Can telling a powerful story help you connect with millennials? It's worked for George R.R. Martin and for companies like Patagonia. During last year's Black Friday, outdoor giant Patagonia made a bold statement: 100 percent of that day's profits would be donated to environmental charities. The story was widely covered in the media. It went viral on social media and helped the company achieve record-breaking sales. Patagonia's campaign was a perfect example of the kind of story that captures millennials' attention.

Effective content marketing starts with a great storyline-and it's worth finding one to tell. Doing so helps you stand out. According to Manta, just 15 percent of small businesses are actively marketing to millennials. Yet content marketing is the best way to reach them; they research purchases before contacting sales (77 percent), consult multiple sources before a purchase (69 percent), and don't trust traditional advertising (84 percent).

If you can't donate all your profits to charity or capture national media headlines, don't despair. Here are five strategies that can help you get your content marketing ready for millennials.
1. Ditch the hard sell
2. Go mobile native
3. Listen to differentiate your customers' needs
4. Leverage social media and social proof
5. Find real-time hooks