These days, it seems like everyone is starting their own business or blog, which crowds the market and makes it hard for anyone at all to stand out – unless you make yourself different, memorable and remarkable.
Today I’m sharing a few ways to make your business stand out from the rest.
1. Take the rules and throw them out the window
There are just some things that certain niches don’t do, simply because no one has done it before. One way to become memorable is to push the envelope and think outside the normal box that everyone else in your industry lives in. It can take lots of brainstorming and work, but creating a service or a product that is different from everyone else’s will pay off. Think of Virgin America Airlines – what other airline has mood lighting and screens in every headrest that allow you to watch tv and surf the internet without a laptop? They thought outside of what other airlines were doing and are hugely successful because of it.
2. Use practices of your favorite brands and infuse them into your own
You love your favorite brands for a reason – maybe they offer little extras with each purchase or they have the best customer service on the planet. Write down all of the reasons you love your favorite brands, and try to figure out ways to infuse some of those things into your own brand. This will help you build a brand you love while standing out because you’re a little bit different from the rest of them.
3. Offer something unique
Just because other designers offer branding, web and illustrating services doesn’t mean you have to too. Know what you’re good at and stick with that. If you have restaurant experience and love the fast paced world of hospitality, think about focusing your design services just toward hospitality companies. That way you’re working only with clients who are in an area of work you’re an expert in, and you’ll become known for just working with those certain types of clients. This helps you create a unique brand among others who are offering all sorts of services to all sorts of people.
4. Don’t wait for permission
If you want something – go for it! Don’t wait for people to reach out to you, if there’s a project you’re dying to work on or a collaboration you want to do, be the person that reaches out. You don’t have to wait around for someone to give you permission to make your dreams happen. Be the connector and people will see you as a person who knows what they want and knows what types of projects they want to work on. You’ll set yourself apart from those waiting around for success to fall into their lap.
What ways have you tried to set yourself apart from the crowd? Share them in the comments!
About the author: Mariah is a Graphic Designer/Wedding Stylist who has a passion for helping creative entrepreneurs turn their passion into profit.
established 2010
My favorite is number 3, that’s a good tip!
Great post! Love number 2! I’ll have to make a list of my favorite brands and start implementing!
I’ve been wanting to start a blog but haven’t gotten around to it for some reason or another. This is my sign!! I’m starting one tonight. Thank you for the little nudge in the right direction.
Awesome! Come leave another comment once you have a few posts up!
Really wonderful tips. I especially agree with #2 and think it’s a great way to implement good values into your brand. I think your brand should be consistent with your personality and who you are – and everything else just falls together. 🙂
Great tips, thank you!!
Use practices from your favorite brands – I like that suggestion. To add to it, the practices don’t have to be from the Internet – it can be from a brick and mortar store. I love Anthropologie for their store experience and I want my readers to have that same enchanting experience when they come to my blog.
yes, so true! Looking for inspiration off-line is a great tip!