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...

---

Design, Design, Design

You need only one card, but make it noticeable. Make... Read More

Spice It Up! Rib Festival Teaches Us About Product Value

The Rib America Festival is a fun filled family event... Read More

Using Flyers In Your Business

If you are not using flyers in your business you... Read More

Fundamental Strategic Marketing Mistakes to Avoid

This is a pretty tough global economy and it is... Read More

How To Get To The Top of The Marketing Food Chain

Are you tired of living off handouts from big-name marketers,... Read More

Color Part 2: Formats and Systems

There are several color formats and systems available for mixing... Read More

Optimizing Your Email Marketing

Email CampaignsEmail marketing can be a tremendously valuable tool for... Read More

Top 5 Kick Butt Marketing Requirements

Cinch your success with 8-second leaders! Step into the saddle... Read More

Renting Your Mailing Lists to Others

RESOLVING THE "PROPRIETARY" DILEMMA... SHOULD YOU RENT YOUR OWN MAILING... Read More

Developing a Contact List- Part Two

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

25 Ways To Make Your Next Direct Mail Campaign Work

This list contains 25 powerful strategies to improve your direct... Read More

Developing a Contact List- Part One

One of the most essential things to successful networking is... Read More

Down To The Wire

When you want to win and woo new clients with... Read More

Ten Breakthrough Marketing Ideas

Ten Breakthrough Marketing Ideas1. Create a directory of web sites... Read More

Knowing Your Customer Is The Key

Without doubt, understanding what a customer's wants and needs are... Read More

The Testimonial Writing Machine

Almost every small business marketer knows that they should gather... Read More

10 Start Up Marketing Tips

This list has been compiled as a result of years... Read More

Business Marketing Strategy

The term business marketing strategy might sound like it is... Read More

Getting Paid to Promote Yourself

We all know we can pay a magazine or a... Read More

Incentives For Customers? Whats New?

Lost & Found for the 21st CenturyHere in the 21st... Read More

Pre-Cleaning and Updating Addresses in Your Database

When you send a direct mail piece using the Addressed... Read More

Overview on Qualitative Data Collection Techniques in International Marketing Research

This article is meant to be a brief review and... Read More

Private Practice Marketing: 3 More Secrets I Wish I Knew When I First Started Out

Secret #4 - Get very comfortable asking for paymentOne of... Read More

The Death of Product Packaging as We Know It.

It used to be you that if you had a... Read More

Who is Your Perfect Client

When I started my coaching practice I believed that I... Read More

Referrals - How to Get Them

Referrals are an extension of Networking. If people like you... Read More

Effective Marketing for Small Businesses

Effective marketing for the small business begins with market researchIf... Read More

A Good Marketer: What?s the Measurement?

As a business owner, you know how valuable being good... Read More

Marketing to the Affluent - with Wine

With its association to an affluent, sophisticated lifestyle, wine can... Read More

How to Write Irresistible Promotional Pieces that Attract More and Better Clients

Whether you're creating a sales letter, a brochure, a newsletter,... Read More

Three Alternative Methods On Getting Quality Testimonials with Bonus

Here are three alternatives to increase your testimonial numbers or... Read More

5 Ways to Give Your Web Site a Big-Company Look and Feel

We all DO judge a book by its cover, and... Read More

Effective Marketing

For any business to be successful whether on or offline... Read More