I start this by letting you know that I am an Apple fan and have been for many years. For whatever reason, I enjoy the products the company produces. Whether it’s the way the computers, iPods, and iPads are designed or the ease I find in using their operating systems, most of the products suit me just fine. So it should be no revelation that, now that the iPhone is available on Verizon, I bought one. In fact, I bought one for my wife, too.

I knew I was going to like the phone; that was a given. However, I was surprised when I opened the box. I am not sure why. I know that Apple is virtually unequalled in the way it packages its products. But again, I was caught off guard. Let me explain.

The box is relatively small — smaller than I would have expected. On the front is a picture of an iPhone. Nothing earth-shattering there. But when you open the box, the phone is right there on top. That’s what you see first… the phone — not the instructions, not packaging, not the ear pods. It results in a sort of unexpected unveiling. Then, when you remove the phone from the box, the accessories are so neatly packed that it is obvious how much attention went into the detail of the packaging.

Does all this matter? It does to me, and I’m sure it does to many others. It matters because Apple is a company that charges a premium for its products. It matters because one aspect of the company’s brand is its design capabilities. It matters because Apple consistently tries to set itself apart from its competition. It matters because there is a lesson here for businesses of all sizes.

I am not saying that you should look to separate your company from your competition by going above and beyond with packaging. But as a marketing coach for solopreneurs, I am saying that there is always a meaningful way to set yourself apart from your competition. There is always a way to do what your competitors cannot or will not do. When those ways make a difference with your target audience you have a tremendous opportunity to further connect with your audience and increase sales. As an added benefit, your clients/customers become cheerleaders and spontaneously initiate positive word-of-mouth marketing for you.

So here’s my question. How have you distanced your company (or how are you going to distance your company) in the eyes of your target audience? I ask because it matters.

As a speaker, author, and client attraction expert, Peter George helps self-employed professionals achieve the success they’ve been striving for. His More Clients More Profits Workbook includes contributions from van Misner, Bob Burg, Susan Roane, Scott Ginsberg & others. Want to attract more clients right away? Claim your free copy of “101 Ways to Attract More Clients” at =>
MoreClientsMoreProfits.com

By Beverly K Taylor Beverly K Taylor
Level: Platinum

Beverly K. Taylor has become very successful with multiple streams of income with Article Internet Marketing and Network Marketing. She is available on a limited …

If you are new to the internet, you probably know the importance of promoting yourself. One of the most cost effective ways of promoting your business is by using article marketing. When you write articles that contain general bits of your expertise in them you build a relationship with your ideal prospects. Building that relationship increases trust between the two of you which eventually will encourage them to buy from you. The best way to quickly develop your article marketing skill is to hire an experienced internet marketing coach. Learn more about how to quickly make money online by regularly using article marketing:

1. Get online and do a search. When you start reading other authors’ articles you’ll see they answer the complaints people from their target market express. By writing general bits of your expertise in your articles, your readers begin to see that you are trustworthy. You are building a relationship with your market. When they read that you can solve their problems using your exclusive expertise, you can make money online. Thus, there is great value to you in regularly using article marketing.

2. Article marketing is a very low cost way of marketing. Even if you need to hire a ghostwriter to do your writing, it is an investment rather than an expense in your efforts to build lasting relationships with your ideal prospect. As you keep letting your ideal prospect know you are there for them, you build trust. Eventually, they will feel so exasperated or desperate about solving their problems they will have to do something different to be relieved of their pain. They will come to you because they have already built up a trusting relationship with you. Thus, regularly using article marketing will net you income when your prospects transform into customers.

3. In your article marketing, sharing your expertise is something only a certain percentage of businesses do. Those who are unwilling to share their expertise in articles feel scared that no one will pay them if they share lots of general knowledge about their expertise. However, they are mistaken because sharing general information about an expertise is giving a sample of that expertise. That is how you build a trusting relationship. It is like going to the grocery store and getting a sample of a new food product. You are more likely to buy that new product if you’ve first sampled it. Make sense?

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Article Submitted On: February 21, 2011