Home
>
Strategic Planning
>
How to Snuff Out the Competition Without Leaving a Mark

How to Snuff Out the Competition Without Leaving a Mark

Does the competition drive you crazy?

Are they relentless about taking your clients away?

Are customer loyalties becoming a thing of the past?

In our ever changing world, it seems securing business these days comes down to, who will provide the most service at the lowest possible price.

To add insult to injury your previous customers have taken on a new militant attitude about obtaining your services.

They now believe they have a license to set the pricing, dangle it over your head and threaten to call someone cheaper if you will not meet their demands.

It seems the rules have changed and if we are not willing to make the adjustment our businesses will continue to feel the impact from the competition. So today's article is:

How to snuff out the competition without leaving a mark.

If the title to this article seems a bit brutal, harsh or to blunt for your taste buds, then take a moment and reflect how your business has been affected by your competition. How that before they came along your were not being hounded about your prices.

Think about how every year several more new businesses come from out of nowhere. They don't advertise, won't get the proper licensing, refuse to be properly insured and have shamelessly solicited your customers. I can assure you that the competition, given half a chance, would not think twice about putting you out of business if they knew how.

A burr in your britches? I'm thinking, "OH YEAH!"

So how can you snuff out your competition without leaving a mark?

To begin you must first realize that all successful businesses have always played by a set of unchanging rules.

1. Be #1.
2. Never reveal your business strategies or tactics.
3. Look for business that no one is doing or is willing to do.
4. Give more than what the customer is expecting.
5. Follow-up

1. Be #1.
So what do I mean by being #1? It means you never rest on your laurels. Remember you are only as good as your last transaction. You must always excel at honing your skills, always increasing your knowledge base and developing long term customer relationships. This attitude sets you head and shoulders above the competition.

2. Never reveal your business strategies or tactics.
I don't care how well you know a fellow business person or how long you have known them. Always remember what P.T. Barnum said,

"Some men have a foolish habit of telling their business secrets. If they make money they like to tell their neighbors how it was done. Nothing is gained by this, and oftentimes much is lost. Say nothing about your profits, your hopes, your expectations, your intentions. And this should apply to letters as well as to conversations. Goethe makes Mephistopheles say: "Never write a letter nor destroy one." Business men must write letters, but they should be careful what they put in them. If you are losing money, be specially cautious and not tell of it, or you will lose your reputation." - P.T. Barnum

3. Look for business that no one is doing or is willing to do.
Here is where your competition will strike out. They are always looking for what everyone else is doing so they can copy it and make a fast buck. If it is too detailed or involved there is a greater chance of you securing that niche market and exploiting it for greater profits.

4. Give more than what the customer is expecting.
Most of the competition will only do just enough to get the job. The smart business person goes beyond what was stated to do. You are looking out for your client's best interest. This initiative builds additional value into your service. It also shows your customer that you value them as a client and not just a transaction.

5. Follow-up
This area is where all businesses fail the most. Simple gratitude goes a long way. When someone took the time to call you or send you a "thank you" note for doing business with them, you appreciated the extra effort. So why not do the same for your clients.

Now that you have a clearer understanding of the business rules let's focus on:

How to snuff out the competition without leaving a mark.

Now before you ask, "Is it legitimate or easy to do?" I can assure you that what I show you will prove to not only be legitimate and easy to do, but can be implemented before your next business day.

Will you need some help getting started? As a matter of fact the very people you employ will be the ones that will assist you and will be the driving force in securing more business.

1. You will begin having 3 staff meetings a week with your employees. You must rouse the men and women of your employ to strive for perfection in their work and tell them they will be compensated for their achievements.

2. You must set daily, weekly and monthly goals for them to achieve. A simple daily goal is to make contact with 5 different customers you have not served. This can be done by phone or in person. By doing this the public is beginning to learn of your company in a personal way but the competition has no idea what you are doing.

3. You want to institute some good healthy in-house competition between the employees. It's great for moral, builds a bond of loyalty to your company and keeps those in your ranks striving to out do each other by meeting your goals.

4. Encourage your employees to speak up and let you know what's bugging them. Their opinions are usually valid and you should take note of what is being said. Do this in your staff meetings. Then invite others to respond. It is better to get a problem out in the open to prevent harbored and hurt feelings.

5. Let's also not forget to reward them for their efforts. No matter the progress they make, you want your employees to be glad they work for you. The best way to reward an employee is with a monetary bonus. People appreciate getting extra money for doing a good job.

6. You must give your top producers special recognition, because they are the ones setting the standard. They are building your company and assisting you to become more of an anchor in your community.

I'm sure that right about now you are wondering what happened to:

How to snuff out the competition without leaving a mark.

You might even be thinking, "Why are we talking about employees and not concentrating on who is hurting my business?"

Before you setout to undermine your competition's efforts, you must have firsthand knowledge of what your employees know and correct it or improve on it. Building them up to be stronger becomes another asset to your company. Their state of mind and how they view your company could also benefit your business or cost you business.

A well oiled machine runs more efficiently when all of it's internal parts are constantly checked to determine if they are working properly. When a company wants to be a better producer of goods and services and snuff out the competition without leaving a mark, it is imperative that all who are involved in the process are at the top of their game.

For this to happen it is up to the owner or manager of that business to motivate their staff to become a team. A company that has a staff working as a team will become stronger, vibrant and harder to defeat. In turn the staff will come up with new and fresh ideas that can produce more revenue and bring in more clients.

While your competition is trying to make a fast buck you will be busy building your army that will snuff out the competition without leaving a mark. Your competition will simply not know what hit them.

About the Author: Woody Qui?ones is the owner of Hardee Lock & Key and www.impactyourarea.com, a promotional products website. He is also a Specialty Advertising Dealer and New Dealer Sponsor with Kaeser & Blair Inc. You can go to his website anytime to view his product line, apply to become a dealer or stop by his forums to gather ideas about promoting your business.

apartment cleaning near Highland Park ..

In The News:

Holiday scams spike during Black Friday and Cyber Monday as criminals exploit your leaked personal data. Learn how to protect yourself from fake stores and phishing.

Commerce Department proposes TP-Link router ban over Chinese security risks. Learn how this potential prohibition could affect your home network and devices.

Hyundai AutoEver America suffered a data breach affecting 2,000 current and former employees, exposing names, Social Security numbers and driver's license information.

Washington court rules automated license plate reader images are public records, even when stored by vendors like Flock Safety, setting precedent for transparency.

Fake airline texts claiming flight cancellations are targeting travelers with convincing scams. Learn how cybercriminals steal personal data and credit card info.

Discover how iOS 26's new Adaptive Power feature automatically extends iPhone battery life by learning your usage patterns and adjusting performance intelligently.

New TikTok malware campaign tricks users into running PowerShell commands that download Aura Stealer, which steals credentials and authentication tokens.

Gaia Family offers fixed upfront pricing for IVF cycles with unlimited embryo transfers and financial protection, partnering with over 100 U.S. fertility clinics.

The Jetsons Act aims to position Pennsylvania as a leader in advanced air mobility by establishing regulations for hybrid ground-air vehicles.

Fake Geek Squad invoice emails are targeting users with convincing charges and urgent phone numbers to steal personal information and money.

Fox News Digital's artificial intelligence newsletter digs into a robot in Russia that faceplanted, George Clooney's alarm and OpenAI's rivalry with the New York Times.

Major data breach at Conduent exposes personal information of 10+ million people. Government contractor hit by cyberattack affecting Medicaid, child support systems.

Texas startup Janta Power raises $5.5M for innovative vertical solar towers that generate 50% more energy than traditional panels while using just one-third the land.

NASA's twin ESCAPADE spacecraft launched aboard Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket Thursday afternoon from Cape Canaveral, beginning their journey to Mars with arrival expected in 2027.

Learn how to set email reminders on iPhone and Android so you never forget to reply again. Simple built-in features help you stay organized and on top of messages.

Discover how Apple's passkeys revolutionize Mac security by replacing vulnerable passwords with biometric authentication and encryption for ultimate protection.

New survey reveals 78% of parents fear AI scams targeting their kids, yet nearly half haven't discussed these threats. Learn why this dangerous gap exists.

Chrome now autofills passport and driver's license info automatically. Google's latest browser update adds official document support with encryption and user control.

Scammers impersonate Department of Veterans Affairs employees claiming veterans owe money, but real VA communications only direct to VA.gov or official channels.

The AltoVolo Sigma hybrid-electric aircraft flies 500 miles at 220 mph while operating 80% quieter than helicopters, featuring safety systems and compact design.

Google search scam alert: fake customer service numbers can give scammers remote control of your phone. Learn how to spot these traps and protect yourself.

Electric vehicles overtake gas cars in total CO2 savings after just two years of driving, with emissions benefits growing over time as power grids get cleaner.

Louvre Museum reportedly used "Louvre" as password for surveillance system during $100M jewel heist. Learn how weak passwords put even famous institutions at risk.

Bipartisan AI jobs bill from Sens. Hawley and Warner would require companies to report AI-related layoffs and hiring to Department of Labor quarterly.

Joe A. from Shelton, Connecticut, lost $228,000 to a ZAP Solutions cryptocurrency investment scam after his divorce, highlighting rising online fraud.

How to Snuff Out the Competition Without Leaving a Mark

Strategic Planning