10 Proven Ways to Make Your Business Stand Out From Competitors
If you’re a business owner, you’ve undoubtedly heard the statistics around business failure rates.
Only 50 percent of businesses make it past the first five years and one-third make it past the 10-year mark.
Although there are plenty of reasons why businesses fail, lack of differentiation is one that often tops the list.
Standing out from your competition is critical to your company’s success. While most people understand that concept, far too many businesses fail to put it into practice.
Case in point: I recently saw an advertisement for a Nashville tattoo parlor with the following message:
“We specialize in all types of tattoos.”
It made me shake my head. What does this even mean? What kind of tattoos do they design?
I find it hard to believe that they can create every kind of tattoo well. And, it makes it difficult to know why I should choose this company. To say you specialize in everything goes against the very idea of specialization. After all, to specialize means you’re focusing on one particular area of practice.
Had they said they specialize in traditional Japanese tattoo design, then I would have a much better understanding of what they can do.
Sadly, many businesses fall into this trap. They think they must serve everyone, be broad in focus or “keep up with the Joneses”, lest they miss out on revenue opportunities.
However, the exact opposite is true.
If you want to excel in business today, you have to differentiate your business if you want to stand out and get noticed. Otherwise, you’ll just look like every other penguin in the flock.
How to Stand Out From Your Competition
If you’re not sure where to start, you’re in the right place.
Today, I’ll give you 10 ideas on how to stand out from the competition along with fantastic examples of companies that are doing it well.
1. Deliver extraordinary service.
Plenty of businesses say that service is what makes them different. However, just saying it is not enough. You have to deliver extraordinary service that you can’t get anywhere else.
For instance, look at Fleet Feet. They custom fit your running shoes. They watch how you walk or run and recommend the proper shoe depending on how you pronate. They even allow you to run in the parking lot to see how they fit and feel. On top of that, they will let you return the shoe weeks or months later if they don’t work out.
One pair they sold me ended up giving me trouble after few weeks. Even though I had logged dozens of runs in them already, they refunded my money and helped me select the proper pair.
After that experience, why would I buy my shoes anywhere else?
Think about how you can offer extremely extraordinary service that goes far beyond what your competitors are doing. And, if you’re looking for additional examples, Nordstrom is another company that is known for delivering legendary customer service.
2. Address customer pain points.
If you want to win customers over, a great way to do that is to alleviate their pain. Let me give you a great example of this in action.
If you’re like most people, you don’t particularly enjoy going to the dentist. The lights, the smells and the sound of drills don’t make for a pleasant experience. That’s why many people avoid going to the dentist altogether.
Dental Bliss wanted to change that perception and address this problem head on. That’s why they created a dental practice with a spa-like atmosphere.
Patients can enjoy refreshments (including wine!) and get a massage while they wait for their appointment. And while patients are getting treated, they can wear noise-cancelling headphones so they don’t have to hear the sound of the dental tools.
This dental practice has gone to great lengths to remove all of the barriers and common pain points to create an experience that is completely different than any other dentist you will find.
3. Do business differently than your competitors.
If you want to stand out from your competitors, it pays to do business differently than they do. Finding and exploiting holes in their business model is a great way to set your company apart.
That’s exactly what our client, EZR Management, does with their property management business.
Most property management companies have an in-house maintenance team to make repairs for their properties. This sounds like a good idea in theory, but in reality, there are a lot of problems with this approach.
The work is often sub-par, the work isn’t warrantied and clients are often overcharged for the work. Because property management companies make money on repairs, they are incentivized to do the work quickly and cheaply.
Because of this problematic approach in their industry, EZR Management works with third-party contractors instead. That way, their clients have the freedom to choose their own contractors or EZR can make a recommendation. Either way, the cost of repairs is much less and more importantly, you get higher quality work.
That means you’re not getting something repaired multiple times. It’s done right the first time.
Because of their innovative approach to property management, EZR has doubled their business and is steadily growing. Daring to be different has paid off for them. How can you do the same thing?
4. Focus on a narrow niche.
When you try to serve everyone, you serve no one. This is especially true with service-based businesses.
Adapting your model or approach for a wide variety of businesses is not cost effective for your business and it makes it harder for people to know if your company is a right fit.
Remember the tattoo parlor above? That is a great example of what NOT to do.
A great way to stand out is to narrowly define whom you serve. For instance, CJ Advertising only serves personal injury law firms across the United States. Because of that, it makes it very simple for a law firm to know if they would be a good fit for their company.
5. Create a powerful offer or guarantee.
Guarantees are a great way to reduce the perceived risk of buying your product or service. Eliminating the hesitation for making a purchase can lead to more sales.
Plus, a guarantee can also make your company seem more trustworthy and likable.
For instance, Zappos is famous for their year-long return policy. It reduces the barriers to buy their shoes because you can take an entire year to decide whether you want to keep the shoes. Not to mention, shipping is free both ways.
We also worked with a law firm client that guaranteed that every phone call or email was returned within 24 hours. If you’ve struggled with law firm responsiveness in the past, this would be a great reason to contact them.
6. Create a memorable culture.
Creating an amazing company culture cannot only help you attract and keep top talent, but it can be a powerful marketing tool as well.
Take Rustici Software, for example.
They have built an incredible benefits program, called Jenafits, named after their company concierge, Jena. She handles everything from laundry and cleaning services to booking flights and restaurant reservations for employees. It’s her job to make life easier for the team so they can focus on doing excellent work.
If that weren’t enough, they don’t track vacation days and when they are at work, they focus on having a lot of fun, which includes everything from Ping-Pong and dodge ball.
As a result, they’ve been named one of Nashville’s Best Places to Work seven years in a row. Not to mention, they’ve scored tons of press for their innovative approach. Here’s a prime example.
What can you do to make your company a place that people want to go on Monday mornings?
7. Create a cause marketing effort.
Giving back to the community through a cause marketing effort is a fantastic way to make a name for your company, while also doing some good.
Essentially, cause marketing is the idea of creating a partnership or relationship with a non-profit or cause. The idea is that the business lends its time, money and expertise to help promote the non-profit. This support helps the non-profit and the business also benefits by being affiliated with a worthy cause.
You’ve most likely seen this at a large corporate level with organizations that support breast cancer awareness or St. Jude’s Hospital, for example. But, you can do this on a smaller, local level too.
For example, our friends at Advocate Marketing and Print just launched a Print for Paws campaign. With this effort, they are selling pet leashes that benefit Happy Tales Human, a local, no-kill animal shelter.
AMP loves dogs and encourages employees and visitors to bring their furry friends to the shop, making this cause-marketing program consistent with the company’s brand.
Is there a cause you’re passionate about? Create a program to support that cause at your company. Here are some additional cause marketing examples to help get your creative juices flowing.
8. Become a social business.
If you want to take your corporate giving to the next level, you could take your efforts one step further to become a social business.
There are more and more companies cropping up that have this kind of approach. One of the most well known examples is TOMS, the shoe company known for their “One for One” effort that helps one person in need with every pair of shoes you buy.
But, I also recently learned about Conscious Step, a company that makes socks for causes that matter – such as fighting hunger, planting trees or combating HIV. They are using something simple as socks to help change the world.
31 Bits is another such company. They work with women in Uganda to make fashionable, paper jewelry. They sell the jewelry online and the proceeds help fund healthy education, business training and counseling for their artisans in Uganda.
This kind of approach might mean making a dramatic shift in your entire business model, but these businesses stand out because they are not just another company that sells shoes, socks or jewelry. They are making a positive impact on the world with every sale.
Can you change the world with your work?
9. Be quirky and weird.
A few weeks ago, the post office returned a Christmas card that I had attempted to send Ryan Hanley in December. I had the wrong address, but it took them six months to send it back to me.
Instead of throwing the card in the trash, I went ahead and sent it to Ryan and laughed about sending a Christmas card in June.
Was it quirky and weird? Yes.
But, that’s exactly why Ryan loved it. He shared it on his Facebook profile and tweeted about it. Doing something out of the ordinary made it stand out.
So, how can you do something that goes against conventional wisdom?
Maybe that means sending Christmas cards in June. Or, creating silly dance videos. Or, sending GIF-filled, hashtag-laden emails.
Embrace your weirdness as a company. It might be the very reason why people love you.
10. Surprise and delight your customers.
I always love the story that John Janstch shares about a coat his wife purchased at REI.
When she first wore the coat, she slipped her hand in the pocket and found a piece of paper. But, instead of showing the inspection number or some other product information, the slip of paper said, “You are a goddess!”
That tiny, thoughtful act made this coat stand out. And, as a result, it made them want to know more about the brand behind this coat.
Another great example is Dunn Brother’s Coffee, who brought a kit of my favorite beverage TO MY OFFICE after I tweeted about how much I loved their coffee and wished they delivered.
Sometimes the smallest things can make the biggest impact. How can you do the unexpected to surprise and delight your customers? If you do this, you’ll stand out and create raving fans.
Make Your Business Stand Out From the Crowd
There are plenty of additional ways your company can stand out – you can deliver extreme value, give something valuable away for free, create unique partnership or build powerful communities.
But, this list gives you a great place to start. And hopefully, gives you some inspiration to focus on standing out instead of fitting in.
I’d love to know – how does your business stand out from the crowd? What do you do that makes your business different?
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in the week Active Speakers
On the morning of Thursday, 13 August 2026, at the Adora Legend Convention Center (32 Hoang Viet St., Tan Son Nhat Ward, Ho Chi Minh City), BNI Substance Chapter (part of BNI HCM West) hosted a Business Networking event welcoming more than 40 business owners and numerous guests. In a warm, professional and collaborative atmosphere, members networked, learned relationship-building skills, and enjoyed a heartfelt company presentation from a fellow member.
Open Networking – The Start of Valuable Connections
Starting at 7:30 a.m., the Open Networking session warmed up the room. Entrepreneurs actively exchanged business cards and gave brief 30-second introductions of their products, services, and networking needs. This is a hallmark of BNI: every handshake can spark a new business opportunity, and every conversation can open the door to a lasting partnership.
Networking Education: “Your Network Is Your Greatest Asset”
Opening the Networking Education segment, Mr. Nguyen Minh Tan – Chairman of AntKing Group posed a question: what is truly the greatest asset of a business owner – capital, a great product, or a strong brand? His answer: the greatest asset is the NETWORK of people ready to say your name whenever someone needs what you offer. An ordinary network is just a connection; it only becomes a true asset when the people in it understand you, trust you, and are willing to act on your behalf – the very spirit of BNI: Business + System + Commitment + Professionalism + Trust Connection.
He introduced the VCP model – three steps to building a network: Visibility – people know your name, company, and profession; Credibility – people trust your ability and quality; and Referrals – people proactively refer business opportunities to you, with each 1-2-1 meeting serving as a step toward credibility. Quoting Dr. Ivan Misner, founder of BNI: “Your network is your net worth,” he urged members not to try to hand a business card to all 40 people in the room, but instead to choose the right 1-2 people for a deeper conversation this very week.
Feature Presentation: Trend Realty – Real Estate Investment Risk Management
The centerpiece of this week’s Business Networking event was the Feature Presentation by Mr. Le Van Vu – Chapter President and Chairman of Trend Realty, titled “Risk Management in Real Estate Investment.” He explained why real estate remains the optimal asset-accumulation channel compared with gold, stocks, or crypto in the current period, thanks to accelerating public infrastructure investment and the ability to generate real cash flow alongside stable value appreciation across economic cycles. He also dissected six common risks investors face: legal risk, location-and-price pressure, developer capability, pricing distortion, loss of cash-flow control, and unreliable distribution units.
Building on this, Trend Realty presented four groups of optimal risk-management solutions for choosing products that are both safe investments and suitable homes: solid legal footing – only selecting projects eligible for a direct sale-and-purchase agreement; flexible financing – prioritizing light payment schedules with interest support and principal grace periods; capturing infrastructure upside – riding the wave of national and urban infrastructure investment following the recent administrative merger; and choosing a trusted brand – prioritizing developers with strong financial capacity and professional distribution partners. As a professional project developer and real estate distributor, Trend Realty is a strategic partner of major developers including Mitsubishi, Sun Group, Vinhomes, Keppel Land, Blue Marq, and Le Phong, currently distributing legally complete projects such as The Prive, Palm City, Blanca City, and Monrei Saigon.
Under the message “Creating Value, Leading the Future,” Trend Realty closed its Feature Presentation with a lively networking and lucky-draw gift session for members and guests.
Connecting, Giving Opportunities, and Spreading Value
Throughout the morning, BNI’s Givers Gain® spirit was evident in every conversation, every introduction, and every business opportunity shared. More than just a meeting place, the Business Networking event serves as an environment for business owners to learn new skills, broaden their thinking, and find trustworthy partners.
BNI Substance Chapter extends its sincere thanks to both speakers – Mr. Nguyen Minh Tan and Mr. Le Van Vu – and to all members and guests who helped make this a successful networking morning. We look forward to welcoming you at the next Business Networking event.
Trend Realty: https://www.trendrealty.vn/. Register to attend & connect with BNI Substance Chapter: 0989.212.273 (Ms. Minh Thu).
Business Networking Event · Thursday, 06 August 2026 · Adora Legend Convention Center, 32 Hoang Viet St., Tan Son Nhat Ward, HCMC
On the morning of Thursday, 06 August 2026, at the Adora Legend Convention Center (32 Hoang Viet St., Tan Son Nhat Ward, Ho Chi Minh City), BNI Substance Chapter (part of BNI HCM West) hosted a Business Networking event welcoming a large number of business owners and guests. In a warm, professional atmosphere, members networked, learned, recognized outstanding contributions of the month, and enjoyed an inspiring company presentation from a fellow member.
Open Networking – The Start of Valuable Connections
Starting at 7:30 a.m., the Open Networking session warmed up the room. Entrepreneurs actively exchanged business cards and gave brief 30-second introductions of their products, services, and networking needs. This is a hallmark of BNI: every handshake can spark a new business opportunity, and every conversation can open the door to a lasting partnership.
Networking Education: “Never Eat Alone”
Opening the Networking Education segment – the standard BNI skill-building moment featured in every Chapter meeting – Ms. Huynh Kim Thoa – Founder & CEO of Golden Mouse Pharmacy delivered a short but inspiring talk titled “Never Eat Alone.” She emphasized that instead of simply “inviting,” members should “connect” through presence, genuine interest, and trust. Using an easy-to-remember formula, she explained that every meal can become a connection, every connection can become value, and every value opens up an opportunity. She encouraged members to apply the “ask first, invite later” principle: listen deeply enough to understand what the other person truly needs, before thinking about introducing BNI or proposing a partnership.
Member of the Month Recognition – July 2026
The next highlight of the programme was the recognition of members who achieved outstanding results in July 2026, celebrating the proactive, giving spirit that builds the Chapter in line with BNI’s core value of Givers Gain®. Four members received the BNI Notable Networker Award:
- Mr. Nguyen Minh Tan – Most guests invited this month, with 4 visitors.
- Mr. Nguyen Thanh Ha – Most referrals given this month, with 14 referrals.
- Mr. Le Van Vu – Chapter President, highest total business value this month at VND 62,960,000.
- Ms. Le Kim Ngan – Most 1-2-1 meetings this month, with 28 meetings.
These numbers are a vivid demonstration of what consistent, everyday giving looks like – a single invitation, a 1-2-1 meeting, or a sincere referral can each create real value for the entire BNI Substance business community.
Feature Presentation: Yen Loi Hoa – 15 Years Alongside Vietnam’s Bird’s Nest Farmers
The centerpiece of this week’s Business Networking event was the Feature Presentation by Mr. Tran Tan Loi – Director of Yen Loi Hoa Co., Ltd., titled “Who Am I? Using Bird’s Nest the Right Way.”
Founded in 2009, Yen Loi Hoa began in bird’s-nest house consulting, design, construction, and renovation, before growing into a premium bird’s nest brand built on two pillars: constructing bird’s-nest houses and distributing finished bird’s-nest products. The speaker shared the company’s journey working alongside hundreds of farming households nationwide – from technical consulting and construction to purchasing their harvests – driven by a mission to “help farmers become millionaires,” turning bird’s-nest farming into a sustainable livelihood for many Vietnamese families.
On the product side, the Yen Loi Hoa brand – spanning bird’s nest, ginseng, ginseng wine, and lingzhi mushroom – meets US FDA standards and holds HACCP and ISO 22000:2018 certifications, as well as the National Strong Brand recognition, affirming consistent quality from farm to consumer. Its distribution network now reaches across Vietnam, supported by flexible sales policies and regular promotions to reward customers and expand its dealer network.
Yen Loi Hoa’s story is more than a business story – it is a living example of the Givers Gain® spirit that BNI champions: when a business creates real value for its community, here the bird’s-nest farmers, sustainable growth naturally follows.
Contact: Yen Loi Hoa Co., Ltd. – 1489/1A Vuon Lai, An Phu Dong Ward, District 12, HCMC. Hotline: 0902 373 525 (Mr. Loi).
Connecting, Giving Opportunities, and Spreading Value
Throughout the morning, BNI’s Givers Gain® spirit was evident in every conversation, every introduction, and every business opportunity shared. More than just a meeting place, the Business Networking event serves as an environment for business owners to learn new skills, broaden their thinking, and find trustworthy partners.
BNI Substance Chapter extends its sincere thanks to both speakers, to the members recognized for their outstanding results this month, and to all members and guests who helped make this a successful networking morning. We look forward to welcoming you at the next Business Networking event.
Register to attend & connect with BNI Substance Chapter: 0989.212.273 (Ms. Minh Thu).
On the morning of Thursday, 30 July 2026, at the Adora Legend Convention Center (32 Hoang Viet St., Tan Son Nhat Ward, Ho Chi Minh City), BNI Substance Chapter (part of BNI HCM West) hosted a Business Networking event welcoming more than 40 business owners along with many invited guests. In a warm yet professional atmosphere, entrepreneurs came together to exchange opportunities, build valuable connections, and spread the spirit of collaboration that defines the BNI community.
Open Networking – The Start of Valuable Connections
From 07:30, the Open Networking session warmed up the room. Entrepreneurs actively exchanged business cards and delivered 30-second introductions about their products, services, and connection needs. This is the hallmark of BNI: every handshake can be the beginning of a new business opportunity, and every conversation opens the door to lasting partnership.
Skill-Sharing: “Step Out of the Comfort Zone, Step into the Growth Zone”
The first highlight of the program came from Ms. Mai Thi Nhat Sang – Director of Kien An Design, with the inspiring topic: “Step Out of the Comfort Zone, Step into the Growth Zone.”
The speaker emphasized that the “comfort zone” is where we feel safe, yet it is also where our potential is quietly eroded. A closed network easily leads to isolation, limited relationships, a lack of information, and obstacles to business growth. By proactively stepping out of the comfort zone, entrepreneurs unlock four major values:
- Expanding relationships – connecting more to create greater value.
- Expanding the target market – reaching the right people with the right needs.
- Building a marketing team – creating synergy for sustainable results.
- Creating quality business opportunities – turning connections into real deals.
The session closed with a call for every member to begin with one concrete action this very week – because growth always starts with the first step beyond the familiar.
Feature Presentation: Quoc Thang Security – “Absolute Peace of Mind, Elevating Your Brand”
Continuing the program, Mr. Nguyen Le Anh – Director of Quoc Thang Security Services Co., Ltd. delivered an impressive Feature Presentation with the message “Absolute Peace of Mind – Elevating Your Brand.”
Founded in 2008, Quoc Thang Security now has around 200 employees and a branch in Hanoi, operating across Vietnam. Its leadership comes from the security and police forces with many years of experience, and its staff are trained according to the Ministry of Public Security curriculum. The company aims to become one of the Top 10 security companies in Vietnam, with a mission to bring peace of mind to businesses – helping owners to “act proactively and prevent threats from afar.”
The speaker pointed out the “trap” of cheap security services: seemingly economical but in fact extremely costly, arising from under-trained personnel, poor conduct, and the risk of losing control during fire incidents. In response, Quoc Thang Security built a security solution based on four core pillars: People (rigorous selection and in-depth training), Fire Prevention & Fighting (an on-site fire response force), Reputation & professional conduct, and Solid legal commitment (compliance with Decree 96/2016/ND-CP and a commitment to take 100% responsibility for loss risks). The real-world case of protecting the Galaxy Cinema chain – with thousands of visitors each day – vividly demonstrates the company’s capability to control risk and maintain absolute safety.
Connecting, Sharing Opportunities, and Spreading Value
Throughout the morning, BNI’s “Givers Gain®” spirit was clearly reflected in every conversation, every referral, and every business opportunity shared. More than just a meeting place, the Business Networking event is an environment where business owners learn new skills, broaden their thinking, and find trustworthy partners.
BNI Substance Chapter sincerely thanks both speakers, all members, and honored guests who contributed to a successful networking morning. We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming Business Networking events – where every step out of the comfort zone is a step closer to the growth zone.
Register to attend & connect with BNI Substance Chapter: (+84) 989 212 273 (Ms. Minh Thu).
On May 8th, the 2019 Ho Chi Minh City Investment Promotion Conference was held in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh City Trade and Investment Promotion Center (ITPC) and the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Planning and Investment.
At the conference, the city summarized its economic development in 2018 and called for investment in various sectors in 2019, with the following main points:
According to 2018 data, Ho Chi Minh City’s economy continued its strong growth with a GRDP increase of 8.3%, and the city’s economic size accounted for 24.15% of the total national economy.
In addition, the city attracted over US$7 billion in investment capital, with an average growth rate of 15% per year.
To date, Ho Chi Minh City has 8,112 foreign investment projects with a total registered capital of nearly US$45 billion.
In 2019, the city actively encouraged investors to participate in 227 projects in the fields of infrastructure development, smart cities, and the environment, with a total investment capital requirement of approximately VND 1,382,158 billion, equivalent to USD 62,831 million.
To facilitate investors, the Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, Mr. Nguyen Thien Nhan, stated that in 2019, the city would focus on resolving difficulties for slow-progressing projects, accelerating the equitization process of state-owned enterprises, aiming to build Ho Chi Minh City into a smart city and form a creative urban center in the East.
In addition, the city’s logistics development project for the period 2025-2030 is also being urgently constructed.
Regarding infrastructure to attract investment, the city… Ho Chi Minh City is implementing a project to build a financial center, while also planning a new 300-hectare industrial park to support high-tech industries.
In addition, the city aims to complete the Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien Metro line by 2020 and completely resolve the flooding issue.
Overall, in 2019 specifically and in the coming years in general, Ho Chi Minh City will continue to implement infrastructure development projects, address existing problems, and promote investment attraction in sectors that benefit the city’s sustainable and comprehensive development.
The information in this policy is very important and necessary for BNI Vietnam members. You need to read and understand these rules.
BNI Policy Members need to know
(submit the form to download the toolkit)
Sign up to receive Invitation tickets
