Losing to Competitors? 6 Things They Are Doing Better Than You Right Now...

Don't let those smiles fool ya, there's blood in the water and they're beating you to the feast! =) If you're stagnant, you're losing, and you can bet the competition is creeping in on your customers. Follow these tips to fight back; draw in new prospects, build instant chemistry, and keep them coming back (and spreading the word...)

1. Commit To & Build Your Brand: Create a fun Photo-Op wall in your shop (of course with your logo sign prominently displayed!), deliver your product in super crafty/unique (and reusable) packaging (also with your logo, noticing a trend yet..?), include unexpected free accessories, emphasize the presentation of your product, give a refund when they don't deserve it... Go above and beyond to give them something to photograph, share, and review, and you better believe they will!
   
   
2. Personality, Authenticity & Trust: Today's consumers want to see the face behind the product; they want to know who you are, why you do what you do, and why they should trust you with their transaction. It's tough to fake it, so OWN it! They can get the product elsewhere, so it's YOU that they are truly buying. Make it easy for them to get to know you. Take a look at the image above for example, because I chose it for a reason. What would you assume about the business and products if those two greeted you at a shop? They look mature and experienced, but with a youthful and approachable vibe. The clothes suggest professional and successful, but the rolled up sleeves and aprons show they aren't afraid to get their hands dirty and work. Even the simple OPEN sign on the vintage door looks crafty and handmade.
   
   
3. Personal Values: 64% of consumers cite shared values as the primary reason they have a relationship with a brand. Are you actually living and effectively showing the same values that are important to your target market? For example, if your customer are artists, make sure your logo sign is a handcrafted work of art! Or if they are environmentally conscious, have all your signage made from recycled materials!
   
   
4. Building Loyalty: Are you taking proactive steps to develop brand loyalty? Are you making it easy for customers to recognize you, remember you, do business with you, and share the experiences they had with you? Loyalty can be worth TEN TIMES as much as a single purchase, and the cost of gaining a new customer can be FIVE TIMES the cost of retaining an existing one.
   
   
5. Subliminal Messaging: This comes into play particularly with your logo, your signage, and your advertising campaigns. There are clever ways for you to reinforce your brand and your values through subliminal messaging. Two great examples are the FedEx arrow (the space between the E and x creates an intentional forward-pointing arrow to suggestion speed and progress) and of course the Amazon smile, which doubles as an arrow pointing from the A to the Z, which implies that they offer everything from A to Z! Think of clever ways to convey a message without obvious words or pictures...
   
   
6. Attention to Style & Trends: When I get approached to help design a logo sign and the logo is just boring text with a generic font like Arial or a dated mess like Comic Sans or Papyrus, I just want to scream! I know we're all working on a budget, but it does not have to be expensive to get a super unique, high-end looking logo designed. Try a website like 99Design for a completely custom logo for a couple hundred bucks. Your logo gets used everywhere, so make sure it represents you well!

Stay ahead of the curve, and be the one to set the trends in your industry. At first glance none of these may seem like they will have the home run impact of a successful ad campaign in comparison, but they can make ALL the difference in establishing your niche, building a loyal following, and ultimately becoming the face of your market.

References:  
https://neilpatel.com/blog/18-best-ways-create-brand-honest-trustworthy/
https://www.lucidpress.com/blog/25-branding-stats-facts
https://fitsmallbusiness.com/branding-statistics/