  Congratulations
to all of the nominees for the Small Business Awards which will be presented on
April 27. I look forward to seeing everyone there.
Last month we presented
part one of Kevin Dervin's article entitled How Do You Stand Out? This
month is the conclusion of the article…
So How Do You Stand Out?
Don't be surprised when I tell you that your strategic differentiation
might be as simple as looking at your own business. You just need to be able to
articulate it in a way that makes you stand out in the crowd.
If your
prospects can immediately see what it is you do that is so unique and they find
it irresistible, then you've got it. And another important point to note
is that your uniqueness may be perceived. That is, you may not be unique at all.
But, if your prospects perceive you to be unique, then you are in fact unique.
Just remember what I said at the beginning of this article. Very few
small businesses are able to clearly and articulately communicate their uniqueness.
Therefore, even if your competitors offer pretty much what you do, the chances
are they don't effectively tell anyone. So as far as your prospects or clients
are concerned you are unique.
Now be careful because there's another
key point I made earlier that you can't ignore. That is what do you uniquely do
that 'makes a real difference' for your clients. Simply being eccentric or outlandish
is not the path to uniqueness that I would recommend.
Some Ways To
Differentiate Your Business
Focus on a Target Market - If you
simply cater to a specifically defined niche market, you can stand out. Your focus
and dedication to a specific target market will allow you to become known as the
true expert in that market space.
For example, who is going to stand
out more - the small business accountant or the small business accountant focused
on local medical and dental practices?
Focus on the Problems you want
to Solve - When you focus on a particular kind of problem, issue, or challenge
that your clients deal with, you can position yourself as the real solution provider.
The powerful thing about this approach is that you're more likely to hit a nerve
that your prospects can relate to.
For example, who is going to get more
attention?
"I'm a marketing and business growth coach."
"I'm
focused on helping professionals that struggle with how to consistently attract
more business."
Focus on the Results you Produce - If you can
promise and deliver on a specific result that makes a measurable difference for
your clients, who's not going to pay for that value? You'll not only get noticed,
you'll likely also be in a position to charge more for your services and also
generate more referrals.
Which do you think stands out more?
"We deliver our training services on time and within budget."
"We'll
fully train your team within three business days or less - guaranteed."
Focus on a Different Approach - Right or wrong, your potential clients
likely assume that you deliver your services pretty much the same way as everyone
else. But, if you're able to draw a distinction in your experience that clients
can see value in, you'll stand out from the crowd. How can you package your services
into a process that will make it more tangible for prospects to understand what
you offer?
Which is more likely to pique your interest?
"We
customize our approach to the unique need of each and every client."
"The ABCD Growth System is a proven method to help you consistently generate more
high-quality leads and convert them into more clients."
These are just
a few key ways to differentiate your business. The most powerful way to create
your strategic differentiation is to use a combination of the above methods to
communicate about your business.
When you can put it together in a
clear and concise statement it will be something that sets you apart from the
crowd and makes your prospects take notice. This may not be the sexy approach
you've been searching for to differentiate yourself, but I promise you'll be pleased
with the results if you give it an honest try.
Once again, I'll suggest
you schedule some time this week to work out your own strategic differentiation.
Sincerely,
Michael DiTocco
Chairman of the Board |
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Complete
Pool Maintenance
Bonnie Hauptman
Post Office Box 772041
Coral
Springs, Florida 33077
954-755-9143
Fastframe Expert Picture Framing
Patricia & Ken Jacobs
1384 Coral Ridge Drive
Coral Springs, FL 33071
954-753-5853
Fusion Liquor
Debbie Brissett
10311 Royal
Palm Boulevard, #31
Coral Springs 33071
Java D'Lites, Inc.
Mark Mundy
2528 N. University Drive
Coral Springs, Florida 33065
954-340-2326
Joel Mirsky
Addison Mortgage Group, Inc.
1515 W. Federal Highway, Suite 400
Boca Raton, FL 330432
561-361-8866
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Kleenwel Cleaning Services, Inc.
Beverly Reece
8121 SW 5th Street
North Lauderdale, Florida 33068
561-305-4780
Mass Mutual-DBS Financial
Group
Alan Feuerman
1000 Corporate Drive, Suite 700
Fort Lauderdale,
Florida 33334
954-938-8800
MeJon Salon & Spa
Megan Arlia
1306 N. University
Coral Springs, Florida 33071
954-752-8883
Trade and Value Corp.
Nicolas Santini
1451 W. Cypress Creek Boulevard,
Suite 300
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309
954-489-2728
VM Direct
Stephen Engasser
11925 NW 55th Street
Coral Springs, Florida 33076
954-510-7764
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Amera
Corp
| Coral
Square Mall
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Friday,
April 27th, 2007
11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Marriott Hotel - Heron Bay !
STUDENT & BUSINESS LEADERS TO BE AWARDED AT
CORAL SPRINGS
AWARD LUNCHEON
The
Coral Springs Chamber of Commerce presents the 2007 "Coral Springs Awards
Luncheon" presented by Northwest Medical Center. This spectacular event will
be held at the Coral Springs Marriott Hotel, Golf Club and Convention Center in
Heron Bay on Friday, April 27, 2007 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. The Business
Leader Awards will honor the small business leaders in our community and a
corporate Chamber business leader. The Covered Bridge Awards will honor
an outstanding civic leader and 5 accomplished high school students from the City
of Coral Springs.
The event will feature an exciting and colorful Mardi
Gras Theme, The award winning Stoneman Douglas H.S. Jazz Band & the Charter
School's Encore Choir, a delicious full lunch, wine and fabulous shopping
opportunities with exciting auction items of which the proceeds support the Chamber's
student scholarship fund. Join the Chamber of Commerce and spotlight your business
as a sponsor of this high profile event or to purchase your individual tickets.
Contact the Chamber office at 954-752-4242 or e-mail them at info@cschamber.com.
Please congratulate and come out to support The 2007 Business
Leader Award Finalists and Student Bridge to Leadership Award & Scholarship Winners.
The winners will be announced and awarded at the Awards Luncheon
Rookie
Business Leader - Finalists: Sandy Liebowitz, Sharp Saver; Dr. Jordan Mastronardi,
Align the Spine; Andrea Zoller, Knockout Graphics
Small Business Leader
-Finalists: Bill McFarlane, Law Offices of McFarlane & Dolan; Barry Spiegel, Amerimax
Investments/Dunkin Donuts; Amir Watynski, Watsounds
Veteran Business Leader
-Finalists -Al Hoffer, Al Hoffer's Pest Protection; Gemma Pressinger, Laser Image
Inc.; Larry Rodkin; Lawrence of Florida Entertainment
Corporate Chamber
Business Leader - Finalists -Barbara Epes, Coral Springs Medical Center; Al Hendrickson
Sr., Al Hendrickson Toyota; Sari Rotenberg, Northwest Medical Center
Covered
Bridge Award - Finalists: Dr. Steven Paul; Wiles Rd & Cypress Wood Animal Hospital.
Bridge To Leadership Award/ Scholarship Winners -
Coral Springs
Charter School - Roy Lipworth & Christina Bachelor
Coral Springs High
School - Michael Tomback
JP Taravella High School - Kelly Cannon
Coral Glades High School - Dana Sabghir
Don't miss your opportunity to
attend this prestigious event by getting your tickets or sponsorship today!
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 Our
Town News is the only newspaper directly mailed to residents of Coral Springs,
Parkland and Coconut Creek. In addition, the Our Town News can be found in hundreds
of retail locations throughout Broward County. With Our Town News celebrating
its 10th year anniversary and looking into the future, we have recently launched
the weekly e-delivery of Our Town News directly into your inbox via e-mail. Just
sign up at www.otnewsonline.com.
Our Town News is locally owned and operated with a staff that lives, works
and plays in the local community. We are not using recycled news from other sources,
the stories are all written for our paper about local happenings. Local sports,
school news, city news and business news are covered, as well as local birthdays
and anniversaries.
Let our creative graphic designers develop an ad for
you, or provide your own. From full page to business card size ad, in one zone
or all, we can work with all budgets. Call one of our many account executives
at 954-344-5156 to see how the Our Town News can work for you!
1Our
Town News is a division of South Florida Media Group which incorporates the Boca
Raton News, a daily newspaper serving Boca Raton and Delray Beach; In The Biz
Magazine serving the restaurant and hospitality industry as well as the Festival
Times, a newspaper dedicated to the Festival Marketplace in Pompano. www.SouthFloridaMediaGroup.com. |
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Sari Rotenberg, Chair Elect
of the Coral Springs Chamber of Commerce, has been selected to receive the prestigious
Patient Partners Award from the National Headache Foundation. This award acknowledges
her educational efforts and tireless advocacy on behalf of sufferers of headache
and migraine. The award will be presented to Sari at the Waldorf Astoria in New
York City on Saturday, April 21st. Congratulations, Sari!
Jack Miller,
of Miller & Wechsler, LLC, Certified Public Accountants, was featured on NBC 6
"Green is Green" segment with Patricia Andreu.
The segment was part of
an ongoing series discussing energy savings for your home, business and cars.
Jack Miller explained about the tax credits available for making your
home more energy efficient, and even producing your own energy.
Have
you or your business been honored or do you have any interesting news to share?
Please email us at cindy@cschamber.com
to be featured in this column.
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Upcoming
Event
Technology
Committee presents a Disaster & Hurricane Preparedness Seminar **
Due to our last successful seminar on internet marketing, the Technology Committee
is pleased to bring you another educational seminar. Our next 1-hour seminar is
on Disaster & Hurricane Preparedness and will be at the Chamber office on Friday,
June 1, 2007 at 11:30 am.
Look for more details coming soon.
-Amir Watynski
Chair, Technology Committee
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Ambassador
Committee
| Education
Committee
| Chair:
Connie Carberg
Meets: Tuesday, April 3rd
Time: 8:00 a.m.
Place: Chamber
Office
| Chair:
Kimberly Knox/Steve Laska
Meets: Wednesday, April 18th
Time: 8:00 a.m.
Place: Location to be announced
| Technology
Committee
| | Chair:
Amir Watynski
Meets: Monday, April 23rd
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Place: Chamber
Office
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Please
R.S.V.P. to the Chamber office for all events to help us plan accordingly!
Phone:
954-752-4242 ext. 10 or 12 Fax 954-827-0543 • email: info@cschamber.com
Networking
@ Noon!
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Wednesday, April 4th, 2007
12:00 noon - 1:30 p.m.
Studio 4 Fitness
9707 Sample Road
Coral Springs
(West of University
Drive on the north side of Sample Road- Additional Parking in rear of building)
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NO Wake
Up Breakfast
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Tuesday,
April 10th, 2007
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Marola's of Coral Springs
929
University Drive
Coral Springs
(On the east side
of University north of
Atlantic Boulevard)
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Please
join us for the 2007 Coral Springs Chamber Awards Luncheon on April 27th at the
Marriott Heron Bay.
Sponsorship Opportunities are available. Please contact
the Chamber at 954-752-4242 ext 10, 11 or 12 for more info.
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April 2007 Schedule of Ribbon Cuttings
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Thursday,
April 5th, 2007 @ 5:30 p.m.
Scott J. Brook, P.A.
3200 University Drive,
In the Main Lobby, Coral Springs
(In the Financial Plaza
on the southwest corner of Sample & University)
Please R.S.V.P. to
Kim Krost at 954-757-5551
or email kimberlykrost@scottjbrookpa.com
Tuesday, April 10th, 2007
@ 5:15 p.m.
Before the After Hours Networking Event at
Marola's of Coral
Springs
929 University Drive, Coral Springs
(In the
Esplanade, on the outskirts of the Coral Square Mall-west side
near where Dan
Marino's Town Tavern was)
Please R.S.V.P. to the Chamber Office 954-752-4242
ext 10 or 12
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