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God and Me! 3 (Ages 6-9)
God and Me! 3 (Ages 10-12)

Devotional books for girls

God and Me! 3 (Ages 6-9) and God and Me! 3 (Ages 10-12)

Packed with fun, Bible-based stories and activities that equip girls to grow closer to God and discover promises for their lives.

Available at any Christian bookstore or online through Legacy Express or amazon.

 

38 Ways You Are Different

“I want to show the reader that my organization stands out,” my client said as we discussed an upcoming fundraising letter. “He’ll want to invest in us because he sees how effective we are – that we meet a need that he cares about – and that we’re different than anyone else.”

Without realizing it, my client nailed THE most critical principle in successful promotion: identifying your Unique Selling Proposition (U.S.P.). Your U.S.P. is what distinguishes you from similar businesses or organizations. It shouts out your distinctives.

Today’s consumer is constantly bombarded with opportunities to plunk down his hard-earned cash. Why should he contribute to your cause more than anyone else’s? Your U.S.P. shows that your product or service is the only one that fills a particular niche.

Use the questionnaire below to help you compile a list of your product or organization's distinctives. Then, choose one or two of them – the most unique, overriding, compelling benefits –  and you’ll have your U.S.P.  Place your U.S.P. front and center in every piece of collateral material your organization produces.

But don’t toss the remaining benefits (such as special offers, secondary services and unique features). They are your supporting players. Weave them into your documents. And spotlight them periodically in specific promotions alongside your U.S.P. – in important fundraising appeals, on web pages or in brochures, for example.

Distinctives between you and your competition
1. How is your organization different from your closest competition?
2. What additional features does your product/service have?
3. What features are better in your product/service?
4. What features are more effective in your product/service?
5. Do you offer a competitive price/value for your product/service?
6. How does your product/service excel in quality?

Distinctive needs your product meets
7. What physical needs/desires does your organization meet?
8. What emotional needs/desires does your organization meet?
9. How does your organization meet those needs/desires in a special way?
10. What specific/timely event(s) does your organization address?

Demographic distinctives
11. Within a certain geographical radius, are you the only/among the few organizations that offer your type of product?
12. What particular age group, gender or income level finds appeal in your service?
13. What secondary demographic group finds appeal in your service?
Customer service distinctives
14. In what ways are your customer care representatives known for their personal, courteous, go-the-extra mile services?
15. What kinds of contact methods do you offer (website, 24/7 hotline, toll-free number, e-mail)?
16. Do you offer advice and technical support?
17. In what ways do you offer confidentiality?
18. How fast can you deliver your product or answer an inquiry?
19. Do you offer a range of payment methods and plans?
20. In what other ways do you excel in customer service?

Distinctive offers and deals
21. What kinds of discounts to you offer?
22. Do you provide free or discounted shipping?
23. Are you known for unique, special premium gifts?
24. Do you offer value-added incentives (free information, newsletters, complimentary services)?

Staff distinctives
25. How do your staff members’ special skills make your organization more attractive?
26. How does your staff members’ unique training/experience enhance your organization?
27. How does their passion or excitement for your product augment your effectiveness?

Track record distinctives
28. How long have you successfully been in business?
29. If you are new, how do you explain your success in such a short time?
30. What are your success statistics?
31. What are your customer satisfaction statistics?
32. What do clients or customers say about your organization?
33. Do you have any celebrity endorsements?

Visionary distinctives
34. Is your product/service visionary in any way?
35. Are you on the forefront of a trend?
36. Do you find that your product/service is not duplicated elsewhere – or only in a cursory way?
37. Do you repeatedly develop new approaches, services and products to stay on the cutting edge?
38. In what ways is your product/organization a calling as well as a business?  

 

About the author
Kathy Widenhouse (www.kathywidenhouse.com) is a freelance development writer who specializes in producing materials for the faith-based, nonprofit market. She also provides strategic consultation to help nonprofits get their message out and get results. Kathy’s 90+ articles have appeared in more than 40 periodicals, and she has written 5 books.