Strategies to beat your competition and be the No. 1 business
July 20th, 2010 | 
Author: 
Times have definitely changed! Today, win a market may look very much like a bloody medieval battle where your business and your competitors struggle to win the territory.
However, in the long run only a few manage to overcome (or live) with their competition and survive in the business world.
Increasingly demanding consumers, modern payment methods, new credit options, a variety of imported products, low prices, Internet and globalization are only some of the factors you need to know and control to be the preferred choice of your customers. Today I share some strategies that you can not ignore to beat your competition and be No. 1 in your business segment.
1. Identify your competitors. Make sure you know well who is your competition. Not everyone who sells goods or services similar to yours is your competitor. Investígalos, place it, make some calls and a visit and discover secret: they do, how they do and what their strengths and weaknesses. Ancient warriors knew that battles are won more easily when the opponent knows.
2. Conquer new markets. If you already have a database of established clients that work well, do not settle. Develop a plan to explore and conquer new markets. Reward your loyal customers to recommend and soon will expand your kingdom and your sales will increase.
3. Be sure to provide the best customer service in the world. Not all battles are won with prices. This shows that many are won with an excellent service. If you have 10 competitors, you must ensure that your company offers exceptional service. This will become a strength that few can easily overcome. Fast delivery, added value, prompt and personalized attention are just the beginning of success.
4. Marketing your business on VCUs. VCU is an acronym for unique competitive advantage and talk to identify those qualities that you offer that are unique or stand out above what competitors offer. What you offer that others do not offer? If you do not, creating those VCUs do you note to your customers. A VCU can be free delivery can be sent home, I could be something like a web page for online purchases or a single product line. Whatever, take advantage and exploit it to differentiate yourself from your competitors.
5. Create more sales channels. Your products can reach your customers through different means. For example, retail outlets, distributors network and shops. Get advice and seek new distribution channels and thus increases the impact to reach more consumers.
6. Be a problem solver. The world’s largest businesses base their success on a single premise: “solve the problems of their customers.” If you learn to offer solutions rather than just products, then your customers will seek you out no matter the price. People in all parts of the world needed solutions to everyday problems and if you can turn your product into a solution, then you have in your hand the best marketing tool there is. What does your product solve? How does it improve the lives of your customers through your services?
7. Know your customers. Definitive. To sell more you need to know the customer. What are your tastes, preferences, needs? Identify them through studies that allow you to gather views and feedback to your services. Make occasional surveys and discover interesting factors that will help you multiply your income.
8. Create a website for your business. In the XXI century is said to exist if there is a company on the web. Many customers will look in the yellow pages, but more and more customers will seek you out on the web. Certainly represent an area probably more “technical”, but if you want to be part of your portfolio, offer them what they want. Information on the web. Today it is very easy and free! create a website or a shop to advertise your services. Do not be the last one, do it before your competition and get to where you have not imagined.
9. Never mention your competition and compare yourself to her. A fatal error of many companies is compared to its competitors. In fact its vendors often say things like “our product is better than XYZ company because …” Grave error! Never mention your competition, you actually matenener customer a stance of “they do not exist.” Why? Just because you are the leader and you’re convinced. So you’re not constantly occupied with particulars of the other “so-called leaders.” Or have you ever listened to “Ricky Martin” talk “Enrique Iglesias” or “Messi” talk about “Cristiano Ronaldo.” And if maybe they do will only recognize that they are in the game.
10. Do not fall into the game to lower prices. When you have competitors is very tempting to be part of the game to lower prices. But this is only for creative entrepreneurs soon. It is a fact that can compete intelligently without necessarily lower your prices and eliminate your profits. A good strategy for the promotion and advertising, exceptional service, added value and creativity can be less expensive than lower your price to the floor. Another good way to counter is to create offers aggressive (but temporary) that attract the attention of your customers but do not necessarily mean a permanent price cut. How much do you think the price has dropped from Coca-Cola in the last 20 years? Nothing or almost nothing! Moreover I would think that has risen in price. And if at any time you offer a choice of cheaper drinks (hey, not cheaper), you really are offering an option with any container or other display size. But the main product is the Coca-Cola still contains exactly the same!
So you choose what position you play in this battle. Or are you the leader who sets the pace or are you the competitor who defends and fights for survival. The key, as I have said in countless posts is creativity. Without it, companies are doomed to mediocrity.
Posted in 
Tags: