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How do you think about competitors ahead of you?

by MChai
13 replies
I'm new to this.

I found a product I'm really excited about. I'm already fairly familiar with the niche. Ideas are flowing freely and I have a plan of action. I actually think I can do this!

However, doing my research I found my competitor's Affiliate sites. His stuff is very close to what I had envisioned.

Now my confidence has taken a hit. Unlike me he obviously knows his stuff, 'cos he's on the first page for all the top keywords. He's got some neat ideas I've been taking notes on!

So, I'm thinking;
If I stick to my original plan then I'm ploughing the same ground as someone way better than me, and who got there first.

:confused:Or, I could go for the same keywords, but change my approach. I've got some ideas but this will take more time and money than the original plan.

Alternatively, I could limit my investment in this, and test the waters with lower ranked terms.

Maybe I ought to just get on with it and not think too much about him, he could get run over by a bus or something.

I'd appreciate your thoughts on my thoughts!
#ahead #competitors
  • Profile picture of the author Joseph Robinson
    Banned
    Or, not worry about outranking him at all. Try article marketing and bypass him through the back door...
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  • Profile picture of the author Mantasmo
    Focus on your own plans/goals. Analyse, but do not obsess. I've seen this happen a lot in the services industry - some providers spend so much time worrying/tracking/stalking their competition that they forget to innovate and do a really good job with their product/service. Then something changes and they go out of business overnight.
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    • Profile picture of the author myob
      If you can write at the same pace as your ideas flow, so far you're already lightyears ahead of your keyword-drenched competition. All of my own niches are similarly competitive, but what I do is siphon traffic from their sites and appeal directly to these target niches through article syndiction. Don't waste your time in trying to outrank the competition; use them to post articles that drive traffic to your own conversion page. In addition, submit articles regularly to relevant niche ezines. For an excellent ebook outlining this marketing model, read Turn Words Into Traffic by Jim Edwards.

      [Edit: Basically same as Joe, but he beat me to it]
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  • Profile picture of the author MChai
    Thanks for the great replies. My mind is clear:

    Get cracking on writing (superior) content.
    There are plenty of options for publishing the content.
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  • Profile picture of the author kc33
    Bypass Google...there are heaps of other platforms to get traffic...how many millions of people use social media? Do a guest post on a hig authority site in your niche
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  • Profile picture of the author YasirYar
    Unless your competition is a site that attracts 100% of your entire target market , and in most cases even if it does, there is no good reason to avoid competing with them

    Since you are new to this, you have to know that there is competition in literally every niche, and for every good keyword. A lot of people are seeking to make money on the internet, and so you can't really hide from competition anywhere. Unless you are ridiculously innovative, the only reason you will find a set of keywords with no competition is that those keywords have no competition.

    Success is entirely based on quality and hard work. Not everyone can deliver, so the people who do eventually come out on top. If you think you can, I see no reason why you should even think about the competition at this time.

    Do you think a potential reason why your competition ranks so highly is because he has no good competition? If so, this is a perfect opportunity for you to put in a lot of hard work, and reap rewards.
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  • Profile picture of the author Eduard Stinga
    I'm thinking that most of my competition will soon be behind me
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  • Profile picture of the author The Great Gordino
    You would probably have more to worry about if there was *no* competition!

    Competition means demand, which you need.

    Demand means you have people to get your own content to, and that's where your focus should be.
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  • Profile picture of the author SEOMasters
    I always focus on #1, no matter what the competition is.
    When the niche is right, the money is there, then the only way to go is after #1.
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  • Profile picture of the author datingworld
    I had just left 3 out of 5 big competitors behind me for a highly searched keyword. only 2 are ahead of me and I am gona knocked them down very soon.
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  • Profile picture of the author Nixgan
    Actually, just research the competitor's keywords and add some of your own to increase searches.

    Besides that, rather than spending your money on getting more traffic, you could probably just make extra products, after all, you never know when a product you make might hit home. To increase sales, focus on various products, and see which one sells the best. Make a statistic search about it and know what about it do people like and what is the best way used for getting traffic with it. Then, you can create products alike it or use the similar traffic ways that are proven for other products.

    Or you can just ram forward without thinking too much, after all there can never be too much good stuff on the internet. Keep blogging, foruming (put a signature to your link), post articles, make videos, or even go for solo ads and classified ads, all sure winners in getting a list.

    All the best then !
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  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
    Originally Posted by MChai View Post

    I'm new to this.

    I found a product I'm really excited about. I'm already fairly familiar with the niche. Ideas are flowing freely and I have a plan of action. I actually think I can do this!

    However, doing my research I found my competitor's Affiliate sites. His stuff is very close to what I had envisioned.

    Now my confidence has taken a hit. Unlike me he obviously knows his stuff, 'cos he's on the first page for all the top keywords. He's got some neat ideas I've been taking notes on!
    Let me get this straight.

    > You have a product you are excited about, in a niche with which you are familiar.

    > You have a competitor whose stuff is close to what you planned to do.

    > This competitor is doing very well using ideas close to your own.

    > And your confidence has taken a hit?

    There's a disconnect. Your confidence should be growing. Before you started researching competition, you came up with ideas and plans similar to what is already very successful in your market. Good job.

    Now your only challenge is to out-execute your competitor by doing the things he does well at least that well yourself, and add things he isn't doing to pass him by.

    Good luck to you...
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  • Profile picture of the author David Sneen
    Competition can be stressful. One must always be focused on what the competition is doing, but never obsessed with it. It is where your dollars are coming from, yet you want to be calm and cool.

    Doing what the other do, only better is what brings you to the top. If you are in a big niche, there is plenty of money to go around, so the top position is not essential for making money.

    There are a ton of things to do to advance yourself! Good luck!
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    David Sneen
    It's what you do when no one is watching
    that determines what you will be able to
    do when everyone is watching.
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