7 Ways to Make Your Business SHOUT OUT!

An Introduction:

You’ve got a great idea, a great product and excellent customer service. You’ve built an admin system that runs like a well-oiled machine. But, few know you exist.

In a highly competitive market place it can be tough getting the attention of the customers you want. What can you do and without breaking the bank?
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The following are 7 Ways to Make Your Business SHOUT OUT!

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1. Product and/or Service

Before we can begin to look at the market sector from which you are aiming to take a share it is essential to consider the product and/or service you are selling. How is your product and/or service original, unique or trendy? How well does your product and/or service meet a need or solve a problem? Is it your packaging that makes your product stand out?
 
2. Offer

One way of becoming known can be by an offer you make with the product and/or service. An example of this might be that a purchase of one of your products leads to another product being free of charge. Another example might be that clients get a refund when they refer a number of other fee-paying clients. Such offers that are truly worth having will soon spread and become known and cause your business to shout out among your competitors.
 
3. Problem Solving

Usually customers go to a supplier of products and services because they have a problem of some sort. A washing machine has broken down, dirty laundry is building up, clean clothes are running out. Handwashing is an option but it’s time costly. Only the purchase of a replacement washing machine (product) or finding a convenient laundrette (service) will solve the problem.
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Identifying a real problem and solving that problem with your product and/or service and demonstrating that you do this successfully time and time again will get your business the attention you need.
 
4. Value

Let’s think about selling business to business (B2B).  Selling your product and/or service with added value to another business that makes that business more valuable will be seen as being very attractive. This will get your business known for the product and/or service you supply but also for the value you have brought to your customer’s business. Your own business will soon stand out from the crowd.

5. Guarantees

Can you offer a guarantee with your product and/or service? This is something that needs to be thought about very carefully. On the one hand you might not want to offer a lifetime warranty on a product because you will likely reduce the numbers coming back to buy from you. That is to say that if the product breaks down in conditions of normal use then the customer will simply return to claim a free replacement but not for a new purchase. On the other hand, while you may have a guarantee that is appealing to your customers you will need to be sure you can actually deliver on it without it being too costly. If your business is able to give a guarantee that your competitors cannot then your business will certainly stand out.

6. Customer Service

We have all had experiences of poor customer service and such experiences stick with us along with the negative emotions we felt at the time. However, the positive emotions associated with great customer service at a point of purchase are what will cause us to tell our family, friends and colleagues and to go back for more! This is obvious, I hear you say. It is! However, it is surprising how great customer service is less of a priority with many businesses. At the time of writing customer experience in the United States is reportedly getting better and better while brands in the UK are lagging by a factor of 15*. Great customer service is certain to win you more customers and customer loyalty and make your business stand out.
 
7. Competing Intentionally

You will have carried out your market research when preparing your business plan. In doing so you will have made a note of what your competitors are supplying and at what price points. And, you will have compared your products and/or services against theirs along with the prices you have set. However, as well as informing you in the preparation of your business plan this information will also enable you to spot any gaps in what your competitors are offering, which you might be able to fill. Competing intentionally in this way will enable your business to respond with a more comprehensive solution to customer need and push your business ahead. The more comprehensive solution offered by your business could well become a popular talking point.