Success story writing guide The value and impact of a well-written success story is really powerful. For this reason, the Support Office developed this guide to help you write engaging and persuasive success stories. What a success story is? Success stories are compelling human interest stories that demonstrate how, in this case, the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme, made a difference in the entrepreneurs ‘life. Success stories describe a positive change and show how that change benefited to the entrepreneurs who participated in the programme. You can write a success story about an exchange that is particularly noteworthy with important accomplishment to describe. You can even write a success story several years after an exchange when the new entrepreneur created his own business for example. Success stories are often used by the media to illustrate the benefits of the programme, and contribute to motivating potential entrepreneurs to take part in it. What goes into a success story is? A success story is not a report about the activities the entrepreneurs carried out during the exchange. The story must highlight the aims and advantages of the programme, but also the benefits to both entrepreneurs. -
Situation = Brief introduction What motivated both entrepreneurs to participate in the programme? Tell who the entrepreneurs are and why they decided to work together. What was the issue or concern? The beginning should show why the entrepreneurs decided to step in the programme. (max. 1000 characters)
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Response = Activities carried out during the exchange Describe the programme’s response including the inputs (i.e. experience provided, etc…) and outputs including the activities carried out (i.e. searching new business markets). Describe the partnership and contribution of both entrepreneurs. (max. 1000 characters)
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Results = Benefits achieved, results and impact of the programme Use quantitative and qualitative data to describe important outcomes (changes and benefits) achieved as a result of the stay-abroad response. How both entrepreneurs benefited from the exchange? Outcomes include changes in knowledge, skills, motivation to start a business or to expand the existing business abroad etc. (max. 1000 characters) Help the reader to understand the meaning behind the change occurred during the exchange. If possible include future plans or lessons learned based on results. Additional key points you main focus on: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Business/jobs created Increase/new sales New markets/partnerships Financing obtained (would-be entrepreneur)
Success story writing guide Last update: 01/04/2014
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- Evidence Use testimonials and pictures from both entrepreneurs to give credibility to the success story. 1. Add a quote regarding the experience: (new entrepreneur - max. 300 characters) 2. Add a quote regarding the experience: (host entrepreneur- max. 300 characters) 3. Add a picture between the new and the host entrepreneur at the host company. (Images should be JPEG or PNG format. Max. 2 MB). Each story should be accompanied by at least one picture that shows the subjects in the context of the exchange depending on the success stories theme. To take a nice picture, make sure the lighting is bright without shadows and that there is nothing unusual in the background. Also, it is best to take a few photos at various angles to allow for choice. How are success stories used? - By you You can use for success stories in a variety of ways including: a) Six-monthly activity report as part of your performance, as well as within the report on promotional activities requested by EC b) In communications with local/regional/national journalists c) To share the programme value with participants entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs during your promotional campaigns - By the Support Office a) To share with the community (IOs) via internal communication (newsletter) b) To post on programme website c) To share with media upon request d) To share on social media Which angle to choose? The Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs targets more than one person. You may thus put the accent on the cooperation itself, or write about one person (the new entrepreneur or host entrepreneur). Showing how the programme benefited to one entrepreneur gives a story human interest and often makes compelling reading. A single testimonial does not constitute a success story but describing the personal impact of an exchange adds powerful evidence of the programme potential value. You can even write a success story several years after the completion of an exchange when the new entrepreneur has created his business for example. What makes a good success story? A good success story: -
Describes valuable results Contains compelling, significant facts Catches attention Tells who benefited Answers: ‘So what?’ Spells out the programme’s role in achieving results Is easy to read and understand
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Use the checklist available in the end of this document to check your story. Ask a colleague or a communication specialist to review the story. The Support Office will check the story before it publication on the programme website in any case. When and how to submit a success story? - When an exchange is successfully completed and something significant came out of it and you have evidence to measure it - On an ongoing basis Writing tips Use the following tips to write your story. -
Find an attractive title, Use active voice, Use short sentences and simple words, Be concise, Choose simple words, Avoid jargon, Avoid acronyms (NE, HE), Use name rather than ‘the new entrepreneur, the host entrepreneur’, Write in paragraphs style in complete sentence.
If your story is too long for the online system, you should edit until you keep vital information. Use short sentences and simple words. Other interesting questions you may consider when preparing the success story - If the new entrepreneur created his/her business, when did he start? - Why did the new entrepreneur decide to become entrepreneur? - Why did the new entrepreneur choose this particular sector? - When did the host entrepreneur open his own business? - Where is the host entrepreneur business located? - How many employees do the new (if relevant) and host entrepreneur have? - Are the two entrepreneurs going to remain in contact? Do they have any particular joint plan? Format and procedure -
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Submit your story via the online form, Once submitted, the story will not directly appear on the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs website but will first be reviewed by the Support Office Team who will liaise with you for feedback and/or additional information, Please make sure you fill in all fields with the relevant data of the exchange. If entrepreneurs do not wish to disclose certain information, please insert N/A. Please note that only the TOP 10 best success stories will be displayed prominently on the Success Stories page of the website. All the others will be listed in the archive folder.
Success story writing guide Last update: 01/04/2014
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Conclusions -
How did Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs make a difference? How much growth (employees, sales, etc.…) have both businesses experienced? What are the contributions the business and entrepreneurs make to the community?
Recommendations -
Remember that a success story is not a report about the activities that the entrepreneurs carry out during the exchange. It is about a positive change which made a difference in the entrepreneurs ‘life.
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Make sure that both entrepreneurs agree to their story being published on the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs’ website and possibly being used as testimonial by the media.
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Update a success story if you have news about further impact on the businesses of the entrepreneurs. As an example, if an NE created a business some months after the exchange, and you become aware of this, you should update the success story to share with the public the medium/long term impact of the experience.
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Success story check list Use this checklist to find out if your story is good enough. Or ask a colleague or communications specialist to review your story using this checklist. TITLE SITUATION
RATING SCALE Poor
Fair
Good
COMMENTS Excellent
a) Clearly describes the entrepreneurs issue or concern b) Shows that issue or need is appropriate to participate in the programme c) Includes narrative data demonstrating the need RESPONSE (inputs and outputs) a) set out the activities carried out b) clearly describes the skills, competences and experience acquired RESULTS (outcomes-impact) a) Tells who benefited and how b) Uses numeric and/or narrative data to describe important outcomes e) States future plans based on results EVIDENCE (evaluation) a) Quote from new entrepreneur b) Quote from host entrepreneur c) Picture WRITING STYLE a) Active voice b) Reads like a story c) Compelling and significant facts d) No jargon or acronyms e) Concise, complete sentences f) Names/titles, not “the new/host entrepreneur”
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