To succeed in business takes more than a good product or service. The Internet has revolutionized the way that we do business and the way customers evaluate with whom they will do business. The landscape is extremely competitive with many products and services competing in the same space. To be heard above the clamor of a cluttered marketplace, you must have a "big idea" – a concept or a hook that makes you stand apart from everyone else.
Your big idea does not even have to be new; you can take an existing concept and position it in a different way. For a real world example, consider the diet book market. There is nothing at all new about dieting but each new diet success takes an old concept and adds a different twist that makes it appear to be revolutionary.
The big idea really distills down to differentiation. Listed below are a few tips for being a rebel in a “me too” world and reaping the rewards from your big idea.
• Give them the Fish. We often hear that if you give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day, but teach him to fish and he’ll eat for a lifetime. That advice however does not apply to how you approach your market. In today’s time starved world, people are looking for the package, the instant solution. So, don’t teach them, give them the fish! Your customers need to grasp your big idea immediately. Cater to their laziness and you will stand out from the crowd.
• Differentiate by being specific. Time management experts share that if you start a meeting at 9:03 AM rather than 9:00 AM everyone will remember and be on time. In starting off the hour, it is more specific and thus more memorable. The same is true in marketing your product or service. Specificity will bring you greater results and will stand out from generic promises. In example, “33 Days to Riches” is more specific than “Great Ways to Make Money”. Consider the success of “Eight Minute Abs.” Would it have been as successful if named “Sixty Minute Abs”?
• Do the Opposite. Doing the opposite of the masses gives you the opportunity to differentiate your business and create a niche that you can dominate. If you simply follow the well trodden path of the masses and become a “me too” product you will find greater competition and less profits. However, by seeking to go in a different direction, you create the path and open new avenues of success.
• Move the Application. Take a concept or hook from somewhere else and use it in a new way. You can look outside of your industry and take successful concepts and use it in a new way for your business. Many businesses fall into the trap of being myopic. They view what their competitors are doing to measure their success. They stay within their own industry, often even reluctant to hire employees from outside of the industry. In this way you miss out on great ideas that can help you differentiate your business.
Your business success requires more than just having a good product or service. There are lots of great products and services on the market. The big idea will give you visibility and viability. Keep your eyes open and see what is happening in and out of your industry. Your next big idea may just be staring you right in the face.
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