4-Minute read

Your Services Aren’t Selling Because Your Messaging Is Broken

If Your Messaging is:

❌ Too vague (“I help businesses grow”)
❌ Too generic (“I’m a social media manager”)
❌ Too “me-focused” (“I have 5 years of experience”)

✅ Fix it with the “Problem-Agitate-Solve” (PAS) Formula which I’ll show you how to apply in 48 hours or less

how to sell online and grow small business

by Irina Potok

CEO & Founder

The Before & After: A Real Example

❌ Weak Offer (Before):

“I’m a web designer with 5 years of experience. I build beautiful, responsive websites. DM me for a quote!”

Problems:

No clear problem (why should I care?)
No differentiation (every designer says this)
No urgency (why act now?)

✅ High-Converting Offer (After):

“Struggling with a slow, outdated website that’s losing you sales? Most small businesses waste months and thousands on ‘pretty’ sites that don’t convert. I specialize in high-speed, lead-generating websites for [niche] — guaranteed to load in under 2 seconds and double your inquiries. Here’s how I helped [Client] go from 5 to 50 leads/month: [link to case study]. Want a free audit of your site? Reply ‘AUDIT’ and I’ll send you 3 quick fixes.”

Why this works:

Problem: “Slow website = lost sales” (immediate pain point)
Agitate: “Wasting months and thousands” (emotional trigger)
Solve: “High-speed, lead-generating websites” (clear outcome)
Social proof: “Here’s how I helped [Client]” (credibility)
Low-risk CTA: “Free audit” (easy yes)

focusing on doing work and growing small business

The 48-Hour Offer Fix Checklist

Step 1: Identify Your Client’s #1 Problem

Ask:

What’s the biggest frustration they have right now?
What’s costing them money if they don’t fix it?

Example:

Copywriter: “My website isn’t converting visitors into buyers.”
VA: “I’m drowning in admin work and missing deadlines.”
Coach: “I’m not getting enough high-paying clients.”

Step 2: Agitate the Problem

Use:

Stats (“80% of visitors leave a slow site within 3 seconds”)
Emotional triggers (“Imagine losing $X every month because of this…”)
Contrast (“Most [competitors] do [X], but that’s why they get [bad result].”)

Example (for a copywriter):

“Most business owners waste thousands on ‘pretty’ websites that don’t sell. The truth? Your words are what convert – not your design. If your messaging is weak, even the best site won’t save you.”

Step 3: Present Your Solution

Format:

“I help [niche] get [result] by [method], so they can [big benefit].”

Examples:

“I help e-commerce stores double their conversions with high-impact sales pages, so they can stop wasting money on ads.”
“I help coaches fill their programs with irresistible messaging, so they can stop chasing clients.”

Step 4: Add Social Proof

Use:

Case studies (“Helped Client X get Y result in Z time”)
Testimonials (“‘This changed my business!’ — [Name]”)
Data (“Average client sees a 30% lift in [metric]”)

Step 5: End with a Low-Commitment CTA

Best CTAs:

“Want a free [audit/checklist/template]? Reply [word]!”
“Book a 15-min call to see if we’re a fit: [link].”
“DM me ‘YES’ and I’ll send you [free resource].”

Case Study: The $500 → $3,000/Month Rewrite

A copywriter changed her offer from:

“I write website copy for small businesses.”

To:

“Tired of your website sounding like everyone else’s? I specialize in brand voice messaging that turns visitors into buyers—without the corporate jargon. Here’s how I helped a yoga studio 3X their bookings in 30 days: [link]. Want a free ‘About Page’ teardown? DM me ‘COPY’.”

Result:

Inquiries increased by 400% (from 2 to 10/week).
Rates went from $500 to $3,000/month in 60 days.

business failture and money loss

Handling Objections Like a Pro

Objection	Response Script
“I can’t afford this.”	“I get it—most clients see this as an investment that pays for itself. For example, [Client] made back their fee in [X] days by [result]. Want me to show you how?”
“I need to think about it.”	“No problem! Here’s a [free resource] to help in the meantime. Can I follow up in a week?”
“I don’t see the ROI.”	“Here’s a quick calculation: If this brings you [X] more clients at [$Y] each, you’ll make [$Z]—which is [10X] your investment.”
“Why should I pick you?”	“Most [competitors] focus on [X], but I specialize in [your unique method], which gets [specific result]. Here’s proof: [case study].”

Your 48-Hour Action Plan

Day	Task	Time
Day 1	Identify your client’s #1 problem	30 min
Day 1	Rewrite your offer using PAS	1 hour
Day 2	Add social proof (case study/testimonial)	30 min
Day 2	Update your website/LinkedIn bio	30 min
Day 3	Test it! (Send to 3 past clients for feedback)	1 hour