A few summers ago, my daughter and I spent some time in South Africa on a safari. When we first got there, all of the zebras pretty much looked the same, other than their relative size. But as we looked more closely (and our guides patiently pointed it out), we began to recognize that every […]
Competitors
How to Talk About Competitors? You Don’t
Not long ago, I read an exchange about how we should talk to our customers about out competitors. Some felt we should take a “leadership” position offering our views and insights to the customer. Frankly, I was appalled with some of the opinions in that discussion. We have no business talking about our competitors products […]
How to Create a Value Proposition That Helps Your Small Business Stand Out
Consumers searching for products or services on the internet are inundated with options. Most people will keep clicking through search results until they either find a website that grabs their attention, or they are in a stupor caused by decision fatigue. Don’t be the site they skip over. Make sure your website stands out among […]
The New World of Co-Opetition
The relationships we establish, in business, are very complex and constantly changing. We have relationships with colleagues. At some point, we or colleagues may choose to go work someplace else—even our competition. We don’t, at least I haven’t, stopped those relationships. Most of the time, there is intense competition—I want to beat them, just as […]
Baby Boomers May Be Your Biggest Startup Competitors
Contrary to what you might guess, the highest rate of entrepreneurial growth over the last few years is not Gen-Y upstarts, but Boomers over the age of 50, now called encore entrepreneurs. In fact, according to the latest Index of Startup Activity by the Kauffman Foundation and recent press reports, these Baby Boomers are actually driving a new […]
3 Ways to Overcome Competition from Online Retailers
According to the Census Bureau, today’s consumers buy nearly 10 percent of goods and services online—and that percentage is rising at a clip of over 15 percent per year. Some small businesses, such as used books stores and antiques dealers, rely on the internet for a majority of their sales. What does that mean for local […]
On Differentiation
Differentiation is critical in helping customers select our solution over the alternatives. As important as it is, most sales people do a terrible job at differentiation. Ultimately, too many are unable to differentiate in meaningful ways, as a result they end up differentiating on price. Every time we win by taking pricing actions, we are […]
7 Ways to Position Competitors Without Any Negativity
Most entrepreneurs spend far too much time thinking negatively about competitors, and can’t resist making derogatory statements to their own team, to investors, and even to customers. This approach only makes these important constituents question your integrity, intelligence, and your understanding of business basics. Pointing out flaws in others does not give you strength. As […]
Small Business Survey Reveals Areas to Gain a Competitive Advantage
A recent survey of 1,794 small business owners revealed expected—and unexpected—results, some of which can help you find ways to better competitively position your business in the coming months and years. The first finding that surprised me is that well over half the respondents were women: 57 percent. Only 39 percent said they were male […]
6 Foolproof Ways to Build a Successful At-Home Hustle
Have you ever been at work and thought, “What’s stopping me from giving up this job and starting my own home business?” Most likely, what’s stopping you is fear and uncertainty. Moving from working in an office to running your own business from home is a big step. But the best way to overcome your […]
