The Good News Blog

Do You Know Your Competitive Edge?

Openside CA - Tuesday, February 16, 2010

In business you can never be everything to everyone.  To be successful you need to come up with a specific proposition or compelling claim that is targeted at your customers in such a way they would be foolish to go elsewhere.  This is your 'differentiation' - your 'competitive edge'.  You’ll also hear people talk about a ‘point of difference’.

In developing your competitive edge you need to consider what you have to offer that someone else hasn't:

  •     What competitive edge can you present? 
  •     Have you got happy customers? 
  •     How do you create happy customers? 
  •     What are the benefits of a small business in dealing with clients?
  •     Have you considered what the 'moment of truth' is in your business?

A 'moment of truth' occurs every time your business and a customer come into contact.  This may be direct contact, as in face-to-face, by telephone, by direct mail or indirectly by way of the delivery firm that you use as a sub-contractor.  What your customers experience at these times will have a lasting impression.  You need to know when a moment of truth will occur and ensure that your team members have been appropriately trained on how to react at that time.