As micro-business owners the abundance of choice can suffocate or stifle your survival if you don’t find a way to stand out & shine brightly. Let's show you how
Societies are saturated. Communities congested. Marketplaces are a maze of advertising and messaging.
Daily we are overwhelmed with imagery, colour, businesses, transport… absolutely everything has been stretched to its capacity.
As consumers, we love having the power to choose which service or product we wish to purchase. However, on the flipside, as micro business owners, this abundance of choice can suffocate or stifle your survival if you don’t find a way to stand out and shine brightly.
Follow our tricks below to stay one step ahead of the competition and remain unique and stand out in a crowded market …
Your POD (Point of Difference) is the element that differentiates you and your business. Succeeding in this will forge a stronger connection with your target market. Without this, consumers will assume you’re just another generic lash technician or cupcake baker. We understand this isn’t an easy ask, but the results will be worth it.
The easiest ways to establish a POD for your business is to:
A POD doesn’t have to be complex or vast, in fact, the simpler the idea, the easier it will resonate with potential consumers.
‘Customer satisfaction’ is a term that has lost its value in recent years.
Businesses, big and small, want to cut corners and reduce costs. Whilst there is nothing wrong about keeping a tight budget, his shouldn’t be at the expense of the consumer though.
Promote yourself and your personable qualities, as consumers don’t want to buy from faceless companies, they want to buy from people. Turning a first-time buyer into a repeat purchaser is a skill that many businesses haven’t quite perfected. Hence why so many entrepreneurs see gaps in the market that they believe they can fill.
Think of the companies that have secured your repeat business.
Is it a brand that doesn’t care about your product concerns, your schedule requirements or your extenuating circumstances?
Or is it a brand that recognises you and your individual needs, choosing time and time again to go the extra mile for you?
And, is it a brand that employs people who are engaging, likeable and make you leave the shop/salon/website feeling better than when you entered?
If you want to remain unique in a crowded market, then embody the brand that you love to purchase from.
As a consumer, it’s rare that all of your ‘boxes’ get ticked when undertaking a purchase. Therefore, take advantage of the position that you find yourself in as a micro business owner. You have the choice to curate a business that caters for the masses, in which the only limitation, is your imagination.
Inject yourself into your business further by drawing on passions of yours. If you feel in your element the most with a cocktail in hand and surrounded by your girlfriends, then host a ‘Thank You for Your Continued Support’ party at a local bar (also, a great way to partner with other micro-businesses to promote collaboration!)
Likewise, if you have a side passion for photography (alongside developing your core business) then incorporate ways that you can visually promote your brand in exciting and innovative ways.
You never know what will work, until you try.
We all like to think we’re great at absolutely everything (or is that just us at Pocket PA?!), but in reality, we’re not. Rather, we’re great a handful at things and only good at the rest.
No matter what your skill set may be, you can incorporate it into your brand.
Personable? Then you can charm the pants off of any wholesaler, potential client or next customer…
Good listener? Then you can hear the feedback that your customers and clients are giving you and build on it.
Motivated? Then you can build positive momentum around your small business that will rub off on those around you.
Able to breathe fire and sing 'Mamma Mia' at the same time? Then you’re the life and soul of any party and you need to inject that vibrancy and risk-taking into your daily routine.
At Pocket PA, we always want to maximise your exposure and opportunities by giving you a tool to ensure you stand out and always look professional and organised in everything you do. Keep an eye out for our future tips and tricks to help you stay relevant, original and sought after.
As a self-employed micro business owner, we often find there are too many things to get done in a day that only has 24 hours in it! Getting productive is key!
Productivity & profits work hand in hand: when you increase one the other increases too. Here are 5 productivity-boosting steps to get the most out of your time
Cash Flow is incredibly important when running your own business. It's often hard to manage for any sized business, leaving many opportunities to make mistakes.
There are 5 common mistakes that many micro-business owners make when setting up their companies - but it’s never too late to adapt your strategies.
For the Self-employed, most will struggle to see consistency in profits without 'regulars', so maintaining a strong customer relationship & client base is key.
You don’t need to be doing crazy dances or lip-syncing challenges to create good content. Social media is an excellent tool for growing a business, & it's free!
Hiccups happen. Technology breaks, accidents occur, customers cancel… but it’s how you pick yourself up & turn your day (& subsequent week) around that counts
It's empowering to work alongside strong-minded individuals. And building one another collectively will strengthen the micro-business community surrounding you.
If you live in a world where you're constantly comparing yourself to others, you’re running a race you’ll never win. Find out how to give yourself a head start!
Using our 5 easy tips, you can learn how to master your own mental strength & subsequently navigate your business through these uncertain times. You've got this
It’s easy to see that by following just these 5 steps alone, growing an active following is not as hard as you may have initially thought
By tailoring your communication and content to be thoughtful & informative, you will retain the customer engagement, & maintain those positive relationships ...
It’s easy to see what small things, often at no cost, can really help you stand out from the crowd & ensure your clients want to keep coming back to see you.
Don’t deprive the world from seeing your light. Keep on searching until you find what it is you love and then shine your beacon brightly and allow others ....