1. Be Different
2. Be Better

 

If there is no one else in your industry taking a particular approach to their media, you can distinguish yourself by being different. If someone is already doing what you want to do, you can do it better.

‘Better’ means you are improving on an existing model. ‘Different’ means you are creating a new model.

It’s your choice, but I’d take Sally Hogshead’s advice. “Different is better than better.”

 

Here are 28 options to chew on:

Be (more) provocative

Be (more) safe for work

Be (more) authentic

Be (more) informative

Be (more) generous

Make your content easy(ier) to share

Go off the rails (more often)

Offer (more) networking opportunities

Be deep(er)

Be funny(ier)

Be (more) plainspoken

Be (more) serious

Be green(er)

Be fast(er)

Be slow(er)

Be (more) data-driven

Be (more) fun

Lead a small(er), (more) specialized group

Be (more) accessible

Be (more) restrictive/exclusive

Be (more) expensive

Be cheap(er) / free(er)

Be (more) open and honest

Be quirky(ier)

Be (more) sophisticated

Be (more) practical

Be trendy(ier)

Be (more of) a purist

Be (more) anti-establishment

 

Do whatever you’d like, just don’t do it the exact same way someone else does it.