These days there are many companies that embrace open innovation and if you’re wanting to break through, all you need to do is come up with a great product idea.
I understand this is easier said than done, but if you’re the creative type it’s very doable. Especially since it only takes ONE great idea to be set for life.
I’m a huge fan of TED! I recently stumbled across this great TED talk given by Seth Godin. He talks about what it takes to stand out in your market.
I love how it almost all comes down to how remarkable your product or service is. Is it worth making a remark about? Are your customers going to tell their friends and family? Watch the video below and give us your two cents!
Most webmasters are obsessed with acquiring more backlinks. Visit any internet forum about SEO or internet marketing and you’ll see countless threads about how to get more backlinks. What most don’t understand is that a proper backlinking strategy begins and ends with your unique selling proposition (USP).
You must ask yourself… “Are you worth recommending?”
Forget about building up backlinks to improve search engine rankings! If you offer something that is worth recommending, you’ll be receiving so much word of mout traffic that you really won’t need to rely on search engines anymore.
“One way is to be the very best at everything you do.
Another is to be obsessive about delivering value – all the time.
And have a story that spreads – often one that is tied to your purpose.
Watch this powerful video presentation at TEDtalk by Simon Sinek called “How Great Leaders Inspire Action”. It’s about the Golden Circle, and finding your WHY…a simple, effective way to get your prospects eager to do business with you.
Once you’ve reached this stage, one other thing matters. You’ve got to give your eager, interested prospects a COMPELLING REASON why they should buy from you, rather than anyone else.
And that means positioning and defining yourself in a unique way that sets you apart from the competition. In other words, you need a USP (Unique Selling Proposition).
Why Should Customers Buy From You?
The vast majority of businesses do not have a good, compelling or unique reason. Understand that this differentiation should confer an advantage from the perspective of the BUYER.
Saying you’ve been in business since 1932 isn’t really a benefit that’s immediately perceived – unless you can translate that into a benefit, as in:
‘Tailors for well dressed gentlemen since 1932. Our skilled designers have always been on top of current trends.’
The message to grab here is that conveying your uniqueness to your prospects involves a degree of EDUCATING them about yourself, your business and what you do to benefit them. Without the information, they will hesitate to make a buying decision. When they see all the facts, they’ll see the reason why what you’re offering is a wise buy.
Rolex Watches And Internet Marketing
Many years ago, I saw a magazine ad for a Rolex. In great detail, the ad explained what went on “beneath the dial” with beautiful pictures showing dozens of interlocking ratchets, with wheels within wheels. Each tiny, perfectly handcrafted element was responsible for a critical function. They all integrated perfectly, worked in synchronicity, coordinated wonderfully.
How did prospective buyers know all that? Because marketers TOLD THEM the story. Explained how their watches worked. Highlighted the benefit from such precision technology so that prospects were convinced that they wanted to own a Rolex, a masterpiece based on such technological excellence.
Schlitz beer ramped up from #5 in the U.S. market to capture the #1 slot after a skilled copywriter named Claude Hopkins decided to tell the story of how exactly they brewed beer. Strangely enough, the story was NOT unique. All beer manufacturers use nearly the identical process.
Hopkins was the first to tell the story. That was unique. No one else was doing it. When Schlitz did, they acquired top-of-mind awareness – and business boomed.
Domino’s Pizza entered a marketplace that was already dominated by Pizza Hut, but differentiated their offering by promising “Hot, Fresh Pizza, delivered at home within 30 minutes – or it’s FREE!” That’s a benefit powerfully denominated in terms that appeal to the buyer, who sees a tangible advantage or benefit from choosing Domino over any…”
I just stumbled across this great tip today. I remember answering a few questions on Facebook myself, but I never really thought about using it for market research purposes. This may not work too well for those who have yet to build a following on Facebook, but the way that Facebook Questions works makes it so you don’t need to have thousands of fans in order to get a lot of people answering your question either.
The Facebook Help site says, ‘Facebook Questions lets you ask any question and get quick answers from your friends and other people on Facebook.’ Questions is designed so that anyone on Facebook can help you find the answer. So when you ask a question, it is shared in News Feeds. If your friends answer or follow that question, it will be shared with their friends getting your business in front of many other people that might not know you.
How Can I Ask a Question on Facebook?
You can ask a question from a few different places:
- From your Profile: At the top of the page, next to where you would normally share a status update, select the “Question” link. Then enter your question and add poll options if you wish. Click “Ask Question” to share it.
- From your home page: At the top of your News Feed, next to where you would normally share a status update, select the “Question” link. Then enter your question and add poll options if you wish. Click “Ask Question” to share it.
- From your Questions page: Click “Question” next to “Share” at the top of the page. Then enter your question and add poll options if you wish. Click “Ask Question” to share it.
What Kinds of Questions Can I Ask?
You can ask any type of question, but Questions was designed to help you get fast, short-form responses. For example, you can use Questions to get recommendations from your friends (What are your favorite iPhone apps?), learn more about the people around you (What was your favorite movie as a child?) or start discussion about current events (How can I help the earthquake victims in Japan?).
Anyone on Facebook may participate in a question you ask, but answers are always filtered to show responses from your friends first. So, even if many people have responded, you will always see what your friends have said first. You can access the responses from everyone else by clicking “Others” within the “Posts” section of the question.
How Do I Create a Poll or Ask a Polling Question?
If you’d like to create a traditional poll where you specify all the options up front and other people may not vote for more than one option, click “Question” at the top of your home page or profile. Then..”
Hi, my name is Steve Longoria. Thanks for stopping by my site.
I strive to bring you only the freshest, most relevant marketing content from all across The Internet Tubes!
I also enjoy playing the drums, riding my bike, and pretty much anything wrapped in a warm, cripsy tortilla!
