Standing out in a crowd is not an easy thing to do and this is especially true if you’re operating an online business because of so much competition.
That’s why you must make sure your product or service has the all-important unique selling proposition (USP).
Your USP must be at the core of your branding efforts in order for you to build a strong presence not only among your loyal clients but also for potential customers as well.
If you haven’t figured out what your USP is, here are some points to ponder:
Know your product
It may sound so simple, but one of the first things you need to do is to really know your product or service, especially all its features and benefits.
You need to have this knowledge so that you can compare these with your competitors and you will see what sets your product or service apart from them.
Since your competitors will probably be doing their best to improve, you must also make sure your product or service continues to get better as well.
Think like your customers
As a business owner, you must always think from your customers’ point of view.
It doesn’t matter how good your product or service is; if you don’t know what your customers really want or need, you may as well close shop.
In some cases they may value ease of purchasing more than variety or products and maybe the price tag may be the last thing on their minds when choosing a product or service.
If you already have a steady customer base, this can be your best source of information to figure out why they prefer your product or service.
And don’t just find out what they like about your product or service but what they dislike about it as well so that you can see where further improvements can be made.
You should also try to gauge how they respond to discounts or rewards so that you not only strengthen your customer base but also widen your market.
Look at industry trends
For your online business to thrive, you must always be alert to changing trends because in a way, they can affect how your current and potential customers value your USP.
As such, it’s not only important for you to know your product; you must have a deep understanding of the industry you’re in as well
So, when trying to figure out your USP, also consider the current industry trends to ensure your product or service stays relevant and your business is able to thrive in the future.
This is a weekly column by SarawakYES! – an initiative driven by Faradale Media-M Sdn Bhd and supported by Angkatan Zaman Mansang (AZAM) Sarawak – to provide advice and stories on the topics of education and careers to support Sarawakians seeking to achieve their dreams. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
This article first appeared on The Borneo Post, published in the print version on Saturday, January 26, 2019.
Photo by rawpixel.com from Pexels.
