Learning how to set yourself apart from your competitors can help your business reach new heights and establish itself as a leader in your industry. Some simple changes to how you conduct your business can garner more positive attention from potential new customers and keep you operating longer. Here are some of the best ways to make your business stand out from the competition.

Study Your Competition

Knowing what your competitors are doing to run their businesses and market themselves can help you find ways to differentiate your business from theirs. You might find ways to improve on solving problems that these businesses try to solve. You may also be able to target a different demographic that’s often overlooked by competing companies. Other ways to learn about your competition so that you can make your business unique from theirs is to run analytics tests of their websites and speak to former employees who might be willing to give you additional information.

Keep Your Premises Tidy

Whether you run a store, a restaurant, or another type of business where customers frequently visit, you’ll want to keep your premises tidy at all times. Some businesses overlook this, and you can help your business earn a more positive reputation by making sure that no trash pileups or other filth buildups are anywhere on your property. Professional cleanings should be done regularly to keep your business looking its best. C and D Services a company that provides parking lot sweeping Dallas TX tells us that power sweeping keeps dust and dirt and trash from piling up on the property – keeping it more sanitary, improving the aesthetics, removing trip hazards, and ultimately increasing the value of the property.

Improve Your Customer Service

Customer service can make or break a business, and making the extra effort to ensure that each customer receives the best service possible can help set you apart from other companies. People who are dissatisfied with the service that they received from your competitors may also be more inclined to become new customers if your business has built a reputation for delivering outstanding service. You’ll want to make sure that all staff members who deal with the public receive thorough customer service training that includes how to deal with customer complaints effectively. 

Feature Regular Promotions

Deals, free giveaways, and other promotions can get more people interested in your business. Promotions that save people money can be especially good for many of your customers who are likely on tight budgets. Another promotional idea is to start a customer loyalty program that offers freebies or other perks to your most loyal customers. You’ll definitely want to run promotions around holiday seasons when many of your competitors are likely doing the same to try to attract more customers.

Practice Corporate Social Responsibility

One of the best ways that your business can show corporate social responsibility is by supporting various charities, and this can also help differentiate your business from others. As Forbes.com explains, there are many corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs that can help give customers better mental impressions of your business and can also promote better goodwill and increase your profits. You might choose to support charities that feed the homeless, provide medical care to underprivileged people, or rescue animals.

Communicate on a More Personal Level

Some of your competitors may be treating their customers more like numbers than people, and you can garner more positive attention by finding ways to communicate with people on a more personal level. One of the best ways to go about this is to answer customer emails with customized replies instead of standard messages. Starting a newsletter and delivering new editions to customers’ email inboxes on a regular basis can also make your business seem more personable. Social media can additionally be used to communicate with customers directly so that they can feel as though they’re being treated more as respected individuals.

Go Green

Many people nowadays are more conscious about the environment, and taking measures to reduce your business’s negative impact on the planet can help increase your company’s profile. Using recyclable materials and finding ways to reduce your business’s output of harmful emissions can help you run a greener business that’s more environmentally responsible than your competition. Switching to solar power or another alternative energy source is another option to consider if you want to outdo your rivals.

Standing out from the competition doesn’t always have to be a difficult task. By implementing these methods for your business, you may yield great results along with bigger profits than your competitors.

Guest post by Samantha Higgins. Samantha is a professional writer with a passion for research, observation, and innovation. She is nurturing a growing family of twin boys in Portland, Oregon with her husband. She loves kayaking and reading creative non-fiction.