Collaborative post:
If there’s one constant of business life, no matter what, it’s that there’s sure to be competition out there. This can be relentless. No matter how successful you are, or how close you may be to shutting down your business, you can bet that many other business owners would like nothing more than to take your share of the market.
For this reason, competition is everything. This means competing against other firms even when it can seem relatively intimidating to do so. For instance, an eco-focused search engine like Ecosia knows that they’re going up against those like Google, but still tries to offer a unique reason for using their services and as such, has managed to gather its own user base.
So, as a small business, it’s not only important to compete against your peers, but also anyone else in the market. If you know your own unique selling points and can maximize their appeal, you’ll be on the right track for such an outcome.
That all sounds well and good in theory. But as you know, keeping a business competitive is easier said than done. Let’s consider some advice for achieving with the best of them:
Remain Accessible
It’s important to consider what you offer that a much larger business can’t. For instance, offering a personable and accessible dialogue with customers who require it. Telecom engineers can structure your business telecom measures, down to ensuring that pleasant hold music is available when someone waits on the line, so that calling your business is key. On top of this, live chatbots, email support, and a frequently asked questions page can ensure your customers feel able to utilize your website as and when they need to.
Reward Loyal Customers
As any long-form cafe guest knows, it’s nice to walk into an establishment at your regular time and for the staff to have your order prepared to go. Rewarding loyal customers in this way, perhaps by offering discounts, perhaps by remembering their personalized orders, and certainly by thanking them for their custom (sometimes, a handwritten thank you note with an order can be a fantastic personable message), will make all the difference.
Ultimately, when people use your firm, they’re doing so despite the larger, perhaps even more useful or cheaper options on the market. The way you can make that up is through personable custom, and a client-focused approach in all things.
Get Involved In The Local Area!
One thing that larger, perhaps even multi-national companies cannot replicate is having a specific set of relations to the local environment. If you serve a few towns and your local city, you can truly boast of being ‘from’ an area.
So, why not get even more involved? Sponsoring local charity drives, opting for locally targeted social media advertising, and being present at local business conventions allow you to show your face in the community. Communities you support will tend to support you in the best possible light. A focus on that can help you move forward with care.
With this advice, you’re certain to see how small businesses can compete with the best of them. When we focus on maximizing our unique strengths, we make all the difference.
Sarah x
