Network Magazine Autumn 2020 | Page 15

STEP 3. Bravely differentiate Now, let’s pull all of this data together in order to build a powerful list of current differentiators for your business. EXERCISE 4 • Start with the list you made above of the main products, services and tools that you currently provide. • Compare each item on your list to: a) your target customer’s leading goals, challenges, and ultimate experience b) the current offerings of your leading competitors. • Write a vivid, clear, well differentiated description of how each of your product offerings is: a) truly unique from your competitors and their product/ service offerings b) a standout as the leading option within your marketplace c) a better suited option for your ideal customer in order to address both their goals and pain points. STEP 4. Calibrate every element of your marketing Once you have clearly defined these differentiators for your brand, you must use them to calibrate each area of your marketing so that your potential customers are immediately aware of why your businesses is best suited to meet their needs. I recommend focusing on three main areas: 1. Website and SEO When a potential client arrives on your website for the very first time, you have less than 10 seconds to capture their interest and convince them to stay on your site. Therefore, it is critical that the content (text, photos, badges, press, etc) at the top of your homepage clearly expresses your leading differentiators. To test this, pull up your homepage on your phone and ask a stranger to tell you their first impressions about the services which your business provides to clients. If they name one of your differentiators, you know that you are on the right path. If not, then there is work to be done. The tool SEO Minion can be used to guarantee that search engine indexes are recognising your key differentiators as well. 2. Social media The same rule applies for all of your social media platforms. Make sure that your descriptions, photos, and posts consistently circle back to your leading differentiators and the defining qualities of your brand. 3. Social proof Social proof is a representation of the influence your business has on your customers, and it often describes their experiences while using your products and services. Examples include testimonials, reviews, endorsements, customer counts, and accolades. With 86% of customers reading some form of online review before making a purchase, it is ideal that your social proof also drives home your key list of differentiators and that it is thoroughly spread throughout all of your marketing methods (i.e. website, social media and paid EXERCISE 5 • List the most important change you need to make to your website homepage in order to better represent your leading differentiators. • List one upgrade you can make to your leading social media platform in order to better represent your leading differentiators. • List a new weekly habit which you should adopt in order to gather more valuable social proof for your brand and include it in your marketing. advertising). When you can identify exactly what it is about you and your service that differentiates you from your local competition, you can actively promote your unique selling points in all of your marketing and appeal specifically to your ideal customer. Billy Polson Billy is a fitness entrepreneur, an international presenter and a business consultant for trainers and gym owners. In 2004 he founded DIAKADI Fitness, awarded the San Francisco Bay Area’s ‘Top Trainers/Gym’ for 13 straight years. The Business Movement, Billy’s fitness entrepreneur education program, has assisted hundreds of fitness business owners with developing powerful brands and maximising their success. FILEX 2020 POSTPONED Billy was scheduled to share his wealth of fitness business insights at this year's FILEX fitness industry convention in May. The event has been postponed due to government restrictions on large gatherings that have been put in place to reduce the impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus. CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST INFO ON THE EVENT NETWORK AUTUMN 2020 | 15