If you are just starting out, or have had an established business for a while now, you should always be thinking about ways that you can stand out from your competitors. There are multiple different strategies that you can use to differentiate your business from others, but it begins with putting yourself in your customer’s shoes. Follow along for some rules you should follow to make your business stand out from the competition and attract more customers!
- Understand Your Target Market’s Needs
The first step in gaining new customers is addressing your target market’s needs and solving their problems. Once your business does this, and does it well, you will be able to stand out from your competitors. For example, say it is becoming increasingly popular to seek healthier options when dining out. You are a bakery, and your customers are looking for cleaner versions of baked goods, made with healthier ingredients, or foods that take into consideration alternative diets, like gluten or dairy-free options. If you can address your customers’ needs and provide this for them, you will be much more likely to stand out from the competition! - Highlight your USP
Along with understanding your target market’s needs, it is essential that you leverage your USP and make it the foundation of your overall marketing strategy. USP stands for Unique Selling Point, and is what ultimately sets your business apart from everyone else in the market. It should be the reason that customers choose your business over others, and a strong USP will help you attract and retain customers. To identify your unique selling point, figure out what it is that you do that provides your customers with value that is different from competitors. It can help to ask previous customers why they chose your business in particular, or what they liked best about your business. Use this USP in all of your marketing communications, so that it is easy for users to separate you from your competitors during the search process! - Provide the Best Customer Service
Customer service is the key to keeping your current customers satisfied and loyal, as well as attracting new customers. If you provide excellent customer service, it is likely that you will be remembered for that, prompting people to choose your business over your competitors. Satisfied customers may leave great reviews about your customer service online, and happily promote your business to their friends through word-of-mouth. This aspect of your business will set you apart from others, and encourage customers to return time and time again. Ultimately, you can use your customer service to your advantage, so be sure to prioritize it! - Be Visible
Finally, it is important to remember that in order to stand out from competitors, you have to actually be visible to them. Users must be able to find you, especially online, as many people conduct online searches these days to find what they are looking for. This includes being present on social media platforms, having a website, and a Google My Business listing. If your competitors are more visible than you, they have a competitive advantage, so make sure that you make your business as visible as possible online!
There are a lot more tactics you can use to stand out from your competitors, but this list is a great place to start. Remember that the key to differentiating yourself is to put yourself in your customers’ shoes, and really try to understand what it is that they are looking for. Once you find a way to outshine your competition, more customers are likely to choose your business!
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