Whether you are a small business owner or a major corporation, your growing eCommerce store needs to stand out from the competition to succeed. It’s not enough to simply have a nice looking storefront with quality products and good service. You need to find ways to differentiate yourself from competitors and make your brand unique.

Here are 15 different ways you can do just that.

1. Offer Unique Products

If you want to stand out from the competition, you need to offer unique products. This could mean developing your own products, partnering with exclusive brands, or simply curating a selection of hard-to-find items. Whatever approach you take, the goal is to offer something that nobody else does. This will not only help you attract new customers, but it will also keep existing customers coming back for more. So if you’re looking to take your business to the next level, start by offering products that are truly unique.

For example, imagine if, instead of selling high-quality glassware for weddings and parties, your company created glassware that was made from recycled materials. Or perhaps instead of selling logoed T-shirts, your company offered custom printed ones — not just any old tee shirt in an array of colors but one that had been designed specifically for them.

These are just two examples of how businesses can offer unique products in their lineups. The point is: think outside the box when creating new offerings for your customers while also making sure these offerings align with market needs. 

2. Establish Yourself as an Expert

Positioning yourself as an expert in your industry is a great way to differentiate your brand and build trust with shoppers. You can do this by creating helpful content like blog posts, infographics, and video tutorials. You can also offer free resources like eBooks and email courses.

To establish yourself as an expert, you need to provide something that is both useful and unique. For example, you could provide a list of tips for using the product or service you’re selling. This can help customers who are interested in buying from you but aren’t sure how to use your product or service.

Another great way to establish yourself as an expert is to place content on other websites. Becoming a guest contributor shows your audience that you are endorsed and considered highly credible by other parties and sites, and they value what you have to say. 

3. Give Back to the Community

Every business has the opportunity to give back to the community in some way. For example, you could donate a portion of your profits to a charity or non-profit of your choice. This would help you connect with shoppers who care about social responsibility and make your brand feel more human. Alternatively, you could volunteer your time or expertise to a local non-profit. This is a great way to build goodwill and connect with your community. Whatever way you choose to give back, remember that even small actions can make a big difference, so long as you make it a priority. 

4. Focus on Customer Service

If you want your business to succeed, you need to focus on customer service. In today’s world, shoppers have high expectations for customer service. If you want to stand out from the crowd, make sure you’re providing an exceptional experience at every touchpoint, from pre-purchase research all the way through post-purchase follow-up. 

There are a few key things you can do to make sure your customer service is up to par. First, make sure your employees are trained well and have all the resources and tools they need to do their jobs. Second, invest in technology that will help streamline the customer service process and make it more efficient, all while tracking KPIs for customer success. This includes chatbots, email marketing, or a ticketing system that allows you to keep track of each inquiry. Finally, always be prepared to go the extra mile for your customers – remember, they are the lifeblood of your business!

5. Develop a Strong Visual Identity

Treat your digital branding as a first impression you leave on potential customers. Your visual identity is how shoppers perceive your brand aesthetically. This includes everything from your logo and color scheme to your website design and social media presence. Make sure your visuals are on point and reflect the unique personality of your brand.

For example, if you’re a bakery selling seasonal pastries, you could use a logo that’s reminiscent of a fresh-baked loaf of bread. You could also use bright colors like green or blue for the spring and summer months when there are more vegetables available at the farmer’s market.

6. Create Compelling Content

Good content does more than just fill up space on a website or blog; it engages the reader, offers them education, and compels them to take action. Whether you’re trying to sell a product, promote a service, or simply build brand awareness, your content needs to be interesting and informative. Most importantly, it needs to be relevant to your target audience. 

Start by understanding who your audience is and what they’re interested in, then craft content that speaks to their needs. Talk to your sales team to determine the common questions leads present and reach out to your customer support department for their input as well. These two teams speak directly with important segments of your audience: potential customers and customers and can offer a wealth of information regarding what sort of content may be needed to address their issues, pain points, and needs. 

7. Tell a Story

Everybody loves a good story, so why not make yours part of your branding? Share the story of how your business got started, what drives you, and what sets you apart from the competition. This will humanize your brand, help shoppers connect with you on a personal level, and make them more likely to remember you when they need what you sell.

8. Have a Voice

Your voice is your most powerful tool when it comes to marketing your business. It should be clear, consistent, and reflect the personality of your brand. Your voice should be present in all of your marketing materials, from your website to your social media posts. When you have a strong voice, you give your customers a reason to choose you over your competitors. They know what to expect from you, and they can trust that you’ll deliver on your promises. So don’t be afraid to use your voice to stand out from the crowd – it could be the key to success.

A good example of this is Airbnb, which has created an identity around being the largest community-driven hospitality website (and app). Its brand identity has been shaped around its mission: “To create a world where anyone can belong anywhere.” They make it incredibly easy for people to book unique places to stay (owned and rented out by other individuals) that offer a more personalized experience filled with ambiance and one-of-a-kind features. 

9. Be Active on Social Media

Second to having a website, being active on social media is mandatory. So many people use social media that it makes for a great place to engage and attract the attention of your audience. 

While it’s a great way to connect with shoppers and build relationships with potential customers, it’s also a great way to show off what makes your brand special. Share behind-the-scenes photos, highlight your unique products, and give shoppers a peek into the day-to-day of your business. Social media posts can do more than your website because your audience can actually engage with what you post. 

Besides posting, make sure you track results with a social media report. By checking in on various stats and performance metrics, you can determine how well your efforts are doing and what you need to improve upon. 

10. Participate in Tradeshows and Events

Trade shows and events offer a unique opportunity to connect with potential customers and build buzz around your brand. By participating in these events, you can get people talking about what you do, generate leads, and find new customers. In addition, tradeshows and events provide a great opportunity to network with other businesses, learn about new products and trends, and find new suppliers. If you’re looking for a way to get noticed and grow your business, consider adding these marketing events to your schedule. 

11. Create an Affiliate Program

An affiliate program is a great way to get your brand in front of new audiences. When you partner with other brands, they promote your products or services to their customers in exchange for a commission. This is a win-win because it helps you reach new shoppers without doing any extra work. And it gives you that great third-party credibility. 

12. Offer Incentives

There’s no denying that everyone loves a good deal. Whether it’s a discount, free shipping, or a free gift with purchase, an incentive is always appreciated. And when it comes to shopping, an incentive can make all the difference. After all, why would someone buy from you if they can get the same thing elsewhere for less? 

By offering an incentive, you’re giving shoppers a reason to choose your store over others. Plus, it shows that you’re generous and willing to go the extra mile for your customers. 

13. Focus on Customer Reviews

Customer reviews can be extremely helpful for eCommerce businesses. Positive reviews can help build trust and credibility, which can encourage others to buy from you. You can make it easy for customers to leave reviews by including links on your product pages and sending follow-up emails after purchases. Additionally, you can use social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook to connect with customers, answer questions, and resolve problems. Another option is to use contact center software to automatically collect customer reviews from different channels.

By engaging with customers on social media, you will show that you care about their experience and are committed to providing excellent service. All of these things taken together can be extremely helpful in boosting your business.

14. Offer a Great User Experience

There is a list of must-haves for every eCommerce site, and a positive user experience is one of them. If your website is hard to navigate or slow to load, customers will quickly become frustrated and go elsewhere. This could mean disaster for your sales. 

To make sure your eCommerce website is user-friendly, design the site with the user in mind. Think about where they may want to go or what they may want to find once they land on your site. Map out your navigation and make sure it translates well on all devices.  

15. Measure Success

Finally, don’t forget to measure the success of your efforts! Track metrics like website traffic, conversion rate, and customer satisfaction. This will help you determine what’s working and what needs to be improved.

When measuring success, we recommend doing so at least every month or quarter. This will show you how you’re improving over time and can help you uncover any specific action or strategy that is working exceptionally well at increasing conversions. 

There are lots of ways to differentiate your eCommerce brand. By offering unique products, establishing yourself as an expert, giving back to the community, and focusing on customer service, you’ll be well on your way to standing out from the crowd. So get out there and start building your brand!