HOW TO MAKE YOUR BUSINES STAND OUT

There are millions of people vying for our attention every single day. TikTok, YouTube, television, streaming services, Instagram—the list goes on. Everywhere we turn, businesses and individuals are trying to capture a moment of our time. When something is in high demand, competition is fierce.

So how do you stand out? How do you make people notice your brand in a sea of millions?

Before we dive into what will help your business stand out, let’s start with what not to do. It’s often easier to make sure you’re not blending in before worrying about how to rise above the crowd.

WHAT NOT TO DO

1. Weak or Unclear Values

Your values are the foundation of your business. They define why you do what you do and who you do it for. Most businesses have a mission statement and an ideal customer, but that’s not enough. If your values don’t mean anything, why should anyone care?

Ask yourself:

• What gets me out of bed every morning?

• How does my business make the world a better place today?

If your answers sound generic or uninspired, your values are weak. Find something to care about, and care about it deeply.

2. Neglecting Your Brand

Too many people think branding is just a logo and color palette. While those are important, they’re only a small piece of the puzzle. Your brand is the entire experience people have with your business. If your brand is inconsistent or forgettable, people won’t remember you.

Ask yourself:

• Does my brand reflect my values?

• Is my messaging consistent across my website, social media, and customer experience?

If the answer is no, you’re blending in. Every interaction should reinforce your brand identity and make a lasting impression. You can learn more about making a brand here.

3. Chasing Trends Instead of Being Authentic

It’s easy to get caught up in trends. They look like a shortcut to success, but they are often shallow and short-lived. If you constantly chase what’s popular instead of what’s true to your brand, people will see through it.

There’s a time and place for trends, but your core identity should not be one of them. If you don’t have a unique voice, why should customers choose you over your competitors?

WHAT TO DO

1. Develop a Strong and Unique Visual Identity

One of the easiest ways to stand out is through your visual branding. Think of markets that share similar branding. similar color schemes, fonts, or layouts. You’re looking at what not to do.

For example, if you’re an eco-friendly brand, it’s obvious to use green and brown to symbolize nature. But if every other eco-friendly brand does the same, how will yours stand out? A great designer knows that sometimes the best way to differentiate is to make the unexpected choice.

Imagine walking down a grocery aisle filled with green and brown packaging. Suddenly, you see a vibrant orange package. The contrast instantly grabs your attention. That’s the power of differentiation.

It doesn’t have to be just colors either. You can change your tone of voice, typography, textures, etc. The point is for you to make a distinction. “We are us. And they are them.” We zig when they zag.

2. Live by Your Values

Your values should be more than just words on a website. They should be reflected in everything you do.

• Studies show that 81% of customers need to trust a brand before they will spend money with them.

• 52% of consumers buy from brands that align with their beliefs, and 60% share brands they love with others.

• Click here for more brand statistics.

If you want to build trust, make a promise and keep it. If you promise to provide the best customer experience, your service should be flawless. If you claim to make a dull subject interesting, your content should be engaging.

When you don’t have a promise or don’t live up to it, you are hurting your brand and losing out on customers. As I mentioned earlier, find something to care about and care about it deeply. That passion will resonate with the people who need or want your product or service. They'll know that when they need ‘X’, you’re who they should go to.

3. Be Unapologetically Yourself

In a world where businesses try to fit into a mold, embracing what makes you different is a powerful tool. Maybe you have a quirky personality but work in a traditionally boring industry like insurance. It’s easy to embrace the fact that insurance is boring, but if you can make it fun, that’s a big differentiator from your competitors! That contrast is an opportunity!

A great example of this is Liquid Death. They sell water, but instead of blending in with other bottled water brands, they took a completely different approach:

• Their cans look like beer tallboys.

• They use a heavy-metal aesthetic.

• Their tagline is "Murder Your Thirst."

Their brand is bold, distinct, and unforgettable because they leaned into what made them different instead of trying to fit in. On top of that, they value being eco-friendly. They could have easily turned their brand into something calm and serene to make people think of nature and make an impact on the earth. Instead, they chose a different path and made a bold statement that continues to be successful.

4. Be Bold

This is one of the hardest things to do. It’s human nature to want to fit in, to avoid drawing too much attention to ourselves. But if you want your business to succeed, people need to know you exist. If no one notices you, they can’t buy from you.

• Millions of businesses play it safe every single day, and they go unnoticed because of it.

• Taking a risk by doing something different is scary, but as the saying goes, "Fortune favors the bold."

No risk, no reward. You can take a chance by standing out, or you can fade into obscurity like countless other businesses. Either way, you’re taking a risk. So why not take the one with the highest chance of making your brand unforgettable?

Make some people mad. Confuse some people. Create something for someone specific, and do it loudly. You’ll never appeal to everyone, and that’s okay. The goal is to become the go-to brand for your audience. When you do that, your business will thrive.

As a designer who isn’t afraid to make bold decisions, I can help you create a brand that stands out from the noise. If you’re ready to build something memorable, schedule a call with me, and let’s create something worth remembering!