How Businesses Build Competitive Strategies

Building a competitive strategy is about how companies outperform their competitors in generating profits by satisfying the same consumer needs and wants.

There are many businesses around us. Some target the same market. They compete directly in satisfying consumer needs and wants. And, their products replace each other. So, when consumers do not like the product of a company, they will switch to a competitor’s product.

Now, let’s say, you are running a business.

Being successful in the market requires an effective competitive strategy to win the competition. When successful, your company generates above-average profitability by gaining a competitive advantage.

However, due to dynamic competition and market demand, competitive advantage may last only temporary. Competitors may develop superior competitive strategies and eventually outperform your company.

For this reason, your company should adapt the strategy. Thus, it remains relevant and effective in dealing with the changing business environment. And, if your company is able to maintain a superior position over time, that is what we call sustainable competitive advantage.

How does your business successfully compete and gain a competitive advantage? Michael Porter provides a basic framework, known as generic strategy. It tells us how companies compete, in what dimensions.

Then, your …

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How Does Business Work

The way a business works is basically adding value. They do this by processing inputs into higher-value outputs. Assume, the business produces goods and you are the owner.

Starting a business

At first, you decide what to produce. You then organize and make decisions about resources, including how to pool and organize them. Some you may have to buy such as raw materials. Others you may be able to rent such as machinery and buildings. To do it all, you need capital.

Your initial capital may come from your personal pocket or contributions from your family or friends. Or, you apply for a loan or raise funds from other external sources such as crowdfunding. For external sources, you should create a business plan as a way to convince fund providers to be willing to put their money into your business.

You also design how the business operates. For example, you have to determine what business structure you run, whether it is a sole proprietorship, partnership or limited company. You also organize operational activities into various business functions such as human resources, operations, marketing and finance.

Operating a business

Once operational, your business converts inputs into outputs. We call this transformation …

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Characteristics of Entrepreneurship We Should Have

Successful entrepreneurship often exhibits certain characteristics. They are attributes, features, traits in entrepreneurs and shape their attitudes and actions in realizing innovative ideas, managing operations and growing the business.

These characteristics are a success factor when starting a business. Business success does not only depend on how much capital we have, but our quality to run and build it. Some characters may have stood out in us and others we may need to hone through experience.

What are the list of characteristics of entrepreneurship? Let’s dig one by one.

Innovation

Innovation requires creativity, curiosity, open-mindedness and not complacency. Entrepreneurs often have an out of the box approach to problem solving, thanks to their experience and passion for continuous learning.

Problems often arise because our resources are limited. But, that doesn’t stop us. It actually motivates us to look for ways to get the best out of the resources we have.

We should see problems as business opportunities by offering solutions. We are able to identify gaps in consumer demands or needs, which existing products have not met. We consistently innovate to generate new ideas and improve what already exists. And innovation makes us better prepared for changes in demand and …

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What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Asset-Led Marketing

Asset-led marketing has both advantages and disadvantages. Although more focus on internal strengths to satisfy consumer needs and wants is relatively inexpensive, core competencies are not always relevant to market demands. Dynamic market environment. Tastes and consumers can change from time to time. Likewise, competition is also dynamic. Such factors can make the competitive advantage built through past core competencies no longer sustainable.

Before discussing the advantages and disadvantages of asset-led marketing, let’s briefly review what it is?

What is asset-led marketing

Asset-led marketing is a marketing approach in which your company focuses on internal strengths to meet customer needs. Internal strength comes from the resources and capabilities your company has. Both form core competencies if they are valuable for creating value, rare, expensive to imitate and non-substitutable.

Then, your company utilizes these core competencies to produce products. For example, your company leverages a strong reputation and brand image to develop and market new products around existing products.

This approach does not completely ignore consumer tastes or preferences. But, your company is more based on internal strength to produce innovative products. Your company bases its strategy on existing strengths and assets instead of spending big bucks to properly identify consumer …

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The Influence Of Social Media In Advancing The Banking Industry

Talk of banking without the social network (social media) and you have an ordinary administrative building, bound to its four walls.

Speaking of social media, we aren’t just talking about platforms where people spend time chatting with friends or loved ones but a platform where information can be easily communicated.

Social networks have given the commercial world a handle to lay hold on in maximizing their input for a better result. You can imagine the huge amount of customers banks realize every year owing to the power of social media.

Collected Reviews will help you understand better, show the social media has affected the banking world. Reviews about banks will as well give you insight into the privileges other customers are enjoying to help you make the right choice of bank to work with.

Let’s have a quick rundown on the positive influence of social networks on bank advancement;

  • Bigger audience
  • Better platform for gathering reviews
  • Versatility
  • Fast and reliable

Bigger Audience, More Customers

We have over 7 billion people on the earth right now with about 40% of the entire population having access to at least, one social media platform. We’ll, you can imagine the figures in your head …

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Benefits of Creating Value for Customers

Making more profit and money is the main benefit of creating value for customers. Businesses make a profit by satisfying customer needs and wants through their products by adding value. They process inputs into higher value outputs.

What is value creation to customers?

Creating value means the business adds value to the inputs used. How much value is added? It is equal to the difference between the selling price of the product and the input costs.

Is the company successful in creating value? We can see it from whether customers are willing to pay a higher price than the input costs used to make goods or provide services.

And, creating value is the reason why business exists. Without it, they will not be able to survive because they bear the loss. Consumers do not want to buy if the product has no value to satisfy their needs and wants.

Take the tire manufacturer as an example. They buy raw materials such as rubber latex to be converted into final goods. To do so, they need locations for factories, machines to process inputs and labor to operate machines and factories. Then, after the tires are finished, they sell them to consumers. …

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What are core and supporting business functions

For management, knowing which core and support business functions are important to prioritize decision making and resource allocation. For stakeholders, such as stock investors, it also helps sharpen their insight in analyzing company performance.

Small companies might divide their business functions into four departments: operations, marketing, human resources, and finance; where operations are core business functions.

In some companies, their organizational structure may be more complex and consists not only of these four departments, but is further broken down into several. Indeed, operations remain their core function, but they may categorize some departments into core functions because they are strategic, even if they do not generate revenue.

Examples of core business functions

A core business function refers to a company’s revenue-generating activities. It usually refers to an operating function, related to producing goods or providing services. It is the main activity of the company.

In some other companies, core functions may also include secondary, but strategic activities in support of core functions. For example, a company with a highly customized product might consider production and customer service functions as core functions. Finance, human resources and marketing functions can also be considered as core business functions because without them the company …

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Qualities of a Successful Entrepreneur

Starting and running a business is not an easy task. Entrepreneurial qualities define and help answer why one entrepreneur fails and quits while others bounce back and succeed in achieving what they aspire to.

Some people may be proficient and become professionals however, they do not have the qualities to become a successful entrepreneur. So, not everyone has the qualities required for success. If everyone had it, surely everyone would be a successful entrepreneur and of course no one would be subordinate.

Personal qualities affect the success of entrepreneurs. It is usually inherent in an entrepreneur, which is difficult to imitate.

And, entrepreneurship is considered as an art, where each entrepreneur has a different perspective and way of how to be successful. It requires a creative mindset, combined with the ability to create something innovative.

What are the personal qualities of a successful entrepreneur? Let’s break it down one by one. Some you may already have, others you may need to sharpen or develop.

Creative thinking

When you want to be a successful entrepreneur, it requires you to be a creative thinker. It’s not only about what you have to offer, but also about other aspects of the business. For …

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Why You Should Make Twitter Areas Part Of Your Business Approach

Audio content material is all of the rage at the present time.

From podcasting to Clubhouse, many companies are making it part of their content material strategy. Despite the fact, they aren’t the most effective options for those looking to become part of the audio area.

what’s Twitter spaces?

Twitter areas is a place for clients to host rooms where audio system can hang audio conversations. Listeners are capable of tune in and can additionally request to communicate, enabling them to step onto the digital stage to share their techniques and ask questions. And since there’s no video element to Twitter spaces, you don’t ought to be concerned about being digicam-capable.

Beta trying out for this feature begun in November 2020. All over this checking out part, all clients had entry to pay attention and speak within a space, besides the fact that children handiest a small group become given entry to hosting capabilities. It wasn’t except may additionally 2021 that hosting areas grew to become an choice for all Twitter users that had as a minimum 600 followers. Considering that then, many company owners are giving areas a go and finding out how it matches into their usual content …

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Zodiac who is successful in running a business, are you one of them?

Zodiac is said to be able to predict many things. Believe it or not, however, many associate personality and zodiac signs, in life.

Likewise about careers and careers, it turns out, there are a number of zodiac signs who can gain success when they are in business. Curious about anything? Read more below.

1. Taurus

While Taurus has a visionary outlook. He is able to see a foresight, predict well and is good at planning. His figure is also responsible, accompanied by great curiosity. No wonder why Taurus would be so good at doing business.

2. Virgo

Virgos are ambitious people. He is a hard worker and will try his best in running his business. Virgo also has a meticulous and detailed character, so he is very careful in carrying out his business.

3. Leo

Leos have a natural talent for doing business. His figure who is able to make everyone feel comfortable allows Leo to expand and maintain good connections. He is also a loyal figure, so he also enters into a person who has minimal conflict.

4. Libra

Libra is someone who never gives up. Even though they have experienced various failures, Libra will rise and learn from …

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