Everyone has a different thought process and worldview. We all have our own unique life experiences.

Not everyone is going to agree with how you think. Some will resonate with you, others won’t.

Still, sticking to your own perspective as opposed to following the mainstream has its benefits in terms of growing a business.

But there’s a right and wrong way of showcasing your opinions.

Two Key Terms: Content Angle and Status Quo

The content angle refers to your thoughts and opinions about a particular topic. 

The status quo refers to a common approach or concept that’s considered the norm. It’s the standard idea for a topic that most people conform to because it’s generally agreeable and acceptable.

While being different is good and can bring positive results, don’t overcomplicate details when you don’t have to. The best answer is the one that’s simple and easy to understand.

The Advantages of Having a Content Angle That Doesn’t Follow the Status Quo

Before writing on a topic, reflect on whether or not you full-heartedly agree with what everyone else is saying.

Once you’ve found your point of view, don’t force yourself to play it safe by trying to align with what everyone else is saying. It’s especially advisable from me to you as a small business or startup because this is one of your gateways to stand out from the competition.

Your unique values and personality are what’s going to help you grow your audience.

1. Disruption

It gets boring and even tiring when you hear about the same things over and over again. 

But whenever you hear about something new, something that’s different – it’s going to get your attention. 

A bigger bonus is if you can communicate your thoughts and experience in a way that evokes awe, shock, and curiosity.

You’ll have people becoming followers once they understand where you’re coming from and how their values align with yours. Those same followers may also feel special following you because of the fact you’re not the same as others. As we all have a natural human desire to be unique, it’s a factor that could help you generate more fans for your business.

2. Attract a Specific Type of Audience

Sticking to your own opinions makes you a lot more appealing to a specific type of audience. However, there will also be another category of people who are on the fence. 

But if you’re trying to talk to everyone, you end up talking to no one.

3. Get More Eyeballs

Introducing a new side of a topic stirs interest.

Adding something fresh to the conversation can make people keen to hear your thoughts. You’ll get more eyeballs since you’re not exactly the same as everyone else.

People will be curious enough about what you think about certain topics because they know you’ll have something new to say. 

4. Improve Content Engagement and Search Rankings

Going against the trend most people agree with means challenging a part of their perspective. 

And when a person’s views are challenged, they’re likely to respond. The engagement will show through the following:

• Social shares
• Click through rates
• Comments
• Likes
• Saves/bookmarks

All of these are positive signs for social media and Google algorithms.

Communicating a damn good idea does wonders. Doing this well is more than enough for getting people to consume your content from start to finish.

This shows through user behaviour metrics like:

• Pageviews
• Average time spent on page
• Bounce rates

Higher rankings aren’t just about getting the perfect score on your SEO content optimisation tool. It’s about putting your users first and giving fresh value.

5. Stand Out in the SERP

Google’s approach mentions the following:

“Search is a tool to explore many angles so that you can form your own understanding of the world.”

Google

When you’re offering a new angle on a subject, it leaves a strong first impression. It also has a positive impact in terms of standing out because you’re sharing something fresh for your audience, which can lead to a good user experience. 

We know that SEO is most rewarding for those who rank as the first organic result. 

If you’re ranking on the bottom half of the SERP, you’ve still got some work to do to push your positions forward. However, communicating a different perspective effectively in your title tag and meta descriptions could increase the number of clicks you get from searchers. 

How to Go Against the Status Quo and Offer a New Content Angle the Right Way

Attention is the new currency.

Being unique can get more people entering your sales funnel by driving attention to your business. Then again, you’ll only benefit from the points listed earlier by sharing your unique thoughts the right way. That means being: 

• Data-driven
• Ethical
• Logical
• Honest
• Empathetic

Saying whatever you want online without thinking about the consequences can tarnish your reputation.

Anyway, I’ll get into a bit of the specifics on going against the status quo the right way.

It’s All About Authenticity

Our values and personality are what makes each of us unique. 

Don’t intentionally go against the status quo for the sake of standing out. It’s about staying true to yourself and standing up for what you believe in.

Use Data to Support Your Points

It affects your business from a credibility standpoint if you’re not using any data to support your points.

Don’t just say things out of your ass and make bold claims without any form of evidence. Refer to reliable sources of data to help make your points more valid and acceptable.

Stay Within Logical Reasoning

Already have empirical evidence and data to support your points? That’s nice. 

However, it doesn’t mean you can draw up a wild conclusion that isn’t coherent. It has to logically fit into the narrative you’re creating. Strong opinions are okay but it needs to make sense.

Acknowledge the Status Quo and Any Potential Objections

Acknowledge where the mainstream opinions are coming from. Show empathy. This makes you more likable and someone people would be more open to listening to. It can also make your side of the story more compelling.

Don’t Be Too Offensive 

If you have a unique opinion, by all means, feel free to share what you think.

Just be aware of the consequences. You’ll be at risk of offending someone, so choose your words carefully.

We All Conform to an Idea in One Way or Another

We’re all skeptical about certain topics. Most of us are afraid of bringing them up because we want to fit in with society.

And that’s normal – our natural human instinct desires connection and social acceptance. 

Yet once you address your opinion that goes against the status quo, you’ll usually find that more people will agree with you than you’d think. 

While it may lead to a few disagreements and criticism, it gets your audience engaged. 

Which as a result, boosts the algorithm and improves your online presence. 

The negative comments typically come from people who aren’t the ideal consumers you’d want to get in front of in the first place. Nevertheless, all it takes is a good response for some of them to become loyal followers.