I just got back from a little trip up north with my wife. We were celebrating her birthday. We visited some amazing places and I have to say, Victoria, BC, has some of the nicest people that live and work there I’ve ever come across (aside from the nut that about t-boned us at an intersection in Sydney).
While in Seattle, we stayed at a hotel that was evidently on the local tour bus route.
It was interesting to see the various tour companies *waddle* by. (More on that in a moment.)
I observed something very important, very critical about businesses in general. I knew it before, but saw first-hand, the results of…
THEME-ING
a business.
Here’s what I mean: I saw two different tour businesses operating. One was operated by Gray Line, an international tour and transportation outfit. The other, Ride the Ducks of Seattle. Just the names tell you something, eh?
Here are the links to their websites in same order:
After you check out their websites, which would YOU rather do business with – you know, give your hard-earned money to?
Here’s what I observed over more than one day: The DUCKS were FULL every single time they went by – maybe 4 an hour went by. They were packed to the gills (sorry, couldn’t resist).
Gray Line – Less than HALF full – even on their double-decker, open-platform buses!
There’s a lot of marketing/positioning lessons here. I’m not suggesting you turn your business into a “duck.” I am however, insisting you examine what you could do differently to stand out and generate referrals from others, just by the nature of your being what you are!
It’s a hard differentiation for most folks to make work. Those that do, are busy year-round, regardless of what the economy is doing – because they are different and they are good at letting others know!
This is truly a Business Anarchist’s approach!
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