Be Different: Increase Your Perceived Value

November 10th, 2016 Tags: Branding, Dexter Montgomery, Pamela Montgomery
Posted in Personal Branding

Dare to be different!

Dare to Be Different: Increase Your Perceived Value

As an entrepreneur you want to be different in order to increase your perceived value. Sameness is boring and cheap.  It is your differences that make you  special to your potential customers and clients.  Branding is the means to demonstrate that difference.

In Branding Small Businesses for Dummies, branding has been called the science and art of making something unique in the eye of the customer. A brand stands for something.  A great brand is easy to remember!

Branding will set you apart from other entrepreneurs in your area of expertise. For example, when you brand yourself you are no longer “a local marketing specialist” you are “the 24/7 marketer.”   In fact, everything you do and say establishes your brand. For example, if you are late completing work for your customers, then your brand is being late.

This post makes three points about how you can use branding to increase your perceived value. First, by being different, second by highlighting how you are special, and third, by recognizing that perception is everything.

Be Different

Do not be afraid of being different. Perhaps as a child you may have tried very hard to fit in. This tendency may have continued when you become an adult. Perhaps you recall a situation that occurred when you did stand out that resulted in you being taunted for being different.

Sometimes the limelight can be frightening and uncomfortable. However, as an entrepreneur you must be different. As an entrepreneur, your mindset must shift to embracing the difference. Fitting in with every other entrepreneur in your specialty does not help you!

Be Special

Do not be afraid to embrace the qualities that make you special. One way to do that is to emphasize your achievements. We are all familiar with great athletes like Michael Jordan, Peyton Manning, and Hank Aaron whose brand is based on their athletic achievements.

You don't need to be a world-class athlete to use your own achievements to brand yourself.  Take a few minutes to think about your area of expertise and how your achievements relate. Perhaps you are a distance runner. That ability shows grit and determination. Great traits for an entrepreneur!

Perception is Everything

Remember that it is always the customer's perception of you that matters. Your brand rises and falls on that perception. Your brand goes beyond a name and a logo. Think about the other ways that you interact with potential customers and clients.

Your social media posts, websites, and business cards are also important. Make sure that your branding is consistent across all medium.  You do not want to confuse potential customers or the clients.  The attention that you pay to these matters will make you different from  others in your area of specialty who do not.

Final Thoughts

As an entrepreneur you want to focus on what makes you different from others in your area of specialty.  Your difference increases your perceived value to potential customers and clients. Your branding should demonstrate just how special and different you are. Remember that perception is everything.

For more discussion of this topic: “The ABC's of Branding”

“What's Your Brand?–Perception is Everything” .

Please leave a comment below about how you have used branding to highlight your differences.

Pamela Montgomery

At My Biz Dream Team, we show you how to develop an internet lifestyle business that can help you reach your money goals. Check out The Strategic Pathway to Success Program™. Let us help you accelerate the growth of your business so that you can reach your goal of creating a lifestyle and a business that you love! Act today.

I am Pamela Montgomery, attorney, author, online business strategist, and speaker, providing you result-oriented solutions to help you to achieve uncommon results in your business and in your life!

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Also published on Medium.