With the abundance of free information, tools, and platforms, it has never been easier to start a business, no matter if you are starting a business in Singapore or anywhere else in the world. However, this also implies that the competition is fiercer than ever before. In today’s competitive landscape, a great product or service isn’t enough to make your business stand out. 

If you want your target audience to notice and choose your brand, it’s time to implement strategies to capture their attention. In this post, we’re sharing actionable ways to gain an edge over your competitors. Take a look.

Design an Impressive Website

In today’s digital world, a website is a crucial part of your brand identity. It serves as an information catalog, a billboard, a digital business card, and a helpdesk, among other things. 

A poorly-designed website will likely make prospects doubt your authenticity and capabilities. That’s why it’s imperative to design a beautiful and functional website that compels visitors from the get-go. 

When it comes to designing a website, you need to make sure it doesn’t take forever to load. Every second makes a difference. In fact, more than 50% of mobile users will abandon a website that takes more than three seconds. Moreover, you also need to pay attention to navigation. Everything from the typography to the page layout should be fine-tuned to ensure smooth navigation.

With the rapidly increasing number of smartphone users, it’s important to make a mobile-friendly website. Excessive panning and zooming on a smaller screen creates a frustrating user experience. Lastly, don’t forget to include a clear and persuasive call to action.

Make the Most of Online Directories

While paper directories may be a thing of the past, they have been replaced with online directories. Just like yellow pages helped customers connect with local businesses, online directories make your business discoverable on the internet. 

What’s the first thing a modern customer does when looking for a product or service? They search the internet. Start by creating a listing on Google My Business. In addition to filling out all the relevant information, remember to include high-quality images and videos of your business. 

Besides GMB, we also urge you to look for other business directories relevant to your niche. Depending on your industry, you can also list your business on Yelp, Capettra, Bing Places, Trustpilot, and FourSquare.

Go Old School

There are plenty of modern tools at your disposal. However, certain old-school tactics can help you create an unforgettable impression on prospective customers. 

Every brand out there is sending their clients emails and other digital updates. But how many are going above and beyond with handwritten notes? In comparison to emails, these personalized handwritten missives have a remarkable opening rate of 98%!

These days receiving a letter is quite rare. A handwritten message cuts through the noise of traditional mass communication and makes your prospect feel special. It also shows that you are investing time and effort into nurturing valuable customer relationships. Rather than forgetting an email soon after reading it, you can expect customers to remember handwritten messages for a long time.

Understandably, you might be reluctant to try this idea because it can be extremely time-consuming. Fortunately, you can easily involve a handwritten letter service, which allows you to customize everything from the writing style to stationery. 

Reviews & Testimonials Matter

Modern consumers typically go through customer reviews before purchasing a product. Whether you are selling a SaaS product or handmade jewelry, make sure your products are well-reviewed. 

Some proven ways to encourage customer reviews include sending a follow-up email or notification simply asking customers to review their purchase. Try to make the review process as simple as possible. You can also incentivize customers by offering them discounts or gift cards in exchange for reviews. It’s also a good idea to engage with positive customer reviews.

As far as testimonials are concerned, include genuine testimonials from real customers on your website and other platforms. To make testimonials captivating, we suggest asking clients to send video testimonials. These videos can be recorded using smartphones, which makes them seem genuine and relatable.

Admit Mistakes

Speaking of reviews, don’t make the mistake of sweeping negative reviews under the rug. There will be instances when a customer is unhappy with a product or their purchasing journey, compelling them to leave a bad review. Rather than deleting or ignoring such feedback, it’s important to immediately address the issue. 

We urge you to refrain from using a defensive or rude tone. Try to respectfully and professionally communicate with the unhappy customer. While some situations may warrant an apology on your part, don’t apologize for something that wasn’t your fault. After addressing the review, you should continue the conversation over email, call, DMs or any other private channel. 

Don’t Underestimate Brand Story

Customers love a brand story that evokes an emotional response. Why not use that to your advantage? Create a brand story that allows your business to develop an emotional connection with your target audience. However, that doesn’t mean straying from the truth. The story should authentically express how your product or service can add value to the customer’s life. Whether inspirational or empathy evoking, make sure your story packs an emotional punch.

Surprise and Delight

Surprise and delight is a powerful tactic to get your brand noticed. From a complimentary gift to a personalized birthday email, find creative ways to express your gratitude. These simple gestures can create a significant impact and inspire brand loyalty. 

Share Your Expertise

Introducing a blog to your website is an excellent way to establish authority in the industry. Instead of solely promoting your products and services, use this platform to share your expertise. Curating useful and relevant blogs will enable you to stand out in the industry. You can also repurpose this content for other social media platforms.

In addition to gaining credibility, consistent blogs also play a role in your search rankings. Search engine optimized content will encourage search engines to index and crawl your website. This is a reliable way to ensure that your website shows up in relevant search queries.

Embrace New Platforms

From Instagram Reels to Clubhouse, new social media platforms are constantly popping up. Instead of dismissing these platforms, it’s time to embrace them. After all, you need to show up where your target audience is. 

Recently, short videos have taken the world by storm. Regardless of your industry, it’s time to start creating content on TikTok, Reels, Youtube Shorts, and other similar platforms. Hop on popular trends and use viral audios to get your brand noticed. Ideally, you should be posting five to seven days a week.

Don’t Make False Promises

Offering different guarantees is an effective way to boost sales and conversions. Whether you promise fast delivery or 100% satisfaction, make sure you keep your end of the bargain. Making a promise and not delivering it can turn out to be disastrous for your brand’s reputation. 

Imagine this: a customer purchased a product because your website promised 2-day delivery. But if the product doesn’t arrive on time, the customer will be disappointed and might even decide against future purchases from your brand. Therefore, make sure every guarantee is fulfilled.

The Bottom Line

It’s no secret that standing out from the crowd is challenging. From seizing new opportunities to implementing tried and tested methods, it’s crucial to take proactive measures to nurture long-lasting customer relationships. Hopefully, the aforementioned tips will help you develop a unique and well-wounded brand strategy.