3 Fail-Proof Steps to Clarify Your Message and Grow Your Brand
Have you created something wonderful? Maybe it’s a ministry that serves people or a book with an inspirational message. Perhaps you’ve created a business that helps people overcome a common struggle. You’ve invested money and shared it all over social media. But it still feels like no one knows about it—and that’s frustrating. I invite you to discover how to clarify your message to help your ministry, book, or business stand out in a noisy online environment.
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How to Reach a Wider Audience for Your Ministry, Blog, Book, or Business
The sad truth is, even though your product or service may be exactly what people need, they won’t engage with your brand unless your message is easy to understand.
“People do not buy the best products and services, they buy the products and services that are communicated the clearest.” Donald Miller, Bestselling Author of Building a StoryBrand and Marketing Made Simple
Since people buy into the easiest rather than the best, what would happen if you developed a clear message for your product or service? What if you became the easiest brand in your field to do business with?
The average consumer sees over five thousand marketing images each day. The online world is more than noisy, sometimes it feels like pure chaos. With so much stimulation, it’s nearly impossible to capture anyone’s attention, even when you have something they need. Instead of trying to figure out an unclear message, they tune it out.
That’s a problem for someone trying to share details about a ministry with the potential to change the world or a business with a revolutionary solution. It feels disheartening. It shouldn’t be so hard to get your product or service into the hands of those who need it.
What you need to cut through all the noise is clarity.
What a Confusing Message is Costing You
You worked hard to develop and launch your service. Now, instead of serving customers and watching the resulting glow from the help you provide, you spend countless hours trying to advertise. Marketing feels like an experiment that never works, yet without it, you fear you’ll become just another failed statistic. You’ve poured way too much of yourself into your brand to have that happen. But there is a better way!
When you clarify your message and present it with consistency, your customers will understand. They’ll begin to see you as an expert, but more importantly as a guide who can lead them to the solutions their hearts crave. Soon you’ll see that they will engage with your brand, make purchases, and share what you offer with friends. After reading the StoryBrand book (Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen by Donald Miller) I knew immediately—this was the solution I’d searched for. I took all I learned a step further and pursued training to become a StoryBrand Certified Guide.
While in training, my cohorts and I were tasked with writing a clear message for a product. I selected a prayer devotional for marriage that I’d written about 2 years prior. This was one of the best products I felt I’d ever created, yet sales were disappointing. To complete my assignment, I wrote a new message that focused on clarity. Then I shared it on social media over a break in our training.
Without even creating a sales funnel, I simply used the StoryBrand framework to share a clear message. By the end of training that very day, I had email notifications for two new book sales. Within hours, my clear message was already bringing results. To reach a wider audience for your ministry, book, or business, you must clarify your message. I’ve seen it work for many clients and for my own products and services too.
3 Fail-Proof Steps to Clarify Your Message
So how do you clarify your message? While the StoryBrand framework is a bit more involved, I’ll break it down into a simple, three-step roadmap.
Begin with the problem
By talking about the problems your potential customers encounter, they’ll become more interested in your message. Suddenly, they’ll see themselves in a story. They can envision using your product or service because you’ve proven that you understand what they’re facing.
As you reflect on the problem that you solve for your audience, consider what roadblocks to success they see every day, the way those roadblocks make them feel, and how they might believe the world “should” be. These are known as external, internal, and philosophical problems. When you convey that you understand what they face, you’ve helped them understand how you can help.
Share the plan
This is the part where you make it easy for them. Break the process of engaging with your brand into three simple steps. Let me share a few examples: If you’re running a ministry for the homeless your three steps might be: view our online list of needs, drop off supplies at our central location, and feel the satisfaction of helping families in your community.
If you’ve written a book, three simple steps may be: read my book, follow the 5-part blueprint, and enjoy newfound confidence.
Don’t overcomplicate the process. Our minds easily function with sets of three so keeping your plan to 3-steps is best. Make the journey easy for your potential customers so they know what to expect and can envision themselves taking the next step.
Invite the action
Too many small businesses fail to ask for the sale. The third no-fail step to clarifying your message is to call your audience to action. Tell them what you want them to do. Your call to action doesn’t need to be lengthy or over-involved. Words like “buy now” “schedule an appointment” or “give online today” are clear, easy to execute, and create engagement.
Weaker calls to action like “learn more,” “start now,” or “click here” are vague, muddled, and confusing. Invite them to take a very specific next step.
How Clarifying Your Message Can Grow Your Brand
Most businesses and ministries are multi-faceted. As you work to clarify your message, focus on one aspect at a time.
How do you want to be known? When your customers think of you, what do you want to come to their minds every single time? By clarifying your message, you begin to establish yourself (or your brand, or your team) as a go-to expert. You stimulate curiosity about what you offer and begin to build a trusting relationship with potential customers.
When they’re ready to engage, they’ll think of you first and connect without hesitation. Your reach will expand, and your brand will grow. Staying consistent with your clear message, repeating it often, and helping your audience envision a connection with you will give you a competitive advantage. You’ll help your customers understand the benefits of working with you.
A clear message will forever change the way your customers think about you and the value you bring to their lives.
Help to Clarify Your Message
If you have mind-blowing ideas but struggle to execute strong messaging principles, I can help. I lead ministries, small businesses, and solopreneurs through repeatable frameworks so they can grow their brands while prioritizing what matters most. As we work together, I’ll help you adopt effective business-building strategies and expand your reach.
My superpower is leading others to success. I can’t wait to come alongside you on your journey. Schedule a complimentary discovery call today. My aim is to be the best investment you make in your business or ministry. Let’s meet for a virtual coffee and discover if we’re a good match.
