What Is a Unique Selling Proposition?
Jahagirdar Sanjeev
Technical Director at Integrated Quality Services & Solutions
A unique selling proposition (USP) urges business owners to be very specific regarding what they want to be known for. Rather than being known for offering everything, like the lowest prices and the best quality, a USP targets a specific quality. Understanding how to create a unique selling proposition can be an important step for your business.
First,Different types of USPs. There are many different ways to differentiate your product or service from the competition, and your USP should be tailored to your specific target audience. For example, some common types of USPs include:
Second, USPs from different industries. Develop a USP for their own business, regardless of the industry they are in.
Third, Importance of communicating your USP effectively. Once you have developed a strong USP, you need to make sure that you are communicating it clearly and concisely to your target audience. This can be done through your marketing materials, website, and sales pitch.
What is a unique selling proposition? A USP represents what your business stands for. It is a quality that sets your business apart from the competition. Choosing a highly specific unique selling proposition is key to creating a focused marketing strategy that carries a cohesive message across copywriting, branding, campaigns and other marketing tools. When you have a clear USP, your target customer will be able to answer one important question about your business: What makes it different from the competition? There are four USP pegs on which you can focus your marketing strategy. Known as the four Ps of marketing, they include: Product characteristics Price structure Placement strategy (location and distribution) Promotional strategy What makes a strong USP? Creating a strong USP is key to inviting the right audience to your product or service. Follow the below points to come up with a unique selling proposition: 1. Start thinking like your ideal customer:?Identifying your target audience will make it easier for you to understand what your customer needs.?
To do this, answer the following questions: What does my ideal customer really want? How can what I offer help to solve my ideal customer's problems? What motivates my ideal customer to make a purchase? Why do my existing customers choose my product over those of my competitors?
2. Explain to your ideal customers how you can solve their problems:?Your ideal buyer wants you to solve their problems. This goes beyond simple needs as the problem is usually far more complex. For example, designer brands aren't simply selling clothes. They are selling their ideal buyers a luxury lifestyle with their high-range fashion pieces. An airline is not simply selling flights, but it is selling luxury and comfort in the sky.?When you have a firm grasp of who your ideal customer is, then you can start coming up with the best unique selling proposition to solve their complex problem. 3. Become a must-have in the eyes of your customers:?Tell your ideal buyers exactly what you plan on giving them. For example, years ago, FedEx's slogan was, “when it absolutely, positively has to be there overnight." This slogan distinguished the company from the many others out there. It told customers exactly what they could expect from FedEx. That's when customers knew that they needed FedEx to solve their shipping problems.
Best practices of USP The three-step process for a strong unique selling proposition is an important process for your marketing strategy. When working on this process, it is important to keep the following best practices in mind to come up with an effective unique selling proposition. These are: 1. Focus on value:?When you are coming up with a unique selling proposition, avoid simply going for something unique. Instead, focus on what your ideal buyer values. It could be an eco-friendly quality, friendly service, cozy luxury or more. 2. Embody your slogan:?Your slogan should be represented in every aspect of your business, not simply in what you are selling. For example, if your buyer is choosing your product because it is made from recyclable bottles, then your manufacturing space should also represent this slogan by implementing a recycling-friendly environment. 3. Do your research:?When coming up with your unique selling proposition, it is good practice to do extensive research to see what your competitors are doing. Be aware of the unique selling propositions of your competitors and what the trends are. 4. Focus on prospect research:?Besides market research, it is also helpful to focus on prospect research to see what people have already said about products similar to yours. Look for complaints. These same complaints may help you come up with a strong unique selling proposition. Look for complaints in every area of your competitors' business — from the product to delivery and returns. For example, people buying eco-friendly beauty products could complain that the range of colors isn't as varied compared to those that are not eco-friendly. With this in mind, you can address their complaint and have that be your unique selling proposition. 5. Work on your SEO:?Your ideal buyer will use specific keywords to find the product or service that will solve their problem. For example, “organic luxury fashion." Keyword research is important for other aspects of your online business — mainly so that you can rank higher on the search engine results page (SERP) and be found by your target audience. However, knowing what your keywords are can also help you come up with the best slogan to address your unique selling proposition. 6. Use your customer's language:?If you know your ideal buyer, then you should know how your ideal buyer communicates. When you are coming up with your content, you should use the same language as your ideal customer. So, if your buyers are experts, speak the language. If your buyers are young, communicate in a way that resonates with them. Always be careful when educating your buyers. You should be helpful but never condescending. 7. Keep away from cliches:?Avoid using cliches when coming up with your unique selling proposition. A cliche means a phrase has been overused and it is unlikely to appeal to your buyers. For example, when selling the features of your hotel, avoid the “relax by the pool” cliche. It's obvious and it has been done. Instead, talk about the state-of-the-art spa or the award-winning hotel restaurant. 8. Use the active voice:?The active voice is shorter, clearer and stronger than the passive voice, so use it when you are writing your content. A famous and strong slogan with an active voice is Nike's “Just do it.”
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Deep insight on the importance of USPs
A USP is important because it helps to differentiate your product or service from the competition. It gives customers a reason to choose your business over the others. A strong USP can also help you to attract new customers, increase sales, and build brand loyalty.
Here are some of the specific benefits of having a USP:
How to develop a strong USP
To develop a strong USP, you need to start by understanding your target audience and their needs. What are they looking for in a product or service like yours? What problems are they trying to solve? Once you have a good understanding of your target audience, you can start to think about how your product or service can meet their needs in a unique way.
Here are a few tips for developing a strong USP:
Once you have developed a USP, you need to make sure that you are communicating it clearly and concisely to your target audience. This can be done through your marketing materials, website, and sales pitch.
Conclusion
A USP is an important part of any successful business.?If you can develop a USP that meets all of these criteria, you will be well on your way to creating a successful marketing strategy.