Career, Business & Money

Actionable Steps To Make Your Business Stand Out

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Standing out in the crowd is one of the most significant challenges for businesses today. From online enterprises to firms and companies that attract customers to physical premises, it can be difficult to shine in a sea of competitors. If you blend in, or nobody can find you, you run the risk of losing out and falling behind. To help you attract attention, get people talking and expand your client base, here’s a handy guide featuring actionable steps to make your business stand out

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Slick, impactful, customised marketing campaigns

Marketing aims to connect brands with customers, enabling businesses to boost sales, improve ROI and create a buzz around their company. Investing in marketing can be hugely beneficial for businesses, but not all campaigns set the world alight. If you run a business, it’s advisable to think carefully about what you want to achieve through marketing and create a customised strategy. If you don’t have marketing expertise or experience, or your company doesn’t have a marketing team, it’s wise to consider outsourcing. You can take advantage of professional services, including web design, SEO (search engine optimisation), paid ads, social media marketing and email marketing, by hiring a top-rated marketing agency. Outsourcing will enable you to boost your business without hiring new employees, which could save you a substantial amount of time and money. 

Brand identity and messaging

Branding is an umbrella term, which means using different approaches and measures to distinguish your business from others. It covers everything from logos, straplines and packaging to messaging and website design. To build a unique brand that resonates with your target audience, key steps include being consistent, making decisions based on your brand identity and ideal customer and using testing, market research and feedback to inform decision-making.

Did you know that over 80% of consumers now prefer to buy from brands that share their values? Today, brand identity and messaging has never been more influential. Customers want high-quality products and services and great value for money, but they also want to connect with brands and get to know the human side of businesses. Being clear about your ethos and enhancing your brand image can set you apart from competitors. Social media is a hugely powerful weapon for marketers not solely for its sales potential but also for its capacity to shine a spotlight on brand values and philosophies. Business owners and employees can utilise social platforms to communicate messages, encourage followers and customers to get to know the brand and build solid relationships. Sharing behind-the-scenes videos, interviews with team members and updates about corporate social responsibility are excellent examples of how to use social media to celebrate your brand identity. 

Customer reviews

Over 90% of us use reviews to help us make decisions. Reviews are increasingly influential when it comes to buying products or choosing businesses and providers. Brilliant ratings and comments can persuade consumers to follow a specific link or call a certain number, while bad feedback can put prospective customers off. As a business owner, it’s helpful to strive for the best scores. Encourage existing clients to leave reviews and share comments and testimonials on your website and social media feeds. Use feedback to help you identify issues and pain points and gather ideas, opinions and suggestions. 

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Customer engagement and interactions

The way you interact and engage with customers can shape feedback and experiences. If customers enjoy their experience of shopping on your website or talking to teams in-store or in an office, or they receive an email that puts a smile on their face, this will have a positive impact. If they don’t appreciate the tone of a message or interaction, or the shopping experience is dull or complicated, they may choose a competitor next time. Focus on building relationships and providing a stress-free, enjoyable user experience. Think about your brand identity when interacting with customers and online followers. If you’re a bright and breezy brand, which embodies approachability and friendliness, for example, this should come across via email, social media posts, phone calls and in-store experiences. 

Customer service and support

Customer service is one of the most dominant driving forces behind both positive and negative reviews. If clients experience bad customer service or a lack of support, they’re more likely to leave feedback. Studies show that over 90% of consumers would consider leaving a company as a result of poor customer service. You can improve ratings by providing round-the-clock, responsive support for clients, using feedback and data analysis to address complaints and problems, and providing staff training. 

It’s not easy to make a business stand out, but it’s essential to beat competitors and attract customers. Key areas to focus on include customised, impactful marketing campaigns, brand identity and messaging, positive reviews and customer service and support.

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