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How closely do you watch your competition? In order to successfully compete, you must fully understand your opponent.

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Richard Weisser Realty

 

Competition is the key to business successCompetition is the keystone of a capitalist society. And every entrepreneur knows that in order to succeed in any business endeavor, it is essential to compete to attain the largest market share possible.

But in order to effectively compete, one must fully be aware of the other competitors in the field and how they operate their businesses. After all, in order to “build a better mousetrap,” one must fully comprehend how the current mousetraps on the market function, and the methods used to market them.

It’s not enough to simply make others aware of your products or services. It is absolutely essential to convey your “unique selling proposition’ in all of your marketing efforts.

And in order to effectively delineate your “USP,” you must first fully understand your competition, and how they market their goods or services. After all, if you wish to elevate yourself over the pack, you must very clearly ascertain their marketing efforts and completely understand their business operations.

It takes time, effort, and careful study to properly posture your business in the competitive arena.

But the survival of any enterprise depends on it!

 

Al Raymondi
Ocean View Realty Group in Ormond By The Sea Florida - Ormond Beach, FL
Ormond By The Sea Florida - Home and Condo Sales

Great post Richard.  This is especially true these days with the ever changing market and technology.  It has become difficult to just keep up with all the changes and trying to decide what may work and what is a must do to survive.

Jul 29, 2010 03:09 AM
Glenn Roberts
Retired - Seattle, WA

In Monopoly, the number of properties is limited, so one must watch competitors closely. The number of competitors is also limited. Active Rain is a bigger pond with more fish. That was noted recently with the disappearance and reappearance of the leader board. Everyone is watching each other.

When I usde to run I would never try to catch the leader of the pack, often minutes ahead of me, but I'd just pick out one runner about 10 yards ahead of me and work to overcome him.

Jul 29, 2010 03:20 AM
J. Philip Faranda
Howard Hanna Rand Realty - Yorktown Heights, NY
Associate Broker / Office Manager

I do some; most of that energy goes to watching and replicating what really high achievers do. But you have to know what your competition is up to and respond in a manner to win. 

Jul 29, 2010 03:38 AM
Loreena and Michael Yeo
3:16 team REALTY ~ Locally-owned Prosper TX Real Estate Co. - Prosper, TX
Real Estate Agents

Here's what I learnt about competition. Their existence is good for mine - to keep me on my toes.

Many years ago, I made myself my best competitor. I found sanity since.

There are plenty of business to go around. No one can win it all. Therefore, I do not watch competition that closely.

I can only control myself.

Jul 29, 2010 04:15 AM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Richard - I find very few agents, even in my office, that have what would be a clear USP. I admit, that I am continually struggling with mine, but then I have tried to make my USP my 30 second elevator pitch.

Jul 29, 2010 04:29 AM
Susan Haughton
Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA
Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

LOVE that photo!!!   Have been playing Monopoly as long as I can remember...but I digress.  LOL

I find my USP is constantly evolving, the longer I am in the business and the more I learn.

Jul 29, 2010 05:02 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Love that Monopoly set.  That is my favorite game.  As for knowing my competition, I do try to keep on top of what they are offering and what they are doing.  Agents in my office think I'm nuts, but I'm thriving during a difficult market.

Jul 29, 2010 05:45 AM
Lisa Hill
Florida Property Experts - Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Beach Real Estate

Guilty as charged! I have NOT payed attention to my competition. However, it's been my experience that in our area, they're not really worth watching!  ;-)

Jul 29, 2010 06:10 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good afternoon Richard,

I like Craig have always kept a breast of what my competition is doing. I know our marketing is superior and strive to keep it that way! It's important to create a buzz among clients about exciting new and iinnovative ways to market in today's real estate climate. Striving to be one step ahead has always panned out for us!!

Jul 29, 2010 06:14 AM
Chris Alston
Chris Alston (Keller Williams Realty, Silicon Valley, California) - Campbell, CA
Silicon Valley, California

I wish I was a little more closely!  :)  Thanks for kicking me in the butt!

Jul 29, 2010 07:09 AM
Dave Roberts
Healdsburg Sotheby's International Realty - Healdsburg, CA

I'm with Chris. Thanks for the reminder that you can't measure yourself without taking stock of the competition. It's time for some good old Excel charting and data mining from the MLS.

Jul 29, 2010 01:27 PM
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Richard...I have coffee at least once a week with agents that from my area, just to shoot the bull...Yea right!   The secrete is to be able to spy and not let them know that! ;-}

Jul 29, 2010 02:17 PM
Russell Lewis
Realty Austin, Austin Texas Real Estate - Austin, TX
Broker,CLHMS,GRI

Richard, I did not get this until I had been in the business for several years an learned over time the different ways we competed for listings and interact when in a transaction with buyers. My first broker was an excellent teacher who always helped me to compete with myself too and always try and learn and grow through the process to set myself apart. You've obviously done this yourself with great results!.

Jul 29, 2010 03:44 PM
Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

Excellent advice, Richard.  How can we differentiate ourselves from our competition for the better.  I am working on that every day.  Part of it is in blogging.  How many of our competition blog!

Jul 29, 2010 04:05 PM
Toni Dorigatti
Jette Youngblood Real Estate - Logan, UT

Great post! Thanks for sharing! Lots of good info for sure! Have a great day!

Jul 30, 2010 12:46 AM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

You can bet that when I'm researching properties for a buyer client, I'm also researching those listing agents. 

Jul 30, 2010 12:46 AM
William James Walton Sr.
WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Briotti Group - Waterbury, CT
Greater Waterbury Real Estate

Richard, based on several of the comments I've read, especially Lenn's, I have a few questions:

What information are we looking for when researching our competition? Number of transactions? Number of listings? How long they've been an agent? 

How would we find information on what marketing strategies they use to get buyers and sellers?

 

Jul 30, 2010 04:15 AM
Tom Bailey
Margaret Rudd & Associates Inc. - Oak Island, NC

Richard, well said and a vital part of any successful business. One can not be driven by what others do but we must be aware of our competitors ways of doing things.

Jul 30, 2010 08:21 AM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Controling yourself (Lorena) is great but you do have to watch 'who is watching you'.  It has nothing to do with everyone having a piece of the pie - they are watching YOUR PIE.  I did a post about this recently how a paper did a post about ActiveRain & featured 3 of our members here.  Good PR for them & AR obviously but did they know?  Nope.  I was paying attention to my Google Alerts & told them.  You have to play it like everyone is watching you ALL the time. 

Jul 30, 2010 11:16 AM
Walter Espejo
Weichert Realtors - The Andrews Group - Nashville, TN
Bellevue TN Homes for Sale

Excellent post! Makes me think of how I should pay attention to top agents and how I market.

Nov 01, 2010 07:02 AM