Do people consider you a guide or salesman online? One word can change it.
Another Monday Morning Website Tip by Marcus Rangel
Someone sees you just posted or emailed something online, what’s their initial reaction? Another sales email, another sales post…. or, great info, great thoughts, great insights?
Salesman sell, annoy, bother, intrude, the list goes on. Guides help, they educate, they give advice, they tell stories of past experiences to give a reason to do something better.
Here’s how you can change your approach with one simple word. Whenever you write your marketing, think how it can benefit someone else. This starts with adding the word “you” in your messages.
Your subject line, how does it benefit someone to read it? Your opening sentence on your website, insert the word you in there and see your message change. When you post online, are you sharing your experience to truly help someone or sell to someone? If you are helping, you’ll start to be seen as a guide.
It’s a small word but will transform how you do your marketing. See what I did there? I talked about you 🙂 You can bet I don’t want to be seen as a salesman…ever. I’d rather be seen as that river rafting guide who’s been down the river 1000s of times who can help people down the Royal Gorge who knows what obstacles and tips to give (but that not like Kevin Bacon river guy in the movie River Wild).
If you haven’t read the book Building a Storybrand, I’ve read it 2x already and every time pull out something amazing from it. It’s probably the single most important marketing book you can read!
P.S. So my friend Chad helps his wife out with their candle business on the regular… let’s just say he wanted to let everyone know he helps out and I’ve been wanting to make fun videos like this for a long time. It may be my new monthly fun goal of doing something new.
About Marcus Rangel
I've been working with small businesses owners to craft not only beautiful custom websites, but clear, clever and concise messages to reach their prospects since 2005.
I officially hung up my "corporate cleats" to be an entrepreneur and small business owner in the summer of 2020. IMC, which started as a side hustle early in the mornings before the sun was even up in 2017, is what led me down this path as a small business owner myself. I focus on helping other small business owners continually stay in front of people & prospects with email marketing, create websites that generate leads with great engagement, and produce video content that are meant for the digital era we're in.
When I'm not creating, you can find me hanging out with my incredible family on our front lawn or on my OneWheel around the big city of Owasso, OK.
Does your website need help?
What Would I Change on Your Website?
Request your Free Video Review.
Check out my other posts
I had never been to Wyoming until the summer of 2025… and I can’t believe it took that long! I got the great chance to work with a 3rd generation ranch owner, Andy Stellpflug, to help share his family’s legacy of their ranching operation that’s been around since 1913. Now I did get to experience pretty much every type of weather when I was up there including rain, breathtaking sunrises, strong winds, and quiet sunsets. But all of that led to a video that I was really proud to submit to the 2026 Pro Movie Maker Filmmaker of the Year Awards. I just got word today that it won, making IMC a two time winner! I had previously won in 2023 for the drone work…
Your website’s most visited page is… you guessed it, your homepage! That’s why I always recommend having a “message from the owner/founder” on the homepage. It immediately humanizes your brand for the website visitor and puts a face to your company. It also leads your website visitor to the about us page (most likely your second most visited page) if worded and done right. What your message should contain: Here are three website examples that I’ve designed and launched recently in 2026 that feature a “Message from the owner” for you to check out! https://walkermasonryinc.com/ https://dupreefarms.com/ https://steep.marketing/
One of the biggest improvements you can make to your existing website is your navigation. The standard “dropdown” is great, but upgrading to a well designed navigation dropdown – or super navigation is really a showstopper. Think about it this way, if a new website visitor is choosing in 5 seconds or less if they want to stay on your website, showcasing your navigation is a great way to stop them in their tracks to want to look around longer. Check out these examples of 3 sites that IMC built these on recently. Tampa Bay Wealth Management Shorthorn Cattle Association Chavez Restoration