At least once a day,
a writer will announce
she has written a story
unlike any story
anyone has ever seen!
Two things
1) There are millions of stories.
I suspect at least one of these stories
is similar.
and
2) Being unlike any story
ever written
isn’t a strength.
It makes it d@mn difficult
to promote that story.
The easiest way to promote something
is saying
“It is like (existing something)
except (the way it is different).”
That’s fast.
That’s effective.
That often appeals
to the target market.
If the product is completely new,
it takes longer
and is more challenging to explain.
“When you ask a question
about a new entry
that’s also in a new category,
you’re now trying to do
two things:
Explain what the thing is.
What it rhymes with.
What it does.
What the parameters are,
whether it can be trusted to work,
whether or not you’ll feel stupid doing it…
Ask whether your friend,
now that she vaguely understands
what the thing is,
even wants it.”
Being completely different
makes selling that product/service
MORE challenging,
not less.
Find a product/service
your new offering similar to.