Okay. So to be clear, there a lot of things you should do before starting your own business. Like, a lot. You know – business plan, finances, goals, etc. But if there is one thing I wish I would have done before starting my blog (which is now a full-on business and my main career), it would have been this.
Identify how you are going to uniquely serve your customer.
I don’t know. Is this obvious? I mean sure, there’s a good chance that you know how you plan to serve your customer – it’s the reason you started your business, right?
But the main difference here is figuring out how you’re going to serve your customer in a way that no one else can.
Example: your business is homemade candles. Cool. There are a ton of homemade candle businesses out there. The question is how are you going to serve homemade candles to a customer unlike any of these other businesses.
That’s where I struggled when I first started my blog. I knew I wanted to share affordable fashion but that wasn’t anything innovative or unique. Even when I relaunched as Lauren Elyce a few years ago, my goal was to serve up lifestyle content. Nothing new there, either.
I’ve spent the past few months really fine-tuning my WHY and how I plan to serve you guys, as a blogger, in a unique way. More to come on that plan a little later. I did the same with the launch of @laurenelycefit. Rather than just going full speed ahead and creating a fitness platform, I spent a lot of time brainstorming how I could offer up fitness content in a unique way that was different than the other fitness accounts and communities I’ve seen.
So, how do you do this?
The short answer: what unique perspective can you offer?
The long answer:
- Identify and list out your competitors.
- Write all of the ideas you have for serving your audience a not so unique service in a way that is different than your competition.
- Create interesting branding and marketing techiniques to promote your services and unique perspective.
- Let your customers/audience in on your secret.
- Give your customers constant opportunities to get to know the person behind the brand/business.
- Provide ongoing opportunities to connect with and relate to our customers or audience. Ask them for feedback or interactions.
At the end of the day, no matter what your business idea is, there is an opportunity to present it in a unique way. Don’t be afraid to branch out and brainstorm. I believe in you, woman. You got this!
Such great tips!
xo Jessica
My Style Vita