Feedback Form
Home Features Mastermind Forums About Advertise Blog Network Contact Be An Author
Entrepreneur Advice:
John Jantsch
www.ducttapemarketing.com
About John Jantsch

John Jantsch is a veteran marketing coach, award winning blogger and author of Duct Tape Marketing - The World's Most Practical Small Business Marketing Guide (foreword by Michael Gerber, author of The E-Myth) published by Thomas Nelson - due out in the fall of 2006 He is the creator of the Duct Tape Marketing small business marketing system and Duct Tape Marketing Authorized Coach Network. His Duct Tape Marketing Blog was chosen as a Forbes favorite for small business and marketing and is a Harvard Business School featured marketing site. His blog was also chosen as "Best Small Business Marketing Blog" in 2004, 2005 and 2006 by the readers of Marketing Sherpa.



Recent Article:

What Are You Afraid Of?
- For more on John Jantsch visit www.ducttapemarketing.com

Fear is the most basic of human elements and plays a major role in business success and failure.

I spend a great deal of time trying to help business owners understand that one of the most important marketing strategies they must embrace is finding a way to stand out from the crowd. Because this is such a focus for me I can tell you that one of the single greatest fears that many business owners have is being different than everyone else in their industry.

I suppose it goes back to the schoolyard where being different made all but the most independent kids nervous as heck. I find that this goes well beyond simply copying what others in the industry do, it’s a real fear of doing anything that might appear odd. I can tell you right now this fear, and knowing that others in your industry share it, is the single greatest small business marketing opportunity at your disposal.

Here’s an exercise I would like you to tackle. Go to the web site of your four biggest competitors, copy the introductory paragraph from their home page and paste each on a document. Now add the same from your own web site. Lastly, black out any mention of the names of the firms and pass this page around the office or to anyone familiar with your business.

The object of this little game is to see if anyone can identify any of the companies listed, including your own. My experience when I’ve done this is that many business owners struggle even identifying the entry from their own company, but what is usually painfully obvious is that each of the companies is saying essentially the same thing.

I can tell you right now that if the world of prospects can’t tell you apart from your competitors, they will be forced to use price as their only guide.

You must get over the fear of being different and find a way to demonstrate that you serve a very narrow target niche, package your services in unique ways, provide an over the top experience, own a certain way of doing things, do something that someone wants like no one ever thoughts of - and then, proudly declare this difference in every fiber of your communication.

So tell me, how do you stand out, how do you tap the fear of being different?





What Are You Afraid Of - To learn more about this author, visit John Jantsch's Website.

Like this article? Share it with your friends

Article Feedback
 Article Feedback No article feedback found.
  Leave Your Feedback
article feedback

Article Feedback

To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us.


More John Jantsch

Duct Tape Marketing

Small Business Marketing System



Evan Elite Authors
Dianne Crampton  
John Power  
Leanne Hoagland-Smith  
Evan Elite Authors

Become An Author
Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details.
Become An Author

Evan's Latest Video
Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media
Evan's Latest Video

Business Opportunities
"Learn straight from Evan how you can Make a Full Time Income (And More) from a Website"

How to Start An Online Business

Click Here To Learn More
Business Opportunities



Evan's Newsletter
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Name:
Email:
Evan`s Newsletter

Free Downloads
How To Get Media Attention Icon How To Get Media Attention
Definitions of Success Icon Definitions of Success
Instant Brochures Icon Instant Brochures
Fitness Sales Success Icon Fitness Sales Success
The Evolution Of Networking Icon The Evolution Of Networking
Free Downloads - Complete List

Entrepreneur Tools and Guides
Email The Reporters
Email The Reporters
Press Release Builder
 
Top 50 Marketing Blogs
Top 50 Marketing Blogs
Top Marketing Blogs of 2009
 
Entrepreneur Tools and Guides

SEO For Africa
SEO For Africa
Felicia Olaniyin Lagos State, Nigeria,
Felicia Olaniyin
Lagos State, Nigeria
SEO For Africa

If I Were A Startup...
Stephen Pollack, $1.2 to $16.2 Mil in 3 Years
Stephen Pollack
$1.2 to $16.2 Mil in 3 Years
Kerry Shapansky, $2.0 to $51 Mil in 5 years
Kerry Shapansky
$2.0 to $51 Mil in 5 years
If I Were A Startup... - Complete List

Famous Entrepreneurs
Dave Thomas, Wendys
Donald Trump, Trump Org.
Donald Trump
Trump Org.
Famous Entrepreneurs - Complete List

Entrepreneur Advice
Jay Conrad Levinson, Guerilla Marketing
Jay Conrad Levinson
Guerilla Marketing
John Jantsch, Duct Tape Marketing
John Jantsch
Duct Tape Marketing
Entrepreneur Advice - Complete List

Popular Articles
(Premium Authors)

     The emerging marketing choice: fame or respect
By Mark Di Somma
     Brand talking: Wrapping your brand around Word of Mouth
By Mark Di Somma
     The new marketing question. Will they follow?
By Mark Di Somma

Have A Suggestion?
Toronto Salsa Classes / Toronto Salsa Lessons Email us your ideas on how to make our website more valuable! Thank you Sharon from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for your suggestions to make the newsletter look like the website and profile younger entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs!
Have A Suggestion?

More Evan Carmichael
More Information