The question posed by the title of this post may seem a little harsh. How can your business stand out if it offers nothing new? At first glance, such a question might suggest that you should give up before you begin. But that’s not the case. In fact, there’s a hidden meaning here – not all businesses can offer something brand new and totally innovative every single time they launch a product or service, which means using better methods to gather exposure is key.

For example, if you’re opening an Italian restaurant in a city, does that mean you have to use an entirely different menu to everyone else around you? Well, you might have your own twist of course, and you won’t copy others, but it’s fine if you stick to the core traditions like some others may. Finding places to diverge isn’t always limited to the category of product or service you offer.

So, in this post we’ll discuss how to differentiate yourself, and justify your own presence in a market that may offer similar utilities:

Consider Your Visual Package

While your core product or service may not be revolutionary, you can certainly set yourself apart through your branding and visual identity. We’d recommend investing in professional graphic design and photography that gives your business a premium and polished look. You can choose an ownable color palette, custom typography, and compelling imagery that matches your personality and helps you stand out, even showcasing that through unique flourishes like stickers on vinyl. These elements can help you look distinctly unique, even if what you have to offer is somewhat similar to another in your field.

Deliver Exceptional Customer Service

One area where you can really excel is in the customer experience you provide. If you go above and beyond when it comes to service and support, people tend to rely on you and trust your brand. They may even choose that over another company they’re unfamiliar with, even if their products are slightly better of a value proposition. To achieve this, it’s important to respond quickly to inquiries, handle issues with empathy, and try to humanize your support by empowering your agents. We all know a company whose support we appreciate, and you can achieve that level of connection too.

Focus On Quality & Consistency

Even if what you offer isn’t groundbreaking to anyone, you can ensure it’s delivered with utmost quality and consistency every time. We all have a favorite small cafe or restaurant that might not be bursting at the scenes, but has a better meal available than anywhere else for a reasonable price. These benefits can be wonderful. It also means you have to adhere to rigorous standards, think about your ingredients/materials, and have careful quality control applied by well-trained staff. In the long run, you’ll have made a difference.

With this advice, you’ll be certain to keep your business standing out, even if you offer nothing new. Moreover, through your attention to detail and getting the fundamentals right, you will seem fresh anyway.