How to Stand out as a Solopreneur

May 23, 2018

Have you ever struggled to be unique but ended up scanning the web for successful solopreneurs and “stealing” their ideas? Don’t worry if this happened to you, because those who are just starting out experience the same thing.

It’s actually a good thing to look around for inspiration. But realize that sooner, you need to establish something of your own. Having that unique value proposition helps customers distinguish your solopreneur business from the competition.

So, how to get started? Read the tips below.

Ways to Stand out as a Solopreneur

Define your target audience

Would you want the entire world to become your customer? Even if you do, that will never be possible. Solopreneurs who fail to define who their target customers are, try to be everything to everyone. The result is that they deliver mixed messages, diluting their brand in the process.

Carve out time to hone in on your audience. What is their age group? Income level? Hobbies? Interests? Answering these questions helps you create a detailed profile.

Overcome common objections.

Now that you have a clear picture of your ideal customer, surely you’ve figured out probable reasons why they’ll hesitate to avail your services.

Whatever their objections are, whether it’s a lack of money, technical knowledge, or time, make sure to address them as you present your offer. Remember that standing out requires that you make the customer journey as easy as possible.

Choose a sub-niche.

The other day, I read Russell Brunson’s Expert Secrets and there he explained the Blue Ocean strategy and why it helps you win in your online business. This technique basically entails targeting a very specific population in a niche (instead of following the niche that almost everybody targets).

For example, weight loss for women is a niche, while weight loss for women who are stay-at-home-moms is a sub-niche. This makes your marketing materials and messages slightly different than the bigger weight loss niche.

Targeting a sub-niche is a brilliant strategy for many reasons. Not only does it help you stand out, it also creates more opportunities for building deeper connections and conversions.

Be transparent

The biggest challenge that you might face as a solopreneur is being real. Label Insight’s study reveals that 94% of respondents are more likely to be loyal to a brand if it is transparent. A powerful way to use transparency is to show “behind-the-scenes” content. Give your audience a video tour of your office. Facebook Live allows you to be transparent in real-time - no edits, no filters.

I know that many business owners (including myself) would rather keep matters to themselves. But remember that there is always a right time and place to show the details and I promise you that it will be worth it.

Final Thoughts

Standing out can be difficult for beginners, but these tips should help you as a solopreneur. Did you have experience with such struggle? If so, feel free to share it in the comments below.