Linking everyday experiences with abstract concepts is a crucial aspect of designing persuasive messages. This study aimed to design an operational "Root-Stem-Leaf" framework and conduct a preliminary evaluation of its effectiveness compared to a direct message. The framework was developed by integrating literature on persuasion, narrative, and cognition and was tested using a between-subjects quasi-experimental design. A convenience sample of 120 social media users (aged 18–35) participated in the study and were randomly assigned to two groups. The experimental group read a message based on the framework, while the control group read a direct message on the same topic. Measures included persuasion, message recall, the experience of discovering meaning, and the intention to share; supplementary interviews were conducted to interpret the audience's experience. The mean scores for all four indicators were higher in the experimental group than in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.001). In the interviews, participants in the experimental group frequently described the gradual discovery of connections between message components and the process of personally arriving at the final concept. These findings suggest that structuring a message to progress from a concrete instance—via semantic links—toward a broader concept can enhance cognitive engagement and persuasion metrics within the context of this study. Due to the use of convenience sampling, a single topic, and short-term assessment, further independent studies are required to generalize the results and fully elucidate the underlying causal mechanisms.