Assessing the Competition
While I personally believe much more in Cooperation than competition, the fact is that when we create a commercial product or service for a specific market, assessing the competition is critical to establish whether there is a demand for what we intend to offer and a niche for us that promises to be profitable. Also, it allows us to see who else is in the same game… and who of those we most identify with in terms of an innovative edge that pulls us forward in our aspirations in a healthy way. Why not inspire one another and soar?!
In my specific case, “My Noordhoek” is not a commercial project as we discussed earlier, however, there is some excellent online material around and I had to spend some time comparing that respective content with what I have in mind with my new project – just to see whether I’m sitting on the right horse – barefoot or not!
Assessing the Competition
Assessing the competition is very much about asking oneself the right questions – questions customers, readers and interested parties would unconsciously ask as well. It’s just natural and we all do it every day. Questions like:
- What websites or blogs are regularly coming up when I type in the keywords I am targeting?
- Could I be better with “My Noordhoek”?
- Is there really a demand or interest for “My Noordhoek”? Or am I creating it in a pioneering effort?
- Do I have the knowledge and skills to accomplish my complex and time-consuming plans?
- What are ‘their’ real benefits offered and to what target market – compared with “My Noordhoek”?
- Are there any weaknesses I should avoid or translate into my strengths?
- Where am I different; i.e. what is my competitive advantage and how do I translate it so people go for my product?
- Do I really understand the people I am creating “My Noordhoek” for?
- Is my attitude that of a follower of trends or a future leader, setting standards?
- Am I part of a solution or am I part of a problem?
- Do I really know what my target audience needs, expects, wants, can afford?
- What solutions do I offer?
- Do I offer easy ways to communicate with me? Is my website interactive?
- Will “My Noordhoek”be visible on the Internet – meaning on Google Top 10 and on Social Networks?
My Noordhoek Project
My Noordhoek Project is representative for just any project – your’s or mine.
Having gone through my personal catalogue of questions above – which may well differ from your’s as I am not hooked to a commercial product here -, I must ensure that I . . .
- know exactly what the nature of my endeavour is and I must be able to explain it in simple terms.
- provide my target audience – the inner and outer circle – with something of value, something they may not exactly expect as it looks so different to what’s out there, however, to be convincing I will guide them through a discovery process that leads to what they want: satisfaction, joy or a solution in one or the other way.
- build on the trend that laptops and mobile phones will do the ‘talking’ and the ’showing’. They will be omni-present and speed up any process in terms of efficiency and simplicity. Therefore, I have to be present, findable and reachable – right there! High touch high tech YEBO!
- continuously observe the changing market to adapt and continue to consistently deliver my message in the best suitable and most appealing way.
- have a plan to follow and a way to present what “My Noordhoek” stands for, for whom it is and how it differs from what else is out there on the market.
Stay tuned; more about it in my next article!
Web Design Consulting
As you follow the website development of “MyNoordhoek Project” it may inspire and motivate you to start your own project at some stage.
If this is the case, please get in touch with me via Web Design Consulting to discuss your requirements and start the planning – as it all happens in the head first…
The script is not available at this stage but in pioneering mode. What is garanteed though is a smashingly media-oriented and dynamic website that will capture peoples’ attention.
For the moment it’s ‘work in progress’ or rather ‘work in evolution’- the first elaboration will take place at our monthly Ycademy Seminar on 27 and 28 March 2010.
Co-Founder of YORGOO, YCADEMY and Semiomantics. If you enjoyed reading the above, please consider following future tips and strategies by RSS reader, Email delivery, or Kindle subscription.
Author: Bianca Gubalke, Art, Media, Publishing.
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