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The Most Important Thing To Do This Year Is Develop Your USPBy Allen Taylor
How long can you go just being the same ol', same ol'? Have you considered changing things a bit? You should. The most important thing to know about being in business for yourself is this: Be unique. That's Shakespeare paraphrased, "To thine own self be true." Remember that high school English class you deplored? You must develop your USP. Unique Selling Proposition. Write it down. Use it. On everything. Your Unique Selling Proposition is the one thing that sets you apart from other businesses in your field. Do you know what that is? What do you enjoy more than anything else? That's a good place to start. Write it down. Now, answer me this. What are you best at? Write it down. Don't forget the competition. Evaluate them. Who are they, where are they, what do they do well? Have you written it down? Starting to get the picture? Your business plan should be in writing. The USP is a critical part of the plan. Write it up and down on everything. Then tell everyone you know. Take those two lists: What you're good at and love to do; who are the competition and what do they do well. Those lists! Now, compare them. Are they the same? If you notice too many similarities between your business and its competition then there's something missing from your USP. It's time to delve deep into that shell of yours and do some brainstorming. Don't settle for mediocrity. Find a niche. What are your competitors leaving undone? Have you asked their customers? Or yours? When all else fails, ask those who will use the goods. Ask, and you will receive. Got an elevator pitch? Write it down. Rehearse it. In front of the mirror. Rehearse it again. With a tape recorder. Did you include your USP? Why not? It's really not hard. Think of something you enjoy and do well, figure out what the competition isn't doing, then move to hole and make it yours. Own it. And, you guessed it, write it down. Tell everyone you know.
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