This morning as I was checking email and sipping coffee, my laptop started telling me to switch to a different power source because of a low battery. That’s normal, except I was plugged into the wall.

I checked the part in the middle of the cord…that pack thing that plugs into that other thing…and it was connected. I wiggled the adapter where it goes into my computer to see if it was loose there. I checked to see if the cord was firmly plugged into the wall and it was.

At this point I started to panic. But I know I have a backup adapter in the house somewhere and I always keep it in the same place. At least I did in our former house. I haven’t used the adapter since our move at the end of May and while I recall putting it in a box upon packing up my old office, I have no recollection of unpacking it.

This is when I started to dismantle the house, searching for that cord. I dug through all my brief cases and laptop bags. I went through every door and cupboard in my office – each nook and cranny. No adapter.

So I call my husband. I ask him if he’s seen it anywhere on his travels and he tells me to slow down for a minute. He asks if I checked some different things (all of which I had) and then he asked me to plug the computer into a different outlet. I rolled my eyes and said that I’d been using that outlet for weeks, but I said I’d humor him and I plugged in to a different outlet.

BEEP. My computer turned on.

I never in a million years would have thought of doing that. If I didn’t talk to my husband, I would have gotten on his computer and searched online for a new adapter because I was in a panic and need my laptop working. The thought that an outlet could just quit working would never cross my mind. I neglected to consider the obvious and go right to the source of power.

I started to wonder how many other situations arise in my life that could be handled better if I took the time to check for the obvious solution.

Is this happening in your business? Do you get lots of traffic to your website but very few leads? If you think that just because you have a beautiful website customers should be impressed enough to line up to work with you, look a little deeper. How’s your website content written? Is it speaking to your target market in a language they understand? Is it compelling enough to sell? Beautiful design is important – extremely important. But what’s even more important is the words you use to sell your visitor once they land on your page.

Do you seem to attract the wrong type of customers? Is your personality constantly clashing with the people you do business with? Do you only get leads who don’t want to pay your rate? Look at your website content. Is it written with your personality infused into it so that you attract people you’d like to do business with?

As a copywriter, it’s obvious to me to check the words you’re using to market your business when times are slack, but it might not be so obvious to someone else.

This morning when I simply plugged my computer into a different outlet, my problem was solved. That’s where the power was.

If you hand your marketing materials over to a professional copywriter, including your website, your thoughts and ideas will be transformed into powerful compelling marketing pieces that will attract your ideal customer and make them want what you’re selling. The words you use to sell your product or service is where the power is in your marketing. Are you plugged in?

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