What do you get when you mix a role-playing nerd, musician, strategist, and a man who sacrificed everything for love? You get Anders Hallberg – a storytelling force of nature who turned a personal crash into a creative calling.
Today, Anders works primarily with Visit Halland, but also operates as a hybrid entrepreneur, strategist, speaker, and coach, helping organizations build narrative-driven strategies that inspire, engage, and stand out in an overwhelming digital landscape.
But let us rewind a bit.
From heartbreak to hashtags
“I moved to Borås for love. My life crashed. I moved to Malmö with no job and no relationship. I had nothing — but I had a story.”
Anders began sharing pieces of that story online; raw, honest, vulnerable. To his surprise, people resonated. They connected. He found courage in that connection and discovered the power of storytelling. He printed his first business cards.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Why storytelling matters now more than ever
We live in a world of “smombies”; smartphone zombies swiping, scrolling, and drowning in content. The internet is overflowing with information, distraction, and manipulation.
“We’re met with disinformation, troll factories, rage bait. It’s easy to lose hope. But that’s exactly why we need you. To spread light. Make people smile. Think. Feel. Connect.”
Storytelling, Anders says, is one of our strongest tools for building trust, community, and purpose, especially on social media.
Why are people even on social media?
According to Anders’ take on the latest Swedish internet statistics:
- 46% are there to feel connected
- 28% want to learn something
- And the rest? They’re looking for meaning, belonging, and maybe a laugh
If you are a company or creator on social media, he says, your job is simple:
- Entertain
- Engage
- Teach
- Put yourself in front of the camera
- Be personal and natural
- Play on and evoke emotions
- Share and give knowledge instead of selling (the very core of content marketing)
- Do not forget the love !
Build your own storytelling strategy (yes, even on TikTok)
Anders breaks it down into three clear steps:
- Know your audience
Who are they? What do they need? What do they care about?
Engage with them. Ask questions. Create personas – real, vivid, relatable characters you speak to.
Engage on a regular basis.
- Choose your channels
Be where you feel comfortable, confident, and creative. Instagram? LinkedIn? TikTok? Pick the platform where you can show up consistently and be you.
- Have something to say
Do not post in a rush. Do not post just to be visible.
“What makes you unique? What is your perspective? What do you want people to feel or do after they have seen your content?”
5 story elements for better posts (yes, even for brands)
Using Frodo from The Lord of the Rings as an example, Anders outlines the building blocks of a great story, whether you are writing a LinkedIn post or crafting a campaign.
- A protagonist – Someone we follow (could be your customer, or yourself)
- A goal – What do they want? What are they chasing?
- Strengths – Make us admire them
- Weaknesses – Make us relate to them
- Resistance – The struggle, the conflict, the antagonist (hello Sauron)
“Stories are about change. And change comes from choices. Show the choices your character makes and the transformation that follows.”
What’s your story?
Anders encourages everyone, especially creatives, founders, and communicators, to reflect on their own journey.
Ask yourself:
- What do I want?
- What is my strength?
- What is holding me back?
- What is my crown? (your goal, your impact)
- How can I include my audience in that journey?
“Every person, every brand, every movement has a core story – like the back of a VHS tape or a Netflix synopsis. What is yours?”
Anders also encourages us to use Chat GPT to craft our core stories:
“Let Chat GPT interview you, question by question.”
An example prompt “Dear Chat GPT, you are a creative strategist. Please help me with my core story. Interview me one question at a time about me…”
Explore together with Chat GPT until you have a core story that well describes your business/you.
And finally… Don’t forget the love ❤️
Yes, social media can be frustrating. The comments can be cruel. The trolls are real.
But Anders leaves us with this:
“The more hate people throw at us — the more love we throw back.”
And if there’s a storytelling revolution to be had, he’s leading it. With joy. With self-distance. With purpose. And with a very nerdy, very brave heart.
Want to craft your own story-driven strategy with Anders?
Reach out, slow down, and start with what really matters:
Who are you? What do you want? And who needs to hear your story?
