3 Steps to make your business stand out from your competitors

Let’s face it; once you’re in business you have competitors. So, the first thing you need to do is to identify who your competitors are.
 
Knowing who your most direct competitors are will be a huge advantage for your business, and will help you to work out your point of difference and how you can stand out from the crowd.
 
Step 1
Take a look through Google or your local business network and look up ‘like’ businesses within your local area. If your business is larger, for example, national or global then you will need to broaden your search.
 
Step 2
Once you have identified who your main competitors are, you should take a look at what they are doing differently or better than you, who they are marketing to, and what makes them stand out from yours and other businesses.
 
Step 3
Think about how you can make your business stand out from the crowd. How can you create a point of difference for your business? It might be offering free delivery, it might be in regards to the product or service that you offer and how you provide it. 

​Example 1

​Example 2

​Say you’re an accountant. Most accountants work from an office and people come to them to do their tax returns.

What if you could offer the same service, but you go to your client? A mobile accountant. This way, your clients would be less inconvenienced, all their paperwork would be available within their home, and ultimately it would make life easier for them and for you. 

​​Perhaps you run a café. Think about ways in which you can make your business stand out from other cafes so that your customers continue to come back and not go to the café down the street. 

It may be a loyalty program, friendly service, the cute messages your barista puts on the top of the coffee. Or you could think outside the box a little and perhaps people could order their coffee using an app which will give them the 

​exact time it will be ready for pick up. Maybe you could offer free coffee delivery to offices within a 2km radius.
 
Conclusion
Create a point of difference that makes your business stand out from your competitors and ensures that customers continue to use your service and recommend you to others. That way you will continue to succeed and your business will continue to grow.

Author

 
Nicola is the owner and director of Out of the Box Consulting and has a keen interest in helping businesses and non-for-profit organisations with their marketing and promotion. She is also the mother of two boys and loves to spend time with her family.