
Platform
Michael Hyatt
What's inside?
Discover strategies to stand out and make your voice heard in today's crowded digital landscape. Perfect for entrepreneurs, artists, and influencers.
You'll learn
Key points
01You need a solid online presence to stand out and build a lasting career in this busy digital world
In the bustling world we live in, it's not enough to just have a great product or a compelling idea. You need to be able to get your message across to the people who need to hear it. This is where the concept of a platform comes into play. Think of it like this: you're a vendor in a crowded marketplace, with hundreds of other vendors all around you. You've got something unique to sell, but so does everyone else. The noise and the crowd make it hard for you to stand out. Just having a good product isn't enough. You need to draw customers to your stall, get them to listen to what you have to say, and convince them to buy what you're selling. This is where your platform comes in. But what exactly is a platform? It's not a physical structure, but a metaphorical one. It's not built from wood or concrete, but from people - your contacts, your connections, your followers. It's the way you get your message out to your audience. It's your social media presence, your website, your email list, your public speaking engagements, and any other way you interact with your audience. Having a good product or a compelling message is just the first step. In a world where we're constantly bombarded with information and distractions, it's not enough to just have something good to offer. You need to be able to get your message across to the people who would benefit from it. This is where having a strong platform becomes crucial. A strong platform gives you visibility, amplification, and connection. It makes you visible in a crowded marketplace, amplifies your message so it reaches more people, and connects you with your audience on a deeper level. It's the bridge that connects you with your audience and allows you to communicate your message effectively. To be successful in today's business environment, you need both a compelling product and a strong platform. The product is what you have to offer, and the platform is how you deliver it to your audience. Without a strong platform, even the best product can go unnoticed. In a nutshell, building a strong platform is key to standing out and succeeding in a crowded and noisy world. It's not enough to just have a good product or a compelling message. You need to have a way of getting your message across to your audience, and that's what a strong platform provides.
02Your product or service needs to be top-notch and unique to make your brand successful
In the bustling world of business, having a standout product is key to success. Think of it this way: you're a chef in a city teeming with eateries. You've got a stunning restaurant, prime location, and a killer marketing plan. But if your food doesn't make taste buds dance, customers won't come back or spread the word. This concept applies to any product or brand. No matter how much you hustle in marketing or sales, if your product doesn't cut the mustard, it won't thrive in the long haul. Today's consumers are swamped with a sea of products, services, and messages. They don't just want more of the same; they want better. They crave products and services that pop, that make them say 'wow'. But what makes a product 'wow'? A 'wow' product is one that goes above and beyond customer expectations. Every customer has a set of expectations, whether they realize it or not, when they interact with a product. If your product meets or surpasses these expectations, it's likely to be seen as captivating. To craft such a product, you need to get inside your customers' heads and figure out how to go the extra mile. Here are five questions to ponder to help determine if your product is captivating: 1. What is the product or experience I want to jazz up into a 'wow' experience? 2. How will the customer or prospect feel as a result of this experience? What's the specific outcome I'm shooting for? 3. What specific expectations does the typical customer bring to this experience? 4. What does it look like if I drop the ball and don't meet customers' expectations for this experience? 5. What does it look like if I knock it out of the park and exceed customers' expectations for this experience? Keep in mind, not everything has to be 'wow'. If everything is 'wow', then nothing is truly 'wow'. The trick is to understand the difference between 'wow' and 'meh', and to know when to swing for the fences. Interestingly, it's often tougher to impress folks in their twenties and thirties because they're constantly bombarded with a wide array of entertainment options. This means that if you're targeting this demographic, your product needs to be even more captivating to stand out.

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03Make sure you're fully ready before launching your product or brand
04Use smart marketing strategies to get your product or brand noticed
05Social media is a cheap and effective way to get your brand seen by many
06Forget old-school marketing, focus on building a loyal community or "tribe" around your brand
07Engage with your tribe by commenting on their posts, it shows you value their opinions
08Conclusion
About Michael Hyatt
Michael Hyatt is a successful entrepreneur, speaker, and author. He is the former CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers and the founder of Michael Hyatt & Company, a leadership development firm. Hyatt is known for his expertise in social media and platform-building.