

“I sent 50 cold emails a day for three months, and here’s the template that got the best response.”

That’s actionable. That’s relatable. And most importantly, it’s real.

The Power of Specificity

Years ago, when I was trying to grow my blog, I read countless articles about “building an audience.” They all had the same generic advice:

• Write consistently.
• Engage with your readers.
• Share on social media.