Direct Competitors

Direct competitors are the guys you would naturally think of if I asked you who your competitors are. You are probably going to be covering people and organisations such as:

• Other distributors of your company
  
• Distributors in other network marketing companies
  
• Mainstream shops or services that sell your particular product or service (normally alot cheaper)
  

Well, leave them be for starters, BUT get going with your research and learn all you can about your competitors' products, their prices, what they are offering and so on.

Essentially, in marketing - knowledge is power, and you want to be gathering as much information about your competitors as you can. With distributors in your own company, knowing what their specialist areas are, how they operate etc can be useful. Personally, I do not see fellow distributors in my own company as competition but I know some people do. If you can work with them - great, if not, then work in a different niche to them.

Knowing lots of information about similar products in other network marketing companies can help you differentiate why your products or service are different (if not better). There's no harm in carrying out a SWOT analysis on your network marketing competitors, as well as perhaps distinguising what their benefits are too. Don't be scared of having this information. It actually turns you into a better consultant from your customer's point of view.

It becomes slightly more challenging when you are looking at your business opportunity, but carry out a fair SWOT analysis, and list the benefits of joining the other network marketing companies and you may just surprise yourself with how you much you are then able to help your prospect come to the right decision for them.

The same applies when you are looking at shops or services that sell your particular product (or similar). Normally (but not always) they sell the product cheaper, so you absolutely need to know precisely why your product or service is the one to buy. Again, carry out a swot analysis and make a list of the features and benefits of your direct competitor products. Your customers will always ask "If I can get it in the shops for so much cheaper, why should I buy it from you". You need to have the answer to that question, and that answer comes from you knowing what your competitors offer compared to what you offer, and why they are different.

OK, let's move on a bit to Indirect competitors:

Go to Indirect Competitors

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