I fear marketing has become that misunderstood, magical thing everyone thinks will fix their business...if they could jussssst "get it right."
And honestly? I don’t blame them.
Because it does feel like marketing is the problem when:
- You’re posting more than ever but not getting bites
- You’re tweaking your visual identity (again), hoping this will be the thing that captures attention
- You show up at events, talk about your work, smile through small talk, and still leave wondering if anyone "got it"
And the internet? Not helping.
Half of it’s shouting, “Go viral! Visibility = success!”The other half’s whispering, “Just stay consistent and wait your turn.”
So yeah…if you're sitting there like: “I launched the site. I’ve been showing up on social. I'm consistently talking about my business. But like....why the hell is all my effort STILL not bringing results!?”
Welp. Seen, heard, felt. Here’s the scoop.
When you’re doing “all the right things” and still feel like you've been permanently friend-zoned by leads or you quite literally have zero clue where your next lead is coming from, it’s almost always because of one thing:
People don’t understand you.
Not in the “you’re complicated and need to dumb it down” way.
But in the “their brain can’t instantly tell if you’re the right fit for them” kind of way.
And if their brain doesn’t get you fast? It bounces. Even if you’re the best in the room. Even if you’d change their life in an instant.
Because here’s what the brain is scanning for at lightning speed:
- Is this for someone like me?
- What makes this different from what I’ve already seen?
- Can I trust them to solve my problem?
- How easy is it to get what I need here?
If your brand doesn’t answer those in just a few seconds? They’re gone.
And I know what you’re thinking…
“But I already tell people what I do!”
Do you, though?
Or do you explain your offer the way it makes sense to you - with words you love, but your audience doesn’t use?
It happens all the time. You’re so in your zone, so deep in your world, that when you finally talk about it, the translation’s off.
Too much jargon? You lose ‘em. Too watered down? They can’t tell what makes you different.
Either way? They’re out.
And it’s not just your words messing with the message. It’s also your visuals.
You know the whole “don’t judge a book by its cover” thing?
Welp…we do. Always.
And most of the time? The cover is the message.
Our brains are lazy lil things that process visuals waaay faster than words.
So before someone even reads a single line of copy, their brain’s already scanned the vibe through your fonts, colors, layout, photos, and overall appearance.
And that vibe? It’s either translating as “Ooooh this is for me” or “Yikes, I'm outta here.”
Your content doesn’t just tell people what you do. It helps them feel whether or not you’re meant for them.
So, if your words, visuals, or overall presence are sending mixed signals? Even your best-fit clients might see you and scroll past without ever realizing you were exactly who they needed.
That’s why I use what I call The 3 C’s of Brand Clarity before ever jumping into a marketing plan.
It’s how you'll cut through the chaos of “do this” marketing tips and actually help people understand why they should pay attention to you before you waste hours chasing tactical hacks that were never going to work for you anyway.
Here’s the breakdown:
- Character → what you stand for, your non-negotiables, and what actually makes working with you different (not just “great results,” but the way you deliver them)
- Context → who your best clients are, what they care about, and how they’re deciding who to trust in your space
- Consistency → how your message and your look carry across everything (think: conversations, your website, your social media, even your signage) so people start recognizing you faster
If even one of those C's is fuzzy, your marketing isn't going to be as impactful as it could be.
But when all three line up? Oof. Now you’ve got clarity that builds momentum.
Because now, everything - your posts, your pitch, your packaging - is reinforcing the same clear message.
People don’t just understand what you do.
They feel it. They remember it. They trust it.
That’s when the brand starts doing the heavy lifting, and marketing your business finally gets easier.
📆 If you're local to the Hudson Valley, save the date: I'll be teaching an in-person workshop all about how to figure this stuff out on Feb 18th!
Not local? Don't worry - you can always join me inside The Groundwork - my strategy intensive, where we define your 3 C's and rebuild your presence from the inside out so your marketing starts working smarter, not harder.
Openings available as early as mid-May.
Catch ya next week,
Marissa
