Best for
Anyone struggling to explain what makes them different.
Use this when
Before writing website copy, ads, or a pitch.
The resource
Step 1: Raw material
WHO: [Target Customer] THEIR PROBLEM: [problem in their words] WHAT YOU DO: [your service, plainly] THE OUTCOME: [what's true for them afterward] YOUR DIFFERENCE: [what you do that others near you don't] THE PROOF: [why they should believe you] THE COST OF DOING NOTHING: [what happens if they don't act]
Step 2: Five formulas to fill in
FORMULA 1 — The plain one [Business Name] helps [Target Customer] [outcome] without [the usual downside]. FORMULA 2 — The specific one [Offer] for [Target Customer] in [Location] who need [outcome] by [timeframe]. FORMULA 3 — The contrast one Most [providers] [common approach]. We [your approach], so you get [outcome]. FORMULA 4 — The problem-first one [Problem]? We [solution] for [Target Customer], starting at [Price]. FORMULA 5 — The outcome one [Outcome] — [how you deliver it], for [Target Customer].
Step 3: Test it
Read your favorite version aloud and check: - Would a stranger understand it without follow-up questions? - Could a competitor say the exact same sentence? (If yes, it isn't a value proposition.) - Does it name a real customer and a real outcome? - Is every claim in it something you could prove if asked? - Is it under 20 words? Then say it to five actual people and watch their faces. Confusion is data.
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This resource is general educational information, not legal, financial, tax, or HR advice. Review anything you send or publish against the rules that apply to your industry and location, and consult a qualified professional when the stakes are high.
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