You offer a great product or service, right? :-)

Chances are, you are not alone...unique...the only one offering the products and services you offer. So how do you stand out -- differentiate yourself from others?

1. SPECIALIZATION.
Pick a well-defined niche of clients or issues you are good with AND that you have opportunities to reach. A niche you can't reach...can't pay you. List out all the various target groups you might like to reach and then rank them first in order of your desire to work with them and then (going across) in order of how easy it would be for you to reach them. For instance, at The Successful Practice Institute at Eastern College, we help PROFESSIONALS in private practice or with a business. That rules out a lot of business people, which is okay, because we can REACH professionals. They "hang out" in their various specialties both online and off, and we can offer practice-building help just for them. However, lots of other small business people "lurk" on our newsletter because many of our strategies and tools will work for any business. But we don't GO AFTER our non-target groups.

2. QUALITY LEADER.
If you aren't the only one, at least be the BEST at it -- and known for being the best. This strategy requires not only competence but also lots of public relations. You have to create "buzz" about yourself. You have to get on talk shows, be quoted in the media, write articles, etc.. Referral/word of mouth marketing will also help here as clients and customers talk about you.

3. PICK A GREAT NAME.
If you're clever, your name will help you stand out. You can name your firm or business itself in a way that stands out, or a service you provide, like "The 30-Day Financial Recovery Program" which INSTANTLY tells people what they'll get and how long it will take.

4. AFFINITY POSITIONING.
     Aligning yourself with a well-defined target group is a great idea. It helps to build instant trust. Let's say you've gone from being an accountant to consulting with accounting firms on some aspect of the business. You can describe yourself as "From an accountant who's been there, done that, and knows exactly what to do now." Or, if you offer a business opportunity, it would be great to reach the people who do the kind of J.O.B. that you do every day, and show them how it fits what they already know to do.

5. JOINT VENTURE.
Establish as many partnerships as you possibly can. The internet makes that easy. Just tonight I sent an email to someone with a large newsletter list suggesting he sell my 6-Figure Practice Blueprint, and I sell his main book or video package for 50% commission. It's not the hassle of an affiliate program but it could mean a quick few hundred dollars for both of us.

6. METHOD OF DISTRIBUTION.
You can stand out by HOW you deliver your products or professional services. If you deliver consultation over the phone, or just-in-time desktop computer training, or personal home visits as my masseur does (so much more convenient, especially AFTER the massage when I'm ready to go straight to bed and often do!), those are things you ought to emphasize.

7. CONTINUITY/MEMBERSHIP.
In the U.S., the "Book-of-the-Month Club" made continuity programs famous. People would usually get 4 books for $1.00, then they would receive a book a month for a certain price. What was nice about this is that you sell people ONCE, then they keep paying you every month. This is residual income without a MLM format (which you may or may like). Access to a members- only website is a great way to do this strategy online. Of course, you've got to have lots of value on that site. The Warriors, Cookie Cutter, Wilson Web and many others are making lots of money with this concept (our Institute also).

8. FULL-SERVICES.
Think of what you sell as "problem solving." Your product or service solves a problem people have. Too many Internet marketers are trying to sell either ONE thing or a HODGE-PODGE of things.

Here's a better idea. Offer EVERYTHING your prospects need to solve the problem you solve. If it's internet marketing, then offer books, links, resources, software, everything dealing with net marketing. If it's building a business, then offer not just the latest "hot" book, but consulting, teleclasses, directory of specialists, legal forms, templates -- everything entrepreneurs need to build their business. What you can't offer yourself you can get others to offer (for a percentage of their fees).

9. INNOVATION.
One key strategy is to offer clients or customers very innovative approaches to solving their problems. In this strategy, you would be known as offering people the very latest approaches to reaching their goals, and can position yourself against the competition by saying something like, "We don't give you the same tired old answers. We give you the absolute latest and best approaches to...based on our continuing research and experimentation...etc., etc.."

10. LOW PRICE.
This one's tried and true, but only when price really matters. Frankly, I'd suggest using this one LAST, because it's hard to make significant income with very low-priced items.

SO WHAT DO I PICK?
Wow! Big question. Here are 3 quick guidelines.

• 1. Which strategies felt like the EASIEST to do? Take the path of least resistance. Do anything that will be both effective and easy to do. Do the harder stuff -- if ever -- once you have a steady, high income.
• 2. Which strategies felt like YOU -- the person you are trying to express in your profession or business. I put a high value on personal integrity, on being true to your real Self, not merely chasing dollars and clients.
• 3. Which strategies do your CLIENTS or CUSTOMERS WANT? If they could design their perfect product or service in your area of specialty, would they want? Write THEIR wish list. Then see which of those you want to do and feel you can do.