How Can I Differentiate & Standout from My Competitors – by 12 Business Owners

How Can I Differentiate & Standout from My Competitors
by 12 Business Owners

From leaning on teamwork to make a better offering to relying on your creativity, here are 12 answers to the question, “Can you share your best tips for how any business owner can differentiate and stand out from their competitors?”

• Partner to Offer Additional Value
• Develop a USP
• Stand Out by the Way You Treat Others
• Publish High-quality Copywriting
• Build a Brand Identity that Resonates With Your Target Audience
• Focus on Quality
• Target Leads Who Want to Compare You With a Competitor
• Provide Exceptional Customer Service
• Connect Your Brand to a Social Cause
• Talk Your Customer’s Language
• Tell Your Story
• Be Innovate 

Partner to Offer Additional Value

To differentiate yourself from your competitors, focus on leveraging relationships with customers and providers. A common example is finding potential beneficial collaborations that aren’t typically suggested by those in your industry. 

For instance, a graphic designer could partner with a motivational speaker in order to develop visual elements that inspire their audience. Collaborating with another party can increase the visibility of both parties and add value to the customer experience or service offering, thus helping you stand out from your competitors.

Tasia Duske, CEO, Museum Hack

Develop a USP

One effective marketing tip for a company to differentiate and stand out from its competitors is to develop a unique selling proposition (USP) that clearly defines what sets the company apart from others in its industry. A well-crafted USP can help the company create a distinct identity, attract and retain customers, and increase sales. 

The USP should focus on the company’s unique strengths, such as product features or service quality, and communicate this value proposition in a clear and compelling way to potential customers. Additionally, the company can use targeted advertising and branding strategies to reinforce its USP and build a strong brand identity that resonates with its target audience.

Brenton Thomas, CEO, Twibi 

Stand Out by the Way You Treat Others

When most business owners think of “standing out” in the market, they think of marketing, branding, etc. But the single most effective way I generate referrals and grow my client list is to treat my clients with personalized, attentive service.

As a business of one, I am the face of my business. I don’t have the time or budget for large-scale marketing and branding. So I treat every interaction with a client, lead, or connection as a marketing and branding opportunity. I get to know them as a person, learn about their business, make notes about the things we talk about so I can bring them up in later conversations, and help them get to know me as a person and not just an order-taker.

The way you treat others—even if they’re not yet customers—says more about you as a professional than any other form of marketing. People are drawn to people they like and can trust. Being a friendly resource at all times gives you an easy “in” that your competitors can never touch.

Alli Hill, Founder and Director, Fleurish Freelance

Publish High-quality Copywriting

Excellent copywriting and an engaging CTA will allow businesses to stand out from the rest. Often, businesses post blogs that are well-written and packed with helpful information, and they may even include trending keywords to boost SEO. Still, these blogs may not necessarily create an engaging experience for the reader, leading them sentence by sentence to feel genuinely excited about the CTA at the end. 

So, if you want your blogs to get you more conversions, know your target audience, tap into their pain points, tell a story, and make them understand what value your business can bring to their lives. This is more effective than simply providing factual information. You must make your readers feel something.

Marilyn Zubak, Marketing Lead, Snif

Build a Brand Identity that Resonates With Your Target Audience

My best tip to help you differentiate and stand out from your competitors is to focus on building a strong brand identity that resonates with your target audience. This involves developing a unique brand voice and tone, investing in quality branding elements, telling your brand’s story, and emphasizing your brand’s benefits. 

By doing so, you can set yourself apart from your competitors and create a memorable and engaging experience for your customers.

Will Gill, Event Entertainer, DJ Will Gill

Focus on Quality

One of the best ways to differentiate yourself from your competitors is to focus on quality. Quality is something that your competitors may not prioritize as much as you, which can give your brand a competitive edge. 

Make sure you are taking the time to hone in on the minor details and focus on delivering a product or service that is second to none. This can include making sure you are using the best materials for your products, offering personalized customer service, and providing high-quality content.

Lilian Chen, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, Bar None Games

Target Leads Who Want to Compare You With a Competitor

This applies if you want to attract potential buyers who wish to compare specifics such as your pricing, payment plan options, or a special feature. 

Only mention a competitor in comparison if you offer obviously superior features or value for money. Or mention them if they have a major presence in your industry, provided you offer a superior or new USP that the competitor does not. That way, you can tap into their brand power for yourself whenever someone searches for them online.

Jon Torres, CEO, Jon Torres

Provide Exceptional Customer Service

If you want to differentiate yourself and stand out from your competitors, my best tip would be to focus on providing exceptional customer service. In today’s world, where customers have many options to choose from, providing a personalized and positive experience can make all the difference. 

Make sure your customer service is top-notch by being responsive, attentive, and helpful. Listen carefully to your customers’ needs and concerns and go the extra mile to address them. Create a customer-friendly environment by being friendly, welcoming, and approachable.

Kimberley Tyler-Smith, VP, Strategy and Growth, Resume Worded

Connect Your Brand to a Social Cause

Today’s customers identify with brands that create awareness through their products and branding and the social causes they are engaged in. As such, to differentiate your business and stand out from competitors, consider engaging in a social cause that impacts the community your business operates in. 

Share your mission on your social media channels and website to gain the loyalty of your customers and gain a competitive advantage over competitors.

Liam Liu, Co-founder and CMO, ParcelPanel

Talk Your Customer’s Language

It’s easy to get so wrapped up in your own industry, it’s easy to forget that for your customers it’s a completely new and different language. Make it easy for them to understand what you’re offering by not using industry lingo or abbreviations. 

When you communicate clearly and understand the problem your customer wants to solve (rather than just your solution), you’ll be able to connect with your target audience and differentiate from your competitors.

Larissa Pickens, Co-founder, Worksion

Tell Your Story

Tell your story before talking about your products or services. Tell people who you are, what your values and beliefs are, and how you grew up. Give them the complete backstory of how you got to where you are. Be inspirational or aspirational. Then, no matter if it’s a roll of tinfoil or a loaf of bread you sell, you will stand out from your competitors.

Joyce Tsang, Content Marketer and Founder, Joyce Tsang Content Marketing

Be Innovative

One of the best ways to stand out from your competitors is to constantly be innovating. Not only should you be implementing technological advancements, but you should also innovate with customer service, your sales process, and retention strategies. When you innovate from top to bottom, you’ll have a leg up on your competition.

Andrew Meyer, CEO, Arbor