7 Reasons Why You’re Not Getting Clients (& How to Fix Them)
As a service provider, you’re INCREDIBLE at what you do. So…why are you not getting clients? Or better: why are you attracting the wrong-fit prospects and not as many dream clients as you’d like?
Here’s the truth bomb:
at this stage, it doesn’t matter how good you are at what you do. If you can’t attract your target audience and convert them from prospects to clients, they’ll NEVER find out.
That’s where your problem is likely to be!
So, we’re going to look at 7 common reasons why you’re not getting clients and, most importantly, what you can do to fix them.
But let’s double-check something real quick.
Disclaimer: you first need to have the right foundations in place!
In some cases, there might be deeper and bigger reasons why you’re not getting clients, and they require your attention before you fix any of the ones we’ll look into in the core of the article:
You don’t know who your dream audience is. If you’re tempted to answer “but my services are for everyone”, then hear me out: when you try and please everyone, you please no one. So, take some time to look into this properly. Conduct some research, narrow down your audience, and understand exactly who you’re selling to
You haven’t got the right offer for your audience. Your services should solve your dream client’s pain point, offer a desirable transformation, and be priced accordingly. If your offer is something they can easily live without or it’s just too expensive for their budget (or even suspiciously cheap)… then that’s probably why you’re not getting clients. So, run a competitor analysis to see what’s already working out there, get some honest feedback from your target audience, and consider redesigning your services accordingly
Not sure if you’re targeting the right audience and with the right services? Easy:
Do you know of any competitors who’ve got similar services for your audience—and who’re doing well?
Have you sold your services before?
Did you receive positive feedback?
Do you get clients from referrals, occasionally?
If you’ve just answered “yes” to those, then… congrats: there’s nothing wrong with your actual audience focus and services (pheeew) and the rest of this blog post is indeed right for your current situation.
7 main reasons why you’re not getting clients for your service-based business—and what to do about it
And I’m confident it’s at least one of the following because that’s what most of my clients used to struggle with.
Full disclosure? I had the same problems in the past!
So, trust me: I know how frustrating it feels. Luckily for you, I now know how to solve them, too.
1. You’re not clear on your brand messaging
Your brand messaging is the way you write and talk about your business, the core topics you focus on, and how you convey your value proposition to your specific audience.
In other words, it’s what allows you to set yourself apart from your competitors and grab your dream client’s attention—and retain it.
Your brand messaging should also be consistent everywhere, from your website copy to your social media posts and… all your marketing materials
For example, does your website say “I’m a graphic designer on a mission” but your social media bios are “I offer graphic design services for solopreneurs” and your LinkedIn headline says “I’ve completed +100 graphic design projects and social media templates for my clients”?
Then your audience won’t be able to understand what your brand is actually about.
And if they can’t understand it, they won’t remember it.
And if they don’t remember it, they won’t automatically think of you when they’re finally ready to invest in a solution to their problem.
How to fix this reason why you’re not getting clients:
You can start by brainstorming exactly:
What you do/what type of business you are
Who for
How this benefits them/why they should care
and then keep this focus and precise wording consistent across all your marketing materials.
2. You’re not welcoming your dream audience into your brand story
Storytelling in marketing can get you a 30% increase in conversions. Only when done right, though!
Is your brand story all about yourself and how passionate you are about your business?
Do you post content that focuses on you and whatever you’re “excited to announce” and “delighted to share”?
Then that’s likely to be one of the main reasons why you’re not getting clients.
I’ll tell you a secret: people are selfish. We all are. And that includes your target audience. So, if you keep talking about yourself and your business, they won’t care.
But you know what they LOVE hearing and reading about?
Themselves (told ya they’re selfish).
So, adjust your brand story accordingly.
How to fix this reason why you’re not getting clients:
Place your dream client at the core of your brand story, connect with their pain point, position yourself as the best person to solve it, and make them feel this transformation.
Your website copy can tell the entire story, and your content can amplify it.
So, make sure most of it is about your dream clients. Less “I/we”, more “you.”
3. Your website copy isn’t optimised for conversions
One of the most common reasons why service providers don’t get clients? Because their website copy doesn’t actually sell their services. It just describes their business.
“We offer x, y, and z.”
“We’d love to hear from you.”
“We are passionate about working with…”
Does this sound familiar? In most cases, it’s because you wrote your own copy or outsourced it to the cheapest copywriter you could find.
And hey, it’s ok: we’ve all gotta start somewhere! However…
Your website copy should actively be generating high-quality leads for you. If it hasn’t been doing that, then it sounds like it’s time to upgrade it.
For example, amongst the various conversion elements it must include, there’s tackling your dream client’s objections. Maybe they’re considering investing in your services but are thinking “or I could just do it myself.” If your website copy doesn’t address this objection, those prospects will leave without getting in touch—and try and do it themselves.
How to fix this reason why you’re not getting clients:
Invest in conversion-focused website copy that’s written with an actual strategy and that actively sells for you (24/7, no breaks or holidays allowed).
4. You’re not relying on SEO
Most of your dream clients don’t know about your business or name, but they are out there looking for a solution to their problems and googling your type of services.
If you don’t show up on Google at all, that’s probably why you’re not getting many clients: they’re finding your competitors instead!
How to fix this reason why you’re not getting clients:
When you invest in new website copy, make sure it’s optimised for search engines as well as for conversions. This will give you the best chances of attracting your dream audience organically on Google
Blog on your business website. Your core website pages will help you attract prospects who’re looking to invest in your types of services, but 95% of your audience are not ready to buy yet! That’s a pretty big chunk you’re forgetting about. So, write educational and relevant content for those who’re still trying to understand their current problem, what’s causing it, how it can be solved, and so on. That way, when they’re ready to invest in a solution for it, you’ll be the first name that comes to mind. Plus, blogging regularly will give a powerful SEO boost to your entire website. So, you’ll help your core website copy reach more of your audience, too
5. You haven’t been consistent with your marketing…
Do you only think about your marketing when you’re not getting clients? Do you go on a marketing spree and then disappear like that guy who ghosted me and still has my tupperware?
Then that’s what’s been working against you.
Social media marketing, newsletters, blogging… they’re all about the long-term game. So, you must stay consistent even when you’re so busy that you wouldn’t be able to take on any more clients (it’s OK to turn down work, and you can always put those people on a waiting list).
Otherwise, if you only send out newsletters or post on LinkedIn when you’re going through a dry spell, it’s too late—and your lead pipeline will keep on drying up.
How to fix this reason why you’re not getting clients:
Figure out how you can be consistent with your marketing while still putting out excellent content. Basically, be realistic!
I’m not telling you to show up on all your platforms every single day if that would cause you to have a breakdown.
But, for example, you could aim to post on your social media three times a week, email your list once a week (or even every fortnight), engage with your audience by replying to comments every day, and post one blog post a month.
Either way: consistency and quality > quantity and sporadic marketing sprees.
6. … or you’ve been putting out content without the right strategy
There’s a reason why, in the previous point, I said “excellent content” and not just “any type of content.”
Consistency is key, of course, but… churning out content just for the sake of marketing yourself regularly? That won’t get you more clients either.
For example, I noticed that some people complained about not getting any results from LinkedIn even though they were posting every day. And guess what?
They were copywriters sharing copywriting tips for other copywriters (hint hint: fellow copywriters aren’t planning on hiring them! Most of us write our own copy).
Or graphic designers talking to other graphic designers in their posts… even though they offer services for business owners who know nothing about graphic design.
And if you’ve realised you’ve been doing the same, don’t be harsh on yourself: it’s a common pitfall. Luckily, you can choose to climb out of it right now.
How to fix this reason why you’re not getting clients:
Always write your marketing content with your specific dream audience in mind.
What are they struggling with right now? How would they feel if their problems were solved? What’s stopping them from investing in your services right now? What’s a valuable tip or piece of advice you can share with them?
So, refer to your brand messaging and story, and make sure your content is strategic and right for your audience.
7. You’re not actually asking for a sale
This might sound like a silly question, but let’s get real: have you been selling your services? As in, are you actively promoting them?
Because so many service providers who complain they’re not getting clients aren’t actually asking for that sale. But if you don’t ask, you don’t get!
And if you’ve been made to feel that selling is sleazy, let me reframe this for you:
if you have a service that can solve your dream client’s problem and make a positive difference in their lives, why on earth would you NOT want them to find out about it? Why would you NOT want them to invest in you and make this powerful transformation happen?
How to fix this reason why you’re not getting clients:
Aim for an 80:20 ratio of educational/informational (80%) and promotional content (20%).
Make sure you include a powerful and clear call to action, too: if someone reads your promotional social media post or newsletter and wants to take action, they need to know exactly how to get started right freakin’ now.
🧲How I can help you get more clients✨
As I mentioned before, most of my own clients used to struggle with some of those problems—and, in a few cases, all of them.
So, I created an offer that solves over half of them in one go and gives them the tools to fix the rest on their own.
If you’re not getting clients and you recognised some of those problems, meet the 🧲Magnetic Message & Web Copy Makeover✨.
So, how will my website copywriting & brand messaging offer help you get more clients?
I’ll fine-tune your brand messaging and position you as the go-to solution in your dream audience’s eyes
I’ll use strategic storytelling to welcome your target clients into your brand story
I’ll craft new website copy that cuts through the noise, connects, and converts. The kind of website copy that actively sells your services and includes all the right conversion elements to take your audience from prospects to clients
I’ll include all the SEO keywords your audience is googling and give you my Boost Your Business by Blogging eBook as a bonus. That way, you can start blogging in a way that brings you your first results, even as a complete beginner
I’ll create bespoke brand messaging guidelines and a storytelling framework that you can use to inform all of your future content, from your social media posts to your newsletters and more. That way, it’ll be easier to be consistent with it and you’ll start putting out content that connects with your dream audience and actually sells your services
So, if you’re tired of not getting clients, let an expert take care of it—and you just “worry” about impressing them with your incredible services once they’ve put the money down.
🧲Are you ready to go from “just another option in your niche” to “THE go-to solution in your dream client’s eyes” in only 3 weeks?✨
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