I'm launching a huge new business, which is doing a lot of trading seminars in Las Vegas. Been doing seminars for 20 years, quite profitably, here's my latest approach.

To do this successfully, I need to compete against the free events (expos/conferences) and other trading events being held by affiliate-based competitors. Some of whom may even be *your* clients. Here's how I will systematically, methodically destroy the competition (those who won't jv/work with me, or just want to compete). I'm an ace at it, here's my process.

The financial trading grounds are littered with the bones of competitors I've crushed during this last 8 years. I love stomping competition (especially from low-credibility marketer-traders who have no credentials nor skills and hawk overpriced bs systems and events). It's fun, easy, and good for the customers. I like having, a la Wendy's as Dave did, celebrations as my competitors fall by the wayside. It's fun. (insert evil muhahaha laugh here, lol)

+ Quickie SWOT analysis (competitor strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats).

+ Positioning events against competitive weaknesses (eg they are affiliate-driven low-value events like IM seminars that have a pitchfest from a string of traders who spout a bunch of theory bs, then try and upsell into back of the house sales. Mine are pitch-free, always have been, always will be - so traders can come and relax, and learn, not worry about fending off sales pitches or being shown incomplete information, like my low-brow recent competitors try and pull).

+ Developing a strong USP/hook, based on skills that are Not easy to copy (eg I show traders how to trade vs LIVE markets; as I have years of REAL trading experience, I'm very good, and can show others -- something the marketer-traders cannot copy, since they're lame and not genuine traders. They can't show trading blotters or real trading results -- they're not authentic, and the market will boot them out, rightfully so.).

+ Promotional videos/copy via hybrid salesletters that feature authentic sales points that resonate with real traders, vs the marketing hype approach from the "marketer traders" who have zero credentials nor skills, and are predators (who must be relegated to marketplace irrelevance, which I do, skillfully, putting them out of business).

As I said in a copywriting workshop I did with Michel a couple of years ago, I like taking the "Conan the Barbarian" approach to the market, by creating fascinations and authenticity, and stomping competition ... it's good for the customers, and great for my business. My approach is extremely difficult if not impossible to copy, because I'm authentic, and it resonates with others like me. I'm an expert at marginalizing my competitors and copycats, and it's a crucial business skill. Not jving with everyone -- being Unique and "The world class expert", via positioning and results from your customers, is key.

Insights, on what you folks do to destroy competition via positioning, USPs, working against competitor's disadvantages, etc? Or do you just try and jv with everyone and their brother, like the IM gang does? Me, I like doing much of my stuff myself, to a passionate, trusting house list that is long-term loyal to me... it's better ethics, and results, that way - for everyone.... what works for you?

To success,

Ken

p.s. Anyone else read Gitomer's great column last week entitled
"Dancing with the competition? Watch your step". He's the world's top sales trainer, and his column was great -- and flies in the face of a lot of what I've seen in the IM crowd, which is "try and work with everyone", which basically means a lot of cross-lead sharing and list leaks, and non-credited aff cookie sales, which is deadly to business.
I like to "kill my competition with competency" from my end of it, and let their businesses rot on the vine, while I make millions. 'tis great fun. I'm a ruthless, methodical competitor in the marketplace. I got the competition value from my undergrad days at UCLA, and fine tuned it til Sun Tzu and Napoleon would be proud. I'm a fan of military strategy, and employ it in the marketplace regularly, for victory.