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Worry about people stealing your ideas? You may not agree with my thoughts...

by Scott Ames
10 replies
How many times have you had a good idea but did nothing about it because you were afraid someone would take it? Perhaps you had a great idea for a website but were afraid of getting graphic artists, programmers, etc. engaged because they might just take the idea and do it on their own. Either that or you sheepishly make everyone sign a non-disclosure.

There are times when secrecy is good, but think of it this way. As soon as your site hits the web and you try to generate traffic, someone else will look at it and think, hummm , I could do that. It is better to keep a step ahead of potential competition or eliminate them totally by just having something better.

Programmers and graphic artists , and writers don't really want to steal your idea for the most part. If they do however, they would not tackle it like you would. It would have a different flavor, a different approach. Yours is the only one that matters and you should get it out fast, market it well, and just make sales. Stow away the fear of loss and instead focus on the green fields ahead.

How many have tried to replicate MySpace, FaceBook, Twitter, PlentyOfFish, and now Bankaholic? They may indeed grab some traffic and some dollars, but those sites are not focused on loss rather they are focused on new ideas and the future of their specific site.
#agree #ideas #people #stealing #thoughts #worry
  • Profile picture of the author sylviad
    For what it's worth, I do agree with you. Regardless of how protective you are of your terrific idea, once it hits the markets, it will be free game for anyone who wants to take it on as their own. The only real problem is having a great idea and not doing anything with it, and then seeing someone else making a killing on it.

    Sylvia
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  • Profile picture of the author Nick Brighton
    Great points Scott. I used to have this scarcity mindset and it kills your livelihood if you're not careful. The fact is, every business gets "copied" but not many copycats get the cream.

    Why not?

    Because it all comes down to these 4 things (that I can think of):

    1. USP
    2. Market Share
    3. Customer loyalty
    4. Branding

    That's why in the real world, marketing is essential. If you're just a me too person, then you'll have to share the scraps with everyone else.

    If you're different (even if you sell the same product or service) you will not only stand out, but you'll aqcuire fans, loyal ones at that. Plus, developing a relationship with these "fans" will secure your market share and help to grow it.

    Man, sounds like I've been trapped in a corporate marketing seminar for the last decade.
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  • Profile picture of the author balsimon
    Great post, Scott.

    I think that at least part of what you're saying is that you
    wan to be a moving target with respect to your real or
    potential competition.

    The only thing I would add is that you need to be ready to
    implement your idea if you're going to let the cat out of the
    bag.

    I have several ideas I'm not yet ready to implement. If
    someone comes up with a parallel idea, that's cool. I'm
    willing to bet that no one's going to implement them in the
    same way I'm considering - when I'm ready.

    Regards,
    Bal
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris Lockwood
    Where on Coke's website does it list their recipe? I'm having trouble finding it.
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    • Profile picture of the author Nick Brighton
      Originally Posted by Chris Lockwood View Post

      Where on Coke's website does it list their recipe? I'm having trouble finding it.
      Good point. Some companies do a good job of hiding their trade secrets, but the majority do not. But in the context of what Scott is saying (presumably referring to internet businesses) then these particular business ideas can be replicated, but the success might not come about...due to not having a strategy, a plan, funding, cash flow, contacts, investors, stocks, resources, USPs, a brand that gets marketed well enough to become well known and trusted...

      ...the list of reasons why a copycat biz will bomb is actually near endless when you think about it...
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      • Profile picture of the author JasonParker
        That's why you need a unique sales position that can't be replicated by others. Or at least not easily.
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    • Profile picture of the author Scott Ames
      Originally Posted by Chris Lockwood View Post

      Where on Coke's website does it list their recipe? I'm having trouble finding it.
      That's why I said "There are times when secrecy is good," but I would bet that even if someone had the exact recipe , and I don't doubt it could or probably has been obtained with chemical analysis, that no one would replicate Coke the company exactly. They would always be trying to keep up.
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      • Profile picture of the author timpears
        No one knows Coke's recipe, but that doesn't stop Pepsi from selling a lot of cola and is RC still in business and Shasta and a host of others. I know everyone after Coke and Pepsi are long behind but I am not sure any of them needed to know the recipe to be successful.

        My mother had an interesting thought on this. She believed that an idea was in the air and you were not the only one that had it. If you took it and did something with it then you may or may not be successful, but you were only one of many that this same thought passed through your mind. Often we have ideas and then months or years later after we did nothing about it someone else came out in the market with that item or whatever. And we always think, that was my idea, why didn't I do something about it. Well someone else had that same idea float by their mind and they reached out and grabbed it and ran with it. It is kind of like ideas are out there looking for someone to do something with them, and we are just the instruments they use to make them successful. It was always an interesting idea to me, and it seems to explain things. Whether it is true or not I will never know.

        I do know one thing though. If I spend my time worrying about whether or not someone will take my idea and do better with it than me, then I am wasting a hell of a lot of time. I would rather spend my time trying to make myself successful and let others worry about themselves.
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        • Profile picture of the author Jeremy Kelsall
          On the other side of the coin....

          I've had an idea stolen, packaged, and sold almost identically the way I wanted it....why?

          Because I was dumb enough to give a review copy out to the wrong guy!

          While you might not want to be too secretive and protective over your ideas and projects you will want to make sure that you are working with people that you trust whether it be a graphic designer or someone that you are looking for a review from.

          Jeremy
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    • Profile picture of the author Black Hat Cat
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Chris Lockwood View Post

      Where on Coke's website does it list their recipe? I'm having trouble finding it.
      Nowhere. But they haven't exactly kept secret their idea of selling a sugary beverage, have they?
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