"What is your Unique Selling Proposition? What makes you different than your competitors? Wrap your advertising message around that USP and communicate it in a clear and concise manner. - Author: Lynda Resnick
For many business leaders, just identifying their USP can be hard enough, let alone coming up with one that will actually work. But there are a number of ways in which businesses can generate ideas for their USP. Whether you are a start up or a growing business, this list of ideas will help you get started.
If you can’t name your business, maybe your niche can
So, you’re not really a business, you’re a niche. And if you’re not really a business, then why should you be allowed to call yourself one? That is the question asked by a man who calls himself a ‘virtual entrepreneur’. A good niche can help you find new customers. And who better to sell to than those who need what you sell?
Here’s how to build a niche:
If you sell something or provide a service, ask yourself what makes you better at that than anyone else? What are you good at and what are you great at? What makes you a better option for your customers? Think about how you are unique and you’ll start thinking about your niche.
Don’t let people tell you what to do
If you want to survive in business, you have to learn to fight fire with fire. The moment someone tells you that you can’t do something, it is probably best to politely disagree.
Think about why that person is telling you this. It is probably because they are worried about something and that has led them to put their fears in the way of your success. Don’t let other people hold you back, figure out a way to do it.
There is no point in asking for help, just do it yourself and let other people do what they do
Every product has a market. The key is not how many people want that product, it is how much is actually willing to pay for that product. You need to figure out what customers are prepared to pay.
This doesn’t mean that you are going to start charging for something you’re normally offering for free, you are going to figure out which customers are going to pay, and ask for that.
Let other people take a look at your idea
The moment you come up with an idea, it’s time to make it happen. You need to make sure that your idea isn’t going to be stolen and taken.
You need to get it out there. That is where people like The Deck can help. They are experts in bringing your ideas to life and helping you turn your idea into a reality. The Deck has experts in a huge range of fields. They will be able to find products that can match up to your idea and then turn your idea into reality.
Ask other people for their opinion
You will probably have heard the same thing over and over again. You’ve got to do this. You need to understand what customers want from your business, and that means talking to them and finding out what they want.
So, talk to as many people as you can about your business. The more the better. That doesn’t just mean your family, your friends or other people at work. It could be a customer. You need to listen to what they have to say. It doesn’t matter if they are people you know, or total strangers.
Find a mentor
You can’t manage a business by yourself. So, what do you do? You turn to a mentor. They have years of experience of running a business, which can make all the difference.
In today’s competitive business world, it is more than ever important to be able to work with a mentor. The best mentors are the people who have been through what you are going through. They have already got it under control.
You can find mentors by going to business events or local businesses. You can find them on the internet too. Or even ask people you know if they are willing to help out.
When you start your own business, the first thing you will want to do is to figure out what your USP is. Many business people get this process wrong. They don’t really think about it.
If you are too busy for this, you can put it on the back-burner and focus on more immediate business priorities, such as generating revenue.
Don’t panic!