Find new business opportunities

Marketing your business' unique selling proposition

Guide

A unique selling proposition (USP) is closely related to competitive advantage. A successful USP articulates the benefits of your products, service or brand to customers, and explains why they are superior to those of a competitor.

How do I create a USP for my business?

Creating a USP begins with conducting comprehensive market research and analysing the opportunities that your competitors aren't currently exploiting. It then involves identifying what it is that differentiates you in the market.

The point of differentiation can be anything - from the lowest cost to the highest quality, exceptional customer service or a new, one-of-a-kind, product or service.

Your USP will be entirely unique to your business. The key thing is that it explains to customers what makes your business a better choice and why they should choose you over a competing business.

Importance of USP in marketing

Your USP statement will likely be integral to your marketing. Businesses often communicate their USP by creating:

  • tailored marketing campaigns
  • attractive advertisement
  • a memorable statement (eg a tagline or a slogan)

You can also express your USP in your business' positioning statement, explaining how your offering meets a particular customer need in a way that your competitors don't.

Strategies to promote your business USP

There are many cost-effective ways to communicate your business' unique selling points. You can:

Whatever way you choose to communicate it, a unique selling proposition is an essential marketing tool to get the attention of potential customers and compete to win business.