MT Marketing - Make Friends With Your Competitors

Why would I want my competitors on my side? 

Simple, because they will remain your competitors no matter what. You can’t change competition but you can certainly change how you view it.

A smarter way to view the situation is to stop looking at competition as a bad thing. 

Competition is a good thing.   Yes, a good thing.   For starters, it means there is a demand for your product or service.   It means others are making a living doing what you’re doing, which means it’s a viable business.  

Strategies To Help You Win Over The Competition

Start looking at your competitors as your partners.   Try to think about what you can do for them or how your products could compliment each other.

Send them a note saying how much you like their service or what a good job they’re doing. 

Ask them about their successes.   Find out if they’ve found it easy to accomplish their goals. 

Get feedback from them.   Who better to give you feedback than your competition?   They know your business and could provide new ideas you may have missed.

Show them respect.   Don’t use under handed tactics to beat your competitors.   Not only is it bad business practice but you won’t be very well liked.  

Start a Joint Venture.    Think of a JV which could benefit both of you.   Perhaps you could promote each other’s services or tackle a big account together. 

Give them some work.   If you’re swamped with work why not out source some to your competitors?   You’ll get experienced help and you’ll also know what quality of work they produce.

There are plenty of fish in the sea.   Keep in mind that unless your field is oversaturated there are plenty of opportunities out there for everyone. 

And finally don’t worry.   Don’t spend time worrying about the little things.   If your competitor lands an account you were after, congratulate them and move on.

If you spend your time worrying about what others are doing, you’ll only end up jeopardizing your own efforts.