These Simple Strategies for Positioning Your Small Business Are A Must

Answer the question, "Why would I buy from you?"
And you are well on your way!

Why would I buy from you is what your clients and potential clients constantly ask themselves when considering a purchase. Of course what they are really asking is "What's in it for me?"

A simple strategy for positioning your firm or product deeply in your target market's mind is a tool called a USP. The term USP has been around for a long time. The letters stand for Unique Selling Proposition.

The idea here is to identify and then communicate a concise statement of your firm's most compelling offer and benefit in a way that the potential client can automatically answer the what's in if for me question. That's all a USP is.

Most everyone is familiar with the original Fedex USP. On time, every time or it's free. At the time this offer was very unique in the shipping industry and literally built the company based on communicating this unique selling proposition. So what's your compelling offer? What can you do and offer that no one else in your industry can offer?

Most consumers view small businesses like commodities. The feeling is that one accountant is like another or that one attorney can get the same result as another.

The problem is that most marketers do nothing to expel that perception. "Buy from us because we've been in business for 20 years," or "we're dependable," go the slogans of many small businesses.

Of course the fact that you are dependable, carry a full line of products, offer fair pricing, or are honest are expectations...they are not points of differentiation.

An effective USP communicates your firm's unique ability to fill an obvious void in the marketplace. The USP shows your target market how your firm is uniquely qualified to solve their pain or increase their gain. A USP can be your firm's single most powerful marketing weapon.

To craft a USP for your firm first make a list of all the benefits of doing business with your firm. Don't leave anything out.

Then cut the list down with these guidelines.

1. What things on your list are unique versus your direct competitors.

2. Which of these benefits is most important to your clients?

3. Which of these would be difficult for other's in your industry to copy?

4. Which of these can be easily communicated?

From this set of guidelines you should be able to narrow your search to the top one or two benefits of doing business with your firm.

From there it is simply a matter of injecting this chief benefit or USP into everything that you do.

Craft headlines that promote your USP, put a USP statement on your stationary and business cards, build your USP into all of your sales presentations.

The ultimate goal is to become known to the market as whatever your USP promotes.

One final word of warning. You must deliver on the big promise communicated in your USP. Failure to do so may actually do more harm then drifting along without any marketing focus.

Strategies For Positioning Sources

Headline Creator Pro
This is an awesome tool. Just answer four questions and the software spits out 100 ready made headlines based on some of the most successful headlines throughout history. But I have also found it a great tool for creating USP's with impact. Try it out and see for yourself.

A Complete Post Card Marketing System!
Postcards are the most powerful small business building tool you can use (besides referrals). They're inexpensive and get read 100% of the time. This comprehensive system is the most effective course to describe the ins and outs of postcard marketing. You can download three free chapters and check it out.

The InfoGuru Marketing Manual - Robert Middleton
Robert does a great job of teaching how to craft powerful USP's. You'll love his "audio logo" concept. This comprehensive marketing manual contains everything you need to attract more clients to your professional service business. Manual includes complete 23 chapter text with hands-on action plans, audio tutorials, articles, marketing discussion group, and many additional bonuses.

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