How to Compete with the Big Guns?!

Many small business startups fail within the first 2hands-on. Be the boss, but at the same time be the
years of existence. There are several differentemployee who does actual work. Don't get
factors reason for the failure. One reason manydisconnected from your own business now that 'you
entrepreneurs often under estimate the need to findare a the boss'. Stay involved as long as you can.
a niche market and to serve it well. Instead of findingWork harder than your employees. Be emotional and
the niche market they attack the big guys head on.inspire your employees with your dedication. The
If you have enough money to throw at 'this problem'spark will eventually jump over and the productivity
you might succeed, but in reality almost every smallincrease can be enormous. Make your work place
business doing this will fail and eventually shutdown'cool'. Create an environment people want to work at.
operations.So, what should small business startups doIf employees wake up in the morning and really like
to avoid this big mistake? How can they survive andto come to work because they enjoy what they do,
grow and become successful?As mentioned before -you will definitely benefit from it. And keep in mind -
finding a niche market is the first big key to not beyou need all the help you can get when competing
destroyed head-on buy the big guns. Never, ever trywith the market leader. Be the employer of choice.Be
to be the "Wal-Mart" for everyone. Not everyone isthe star in your community. The place where you
your target group. Carve out a niche market, thenstart your business can be the founding place of the
slowly steal away market share from the marketnext 'business empire'. People are proud if one of
players. Eventually pick a niche that you know ofthem makes it to the top. Remember Johnny
where the market leader is not spending enoughCarson? He gave back to the community where he
attention on. Grow here and grab market share.had grown up. Nobody outside of that local area
Eventually you will grow big enough without beingreally knew about it or had paid attention but the
noticed to become the market leader for this niche.locals - they admired Johnny Carson and were
Companies like Microsoft and Wal-Mart tend be slowthankful supporters. Keep this in mind when building a
moving but they have enough cash to catch up quick.business. You might become as big as other market
We have seen situations where the small businessplayers, but doing good is not a matter of how many
owner was able to cash out big time from a situationmillions you have. On the other side - you do not
where he/she was able to grab enough market sharewant to build a business just to make $30K per year.
to be considered 'armed and dangerous' for the bigYour goals should go much further out and higher.
guns.Compete on things where large market playersTry to be the best in your field. The sky is the
fall short. Compete on experience and value addedlimit.Use technology. Technology can be your friend.
services - not price. You will not be able to competeSmall businesses can respond much faster to market
on price with somebody like Wal-Mart or Target.trends than the big guns. Be innovative. While you're
Their buying power is just too big for you tothe small guy you can use this to your advantage.
swallow. Let your experience disappear differences inBeing small is no excuse when it comes to using
price for a product. Give the customer the feelingsophisticated technology. See the advantages of
that you know what you are talking about and thatwhat technology can do and put away with the
this experience is worth spending a littlewhining about the next upgrade coming soon. As long
extra.Emotions can be a big advantage for the smallas you calculate it properly and make your case, you
business startup. Bond with the clients and vendors. Acan most likely provide a quick ROI (return on
personal (business) relationship that makes everyoneinvestment).Of course there are many more things
feel good will get you repeat business and fair dealsthat come into play in regards to business success.
from vendors (friends don't steal from friends). If theThe steps outlined in this article however will give
vendor can make his share of revenue and you canyou a good head start when working on strategic
get your share of the pot - everyone will be happy.placement of where and how your business should
Nobody likes to be squeezed by the big salesstart. Good Luck.
department of the market leader.The work place. Be