10/1/26
Directory Listing 101, Part 2: Tell Customers WHAT You Do and WHO You Do It For
Before people can support your business, they need to know why they should support it.
In other words: tell them what you do.
Do it in one short sentence, and don’t use any “jargon,” which means “don’t use words people probably won’t understand if they don’t work at your type of business.”
Use the short sentence you create as the description at the top of your listing on the Elevate by Grameen Member Directory. You should also use it everywhere else you list your business. You want it to be the second thing a customer sees after your business name.
Exercise: Copy Block 2 — One-Liner “What You Do” Statement
You can build your one-liner business description using this simple formula. Just replace the parts in brackets below with information from your business.
Formula: “I help [WHO] [DO/GET] [RESULT] without [PAIN]”
Here’s a few examples that could describe actual Elevate member businesses:
- Wilma Nicole Image Studio: “I help [professionals] [improve their image] [with amazing make-up, hair and photos] without [needing a whole team].”
- Writerjudy Inc: “I help [high-profile companies] [reach global audiences] [with web ready copy] without [overpaying].”
Keep it to one sentence. No jargon. A stranger should understand it in 3 seconds.
✏️ Write your one-liner here.
| I help _________________________ [who] do / get _________________________ [result] without _________________________ [pain / friction]. My one-liner:_______________________________________________________________ Paste this into: • Elevate Directory → first line of Description • Google Business Profile → first line of Business description • LinkedIn → headline / first line of About • Instagram bio → top line |
Exercise: Copy Block 3 — Who You Serve & What Problem You Solve
This text can serve the second paragraph of your directory description.
It helps the right people self-select, meaning they find you before you need to find them. It also filters out the “wrong” customers, meaning people who may not be happy with your services, no matter how well you try to serve them.
For this sentence, don’t focus too much on the formula. Think of your favorite customer or your favorite three. Really take a second and think about why you like them, what makes them happy when you provide them with a service, and what you know you do well when serving them.
Write the sentence from that person’s perspective using what you know about them, what they’ve shared with you, and how you serve them to the best of your abilities.
✏️ Fill in and use as your second description paragraph.
| My best customers are: _________________________________________ The main problem I solve for them: ______________________________ They come to me when: _________________________________________ Assembled paragraph (write in your own voice): Paste this into: • Elevate Directory → Description (paragraph 2) • Other Directory services → category tags and keywords • Clutch, Bark, or similar platforms → list of your main services |
Formula: ” [my best customers] have trouble with [main problem I solve] and come to me to [what they can’t or don’t want to do without you].”
You can get more practice by looking at examples from some of your favorite businesses and gathering feedback from others. Try Practice Exercises 2 and 3 here: https://grameenelevatedirectory.com/2026/10/01/directory-listing-101-bonus-activities-for-an-even-better-business-listing/
