5 Signs Your Messaging Is Sabotaging Your Service-Based Biz
Struggling to convey the value of your services in a way that takes your dream audience from prospects to paying clients, shouting “Take my money RIGHT. NOW”?
I bet you’re actually incredible at what you do (otherwise, you wouldn’t have that many positive testimonials and referrals).
What’s actually working against you is prooooobably your marketing messaging.
But I’m not one for relying on guesswork. So, let’s look into it to find out for sure—and see how to ix it.
What is ‘messaging’ in marketing?
In marketing, messaging is the way you talk and write about your business and services and what you focus on the most (your messaging pillars).
It’s how you convey your value proposition, mission, story, and personality to your target audience and across all your marketing channels.
5 signs your messaging is working against you (and how to fix it)
Your messaging should help you attract your target audience, repel wrong-fit prospects, and position yourself as THE go-to solution in the eyes of your dream clients.
But if one (or more) of the following sounds a liiiiiiiiiittle too familiar?
Then it means your marketing messaging has been sabotaging you instead.
1. You can’t sum up what your business is about (not effectively, at least)
Be honest: if I were to bump into you right now, would you be able to impress me with an elevator pitch? Can you summarise your business and what makes you unique—in just a sentence or two?
If you’re now hiding behind your screen hoping you DON’T bump into me just yet, it means your messaging has been sabotaging your service-based business.
Because here’s the thing:
“your messaging has the power to draw your dream clients in and make them see your services as the only logical next step.
But if YOU are not clear on it, you can’t expect THEM to get it.”
How to fix this messaging problem:
Get clear on exactly:
What you do – E.g. I’m a messaging consultant and brand copywriter (not a generic “copywriter” or “consultant”)
Who for – If you’re trying to speak to everyone, you’ll connect with no one. Hopefully, you’ve already defined your target audience, but it’s also important to know how you should refer to them. E.g. I work with women solopreneurs and founders of service-based business, so I usually speak to “women entrepreneurs”
How this benefits them – That’s what you must focus on to convey the value of your services! Not their features or what you care about. E.g. I make my clients’ messaging and marketing magnetic and turn them into THE go-to solution in the eyes of their dream audience.
And you must also package it in a way that sets you apart from everyone else.
You don’t want to be “just another option,” and it’s not about being “the best” either (I believe that, no matter how skilled we are, there’s more than ONE “best copywriter/web developer/interior designer/business coach, etc. EVER.”)
Instead, you must position yourself as “THE go-to solution in the eyes of a specific audience who’s experiencing a specific problem.”
For example, my core messaging is:
“I’m the messaging consultant and brand copywriter for women entrepreneurs, taking them from ‘just another option in their niche’ to ‘THE go-to solution in the eyes of their dream clients.’ I’ll make your messaging and marketing magnetic so that you can attract your target audience, repel wrong-fit prospects, and sell your services more easily and effectively.”
And once you’ve done that?
Do the same for each of your services or offers: exactly what it is, who for, how it’ll benefit them, and how it’s different from similar options.
2. You’re always changing your messaging
Do you find yourself tweaking your website copy and social media bios all the time? Do you refer to yourself as a ‘strategist’ today and a ‘consultant’ tomorrow?
Then that’s another sign that your messaging has been working against you: it’s not consistent.
You may (or may not) have heard of the rule of 7 in marketing. It says that your customers must see your brand at least 7 times before committing to a purchase.
But nowadays, your audience is BOMBARDED with marketing messages. They see an average of 6,000-10,000 EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.
So, the rule of 7 keeps going up. In B2B, most people need a whopping 27 interactions before buying for you.
“But if your messaging changes every time they see or hear about your business? You’re making things even MORE difficult for your dream clients.”
How to fix this messaging problem:
After getting clear on your core messaging, create a framework for your overall brand and each of your services.
And once you’ve done that? Refer to this messaging framework whenever you plan your marketing and content or write and talk about your business.
That way, you’ll keep your messaging consistent all the time and make it easier for your audience to remember it.
3. Your messaging is aaaaaaaall about yourself
“I’m passionate about helping…”
“I’d love to get on a call with you…”
“It’s my mission to…”
Do you often use these types of sentences in your messaging and marketing?
I get it: your business is your baby, and you are passionate about it. But unfortunately, that’s NOT what your dream clients need to see.
As mentioned before, they’re exposed to 6,000-10,000 marketing messages every day.
“If you want them to notice and absorb YOUR message, you must make it about THEM.”
How to fix this messaging problem:
From your website copy to your emails and social media posts: build your messaging around your dream clients and what THEY will gain from investing in your services.
NOT what you’re personally passionate about (sorry).
In fact, here’s a simple exercise you can start with: try to use “you” more often than you say “I”.
4. You’re attracting too many wrong-fit prospects and clients who treat you as “just another option in your niche”
Do you often get enquiries about services you don’t even offer? Or waste HOURS on calls with prospects who take up your time for free and then tell you “We’ve decided to go with a different person” or… downright ghost you?
Now, I’ll be completely honest: no matter how strategic you get with your messaging and pre-qualification process, there’ll always be some of these leads who slip through your system.
(Some people just don’t read. Instead, they’d rather get in touch with a bunch of service providers or book random calls… and waste their time.)
But they should be the exception to the rule, not a regular occurrence.
“Once you clarify your messaging, you’ll start attracting more of your dream clients and repelling wrong-fit prospects.”
For example: years ago, I helped a web designer who kept attracting low-paying and difficult clients who clearly thought THEY could have done her job better than her… even though she was ridiculously skilled at building websites.
As soon as I looked at her messaging, I spotted ONE word that had been sabotaging her right from the start (because it was in the top section of her homepage and some of her social media bios).
She was targeting “time-poor entrepreneurs.” By focusing on “time-poor,” she was attracting that type of client: those who think they could easily do it themselves, they just hAvEn’T gOt TiMe.
So, one of the first things we did was swapping “time-poor” for “ambitious” to grab the attention of a different type of client: those who have big goals, want to scale their business, and are prepared to invest in the help of an expert to get there.
THAT’S the difference your messaging will make!
How to fix this messaging problem:
Remember that magnets don’t only attract: they repel, too.
So, make your messaging fully magnetic by building it around your dream clients but don’t be afraid to put off those who’d be a bad fit.
As a service provider, time is your most valuable asset. And so is your energy. You shouldn’t have to waste them talking to so many wrong-fit prospects.
And once you get strategic and hyper-specific with your messaging? You’ll start showing up as THE go-to solution in the eyes of your actual dream clients.
Bye bye, prospects who book a bunch of calls with your competitors, too. Hello, clients who want to work with YOU and you only.
5. You’re spending a lot of time on your content and marketing but they don’t feel worth the effort
Do you waste hours sitting in front of a Google Doc, forcing yourself to pull new content ideas out of thin air—regularly? Do you feel like you’re starting from scratch every time you want to promote your services?
Then your messaging is clearly sabotaging your business.
“But how is this related, Giada?”
“Marketing is really about amplifying your core messaging to reach more people and turn them into clients.”
If you don’t know how to do that or you’re not crystal clear on your messaging, then it’s costing you a lot of time, sales, and money.
How to fix this messaging problem:
It shouldn’t feel like you’re always starting from scratch every time. Your brand messaging and story should act as a compass.
So, use your messaging (from your new strategic wording to your messaging pillars) to inform all your marketing and content creation.
Messy messaging = messy marketing (and more difficult sales)
Did many of those signs sound familiar? Then, there you go.
I bet there’s nothing wrong with your actual services, especially if most of your clients are super satisfied after investing in you.
What’s sabotaging you is your marketing messaging.
Because… the truth?
“At this stage, it doesn’t matter how good you are at delivering your services.
If you can’t package it in a way that connects with your dream clients? They’ll NEVER find out because… they won’t take action.”
Or they will, but you’ll need to work 10x harder to get there—and waste time and energy on too many wrong-fit prospects along the way.
So, think of your messaging as the foundation of your marketing. Clarify and fine-tune your messaging first and use it to guide everything else.
If you want it to grow your business sustainably and actually enjoy the ride, you must build your marketing on solid pillars—not on pillars of sand.
How I can make your messaging and marketing magnetic🧲
As you know by now, I’m Giada (hi!), the messaging consultant and brand copywriter for women entrepreneurs.
I can take your from “just another option in your niche” to “THE go-to solution in the eyes of your dream clients” in two main ways:
🧲Magnetic Message & Web Copy Makeover✨
VIP offer combining messaging, consulting, and done-for-you website copy
Your website copy shouldn’t just ‘be there’. It should actively work for you 24/7—attracting your dream prospects, connecting with them, and turning them into paying clients.
Is yours NOT doing that consistently? Let’s fix it with the 🧲Magnetic Message & Web Copy Makeover✨.
You’ll also get my bespoke frameworks to keep your brand messaging and story consistent and guide all your marketing.
🧲Magnetic Messaging & Marketing Strategy Day🧭
Signature offer: premium 1:1 strategy day with additional support
Attracting your dream clients and promoting your service-based business shouldn’t be that time-consuming and… messy.
During a strategy day, we’ll fine-tune your brand messaging and story with my proprietary frameworks, use them to guide aaaaaall your content creation, and streamline your marketing.
You’ll also get 2 additional weeks of 1:1 support (because I really want to see you succeed).
Ready to take your messaging from ‘messy’ to ‘magnetic’ and make your marketing easier and more effective?
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