Create Your Core Message

The First Step to Compelling Content – Your Core Message

If you want to attract clients to your website, the content needs to be exciting, intriguing, and compelling. It needs to motivate visitors to contact you for coaching.

However, most coaching websites are boring and confusing, as you may have seen. The messaging is weak and doesn’t land with visitors.

To fix that problem, I like crafting a compelling core message before building a website. It’s a short, write-up that says what you do in an exciting way. It’s an elevator pitch but for your website.

These can be tough to come up with, and often evolve over time. I recommend drafting something and then sharing it with people. It often evolves over time.

Soooo … enjoy this exercise, and share your draft in the comments.

Craft a Compelling Core Message

This is a shortened version of an exercise in my book, The Coaching Website Guide design and content strategy for attracting clients from your website.

STEP 1. Choose the kind of client you want to help
Think about the people you’ve already helped, or the kind of person you naturally understand and care about. Look for someone with a real problem, a real desire for change, and enough income or motivation to invest in help.

STEP 2. Put a simple label on them
Come up with a clear 2 to 4 word phrase for that type of person.
Examples: burnt-out executives, overwhelmed moms, new managers, career changers. This helps you talk about them clearly on your website.

STEP 3. Identify their biggest pains
What are the main things weighing on them? What frustrates them, keeps them stuck, or makes them worry? Try to narrow it down to their top 2 or 3 pains, not a giant list.

STEP 4. Identify what they really want
What would they love instead? What would make life feel better, easier, healthier, calmer, stronger, or more successful? Again, narrow it to the top 2 or 3 outcomes they care about most.

STEP 5. Name your coaching in plain language
What would you naturally call what you do in conversation? Examples: leadership coaching, business coaching, health coaching, career coaching. Keep it simple and easy to understand.

STEP 6. Choose a title for yourself
Pick a title that feels natural and credible for your audience. Examples: coach, strategist, consultant, specialist, advisor. Don’t overcomplicate it.

STEP 7. Write your core message
Now pull it all together in one message using this formula.

For example:

Mike Masters is a financial success strategist for married couples buried in debt. His money coaching programs help families save more money, eliminate debt, and build wealth for a safe, secure future.  

Post your draft in the comments!
I am watching, and I WILL respond.

No kidding. I’ll get an email alert when you comment.

Helping coaches get clients with their websites has everything to do with their messaging. It’s such a big deal and often a difficult thing to do.

I’d love to see where you’re at. Just post below.

But here’s even more help to tighten it up. …

Five ways to tighten up your core message and make it sing

Here are my favorite ways to make your core message sparkle.

Polishing Tip #1. Read it aloud.

For most, their core message ends up a bit wordy. You can easily see this if you try to read your core message aloud.

So, try verbalizing it yourself, ask a friend to read it back to you, or even use Google Translate to play it aloud.

Then, edit it so that it rolls off the tongue smoothly.

Polishing Tip #2. Get feedback on it from others.

Share it with friends, colleagues, and, ideally, people who would make ideal clients.

This act of “getting out of your head” does a lot.

Polishing Tip #3. Remove jargon, acronyms, and clumsy phrases.

I’ve found that many coaches love their concept talk like “inspirnation” to mean inspired nation or “lovergy” for love energy. 

It might sound cool to you, but will your target client get it?

Polishing Tip #4. Use juicy, sexy, and succulent words.

Which of these two is more exciting?:

  • a sports car
  • a brand new, candy-apple red Corvette convertible

Take the time to find expressive words to give your core message an emotional impact.

I love using OneLook or ChatGPT to find super words like these

use juicy words

Polishing Tip #5. Come back later (my favorite)

I agree with this -> great writing is the art of re-writing.

Putting your work down for a day and then returning to it is fantastic for improving it.

I do this not only for core messages but for all kinds of website content like blogs, pages, and emails.

As a result, website conversions like book sales, subscriber opt-ins, and leads go up.

We cut Emily’s core message in half while doubling its OOOMPH!

Most drafts end up wordy, as did Emily’s. She’s a student from a group course I offered a wee-while back.

I aim to cut my first effort in half.

Below, Emily’s goes from 76 to 39. Here’s the draft …

I help people living with diabetes who are frustrated and ashamed of their inconsistent lifestyle choices to reclaim control, health, and self-respect. My passionate curiosity will help you create a powerful vision, a culmination of your now deep-rooted healthy lifestyle habits. In partnership, we will develop a personal lifestyle management strategy that empowers you to master new habits and focus your energy to achieve and sustain lifestyle improvements you are proud of, for longer, stronger living.

There are some great words and concepts in there, but tidying it up, we did better. Here it is nearly in half …

I work with people who are frustrated and overwhelmed with problems from diabetes. I help them create lasting strategies to regain control and increase energy so they can get back to enjoying their lives with the people they love.


Better, right?

emily archer's core message
Emily’s shortened core message.

Watch Denis’s Website Come to Life by Adding a Concise Core Message

Below is a website that I reviewed and tweaked for Denis Niedringhaus, a career coach for ex-pats. Here’s the homepage with a big photo, large logo, and lis of services.

Here’s my reworking with a big core message created from existing content. Can you see how fast it comes to life?

Rachel’s Core Message – Prominent, Simple, and Powerful

Below is the top of Rachel’s website, fully equipped with a powerful core message that I captured from my interview with her.

Rachel Hill Core Message

Get more writing formulas, content templates, and lead-generating strategies in my strategy PDF, The Coaching Website Guide.

Homework! Draft your core message and post it below.

My clients love my assignments. If you want personal feedback from me, take a moment and devise yours below. I’m waiting …

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Gaye Kuelsen
1 month ago

This really resonated, Kenn. I see a lot of coaches struggle with this — not because they don’t have depth, but because they’re too close to their own work to simplify it. The idea of refining, getting feedback, and coming back to it over time feels especially important, as the message tends to evolve alongside the coach.

I’m curious — when a coach has multiple areas they could focus on, how do you help them choose one clear core message without feeling like they’re leaving parts of their work behind?

Mike R. Sweeney
1 month ago

I’m going to go a little rogue.

I probably need to shift to the format below, but my jam is finding guys who want to live the OPPOSITE of a life of quiet desperation.

Vision: I imagine a world where leaders operate with agency, courage, and freedom – mastering the space between opposites to pursue their dreams and feel fulfilled more often than not.

The ‘pain’ is more of an unthought known – when the shift from Achievement to Fulfillment is deep in their bones. It’s more felt than articulated.

[Your name], [your title], helps [label for type of client] who struggle with [main pains] through [type of coaching] so they can [desired results].

Lori Young
1 month ago

I like to come up with the core specialty the business owner wants to be known for and the core transformation she helps her clients get. This is a bit more powerful than the type of coaching they do.

Dianna Collier
1 month ago

If you have more than one target audience, do you go more general in messaging? Or do you have multiple pages to address the different audiences?

Dianna Collier
1 month ago
Reply to  Kenn Schroder

Makes sense & I appreciate that there are nuances.

Will Brooks
1 month ago

Great tips. Thinking back to when I was starting out, one of the hardest things was defining exactly who I was going to work with – many new coaches struggle to define their niche and worry that making it too specific will prevent them from getting clients. How do you help new coaches with this problem so that they not only get a cracking website but a clear niche in the first place?

Shamanth
3 years ago

Create the success that serves you, for the rest of your life
Hi, I’m Shamanth N Murthy. I’m a mental strength coach for men, who want to nail their life goals with precision & speed by leveraging the strength in their mental faculties with a scientific approach.

Shamanth
3 years ago
Reply to  Kenn Schroder

Thank you Kenn,
First of all, I love the simplicity & effectiveness of your work. Thank you for doing what you do!
My target audience are : Men in the age group of mid 20’s to mid 30’s who are working on their life goals.
How about this?
I’m a mental strength coach for men, who want to nail their life goals while experiencing freedom & balance on the way.

Saumya Sood
Saumya Sood
4 years ago

If you are frustrated and overwhelmed by your problems, then we need to chat.
Hi! I’m Saumya, coach & mentor. I can help you develop new skills, live well and work successfully.

Raluka Popescu
Raluka Popescu
4 years ago

Hi Kenn,
I am struggling with creating my headline and subheadline for my health coaching website. I target women who struggle with weight loss due to gut health issues including auto-immune diseases.
Here’s what I came up with until now (and there will be a more detailed description afterwards) – but still not happy with the headline…

Let’s cut yo-yo dieting off your list of hobbies

Want to stop jumping from one diet to another and restore your gut while shedding the weight you want and improving your immune system?
Let’s do both at the same time as… the way you look and feel starts in your gut… in your healthy gut.

Regan du Closel
4 years ago

Regan du Closel says:
May 12, 2021 at 11:25 am

Hi Kenn, how does this work? “I work with creative women negotiating mid-life changes in their personal and professional life. I help them find the clarity and confidence to create a life project that fulfills them.”
Thanks for your sharp ear and generous feedback!

Regan du Closel
4 years ago
Reply to  Kenn Schroder

“I work with creative mid-life women disillusioned with their career. I help them find the clarity and confidence to create a life project that fulfills them.”

“I work with creative mid-life women disillusioned with their career. I help them design a reliable system for creating a life project that fulfills them.”

Hi Kenn, I’m still not getting quite the traction I’d like. How do these read for you? Thanks for your help!

Regan du Closel
4 years ago
Reply to  Kenn Schroder

Hi Kenn,
Thanks for getting back to me with savvy feedback. I’m intrigued by your comment on search strategy and implementation plan. I’m just doing LI and word of mouth for the moment, but would be interested in hearing more from you.
Best,

Regan du Closel
1 month ago
Reply to  Kenn Schroder

Interesting to see that I was already using “Treadmill” when we exchanged a couple of years ago. Wondering what you meant when you said you should pull me and another client in the same space. Traction still slow. It might indeed be the channel that I am using or how Im using them
I was just reading this evening my notes on your book explaining how to connect articles one wrote with discussions one’s in.

I’m Regan. I’m a transition coach..I help creative midlife professionals at a tipping point in their lives and careers step off the treadmill and and design a next step that truly fits the person they are today

Shawna
Shawna
4 years ago

Hi Ken,

Here’s my core message:

I work with women who are living their diagnosis, not living. I help them reconnect to what’s important in their lives so they can find inner peace.

I am a grief coach with experience dealing with cancer patients but could be any diagnosis.

Thank you for any feedback.

Sincerely,

Shawna Starr

Shweta Chheda
Shweta Chheda
4 years ago

Hi Kenn,
I loved your wonderful tips of creating core messages. Thank you for taking the effort to go through my draft.
I am an Empowerment Coach. I empower girls and women who, amidst all societal & family pressures, are looking to create a space of their own. I work together with them to regain their confidence, balance their priorities & indulge in self-compassion, so that they can have power & control over their own life.

Shweta Chheda
Shweta Chheda
4 years ago
Reply to  Kenn Schroder

Hey, Thanks for the input. As per your suggestions, I will try to get specific with the pressures and towards the end.

Adrienne
5 years ago

Welcome! Discover the peace that comes with a knowledge of your life’s purpose and have the confidence to take your life to the next level.

Keira Coverdale
6 years ago

Hi Kenn! What a great video. I plan to share it with my colleagues who are struggling to craft their core message. I did all the steps and have landed on this: I work with women struggling with unwanted weight gain and low energy to wake every day feeling sexy and energized. I already have a website with domain name: mindbodymom, but am thinking I should change it to EnergizedandSexy.com (or something like that) Would love your feedback!

Sabrina D
Sabrina D
6 years ago

Hi Kenn,

So glad I found your website. I am creating the content for my website and feel empowered with the great tips you provide. I’ve been birthing my core message for a long while and would appreciate your thoughts.

I coach women who want to break free from what holds them back. I empower them to awaken the boldness within so they can become who they’re meant to be and design a life they love.

Thanks!

Sabrina
Sabrina
6 years ago
Reply to  Kenn Schroder

Thanks for your feedback. I agree! I would actually do away with the first sentence.

Mandy
6 years ago
Reply to  Kenn Schroder

“Mandy is a StRide By StRide guide for aspiring equestrians challenged with their journey. She designs life-creation coaching experiences for us to achieve connection with our brightest potential.”

Mandy Biles
6 years ago
Reply to  Kenn Schroder

Thank you! I really like “optimizing training”. I may have to let this sink in. To me it is developing (self-)awareness, however I feel they may not know this until they are into the sessions.

“Mandy Biles is a StRide By StRide equestrians guide challenging us to own our journey. She designs life-creation coaching experiences inspiring us to connect with our brightest potential.”

MandyBiles.com

Carroll Gleize
Carroll Gleize
6 years ago

I will help your business increase
profits while lessening your stress
using proven methods that will
insure lasting success.
successcoachcarroll,com

claire mackenzie
claire mackenzie
6 years ago

I don’t know if you are still able to take time to review core messages, I’ve been playing around with mine and here is where I am at

“I coach professional women in their 40’s who are overwhelmed juggling career, family and life and help them make positive changes to reconnect, achieve balance and live harmoniously”

Tania
6 years ago

Hi Kenn, thank you for offering to review our drafts. Here comes mine based on the video.:

Tania Lösche is a success strategist for high achievers who struggle with anxiety and unproductive behaviors.
She offers transformative coaching for you to gained strength, self-confidence and authenticity.
She does it in a way that’s simple to implement so you start feeling in control from day one.

Kate
6 years ago

Hi, I’m Kate Ensor and I’m a coach who helps people realise the best version of themselves. I work with people facing life’s big transitions – like moving into a leadership role, changing career, living as an expat or becoming a parent. Different changes, that require you to answer similar questions: Who am I? What matters to me? What is my unique contribution? If you want to answer these questions and find more joy and fulfilment in your life, give me a call to book your first session.

Andrew Smith
Andrew Smith
6 years ago

Hi Kenn,
I just had a quick question regarding core messages. I’m wondering if you can recommend where I should have the core message located on my website. Since I also want to have a captivating headline on my homepage, I am just wondering where might be the best place to insert my core message so its not too close to my headline that pops up on my homepage.
Do you ever have people insert their core message as the headline that users see when they first land on the page? OR should the headline and core message be two separate entities. Thanks so much for any input or tips you can provide,
Andrew Smith
Kickstart Running

claudette bravo
claudette bravo
7 years ago

Claudette B, your Dreambuilder Coach.

I work with Go-Getters – male and female who lost sight of their dreams to life’s circumstances. I help them to master the tide of life by discoverig and reconstructing their dreams, and transforming them into reality so that they can luve the life they absolutely love living.

claudette bravo
claudette bravo
7 years ago

Thanks for the awesome, brilliant idea Ken. Beautifully crafted. After listening to your video on “ Creating a Compelling Core Msg, I finally decided to tie the ‘tide of life’ piece. I really like the way you reframe my core msg and making it highlight my domain name. I will definitely work with it. Blessings

Tammy
Tammy
7 years ago

Here’s my pitch, it went from about 3 paragraphs to this. It’s going on the header of my Home page so I need it to be super simple, clear and short.

“If your a super busy coach who’s confused about how to create a Website that’s not only beautiful but also Connects and Converts, hit the booking button below and let’s find out if together, we can make magic happen”

My client’s are heart-centred, soulful entrepreneurs just starting out and are normally in the woowoo industry 🙂

Gwendolyn Needham
Gwendolyn Needham
7 years ago

Hi, I’m Gwendolyn Needham. I inspire and motivate teachers and parents via Human Development Workshops to “Take Charge of Your Lives!” and become strong, healthy, happy, wise, – not stressed, overwhelmed and overworked, and far too busy.
Why teachers and parents? Because they hold the keys to empowering our next generation in their hands; they’re the most important people in the world!

Janice Bowles
7 years ago

Hi Kenn, thank you for your extremely helpful posts.

I’m Janice, a Personal Fulfillment Coach for burnt out Professionals.

I will help you go from stressed and stuck to gaining clarity and direction for a life that inspires and delights you.

Janice Bowles
7 years ago
Reply to  Kenn Schroder

Hi Kenn, Thank you for your suggestions – I like these ideas very much and will play around with it and then ask a few people. Much appreciated. 🙂

Emem
7 years ago

I’m a trasitional & career coach. I help People who are unhappy with their life & career find fulfillment and purpose.

If you are stuck and confused about your life & career journey, then you are in the right place.

I help people move from where they are in Life to where they want to be. I can help you find your most authentic self so you can live a successful, impactful and fulfilled life.

Emem Nwogwugwu

Emem
7 years ago
Reply to  Kenn Schroder

I have worked with people with different challenges.
Most of my clients are in New careers journeys, new lifestyle to healing and even helping others.
Though I started only last year. My best client was a woman who was in a bad marriage and personal life. Today she is doing better. Left the country to start a new life. Also working on her career now. She is also a new coach. She has been able to identify her core niche.
I have literally seen client identify their real purpose during our sessions. And seen many healed emotionally after talking to me.
As a Project Manager- I have helped loads of client make important business decisions on the spot. I am a creative thinker. I provide life and business solutions. One of my most sort after niche is in project planning. People need solutions that are viable, cost effective, within budget and quality. I provide solutions that meets the criteria of the business and overall project team.

Nana Pennypockets
8 years ago

Hi Regan,
I like where you are going. I find the second sentence a bit confusing though. I’d take out the ‘your own’ and use a comma after partner, career, etc. Leave out the ‘and’ there.

“I help creative women negotiate mid-life changes in the personal and professional life. Together we can find those answers within you to changes of partner, career, aging parents,, and empty nesting. Together you will learn how to regain clarity and confidence. You will be able to fully/comfortably discover and inhabit the person you are today.”

I think most readers read in shorter sentences – especially on mobile phones so breaking it up will bring more clarity to the reader and that’s what you are aiming for.
You’ve done a wonderful job of defining your work and the benefits. My suggestions are simply on contextual changes to make it easier for the reader.

Love, Hugs, and Prayers,
NanaPennypockets

Regan du Closel
8 years ago

Hello Kenn, I love the practicality and simplicity of your blogs!

Regan du Closel – Transition coach
Clarity Coach Solutions

I help creative women negotiate mid-life changes in their personal and professsional life. Together, we can find your own answers to changes of partner and career, aging parents and empty nesting and help you regain clarity and confidence and fully/comfortably inhabit the person you are today.

Regan du Closel
4 years ago

Hi Kenn, how does this work? “I work with creative women negotiating mid-life changes in their personal and professional life. I help them find the clarity and confidence to create a life project that fulfills them.”

Nana
Nana
8 years ago

Yeah! You’ve finally retired! But – Now what are you going to do?
What legacy can you create?
Let me help you explore the footprints you can make in retirement
That will be lasting.

Sandra Cerul, Opportunity Coaching

Regan du Closel
4 years ago
Reply to  Nana

Love this, Nana! really crisp and punchy! We really know what you’re about and for whom. I wish you all well-deserved success.

pattigw
8 years ago

Here is a draft of my core message:

Are you ready to make a life change but lack direction? Do you struggle with connecting to the things you are passionate about? Hi. I’m Patti Wheeler, Life Purpose Coach. I am excited to help you unlock the doors to your fullest potential. Together we will find that path that will lead you to the successful and fulfilling life you want.

Jane Durston
Jane Durston
8 years ago

I’m a health coach and I’m passionate about working with motivated clients to develop healthy habits around weight control, energy exercise and, stress . If you are struggling with any of these I will help you change and maintain healthy habits so you get the most from your life and work.