Comparative marketing or competitive marketing is the practice of researching and identifying competitors marketing strategies and using that information to better position your own company’s product or service in the marketplace.
The development of the modern economy and global marketplaces means that businesses and companies now find themselves facing a level of competition never before seen. In such an environment, business owners and marketers can no longer afford to operate in an information vacuum and must stay abreast of their competitors’ products and services, pricing strategies and market positioning strategies.
good comparative marketing begins with a thorough understanding of the competition. Companies need to assess their competitors, understanding their strengths and weaknesses, their target market and the strategies they employ to reach their goals.
Therefore, comparative marketing includes methods of monitoring and tracking competitors. Accurate price monitoring should be the focus of any comparative marketing plan. This data helps marketers get a better understanding of the competitions pricing strategy, as well as what it can cost to offer a competing solution.
Competitor benchmarking is also an important part of comparative marketing. This strategy involves comparing products and services between two companies. It is also important to find out what differentiates you from competitors. What sets your product apart to your ideal customer? Better yet, what do your competition offer that you do not?
The next step of comparative marketing is to create your own product. While evaluating your competitors, you can identify opportunities your product has that theirs may not. This can be used to create more differentiated and better offerings.
Strong marketing messages and tools such as advertising and social media campaigns can also be helpful to differentiate your product from the competition. This can be amplified through influencers, who can spread positive awareness about your product and create desire for it amongst potential customers.
Building relationships with current customers is another important component of comparative marketing. Engaging customers with special offers, inviting them to events, and providing them with surveys, polls, and other interactive elements can build loyalty and strengthen customer bonds.
Finally, distribution should be viewed as a major component of comparative marketing. While pricing, promotion, and product development are important components of any company’s marketing strategies, they are useless without effective distribution.
In conclusion, comparative marketing can provide a great way to differentiate a company’s product and services by providing an understanding of the competition and how your product and services can stand out. By understanding competitors’ strengths and weaknesses, taking steps to create a differentiated product and using effective communication tactics, companies can better position their product and services in the marketplace.