www.PartnerUp.com - Small Business Community
 
46

Jordan Green posted a new Starting A Business thread on 10/9/2012

Conducting Marketing, Sales and Other Research for a Start-Up Directly from the Competition

I'm researching what my competition does for their marketing, sales, and pretty much anything else I can find out about them.

How do I get this information directly from them, without actually letting on I'm the competition?

It's not as if I can call them up and say: "Hey, I'm going to be doing what you do, only better, so let me know how much you charge your customers so I can match or beat it?"

FYI
I've already got a lot of info directly from the competition's websites -- but it doesn't have pricing of products/services -- which is what I'm really after. Any additional info is icing on the cake.

How would you contact the competition to get useful and current info from them?
0
 
PartnerUp! Share This
Mark As Favorite
Mark As Spam Reply!
 
 
Sort Responses by : | |
66

John McFall Responded on 10/19/2012


Jordan,

You may start by talking to your customers (their customers)... if you are going to be working in the same area that they are, the customers that you interact with may divulge the information if your simply ask. If you do not have a deep relationship with them at this point this may be a more difficult task, but if you are looking to get into the business, likely you have some contacts? Hope this helps... thanks!

John
3
PartnerUp! Mark As Spam Share This Add Comment
 
 
46

Jordan Green Responded on 10/21/2012


Thanks John,

That's a great idea, though presents the challenge of revealing my sneaking around before I launch, as their customers may talk -- or not.

But it's a great start.

Thanks again.
0
PartnerUp! Mark As Spam Share This Add Comment
 
 
6

John Kramer Responded on 11/14/2012


Jordan, there are many different aspects to your question and you haven't provided much information to go on. I agree with John's advice - you need to get close to your customers and stay close to your customers. But it sounds like you could really benefit by adding someone to your team that has significant sales and marketing experience in your target market. This could take several forms ranging from a business partner, an adviser or even better a Board of Advisers, or perhaps a supplier that is willing to help you out. Additionally, if your markets are local, then talk to business owners in other non-competing markets across the country - you may find someone willing to mentor you. Start-ups are risky and starting up in an unfamiliar market is doubly so.
0
PartnerUp! Mark As Spam Share This Add Comment
 
 
6

Jack Grise Responded on 12/18/2012


Jordan:
The advice given is good especially from J Kramer however what has worked well for me in the past was to either directly or via a team member, conduct market research for purposes of analyzing the overall industry. You'd need to have a questionnaire prepared and then you should publish your findings albeit a blog post etc. This way you gain significantly more insight into the marketplace and to what your competitors are doing with their customers. Once you have this data, you create your own marketing program that differentiates your offering(s) from your competitors.
0
PartnerUp! Mark As Spam Share This Add Comment
 
 
6

Jack Grise Responded on 2/27/2013


Jordan: If you are still working on the competitive aspect as mentioned withing these posts, another very effective way is to gather a "focus" group. These would be 6-10 of your competitors customers. The focus group you run would pose questions, comments general information etc to the group and the answers should give you what you need.
The invitation to join the focus group must have some benefit to the participant...what that is is left up to you.
Hope this helps.
0
PartnerUp! Mark As Spam Share This Add Comment
 
 
61

Shane F. Responded on 3/14/2013


Jordan, I can help you. Send me a private message.
0
PartnerUp! Mark As Spam Share This Add Comment
 
 
 Respond to thread
( Paste a youtube link to embed a video. eg: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ )
Share on:


 
 
Home » Forums » Starting A Business » Conducting Marketing, Sales and Other Research for a Start-Up Directly from the Competition