Well, that was awkward. You tried launching and it went, er, nowhere.

Tactics that were working just a minute ago aren’t working so well anymore circa mid-2023. And it’s difficult to pin down one single reason.

You keep flinging random ideas onto your laptop, Zooming and Instagramming new offers into the internet ether and… nothing.

One thing’s for sure.

It’s not because you’re not following Random Girl Boss Online Influencer’s Approach to Instagram Marketing.

The most likely reason that nothing is working right now? Your brand strategy is a little wobbly, and it’s making you feel more scattered and confused than ever.

Without these essential brand ingredients to give you (and more importantly, your right-fit clients) clarity, it’s no wonder you feel frustrated.

Have you tried being strategic with your brand… like ever?

Don’t laugh, it’s much more common to overlook branding than you think.

A lot of people slap a logo on their business and call the ‘branding’ done.

The truth is, your branding is so much more than your logo or colour palette. And getting each ingredient of it right is essential if you want your business to thrive.

Without a clear brand strategy, you’ll struggle to know what to say. You’ll hesitate on webinars and sales calls. Your key messaging won’t pack a punch. And you’ll waste time trying to attract the wrong people on the wrong platforms.

Here are some simple questions to ask to tell if your brand is clear or confusing.

4 simple questions to ask if you’re struggling to sell

Can your ideal client understand your core message in 10 seconds or less?

An easy way to test the clarity of your value prop is to speak it out loud. Do you feel confident and clear saying it? Or do you stumble over your words?

Even better, can you ask someone who fits your ideal client profile and ask: A) Do they understand what you’re trying to say? And B) Does it resonate?

If they answer no, it’s time to knuckle down to refine your value prop.

Do you know your target audience?

And do you know them well? Like, really, really well?

Here’s the thing: Psychographics matter more than demographics.

In short, pay more attention to your ideal client’s psychology — their values, attitudes, beliefs, interests, and lifestyle choices — than to their age, gender or marital status.

Those surface demographics may help with ad targeting, but they won’t help you craft messaging that connects in a ‘whoa, they absolutely get me’ way.

Do you know how you differ from the competition and can you prove it?

Oh boy. This one’s often overlooked, but it’s oh-so important.

Part of what differentiates you is how you articulate your founder's passion, a.k.a. the mission that calls you to do this work.

Another huge part of it is your expertise, your process and how you package up your signature approach.

Finally, you can differentiate yourself with how others speak about you. Do you have social proof to back up your claims?

Do you have a clear brand strategy and marketing plan with concrete objectives?

Before you spread yourself too thin showing up everywhere, you need a clear strategy to focus your efforts in the right places. Without this, you won’t know the marketing tactics and platforms that’ll give you the best ROI for your effort.

Pay attention to how you describe your goals and objectives. Are your goals specific and easy to measure? Do you know how to measure your success?