#Competitive Advantage
Let’s Talk – If you can’t beat them: Can partnering up with rivals help business?
Are there benefits to holding back a business rivalry in favour of a partnership? Perhaps a ‘you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours’ angle could play a strong hand in boosting your business growth?
How businesses can utilise VR and AR for a competitive advantage
Byline: CEO and Founder of Devika, Ken Kencevski The rise of VR and AR When Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) first started to emerge in the marketplace many people thought that it was the next evolution for just video games, but it’s application has been more than that. VR and AR have the […]
By prioritising professional development for marketers, SMBs can gain a competitive edge
As a champion for professional education, the findings in the recent Salmat Mid-tier Marketing Index (SMMI) really caught my attention. Marketers in the mid-tier sector say that the top two things they would do if they had more time and money would be building more marketing skills and knowledge across their organisation, and building their […]
Five Traits of Successful Business Owners
When it comes to measuring success, everyone has their own metrics. In business, however, high achievers possess the same characteristics. Creativity, flexibility, forward-thinking, self-motivation, organisational skills and a willingness to take risks are all essential for business owners. Here are some other traits you should seek to embody as you drive your business to greatness: […]
Strategic delegation: a ‘must’ for business leaders striving for a competitive advantage
Over the past 10 years, we’ve seen AirBnB become the largest accommodation provider with no properties, Uber become the largest taxi company with no cars and Alibaba become the largest retailer with no stock. Tesla, which is changing the rules of the game in the automotive industry, is led by someone with no industry experience […]
To make sense of – and benefit from – large volumes of data, SMBs need the right talent
Big data is no longer the sole domain of large enterprises – small-to-medium businesses (SMBs) that leverage data effectively can gain significant competitive advantages. Almost all businesses now collect data to some extent. However, many businesses are still overwhelmed by the sheer volume of data available to them and they wonder how to make sense of […]
Small retailers urged to trial not surcharging ahead of next year’s ban on excessive fees
In May, this year, the Reserve Bank of Australia released a new surcharging standard, which introduced a ban on excessive surcharges. The ban, which is being enforced by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), commenced for large retailers this month but all other merchants have until 1 September 2017 to comply with it. Dynamic […]
We’ve punched above our weight without going head to head with big players: Holocentric CEO
Home-grown Business Management Systems (BMS) provider, Holocentric has outbid larger international companies for tenders in Australia by harnessing the strengths of being a smaller operation and eliminating, where possible, the need to go head-to-head with better-resourced competitors, according to its CEO, Bruce Nixon. The tech company, which has offices in Sydney and Canberra, has worked […]
Tap into the advantages of engaged workers
Employee engagement is a key theme for many SMEs as they struggle to attract and maintain talent in the highly competitive employment market. According to Gallup’s State of the Global Workforce report, only 13% of employees worldwide are engaged at work and in Australia only 24% of workers are engaged. Employee engagement isn’t the same […]
Sustainable competitive advantages are no longer relevant, businesses warned
In today’s fast-paced, ever-changing world of business, a company’s competitive advantage is no longer a ‘sure-thing’, a globally-recognised strategy expert has warned. Speaking at the World Business Forum in Sydney, last month, Rita McGrath, a professor at the Columbia Business School, explained that while sustainable competitive advantage has been a fixation of companies for decades, the […]
Don’t fake it: what every business needs to know about customer reviews
The popularity of review sites has inevitably led to the unethical practice of false customer testimonials that create an unfair competitive advantage in the market.
Improve productivity by getting into the right headspace
Are you one of the majority of small business owners who’d like more work/life balance? Wouldn’t we all? Read on for tips on how to use ‘the third space’ to get you there.
3 ways thinking creatively can help your business
Changing the way you think can help you to approach old problems in new ways and be more innovative and customer-centric than your competitors. ‘Design Thinking’ is a different way of thinking that draws on the creative and intuitive as well as the analytical and rational mind.
The business benefits of having an individual voice
Some of the most successful and creative businesses in the world, like Google and Walt Disney, understand the value in nurturing employee skills and allowing them to find their own voice. Do this in your business, and you’ll be leaps and bounds ahead of the competition.
How to use technology to gain a competitive advantage
In today’s global and increasingly digital economy, investing in technology can provide small to medium-sized businesses with the competitive advantage they so seriously need. This advice will help you decide where best to invest.
How healthy is your market intelligence?
If you don’t know your competitors back to front and you don’t know where your customers are coming from and how they feel about your service, then it’s impossible to make informed improvements to become more competitive.
Using technology to create a competitive advantage
In today’s competitive business world, selling involves much more than a price war. Technology could be the thing to give your business an added edge over its competitors.
Can’t answer these 3 marketing questions? It’s time to do your homework
Every business owner needs to answer three vital questions about their target market and customers to avoid failure. If you can’t answer them, it might be time to hit the books…
Strengthen your unique selling proposition with an award
Keen to set your business apart from its competitors? MYOB’s Kristy Sheppard suggests you begin entering business award programs. “Community business awards will add weight to your cause with local customers while state and national awards will not only help with those closer to home but will strengthen your business appeal to customers further afield.”
8 ways to gain a competitive advantage
Danielle MacInnis offers eight straightforward tips for gaining a competitive advantage over your small business rivals. “Customers are becoming bored with hyped up messaging and choose their own media diet. So can we still achieve a competitive advantage in today’s marketplace as a small business? We can but we have to think faster, act sooner and compete in new ways.”