"Small Business Marketing Strategies that Produce Optimal Results"

Serving the global online business community since August 30, 2000

~~Small Business Competitive Strategies~~

12 Ways To Outsell Your Competition

The key to outselling your competition is to compare your product to theirs, and then use your findings to improve your product, emphasize its strengths, and refocus your marketing efforts. Below are 12 critical areas you can compare and improve upon to outsell your competition.

1. Price- Can you offer a lower price? Can you offer a higher price and increase the perceived value of your product? Do you offer easier payment options than your competition?

2. Packaging- Can you package your product more attractively? Do the colors of your package relate to your product? Can you package your product into a smaller or larger package?

3. Delivery- Can you offering cheaper shipping? Do you have a high enough profit margin to offer free shipping? Can you ship your products faster?

4. Benefits- Can you offer more benefits than your competition? Are your benefits stronger? Do you have believable proof that supports your claims?

5. Quality- Is your product built and tested to last longer than your competition? Can you improve the overall quality of your product?

6. Performance- Can you make your product faster at solving your customers problem? Is your product easier to use than your competitions?

7. Features- Can you offer more product features than your competition? Do your features support the benefits you offer?

8. Availability- Is your product always available or do your have to backorder it? Can your product suppliers drop ship to your customers?

9. Extras- Do you provided free bonuses when your customers buy your product? Are your bonuses more valuable than your competitions?

10. Service- Do you offer your customers free 24 hour customer service? Can you provide free product repair? Does your competition make their customers talk to a machine?

11. Proof- Can you provide more proof than your competition that your product is reliable? Can you provide stronger testimonials or endorsements?

12. Guarantees- Do you have a stronger guarantee than your competition? Do you offer warranties with your product? Do you provide an easier return policy?




Tool and Tips for Marketing More Competitively:


~~Small Business Competitive Strategies~~

12 Ways To Create an Order-Pulling Competitive Advantage

A competitive advantage is something that sets your business apart from your competitors. To compete with other businesses nowadays, especially online, you need to specialize or have a unique sales proposition that gives you a distinctive identity. Below are twelve ideas for being uniquely different.

1. Your advantage could be that you offer free delivery. This may cost a little money, but, you may gain the extra customers to make it worthwhile.

2. Your competitive edge could be that you offer a lower price. If you can't afford to offer a lower price on a continuous basis, you could consider holding the occasional discount sale.

3. Your selling advantage could be that your product achieves results faster. This niche is very effective because people are becoming more and more impatient and want results fast.

4. Your competitive selling point could be you've been in business for a longer period of time. The public's perception is that if you've been in business longer you're better established and have more credibility.

5. Your advantage could be that your product tastes, smells sounds, looks, or feels better. When you target the the senses you're appealing to basic human responses and attractions.

6. Perhaps your product is light or compact. Customers may want to take the product on a trip or don't have much room where they live.

7. Your unique selling point could be that you've won a business award. When you win an award, tell your customers or website visitors about it. This enhances their trust in you and your business.

8. Your competitive selling point could be that your product lasts longer. People don't like spending the time and money to buy replacement products or supplies all the time.

9. Your advantage could be that your product is easy to use. Nobody likes to buy a product that requires having to read a 200 page hard-to-understand instruction manual.

10. You competitive strength could be that your product has better safety features. Many people are very safety and health conscious, and often prefer products that are safe, harmless to the environment, and endorsed by health, safety, or environmental organizations or agencies.

11.Another selling point could be that your product was made by hand. Some consumers believe that products made by hand offer better quality.

12. Your advantage could be that you stand behind all your products. Everyone want to know that you back up any claims you make about your product with guarantees, and/or free replacements.






Marketing Strategies