Comments on: Keeping Tabs on the Competition http://www.search-this.com/2007/04/12/keeping-tabs-on-the-competition/ Internet Marketing, Website Promotion and Blogging Advice Sun, 29 Jan 2012 02:18:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Annie Banks http://www.search-this.com/2007/04/12/keeping-tabs-on-the-competition/comment-page-1/#comment-29544 Annie Banks Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:31:48 +0000 http://www.search-this.com/2007/04/12/keeping-tabs-on-the-competition/#comment-29544 If it is unethical to call you competitors to find out how much they charge, how else can you find out what is a fair price to charge? I am working on a business plan for a worksite wellness consulting company, and I have no concept of how much to charge clients (small businesses), since I have previously worked in academia. Any suggestions? If it is unethical to call you competitors to find out how much they charge, how else can you find out what is a fair price to charge? I am working on a business plan for a worksite wellness consulting company, and I have no concept of how much to charge clients (small businesses), since I have previously worked in academia. Any suggestions?

]]> By: ses5909 http://www.search-this.com/2007/04/12/keeping-tabs-on-the-competition/comment-page-1/#comment-15818 ses5909 Mon, 20 Aug 2007 15:35:28 +0000 http://www.search-this.com/2007/04/12/keeping-tabs-on-the-competition/#comment-15818 @Paul - yes, it was completely shocking to me. With each call I was just flabbergasted. To me it makes sense to answer your phone if you are there and if you aren't, at least return the call. If you're too busy and not taking on new clients, that is fine, just tell the caller that. @Paul – yes, it was completely shocking to me. With each call I was just flabbergasted. To me it makes sense to answer your phone if you are there and if you aren’t, at least return the call. If you’re too busy and not taking on new clients, that is fine, just tell the caller that.

]]> By: Paul Glover http://www.search-this.com/2007/04/12/keeping-tabs-on-the-competition/comment-page-1/#comment-15816 Paul Glover Mon, 20 Aug 2007 15:09:35 +0000 http://www.search-this.com/2007/04/12/keeping-tabs-on-the-competition/#comment-15816 I know we've had competitors check us out this way, and we've done the same. Seems like normal business intelligence to at least have *some* idea of who else is operating in the same market and how you stack up against them. What bothers me is how few were even reachable. This has worked in our favor on one occasion we know about, and no doubt many more we don't. We had one lead who wasn't going to buy from us when he saw our prices. "Well," he said, "I can get the same thing for less from one of your competitors". Which is true enough, they're the cheapest by a wide margin, but we know how reliable that competitor is, and weren't entirely surprised when our lead called back a week later and became a customer, because he just couldn't get a hold of the other guy at all. There's no point undercutting everyone else in your market sector if you don't respond to inquiries. I know we’ve had competitors check us out this way, and we’ve done the same. Seems like normal business intelligence to at least have *some* idea of who else is operating in the same market and how you stack up against them.

What bothers me is how few were even reachable. This has worked in our favor on one occasion we know about, and no doubt many more we don’t. We had one lead who wasn’t going to buy from us when he saw our prices. “Well,” he said, “I can get the same thing for less from one of your competitors”. Which is true enough, they’re the cheapest by a wide margin, but we know how reliable that competitor is, and weren’t entirely surprised when our lead called back a week later and became a customer, because he just couldn’t get a hold of the other guy at all.

There’s no point undercutting everyone else in your market sector if you don’t respond to inquiries.

]]> By: Dan Schulz http://www.search-this.com/2007/04/12/keeping-tabs-on-the-competition/comment-page-1/#comment-2395 Dan Schulz Sat, 14 Apr 2007 08:11:41 +0000 http://www.search-this.com/2007/04/12/keeping-tabs-on-the-competition/#comment-2395 Definately check up on the competition. As some of you know, I'm in the Chicago suburbs (I won't say which one for what will about to be come an obvious reason), but a "Web design company" moved in here a couple years ago. Not too long after they moved in, other "design companies" started sprouting up. A quick check of their Web sites revealed the EXACT SAME CODE as the site for the first "company" to show up in town. So I walked past their offices (which reeked of marijuana that day) and noticed little paper signs for ALL the "companies" on the front window. Hmm... something's not right here, and I'm not even designing or building sites for local clients. Maybe I should start before it becomes too late. Definately check up on the competition. As some of you know, I’m in the Chicago suburbs (I won’t say which one for what will about to be come an obvious reason), but a “Web design company” moved in here a couple years ago. Not too long after they moved in, other “design companies” started sprouting up. A quick check of their Web sites revealed the EXACT SAME CODE as the site for the first “company” to show up in town. So I walked past their offices (which reeked of marijuana that day) and noticed little paper signs for ALL the “companies” on the front window. Hmm… something’s not right here, and I’m not even designing or building sites for local clients.

Maybe I should start before it becomes too late.

]]> By: TOMAS http://www.search-this.com/2007/04/12/keeping-tabs-on-the-competition/comment-page-1/#comment-2371 TOMAS Fri, 13 Apr 2007 20:47:36 +0000 http://www.search-this.com/2007/04/12/keeping-tabs-on-the-competition/#comment-2371 I would have to agree with the last two comments and agree that calling solely with the intention of finding out publicly available information shouldn't be unethical. Doing so for any other reason is questionable. As for researching the competition, it's something that should be done and is actually recommended in many entrepreneurial courses since you want to ensure that you are properly differentiating yourself from the competition. Ultimately, to copy the competition will hurt only you and not your competition IMO (also see <a href="http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/690/should-you-steal-your-competitors-marketing-ideas-and-brand-identity/" rel="nofollow">this article</a> by Small Business Branding). BTW ses5909, which Authorize.net certified developer are you? I might need your services in the near future so just drop me an email when you get a chance. :) ~Tomas I would have to agree with the last two comments and agree that calling solely with the intention of finding out publicly available information shouldn’t be unethical. Doing so for any other reason is questionable.

As for researching the competition, it’s something that should be done and is actually recommended in many entrepreneurial courses since you want to ensure that you are properly differentiating yourself from the competition. Ultimately, to copy the competition will hurt only you and not your competition IMO (also see this article by Small Business Branding).

BTW ses5909, which Authorize.net certified developer are you? I might need your services in the near future so just drop me an email when you get a chance.

:)

~Tomas

]]> By: Golgotha http://www.search-this.com/2007/04/12/keeping-tabs-on-the-competition/comment-page-1/#comment-2362 Golgotha Fri, 13 Apr 2007 15:56:21 +0000 http://www.search-this.com/2007/04/12/keeping-tabs-on-the-competition/#comment-2362 "I was not trying to garner information about my competitors to use against them or to better compete with them." I would have no problem with it, if you had. It's called competition for a reason... There's nothing unethical about researching your competition and it would be irresponsible not to do so. “I was not trying to garner information about my competitors to use against them or to better compete with them.”

I would have no problem with it, if you had. It’s called competition for a reason…

There’s nothing unethical about researching your competition and it would be irresponsible not to do so.

]]> By: ses5909 http://www.search-this.com/2007/04/12/keeping-tabs-on-the-competition/comment-page-1/#comment-2361 ses5909 Fri, 13 Apr 2007 15:45:18 +0000 http://www.search-this.com/2007/04/12/keeping-tabs-on-the-competition/#comment-2361 Kurt -- I was on the fence about this issue too. Ultimately, obviously, I decided to move ahead. Was it the best decision? I don't know. I think it was my motivation for doing it that pushed me to the side of the fence that I was on. I was not trying to garner information about my competitors to use against them or to better compete with them. We were already landing 100% of the leads. My only motivation at this point was curiosity. Had it been because i wanted to undercut them; i would have been uncomfortable with the situation. Kurt — I was on the fence about this issue too. Ultimately, obviously, I decided to move ahead. Was it the best decision? I don’t know. I think it was my motivation for doing it that pushed me to the side of the fence that I was on. I was not trying to garner information about my competitors to use against them or to better compete with them. We were already landing 100% of the leads. My only motivation at this point was curiosity. Had it been because i wanted to undercut them; i would have been uncomfortable with the situation.

]]> By: Kurt http://www.search-this.com/2007/04/12/keeping-tabs-on-the-competition/comment-page-1/#comment-2352 Kurt Fri, 13 Apr 2007 12:10:39 +0000 http://www.search-this.com/2007/04/12/keeping-tabs-on-the-competition/#comment-2352 "What do you think about checking up on your competitors?" Since you asked I will go ahead and share my thoughts. I keep regular tabs on my competitors by reviewing their website, product offerings and even through email correspondence with those I know and have developed a professional relationship with. However, I would feel very uncomfortable engaging their time while posing as a potential client. Something about this does not sit well with me and I would rather do business without the benefit of knowledge gained in this manner. “What do you think about checking up on your competitors?”

Since you asked I will go ahead and share my thoughts. I keep regular tabs on my competitors by reviewing their website, product offerings and even through email correspondence with those I know and have developed a professional relationship with. However, I would feel very uncomfortable engaging their time while posing as a potential client. Something about this does not sit well with me and I would rather do business without the benefit of knowledge gained in this manner.

]]> By: John http://www.search-this.com/2007/04/12/keeping-tabs-on-the-competition/comment-page-1/#comment-2341 John Fri, 13 Apr 2007 05:50:55 +0000 http://www.search-this.com/2007/04/12/keeping-tabs-on-the-competition/#comment-2341 <blockquote>If I’m a client and I see this, I would have serious doubts about how secure they will make my pages.</blockquote> Actually, you're probably overestimating the capabilities of many ordinary (non-technical) clients. Sure, some will be clued up enough to realise this is not a good thing, but there's probably just as many who wouldn't.

If I’m a client and I see this, I would have serious doubts about how secure they will make my pages.

Actually, you’re probably overestimating the capabilities of many ordinary (non-technical) clients. Sure, some will be clued up enough to realise this is not a good thing, but there’s probably just as many who wouldn’t.

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