Moonflower Marketing

09/03/2026

We get asked this all the time. Here’s the story.

He passively threatened to sue me if I didn’t give up my business name.

———

I get asked quite a bit where the name “Moonflower Marketing” came from.

Most recently, wrapping up a messaging session with a financial planning firm in Carmel, Indiana, a staff member said,

“Moonflower Marketing is so fun and unique! How did you come up with it?”

Our name wasn’t always Moonflower Marketing. We started as “Clear Brand Story Marketing.” I think I just fell asleep typing it.

The name was inspired by the StoryBrand framework not long after I certified with them in 2019.

In 2021, I got a phone call out of the blue from someone out of state who I’d never met (but was loosely connected to…we’ll leave it there).

“Hey, our business names are very similar, and I’m looking to trademark mine. Just a friendly heads up before the lawyers have to get involved.”

I actually covered the phone and laughed out loud. First of all…good luck with that. Second, this name sucks and I hate it anyway. You can have it. Go in peace.

For years, I’d wanted to call the business Moonflower Marketing.

I got the idea while listening to one of Chris Cornell’s songs off his first solo album, “Euphoria Mourning.”

The song is called, “Moonchild.”

For a brief time, I had a business called “Moonlit Music Productions.” I’ve always loved the mystery of the moon, and the alliteration.

I paid for a national search of every Secretary of State’s business registrations.

Not a single Moonflower Marketing in the United States. Boom.

We’ve been Moonflower Marketing since.

Chris died in 2017, the year I officially launched my business. He’s easily the artist who has impacted me the most throughout my life.

“Come on, Moonflower. You’re so far away from now. You could bloom forever in the hour.” ~ Chris Cornell

05/30/2026

Love seeing our client Common Ground at Faith getting some media attention for the great work they do.

We worked with them a couple of years ago on their brand messaging and logo design in partnership with AP The Creative.

Hunger is a bigger issue in central Indiana than you probably realize.

Glad to see Common Ground at Faith and WishTV shining a light on the need and those stepping up to help.

Common Ground at Faith in Indianapolis aims to open a community center by Nov. 1, providing essential services to meet the growing needs of families.

02/20/2026

I hear this from business owners all the time:

Think about the homeowner searching Google right now.

Their basement is flooding. They’re panicking.

They’re not comparing credentials. They’re clicking on whoever makes them feel like "these people get it and can fix my problem fast."

That feeling doesn’t come from a fancy image slide or a stock photo of a smiling family.

It comes from words.

Clear, simple words that say: "Here’s your problem. Here’s our plan. Here’s what to do next."

Clear messaging increases referrals and supercharges your marketing efforts over time.

You need both.

Curious where your marketing stands?

Take my free Marketing Clarity Quiz:
https://quiz.moonflowermarketing.com/marketing-clarity

02/19/2026

Your marketing isn’t failing because you aren’t spending enough. It's failing because...
..nobody understands what you do. (Sorry if that was too blunt.)

Most professional services firms pour money into ads, fancy websites, and social media without ever answering the one question every potential client is asking:

"How can you help ME?"

That’s the problem. You’re talking about yourself when your customers want to hear about themselves.

The fix? Flip the script.

Stop being the hero of your marketing. Start being the guide.

When you make your client the main character and clearly show how you solve their problem, something clicks. They lean in. They call. They hire you.

And it doesn’t require a bigger budget. It requires a clearer message.

When your message is clear, here's what happens:

1. The right prospects understand why they need you faster.
2. The wrong prospects stop wasting your time.
3. Referral business jumps because your happy clients are better at talking about you.
4. Your marketing dollars go further and perform better.

Not sure if your message is clear?

Take our free Marketing Clarity Quiz and find out in 3 minutes:

https://quiz.moonflowermarketing.com/marketing-clarity

02/18/2026

You: Hey, which lawyer were you saying I should hire?
Your Friend: Um, I think it was the one who promised to “fight for you.”
You: Great…that narrows it down... 🤦‍♂️

The two biggest marketing mistakes I see professional service providers make?

1. Forgettable messaging
2. Making themselves the hero

You pour money into Google Ads, beautiful websites, social media content, and more.

But prospects land on your site and can't figure out what you actually do or why they should care.

Think about all the commercials and billboards you see for lawyers in your community. Could you pick them out of a lineup if your life depended on it?

For most, the answer is no.

They all “fight for you” and “mean business.” Or, they're so enamored with themselves, it's hard to see where you fit in at all.

Here's the hard truth: unclear messaging costs you real money.

- It costs you leads that should be converting.
- It costs you the premium pricing you deserve.
- It costs you the ability to attract ideal clients instead of anyone who calls.

The fix isn't complicated. It starts with clarity.

One clear message that explains what you do, who you help, and why it matters.

Effective messaging is more than a catchy line you think will stick. It fundamentally differentiates you in your prospects’ minds.

What makes for memorable messaging?
1. It addresses a specific problem your ideal client is dealing with
2. It’s delivered in a way that captures attention and invites prospects into a story.

That's the foundation everything else is built on.

Curious if your marketing is clear or confusing?

Take me Free Marketing Clarity Quiz. 👇
https://quiz.moonflowermarketing.com/marketing-clarity

12/05/2025

Continuing my “Get Your @$$ Out There And Meet People” era.

Attended a great Indy Chamber event last night at the NCAA Hall of Champions.

Met a few good folks and got to hear about some of the amazing stuff Indy is doing to prepare for hosting our 9th NCAA Final Four.

When we host again in a few years, it will be the record for the most times a city has hosted.

If you didn’t know, Indy is the best city in the country for hosting major sporting events.

Don’t believe me? Swing by the Final Four in 2026 and find out for yourself.

12/02/2025

Most business owners don't even realize it's happening until it's too late.

😬 People are visiting your website, but calls are coming in.
😬 Calls are coming in, but too few are becoming customers.
😬 You get leads for problems you don't really solve.

These are all signs of messaging confusion, and most business owners don't even realize it.

Here are three types of confusion that are quietly killing otherwise good businesses.

1. Offer Confusion

Visitors to your website can't quickly understand the problem you solve and how it makes their lives better.

2. Process Confusion

Your offer might be clear, but your process is complicated, overwhelming, or muddy, so potential customers opt out, thinking it must not be for them.

3. Industry Confusion

If we paired your website with your direct competitors, would your message sound like a variation of all the rest, or would it stand out? Be honest, there can't be 5 "Most trusted" providers in your town.

Here's the hard part...

You might not be able to tell if your marketing message is confusing or not. I mean...it makes sense to you, right?

You aren't your ideal customer, though; someone else is. Those people need to be able to understand it without thinking too hard about it.

If your marketing (website, social media, emails, ads, etc.) is confusing, nothing will work, and you're just wasting money.

I help you stop confusing your customers.

Schedule a call with me and let's talk about making sure your messaging is crystal clear across all marketing efforts in 2026.

A clear and powerful message is the foundation of all good marketing and strong businesses.

👇 Schedule a free 30-minute call and let's talk👇
https://moonflowermarketing.com/

12/01/2025

You are confusing your customers more than you realize.

You might not think you're confusing your customers, but are you SURE?

Are you certain that when someone lands on your website, they IMMEDIATELY understand what you do and how it makes their life better?

Is there ANY chance someone who lands on your website gets confused about the problem you solve?

It could be that folks land on your website and understand the problem you solve, but aren't clear if your solution is the one for them.

Going further, if your website isn't 100% clear to your customers, your social media, ads, and more are probably falling short, too.

There are a million ways to confuse your customers on your website and in your marketing efforts.

Just because YOU understand your message doesn't mean your customers will.

Any confusion in the process creates breakdowns that cost you money and leave ideal customers looking elsewhere.

Every day, the world is getting faster, and the opportunities for confusion and lost customers grow.

Don't let your assumption that your marketing message is clear be the reason you lose business.

Get a quick "gut check" on your messaging clarity with my Messaging Clarity Quiz.

Just 17 simple questions to help you know if you might be confusing your customers and losing business.

Take my Messaging Clarity Quiz 👇
https://quiz.strategywithjoe.com/messaging