How you introduce yourself matters more than most people realise. Whether you’re brand new in business or have decades of experience behind you, the words you choose shape how others perceive you almost instantly.
In episode 203 of The Monday Morning Marketing Podcast, our duo talked about reframing your intro and why saying “I’m a start-up” or giving a flat job title often does more harm than good.
Stop Leading with “I’m a Start-Up”
One of the biggest confidence killers we see is people introducing themselves as “just starting out” or “only a few weeks in business”. While your business might be new on paper, your experience usually isn’t.
Many business owners come into self-employment with 10, 15, even 20 years of experience working in their industry. Calling yourself a start-up can unintentionally make you sound risky or inexperienced, even when that couldn’t be further from the truth.
A better approach is to lead with your experience, not your company’s age. You’re not “new”. You’re experienced and now working for yourself.
Avoid Saying What Everyone Else Says
“I’m a candle maker.”
“I run a marketing agency.”
“I’m a consultant.”
There’s nothing wrong with these statements, but they don’t make you memorable. They also don’t give people a reason to ask a follow-up question.
Instead, focus on the problem you solve. For example, rather than saying you make candles, you might say you help people create calmer, more relaxing homes using natural scents and beeswax. The product is the same, but the perception is completely different.
You Don’t Have to Explain Everything
One common mistake is trying to say too much in your intro. Listing every service, platform, or acronym you work with usually leaves people overwhelmed rather than interested.
Your introduction should open a door, not deliver the full sales pitch. The goal is curiosity. If someone thinks, “That sounds like something I need,” you’ve done your job.
Reframing Is an Ongoing Process
Reframing your intro isn’t a one-time exercise. It evolves as your business evolves.
As you hit roadblocks, gain new skills, hire staff, or notice patterns in who responds to your messaging, your intro should change with that insight. Over time, you’ll naturally refine how you describe what you do based on what resonates most.
This is why listening matters so much. When you’re networking or talking to potential clients, pay attention to reactions. If eyes glaze over, your message needs tweaking. If someone says, “Oh, I didn’t realise you did that,” you’re getting closer.
Use Your Audience as Your Guide
Your intro doesn’t have to sound the same in every room. The best marketers adjust their message depending on who they’re speaking to.
A hypnotist, for example, might talk about exam anxiety in a room full of parents but stress management in a room of executives. The service hasn’t changed, but the framing has.
Understanding your audience and their pain points makes reframing feel natural rather than forced.
Confidence Comes from Clarity
A lot of over-explaining happens when confidence is low. When you’re clear on who you help and how you help them, you don’t need to justify your experience or explain how long you’ve been in business.
Confidence grows as you practise saying your intro out loud, adjusting it, and seeing what works. It also grows when you stop assuming people already know what you do. Even long-standing contacts often miss key parts of your offering unless you clearly and consistently communicate it.
Reframe Everywhere, Not Just Networking
Your intro isn’t just for networking events. It shows up on your social media bios, your website, your newsletters, and even casual conversations at the school gate or local shop.
When you reframe your message with clarity and confidence, you stop giving away everything for free and start positioning yourself as the expert you already are.
Reframing doesn’t mean changing who you are. It means communicating your value more effectively.
