 |
Client Attraction Technique #3: Study the Competition!
One very powerful and cost-effective marketing strategy is to study the competition. This is an important exercise, as essentially it allows you to find out as much as possible about the opposition - how best they operate, what they lack and then how to capitalise on it! Study the Competition Offline Start by reviewing the Yellow Pages, the Thomson Local or even go online to determine what you're up against locally (and if applicable nationally). Make a list of the businesses you need to research, then systematically list the advantages and disadvantages associated with each company. Try to be as objective as possible. Some questions you might need to ask about the opposition include: * Where do they advertise? * Who buys from them? * What form of marketing seems to work best (or not) for them? * Do they produce a newsletter you could join? * What's their background? * Do they try to appeal to all sections of your particular business sector, or do they have a niche market? Study Your Competition Online If a competitor is consistently higher in search engine rankings than you are, work out how they got there. For example use www.linkpopularity.com to see which sites link to their website, as well as your own. Relevant links can dramatically increase traffic to your web site as they provide an excellent source of consistent and targeted hits. Review your competitor's website from top to bottom - essentially 'get under the bonnet' and see what makes it work. View the competition as not only a force to be overcome but an aid in your marketing efforts. You might be pleasantly surprised, or shocked, when you compare your business to what else is out there. Either way you'll learn a great deal using this method! Andrew Ludlam is a client attraction expert, and Director of Maverick Marketing Solutions. If you're deadly serious about maximising the potential of your business, then I urge you to visit http://www.maverickmarketingltd.com and sign up for the monthly 'Maverick Marketing Solutions Newsletter'... where you'll also receive the FREE white paper "Six Magnetic Ways To Attract More Clients To Your Business In The Next 90 Days..!" (Value $37) Warning! This could be the last business marketing website you ever need to see...
|
More resources:
|
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Standing Above The Crowd
In today's highly competitive business environment it is critical to find ways to separate yourself from the other companies who sell the same - or similar - product and/or service. Here are several strategies that can help you accomplish this:Help your clients achieve their goals.
How Price Gouging Can Hurt Your Business
"Price gouging" is an emotional, inflammatory term. Everyone is against it, but only buyers, angry over excessive profit-taking, proclaim it.
Top 5 Kick Butt Marketing Requirements
Cinch your success with 8-second leaders! Step into the saddle and ride to the buzzer - but first, get outfitted for success. Some things are necessary to have on hand in order to be prepared for coming out of the chute.
Trade Show Videos Need to be Planned
A few months ago, we attended the recent Austech 2005 Expo. It was a large trade show that showcased over 500 manufacturers selling machines, equipment and systems.
Why Great Companies Survey: Martian Logic!
If an alien civilization from Mars was planning a friendly takeover of our planet they would seek to make sure they understood our way of life and our way of thought.The only way they could accomplish their objective would be by asking questions which they could genuinely understand and then plan a strategy accordingly.
Practice Marketing: How to Answer What Do You Do? to Increase Prospects, Publicity and Profits
"What do you do?""I'm a CPA. What do you do?""I'm a stockbroker.
Consumer Thinking And Search Marketing
12/20/04According to a recent article by ComScore Networks, about three-quarters of all consumer product research is initiated through a generic search term, such as "televisions" or "Adoption Services". The report goes on to say that in subsequent research efforts consumers tend to re-initiate the search with generic search terms.
SWOT Analysis -- Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats
When conducting strategic planning for any company -- online and/or offline -- it is useful to complete an analysis that takes into account not only your own business, but your competitors' activities and current industry happenings as well. A SWOT is one such analysis.
10 Proven Ways To Accelerate Your Profits
1. Make copies of your web site in many different
languages.
How Nearly Going Broke Taught Me The Value Of Niche Marketing
If you want to learn how effective Niche Marketing can be,
I suggest you "don't" take the route I did.Back in 1983 I started a company offering general
Electronics Subcontract Assembly services to just about
anyone who made Electronic products.
What Our CAT Taught Me About Marketing!
Toby is one of our two family pets (both cats). He is quite astute, and he has learned one of the most basic tenets of selling - stick with what works!Many of Toby's days are spent perched on the top of my monitor as I work here on my computer.
How to Measure the Benefit Your Product or Service Offers
Measuring the benefit of your product or service means putting a specific value on the advantage it offers. For example, it's ineffective to say your light bulbs are brighter and last longer than the competition's.
Be Prepared for Marketing
For most businesses, making a sale is all important. However, despite the amount of effort and attention given to getting sales, there is often no attention given to developing and effectively implementing a systematic marketing process.
15 Ways to Promote eLearning Programs
Pre-note: In this article, teleclass is an example used to
illustrate one type of eLearning market. The tips work the
same for other eLearning programs, including, but not
limited to, teleseminars and ecourses.
Promotional Marketing Products - Selecting the Perfect Item
People are known to shop on impulse- buying an item just because it is on sale, or purchasing something because it looks great in the store. When shopping for promotional items, you really can't succumb to impulses.
Top Ten Blunders Exhibitors Make in Expos/Tradeshows
Triple your response from expos by avoiding the top ten blunders at expos.
Turn disappointment into sales success!If you are like most exhibitors, you were disappointed from the results at your last expo.
30-Minute Marketing
Marketing your small business takes tons of time, years of experience, and lots of money, right? WRONG! Anyone can learn effective marketing techniques that are simple, inexpensive, and best of all, quick! This summer, get in the habit of regularly marketing your biz! The following are some marketing techniques that you can accomplish in 30 minutes or less. Pick a few that appeal to your style.
Motivating Shoppers with Online Coupons (Part 2 of 2)
Last time we discussed how online coupons and promotion codes can motivate buyers. We discussed examples of coupons and some of the aspects of these offers that can boost sales and generate urgency to a purchase.
Getting The Big Picture Series: Part 2-Whats Beneath The Surface?
When you take a piece of gold to a pawn shop sometimes they will take a small saw-like tool to scrape the jewelry to find out for sure "What's Beneath The Surface". Sometimes they find pure gold, silver, or tarnished metal.
Marketing Apathy Solutions: 10 Solutions for Overcoming Apathy Beginning Today
Are you suffering from feelings of indifference or a lack of concern when it comes to marketing your business? Do you lack the passion that's necessary to attract customers to your business?Marketing apathy, characterized by feelings of passiveness, disregard, and a lack of interest is widespread among today's businesses. This attitude is like putting a roadblock between you and your success.
|
Info-Zone.eu » Marketing
