This Here Web Aint Big Enough For Both Of Us! Can You Corner Web Market Share With Negative Action
If you're a fan of Western movies I'm sure you've heard most of the title line before; just replace "Web" with "town." That line of dialog is offered right before the two cowboys go outside and have a deadly gun duel. Wind blown tumbleweeds and shades of the OK Corral as a backdrop!
Nevertheless, can mean spirited politics help you corral a little corner of the Web? Can you put up no trespassing signs on what you've deemed to call your own?
Most progressive Net businesses grab market share by their good business practices and excellent customer service. There's more than a few of those that come to mind. There are others - less enlightened - that use negative practices to maintain their market foothold.
Creative ways to slow down or stop your perceived competitors or opponents are many. They can take the form of misinformation, gossip, poisonous tips, setting up dummy email accounts to spread rumors, etc, etc
A few of them will work in the short term. Some will be more effective than others. Most will stain your personal and business name, when found out! All of them are foolhardy!
Yes, you can raise your hand to the sky and block the sun; yet and still, it's not an accurate description of what's happening. When the mighty Mississippi river wants to change course, how can it be stopped? When the Net wants to grow, expand and mutate, how are you going to tame it to your petty designs?
Entire countries have bent to the will of the Web! Here's an example: Long-standing phone monopolies in Central American countries used political pressure to stop their citizens from making Internet phone calls, to no avail! Though "special legislation" was passed, there was such a huge outcry from the rest of the Net, they relented! Let the Net be the Net, is the call of wisdom.
Historically speaking, the Web is an infant. It will continue to grow and expand, networking even the most remote outpost or village! Powerful and speedy microchips will give us the ability to reach out to other people and cultures. Language barriers will be eliminated with real-time, two way translation. Stone Age villages are going to join the modern world in one fantastic step!
The swift technological change and the accelerated rate of deployment promise a bumpy ride, to say the least! All we can do is grab the beast by the tail and hang on; uncertain as to where it leads and what it will look like!
Those are just a few of the things awaiting us, in the not-too-distant future. I'm sure there are many more in store; not imagined, unseen and unexpected. The only two constant factors are: growth and change! In its tender years, the Net has grown and mutated in ways barely imagined a decade ago.
If I've waxed too fantastically in the preceding paragraphs, I do apologize! The point is to explain the utter futility of arresting or trapping a corner of the Web! By its very nature it's the agent of revolutionary change and growth; never to be proclaimed as your self-appointed kingdom! It won't work!
All Internet Marketers should consider the preceding when making policy decisions that deal with perceived competitors. Notice my usage of the word "perceived." Just because an upstart business wants some of the turf you formerly called your own, is no reason to engage in attrition and trench warfare.
These are much better options:
(a) Find weak areas in your competitor's business. Not so much for the purpose of exploiting them, but to see if you can supply some of their needs. No matter what the copywriters say, all businesses have strong and weak areas.
(b) Look for product lines that are complementary and form linking relationships. The nature and placement of the link will insure mutual benefit from the agreement.
(c) When provoked by some of the negative practices of other - less progressive - competitors, do what you must to uphold your reputation. If it's something trivial and small, turn the other cheek and seek the high road; not from altruism but to save your time, energy and attention for more productive endeavors. Pick your battles on principle and only when all other avenues are exhausted.
When all things are considered, the best use of your time in maintaining market share should be spent in finding new resources and partners. Likewise, implementing new content delivery technology will prove very effective. By all means, every possible effort should be made to convert competitors into friends and partners.
The alternative is so unsavory:
While the Web continues its relentless gallop, leaving both you and your sparring partner in the dust; will you even recognize why you went into battle, in the first place?
About the Author:
Francisco Aloy is the creator of The Newbie Business Guide. For more resources on website building, visit Mr. Aloy's website and look at our section on SiteBuilIt integrated hosting. http://www.newbie-business-guide.com/website_building.html
Latest News
Marica Lowery, Coastal Georgia Business Owner, Attributes Success ... 1888 Press Release (press release), TX - ... President, CEO of Rocan International and visionary creator of the infinitei income plan method of direct response internet marketing," has enabled her ... |
 Best Syndication | A-1 Internet Design - Keeping Pace with the Global Internet marketing Best Syndication, CA - Their web programming services are wide ranging; A-1 Internet Design professional expertise also extends to providing Internet marketing and search engine ... |
 Earthtimes (press release) | NY SEO Firm Ranks High With NY Businesses WebWire (press release), GA - New York businesses aren’t taking any chances when it comes to their internet marketing and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategies. ... IndiaBook Indian SEO Company Launches Search Marketing Outsourcing ... Cybertegic's Search Engine Optimization Services Puts ... Search Engine Optimization Inc. Announces New Addition to Senior ... |
Using online tools to market to the customer next door Meadow Free Press, ID - How do you choose the right internet marketing strategy that really works for you and your business? First you have to understand the need of your prospects ... |
Affordable Internet Marketing and Web Design Company Proves a ... PR.com (press release), NY - With the competitive nature of internet marketing companies, it can be difficult to find an affordable internet marketing and web design service. ... |
 Search Engine Watch | Search Marketing Expo West, Offers Early Bird Rates TheHostingNews.com (press release), OR - Search Marketing Expo -- SMX West is produced by Third Door Media, Inc. Third Door Media's mission is to empower internet and search marketing professionals ... Going to Search Engine Strategies? In a New York Minute! |
EEG research 'could aid internet marketing' Digital Response Media, UK - Paul Blunden, chief executive of brand consultancy Foviance, said that EEG could help businesses to measure "the emotional reaction" of consumers when ... |
 Direct Traffic Media | Online marketing and email pointers for small firms Direct Traffic Media, UK - She points out that "online marketing is about making money", therefore, a strong email drive is essential to "any well-rounded internet marketing campaign" ... |
 The Associated Press | New TV trends: Internet movies, 3-D, power saving The Associated Press - asked Scott Ramirez, vice president of marketing for TVs at Toshiba America Consumer Products. "I have yet to find a person who will say that their flat ... CES News: Samsung Intros LED TV With Internet Content Yahoo!® Brings the Cinematic Internet™ to Life and Revolutionizes ... Samsung's Plasma TVs also connect to the Web |
Hotelier’s 2009 Top Ten Internet Marketing Resolutions By Max ... Hospitality Net - By Max Starkov & Jason Price Here at HeBS we firmly believe that a comprehensive, ROI-centric Internet marketing strategy is the hotelier's perfect ... |
Resources
-
Power Profit Marketing
Empowering The Internet Marketing Community With Great Marketing Tools, Manuals & Software
-
35 Products For One LOW Price!
Get 35 Internet Marketing Products For The Price Of One!
-
Make money on the Internet
How to make money on the Internet through Internet Marketing and work from home
-
The Internet Marketing Master Plan!
How To Turn Your Passion or Hobby Into a $100,000 a Year Money Machine on the Internet.
-
The Truth About Internet Marketing.
Discover the astonishing whole truth and nothing but the truth about Internet Marketing!
-
NEW -- Marketing, Internet Marketing, email Marketing, Marketing plan, direct
Marketing, joint vent
Offers Marketing tools, tips, strategies and techniques for Internet, email, direct and joint venture Marketing.
-
The Esuccess Code - A Step By Step Guide.
Newest, Hottest, Most Cutting-Edge Internet Marketing Strategies You Can Use To Earn A Fortune With Little Or No Effort.
-
Internet Business Marketing - Sen Ze's Mini-Encyclopedia Of Low-Cost, High-Profit Internet Business
Discover 19 Top Internet Businesses as practised by Top Internet Marketers and Internet Entrepreneurs from around the world.
-
Internet Marketing - Pro Shop.
Internet Marketing.
-
Web Site Design and Development
Web site design, development, and promotion guide for business and Internet Marketing web sites.