Why You Need A USP For Your Business!
If you want a unique online business you need a USP, full stop. Being authentic goes a long way in getting exposure and being seen as a special entity. Your clients will actually love the very USP about you. USP stands for Unique Selling Proposition and is your core brand.
A brand doesn’t just eventuate from a jingle, a particular slogan or a name. It is made up of several aspects about you and your business. All of which are tying into your USP.
If you are only just getting started in your industry, then you have a huge advantage over your existing, well established competition; find your own unique USP, and customers will eat out of the palm of your hand.
Many existing businesses have failed to put their thoughts into establishing a USP. Instead, they have spent their time to focus on their target market and go all out to position themselves in front of it. If they’d only put some thoughts into their USP and established what makes them unique against all others, then they could potentially double or even quadruple their income quite easily.
How to establish your USP
With a bit of brainstorming and some quiet, focused time you should be able to establish your own USP quite easily.
Think about the following:
- What can you offer to clients that others can’t?
- What guarantees do you provide, if any?
- Why should clients do business with you opposed the guy next door?
- What is your most remarkable feature in regards to your business?
Once you found your USP, implement it into your business. Keep the need of your ideal client in front of your inner eye at all times. It will help you to focus on what really matters in your business.
I sometimes get emails from newcomers to the freelance writing industry who feel they have nothing to offer compared to their well established competition. I think that everyone, even you have something very special about them. Take that something and make it your USP.
Naomi from Ittizbiz has managed to do this effectively with her “language and attitude”. Chris from The Art Of Nonconformity has also managed to use his very own USP to become a pro-blogger within 10 months.
As you can see by Chris’ story and Naomi’s USP, both of them have managed to brand themselves in their very own way and I would nearly bet that both of them did this deliberately.
So here is a little exercise for you; find your own USP and implement it into your business this week!
Monika
About the Author: I'm a passionate freelance writer and problogger. To further build my business I'm also in the process of building my own niche empire which pays me residual income.
Writer Dad | Apr 25, 2009 | Reply
There’s SO much competition online that without a USP you’re just bobbing in a big old ocean without much hope of seeing the shore.
Passive Income | Apr 25, 2009 | Reply
Hey did you realise you got listed on odesk’s top 100 blogs – nice one girl! http://www.odesk.com/blog/2009/04/top-100-freelance-blogs/
Monika | Apr 25, 2009 | Reply
@ WD: Unfortunately most business owners fail to notice. They put all their efforts into competing with others while not realizing that there is actually an easier way. Thanks Sean for stopping by and taking time to comment. I hope you are well.
Monika | Apr 25, 2009 | Reply
@ Lis: Thanks, yes I did see it. Wooohooo….
Davina | Apr 26, 2009 | Reply
Hi Monika. So true! And the best part about a USP is that it is based on the authenticity of a person — something unique. There IS no other. What I’ve also learned is that it is important to not only focus on the features of the business, but the benefits.
The idea of a USP is sort of like blogging too. We can all write about the same topic, but with a different voice.
A metaphor that just popped into my mind is that “shopping” for a USP is like shopping for a car. So many details and different combinations of details determine who buys what car.
Monika | Apr 27, 2009 | Reply
@ Davina: Very good analogy! I love what you said about the benefits besides features as well. This is something I personally tend to forget at times. Thanks for reminding me.
www.glocalwriters.com | Jun 12, 2009 | Reply
Rightly said, USP is really required for getting success through niche. However it’s equally useful to try new things and add some options to survive if one fails…
Monika | Jun 13, 2009 | Reply
@ Shashank: Thank you and I agree with what you said. I think it is so important to always have a back-up plan.
Ecommerce Help - Tyrone Shum | Jun 18, 2009 | Reply
It is so creative if you use USP for your site!!! I consider such effort as a unique strategy or technique to generate traffic. I have actually 7 techniques for that, check it here: http://www.internetbusinesspath.com/business-strategy/7-creative-traffic-generation-techniques
Take care guys!