Over the years when working with loads of different clients we have found one standard fact to remain steadfast. It doesn’t matter how good your [AdWords, Facebook, SEO, Email] campaign is technically, if you don’t have a clear and compelling message, it won’t work very well. So we need to look at getting our messaging right first.

The reason we need to do this is simply because of the “10 Second Rule.” You can read the research here (if you’re keen.) But put simply, when people come to your website they decide within 10 seconds whether to stay or hit the back button. They are scanning to see if they have found what they need or not. We are so bombarded by information today that we must filter out most of it. So, we make a decision within 10 seconds about whether or not we will stay on the website or not.

Now think about a Facebook Ad on your timeline. How long do you give that? Less than a second? An email in your inbox or a Google Ad will also only get a fraction of a second of your time.

The goal with your Messaging is CLARITY! You need to say something clear and compelling very quickly or you will get passed by.

When we consult with businesses we use our unique THINK – FEEL – DO diagnostic to help them clarify their message. Let me give you some FREE tips to help you get started…

 

      • When you look at your website, what are you telling people to THINK?

Is it very clear what you do? I worked with a Chiropractor recently who had the tagline “Maximise your life” on his website. It wasn’t clear that he was a Chiropractor, you would have to guess what he did. He was losing people in the 10 seconds they gave him.

 

      • How do you want people to FEEL when they look at your website?

This is usually conveyed by the images you use. Do you want people to feel cared for or healthy or financially in control? Humans process images 60,000 faster than words so you can convey a lot of information very quickly with a great image. Take great care with the images you use.

      • What actions do you want people to DO when they come to your website?

There are often two types of actions we want people to take. A Primary Action and a Secondary Action.

      1. Primary Action

The primary action is usually to contact via phone or email or to buy something if you have an e-commerce website. If you don’t have your phone number in the top right hand corner of every page of your website you need to get it there NOW! This is a no-brainer! It amazes me how often web developers ignore this simple step. Your potential customers should NEVER find it hard to call you.

      1. Secondary Action

A secondary action is something we want people to do who aren’t quite ready to buy from us yet. Often people want more information before they engage with us. A secondary action could be to watch a video or download a Free Guide or Checklist or maybe to trial a free version of your product or service.

 

Here are some ACTION POINTS for you to do to help you get your messaging clear and compelling!

Here are some things to get started with…

      • THINK Test: Show your website to someone who doesn’t know what you do. Give them 10 seconds only. Then ask them “What does this business do?” If they get it wrong you have some work to do on simplifying your message.
      • THINK Test: Show your website to a 10-year-old. This time, give them as long as they like then ask them “What does this business do?”
      • Business Analysis Test: Write a list of all the product and service categories you offer. Then work out what percentage of your business comes from which categories. Then ask yourself “Which of these do I want to promote the most?” Does your marketing Messaging reflect this?
      • FEEL Test: Think about your favourite customer. How did they feel after they bought from you? They may have felt relieved, excited, relaxed, healthy or something else. Type into Google Images “feeling excited” or whatever you want your customers to feel. This is a good starting point for getting ideas about what image you can use to get people to FEEL good about you.
      • DO Test: Is your phone number in the top right-hand corner of your website? Can people email you easily?
      • DO Test: What secondary action would you like people to take when engaging with you? They could watch a video that explains how you work and gives some customer stories of how good you are to work with. You could also give something away for free such as a FREE GUIDE or CHECKLIST. You could also ask them to follow you on social media. Quick Tip: No one wants to sign up for a Free Newsletter anymore so don’t bother using this as a secondary action.
      • COMPETITOR Test: Choose three of your competitors. Go to their websites and run them through the Think Feel Do Diagnostic. Which ideas do you want use and which ideas do you want to avoid?
      • Unique Sales Points Test: After looking at your competitors you should reflect on what is unique or different about your business compared theirs. How can you include this in your Message?
      • Sales Goals: What are your sales goals? This will lead to a series of questions that you will need to know to achieve these goals. What is your budget to achieve these sales goals? How many leads or web visits do you need to achieve these goals?
      • Alternatively: You can contact usfor a Free 15 Minute Consultation where we can discuss putting together one of our unique Messology Plans for you. Where we do all the work for you and you can use our many years of experience to help strategise your marketing and grow your business.

 

Getting your messaging right is often more complicated that you think, its seems that making complex things simple is actually harder than you think. But persist and keep polishing your message until it’s dialed in just the way you want it!