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...

---

Whats Your NICHE Market ? III ?

What effect are the baby boomers having on the economy... Read More

Guerrilla Marketing in Action

Guerrilla Marketing is using time, energy and imagination to market... Read More

Developing a Contact List- Part Two

In a previous installment, we spoke about how to come... Read More

How to Use Marketing Judo to Beat Big Competitors

If yours is a small business and you have big... Read More

The Money Making Secret of The Toll Booth Position

I'm a marketing consultant and at one of my client-companies,... Read More

Business Marketing For Consultants, Coaches, Speakers, and Trainers: How To Be Noticed and Trusted

Business marketing is essential for professional services, such as consultants,... Read More

15-Minute Marketing: Lots of Results in Little Time

Do you think you don't have enough time to market?... Read More

Getting More From Your Customer

We are all customers of one product or another. How... Read More

5 Tips for Getting the Most out of Exhibiting at Trade Shows

Exhibiting at trade shows can be a cost-effective way to... Read More

Writing Guarantees that Sell

"This offer is good but can you guarantee it."Why write... Read More

Building Credibility for Your Business

Small companies that rely on business-to-business sales often find it... Read More

10 Proven Ways To Accelerate Your Profits

1. Make copies of your web site in many different... Read More

Looking for Sky In All The Wrong Places

Ever sit with a single puzzle piece of clouds and... Read More

More Scams! Do you Really Believe It?

Quit spreading those chain letters, nothing is going to happen... Read More

The Building Blocks to Effective Marketing

The Building Blocks to Successful MarketingIt's More than Sales and... Read More

How to Connect Features and Values

"Buy this magazine or we'll shoot the dog," went a... Read More

Using Purchased Leads

A little advice about using leads that you purchase from... Read More

FREE Means MORE Business

Why give freebies?We have all seen freebies at trade shows... Read More

The Future of Marketing Part 1

It used to be if you were a small business,... Read More

Open Doors by Building Relationships

"You can make more friends in two months by becoming... Read More

Mortgage Broker Marketing - Sell Problems, Not Solutions

Are your marketing messages to Realtors® guilty of these promises?-... Read More

Has the Free Report Had Its Day?

For years now we have been inundated with offers of... Read More

Another Commercial? Dont Touch That Dial! Watch & Learn

When commercials come on the television do you get up... Read More

Laws of Marketing ? The 10 Immutable

Most marketers believe that anything is achievable if you are... Read More

The Top 10 Marketing Tools to Grow Your Business in 2004

Looking to grow your business? Make sure you have these... Read More

Postcards ? Picture Perfect Promotion

There is a simple but almost mystical law which governs... Read More

What You Need in Your Marketing Calendar

Marketing calendars are used by many businesses to help keep... Read More

Marketing With Business Cards

Many businesses today overlook the importance of business cards as... Read More

7 Proven Tips To Market Your Cleaning Business

Marketing your cleaning business is something that you will already... Read More

Reasons Why People Usually Dont Buy Again

There are many psychological reasons why people will buy from... Read More

5 Tips to Heat Up Your On-Line Marketing Using Off-Line Tactics

The internet of course brings a huge arena of marketing... Read More

The 5 Minute Marketing Plan

If I were to ask you right now, what marketing... Read More

Mortgage Marketing and Advertising ? The Magical Ingredient

Do you offer superior service, consistently close loans on time... Read More