In this experiential learning activity, Telling the Tale, students use the power of story to translate a deeper knowledge of target markets into demonstrable practical competencies, such as buyer persona formulation and copywriting. The activity's overarching goal is to provide students with hands-on experience in which they hone their creative abilities and develop career-ready skills. To assess effectiveness, this activity was conducted in content marketing and social media marketing courses at two universities to learn about students' experiences in applying storytelling in creating marketing messaging. Responses to a post-activity survey indicate that the teaching innovation enhances students' engagement, sense of self-efficacy, and perceptions of performance accomplishment. Student feedback also reveals a deeper understanding of target marketing, clarity in customer-centricity, and an increased level of creative thinking. Ready-to-use classroom materials, grading resources, and adaptation plans for multiple marketing courses are provided.