Tips on Showcasing the Ideas and Values that Make Your Business Brand Unique

It’s very rare to be lucky enough to have a business in an industry that isn’t crowded with competition.

Whether you sell something or provide a service, you have competing companies and brands who want the same business you do, and everyone is constantly seeking to secure that business.

A great way to make sure you stand out is by showcasing the ideas and values that make your brand unique.

These differentiators that dictate brand identity and value are easy to spot for many businesses. You really only have to look at what drew you into their business to identify their unique selling position that drives their brand.

A shining example is Amazon in the United States. They provide an easy interface to order through, great and often free shipping for Americans.

But what really sets them apart has been their customer service. As a retailer they are known for making ordering online extremely easy and this has carried over into their Canadian service, though not to the same degree (yet).

Their customer value proposition is their USP (Unique Selling Position).

Is your business all about you? Read our article: Embracing Your Personal Branding Uniqueness for Business Success

When looking at how to stand out from the crowd and draw in customers and clients, assess what you see as the core value you provide.

It could be something as simple as longer hours or a higher quality track record. Approach the idea of establishing your brand by trying to sell what you do to yourself. If you can’t think of any reason someone would hire you over someone else, then you’ll need to do a little research.

Your business wouldn’t be a success at all if you didn’t have something unique about it.  

Try mapping your customer experience. Write up what happens at each step and examine what the client is doing vs. what they’d be doing had they opted for your competitors.

Within that analysis, you are likely to identify points where you’re providing something the others aren’t. That USP is what you’ll use to differentiate your brand.

Here’s a quick example:

• Helen A. is a relationship coach. She helps single people find the right partner and advertises her success rate.
• Helen B. is also a relationship coach. She also helps single people find dates, but she also provides coaching afterwards to help both parties through any struggles within the first year of their relationship.

• Helen A. would define her brand position and USP as being the relationship coach that helps you find love.
• Helen B. would define her brand position and USP as being a relationship coach that helps you find a partner and then helps cultivate the relationship afterwards.

It should be relatively easy for you to identify your USP and then apply it to your brand.

FedEx is an often talked about example because their USP is overnight shipping guaranteed. Their tag line is ‘When it absolutely, positively, had to be there overnight’.

Work your USP into your brand identity to a point that no one will have to ask you why they should choose you.

This could also be accomplished by assessing your competition.

Look for Pain Points in your competitor’s customer experience. By reading their reviews you’ll be able to see what put past clients off and what could be preventing future clients from choosing your competitor.

If you see 1 star reviews and there are consistent messages that your competitor is rude to clients your USP could be your 5 star track record and friendly personality. If that sounds like you then you know what to do and wear that USP like a brand badge, so everyone knows if they deal with you they won’t experience any rude behaviour.

This should be a fun exercise and if you get it right you’ll see the results.

Whatever brand ideas you can come up with are worth exploring if they really embody what you provide that makes you different. Your values and your service should all be the building blocks, so your brand stands out based on what you do best.

If you’re having any issues with any of your brand definition process, please get in touch with us. Our brand marketing consultancy in Abbotsford has helped many small businesses just like yours find their voice and grow and we would love to help you identify your USP, define your brand, and succeed too.

Let us know if you have any questions about defining your USP and brand in the comments below or email us and we’ll make sure you get an answer.

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About the Author, Susan Friesen

Located in the lower mainland of B.C., Susan Friesen is a visionary brand strategist, entrepreneur, and founder of British Columbia’s premiere boutique web development and digital marketing agency, eVision Media.

With over 20 years of experience in the industry, she is an expert in helping businesses establish their online presence and create a strong brand identity.

Her passion for empowering entrepreneurs and small business owners to succeed in the digital world has earned her a reputation as a leading authority in the branding and marketing industry.

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