Archive for March, 2010
A Simple Technique to Take the Guesswork out of Marketing…
Recently I read that one of my favorite copywriters likes to be on many mailing lists because he considers it to be “competitive intelligence”.
I share that addiction. It’s fun to see what direction others in the same business are taking and it provides inspiration for new opportunities too.
Do you do the same for your business?
Do you know where the trends are pointing in your Industry?
To me CI is not about spying or paying someone to steal trade secrets from a competitor. Its mainly about staying up to date on the trends that indicate profit opportunities for your own business.
Do you have to chase the same rabbit as your competitor?
Not really… but if you are listening to who you serve in the market, shouldn’t you at least pay attention?
Some entrepreneurs hate to copy the competition… I get that.
How about you put your own creative spin on the trend?
That way you serve the market and get to personalize it at the same time.
Pick three competitors right now and create a “swipe” file on their marketing or sales efforts. The swipe file is collection of ideas, advertisements, marketing materials and personal observations your competitors are using to market…. overtime the information you collect helps form your thinking about your market….
Simple? … yes but its a beginning.