SHFT Agency

Content Strategist

Specializations: LinkedIn Strategy and Ghostwriting

Consult with and ghostwrite for B2B SaaS founders and executives. 

Conduct profile audits and develop content strategies to assist clients in establishing thought leadership in alignment with their strategic goals. 

Consult with clients to analyze engagement data, create content calendars, and write content in alignment with the clients’ strategic goals.

Key Achievements:
- Developed and executed content strategy that directly led to $60K in inbound leads for a client
- Increased client reach and engagement by ~20% within 6 months
- Wrote 200+ LinkedIn posts for clients in industries such as healthcare, human resources, rebate management, and SaaS sales
- Generated $40K in inbound leads for SHFT agency in 1 month

LinkedIn Strategist and Ghostwriter

Social Cipher

Marketing leader responsible for product marketing, digital marketing, and content marketing for an EdTech startup. 

- Developed a GTM strategy for the launch of a new product
- Created a multi-channel marketing campaign for the rebranding of the company; campaign included SEO, social media, email, virtual events, and community management
- Leveraged Google Analytics 4 (GA4) to identify strengths and opportunities to improve overall marketing performance
- Collaborated with Product, Sales, and SMEs to ensure consistency in messaging, understand customer needs, and inform the development of sales enablement collateral
- Developed and executed a comprehensive marketing plan and content strategy
- Created content (blog posts, social media, webinars, podcast, videos, and free resources)

Marketing Consultant

Develop short- and long-form content and copy (blog posts, articles, case studies, advertisements, etc.) for B2B and B2C companies such as LiveSchool, EvoText, n2y, and Write Label. 

Analyze social media engagement data and trends to guide audience segmentation, messaging, content types, and content distribution channels for a career consulting company (Career Confidence by Dee).

Accomplishments:

- Created sales enablement collateral (4 case studies) for the EvoText Content2Classroom eLearning platform product

- Gathered and managed client testimonials from 30+ former clients and strategically placed them on landing pages and in lead generation products

- Wrote and edited copy for 200+ audio and video advertisements, email campaigns, product descriptions, and social media for companies in industries such as education, construction, food, and retail

- Organically grew LinkedIn page to 3800+ followers, 600,000 impressions, and 12,000 engagements in less than 6 months; maintained an engagement rate of 3% (surpassing the universal “good” engagement rate of 2%)

- Published SEO-optimized blog posts for LiveSchool, contributing to the company’s achievement of outranking their biggest competitor in search results

- Created lead generation products (email course, eBook, downloadable template) and tiered product offerings to meet the needs of the target market

- Increased website traffic for a career consulting company by 30% by leveraging virtual events (webinars) and online communities (Facebook Groups, Slack Channels, and LinkedIn Groups)

Career Confidence by Dee

Supported educators in transitioning to new careers.
- Planned and hosted webinars
- Created and marketed digital products
- Presented career advice as a guest on podcasts and webinars
- Co-admin for Transitioning Teachers Facebook group with 26K+ members

Career Consultant + Professional Resume Writer

Richmond County School System

- 2021 STAR Teacher
- Researched and integrated information from multiple sources in order to effectively and efficiently communicate content to diverse audiences, leading to an 80% increase in proficiency
- Developed course content and provided approximately 22 hours of instruction to diverse audiences weekly since 2017

- Curated resources to create curriculum for Business Technology, Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurship, Career Development, and Marketing courses
- Worked with a team to successfully plan and execute 5 annual community outreach events and 2 annual fundraisers 
- Adapted teaching materials for online instruction

Business Education Teacher

Karla Kamp

As a marketing instructor for Karla Kamp, I taught 100+ business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs how to start and market their businesses.

Topics covered: content marketing, digital marketing, social media marketing, and branding.

Marketing Instructor

Savannah State University (SSU for employees)

As a professional tutor in the writing center, I helped Savannah State students improve their writing skills through one-on-one instruction. I also conduct weekly grammar and essay-writing workshops.

Writing Center Workshop Leader & Tutor

American Red Cross

As a management intern at the American Red Cross of South Georgia, I learned about the management, fundraising, and volunteer recruitment aspects of nonprofit organizations. I analyzed financial statements to apply for a $12,000 grant application, which we received. I also contacted donors, maintained social media accounts, and represented the organization at local events.

Management Intern

Does your content work, or is it just "busy work"?

If you have to think about the answer, well...you get it.

Whether you're a solopreneur, EdTech startup, or B2B SaaS company, every piece of content should stem from the same foundation.

A solid content strategy.

As a content strategist, I create strategies to guide you on what to create, how to create it, and where to distribute it, ensuring every piece of content aligns with your target audience and serves a clear purpose.

The result?

Results.

My inbox is open. Let's chat about how to make your content work.

Deiera Bennett

Helping impact-driven brands capture attention, hearts, and sales. Strategic messaging and catchy copy that make you the obvious solution.

Brand Messaging Strategist & Website Copywriter

Educator, Consultant, Speaker, and Trainer

I’m a copywriter on a mission - to help values-driven businesses meet their marketing goals. Because you can be motivated by doing good things AND increasing your bottom line.

You love your business, but either don't have the time, expertise, or desire to write the content you need to market it. Luckily for you, that IS my business and exactly what I love to do.

You know your brand inside and out. With my thorough research and discovery process, I will too. I write authentic and relevant content that your target audience actually wants to read. Your voice + my words = copy that connects and converts.

ABOUT YOU:

☑ You’re busy juggling multiple responsibilities and deadlines
☑ Your content sounds blah, or isn’t generating leads and sales
☑ You would rather poke your eye out than write marketing communications

ABOUT ME:

☑ Well, I’m (a bit) Type-A - I thoroughly research your product or service and your ideal prospect, pay attention to every detail, and always meet a deadline
☑ I believe in doing the right thing, always - no gimmicky sales tactics, just authentic copy that helps you meaningfully connect with your customers
☑ I approach everything with curiosity - I’ll ask the questions needed to nail your brand voice and figure out what sets you apart from your competition
☑ I love to collaborate with others - I’m happy to strategize with your designer, SEO expert, or anyone else involved in the project, including getting feedback   

WHO DO I WRITE FOR?

Good people doing great things, as long as our values align. Some of my favorite industries to write for are: health and wellness, nonprofit, sustainability, travel/tourism, and education. You know the value of your business. I help current and prospective clients see it too. 

Ready to connect? 
🔵 DM on LinkedIn
🔵 hello@stacyeleczko.com
🔵 https://stacyeleczko.com/contact

Web Copy | Website Content | Email Marketing | Sales Pages | Marketing Communications and Strategies

Stacy Eleczko🔅

Anyone else want to throw their laptop out the window this week? Just me?

I’m not necessarily all woo.

But I’m not not woo either. 

And this week, all my tech is making me want to go Office Space. Apparently Mercury is in retrograde and that’s why. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I’d have a #SpotlightSeries post ready to go… but I placed my dumb faith in a saved draft on LinkedIn instead of jotting it down where I usually do.

So if you need me, I’ll be burning sage over my Wi-Fi router and whispering affirmations to my laptop.


📸 Pic from a quick family trip to the mountains last week (because nature calms me). We’re doing college tours… not sure how that happened since he just started kindergarten.

Be the brand they remember, not the one they scroll past | Brand messaging strategist & website copywriter for impact-driven B2Bs ready for reach beyond referrals | Speaker 🎤 | Book lover 📗| Cookie connoisseur 🍪

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In today’s Saturday Shenanigans spinoff, I bring you not a clever ad, but the latest cold pitch to land in my inbox.

And I have to say… this is a first.

Now, even though I don’t send cold pitches myself and I’m not a sales expert, I do help clients with email sequences. 

So let’s break this down from a copywriter lens.

Here’s what Brock actually did well:

• He started off with my name (and spelled it correctly).
• He told me where he found me. Clear, specific, direct.
• It’s brief and respects my time.
• And he attempted some risk reversal by assuring me he wouldn’t share these videos with anyone else.

Honestly? Not bad.

But here’s where Brock lost me:

I genuinely don’t know what the benefit is for me.

Sure, $100 for three minutes is decent money, but what’s the value proposition here, Brock?

Give me something.

A functional benefit: “Your feet will be contributing to a greater cause.”

An emotional benefit: “You’ll feel confident knowing your arches are appreciated.”

A social benefit: “Join a community of creators who take foot content to new heights.”

Help me understand why I should care beyond the cash.

And listen, I have questions:

• What exactly does one do with their feet for 3 minutes?

• Are there special lighting requirements? Audio??

• Do my toes need to project confidence and authority?

• Is there a storyboard? A creative brief?

• Should I warm up? Stretch? Hydrate? Oil the cuticles?

Despite my curiosity, this didn’t make me want to take action. Unless “mark as spam” counts as a CTA.

Here are a few constructive suggestions that might have helped Brock convert:

• A clear offer: “Here’s exactly what I want, why, and what you get in return.”

• A stronger hook: “Your feet may be the missing piece of my business model.”

• Social proof: “Top creators trust me with their… um… content.”

• A positioning statement: “I’m the leading boutique agency specializing in niche digital assets.”

• A CTA that inspires confidence: “Reply ‘TOE’ to get started.”


Your turn 👇🏻 

- What’s the most ridiculous cold pitch you’ve ever gotten?
- Or what advice would you give Brock for improving his outreach?

graphical user interface, text, application

I once dated a guy in college just because he was hot.

Squeezed into the crowd of people waiting to get into the Florida State vs. Duke basketball game, I ended up practically sitting in his lap.

I apologized and his friend joked “Don’t be sorry. You guys make a cute couple.”

We laughed and ended up talking until it was time to head to our seats, but not before he handed me his number. (Yep, this was back when people called.)

I saw him the next night and he was just as cute as I remembered. But he was also kind of boring, and not really all that clever.

And (not my finest moment) I didn’t care enough to overthink it.

Let’s be real. I wasn’t looking for love. 

I stuck around for a month, until, well, I got bored.

Why am I telling you this?

*𝘴𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺*

Because your marketing might be doing the same exact thing.

Just because someone:

→ downloaded your lead magnet
→ commented on your post
→ visited your website

…doesn’t mean they’re your ideal client.

Most service businesses make the same mistake: confusing attention for connection.

Content that just grabs attention is a vanity metric.

Content that grabs the attention of the right people fills your pipeline with buyers.

Otherwise, you end up with:

- Website visitors who click around for 30 seconds, then disappear
- Discovery calls where you end up “explaining what you do” for 40 minutes
- A growing email list full of people who will never buy from you

When your copy gets the right message to the right people at the right time, you:

- attract qualified leads who want to buy
- repel unqualified leads (that’s a good thing)
- make it easy for the right people to say “yes”

Hot dates don’t make for lasting relationships, and attention alone won’t grow your business.

So, here's the real question: is your messaging helping you attract your best-fit clients, or are you still entertaining everyone who lands in your lap? 🤷‍♀️

This isn’t a post about red/blue, left/right, for/against.

It’s about basic humanity and refusing to stay silent.

About paying attention when it would be easier not to.

“I stay out of all that” often shows up when it’s easy to look away because the fear, the danger, and the consequences aren’t happening to them.

My values are simple: integrity, people first, and kindness.

They guide how I show up, what I stand for, and what I won’t ignore.

It’s why I run my #SpotlightSeries every week.

They’re simple acts of recognition. No angle, just showing up for people the way I think we should.

But those aren’t just my core business values. They’re my non-negotiables in my personal life too.

And even though I don’t usually bring these conversations to LinkedIn, living my values doesn’t stop at my work. 

Last night, showing up required something different from me.

Armed “immigration enforcement” made their way to NC this week. 🧊

First, in Charlotte. Yesterday, they were in my backyard.

So I went into the streets—because staying home while families in my community are living in fear is something my values won’t let me do.

And to be very clear about what’s happening here:

They are not “enforcing the law.” They are directly targeting the Latino community, not criminals. Families. Workers. Kids.

There’s a reason these agents are wearing masks.

And it’s not because they’re doing the right thing.

People who stand on the right side of humanity don’t hide their faces.

If you think staying quiet keeps you “out of it,” it doesn’t.

Silence is a choice. And it’s loud.

Talking about community when you’re growing a business is easy.

Talking about community when your neighbors, your kids’ teachers, your grocery clerk, and local families are terrified?

That’s where it counts.

No child should walk into school wondering if today is the day they get torn from their family.

No parent should have to choose between going to work or staying off the radar.

No one should have to strategize to get groceries without being seen.

If this makes you uncomfortable, good. You’re supposed to feel something.

If we truly want change, it won’t come from “thoughts and prayers” energy.

It comes from organized, consistent, real-world action—the kind that prevents us from repeating the ugliest parts of our past.

🔦 So today, I’m spotlighting organizations doing the real work: protecting families, offering legal support, spreading accurate information, and showing up long before last night.

CHIRLA  
National Immigrant Justice Center  
Immigrant Defense Project  

Support them if you can.

Donate. Volunteer. Share. Stand with the people in your own community.

If you have a voice, use it.
If you have a vote, use it.
If you have a platform, use it.

Community isn’t something you build for visibility.

It’s something you protect when it matters.


PS: Debate policy if you want, but dehumanizing people by calling them “aliens” or “illegal” isn’t welcome here.

Let’s make Saturdays for shenanigans again.

Once upon a time, I used to post ads every Saturday. Some clever, some cringe, most somewhere in between.

They always sparked great conversations (and plenty of debates) but after a while it started to feel like an obligation instead of fun.

So I stopped.

Apparently, that left at least one person (looking at you, Elizabeth Howell 😂) with nothing to look forward to on Saturday mornings. 

And honestly? I can’t help myself. My brain just sees marketing lessons everywhere.

So here we are. The return of Saturday Shenanigans.

This week’s gem?

“Open 24 hours… closed between 2:00am and 5:00am Fri–Sun.”

If you’ve ever wondered what happens when your website says one thing, your LinkedIn says another, and your emails say something else entirely, it’s this. 👇🏻

Technically true. But confusing as hell.

That’s the danger of inconsistent messaging. It erodes trust before you even realize it’s happening.

I’ll let you decide which one’s worse: the sign, or how much I enjoy overanalyzing it.

>>>>>>

👋🏻 I’m Stacy, a messaging strategist & website/sales copywriter.

I help brands clarify how to talk about what they do so the right people say yes faster.

Do you want to be an influencer or do you want to be influential?

It’s a question every founder creating content should ask.

At some point, we confused visibility with virality.

I’m not sure where we got the idea that showing up more (or louder) is the same as showing up with meaning. 

The brands who actually stay top of mind? 

They’re not chasing algorithms; they’re building credibility. One clear, trustworthy message at a time. 

Visibility builds awareness, but clarity builds alignment. And alignment? That’s what turns attention into action.

Influencers chase visibility: followers, likes, reach. They want to be seen.

Influential brands focus on impact, the kind that shapes perception and earns trust.

Influencers create content that gets engagement.

Influential brands create perspective that moves people, and moves business forward.

That’s what brand messaging is really about. Not just being seen, but being memorable.

It’s the difference between being a content creator and a strategically positioned brand.

An influencer wants to grow an audience. 👏🏻
An influential brand wants to build authority. 💡

And the real difference?

One is chasing numbers. The other is earning trust.

That’s where real influence begins—with messaging that builds the kind of trust visibility alone can’t buy.

So the next time you’re thinking about how  to show up as a brand, ask yourself:

What do your buyers actually need to see to trust you?

Because real influence isn’t reach; it’s resonance with the right people.

I’m not big on performative gratitude, but I am big on acknowledging the people who show up, support, challenge, and celebrate with you. 

Gratitude is a big part of why I do this #SpotlightSeries every week. It keeps me grounded in what matters. 

And this week, I want to call out a few people I genuinely can’t imagine doing this “solo” business thing without.

These are the people who make my day-to-day lighter, my decisions clearer, and the whole thing a lot more fun.


To Lee Densmer and Renee Lynn Frojo ✨

We may have met on LinkedIn, swapped referrals, and collaborated long before we ever met in person, but Mexico City changed everything. 

That retreat solidified something I genuinely value. You’ve both become people I feel like I have by my side every single day. 

Whether it’s a win, a challenge, or an unhinged screenshot from the internet, our group chat is where I go first. You’re both brilliant in business but even better as friends. 


To WENDY SHORE

Building Content Circle with you has been wild, fun, challenging, messy, and unbelievably rewarding (sometimes all at once).

You bring sharp ideas, thoughtful pushback, and flexibility when it matters most. And you somehow always understand my talk-to-text messages, even when they come through looking nothing like what I meant. 

I’m so grateful for your partnership. You make the work better and the chaos funnier (perfect combo).


To Brian Ondrako

Thank you for being someone I can text with new ideas, half-formed thoughts, or my latest harebrained pivot, and then grab coffee and talk business for hours. 

You bring clarity, collaboration, and a grounded perspective every time, and I’m grateful for it.

And I can’t wait to share the stage with you soon and actually start turning our “we should do that next year” ideas into real 2026 projects.


To Gina Torres-Perryman

You were the first person I met at the first in-person networking event I ever attended, and I’m so glad you were. You’ve become a true friend. 

People naturally gravitate toward you for a reason. You’re an incredible connector who’s brought so many great humans into my world, and you’re the kind of person who will hype someone up and offer honest feedback when they need it. 

Everyone needs someone like you. 


💛 If there’s someone in your life who deserves to hear your gratitude, consider this your reminder to tell them today.

Be the brand they remember, not the one they scroll past | Positioning and messaging strategy + copywriting that build trust so your brand can grow beyond referrals | Speaker 🎤 | Book lover 📗| Cookie connoisseur 🍪

My last newsletter… sucked?

I struggled to get started writing it. I didn’t feel great about it while I was in it, and I definitely didn’t want to hit send.

But I skipped the week before, so skipping again wasn’t an option.

And while I might be a little dramatic about how bad I thought it was, the truth is: I wasn’t proud to send it.

It also got more unsubscribes than any newsletter I’ve ever sent.

Maybe it was the contrarian points and it repelled the right people. 

Maybe it just… wasn’t that great.

I genuinely don’t know. And honestly, I don’t think it’s worth dissecting.

But I do know 2 things from here on out:

1.	If I don’t feel good about shipping it, it’s not going out.
2. If I don’t feel good about shipping it, it’s not going out. 

(not a copy-paste accident, just a reminder for future me)

This week, though, I think I made up for it. Even if some people don’t love it, I feel proud to hit send, and that’s enough for me.

The subject line? If clarity were enough, this email wouldn't exist.

Want to weigh in and let me know if I’ve atoned?

Or join a whole bunch of other smart subscribers (minus the 6 who left 😅)?

👉🏻 https://lnkd.in/ed8gpjkC

-----

👋🏻 Hi, I'm Stacy, a positioning & messaging strategist. I help B2B brands clearly communicate what sets them apart so they get more of the right people to say yes faster.

You've been warned: I come with a side of sass.

Want to make me lose my mind?

Tell me to do something slowly or to “take baby steps.”

But in 2023, that’s exactly what I had to do.

Back then, I was just another person with a LinkedIn profile I’d created 11 years earlier and completely ignored. 

Fast forward to today, and LinkedIn is where most of my opportunities start, including this one: 

being invited onto the podcast of the person who taught me how to show up here in the first place.

When I started my business, everyone kept telling me I “needed to be on LinkedIn.” 

So I showed up, but I had no idea where to begin.

That’s when I joined Ilise Benun’s 21-Day LinkedIn Challenge.

She helped me build a habit and a mindset that actually stuck. 

I’ll be honest: her approach drove me a little nuts at first. 

She moved slowly and focused on tiny steps (definitely not my default setting). It felt…too simple.

But by the end of those three weeks, everything clicked.

Those tiny steps, the ones that felt almost too small to matter, are what made consistency doable and they ended up shaping how I run my business today.

It’s how I set goals, how I break down big projects, and how I support Content Circle members who feel overwhelmed or stuck.

Baby steps may sound boring, but they’ve been one of the most effective tools in my business. 🤷🏻‍♀️

So when Ilise invited me to be a guest on her podcast, I said yes immediately.

We talk about our similar approaches to marketing and the role of AI in our businesses.

And there’s a moment in the conversation where we both name the number one thing we believe is essential for building a sustainable, thriving business.

(Hint: it’s not tactics or tools.)

If you want to hear it, give the episode a listen now or hit save to listen later.

And if you know of a copywriter who’s worried about being replaced by AI, tag them below or hit repost. 

🎧 https://lnkd.in/e59Kikxh

Talking about impact is easy. Putting your money where your heart is—that’s rare.

When people ask who I like to work with, I often say: “Good people doing good things.”

And I can always tell I’ve met the right person when they lean in after I say it.

Julie was my second-ever client. I wrote her website copy, and she’s been on retainer ever since.

She’s truly the epitome of good people doing good things.

(Learn more about her work here: https://lnkd.in/ecYGW89R)

✏️ Through her education consulting business, she provides free resources and professional development for teachers because she believes every child deserves access to meaningful mathematics education.

🏠 She and her husband, co-owners of McKee Homes, channel that same generosity into charitable work.

(Learn more about how they help:
https://lnkd.in/epNi3fPM)

Together, they also partner with the Rockhouse Foundation in Jamaica to support Sav Inclusive, a school serving children with and without disabilities.

🌪️ Recently, the Sav Inclusive community was devastated by Hurricanes Melissa.

Families and staff are now working to rebuild and meet even their most basic needs.

In my work, I help businesses like Julie’s clarify their message and amplify their impact.

👉🏻 This time, I’m asking you to help amplify their efforts.

If you’re able, please donate, repost, or share this link to feed the families of Sav Inclusive and help them begin to rebuild their lives: https://lnkd.in/ezyEq2X6

This is what “good people doing good things” actually looks like. 

#SpotlightSeries

Staying top-of-mind takes more than “visibility” and “consistency.”

We’re told “just be visible and consistent,” but visibility without substance is forgettable.

If you want to be the first person people think of when they’re scrambling to fix the problem you solve, you need to take up mind space before they ever need you.

That doesn’t happen by churning out endless content. It happens when you:

- Deeply understand your audience—so you’re speaking to them, not just at them

- Show up where they already are—with messages they instantly recognize as “for me”

- Say the thing they need to hear—so choosing you feels like the obvious choice, not risky

If you’ve been feeling more out of sight, out of mind than top-of-mind (and like your brand disappears the minute you stop posting), consider this your invitation to get strategic.

And if you’re near Raleigh, or know someone who is, come join us on December 8th.

I’m speaking about how to use customer insights to clarify your message and resonate with the people you want to reach. 

I’ll be joined by:

🎤 Larry Long Jr 🎤  and Brian Ondrako , on using podcasting and stages to grow with intention

🔗 Melissa Cohen , Donnie Boivin , Kevin D. Turner, and WENDY SHORE, on growing on LinkedIn with real strategy

🤝 Plus: networking, roundtables, and a happy hour where your first drink is on one of the amazing sponsors 

If you want 2026 to be the year you build reach, not just hope referrals carry you, this room will help you do that.

If you know someone in North Carolina who’d benefit, tag them so they don’t miss it.

🫵 And if you’re ready to own your spotlight, grab your seat: https://lnkd.in/esGcPKj9

——

Special thanks to:

David Williams, event photographer 

William Bissett, happy hour sponsor 

Transfer Co. Food Hall, for providing the amazing venue and atmosphere

You ever picture something in your head, and then the reality just doesn’t match?

Yeah, that.

I (generally) stay in my lane, but I also know when to call in backup.

My lane? Words. The kind that make people stop scrolling, lean in, and actually care.

But I know even the clearest, most resonant message hits harder when it looks the part.

Strong visuals aren't just about making things pretty. They help your ideas stick and your brand feel credible. (the whole having a good wingwoman idea.)

Even though I know this, I don’t bother adding visuals half the time because I know I’ll lose an hour in Canva and hate the result.

That’s why I’m so excited for our next Content Circle Guest Expert Workshop with Nadia Fernández.

In one focused hour, she’ll show us how to:

✅ Create on-brand Canva designs without starting from scratch
✅ Make your posts look professional and uniquely yours
✅ Save time while creating visuals that strengthen your message

It’s $47 and includes the replay, so you can come live or catch it later.

When your message looks as good as it sounds, people don’t just notice it, they remember it.

🗓️ November 12th at 12 pm EST 
🔗 https://lnkd.in/eFwaWaJ3

And if you’ve ever had a “well… that didn’t turn out like I planned” moment, you’ll appreciate these. 👇🏻

I pride myself on never missing a deadline. In October, I missed every single one—on purpose.

(It wasn’t rebellion; it was survival.)

I took most of September off to travel, and came back fired up to “hit it hard”. 

You know, that weird combo of feeling motivated and mildly panicked.

But instead of hitting the ground running, I hit my head. Literally.

Yep, didn’t plan on adding a mild concussion to Q4.

At first, I thought I could rest a few days and power through. Because that’s what high-functioning, Type A business owners think we should do, right?

We push. We rally. We make it work… until we can’t.

And when you physically can’t, your brain gets very loud, very fast.

I watched DMs pile up, emails go unanswered, and tasks on my to-do list stay unchecked. It was brutal.

The deep-work stuff—VoC patterns, messaging guides—yeah, all of it slid down the calendar.

We moved timelines, adjusted scopes, reset expectations, and not one person made me feel like I was dropping the ball.

My clients didn’t just say ‘take your time.’ They meant it, and they acted like it.

(Yes, I do know how lucky I am.)

Still, I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t stressful. Sooo much worry and guilt.

The oh-shit-who-did-I-accidentally-ghost kind of guilt. (If you reached out weeks ago and it went unanswered, now you know why.)

If you run a business, you know today’s results come from what you did months ago.

In September, my site said “Booking for January 2026.” Now it’s November, and it still says that, but it doesn’t feel as confident this time.

Because I’m acutely aware that the things I didn’t do in October, the stuff I’m still playing catch up on, lay the groundwork for what’s next. 

If you’ve ever had life yank the plug on your best-laid plans, you get it.

So yeah, this has been the hardest 6 weeks in business. But also some of the best.

Because a year ago, this would’ve sent me into a tailspin. There’s no way my business could’ve handled it. 

In a weird way, it solidified the work I’ve done this year on the foundational parts.

And it turns out… missing every deadline didn’t break my business. (Pretty sure. Ask me again in January.)


———


👋🏻 I’m Stacy, a brand messaging strategist and copywriter, who usually never misses a deadline. I help brands clarify what sets them apart and clearly communicate it in a way that gets people to say yes faster.

At least once a week, I end up talking with founders or teams who are great at what they do, but trip over their words as soon as they try to explain it.

They’re smart, they’re experienced, and their clients adore them.

But when they try to put their value into words especially for people who didn’t come through a referral, they can’t quite get it right.

Here’s what I hear on repeat:

“People say our content is strong, but it’s not doing anything.”

“We know what we’re trying to say, but it’s not coming out clearly.”

“We get interest, but the people reaching out aren’t the ones we want.”

“We’ve rewritten our headlines to focus on benefits, but nothing changed.”

“We’re losing work to people who aren’t nearly as good, and we don’t get why.”

Let’s call this last one out for what it is:

Your not-nearly-as-good competitors aren’t winning because they’re better; they’re winning because they’re clearer.

You’re not missing confidence. 

You’re missing insight.

You can’t clearly and precisely articulate your value when the only data you’re pulling from is memory, assumptions, or language built for an earlier version of your business.

This is why I push Voice of Customer (VoC) so hard. Because without real audience insight, you end up guessing. (And guessing is expensive.)

Here’s what solid, honest VoC actually gives you:

✔️ the phrases your best clients actually use when they describe the problem you solve
✔️ the moment they realize, “Okay, I need help with this”
✔️ the real reason they hire you (it’s almost never the one you think)
✔️ the hesitations that slow them down
✔️ the line between someone who’s a perfect fit and someone who’s not—in their words, not yours

When you have that level of insight, people understand the value of your work without you over explaining.

Your differentiation is obvious.

And the right-fit clients show up because they recognize themselves in what you’re saying.

Instead of asking what you do, they ask “When we can we start?”

If you want a first simple step, do this:

Pull the last three times someone said yes to working with you and write down the exact words they used when they explained why.

That’s your first piece of real VoC (and it’s almost always more useful than another round of headline tweaks).


If you could ask your audience one VoC question that would finally fill in a missing piece for you, what would you ask? 👇🏻


P.S. Step 2: Follow Matt Thomas 🥁. He has something coming soon that will literally change the face of how we collect and use VoC insights.

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Stacy Eleczko🔅

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