Copy of magic words of the week Rest 9

Grunt Test

You’ve got about 5 seconds — maybe less — to catch someone’s attention when they hit your website. 

So make sure your website header (that first section someone sees) actually tells them what they need to know.

In other words, make sure it passes the “grunt test.” (That’s StoryBrand founder Donald Miller’s term.) 

It means that your header is so clear that a caveman could grunt the answers to these questions after 5 seconds:

  1. What do you sell?
  2. How does it make my life better?
  3. How do I get it? 

Seems easy, but it’s surprising how often a site doesn’t pass.

Let’s play a game. 

Two of these website headers pass the Grunt Test. 

Two of them don’t. 

Can you tell which is which?

Contestant 1:

Contestant 2: 

cfq3QIVNxdeKwnp6uSisjt70zWPOrTkECMd5g

Contestant 3: 

KKw4ZhJNIBiMMvcd77bljqZqGuDoF2QdGzlf5Hl2zw01jvyoclJjJSkCYfZlWxJMJAA2QdEiCSOES 1

Contestant 4:

WJNRGLTe6s1v7PKSagsNcsb5XM46aOfAJrxVbUG3x75uMfJtiJFiVcAVXBiM5eKyV0f0cw6XvSyKqeHuuyY6JyOUpGMl FFQdI8w2jIzzjw hKI8ZeV1bflh wct0wnvn7l6q12i

Let’s make sure your next website is a Grunt Test winner, shall we?

PS – Have you noticed an uPS – Need help writing a site that passes the Grunt Test? That just so happens to be my speciality. 😉 I’m booking projects for May and June right now, so if you want a fresh site in Q2, let’s chat.


This post was originally sent as an email to the Magic Words of the Week newsletter list. Every week, I share reflections on a word, quote, or phrase I think will help you thrive in your life’s work.

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