How to Be Different, Not Just Better, in Marketing (and Life)

Imagine this. You’re at a street market. Amid the stalls of knock-off sunglasses and boring trinkets, one vendor stops you in your tracks. Their setup isn’t fancy, but it’s magnetic. A table covered with wild, unapologetic artwork. Bold colors. Chaotic shapes. The kind of thing that punches you in the gut. It’s not for everyone, and honestly? That’s the point.

You wander over. You pick up a piece that speaks to you. The vendor grins and says, “That one’s my favourite. It’s not like anything else here.” Here’s the deal. They didn’t try to sell you on why it was better than what the next stall was offering. They didn’t compare it to a Picasso or some dry trophy art. They sold you on something much bigger. This piece didn’t belong in the same conversation as everything else. It stood on its own. It was different. That’s why it stuck. And that’s exactly how your marketing has to show up.

Stop Running on the “Better” Hamster Wheel

Here’s the uncomfortable truth most businesses ignore. Being better isn’t enough. It’s the rat race everyone’s desperate to escape. You’ll spend all your time running just to stay ahead. Better means playing someone else’s game. But different? Different obliterates comparison. It breaks the wheel instead of running on it.

Playing “better” looks like tweaking your website endlessly, slapping on empty claims like “world-class” or “award-winning,” and praying someone notices. Being different? That’s telling the kind of story your competition couldn’t copy, even if they tried.

Different isn’t louder; it’s sharper.

The Power of Asking for What You Want

Here’s a lesson I picked up not in a boardroom, but talking with a mate who sells restored motorbikes. He had his eye on this one beat-up classic, rusted out and forgotten in someone’s garage. A thing of beauty disguised as scrap. He knew what he wanted, and when the owner shrugged and said it wasn’t for sale, most people would’ve backed off. Not him. He says, “All right, but if you change your mind, I’ll make you a deal no one will beat.”

Guess what? Two weeks later, the guy called him back. The bike was his.

And see, that’s the point. Marketing isn’t just about telling people what you do. It’s about asking for what you want and being bold enough to do it. Whether it’s a sale, a share, or a full-blown partnership, you’ve got to say it plain. Don’t assume your audience can read your mind. If you believe in what you’re offering, speak up. Even if you hear no. Even if it feels risky. Because playing it safe? That’s the real loss.

What “No” Teaches You

Sure, sometimes asking gets you rejected. Big deal. When someone says no, it doesn’t break you. It refines you. My mate didn’t get that rusted beauty on day one, but he learned how to pivot and position his offer differently. The bike was still waiting; it just needed him to adjust his approach.

The same applies to your marketing. A campaign that doesn’t land isn’t the end of the road. It’s a compass pointing you to the next move. Rejection forces you to sharpen your message until it can’t be ignored. That’s where the magic is - not in pleasing everyone, but in forging a bond with the people who get it.

Different Wins. Every Time.

Here’s the thing no one in the “better” camp seems to realise. Better is fleeting. Better gets forgotten. But different? Different lasts because it carves its own space. When you tell people, loud and clear, who you are and why that matters, you stop competing. You exit the race and build your own playing field where only you can win.

Your marketing shouldn’t blend into the background. It shouldn’t sound like white noise. It should roar. Not obnoxiously or unnecessarily loud, but with clarity, conviction, and purpose. It should dare people to notice. And yes, some will turn away. Some won’t get it, and that’s fine. You’re not here to be liked by everyone. You’re here to be unforgettable to the right ones.

Your Next Move Starts Now

Ask yourself this. What’s the one thing you want your audience to know about you or your work? The truth, not the polished version you think will play well. Say it. Share it. Ask for what you want. And when you get a no? Use it to refine your pitch. Double down on what makes you untouchable. Stop chasing recognition from everyone and focus on standing out to the few who will champion you.

Different isn’t optional. It’s your lifeline. It’s the only way to build something that’s not just seen, but felt. Bold doesn’t mean brash. It means clear. It means leaving no doubt about why you matter and why they should care.

So, what’s holding you back? Go on. Pick up your brush or your phone or your bloody megaphone and say what you’ve been waiting to say. Make your move. Your future audience isn’t sitting around waiting for “better.”

They’re ready for different. Now make sure it’s yours they remember.

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John (Nick) Atkinson, The CreActivist Marketer who is Doing it Differently!

john@doingitdifferently.com