You may find it daunting to enter a market that may already be crowded or dominated by other brands. Whether you are a business owner or an advertiser, here are 6 ways you can effectively set yourself apart from your competition:
- Add value to your products/services
Highlighting the value of your products or services is an excellent way to make your brand stand out from the crowd and attract more customers. Whether that is free shipping, or a guaranteed refund if the customer is not satisfied with the product, ensure that you make your unique selling point (USP) known, showing how your product or service is different from the rest.
- If you can, find a niche in your market
Focusing on a niche within your industry can prove to be fruitful as it appeals to relevant customers and makes sure that you are offering a one-of-a-kind service compared to the general market. If you do opt to niche down, your skills, knowledge, and resources must be especially tailored to the niche you have chosen – it is not worth, nor is it wise, to niche down to something that you have absolutely no idea about.
- Your social media presence matters
In an age where people now tend to ask for social media handles instead of phone numbers, creating social media profiles for your brand is as important as ever to boost your brand awareness and brand recognition. Not only can you reach the online masses through social media, but you can also promote yourself on the platforms as well. There are a range of different things you can do on social media to attract and persuade customers into purchasing or making the final buying decision, so having a (good!) social media presence is vital in this digital era.
- Know your audience
You can easily say that the audience you are targeting are 18-35 year old women, but what would be the point of this if you don’t even know how your audience purchases commodities? First, research your target audience and investigate their buying behaviours, even hobbies and interests, that will help to inspire and guide you when creating any marketing campaigns. Find out any unmet needs or wants and establish that you are a brand that will provide solutions to these for them!
- Authenticity is key
In teeming markets particularly, customers may find it difficult to find a brand that is truly authentic and genuine. Humanise your brand and its purpose, providing real stories and experiences that your customers can relate to. If you want to be authentic, you need to keep your brand consistent – avoid changing the tone and style of your brand excessively, and stay true to your brand message.
- Analyse your competitors
An obvious way you can stand out from your competitors is to analyse and research them to find gaps in where your brand can come and fill in. If you don’t take the time to research your competition, you risk offering a brand with products and services that are exactly the same as your competitors with no added value that would appeal to customers.
