These days everyone is on the marketing wagon and we are being bombarded with tonnes of options. How do we stand out and get noticed, amongst so many competitors?
Here is a list to get you thinking on how to stand out and be noticed:
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Be quirky.
Being weird in the world of business can pay off. Quirky can be anything that is that bit different. It might be your name or logo or mantra. It’s about being unpredictable and peculiar. Just take care to do it right; you don’t want it to backfire and leave you in the cold.
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Be distinctive & original.
Competition in the marketplace is stiff, which is why being different is significant. Marketers as we are, we have been trained to seek for the norm. The real challenge there here lies in being different, which is important, valuable to the audience, thereby creating great advantage for business.
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Find your niche and focus on it.
In all honesty, finding your market niche can be tricky but can be realised with some guidelines. Try to identify your passions and interests then determine those problems you are able to solve. Conduct research of the marketing competition for possible profitable niche and test your idea. Some businesses fall into their niche, others find it.
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Promote a powerful guarantee.
Small but growing number of businesses provides customers with unconditional service with unconditional satisfaction guarantee. Service guarantees are considered as the most powerful tools for the promotion and achievement of service quality. Guarantees serve as clear standards which tell both employees and customers what an enterprise stands for. They even establish marketing muscle through the risk reduction of purchase decision and the establishment of long-term loyalty.
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Make your business different.
Ask what makes your business different from your competition to stand out. How? Do some research based on the point of view of your prospective customers. What makes you distinct from the rest? Why should customers buy from you and not from them? Answering these questions may be tough, but it’s a start.
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Develop an X-factor for your business.
An x-factor, which follows after good business introspection, separates you from other businesses. It should be something that adds value to your enterprise and be something that competitors in your chosen industry cannot do. This means you need to concentrate on your strength and do better than everyone else.
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Create a unique proposition value.
To stand out just for the sake of standing out is not enough. Let your customers feel that they are getting value from what makes you exceptional over your competitors. Make your services and/or products better and have better prices. Remember, value is everything.
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Have a great logo.
However, ensure that your brand is more than just a graphic. It should serve as a constant reminder to the existing and potential customers of your being different and being better than the other businesses. Branding is actually the core of your marketing strategy and should be more than just to communicate what really makes your small enterprise unique. Branding may start with your logo, colour schemes, fonts etc, but it’s also your message and how others feel about your brand and the perception that you have out there in the marketplace.
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Your business card should be striking.
Be creative in your business cards more than just being noticed. Your business cards should be considered as an extension of your business, which is different from everyone else for the added value on it.
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Write a captivating blog.
Now is the best time to make the most of your business after the hard work in making it stand out. Starting a blog to market your business online is a great opportunity to do this. Doing this is relatively inexpensive while the viral potential is enormously high. It remains a great way of connecting with your customers even if it does not go viral. Your blog will remind them of what really makes you better, turning them into brand enthusiasts.
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Never practice mediocrity.
Doing one thing very well is not really an excuse to keep things at ease on everything else. Level up your game on the overall offer and your target customers will notice it. You may then reap the reward from them as they speak their experience of satisfaction from your product/service and your great purchasing factor.
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Consider yourself as an expert of your business.
Yes, you could have the greatest offer in business but your customers seem not that convinced to be repeat buyers due to lack of credibility in your field. Be mindful of this. You have to be knowledgeable enough in your chosen field of business and share it with others. This helps you develop your credibility and thereby build consumer trust. In the long run, customers will get to refer your business to others.
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Be a rule breaker.
Do you really want your business to be unique? Break the rules and just do the exact opposite of what everyone else in the industry does. Oftentimes conventional wisdom can be wrong. Challenge and then rewrite business rules. Make certain that you do not detract from your product and service value; otherwise, it will just come off as a bit “gimmicky”. Please ensure you stay within certain rules, such as those which are law; it’s hard to practice great business from a jail cell.
Take some time to follow these tips and develop a tangible, distinct and remarkable point of difference to stand out from the competitive world of business. Stand out and get noticed!
For more business tips email me at donna@donna-stone.com.au. This and many other subjects will be covered in my Africa 2018 Mastermind this September, it’s sure to be awesome. Email me if you’re interested.
