Position your Online Business

Aug 3
21:00

2004

Ade Ajayi

Ade Ajayi

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There is a place where you, your business or your products and services can stand and ... will see you and you will be able to see them. And there is a place where you can stand and opportun

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There is a place where you,Position your Online Business Articles your business or your products and services can stand and opportunities will see you and you will be able to see them. And there is a place where you can stand and opportunities will not be able to see you and you will not be able to see them.

I should emphasize that the way your customer thinks about you and your products will determine his behavior towards you. If you are not in your customer’s thoughts, it will be difficult for you to be part of his life. Your customer’s perception matters. He must see your product as the product of choice. You must realize that your customer’s perception of you will determine what he will say about you to his friends, colleagues and relatives. Some of the most powerful advertisement you will ever get may be from people who have never made contact with you, but who have a very good perception of you. They tend to exaggerate when they recommend you to others. Remember, you get the best result when you are the first to get into the customer’s mind in your category.

BE THE STANDARD

When you are able to get into the customer’s mind first, and you maximize that position, you become identified with your category as a whole. For example, it is usual for people to say, “I want to buy Coke” when they want to buy a cola drink even if it is not of the Coca-Cola brand. Same for Xerox in photo-copying, people want to “Xerox it”

When your position is that strong, it becomes difficult for anyone to come between you and your customer. In fact, your customer will be willing to pay more for a product just because it is you that are selling it. At this level, the customer has made you the standard against which other products or services are measured.

To occupy such a position in your customer’s mind, you must appreciate the fact that everything you do and don’t do, influence the customer’s perception of you. Your name, logo, location, facilities quality, packaging, dressing and advertorials create perceptions. Use them to your advantage.

What do your customers think of you at the moment? What words do they use to describe you or your product? From what they say, where are you positioned in their minds? Are they aware that you exist at all?

If you are happy with your positioning in your customer’s mind, how do you plan to maintain that position in the long run? If you are not satisfied with your positioning, what position would you like to occupy? What do you want your customer to think and say about you? You can re-position for success.

POSITION YOURSELF

Let me end this article by suggesting that you position yourself as a person. Who are you? What are the problems you are uniquely equipped to solve? Or what is your unique selling proposition? Who are the people that should be touched by your life? Jesus Christ once asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” He was interested in people’s perception of him, because he knew that would influence their attitude towards him.

I encourage that you do not try to be an outstanding generality. If you feel that it is your destiny to influence the internet community for good, it is time to brand and position yourself. The community needs problem-solvers in virtually all areas of life. Problem-solving is the quickest route to leadership. When you focus on adding value to people’s lives, rewards will come back to you.

You will succeed!

Ade Ajayi

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