For me, the reason we target a Niche market or product is only because there is less competition. Does that mean we can't find something that everyone would be potentially interested in? Of course it doesn't, I believe we just need to understand some concepts of what makes a Business or Product "Universal"
In this tutorial I am going to cover the following:
Examples of Universal Business
Examples of a Niche product
Example of making a Niche "Universal"
For my first example, I want to contrast two companies that started at the same time in a similar market, by two similar people.
You've probably heard of the first one. It's called Microsoft. You might have heard of the second one too, it's called Apple.
Both of these companies started out with Operating Systems. The contrasts start from here though.
Microsoft took the attitude : "We want to make a great Operating System and let anyone use it, it doesn't matter who makes the computer, they can load Windows onto it"
Apple on the other hand took the attitude: "We want to make a superior product, we will not only make the OS, but will also make the computer, the software, the hardware, everything"
Both companies did a pretty good job don't you think? Many people will agree Apple produced a superior product with their first computers, and continued to get better.
Did that superior product result in better sales though? Let's see what percentage of homes have Windows, and what percentage of homes have a Mac Computer:
Windows: 95%
Apple: 5%
So you can see here that Microsoft were using a Universal business plan, Apple were not. Apple of course got around this with the iPod, iPhone, iPad and iDontKnowWhatTheyWillMakeNext but it's interesting to see that even operating within something as global as Computing, you can still be very niche. Therefore, it makes sense that operating in something niche, you can still be very universal right? More on this later. Another example on page 2.
In this tutorial I am going to cover the following:
Examples of Universal Business
Examples of a Niche product
Example of making a Niche "Universal"
For my first example, I want to contrast two companies that started at the same time in a similar market, by two similar people.
You've probably heard of the first one. It's called Microsoft. You might have heard of the second one too, it's called Apple.
Both of these companies started out with Operating Systems. The contrasts start from here though.
Microsoft took the attitude : "We want to make a great Operating System and let anyone use it, it doesn't matter who makes the computer, they can load Windows onto it"
Apple on the other hand took the attitude: "We want to make a superior product, we will not only make the OS, but will also make the computer, the software, the hardware, everything"
Both companies did a pretty good job don't you think? Many people will agree Apple produced a superior product with their first computers, and continued to get better.
Did that superior product result in better sales though? Let's see what percentage of homes have Windows, and what percentage of homes have a Mac Computer:
Windows: 95%
Apple: 5%
So you can see here that Microsoft were using a Universal business plan, Apple were not. Apple of course got around this with the iPod, iPhone, iPad and iDontKnowWhatTheyWillMakeNext but it's interesting to see that even operating within something as global as Computing, you can still be very niche. Therefore, it makes sense that operating in something niche, you can still be very universal right? More on this later. Another example on page 2.
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CashPro
Premium
You're a smart guy...there is no doubt. And while I respect the idea of cooperation, couldn't both that and competition have their respective places in society? I've not said anything AGAINST cooperation, like you are downplaying the importance of competitiveness. I see that you're rigid in your opinion, so, I'll leave you with this:
Consider a pool of water... if it doesn't move (the inlet and outlet of water, and/or circulation of same) it WILL stagnate. While cooperation is important, competitiveness raises the bar, and makes us strive for more.
You used the WAU as an example. Well, if I agree with someone's blog about a certain subject, should I leave it as the pinnacle of consideration for that topic? What's wrong with expanding on it, trying to find how to improve its points, and go a little further? Isn't that to the benefit of all? Moreover, does cooperation mean that everyone always agrees on how to develop something? Isn't a difference of opinion just another form of competition? Aren't you and I "competing" to see who's point is more valid? Maybe one of us should "cooperate" with the other, and end this discussion. But, which one? Who's right? Unless we "compete", we'll never know, will we?
Ultimately, competition is inherent in almost everything we do. Animals do it: they compete for who's the alpha male, they compete for who gets that leg of deer to eat, they do it for territory, or for the domination of the fertile females (sorry, ladies...animals aren't so liberal). How are we so different? Yes, we are advanced enough to consider cooperation, but that doesn't prove that we've left our natural instincts behind. Or even that we should. There IS competitiveness within cooperation. The only difference is that through cooperation, we agree that any differences of opinion will be considered diplomatically, and not aggressively.
YOU should do the research, and see the forest through the trees you're looking at. No disrespect intended. Nice 'competing' with you. ;)
P.S. By the way, if you think family members aren't competing against each other, you must have the most diplomatic and well-adjusted household in the history of civilization. I have only one child, but even at the age of three, he's constantly 'competing' with us (my wife and I) to push the limits of his space, responsibilities, rights, etc. And, while he doesn't have any siblings, yet, there are many families on this block that have more than one child, and ALL of them compete against each other. While cooperation within a family unit is something to strive for, I'll agree, it's certainly NOT the natural state.
Consider a pool of water... if it doesn't move (the inlet and outlet of water, and/or circulation of same) it WILL stagnate. While cooperation is important, competitiveness raises the bar, and makes us strive for more.
You used the WAU as an example. Well, if I agree with someone's blog about a certain subject, should I leave it as the pinnacle of consideration for that topic? What's wrong with expanding on it, trying to find how to improve its points, and go a little further? Isn't that to the benefit of all? Moreover, does cooperation mean that everyone always agrees on how to develop something? Isn't a difference of opinion just another form of competition? Aren't you and I "competing" to see who's point is more valid? Maybe one of us should "cooperate" with the other, and end this discussion. But, which one? Who's right? Unless we "compete", we'll never know, will we?
Ultimately, competition is inherent in almost everything we do. Animals do it: they compete for who's the alpha male, they compete for who gets that leg of deer to eat, they do it for territory, or for the domination of the fertile females (sorry, ladies...animals aren't so liberal). How are we so different? Yes, we are advanced enough to consider cooperation, but that doesn't prove that we've left our natural instincts behind. Or even that we should. There IS competitiveness within cooperation. The only difference is that through cooperation, we agree that any differences of opinion will be considered diplomatically, and not aggressively.
YOU should do the research, and see the forest through the trees you're looking at. No disrespect intended. Nice 'competing' with you. ;)
P.S. By the way, if you think family members aren't competing against each other, you must have the most diplomatic and well-adjusted household in the history of civilization. I have only one child, but even at the age of three, he's constantly 'competing' with us (my wife and I) to push the limits of his space, responsibilities, rights, etc. And, while he doesn't have any siblings, yet, there are many families on this block that have more than one child, and ALL of them compete against each other. While cooperation within a family unit is something to strive for, I'll agree, it's certainly NOT the natural state.
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iloveflash
Premium
bryonbrewer
Premium
bryonbrewer
Premium
i find when I have a question like "how can i (whatever)?" the best thing for me is just muse on it for a few minutes every day, if I do it enough, eventually the answer will come when I least expect it, like I will have a train of thought or see something and suddenly think "wait, that's how I can do it!" maybe this will help you
DABK
Premium
Interesting post. A little change in perspective can take you a long way.
You can use the idea (enlarge the pool of buyers, change the pool of buyers without changing the product, with getting it universal being the best) every day.
I mean, you can sell a treadmill as an exercise machine to get you in shape; you can sell it to women to get trimmer legs. It's still a treadmill.
But it is best if you pick things that can be wanted by everybody.
You can use the idea (enlarge the pool of buyers, change the pool of buyers without changing the product, with getting it universal being the best) every day.
I mean, you can sell a treadmill as an exercise machine to get you in shape; you can sell it to women to get trimmer legs. It's still a treadmill.
But it is best if you pick things that can be wanted by everybody.
bryonbrewer
Premium
