As a business owner, you know that delivering a compelling customer experience is key to success. If you are not attracting new customers and keeping the ones you already have, your sales are likely declining.

How can you attract customers? Obviously, you must offer a quality product or service. If you don’t, your efforts here are the business equivalent of the old “putting lipstick on a pig” cliché.

However, let’s assume that what you’re offering is equal or superior to your rivals. Here are seven of the most effective methods to attract customers:

1. Don’t focus on the competition: centering on what you do best means there will be no confusion about what you offer. The first Cornerstone of Distinction is Clarity for this important reason.
2. Create unique solutions: customer wants are constantly changing – that’s why it is vital to create products and services that anticipate customer needs better than anyone else. If you’re exactly like everyone else, there’s no compelling reason for customers and prospects to select you over your competition. Dare to be distinctive!
3. Use social media engagement: connect with your customers on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc. This is a required method in today’s world to demonstrate your knowledge of current trends and customer concerns (as well as a great way to show that you enjoy helping others).
4. Use technology: this can be in the form of mobile marketing, email marketing, social media engagement, website design/maintenance, use of AI, etc. There is a myriad of tools in today’s world to help automate selected customer contact and ensure ongoing connection and speedy response time.
5. Be on-trend: it’s not worth it to hire a graphic designer or web developer unless you’ll also hire them to update and refine your website and social media messaging. You must stay constantly on-trend and on-target. Don’t get stuck with irrelevant information; this is a turn-off for customers who want to make the most of current tools and developments.
6. Have an extraordinary customer service team: if people don’t like your product or service – or if they love your product or service — they will talk about it. (Naturally, they will talk either positively or negatively, depending on their experience.) Make certain that your staff is friendly and knowledgeable about all aspects of your business. Creating and delivering the Ultimate Customer Experience® is critical for customer attraction and retention.
7. Be patient: this is so challenging for hard-charging entrepreneurs and corporate leaders. Simply remember the old saying, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” It will take effort and time to make this critical difference that will attract customers to your business. Give yourself (and your business) the time and effort it needs to grow.

To make a difference, you must be distinctive! Consider these seven ideas as your starting point toward your efforts to create distinction!