Competing Against the Big Guys!

David and Goliath... you know how it goes, and it makes starting up your business hard when you have to compete against well established organizations who are already set up to provide everything and seemingly have all the answers. Without doubt, the larger, well established company has it over you. By the same token, you can compete against them, maybe not on as grand a scale, but you can make your living doing what you love to do.

You may not be "significant" enough in "Goliath's" eyes to even notice, but perhaps the Company has noticed you and it would be worth your while finding out what, if anything, is said about your business. If you know what your larger competition is saying, perhaps implying that it is superior in some way to your business, you are in a better position to deal with it. Whatever you do, do not get into a slanging match with Goliath. You simply need to reinforce your own competence. People aren't silly... most are aware of the games some very large organizations will play in order to keep the lion share of the market, and they can spot integrity, or lack of, honesty, or lack of, and sincerity, or lack of, a mile off.

You need to emphasize the advantages your own smaller business has over Goliath - such things as personal attention, customers are not just a number, direct contacts with management, etc. People who appreciate this level of service and attention to detail will deal with you. Let's face it, who likes to be 'just a number'?

If your small business has employees, you can emphasize their education and business knowledge, in fact, any credentials they have which can "prove" you are equipped to offer exactly the same thing Goliath offers but with more personal attention. Your Sales people can provide more personal attention due to the smaller, cosier client base.

People can get "lost" in a larger corporation, and sometimes dollars becomes more significant than service, and it is for this reason, that smaller businesses will always find a market. So hang in there... there will always be room for you - you might have to work a little bit smarter, but isn't the end result worth it?

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com/