Why You Should Do Competitor Research (Especially If You’re Not a Competitive Person)

The biz world is rife with war analogies. But what if you don’t want to killdestroy, or gut the competition?

That terminology doesn’t simply fail to resonate with you, it repels you. As a conscious entrepreneur, you’re more of a community over competition person. What do they say? A rising tide lifts all boats?

So it makes sense that you don’t do competitor research because…

  • You’re simply not a competitive person; if compare equals despair, you just don’t want to go there;
  • You don’t operate from a scarcity mindset; you know there’s enough business to go around;
  • How you do things is so unique, there’s no one quite like you. So, why bother researching competitors? You have none!

What if I told you that you could (and should) do competitor research without thinking of murder? (i.e. turning the “blue ocean” red with the blood of your enemies?)

And that competitor research can make you more confident about your own brand, not less.

In this episode of Awkward Marketing, we’re breaking down the three reasons why you need to be doing competitor research, even if you’re not a competitive person. (And even if you’re confident that no one does it quite like you.)

Because I get it; competitor research can feel scary and/or icky. And I’m not down with”tearing apart” others who do what I do. But I believe in the importance of competitor research, which is why it’s a mandatory (and, you’ll be relieved to know, murder-free) part of the strategy process I take all my clients through.

Here’s how competitor research can help you save money, improve your messaging, and even strengthen your relationships with others who do what you do:

Rachael Kay Albers

Rachael Kay Albers is a creative director, business comedian, and brand strategist gone wild. She writes and performs about branding, pop culture, tech, and identity. When she’s not muckraking about marketing, Rachael runs RKA ink, a reinvention studio and branding agency for businesses that burn the rulebook. She's also on Instagram a lot.