6-Nov-08 12:00 PM CST

4 Secrets to Standing Out from the Crowd, the Clutter, and the Competition

Standing out is about taking conscious, deliberate action to get noticed, get attention, and get your desired results.

It's about going from ordinary to extraordinary. It's about shining in a way that helps you thrive. It's about being memorable--in a good way.

I could talk for a long time about this topic, and I do in my marketing keynotes, trainings, workshops, and of course in my books where I give you all the how-to's as well. For now I'll share the 4 secrets so you can start thinking--and taking action--on how you can stand out from the crowd, clutter, and competition. With a very noisy marketplace, it's more critical than ever to make "standing out" part of your business plan.

The 4 secrets to standing out of the crowd, the clutter, and the competition, or what I could also call "the 4 habits of highly memorable people" are:

1. Do something different. Do something no one else is doing and you're sure to stand out.
2. Do things differently. Put a different spin on a common product or service.
3. Stir emotions. Move people emotionally and you'll definitely break through the clutter.
4. Be consistent. Consistency tells a story that sticks. Turn great actions into habits so they become part of who you are.

These work independently and collectively. Each will help you stand out and get noticed and maybe even get attention. But you'll need to use them in concert to achieve and maintain your desired results.

So, how do you stand out today? How do you need to stand out to get noticed, get attention, and achieve your desired results with each of your target audiences? What can you do today to start doing that?