UN-BLAND YOUR BRAND!
Messaging Strategy 101
Amy	
  Chick	
  
Brand	
  Strategist	
  &	
  Copywriter	
  
@heyamychick	
  
Messaging Strategy IS NOT:
• A	
  social	
  media	
  plan	
  
• A	
  list	
  of	
  blog	
  post	
  <tles	
  
• A	
  media	
  strategy	
  
• A	
  mission	
  statement	
  
@heyamychick	
  
Messaging Strategy IS:
• The	
  framework	
  for	
  every	
  word	
  you	
  write	
  or	
  say	
  about	
  your	
  
business	
  
• Based	
  on	
  the	
  cross-­‐sec<on	
  between	
  what	
  you	
  stand	
  for	
  and	
  
what	
  your	
  clients	
  believe	
  
• WriBen	
  in	
  language	
  that	
  speaks	
  TO	
  your	
  client	
  
@heyamychick	
  
Why can’t I just write fun stuff? !
• Messaging,	
  without	
  a	
  strategy,	
  is	
  just	
  a	
  meaningless	
  string	
  of	
  
verbs	
  and	
  nouns.	
  
• Target	
  your	
  copy,	
  content,	
  and	
  conversa<ons	
  so	
  you	
  aBract	
  the	
  
people	
  you’re	
  looking	
  for	
  —	
  and	
  so	
  they	
  s<ck	
  around	
  when	
  they	
  
find	
  you.	
  
• Messaging	
  that	
  clicks	
  =	
  yes,	
  please!	
  
@heyamychick	
  
3-Step Messaging
1.	
  Define	
  the	
  core	
  of	
  your	
  brand:	
  
•  What	
  do	
  you	
  stand	
  for?	
  
•  What	
  do	
  you	
  believe?	
  
•  What	
  drives	
  you?	
  
•  How	
  do	
  you	
  want	
  to	
  change	
  your	
  clients’	
  lives?	
  
2.	
  Figure	
  out	
  your	
  clients’	
  beliefs	
  and	
  hesita<ons:	
  
•  Interviews	
  
•  Copy	
  swipes	
  
•  Online	
  reviews	
  &	
  blog	
  comments	
  
3.	
  Connect	
  the	
  dots:	
  
•  Find	
  common	
  ground	
  
•  Pivot	
  their	
  beliefs	
  
@heyamychick	
  
Case Study: Law Firm
• Started	
  her	
  firm	
  as	
  an	
  answer	
  to	
  the	
  stuffy	
  suits	
  and	
  confusing	
  
legal	
  speak	
  
• Very	
  ac<ve	
  in	
  the	
  community	
  
• Works	
  hard	
  to	
  be	
  a	
  resource	
  
1.  You	
  shouldn’t	
  leave	
  a	
  mee<ng	
  with	
  more	
  ques<ons	
  than	
  
answers;	
  you	
  should	
  feel	
  confident	
  in	
  the	
  decisions	
  you	
  
make	
  about	
  your	
  life	
  or	
  business.	
  
2.  Law	
  doesn’t	
  have	
  to	
  be	
  boring.	
  
3.  We’re	
  more	
  than	
  just	
  a	
  law	
  firm	
  —	
  we’re	
  your	
  future	
  
neighbors.	
  
@heyamychick	
  
Case Study: Pilates Studio
• Launched	
  online	
  classes	
  aer	
  years	
  of	
  teaching	
  in	
  a	
  studio	
  
• Believes	
  in	
  making	
  fitness	
  more	
  accessible	
  and	
  less	
  judgmental	
  
• Wants	
  to	
  help	
  women	
  feel	
  comfortable	
  and	
  confident	
  in	
  their	
  
bodies	
  
1.  Pilates	
  isn’t	
  just	
  for	
  fitness	
  queens	
  and	
  soccer	
  moms.	
  Your	
  
body	
  is	
  beau<ful	
  the	
  way	
  it	
  is	
  –	
  now	
  you	
  can	
  make	
  it	
  strong.	
  
2.  You	
  don’t	
  have	
  to	
  give	
  up	
  your	
  vibrant,	
  social	
  lifestyle	
  to	
  
make	
  fitness	
  a	
  priority.	
  Wine,	
  chocolate,	
  and	
  pilates	
  can	
  co-­‐
exist!	
  
3.  You	
  can	
  fit	
  a	
  workout	
  into	
  your	
  day	
  without	
  adding	
  to	
  the	
  
pressure	
  of	
  your	
  busy	
  schedule.	
  
@heyamychick	
  

Messaging Strategy 101

  • 1.
    UN-BLAND YOUR BRAND! MessagingStrategy 101 Amy  Chick   Brand  Strategist  &  Copywriter   @heyamychick  
  • 2.
    Messaging Strategy ISNOT: • A  social  media  plan   • A  list  of  blog  post  <tles   • A  media  strategy   • A  mission  statement   @heyamychick  
  • 3.
    Messaging Strategy IS: • The  framework  for  every  word  you  write  or  say  about  your   business   • Based  on  the  cross-­‐sec<on  between  what  you  stand  for  and   what  your  clients  believe   • WriBen  in  language  that  speaks  TO  your  client   @heyamychick  
  • 4.
    Why can’t Ijust write fun stuff? ! • Messaging,  without  a  strategy,  is  just  a  meaningless  string  of   verbs  and  nouns.   • Target  your  copy,  content,  and  conversa<ons  so  you  aBract  the   people  you’re  looking  for  —  and  so  they  s<ck  around  when  they   find  you.   • Messaging  that  clicks  =  yes,  please!   @heyamychick  
  • 5.
    3-Step Messaging 1.  Define  the  core  of  your  brand:   •  What  do  you  stand  for?   •  What  do  you  believe?   •  What  drives  you?   •  How  do  you  want  to  change  your  clients’  lives?   2.  Figure  out  your  clients’  beliefs  and  hesita<ons:   •  Interviews   •  Copy  swipes   •  Online  reviews  &  blog  comments   3.  Connect  the  dots:   •  Find  common  ground   •  Pivot  their  beliefs   @heyamychick  
  • 6.
    Case Study: LawFirm • Started  her  firm  as  an  answer  to  the  stuffy  suits  and  confusing   legal  speak   • Very  ac<ve  in  the  community   • Works  hard  to  be  a  resource   1.  You  shouldn’t  leave  a  mee<ng  with  more  ques<ons  than   answers;  you  should  feel  confident  in  the  decisions  you   make  about  your  life  or  business.   2.  Law  doesn’t  have  to  be  boring.   3.  We’re  more  than  just  a  law  firm  —  we’re  your  future   neighbors.   @heyamychick  
  • 7.
    Case Study: PilatesStudio • Launched  online  classes  aer  years  of  teaching  in  a  studio   • Believes  in  making  fitness  more  accessible  and  less  judgmental   • Wants  to  help  women  feel  comfortable  and  confident  in  their   bodies   1.  Pilates  isn’t  just  for  fitness  queens  and  soccer  moms.  Your   body  is  beau<ful  the  way  it  is  –  now  you  can  make  it  strong.   2.  You  don’t  have  to  give  up  your  vibrant,  social  lifestyle  to   make  fitness  a  priority.  Wine,  chocolate,  and  pilates  can  co-­‐ exist!   3.  You  can  fit  a  workout  into  your  day  without  adding  to  the   pressure  of  your  busy  schedule.   @heyamychick