Five Ways To Make Your Startup Stand Out From The Competition

Standing out your business in a crowded marketplace is the key to success. Quality products and services, smart pricing strategies, and effective marketing are just the basics. The most successful entrepreneurs have some special tricks that set them apart from other businesses.

speak strongly

A business must do two things to be successful. Be relevant and distinctive.as Stephen Hess, founding partner of white hat, to explain, doing one without the other leads to failure. “The relevance itself leads to an eye on the price, which inevitably sublimes into a sea of ​​sameness where customers don’t look for you,” he says. “Being distinctive without solving problems leads to gimmicks and long-term weaknesses. You have to do both, and his one way of combining the two is through the use of strong storytelling.” is.”

This can focus on the story of the founder, why they embarked on their business journey, how they identified the problem they were solving, and how they uniquely solve it. You can also pull out stories. How are they using your product or service? What problem does it solve for them?

“You also have to look at how your competitors present themselves and present yourself in the opposite way,” says Hess. “This feels offensive and most businesses fail at this point. Why do ads for autos, financial services, real estate, etc. look the same? It’s because most of us don’t want to stand out.” We are afraid to fail, to be seen as a failure, but if we stand out, stand out, and do not solve real problems, then we have already failed. increase.”

Focus your message on customer needs

A company’s message should focus on the greatest desires and needs of potential customers. You need to be clear about what people will get if they buy from you, what changes they will see, and how they will feel afterwards. “The most important thing is to tell people what they’re missing out on if they don’t buy from your startup,” says the business growth consultant. Charlie Day“Shifting the message from simply trying to grow the business and make money to focusing on the customer’s greatest wants and needs will lead to sales and growth and set you apart from the rest.” I can.”

Target an underrepresented audience

This can be a powerful way for your startup to stand out. “By focusing on a group that large companies often overlook, we can differentiate ourselves and appeal to a unique and untapped market. Folderry“And by offering solutions to the specific needs and challenges of this audience, startups can establish a strong reputation and build a loyal customer base.”

For example, senior-targeted fitness startups stand out by offering specialized classes, products, or resources. By providing solutions to the physical limitations of seniors, the startup will be able to differentiate itself, address the unique fitness challenges seniors face, and build a loyal customer base. .

However, as Podolyako points out, this strategy should be carefully considered. he said: “This startup may only be relevant to an older audience, so you should work with your PR agency to get your positioning right and potentially consider creating a sub-brand.”

Differentiate your social media strategy

Stand out on social media with your unique voice and communication style. But it’s not just what you say that makes the difference, it’s what you do. “If anyone is offering ‘how-to’ tips on his LinkedIn, make a behind-the-scenes short-form video. If anyone has a special offer on Facebook, please publish a tip-based story. Daysout.com“Make customer support accessible on the social media channels your audience uses, such as What’s App and Messenger.”

Respond quickly to customer calls

Making it easy for your customers to contact you and get a response is essential to customer engagement and retention. But businesses are surprisingly bad at answering phone calls, posting phone numbers on websites, and answering voicemails. According to research from a global telecom company, this is a massive turn-off for customers. money penny Unanswered calls topped the list of consumer complaints for 43% of respondents, followed by annoying music on hold (35%).

Joanna Swash, Group CEO of Moneypenny, said: Business takes place elsewhere. By mastering the art of call handling, businesses can keep their customers happy, loyal, and profitable in the process. ”