Can’t I Just DIY My Messaging? Here’s What You Need to Know

You know your business better than anyone. You’re the expert in what you do. So, it makes sense to think, “I should be able to write my own messaging, right?”

Technically, yes—you can DIY your messaging. But the real question is: Should you?

Because here’s the thing: Writing words about your business and crafting strategic, client-attracting messaging are two very different things. If your messaging isn’t clear, compelling, and built to resonate with the right people, it doesn’t matter how many times you rewrite your website or tweak your LinkedIn bio.

So, if you’re considering DIY-ing your messaging, here’s what you need to know (and a few ways to do it smarter).

Messaging Isn’t Just Words—It’s Strategy

One of the biggest mistakes I see? Business owners thinking of messaging as just a fancier way to say what they do.

But strong messaging isn’t about stuffing keywords into a tagline or making your website sound “professional.” It’s about connecting the dots between:

✅ What you do
✅ The problem you solve
✅ What your ideal client actually cares about

When you DIY, it’s easy to get stuck in the weeds—listing features instead of outcomes, using industry jargon instead of client language, or trying to be clever instead of clear.

Try This: Before you write anything, get clear on your positioning. Who is your ideal client? What problem do you solve? Why does it matter to them? When your foundation is solid, the words come easier.

The Curse of Knowledge Will Trip You Up

You’re too close to your business. Period.

You’ve spent years building your expertise, so what feels obvious to you is often the exact thing your audience needs to hear—but you don’t realize it. This is called the Curse of Knowledge, and it’s why even great communicators struggle to write about themselves.

It’s also why so many DIY messaging attempts end up vague. You assume your audience knows more than they do. You skip over key details. You forget to explain why your offer is different.

Try This: Run your messaging past someone outside your industry. If they don’t immediately get it—or they ask, “Wait, so what do you actually do?”—you know it needs work.

You’ll Spend More Time Than You Think

If you’ve ever stared at a blank page for way longer than you planned, you know how easy it is to overthink your own messaging.

When you DIY, you’ll likely:

Write and rewrite the same sentence 100 times
Get caught up in the details and lose sight of the big picture
Spend hours tweaking, only to still feel unsure if it’s right

What could take you weeks of frustration could take a messaging expert a few hours—because they know what to look for, how to structure it, and how to translate your expertise into words that sell.

Not only that, if you miss the mark on your messaging the first time around and launch your website, materials, or campaign based on that you may have just wasted an interaction with your audience. Then you’ll find yourself back to the drawing board when it isn’t working or even hiring an expert to redo it and you’ll be back to trying to gain your target’s attention when you’ve already lost it once.

Try This: If DIY is your only option, set limits. Give yourself a deadline. Get an outside opinion. And if it still feels messy? That’s your sign to bring in help.

So, Should You DIY?

If you have the time, the strategy, and the ability to be truly objective about your own business—go for it. But if you’d rather spend that time running your business instead of wrestling with words, getting expert help will save you hours (and likely lead to stronger results).

And if you’re somewhere in between—wanting to DIY, but needing guidance—I can help. We offer Message Coaching too, so whether it’s refining your messaging together or giving you a framework so you can write with confidence, you don’t have to figure it out alone.

Curious what that could look like? Let’s chat.