Learning From Big Business
As an academic writer, I have had to research different aspects of business marketing. One thing I have learned is that big business constantly keeps track of competitors. They look for marketing strategy, new products being implemented from competitors, market share, and ways to strategize that competitors are not doing.
In joining WA and learning to market myself through content writing, I have learned to copy some of the same techniques. Looking at my competitor's websites, I want to know: Where's their proof? What's missing? How their information can be improved? Researched evidence? Tried methods? What's their expertise? What do they know that I don't?
Every business has a vision based on values. It is the core of their business (their focus). It includes self-concept, philosophy and goals, long term survival, customer needs and wants, social responsibility, and the nature of the product or service.
Using marketing techniques (watching competitors), asking questions that get answered from studying competitor websites, and focusing on my own vision, ideas are born. More areas for content writing opens.
Kyle says in training that customers must be in the focus to be successful. But what am I offering those customers? Where's the values? What are there needs and wants?
Strategic planning determines major goals. Keeping up with competitor changes and changes in customer needs and wants are a big part of strategic planning. It provides continuous vision and values.
Millions of articles are written all the time on the same ideas. The key is gaining individual uniqueness while gaining ideas from others. At the same time, what are you offering your readers? Where's the added value? All of these makes for a better content to draw readers to your website.
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Thanks for the reminder, Rebbak. I add a little bit of me to most of my posts, but I've got to watch I don't start to waffle and get too carried away.
The unique part is the you part. The point is look for value you can add to their information and learn from their ideas. The process takes time. Business is aggressive where we are allowed to take more time in learning techniques and seeking out things what can work for us.
Yep, just like choppy-tiger down there said. I add myself more here then I do on my website, although I try to share some personal stuff in the article section of my site because that is where "I" am.
But I totally agree with you, study what they are doing not only to see how you can make it different and better on your site, but also for what they are doing to be so successful. How much content do they write on a weekly basis, what is their day like, what systems do they have in place, etc.
And, adding your personality to the methods to add your own uniqueness makes it even better and helps in branding you as an authority in your niche. Thanks for commenting.
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Words of wisdom, Rebbak! The biggest challenge for me is offering my clients what they need and want - an even bigger challenge is not having expertise in given field. This can be obtained through research - but am I ploughing the same field as everyone else and presenting the same material? It's not good enough simply to change a word or two in an article and pass it off as your own. Individual uniqueness may be the key - but one is confronted by so many doors! :) george
George, in order to learn what your clients need and want is to ask them. Businesses do this in different ways, such as surveys, direct contact and asking questions. For websites, this is where the comment section and social media comes in handy. By communicating, you learn about them, their lifestyles, interests, needs, desires, etc. It is a challenge to learn and stand out. But by checking out competitors, you learn how they stand out. Asking yourself questions, such as above, helps to come up with things, competitors are not doing. Combining what your clients communicate with actions competitors are doing or not doing develops the ideas. Hopes this makes sense.
Your own uniqueness plays a part with the ideas you discover as no two people are alike. You do not present the same material. You present the ideas using your own words and knowledge that is unique to you. For example, have you ever read an article and knew there was more to the story? This is the idea. Add the more using your own personality and uniqueness and knowledge.