Honestly, when it comes to online business and branding, there are a million and one people trying to make money online.
Besides the tricks of creating controversy or having a unique site design, the only genuine way you can be different is to simply be yourself.
Your story makes you unlike anyone else, so tell it!
If you listen to the Suitcase Entrepreneur podcast, you’ve heard Liz DiAlto preach about how this one factor made her business stand out in the super-saturated online fitness space.
Plus, I’ve encouraged you to be yourself by reminding you that nothing can compare to you or how you can build a thriving blog by being yourself.
And it works!
This is how Marie Forleo is able to make music videos with her rapping, and how Ash Ambirge built a community of raving fans for dropping F-bombs and showing her sassy personality to the world.
Their communities love how they can be themselves through and through in their businesses.
So be unique and have your own voice from day one.
How to stand out online
While it’s not for me to tell you what your “special sauce” is, you do need to find what sets you apart from the rest. That is your USP – your Unique Special Proposition.
When you get clear on what that is, you’ll see how imperative it is to making you stand out. You’ll also witness your blog community react strongly by sharing your content across the social media sphere and commenting like crazy. You’ll start attracting your red carpet clients far more easily. You’ll feel at peace with everything you’re doing—because you are in fact being yourself.
Here are some questions to ask yourself and others who know you to develop your USP:
What are you better at than anyone else?
What do you enjoy doing the most?
What do (or could) you provide that no one else is providing?
What annoys people the most about your industry or blog area?
What is remarkable about you?
Do you have an unusual combination of elements?
Do you have a big personality?
Now write your USP statement. Take action. You can look to this as the reminder of what makes you distinctive and unique by following this format:
I am unique and different because I provide [USP] which no one else in my field provides. No one else can or will provide this because [insert reason].
And if you haven’t watched this video on how to ensure your brand stands out online, watch it now.
Day 12 Blog Challenge to accept in 3 easy steps
1. Write a response blog post to this question:
What is your USP Unique Special Proposition that sets you apart from the crowd?
2. Let us know you’ve written a blog post: Don’t forget to copy and paste the URL of this blog post into your `trackbacks’ section under your blog post so we know you’ve written a response.
3. Embed the 30 Day Blog Challenge badge in your post:
Choose the badge you most like from right here. Then just COPY the HTML code already pre done for you, and PASTE it into the HTML tab of your post.
Read these resource posts to help you
- How to Ensure Your Brand Stands Out Online
- How to Make Your Brand Stand Out with Mars Dorian [Podcast]
What’s next in the 30 Day Blog Challenge?
If you want to go above and beyond you can:
Click to tweet this: How do you use your personality to stand out online? Have your say here #TSE30DC #onlinebiz
Grab a copy of my Suitcase Entrepreneur book on Amazon Kindle or NOW Paperback!
Follow the 30 Day Blog Challenge Pinterest board (and see if you can spot your own post there)
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s blog post for Day 13 The key to building your website without breaking the bank.
You’ll be asked to respond with three things you’d love your website to have and why.
Summary round up of your posts
- Annie wants to make an effort to find adventure wherever she is, and would like to share it with others. She would like to blog about adventure, travel and food
- Curt writes “consider self-awareness as a real strength / I know how my mind thinks / know when I’ll be able to solve the problem / can put things aside and come back at the right time”
- Megan writes an explosive piece on her USP and leading a passionate life where she constantly pursues her inner Mayhem every day
- Kim’s thought are about reconnecting food growers on all scales, with life force energy and nature to produce healthy food. This is what Natural Ag is about
- Cheryl loves taking complex problems and finding creative solutions that usually go against the status quo. She loves to lead by example inspiring women to become their own activists in health and life
- Katie believes there’s room for more personality in the newspapers and on websites. Humor can be added, the digital crowd can be appealed to
- Adam feels he is unique and different because he provides true compassion and listening skills. He is passionate about the world of travel and this passion shows in his daily work habit
- Michelle’s biggest ability is to be direct and brutally honest. She is driven, persistent and able to reinvent herself if the situation called for it
- Patrick’s has packed a lot of humor in his wonderful post. Writes “Lifetime Learner + Rabid Researcher = Solutions for You”