Say Goodbye To The Rules If the standard rules of doing business aren't working for you, write your own.

If the odds are stacked against you, don't play by the established rules. Change your distribution, pricing, support or marketing-somehow create your own advantages. If all your competitors are headed in one direction, take a different tack and you'll have a better chance of make a name for yourself.

Say, for example, you own a dry cleaning business and you've noticed your competition is big on drive-thru service. Maybe your next move should be to de-emphasize your drive-thru window and focus on promoting your free delivery service. Investigate the relative costs involved ahead of time so that what you offer really is affordable. But chances are the extra business you generate will more than cover your costs.

Excerpted from 303 Marketing Tips Guaranteed to Boost Your Business

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Leadership

7 Steps to De-Risking Big Business Decisions Before They Backfire

When the stakes are high, these seven steps can help you avoid costly mistakes, eliminate bias and make smarter decisions that actually scale.

Leadership

The Difference Between Entrepreneurs Who Survive Crises and Those Who Don't

In a business world accelerated by AI, visibility alone is fragile. Here's how strategic silence and consistency can turn reputation into your most powerful asset.

Employee Experience & Recruiting

Here's the Real Reason Your Employees Are Checked Out — And the Missing Link That Could Fix It

Most disengaged employees aren't exhausted — they're disconnected, and storytelling may be the key to rebuilding that connection.

Business News

United Airlines Says It Is Adding Extra Flights in Case Spirit 'Suddenly Goes Out of Business'

Rival airlines, including United and Frontier, are adding new routes as Spirit cuts 12 cities from its schedule.

Business News

You Can Get Paid $18,000 More a Year By Adding AI Skills to Your Resume, According to a New Study

Employers are emphasizing AI skills — and are willing to pay a lot more if you have them.