5 Signs Your DIY Copy Is Holding You Back and How a Copywriter for Small Business Can Help
- Kate De Palma
- Apr 14
- 5 min read
Is Your DIY Copy Quietly Sabotaging You?
You’re a small business owner with big dreams, and you've decided: this is your year to shine. Woohoo!
You’ve put together a fabulous product or service that you're super proud of (and your current customers LOVE) but something’s off: your sales aren’t matching your hustle. It's discouraging...you're working your butt off, but your income goals still feel way too far away.
Could your DIY copy be the culprit?
As a copywriter for small business, I’ve seen it happen, over and over.
You DIY your copy for your website or your email marketing, just so it's good enough to be published so you can move on to the next thing (because there's always a 'next thing' as a small business owner, am I right?).
Copywriting for Businesses
But there comes a point when 'good enough' isn't enough anymore, especially if you want to expand your business to meet those income goals.
So, how can you tell if your website copy is holding your brand back, or even quietly dragging you down?
Here are 5 signs your website copy needs a glow-up:
1. Your Website Visitors Bounce Fast
If your analytics show folks leaving your site in seconds, your copy might be the bouncer kicking them out.
Vague headlines or walls of text scare customers away before they even get to your offer.
A copywriter for small business knows how to hook your website visitors fast, because that's the only way to make them stay to learn more. A copywriter will craft powerful, benefits-driven words that will keep new visitors on your page because they'll feel like you're here for them.
2. Your Emails Get No Replies
You’re sending quarterly, monthly, maybe even weekly newsletters, but your inbox? It's crickets. While email marketing is definitely a numbers game, sparkling copy is going to help bump those numbers up in your favor.
Bland subject lines (“Check this out") or generic vibes (“We’re great!”) don’t cut it in 2025’s crowded digital space. We all simply get way too much email for that.
You need subject lines that will make your email stand out from the crowd and boost your email open rates. And then, once someone has opened your email, it needs to dazzle. It, too, needs to be enticing and specific to your brand so that your audience feels compelled to take action, whether it's signing up for a waitlist or buying your latest product.
A copywriter can craft marketing emails for your business that spark clicks...because they feel personal, urgent, and worth a response.
3. Customers Don’t Get What You Do
Ever get blank stares when someone asks, “So, what’s your business?” If your copy’s muddy - think jargon-heavy, wishy-washy, or otherwise lacking clarity - your audience won’t connect the dots.
And that's not their job - that's yours (or your copywriter's).
If your messaging isn't clear for them, there's no way they're going to spend the time or effort to make it clear.
I’ve worked with small biz owners who thought “creative solutions” said it all. Spoiler: it doesn’t. Because "creative solutions" can mean a lot of different things, and if you and your audience are interpreting it differently, that's not good for anybody.
A copywriter for small business clarifies your magic in words that stick, so you won't get customers asking, "So, what exactly do you do here?"
4. Your Social Posts Don't Get the Results You Hope For
Okay, so you’re posting on Instagram or LinkedIn...First off, Congrats! That's no small feat for a busy business owner to show up on social media...especially if you're consistent about putting out content.
But the likes and shares are…once again...crickets. What's the deal with that?
While social media is definitely its own game with its own strategy (and post performance can come down to a whole bunch of different factors from timing to how you engage with other accounts), copy is definitely a huge part of finding success with social media.
Here's the thing: flat captions or salesy vibes without value generally don’t work for 2025’s savvy scrollers.
A copywriter for marketing turns your social media posts into mini-stories: think a florist’s “Petals that stop stress in its tracks” vs. “Buy flowers now.” Storytelling matters, and while a lot of that comes down to images (worth a 1000 words and all that), a lot of it also comes down to caption copy.
5. You’re Losing Sales to Competitors
Your close competitors seem to be raking in customers while you’re feeling stuck, not growing as fast as you'd like or not making the sales you want. Why?
Their copy might be outshining yours: it reads as crisp and customer-focused, while your DIY copy is maybe lacking clarity or confidence. Their copy clearly differentiates them from their competitors while yours doesn't make it obvious why people should choose you.
Sure, your DIY copy was good enough to get you here, but is it strong enough to get you to where you want to go next?
In 2025, standing out isn’t optional for businesses to thrive - especially small businesses, who need to compete with the bigger companies. Luckily, a copywriter for small business can help level the field, turning your “good enough” into “can’t ignore this.”
Why Copy Matters in 2025
The stakes are higher now - attention spans are shorter (8 seconds, per Microsoft studies), and competition’s fierce.
DIY copy that worked for your business in 2020 won’t fly today.
You need words that grab, convert, and keep customers coming back. That’s where a pro steps in.
What a Copywriter Brings to the Table:
Clarity: No more “what do they do?” confusion—your value shines, no matter if it's in an email or on your website homepage.
Connection: Your words feel like a friendly chat - in your brand voice of course! - not a sales pitch.
Conversion: A great copywriter - especially one familiar with SEO copy, SEO content, and working with small businesses in general - can help you with strategic tweaks (e.g., CTAs, psychology) that drive action.
As a copywriter for marketing, I’ve seen s the impact of small changes (hint: they're big wins).
Your Next Move
You don’t need to scrap everything you've ever written: just take a peek at your copy.
Does it spark excitement? Does it tell a story? Does it sell you?
If it’s falling flat, a copywriter for small business (like me!) can help. Let’s make 2025 the year your words work as hard as you do.
Not sure where to start? We've got an awesome freebie that will help you audit your About Page copy in way more detail.
Copywriter for Small Business
Ready to Chat?
If you're ready to move past DIY copy and get help making your website, emails, and social media truly shine, let's chat!
Book a free call with me today—we’ll chat about your business goals, your brand vibe, and how I can help transform your copy so that it does more heavy lifting for you.
Click here to book a call today! And from one small business owner to another, I'm rooting for you!
Comments