The world of business is growing exponentially as time passes. Entrepreneurs and small business are practically coming out of the woodwork in the United States – which is a great thing! Small businesses mean more niche products and services as well as adding value to customer experiences. It can also mean more competition for bigger businesses. So with the blossoming of entrepreneurs and small businesses, what can your business do to stand out amongst the crowd?

1. Live Your Brand

Understand that you are your brand – as is everything that you stand for as a business. Your products and services, customer interactions, logo and visual elements, and everything you share through social media are encompassed by your brand. Know what message you want to send, and allow your brand to represent that.

2. Use Social Media To Build Community Around What You Do

Blogs and Facebook are great platforms through which your community can thrive. You can use social media to share information about your business, as well as to interact with customers or potential customers. For a business of any size, personalized customer service and interaction is crucial. Ultimately, the more trust and respect your business earns from customers and the community, the stronger the brand.

3. Advocate For Your Business

Have passion for the story behind your products. You have to believe in what you’re doing in order for others to believe in it. Allow your passion for the product to fuel the way you communicate with others about your business. You don’t have to be a salesperson – you just have to believe in what you’re doing and make sure that comes across to others in your communication with them.

4. Volunteer

It’s all about creating and growing meaningful connections with the community, not just because of your products, but also because of what you stand for as a business. You can volunteer at different events, or create your own charity event. You can create a positive image for your business simply by sharing something you’re passionate about and urging others to join you. Use social media to increase awareness of a cause, share your passion for it, and others will follow. Take this opportunity to collaborate with others through community involvement.

5. Donate

Along with volunteer work, donating to causes you believe in is a great way to make your business stand out. People will see that you’re about more than cutthroat success, and that you’re humans with passions, beliefs and the feeling of social responsibility to help your community or other communities nearby. Involvement also greatly increases office morale. You start to see that you’re a part of something so much bigger than yourself or your job, and what you do as a business should impact others in a real and positive way.