The StoryBrand Podcast

#83: Hook Customers with Primary Messaging, Not Secondary (SUMMER REPLAY)

The StoryBrand Podcast

Show Notes

A lot of brands are saying the wrong thing first. They lead with their mission, their story, and their personality, thinking that will make people care. But customers aren't looking for a brand to admire. They're looking for a guide who understands their problem and can help them solve it. When your message starts in the wrong place, your customer tunes out before you ever get a chance to help. How do you know if your brand is leading with the wrong story?

In this episode, host Donald Miller breaks down the difference between primary and secondary messaging and explains why that shift changes everything. He shows how to talk about your customer's problem, communicate why you care, prove you can help, and make the next step clear. Don also shares simple website tests to help customers quickly understand what you offer and why it matters. Tune in to create messaging that drives more sales.

Ready to clarify your message and grow your business?

Attend StoryBrand Your Business LIVE to learn how to explain what you do in a way customers instantly understand: https://storybrand.com/live/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=sbyourbusiness&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=SB_workshop

Visit StoryBrand.com for business training, messaging tools, and resources to help you grow: https://storybrand.com/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=storybrand&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=SB_home

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storybrand

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/storybrand

More from The StoryBrand Podcast

Oct 19, 2026

It's a ridiculously common misconception that you should be telling people YOUR story. You shouldn't.

Oct 16, 2026

If people can't quickly and easily understand what your product can do for them, they'll skip you and move on.

Oct 5, 2026

Your tagline is probably the most important piece of marketing collateral you can write. And most businesses get it wrong.

Sep 28, 2026

Do you know exactly what to say when someone asks you about what you sell? If not, you need to. But it's easier than you might think. In this episode you'll learn the five short soundbites that you can use to get people to quickly understand and engage with your product. The five soundbites are: 1. Problem 2. Empathy 3. Answer 4. Change 5. End Result Once you have these soundbites figured out, it will actually be easy to use them to write your company's tagline, elevator pitch, website, and all the other marketing collateral you've been struggling to get right.

Sep 21, 2026

How do you know if your marketing is going to work? Most people fly by the seat of their pants: they rely on a gut instinct or a general consensus, but those aren't actually very reliable. They're certainly not worth risking the future of your business on.

See all episodes →