LIVE COACHING: How Do I Differentiate As A Startup? | Pinar Erzin - 1857

The Sales Evangelist

Just because you’re talking to a customer doesn’t mean you’re the only one making an offer. So, how do you stand out in a niche-specific market when there are so many competitors vying for your buyers? In this episode, I sit down with Pinar Erzin, Co-founder of Most Sailing, to discuss how startup companies can differentiate themselves in niche markets.

Meet Pinar Erzin

• Pinar is the co-founder of Most Sailing, a company specializing in the luxury yacht charter industry. Her role focuses on building meaningful relationships with clients and standing out in a competitive, relationship-driven market.
• In our conversation, Pinar shares the challenges and lessons she’s learned in creating a unique value proposition in such a specialized field.
• Together, we explore strategies for building lasting client relationships, standing out from the competition, and adding value beyond price to succeed in niche markets.

The Power of Relationships

• Success in niche industries often hinges on trust and personal connections.
• Pinar shares that attending events like MMCAS Summit and the International Charter Expo helps build rapport with industry peers and clients.

Differentiation Beyond Discounts

• While price often takes center stage, true differentiation comes from delivering consistent value and exceptional service.
• Pinar believes it’s better to invest in high-quality experiences and personalized communication to form long-term client partnerships.

Creative Marketing Approaches

• Instead of overloading your prospects with generic sales emails, provide valuable content that addresses their challenges. This could be industry tips or case studies.
• Showcase your unique value through social media, virtual yacht tours, or spotlighting partnerships with booking agents.
• Acknowledge partners’ contributions through awards or personalized gestures like handwritten notes.

“Forget about talking about yourself and start thinking about your clients. What can you do to make their life better?” – Pinar Erzin.

Resources

MostSailing

Pinar Erzin on LinkedIn

Sponsorship Offers

1. This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot.

With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales.

2. This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn.

Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse.

3. This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation.

Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin.

Credits

As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.