It's okay to be different.

Remember when you were a teenager and you wanted to be just like everyone else. Well, most teens do anyways. Who wants to stand out like a sore thumb when all you want to do is be liked by everyone?

The opposite holds true as a business. Don't fall into the trend of being like everyone else. Consumers want to be different and experience different experiences.

Think about that new, trendy restaurant in town that opened up that people are flocking to for it's unique food. In my town, coffee shops are all over the place. When the first one opened up, it was something new and different, and it was quickly a popular spot. It still is. But up popped another coffee shop, which was okay, and then another. Finally, there was such a huge flux of coffee shops opening that we'd roll our eyes when we saw a new one. The idea was well worn. The first coffee shop is still open and doing well; the others have all closed down.

If you are in a market where there are a lot of competitors, think about how you can be different. Offer a different experience than what the others are offering. Find ways to stand out in the crowd and be different.