Even if you kicked off the year with strong messaging goals, now’s the time to ask: are they still working? Audiences evolve. Products shift. Platforms change. What resonated in Q1 might feel flat by the time Q4 rolls around. That’s not failure—it’s an opportunity to do better.
Messaging is more than just words—it’s the connection between your brand and the people you’re trying to reach. If that connection feels shaky, it’s worth revisiting. Are your client and customer personas still accurate? Does your message speak directly to their needs, frustrations, and desires?
A strategic partner like Barrel O’Monkeyz can help you realign your message with your marketing goals—so it doesn’t just reach your audience, it moves them to action. Here are five signs your message might be missing the mark—and five ways to fix it.
Signs Your Message Isn’t Connecting
Before we dive into solutions, let’s look at some classic red flags:
- Low engagement on social posts, emails, or blog content
- High bounce rates on landing pages or website content
- Confused feedback from customers or prospects (“I couldn’t tell from your website whether you specialize in B2B campaigns or consumer-facing content.”)
- Inconsistent conversions despite steady traffic
- Audience growth stagnation or decline
If any of these sound familiar, it’s time to recalibrate your messaging. Here are five ways to get back to the business of converting prospects into customers.
1. Revisit Your Audience Personas
Your message can’t connect if it’s aimed at the wrong target—or if the target has changed.
What to do:
- Review your audience personas: demographics, pain points, motivations, and preferred platforms.
- Conduct quick surveys or interviews with current customers to validate assumptions.
- Use analytics tools to see who’s actually engaging with your content.
Why it matters: Messaging that worked for early adopters may not resonate with newer segments. Refining your personas helps you speak directly to the people most likely to convert.
2. Audit Your Core Messaging
Sometimes the issue isn’t the audience, it’s the message itself. Is it clear? Is it compelling? Is it consistent?
What to do:
- Review your website, social bios, email headers, ad copy, and general talking points.
- Ask: Can someone understand what we do and why it matters in 10 seconds?
- Look for jargon, vague language, or tone mismatches.
Why it matters: Confused audiences don’t convert. A clear, emotionally resonant message builds trust and drives action.
3. Analyze Engagement Patterns
Data doesn’t lie, but it does need interpretation.
What to do:
- Track which content formats and topics get the most clicks, shares, and comments. What calls to action get the best response?
- Compare performance across platforms—Do your LinkedIn posts connect, while the same content on Instagram flops (or vice versa)?
- Pay attention to how visitors engage with your content—what they gravitate toward, where they lose interest, and how they explore. These behavioral patterns can reveal whether your message is clear and compelling.
Why it matters: Understanding what your audience responds to helps you double down on what works—and ditch or refine what doesn’t.
4. Experiment and Test
Messaging isn’t a one-and-done exercise. It’s a living system that thrives on experimentation.
What to do:
- A/B test headlines, calls-to-action, and email subject lines.
- Try different tones—authoritative, playful, empathetic to see what works best.
- Launch micro-campaigns to test new angles before scaling.
Why it matters: Small tweaks can lead to big breakthroughs. Testing lets you evolve without overhauling everything at once.
5. Seek Outside Perspective/Expertise
Sometimes you’re too close to the message to see what’s missing—or simply too busy wearing multiple hats to give it the attention it deserves. Between managing operations, serving clients, and keeping the business afloat, refining your brand voice can easily fall to the bottom of the list. And even when you do find the time, you might not have the expertise to pinpoint what’s off or how to fix it. That’s where outside perspective becomes invaluable. Barrel O’Monkeyz can help you step back, assess the gaps, and realign your messaging.
What to do:
- Ask trusted customers or partners for honest feedback.
- Hire a creative agency or messaging strategist to audit and refine your brand voice.
- Join peer groups or masterminds for fresh insights.
Why it matters: External input can reveal blind spots, spark new ideas, and help you reconnect with your audience.
Let’s Get Started
By revisiting your personas, auditing your messaging, analyzing engagement, testing new approaches, and seeking outside perspective, you can transform current efforts into a more cohesive branding and messaging strategy that forges deeper connection and drives long-term growth. Contact us today by phone or email to schedule a free consultation. Together, we’ll explore your goals, develop a plan, finalize the details, and hit the ground running to turn ideas into action.
