The world of business is often harsh and unforgiving. One serious misstep can send your business into a downward spiral. You constantly have to find ways to keep your business interesting and relevant, or you risk your whole company going under. In other words, you need to separate yourself from your competitors. If you make your company stand out from the array of other businesses offering similar products and services, you will occupy more space in the minds of your potential customers. Here are eight ways to make your business distinct in an increasingly diverse market.
Cut Down On Jargon
Companies often fall victim to the pitfalls of assuming that customers will have a certain level of knowledge. Sometimes, a company will use a word on a website or a product description assuming that the definition of that word is common knowledge when, for a layperson, it is not. This can also apply to legal disclaimers. If your customers need to know important information about your products, use simple language. A member of LLM in the USA can likely assist you in coming up with a word or phrase that will be accessible to everyone.
New Marketing Platforms
The internet has opened up countless new options for every aspect of running a business, and marketing is no exception. You may have noticed that many billion-dollar, international companies have recently made strides to make their social media accounts seem more human. These snarky and sarcastic company mouthpieces have a wide appeal, especially with younger generations. Young people respond to companies that make an effort to seem human, and social media is one of the most effective ways to humanize your company. Twitter and YouTube have both seen massive influxes of these companies, and many of them have seen increased sales as a result.
Create a Personality
In the same vein as the snarky and sarcastic companies on Twitter, creating a personality or gimmick for your company can make you more memorable. There are tourist-centered restaurants around the United States that make names for themselves by being rude to customers. However, you need to be incredibly cautious to run a business that way. There are smaller, less risky ways to create a personality. The language you use and the atmosphere you create will be the two most important factors that get your personality across to your customers, so plan those carefully.
Synthesize Ideas
Businesses often shoot themselves in the foot by getting stuck in a cycle or bubble that leaves no room for growth. Entire industries tend to get trapped in old, outdated practices even when other industries have come up with modern solutions to old problems. Look into the practices of new businesses. Chances are that modern companies with bright, young owners have found ways to be more efficient. These ideas might involve new technology for a new function, old technology being used in a new way, innovative strategies to cut costs, or any number of other practices.
Address Complaints
Your customers know what they want better than anyone else. If you see one type of complaint cropping up more frequently than any other, you need to address it. Create an official place where customers can send in complaints and concerns, and look through them frequently. When you come across a complaint that you think should be fixed, work towards fixing it, but also announce on your website or social media platforms that you will be fixing it. If your customers see that you have taken their criticisms into account, they will be more likely to shop at your business again.
Build Connections
It is impossible to get ahead in the world of business without building connections with both individuals and other businesses. When you are first starting out, investors are a must. If you meet someone successful, try as hard as you can to have a friendly relationship with them. If you are past the stage where you need investors, then try partnering with other businesses. Partnering does not mean that you have to merge, but the relationship can be beneficial for both parties involved if you both provide something the other needs at a free or reduced price.
Expand Internationally
While you can prosper working solely domestically, there is always room to expand your business to become a worldwide corporation. However, the culture around businesses is different in every area of the world. Hire people who are knowledgeable about international business practices, or have a team do research for you. The internet has made it more possible than ever to send your products all over the world. As long as you are confident that you are complying with all regulations and laws from the countries you are working with, international expansion can be highly profitable for your company.
Use Distinctive Language
Think about some of the largest companies in the world. Most of them have a memorable slogan. McDonald’s has “I’m lovin’ it”, Subway has “Eat Fresh”, and Wal-Mart has “Save money. Live better”. A memorable slogan makes your businesses more identifiable. You can also instruct your employees to use specific language that presents your company in the best way. Language tends to stick in people’s minds more than anything else. Short phrases are easy to say and remember, so spend time meticulously planning out every work of your slogan and employee script to get your precise message across.
It is easy for businesses to get lost in the sea of competitors. If one day, your business stops crossing the minds of your customers and your sales drop rapidly, you need to find some way to get out of that rut. No matter what route you decide to take to make your business more relevant, the core idea of that route will likely be making your business more distinctive and making it stick out from the crowd. The points listed above are not the only ways companies can stick out, but they are a good starting point for anyone who is clueless about where to begin.
