Comments on: Is Your Competitor A Networking Know-It-All?

By: Yelena

Yelena — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 03:18:47 +0000

You're so right! In my experience, people love sharing information (to certain extent) and give advice. It makes them feel good and validates their standing as an authority. Sounds like a win-win situation. But here's my question – same situation (a competitor who knows everybody and is “a fixture” of a networking group), but this time around you just know (after chatting with them and checking out their website, portfolio, etc, that the products/services they offer are outdated and inferior. I'm not trying to be snobby about it. But I was pushed out of one of the networking groups by one such competitor (the group had a policy of allowing only one member from each type of business).

By: Yelena

Yelena — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 02:18:00 +0000

You’re so right! In my experience, people love sharing information (to certain extent) and give advice. It makes them feel good and validates their standing as an authority. Sounds like a win-win situation. But here’s my question – same situation (a competitor who knows everybody and is “a fixture” of a networking group), but this time around you just know (after chatting with them and checking out their website, portfolio, etc, that the products/services they offer are outdated and inferior. I’m not trying to be snobby about it. But I was pushed out of one of the networking groups by one such competitor (the group had a policy of allowing only one member from each type of business). rn

By: Ricky

Ricky — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 06:31:40 +0000

Hi,

I too am follower of the practice that "Networking" is one of the most important aspects of Business Developement.

In the near futrue: Networking and Referal marketing will be the saviour for many companies rather than SEM etc.

Thanks.

Ricky

By: CJ

CJ — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:00:03 +0000

When asked how I deal with competitors, I usually reply, “I don't have competitors. Just people with whom I have not yet cooperated.” (Needs to be said with self-deprecating humour.) I hadn't thought before about taking it to the point of asking them for intros – a really nice twist!

By: Cristian Graziano

Cristian Graziano — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 20:08:10 +0000

That's great advice, Cristina. Giving a referral creates a subtle obligation to provide one back (like buying lunch for a friend; they will usually pay next time) – especially if you provide real value.

Befriending the competitor is a great idea. You immediately have something in common, and if you add them to your network – you may get overflow work or the occasional project that is out of your competitor's scope.