Why Your Customers Aren’t Listening (and How to Fix It)

Ever tried having a heart-to-heart with a teenager?

You could be dropping life-changing wisdom - but if it’s not about them, they’re only half-listening (while scrolling TikTok, obviously).

It’s not that they’re rude - ok, some are - but more likely, they just don’t know how to override human wiring…yet.  

We are innately designed to filter out anything that doesn’t feel immediately relevant to us.

And while your customers might be more polite than the average 15-year-old, they’re doing the exact same thing. 

How do I know?

Because customers don’t wake up thinking about you.

One of the most common marketing mistakes brands make is talking about themselves.

“We’ve been in business for 20 years.”

“Our team is passionate about what we do.”

“We offer innovative solutions.”

The problem is that your audience doesn’t care—yet.

What they care about is solving their own problems, reaching their goals, and avoiding pain. 

If your message doesn’t connect to them, it’s getting tuned out just like that unsolicited lecture on how social media is ruining their attention span. (Again, teenagers.)

To get your audience’s attention, make it about them. 

✅ Rework your message to reflect what your audience actually cares about: themselves.

Instead of saying:

“We’ve been in business for 20 years.”

Say:

“For 20 years, we’ve helped people like you [insert specific result or problem you solve].”

That tiny shift changes the entire focus—and makes your message instantly more engaging.

🛠️ Try This Quick Messaging Audit

Action Step:

• Open your homepage or latest email. Count how many times you say “I” or “we” vs. “you.”

• Then rewrite just one sentence to be more customer-focused.

Start there. Refine as you go.

The more your audience sees themselves in your message, the more they’ll lean in, trust you, and take action.