In today’s episode, I break down the essential groundwork that must be laid before communicating an important message—because words matter. Whether it’s winning a client, securing funding, or preventing a major business setback, how you communicate can be the deciding factor.
I walk through the steps to ensure your messaging is clear, compelling, and positioned for impact. This includes refining your connection to your message, simplifying complex ideas, structuring your story for maximum resonance, and testing your messaging before launch.
This episode shows you how to communicate your message more clearly and effectively.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction: Why even experienced professionals struggle with marketing themselves
00:56 The high stakes of messaging—how the right words can win clients, funding, or even save a business
02:22 Why pre-communication strategy is critical: understanding the heart of your message before you share it
03:27 How to test if your message is clear: Why simplicity and avoiding jargon are non-negotiable
05:22 Structure your message into a clear story framework so it resonates and drives action.
06:53 What every message needs: A clear next step that guides your audience to take action
08:04 The 'Grandma Test': How to ensure your message is simple enough for anyone to understand
09:01 How our PR firm can help businesses refine messaging for visibility and growth
Key Takeaways:
If your message isn’t landing, the problem isn’t your audience. It’s clarity. Before sharing any message, simplify it. Strip out industry jargon, remove unnecessary complexity, and make sure anyone, regardless of their background, can understand it immediately. If someone has to think too hard to grasp the point, they’ll move on.
Your message should follow a natural story arc. Effective communication mirrors storytelling—establishing the situation before, introducing a turning point, and outlining what happens next. Structuring messages this way makes them more engaging and helps your audience connect emotionally, increasing both retention and action.
Test your messaging before going public. Run it by someone unfamiliar with your industry. If they can repeat it back accurately and explain it to someone else, you’ve nailed it. If they struggle, refine further before launching it externally. Messages that aren’t clear enough to repeat are too complicated to stick.
Your audience should never be confused about what to do next. Every message should lead to a specific action, whether that’s making a purchase, voting, or spreading the word. If your audience is left wondering what their next step is, you’ve missed an opportunity.
If people can’t repeat your message, they won’t remember it. The simpler and more structured your communication, the easier it is for others to share. A message that spreads naturally has a greater impact than one that requires effort to recall.
Listen on Apple Podcasts here.
Listen on Spotify here.
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Connect with Christie Bilbrey
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