As of now, standing out is not just a desire—it’s a necessity. Are you a startup or an established business? No matter who you are or where you’re from, you understand that attention, keeping customers loyal, and succeeding in a competitive market is crucial. Use this guide to explore actionable strategies that you can use today.
The Strategies
Before you dive in, set the stage. Think of your business as a unique melody in a song you like. How do you know it resonates the loudest? It doesn’t mean you have to be loud in how you portray your brand image, but what truly connects with people. It begins here..
Understand Your Unique Value Proposition
Ask yourself “What is the one thing I solve for people?” Look away from the screen and think on it, now what is different in how you solve that problem, that need for people? Your value proposition is the heartbeat of your brand. It’s what makes you indispensable to your customers.
To uncover it, regular people would tell you to do market research or SWOT analysis, this is not that type of strategy. There are plenty of those out there.
Have you heard of anyone using the saying “Seeing the world with new eyes.”? It’s about having a fresh look at your business that can tell you what it is with nothing to gain from it.
Use speed to your advantage
By delivering products and/or innovations in your industry at a fast pace, you put your business as a leader in that space.
If you are one of the first to deliver that, you can place yourself in a position that has increasing leverage as time goes on.
Let’s say you’re in a sector that can eat off of the invention of AGI (artificial general intelligence), of course, that sector can vary on what you believe AGI could do for humanity as a whole. But putting that aside, you delivering information on it early and the details of how it works and what the advantages of it are for your customers have unprecedented advantages.
Lean into your niche
If you have anything else in your mind than that there’s no possible way to appeal to everyone, you’re bugging. You’re losing out on connecting with the people who care about specific things, possibly customized products, pricing strategies, and/or marketing is huge.
Make sure to understand as much about that niche target average person as possible. In most cases the business owners are that person, use that to your advantage, whether you’re an employee or an owner.
Ask questions or seek information about that person if you’re an employee in the business you’re trying to add value to.
Do tests like the “how to understand yourself quiz” or “personality tests“, if you’re honest with yourself it will hone the skill of understanding yourself and how people like you work.
Go Beyond Transactions
Exceptional service isn’t a bonus; it’s a requirement.
- Tailor experiences to individual preferences.
- Unexpected gestures create lasting memories.
- Highlight companies that excel in customer care.
Differentiate your product as a Strategic Lever
There are two types of product differentiation and a mix of the two
- Vertical differentiation: Customers rank their options based on their measurability, such as price or quality. For example, a supermarket might provide a better purchasing experience, but a wholesale store might provide cheaper goods.
- Horizontal differentiation: An example of this would be when a customer chooses between products based on personal preference, rather than an objective measurement. If most of the products in your market cost about the same and have similar features or qualities, the purchase decision is based on their preference.
- Mixed differentiation: In complex decision-making, like purchasing a smartphone, consumers often weigh both vertical and horizontal differentiation factors. For instance, they may evaluate technical specifications like camera quality and processor speed (vertical differentiation), alongside subjective aspects like design aesthetics or brand reputation (horizontal differentiation). Each buyer prioritizes these criteria differently, shaping their ultimate choice.
Remember that differentiation isn’t a one-time task. It’s an ongoing commitment. Implement these strategies thoughtfully, and watch your brand flourish.
Take a moment to reflect on your brand. Which strategies resonate? How can you apply them? The journey to delineate is never too late.