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Does your creative business struggle to bring in the right clientele and financial leverage, leaving you feeling stuck and frustrated? The Outsmart the Hustle podcast will show you how to turn hard work into smart work! I'm your host, Hannah McGinty, helping you focus on the high-impact moves that drive your business forward without the endless grind. Whether you've been running your business for 20 years or 20 minutes, I'm here to bring you clear, practical strategies from industry experts and successful entrepreneurs who know how to create a sustainable business. I've been running my creative video production business since 2019, where I primarily work in the wedding and event space. And since 2021, my business has continued to hit six figures in revenue. Now imagine that for yourself. What would it help you achieve in life if that meant your passion could turn into a consistent paycheck? Tune in each Tuesday for fresh insights, tools, and ideas to help you streamline, scale, and find freedom in your workâso you can build the business and life you truly want to live.
Welcome to Outsmart the hustle, where we turn hard work into smart work, helping you focus on the high impact moves that drive your business forward without getting stuck in the grind. I'm your host, Hannah McGinty. And today, we're diving to the secret weapon that will have your clients choosing you over the sea of other creative entrepreneurs out there. It's called your unique value proposition or UVP. So in a world where it seems like everyone and their cousin is a wedding videographer, how in the world do you stand out?
Hannah:How do you make couples say, that's the one, when they stumble upon your website or Instagram? Enter your UVP. Your business's je ne sais quoi. Your UVP is what sets you apart from the crowd. It's not just about being good at what you do.
Hannah:It's about being uniquely, memorably awesome. So let's break down how to craft a killer UVP. First things first. You need to know your competition. What are the other videographers in your area offering?
Hannah:Are they all about drone shots, cinematic edits, same day highlights? Knowing what's out there helps you identify gaps in the market that you can fill. So make a list of, like, your top 5 competitors and jot down what they're known for or what they're really good at. And, subsequently, you make a list of what you think you're good at too and what people say they love about your work. If you already have had clients already, then maybe you could look back at the reviews and see what they're saying about you.
Hannah:Because the next thing is to look at what you're absolutely fantastic at. Maybe you have a knack for capturing those blink and you'll miss it emotional moments. Or perhaps you're a wizard and making awkward uncle Bob look like a movie star on camera, just, like, write down the things that you do better than anyone else in your field. And maybe you have that imposter syndrome, and you're, like, well, this other videographer does this exact same thing better. Doesn't matter.
Hannah:You need to write it down and just be like, this is something I really value and that I really love to do, and just focus on that. Don't try to compare while you're making this list. My third point is you have to understand your ideal client. Because your UVP isn't just about you. It's about how you serve your clients.
Hannah:Like, who's your dream client? What do they value the most? Are they after a traditional or timeless video? Or are they looking for something more avant garde? You gotta create a quick profile of your ideal client, so you know who you're talking to, like, what their pain points are, and what do they dream about for their wedding video.
Hannah:Once you have those pieces together, then you can kind of see, do I fit this person's ideal dream as a wedding videographer? Like, can I offer them what they want? And if not, figure out how. You have to solve the problem, and this is where it gets fun. So, like, what problem can you solve that other videographers can't?
Hannah:Maybe you're the master of calming nervous couples, or maybe you have a talent for turning the most chaotic family dynamics into a heartwarming moment on film. So identify the problem that you have a very unique solution for that'll help calm the nerves of the couples on those inquiry calls. Your UVP should be clear, concise, and catchy. Just think of it as a tagline for your business. It should be easy to understand and memorable.
Hannah:While a UVP can be expressed in a single sentence, it's not a strict requirement when it comes to making your mission statement. It doesn't have to be perfect, but it should capture the essence of what makes you unique. So now let's put this all together with some famous company examples of their own UVPs. For example, Starbucks' Our Barista Promise, love your beverage or let us know. We'll always make it right.
Hannah:It's very short, very sweet. Another example could be Paramount Pictures where they say Paramount is the world's leading producer of premium entertainment content that connects billions of people in nearly every country in the world. So their whole thing is, like, streaming, accessibility, whatever. So they're just trying to relay that in one sentence of, like, what it is that they do best so I'll be vulnerable too. Like, this is mine for Modern Memoir.
Hannah:Modern Memoir crafts cinematic wedding films that capture not just moments, but the emotional story, allowing couples to relive the origins of their love for years to come. This UVP tells my potential clients exactly what they're getting, who it's for, and what makes it unique. Just remember that your UVP isn't just something that you slap on your website and call it a day. It should infuse everything you do from how you shoot weddings to how you interact with clients. For example, just because I interview the couples, their friends, family, guests, doesn't mean that I try to squeeze all of that into my UVP.
Hannah:When you think about it, saying we capture not just the moments, but the emotional story really means that we must find creative ways to capture what matters most to our couples, which is usually documenting their stories and the memories of their guests and loved ones. Remember, your UVP isn't set in stone either. As you grow and evolve as a creative entrepreneur, your UVP might change too. Heck, depending on the time you're listening to this podcast, my own UVP could have changed. The important thing is that it accurately represents who you are, what you offer, and why you're the absolute best choice for your ideal clients.
Hannah:So, if you're into homework, take some time to work through these steps and craft your UVP. Then I want you to infuse it into one of the aspects of your business. Maybe you rewrite your Instagram bio to reflect it or you craft a new section on your website's homepage. Whatever you choose, just take action on it this week. Thanks for tuning in to this episode of Outsmart the Hustle.
Hannah:If you found this helpful, please share it with a fellow creative entrepreneur. And don't forget to subscribe so that you never miss an episode. Until next time, keep crafting those unique value propositions that'll make you irresistible to your dream clients. Outsmart the hustle is produced by memoir mastery, a film business course. Hosted by Hannah McGinty and edited by Manuel Mesa.
Hannah:Follow us at Memoir Mastery literally anywhere for more creative business tips.