Picture the scenario: An employer interviews three candidates who are all identically ideally suited to the role in question. Foolishly he forgets to ask their names and can only differentiate them later on by remembering their choice of attire. Two were wearing a standard black suit, while the other was wearing a top hat and tails. Unable to say “the man in the black suit”, the employer would have to tell his secretary to call back the flamboyant applicant who stood out from the rest.

In the cutthroat world of business in which hundreds of companies are striving to be the best in the same sector, becoming unique and striking can help set your company aside from the rest and get you noticed. When McDonalds started out, it was a simple barbecue restaurant in New Hampshire, surrounded by numerous other food establishments striving to do the same thing. The founders, “Mac” and “Dick” realised they had to move buildings and re-brand to set themselves apart from the competition. They covered the outside of the new venue with red and white tiles, green neon, and the two famous golden arches and stuck to a simple menu of burgers, French fries, and milkshakes. Fast forward 60 years and the famous burger chain can be found in 118 countries and serves 68 million customers a day, with some of the most futuristic restaurants in Australia.

Online poker is another industry in which hundreds of companies are striving to win customers over but are essentially offering the same product. With the plethora of online sites offering cash games and tournament poker, 888poker aims to catch the eye by using a number of interesting techniques that any online business could take note of. They have a picture of a slick looking gentleman playing with his chips on the landing page, suggesting to the user that they too could be as successful and cool as this guy. They also have unique offers that reflect their brand, such as the $88 USD bonus in the same blue font of the brand.

Another way to stand out from the competition is to offer a similar product at a more affordable price. Volkswagen are a prime example of one such company. Many would expect the elite brands of BMW and Mercedes to be ruling the roost in the automobile market, but in fact it’s their fellow German counterparts VW that have an enormous revenue of $245billion. They became fashionable because there was a model to suit everyone and they were cheaper than BMW and Mercedes. People were attracted to them because they were similar cars at a cut price.

If you a part of a booming industry you are going to constantly face competition from companies that offer something similar to you. Standing out is imperative. Could your name be catchier? McDonalds used to be called “McDonalds Bar-B-Que”, and Facebook was “The Facebook”. These case studies show that your product must be eye-catching, attention grabbing, and if possible, cheaper.