Photo by Kaboompics.com on Pexels
We all know what regular businesses look like: they’re everywhere. But what should you do if your company is a bit off the beaten track?
That’s the topic we address in this post. If you’re doing something a little different from the ordinary, you often need bespoke business advice that speaks to your specific pain points more directly.
Embrace The Weirdness
Our first piece of advice is to embrace your weirdness. You want to put yourself in a position where you’re owning what you are.
Yes, this can be uncomfortable, but it is the sort of thing that customers pick up on. If they think you’re shy or holding back because of what you do, those feelings will transfer to them and they will be less likely to want to use you.
Therefore, lean into your oddball tendencies. Don’t be afraid.
Build A Cult
Photo by Ashutosh Sonwani on Pexels
Next, you’ll want to build a cult. You’re not as interested in having a conventional “customer base.”
While the word “cult” is a pejorative, it makes sense to use it in this context. You want people who are prepared to take a step into the unknown with you and purchase your products and services, even if they are a little strange and out of the ordinary.
You can elevate your brand to cult status by:
- Secret drops
- Insider perks
- Hand-written thank you notes
Partner With Other Weird Companies
You should also look to partner with other weird companies if you’re starting a business that you plan to take off the beaten track. These firms often attract the same sorts of customers, meaning that you can find it easier to gather customers and work with more clients.
These companies should be complementary to your own. For example, you could set up a beverage store serving hot drinks inside a quirky retailer.
Work With Payment Services
You should also work with merchant services for hard to place businesses. You need partners who understand that you’re a little different and won’t be operating like a regular business.
Working with these payment services can be challenging, but once you have the right partner, you can start accepting credit and debit cards, just like any other business. This feature massively expands your business and lets you tap into markets that wouldn’t ordinarily consider buying from you.
Know Your Niche
You also want to know your niche if you’re planning on doing something a little different. You can’t just assume that you understand your customers inside out without the proper time and research going into the process.
As an oddball company, you need to be extra sure that you’re doing what your customers want you to do. After all, you can’t just follow the market leaders’ lead and hope for the best. There probably isn’t a market leader, or if there is, they might be in a completely different market.
Learn Hard And Pivot
Photo by ATC Comm Photo on Pexels
Finally, you’ll want to learn hard and pivot quickly. The more you can transition from bad ideas to good ones, the better.