9 Surefire Strategies to Help You Stand Out From the Competition

How to differentiate your products and services

You can rise above the competition in many ways. Consider these ways to prioritize customer happiness and differentiate your business. 

1. Offer unbeatable customer service.

Research from the Qualtrics XM Institute revealed more than half of U.S. consumers will reduce or stop spending with a brand after one negative customer experience. And these costs add up significantly — U.S. companies risk losing $856 billion every year because of bad customer service. 

So, if you think you can cut business expenses by reducing customer service spending, you should reconsider. 

Consider the following ways to focus on excellent customer service as part of what sets you apart from rivals. 

• Spend more on customer service. Allocate more resources toward customer service as your business grows. An emphasis on customer service will help your brand stand out as you gain a reputation for high-level customer care. As time passes, the correlation between customer service and your business’s success will grow stronger.
• Prioritize customer feedback. Take customer feedback seriously. Treat each customer like they’re your most important buyer, and demonstrate their experience is your top priority. Consider sending text or email communications to gather survey data and act on viable suggestions. Your responsiveness will reassure customers their voices are heard.
• Monitor brand mentions on social media. Track social media platforms to see what people are saying about your brand. What do they like and dislike? Apply what you learn from social media comments and feedback to improve your product or service and create a more positive overall experience.
• Respond to online reviews. A few bad reviews could mean significantly less revenue, so pay attention to online reviews on sites like Google and Yelp. Track your online reviews to resolve disputes, show customers you care and demonstrate you value your reputation. 

2. Develop your unique value proposition.

Thomas Hassett, founder of U.K.-based TH Results, cautioned brands must think bigger than excellent customer service — which is expected nowadays — when strategizing ways to stand out from the competition. “Dig deeper, like an archaeologist searching for a lost city,” Hassett advised.

Determining your unique value proposition (UVP) can help your business rise above the noise, even in a saturated market. Your UVP answers why a customer should choose your business over the competition. How do you uniquely address their needs, pain points and desires? What benefits do you offer that truly set you apart? 

Hassett says when you envision your value proposition, it helps to think like the customer. “Put yourself in your customers’ shoes,” Hassett recommended. “What do they really want and need? What keeps them up at night? Once you understand their pain points, you can position your product as the ultimate solution, like a superhero swooping in to save the day.”

Perhaps your product does something no similar offering can match, or maybe the people behind your product creation have unique knowledge, skills and experience. Find this unique angle and accentuate it in your marketing and sales strategies.

“Your value proposition needs to be more than just words on a page,” Hassett explained. “It needs to be reflected in everything you do.”

Lean into your niche.

It’s impossible to appeal to everyone. Consumers have different interests, needs and reasons for making purchases. It’s not cost-effective to be so general in your approach that people become confused about your message.

Instead, you should “niche down” and focus on your target audience. Be an expert in a sea of generics. Catering to a niche market allows you to market what makes your brand different — and better — than your competitors. 

Tips for leaning into your niche include the following: 

• Identify your niche audience’s needs. Identify what your target customers need from you and what matters most to them. Consider whether they prioritize resolving issues quickly, a flexible return policy or friendly engagement. For example, if your niche audience includes parents of young children, make product safety paramount.
• Go above and beyond to meet those needs. Do more than expected to fulfill your target audience’s needs and desires. Become an expert in the areas that matter to them. 

4. Add a personal touch to marketing, purchasing and support.

You must emotionally connect with customers to stand out. When they feel a personal connection, they’re more likely to stick around and stay loyal to your brand. For this reason, personalizing your interactions is a great way to differentiate yourself from the competition. 

To use personalization to grow customer relationships, consider the following:

• Personalize your marketing efforts. A personal touch matters in marketing. Whether you sell high-ticket items or general consumer goods, you can add a personal touch to your marketing efforts. For example, the best email marketing services help you personalize correspondence and group email messages by customer segment. Text message marketing efforts are also easy to personalize.
• Personalize customer interactions. To add a personal touch to your customer interactions, you can include thank-you messages in product packaging, send birthday discounts, provide loyalty program rewards and more. The idea is to continue building and maintaining customer relationships.
• Personalize customer service. When customers come to you for help, you have a unique opportunity to exceed their expectations with personalized service. Treat each customer with respect and endeavor to solve their issues quickly and efficiently. Apologizing when your business makes a mistake builds trust and demonstrates accountability. Having ample customer service options — including live chat and chatbot support — is another great way to speed up resolutions and leave customers happy with the interaction. 

5. Use price as a distinguishing factor.

Product or service pricing can be an effective business differentiator. However, using price to distinguish yourself doesn’t always mean offering the lowest price. Today’s market allows various pricing models, including freemium and subscribe-and-save.

Your prices should be competitive, but a race to the bottom doesn’t benefit anyone. You may even consider higher prices if you offer a higher-quality product than your competition.

6. Give your customers options to customize their experience.

According to the 2024 Deloitte Consumer Products Industry Outlook, personalizing the customer experience is vital to profitable growth. In a survey of executives from various industries, 62 percent anticipate a shift from mass production to personalized product offerings to capture consumer interest and attention. 

Customization is key to creating a unique consumer experience. Allowing your buyers to customize their products — and the marketing communications they receive — can be the deciding factor in choosing you over the competition.

7. Highlight social responsibility in your branding.

Social responsibility can be an excellent and worthwhile business differentiator. According to PwC’s 2024 Voice of the Consumer Survey, 46 percent of consumers actively seek out sustainable goods to help minimize their personal impact on the environment. Specifically, 40 percent look for sustainable production methods, 38 percent are drawn to eco-friendly packaging, and 34 percent prioritize companies that positively impact nature and water conservation. Additionally, consumers reported being willing to pay an average of 9.7 percent more for sustainably produced or sourced goods. 

Here’s even more proof you can make a profit and be socially responsible: Data from Structured Retail Products noted products making ESG (environmental, social and governance) claims had sales reaching $9.6 billion in 2023.

Social responsibility can take many forms, including charitable donations, sustainable manufacturing, community programs, and fair benefits and wages for your employees. Demonstrating social responsibility shows your business values people and the planet, not just profit. Patrons want to purchase from companies they feel good about.

8. Move faster to gain a competitive edge.

Delivering products faster than the competition is a product differentiator giving you a distinct advantage. Delivery speed is often a deciding factor in consumer purchases — particularly in the e-commerce space. Customers want their products quickly, and they’ll choose the company delivering the fastest.

Michael Smith, founder of the internet marketing agency Buyergain, emphasized delivering products faster than your rivals provides a significant competitive edge. “Customers today demand quick delivery, and often, it’s the deciding factor in their purchasing decisions — especially in the world of e-commerce,” Smith explained. “Making your delivery as fast as possible and conveying that online on the product page is vital.”

9. Communicate what differentiates you from the competition. 

Communicating your brand differentiators to your target audience is crucial. After all, they won’t know what sets you apart from the competition if you don’t tell them. “Differentiation definitely matters because people are searching for resources that they can trust,” explained Christine Haas, founder of Austin, Texas-based Christine Haas Media. 

While word-of-mouth recommendations from customers are valuable, proactive external communications can help smaller businesses grow and reach a broader audience. Consider sharing your unique value proposition, specialty, and other differentiators via social media, direct communications, marketing materials, and traditional media sources. 

Haas emphasized that earned media, such as interviews with reputable outlets, can build customer trust because it feels more organic and personal. “Being interviewed by the media is an excellent way to stand out,” Haas advised. “[Consumers] are starting to recognize the difference between paid media and earned media.” 

What is product differentiation?

Product differentiation, also called business differentiation, comprises the elements, functions or qualities that make your items or services unique. You may leverage amazing new technology, provide specialty support, create an exceptionally great customer experience, or offer unprecedented product quality — the list goes on. 

The goal of product differentiation is to identify and focus on the specific aspects of your offering that make customers want to buy from you. “In the end, differentiation matters because it’s what makes you memorable,” Hassett explained. “It’s what makes you stand out in the sea of sameness. And in a world where consumers have more choices than ever before, being forgettable is a death sentence.”

Business differentiation is crucial for three primary reasons:

• Product differentiation helps you gain a competitive advantage. Customers will naturally compare your product to similar ones on the market. Know what makes your product or service special to prepare for these comparisons.
• Product differentiation helps you build brand awareness. All aspects of your brand identity, including your logo, brand storytelling, company mission and your product’s unique value, can help build brand awareness. A unique product or service is memorable and can more easily become the topic of conversation.
• Product differentiation helps build consumer relationships. When you differentiate your product or service, you’ll appeal to a specific audience’s needs and desires, helping you sustain and grow customer relationships. 

David Gaz, founder of the Bureau of Small Projects, noted that trying to be all things to all people is a common business mistake when competing with market leaders. “[Some businesses] try to compete at everything,” Gaz explained. “Instead, they should focus on what it is that makes them special, different [and] better, and then shout that to the stars.”

Types of product differentiation

There are three types of product differentiation: vertical, horizontal and mixed. 

• Vertical differentiation: Customers rank their options based on an objective factor, such as feature availability, price or quality. These lists are often sorted from best to worst or vice versa.
• Horizontal differentiation: Customers sort their options based on subjective factors, such as personal preference or taste. Choosing a product based on available color or flavor is an example of horizontal differentiation.
• Mixed differentiation: This differentiation type combines objective and subjective factors. Consumers may evaluate pricing and features alongside their personal preferences. For instance, buying a computer involves mixed differentiation. A customer considers objective factors, like price and necessary features, as well as subjective factors, like the computer’s color or design.

Examples of successful product differentiation

Learn from the example of the following companies that have successfully differentiated their products, leading to a loyal customer base and stellar sales. 

Lush

Differentiators: Sustainable and ethical ingredients, authenticity

Lush is a beauty manufacturer and retailer that sells body lotions, makeup, skincare and bath products. Its products are never tested on animals, and the ingredients are 100 percent plant-based. In addition, 90 percent of its packaging is recyclable. 

Lush eschews the slick packaging and marketing of most beauty brands, opting instead to present a homemade, down-to-earth image. Its stores encourage visitors to try products, demonstrating the company’s confidence in product quality and concern for customer needs.

Trader Joe’s

Differentiators: Unique products, excellent customer care

Trader Joe’s grocery stores have a very different feel from other grocery chains, and it’s working. According to Placer.ai, as of August 2024, the chain experienced an 8.7 percent year-over-year increase in foot traffic, while the grocery industry as a whole only saw a 3 percent increase. 

One reason for its success is its unique convenience foods, which are difficult or impossible to find at competitors’ stores. Most of these beloved products are private label; customers keep coming back for them because they meet their needs for healthy, delicious meals that are easy to prepare.

Trader Joe’s stores have a small footprint, making it easy for customers to find someone to help them. The company’s culture encourages employees to be friendly and helpful to customers. This customer engagement is responsible for Trader Joe’s excellent corporate reputation ranking in the ​​2024 Axios Harris Poll 100. It ranked 13th overall — with a No. 1 ranking in ethics, fourth in citizenship, and sixth in character.

Dr. Squatch 

Differentiators: All-natural ingredients, marketed toward men

Unlike most personal care brands, which specifically target women, Dr. Squatch targets men exclusively. This is evidenced by its strong scents, such as Cypress Coast, Bay Rum and Fresh Falls. The company’s mission is “Raising the bar on men’s personal care products.”

To appeal to Dr. Squatch’s demographic, the company uses humorous long-form videos that have gone viral. Its YouTube channel has over 976,000 subscribers, and some videos have garnered over 120 million views. As a secondary point of differentiation, the company stresses its ingredients are 98 to 100 percent natural and free of harmful substances or estrogenic ingredients like soybean oil or parabens.

Amazon

Differentiators: Huge selection of products, low prices, fast delivery

When Amazon started as an online bookstore, its key differentiator was the number of titles it carried. As it expanded into other product lines, Amazon continued to present customers with a wide range of prices for the same or similar products, largely from third-party sellers. Because sellers compete on the platform, and Amazon has less overhead than physical stores, this drives prices down for customers.

Amazon upped its game in 2005 when it introduced Prime with two-day delivery. Since then, it has offered Prime free one-day delivery on more than 15 million products and even same-day delivery in over 120 U.S. metro areas. Same-day delivery is free to Prime members on orders over $25, offering unparalleled convenience to customers.

Andy Cuneo and Jennifer Dublino contributed to this article.