Meaning & use
USP
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Meanings
abbreviationcountablebusiness
a feature of a product or service that makes it different from and better than competitors
Grammar: Countable: a USP, two USPs. Often used with 'have' or 'identify'.
Patterns
- have a USP
- identify a USP
- a unique USP
The company's USP is its 24-hour customer service.
What is your USP? Investors always ask that.
They need to find a USP to stand out in a crowded market.
abbreviationcountableinformal
a quality or feature that makes someone or something special or different
Grammar: Used more generally outside business, especially in informal speech.
Patterns
- someone's USP
- have a USP
Her USP as a teacher is her patience.
The city's USP is its lively nightlife.
Word forms
| plural | USPs |
|---|
Common combinations
- unique selling proposition
- Their unique selling proposition is low prices.
- unique selling point
- The unique selling point of this phone is its camera.
- identify a USP
- We need to identify a USP before launching the product.
- lack a USP
- The brand lacks a USP and struggles to attract customers.
Synonyms and how they differ
- selling point
- A more general term; it does not have to be unique, just a feature that attracts buyers.
- differentiator
- A formal business term focusing on how a product is different, not necessarily better.
Commonly confused: USP or UPS?
USP vs UPS
UPS is a delivery company; USP is a marketing term. They sound similar but are unrelated.
Practice
In marketing, what does USP stand for?
Choose one answer.
USP stands for 'unique selling proposition' or 'unique selling point'. The other options are real abbreviations but not the marketing term.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “USP”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.