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To Win Clients, You Have to Look For Your Edge |
Article Submitted by: charen smith
Friday, 05 February 2010
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What sets you apart from your competition? Why would your target clients go to your shop and not to the store down the block? Why should they purchase from you? Why should they read your postcard printing and not that of your competition? This is what it means to have a competitive edge in order for you to make it in the industry. You need to establish your competitive edge for you to either make or break it with your business. And although few businesses have no competition, it is still to your advantage to know those in your playing field and study what can make you stay in your position. Whether you have to scour the Internet or review annual reports and business plans made by another company, taking notes on the information you find can go a long way in keeping your position in your chosen industry. This is what it means to know what you can offer that the other companies cannot. To build your own competitive edge, here are some factors you need to compare with your competition to help you make a success of your business: 1- Your target market. Did the store down the block promote to all their target clients? Or they only went for a particular demographic in their target market to whom they cater sufficiently? Maybe the furniture store in the next street has products mostly for babies, but none for the adolescents. The key is to look for that gap and then fill it so you can find your niche in an industry where there are already many players. 2- Your price. By beating your competition to the price, you will always come out with the competitive edge BUT with low enough overhead to make it work. Having the cheaper price is not always a good way to hook your clients. You can only go for this technique if you also lower your overhead expenses; enough that you're able to save on costs and increase your profits. In order for you to know this, you have to evaluate and plan where you can cut corners and improve on attracting more clients than your competition. Special sales and discounts on hot items can be an option to beat the price of the competition. 3- The convenience of buying from you. If you can provide your service faster and more quickly than your competition, then you can always have the competitive edge. Look for ways to provide instant service and find out how you can expedite your turnaround times. But never compromise the quality of your service or product. It won't do you any good to be able to deliver your client's postcard printing order for example, but he has to return them just because you totally botched up the job. There are still many more ways you can get the competitive edge over your competition. The trick is to find what works for you and your business. This would mean researching on the market you have. And when you do find your edge, don't let it stagnate. Go out and promote it. And see how your business succeeds in your field. For comments and inquiries about the article visit Postcard Printing Article Source: http://www.ArticleBlast.com |
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