Ways to develop marketing skills

Discussion in 'General Marketing' started by prasanth5, Jan 19, 2013.

  1. #1
    It is very true that an aspiring marketer can hone his skills by observing the online behavior of his competitors. A thorough study of the marketing steps followed by one's competitor is important to develop one's own marketing skills. The saying goes that one can learn better by observation rather than a blind practice. Advertising, writing skills, content management and web design are some of the aspects of marketing that an aspiring marketer should observe especially when following an established marketer. Any opinion on this?
     
    prasanth5, Jan 19, 2013 IP
  2. Gianni Palazzo

    Gianni Palazzo Member

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    #2
    I think you are right.

    We must observe our competitors all the time, and try to do better than them to improve our services. The way online businesses are conducted in these days have changed compared to the old days. New marketing techniques have been developed to improve the quality of service.
     
    Gianni Palazzo, Jan 19, 2013 IP
  3. James Byun

    James Byun Active Member

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    #3
    I wouldn't want to focus my time on the competitor, just focus on "content marketing".
     
    James Byun, Jan 20, 2013 IP
  4. jipolis7

    jipolis7 Active Member

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    #4
    Yes, you are damn right. I can add some extent. Time Management is a must in marketing skill. One must have to connect with high quality prospects and to become a valuable resource before others. Always try to up to date and be smart.
     
    jipolis7, Jan 21, 2013 IP
  5. spider_web

    spider_web Greenhorn

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    #5
    The ability to present yourself may not come natural to you, like so many others, but it is an essential selling point for companies looking for diverse talent. For most average human beings, just the thought of public speaking brings on an anxiety attack. The only way to slay this dragon, if you are not a born speaker, is to do it and do it often. Take a presentation course; this is a guaranteed audience that will be empathetic to your jittery voice and sweaty brow. My best advice for a would-be presenter? Be prepared, know your subject matter, practice, and remember that the audience doesn’t really know it when you miss something. There’s bound to be a show off in you.
     
    spider_web, Jan 21, 2013 IP
  6. mona25

    mona25 Peon

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    #6
    You are right in speaking, but there's a practical field to face the foes. I mean, some drawbacks to overcome. As you remark; learn in running way, keep consistency but not be fast steppers.
     
    mona25, Jan 21, 2013 IP
  7. ninjamtlt1

    ninjamtlt1 Active Member

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    #7
    Yes, watching your competitors is actually one of the smartest business moves you can make! That's how you can truly gain a competitive advantage over them. Do what they do, but in your own unique way..and do it better.
     
    ninjamtlt1, Jan 21, 2013 IP
  8. iandille101

    iandille101 Greenhorn

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    #8
    Through observing and reading, a person can learn but it's not 100% guaranteed. It's still beneficial if someone will try it personally.
     
    iandille101, Jan 22, 2013 IP
  9. digitalduke

    digitalduke Notable Member

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    #9
    Observation is the best way and is the first way I guess. When you have a competitor, it is most likely to have a tough competition because probably they are established than you are. In internet, you can choose thousands of niches. Just choose one before anyone does and do the marketing in a same as you saw other people doing it on some different niches.
     
    digitalduke, Jan 22, 2013 IP
  10. ChrisRey

    ChrisRey Greenhorn

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    #10
    Try to Listen more. After spending years speaking to prospects, it's easy to tune out instead of listening to every single person during a potential sale. Instead, take time to refocus and find the value in the specific feedback you get each time. Make sure you are hearing the situation and not just trying to sell..
     
    ChrisRey, Jan 22, 2013 IP
  11. e-life

    e-life Greenhorn

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    #11
    According to consumers' need, they will compare yours with your competitors' and then they find a suitable one to choose. So we need make comparision among them. Try to make better than them, then we can win more customers.
     
    e-life, Jan 22, 2013 IP
  12. Mark Kaye

    Mark Kaye Member

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    #12
    Watch you competition, but don't obsess over them. Keep an eye on what they do, but don't alter from your strategy. A strong defense position is better than constantly changing your offense.
     
    Mark Kaye, Jan 23, 2013 IP
  13. sonny_king

    sonny_king Member

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    #13
    I think having a complete market analysis is underrated now of days, especially with online marketing. I run long market analysis in the niches that I targeted (3-6 months) to compare how much money I'm leaving on the table. IMHO if you don't do that then when it comes to advertising, you may be throwing money down the drain.
     
    sonny_king, Jan 23, 2013 IP
  14. TheKarmaOne

    TheKarmaOne Greenhorn

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    #14
    I think Mark Kaye is right in saying watch but don't obsess. And do you.
     
    TheKarmaOne, Jan 23, 2013 IP
  15. dailybreadgivers

    dailybreadgivers Banned

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    #15
    If you just ad little things that make your just a little better than your competitors, that helps a lot as well.
     
    dailybreadgivers, Jan 24, 2013 IP
  16. contentdiva

    contentdiva Well-Known Member

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    #16
    This reminds me of the term, "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer." Keep your eyes on your competitors, but don't spend all your time focusing on them. Your focus needs to be on building your own business.
     
    contentdiva, Jan 25, 2013 IP
  17. w11guy

    w11guy Member

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    #17

    Yes, it's certainly true that checking what successful competitors are doing is the way to go. The successful ones must be doing something right, so you need to be able to replicate their success. I think many people get this wrong because they listen to the wrong people. They might read something on a forum, on a blog, etc, and just assume it's true, even if the person saying it isn't successful

    So get there and see what the successful people are doing. This works in all walks of life. One place I see this a lot is with people trying to lose weight. I often hear two people who are overweight talking to each other about the best way to lose weight. But I never see any overweight people talking to skinny people to ask how they stay skinny. It is of course the skinny people that have the 'secret'.

    It's the same in business. Ask the successful people how they do it. Don't talk to other unsuccessful about what you could both do. If you're both successful, then neither has the answer. So talk to the right person whatever advice you want.
     
    w11guy, Jan 25, 2013 IP
  18. prasanth5

    prasanth5 Active Member

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    #18
    It is indeed true that the arena of Internet marketing has a lot to explore and the aspiring marketer has to spend a few months in careful study before venturing into it.
     
    prasanth5, Jan 28, 2013 IP