DURBAN - As many sectors have returned back into operation, most companies have a lot of ‘catching up’ to do as far as turnover is concerned.
“Now is the time to stand up and differentiate yourself. But with so many companies in the same boat who are vying for attention in a cluttered marketplace, it’s not easy to stand out and get customers to notice your product or service,” says Vince De Castro, Marketing Director: Partnerships at CM Trading.
According to De Castro, there are a few ideas that companies can implement to make their businesses stand out which are as follows:
Boost your social media presence
: If it doesn’t happen online nowadays, it just doesn’t happen at all. And staying relevant online is the key to getting your business noticed. The most effective way to do that is through interesting and shareable content.
Add extra value for your customers
: What makes you different from your competitors? If the answer is ‘nothing’, it’s time to examine what you can do differently – even more so now in a cluttered marketplace. Giving customers “a little something extra” that is of perceived value inspires loyalty.
Expand your product offering
: This may require a bit of lateral thinking. If you sell tyres and tyres only, it may be hard to add additional income streams to that, for example. But what if you did something completely different? You could sell tyres and also sell advertising space to your suppliers on your website or shopfront.
Try something different
: As lockdown continues and the country runs at limited capacity, forward-thinking and new ideas are needed more than ever now. The world has changed – most likely forever. Will your business change with it?
In conclusion, De Castro said “It’s also important to keep posting content regularly, to try and keep your business top-of-mind. The content you post doesn’t always have to be your own. Curated content that is meaningful to your customer base is also useful,”
“Going above and beyond where your competitors don’t will get you noticed. Value doesn’t have to come in the form of a physical ‘thing’ necessarily, and it doesn’t have to cost much. It can be something as simple as a great service ethic or offering the customer a cup of coffee.”
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