In an overcrowded world, the best way to get the attention of your target audience is to stand out from the crowd. There are 316.5 million people in the United States. Think of how many of those people are in the same industry as you are, probably millions right? In almost any industry, it’s easy and even tempting to just blend in and be like everyone else. However, the successful business owners always seem to find a way to rise above the clutter and noise, get noticed and make an impact. Some of the most successful entrepreneurs and business empires seem to do things differently than anyone else. Some of the most successful brands typically market in ways no one else does. In order to stand out, you must always be innovative. Looking at my industry, I have noticed that many entrepreneurs tend to just mimic what they see everyone else doing. Of course, this is the inauthentic way of not being your best, more importantly the easiest way to be forgotten. So let’s look at 5 key ways you can stand out from your competition.
Find Your Uniqueness. Just being you makes you different in a sense. Being you is a gem. But being unique is rare and priceless. Is there something that you do better or differently than anyone else? Is there an issue that you want to unapologetically take a stand on? Find a way to be innovative. Create something that does not currently exist. Is there a product or service that your ideal clients need that hasn’t been invented yet? Come up with a unique way to address a need held by a large group of people in your niche. Trust me; you will stand out above your competitors for sure.
Get Personal. Don’t be afraid to let your personality or personal interests shine through. Find a way to infuse your story in what you do. People love to read about, hear about and learn about other people. Mainly because humans are fascinating. We all want to know that someone out there is just like us in some weird, crazy or cool way. Just make sure that you don’t highlight your personal interests more than your professional talents and accomplishments. I love to travel, but I’m sure my ideal clients don’t want to hear more about my vacations or excursions more than they want to hear about how I can help them grow their businesses.
Be Original, Not a copycat. Need I say more? O.K. I will. Always stay true to yourself and your brand promise, not someone else’s. Some people watch their competition like a hawk and therefore either purposefully or unintentionally repeat what they see. Don’t pay too much attention to your competitors. Of course, be aware of what they do but don’t study them too much. Simply gather the information and move on. Focus on being the best and offering the best you can and don’t worry about what the guys and gals down the street are doing.
Do Different Things. It’s one thing to be different and it’s another thing to do different things. The main thing to remember is to mix it up a bit. Try not to be predictable. The key here is really about avoiding what is boring, typical and mundane. Jazz it up.
Be Consistent. It sort of goes without saying that if you do all of the above things but you do none of them consistently, you really haven’t stood out at all. Considering this point, you must be consistent in everything that you do. Make sure that your brand has consistency. Whatever you do, if your brand identity is one that is memorable and get’s people talking, you have definitely found something that sticks, so stick with it.
As you can imagine, there are many other ways you can stand out from your competition. The most important thing to remember is to always be true to yourself, your brand and your mission. Can you think of ways, you have stood out from the crowd? What did you do? How did it pay off? Leave a comment and share it below.
Here’s your assignment: For every point mentioned above, think of a way that you can stand out from your competition, write it down. Give yourself a time frame to actually implement each task that you’ve written down. Track your results and be sure to tell me how it works.
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This article is written by Lori A. Manns. Want to use this article for your website, blog or newsletter? No problem. Here’s what you must include: Lori A. Manns, CEO of Quality Media Consultant Group your marketing and sales success mentor, and founder of Marketing For Trailblazers™ & ABC’s of Successful Sponsorship Sales System;™ that shows you how to get more sponsors and sales for your business, guaranteed. To purchase consulting services on marketing, advertising or sales and, learn how to increase your revenue and grow your business; please visit www.qualitymediaconsultants.com.