Tell me more ×
Answers OnStartups is a question and answer site for entrepreneurs looking to start or run a new business. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 0 down vote favorite

I am creating a new website and it's a very common one, about upcoming events. The difference of me and the competition is how I deliver the events to the people that is kind of strange and clever also.

Can this be my unique selling point? Or in the battle of the startups I need more than this?

share|improve this question
It will depend on who you talk to. I think most people don't get that innovations are not inventions so they might tune out when they'll hear it already exists. But the perhaps more important part is how are you going to get your site distributed and growing AFTER it's built? – frenchie Jul 25 '12 at 12:05
@frenchie that's true. About the growing part of the site this is a huge bet to take, however I will think of the best strategy even with cooperation with other upcoming events pages – Nikolai Jul 25 '12 at 12:19
I think most entrepreneurs make that mistake: build something and THEN think of how to distribute it. Think first on ways you're going to grow your business; that way the features that'll help with growth get built from the start instead of when you'll realize your service not catching and you're in a world of pain trying to figure out what to do. – frenchie Jul 25 '12 at 17:29

1 Answer

up vote 2 down vote accepted

USP is overused in many circles - and with different definitions.

Wikipedia uses the definition penned by Reeves in "Reality in Advertising" as:

  1. Each advertisement must make a proposition to the consumer. Not just words, not just product puffery, not just show-window advertising. Each advertisement must say to each reader: "Buy this product, and you will get this specific benefit." The proposition must be one that the competition either cannot, or does not, offer.
  2. It must be unique — either a uniqueness of the brand or a claim not otherwise made in that particular field of advertising.
  3. The proposition must be so strong that it can move the mass millions, i.e., pull over new customers to your product

The battle is not between startups but between your defined target market, their price anchors, and the alternatives they use to address the problem / condition you assume that they have. How many members in the target market have you interviewed? Discussed / validated the problem and their desire to address it? Their willingness to pay for the "solution" you offer?

The natural outcome of this effort is your USP (or a pivot towards finding a lucrative USP).

While its not easy to do, the nice thing is - all this can be done before ever writing a single line of code: which would likely be easier (and cheaper) than trying to convince someone to use a service that doesn't meet their needs.

share|improve this answer

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.