If you’ve ever been to New York City, you know Times Square is its own world of advertisements. By simply walking through the sidewalks of 42nd Street, one is exposed to hundreds of advertisements on bright screens and billboards. With so many brands advertising their products and services to the same audiences, how does a business make themselves stand out? Though you might not be advertising in Times Square, differentiating your brand is important to the survival of your business. Here are some tips to making your marketing efforts stand out from the competition:
Analyze Your Competition: If you want to stand out from the competition, it’s important to know what they’re doing. Take note of their advertising efforts. How do they design their advertisements? How are they utilizing social media platforms? Take the time to research before you start developing advertising materials. For example, Lowes and Home Depot are similar brands competing in the same market, yet they have their own distinct advertising efforts!
Have a Mission: And stick to it! Businesses that don’t have a clear mission or message, typically get overshadowed by others. Decide on what your mission is, and communicate that to your audience. Consumers will remember your mission, and that will make you stand out from the competition.
Get Digital: If your business is not online, then it’s time to change that! In today’s society, the best way to reach people is digitally. Even if your business isn’t one that can sell products online, you should still have an engaging website that shows customers what you do, why you do it and how they can contact you. Utilize appropriate platforms for your brand (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, etc.) to communicate your mission to your audience. Staying up to date on everything social and digital will help you compete in your market.
Be Innovative: Now that you know your competition, you have your own distinct message, and you utilize the appropriate platforms to communicate it, you can now get creative! If you find things you like about what your competition is doing, modify them to fit your brand, and do it better! On the contrary, thinking outside the box and creating something new will definitely set your advertising efforts apart. Don’t be afraid to be different!
By using these 4 steps, you can help your business grow and differentiate itself from the competition. Whether you are advertising in busy, competitive markets like Times Square or in smaller local areas, you are now ready to market yourself and elevate your brand to new heights!
