Should you really “dare to be different” with your marketing efforts?  Or should you rely on what other people are doing in your industry and mimic those ad campaigns?

Small business owners generally have small marketing budgets.  They often feel like there isn’t a lot of room to try out different marketing avenues.  So, instead they throw money at Yellow Pages advertising or put together a website with nice colors and photos.  While this type of marketing might be safe, it is most likely not as effective as it could be.

Don’t be afraid to be different.  In fact, a different form of advertising or a different marketing message will help you stand out from the crowd of competitors in your industry.  Consumers have enough of a challenge trying to find the right product or service that meets their needs.  It doesn’t help that when they open the Yellow Pages, every ad looks the same.

How can you be different?  There are a few ways.  Look at what other people are doing in your field and do the opposite.  Create a free offer that entices prospects to contact you.  Develop a series of videos on the Internet that speaks to the questions going through the mind of your target audience. Jazz up your ads with interesting headlines that capture people’s attention.

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