"Keeping up in a competitive market means staying flexible and proactive." Monitor Competitors Closely: I keep an eye on what competitors are doing, learning from their successes and gaps to improve my own approach. Engage Customers Actively: By staying in close contact with customers, I get real-time feedback that helps me adapt quickly to their needs. Invest in Continuous Learning: Staying updated on industry skills and trends keeps our business relevant and innovative. Embrace Small Experiments: I regularly test new ideas on a small scale, allowing us to pivot quickly if they resonate. These steps keep us agile and competitive.

I wouldn’t say all small businesses are a step ahead , there’s many owners I’ve met that fall behind because they are small and can’t scale or delegate well, so they end up trying to wear all hats and generate less revenues from being spread too thinly. They can pivot quickly if they choose to, which is an advantage of a small business. A good example is outsourcing offshore or hiring the right person that gives the owner/s time to grow the business effectively.

In an industry of commoditized services, the customer experience always wins. We call this hospitality for short - what kind of customer experience can I provide that makes our service stand apart from all others. If you are selling a product at the center of your service (like you are a coffee shop or retail store), how can I transform the customer experience in a way so that the customer remembers what they felt as much as how good the product is itself? This is what differentiates your small business from all the others around you.

Pode parecer meio piegas, mas o discurso do Oceano Azul é sempre bastante funcional nesses casos. Qual é o nicho que os competidores n?o atendem bem? O que esse nicho está demandando em termos de valor? Foque em comunicar que você tem a solu??o para esse nicho e você n?o precisará mais concorrer. Se o mercado ficar pequeno demais, nesse caso, pense em como aumentar a sua abrangência de vendas e atendimento. Mais vale ser incrível para 1% do público potencial do que apenas legal para 50%.