You’ve nailed your elevator pitch.
You’ve finally found the words to talk about what you do without feeling salesy.
You’re making real connections with the right people.

Then someone hears you speak at an event, looks you up online… and gets whiplash.

What I mean by “brand whiplash”

Brand whiplash happens when there’s a disconnect between how you present yourself in one context and how you appear in another. 

It’s when your confident, clear elevator pitch doesn’t match your website, your LinkedIn profile, your Instagram bio, or even the welcome email they get when they join your list.

Sometimes, it’s because your business has evolved (yay!) but your messaging hasn’t caught up yet. Other times, it’s because you’re unintentionally sending mixed signals.

My “we vs me” mistake

When I first started The Strategy Studio, my website talked about “we” and “our team.”
But in reality, it was just me, working from my laptop at the kitchen table.

I thought I had to sound like a bigger company to be taken seriously. But when people met me and realised they’d be working directly with me, they were surprised… because my website message didn’t match the reality.

It took me a while to own the fact that being me was the selling point. My clients wanted my brain, my expertise, and my personal involvement and not a faceless “we.”

Where brand whiplash hides

You might be causing unintentional whiplash if:

• Your elevator pitch feels fresh and aligned, but your website still lists outdated services
• Your social bios don’t match your current positioning
• Your LinkedIn headline still reflects your old role or industry
• Your lead magnet or automated emails talk about things you no longer offer

A quick audit to get back in sync

• List every touch point someone might have with you: website, social media bios, email welcome sequence, lead magnets, proposals, even your Zoom name.
  
• Ask: Does this match how I introduce myself now?
  
• Update the biggest offenders first. You don’t have to overhaul everything overnight, but you do need to remove the obvious contradictions.

When your touch points are consistent, every interaction reinforces the same message. It builds trust, authority, and familiarity. And it means that when someone hears your elevator pitch and looks you up later, they feel like they’re in the right place… not wondering if they’ve got the wrong person!This article was inspired by my conversation with Erin Huckle on her PR with Purpose podcast. You can listen to the full episode, “Nailing Your Powerful Elevator Pitch,” here.