As more and more of the female population decides to start a business, it gets harder to stand out amongst other women entrepreneurs. However, it can be done. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.
Utilize Social Media
Social media can be used for so much more than keeping in touch with friends and family. Create pages for both yourself and your business on multiple social media sites (Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, etc.). Then, share content that shows off the things that you have to offer.
Be sure to highlight ways that you are different than your competition. For example, if you’re the only day care service in your town that also provides transportation, be sure to bring that up in your posts.
Keep Your Promises
Clients and customers alike will notice when you deliver on every aspect of a promise that you make to them. Make sure that you finish everything that you start, and that you get it done in a timely manner. People remember that you were true to your word, and keep that in mind when deciding who to do business with in the future.
Go the Extra Mile
Doing more than is expected of you when working with clients or customers is a sure way to set yourself and your business apart from competitors in your field. If you can offer an extra feature or service that your competitors don't, that's an excellent point to make when trying to “sell” yourself to potential customers.
Give Out Free Samples
People tend to get pretty excited about the idea of getting something for free. Consider investing in promotional objects like pens, mouse pads, t-shirts, or fridge magnets. It may not seem like much, but gifts like this with your logo on them can go a long way toward setting yourself apart from your peers.
Listen to Feedback
Even if you are successful when you launch your business, you won't be able to keep up with the changing landscape if you aren't able to adapt as a business owner. Take every opportunity that you can to collect feedback from customers and other businesses that you work with.
One way to do this is to provide customers with a satisfaction survey, either in person or via email. Make sure to include a section that lets the customer fill in suggestions on how you could improve your service. Not only will this give you an idea of how you can do better, it also lets your customers know that their opinion matters to you.
These are just a few ways to help to ensure that you stand out among the sea of female entrepreneurs. Yes, competition is fierce. But, that doesn't mean you can't be successful. With perseverance and due diligence, chances are you'll realize continued growth along your well-deserved journey to success.