How to Stand Out in a Crowded Market in 2025

Welcome to the Passion Plus Math Marketing Podcast! I’m Ben, and today we’re diving into how to stand out in a competitive market in 2025—without racing to the bottom or relying solely on paid ads.

Everyone claims to be the best, but customers are sceptical. Positioning yourself as the cheapest isn’t a great strategy either—people often associate low prices with low quality. Instead, focus on being different, not just better.

Standout businesses use bold, unconventional branding to catch attention. Examples include:

• A window cleaning company with bright pink uniforms
• A cleaning business with a 1950s pop-art theme at a trade show
  These brands were the busiest at their events because they were visually different.

Establishing yourself as an expert in your industry builds trust and authority. Example:

• A care home owner who actively lobbies for industry reforms has a waiting list for his homes.
  People want to work with businesses that stand for something and show expertise.

Go beyond features and benefits—what extra value can you offer? Example:

• A plumber who offers free radiator bleeding and monoxide checks—this not only provides value but also creates an extra sales opportunity.

Storytelling builds emotional connections. Example:

• A plumber sharing his personal story about helping people lower heating costs made him more relatable and trustworthy.
• He also donated £1,000 worth of radiator foil to elderly homes, gaining press coverage and social media traction.

Luxury brands thrive in tough times because they sell emotions, not logic. Example:

• Restaurants that highlight romantic experiences, birthdays, and engagements drive customers despite higher prices.
• Premium businesses that evoke feelings will win in 2025.

Instead of spending big on paid ads, businesses should focus on content marketing, storytelling, collaborations, and value-driven promotions. People trust brands that are visible, authentic, and provide real value.

To stand out in 2025, you need:
✅ Bold branding
✅ Authority & expertise
✅ A unique value proposition
✅ Storytelling & emotional marketing
✅ Content-driven growth strategies

By implementing these, you’ll close the trust gap and make your brand the go-to choice in your industry.

Follow for more insights!

Ok - yes it does.

BUT there are other things to consider -the signals to your customers, those who can spot AI a mile away, the lack of growing skills, etc.

Posting on your social media platforms - you can go deep or go wide across multiple. Here we discuss the strengths of both approaches, from me and other marketers and discuss which way you should go - also discussing the key platforms for industries to get into.