By Rachel Jessica Huxtable, Author, Speaker and Mentor on Personal Growth, Spirituality and Entrepreneurship
The question I get asked by almost every entrepreneur that I’ve worked with is:
How the heck do I stand out from the million other yoga teachers, health practitioners or wellness clinics that are out there?
With the health and wellness trend becoming increasingly popular in the mainstream market, what is an entrepreneur to do?
I’ve mentored many holistic practitioners in growing their businesses, and one client in particular had just completed her training as a personal trainer and meditation teacher, yet she was struggling to figure out how she would make a mark in a seemingly oversaturated market.
Her fear, like many other businesses owners, was that she would be just one of the masses and that she would have nothing unique to offer. So I asked her about her own wellness journey as I already knew she was a cancer thriver. She revealed that going through her own health struggles had helped her appreciate life more, strive to discover her purpose quickly and to fulfill that purpose through holistic practices.
In that instant I reminded her of what a gift her own journey had given her. Her valuable life experience had helped her grow into the person she is today, it had given her a purpose for her business and she now was able to use that experience and story to connect with her potential clients.
Whilst not everyone has a story like that, I guarantee you that you do have a story. You have been through a unique set of experiences that has helped shape who you are. Whatever you’ve been through has led you to practice what you do today. And you too have a unique reason why you want to help people gain optimum health, wellness and vitality.
Incorporating your unique story and personality into your wellness brand will help differentiate you from the competition. So here are some tips to help you do just that:
1. Develop your unique story.
You might not have been through cancer, but like my client, you do have a unique story that has brought you here. How can you incorporate this into the mission of your business? And where can you share this story in your existing communication?
Can you elaborate on your website’s About page? Or if you’re writing a book or conducting a workshop, how can you share your story there somehow?
2. Allow the real you to shine.
The worst thing you can do is to try to be or sound like someone else. When speaking on behalf of your business, whether it’s in the copy on your website or speaking with clients, allow your personality to come out.
As humans, we each have an innate BS radar. We can sense insincerity a mile away. If you want to genuinely connect with the people you serve and the potential clients you want to attract, you have to be yourself.
You’re better off being the best version of you rather than a pretend second-rate version of someone else!
3. Get clear about who you serve.
One of the best ways to create a distinctive brand is to get clear about the people you serve. Figure out who your ideal client is. Are they male or female? Where do they live? How old are they? What do they do for a living? And how much do they earn?
All of this information will inform what kinds of services and products you provide and how you will market, package and communicate them to your clients. And most importantly how your offerings differ from the next person’s.
Remember, there is no one else like you in the world and there will never be another person like you. This is the one thing you can infuse into your business to help differentiate you from the crowd. Like people, each business needs its own personality and it’s up to you to let it out!
Rachel Jessica Huxtable is an author, speaker and mentor on personal growth, spirituality and entrepreneurship. Through her blog posts, videos, books, mentoring and online programs she inspires women around the world to live with purpose and soul and make a difference in the world. She has been featured in The New Daily, Peppermint Magazine, Tiny Buddha, Your Zen Life, Youthful Habits, Desire to Done, The Sparked Company, Beautiful Because, Bliss Habits and Gabby Bernstein’s HerFuture.com.
