As a business owner, you’re undoubtedly proud of the hard work and effort you’ve put into your new endeavor. However, if no one knows your company exists, your adventure will be over before it begins. The goal is to get out ahead of your small business competition, priming yourself as the latest expert in your field and ready to attract loyal customers who will stick behind your brand for years to come. If you need some pointers on how to beat the competition for the long haul, here are some ideas to carry you through the small business race, leaving you as the winning champion in your industry.

Before you set yourself up as the expert in your industry, you’re going to need to gather as much research in your field as you can. Satisfying customers and bringing something fresh and innovative to the table is crucial to gain the upper hand against your competitors. If your local community has too many companies offering your product or service already, you could end up forcing your business to bow out simply because you didn’t plan ahead. Therefore, doing your homework is key, ensuring that you can carve your own niche in your field without finding yourself in a full arena of competitors who have been in your area longer, and thereby already collected your customers out from under you.

Once you’ve determined where and how best to serve your potential customers with your product or service, it’s time to put all of your focus into the consumers themselves. As you’re doing your research, check into the feedback that your small business competition is receiving. Consider what customers are either boasting about or complaining about to determine the best approach for winning them over. The most effective way to attract potential customers is to not only reach out to them in a variety of marketing strategies, but to listen to their answers when they do offer feedback. Create an email marketing campaign that checks in regularly with followers, or write blog posts that present your audience with fresh, informative content about your company. However you choose to do it, concentrating your energy on the needs and wants of your customers is vital to keeping them happy and loyal to your brand. Finally, it’s important to note that new businesses have to take a few risks to stand out from the crowd, so encourage yourself to try new opportunities when they arise.

Small business competition can be detrimental to your company if you let it be. However, by incorporating some of these key objectives into your business plan, you can allow the competition to work in your favor.