How to Stand out From the Crowd and Still Be Yourself

If a feature story was written about your firm, what would it say about you? 

There are many ways to tell your story and differentiate yourself from your competitors–the folks who say they do the same things you do or offer the same thing you do.

Knowing what separates you from the others could be exactly what the doctor ordered. 

Your story could be compelling, and you don’t even know it!  Whatever you’re selling, if you have a good story and good products, you can attract the best customers and they’ll stay with you through the long haul if you’re communicating the right way. 

Articulate key points about your firm’s offerings and keep your story consistent.  A good story includes who you are, your firm’s history, your product offerings, pricing competitiveness, your experience, unique offering, your value proposition and how you’re solving a problem for your customers. 

You may find yourself in situations where you need to present your story to a group. As you prepare your presentation, consider your audience first. Do a bit of research to determine what your audience expects to get out of it then tailor your presentation to meet their needs.

Related: Can a National PR Strategy Help Local Advisors?

Consider different scenarios and possible questions and have answers prepared. When telling your story, don’t get sidetracked.  Practice answering different or possibly unrelated questions in a way that helps bring the focus back to your presentation should the conversation get sidetracked. 

As you prepare, it’s good practice to research various negative or positive questions that could be asked. Prepping in this manner will not only help you feel more prepared, but it will also help you to practice dealing with the unexpected and help you learn how to discuss all aspects of your business in a meaningful way.

Don’t forget to address possible challenges of your business head on. Again, with preparation, this should be second nature and address possible negative questions that may come up.  

Mark Cuban, one of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs, talks about “The Edge –  knowing that you have to be the smartest guy in the room when you have your meeting, and you are going to put in the effort to learn whatever you need to learn to get there.”  Mr. Cuban is right. Having the right story and doing the right research will help support your business growth in a significant way and open the door for more customers to seek you out.

Are you looking for more strategies and techniques to help you tell your story? Check out our recent webinar for more tips and tools!