Comments on: How to Learn From Your Competition (and Steal All Their Best Ideas)

By: Chris Aitken

Chris Aitken — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:31:47 +0000

Hi Glenn — stumbled across this (older) post on the DIYthemes site and checked out your plugin. Looks like it hasn’t been updated for WordPress 3.3 and breaks? Are you still doing development and support for the product?

Thanks, Chris

By: Lisa Angelettie

Lisa Angelettie — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 00:08:18 +0000

I myself like the option of having choices. For example, I had difficulty installing one of the bars due to my cache plugin and so I tried the other. Love both bars actually and I always appreciate a cool & free plugin.

By: ron chordigian

ron chordigian — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 19:09:09 +0000

Great info, if you dont need to reinvent the wheel, why do so? If you want to be successful, do what successful people do…

By: Elli

Elli — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:53:54 +0000

Dangit — Viper Bar doesn’t work with MadMimi.

Know of anything that does?

By: John M.

John M. — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 09:16:44 +0000

Thanks for the article and I could not agree more with your strategy of look at what your competition is doing that works well for them and improve upon it. I worked for a couple of large companies that designed Electronic products “I will not name them since 1. I don’t work for them any longer and 2. Everyone knows this company.” Let just say they makes a product that most people carry everyday now. 🙂 Anyway when I worked for them in development one they use to do what is called “Competitive Analyses” which basically means they go out and buy the competitions products and see how good or bad it was compared to there own products. So your strategy does have merit for sure since I know many companies still do this today.

I do have a few questions for you since I never did this kind of work in terms of websites and the internet.
1. How do you start on doing your Competitive Analyzes? I know you should do this even before you start your “Website business” or if you already have one you need to do it.
2. Do you use certain tools? If so which ones and is there cost involved? I know trying to find stuff for free is not easy I do know you can look up some things but whats is the best approach these days at finding and examining your competition?
3. Also what the best way to research your market? After all if the market is saturated with lots of websites offering the same or similar products what are your chances of getting a serious income of at least 2 to 5k a month.

Thanks again for the article,
John M.

By: Joshua

Joshua — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 19:23:01 +0000

Another excellent post, Derek.

Your bottom line puts it all into perspective: “Find out what works and do something similar, but better. Find out what doesn’t work and avoid it.”

Regarding Viper Bar vs. Hello Bar… I think Viper is wonderful (and not even close to merely a copy of Hello). I’ve personally been a bit frustrated with the current limitations of the Hello Bar and am excited to see other options explored.

Regarding competition… This is a topic widely debated in my market (the pet sitting industry). Some pet sitters respect, appreciate and form various partnerships with their competitors, while others avoid them at all costs (usually comes down to fear of stealing clients, etc).

This article is a great angle, Derek, to bring to the table.

Thanks.

By: Glen Allsopp

Glen Allsopp — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 10:26:31 +0000

In reply to Ioan Nicut. Ioan, It works with MailChimp now :)

By: Glen Allsopp

Glen Allsopp — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 10:25:42 +0000

In reply to Rob @ Atlanta Real Estate.

They’ve just announced they’re working on a WordPress plugin.

So, already in motion 🙂

By: Peter Jones

Peter Jones — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 09:58:26 +0000

Just beginning and website is not up yet but this was really useful help so thank you

By: Ioan Nicut

Ioan Nicut — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 07:36:52 +0000

@Glen,

Wondering if you will make the bar working with Mailchimp as well…
What do you think?

@Derek I can use the Hello bar to lead the people to a sales page and that is not provided by the viperbar or?

Guys, I wish you all the best,

ps. Derek You Rock! 🙂

Ioan