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5 Ways to Make Sure Your Business Stands Apart from your Competition

Small businesses have many marketing challenges, but one of the hardest things small business orders should focus on is determining what makes their business stand out from the competition and presenting it in a way that attracts their ideal client. Being able to differentiate your business by communicating your unique capabilities that your competition does not have is an outstanding approach to attracting your ideal client.

Do Your Homework

Crafting a proposal that captures your audience’s attention and interest begins long before you even write the first word for your pitch. You need to understand as much as you can about your target audience — what they want, what they fear, how they do things, what’s important to them, etc. Put yourself in your targets’ shoes and understand the concerns that motivate them.

Highlight the Benefits

What really matters to prospective clients who are considering your business proposal is what’s in it for them. Make sure the benefits of purchasing your products or services and doing business with your company are clearly spelled out and that these benefits align with the concerns of your prospective client.

Use Plain, Straightforward Language

Clarity is the Holy Grail when pitching a proposal. Business executives value their time and will appreciate it if you did the same. By using language and words that are straightforward and stripped of all unnecessary elements, you are sending a subtle message that you understand this fact as well. Your readers will subconsciously appreciate this and earn your proposal valuable attention and recall points.

Be Generous with White Space

We, humans, are wired so that we stop and shift our attention to anything that is framed; our focus is automatically drawn to the image or object in the middle of the frame. If the text of your proposal is crammed within the page, there is a greater tendency for the reader to merely skim through the text. However, if the text of your proposal is framed within an ample amount of white space, there is a greater chance that the reader will pause, focus on the text, and actually read it. Format your proposal so that there is an ample amount of white space, especially on the pages with important items.

Be Different

Employing subtle differences in your proposal may set it apart from competing proposals. For example, many businesses use a small 10- to 12-pt font for their body text. Fonts this size are small and can be difficult to read. To make your proposal stand out, try using a larger size font that is easier to read, such as 14 pt Cambria. Another great way to make your proposal really stand out is to create it with Paperless Proposal, so your proposal is more personal and interactive and includes a video introduction. By making your proposal far more interesting and attractive than those of your competitors, you will show that your company is more innovative and tech-savvy.

With all the tools, gadgets, and platforms, the trend is to spend a lot of time on marketing execution. But one thing we must not forget is that regardless of the channel of execution, you still need the basics of your marketing strategy in place, or all of your efforts will be wasted.