In a market saturated with similar products and repetitive marketing tactics, businesses often struggle to stand out. At Lai Marketing Agency, we’ve implemented a strategic approach that we call the “What Others Are Doing Wrong” marketing strategy. By identifying and avoiding common mistakes that competitors make, we’ve helped our clients in the hardware industry differentiate themselves and thrive in a competitive market.
The “What Others Are Doing Wrong” Strategy. The core of this strategy is learning from the mistakes of others and turning them into opportunities. In the hardware business, for example, many competitors make errors such as failing to mention prices in their posts and videos. This omission frustrates customers, who then move on to find transparent information elsewhere. By addressing this simple but critical mistake, we’ve enabled our clients to build trust and capture the attention of potential buyers.
The concept of addressing competitors’ mistakes aligns with the philosophy found in Seth Godin’s “Purple Cow,” which emphasises the importance of standing out by doing something different and remarkable. In our case, that “remarkable” action often means correcting what others are doing wrong.
How We Applied This Strategy to the Hardware Business.
One of our hardware clients was struggling to gain visibility in a market full of big names. By applying the “What Others Are Doing Wrong” strategy, we analysed their competitors’ marketing approaches and identified key mistakes, such as lack of pricing transparency and overly generic promotions that didn’t resonate with the audience.
Our solution was to do the exact opposite. Drawing inspiration from Marty Neumeier’s “Zag,” we helped our client implement a marketing strategy that focused on being clear and upfront with their pricing in all social media posts, videos, and advertising campaigns. This seemingly simple change had a powerful impact, as customers began to associate our client with transparency and fairness, distinguishing them from competitors who left consumers guessing.
The Role of Content and Engagement
Beyond pricing, another common mistake in the hardware industry is the failure to engage customers with personalised content. Many competitors focus solely on pushing promotions without offering any real value or education to the customer. We helped our client flip this by integrating interactive, educational content—such as “how-to” tutorials and product comparison guides—into their marketing. This approach was inspired by the principles in “Blue Ocean Strategy” by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne, which encourages businesses to create uncontested market space by doing what competitors aren’t.
By providing content that solved problems and answered questions, our client established themselves as a helpful and knowledgeable resource in the hardware market. This not only helped them capture leads but also fostered customer loyalty and trust, which are key to long-term success.
Capitalising on Mistakes to Drive Growth
Through the “What Others Are Doing Wrong” strategy, our clients have seen significant growth. By correcting common errors, such as hidden pricing and poor customer engagement, we helped our hardware clients differentiate themselves in a crowded marketplace. As a result, they’ve not only retained loyal customers but also attracted new ones who were previously frustrated with competitors’ mistakes.
At Lai Marketing Agency, we believe that recognising and learning from the flaws of others is just as important as developing creative, original strategies. By combining the insights of books like “Purple Cow,” “Zag,” and “Blue Ocean Strategy,” we’ve crafted a marketing approach that delivers real, measurable results for our clients.
In marketing, sometimes the best way to get ahead is to learn from the mistakes others are making. By correcting what others are doing wrong, businesses can gain a competitive edge, build trust, and capture the attention of their target audience. At Lai Marketing Agency, we’ve seen firsthand how this strategy can transform a business, especially in the hardware industry. If you’re ready to stop making the same mistakes as your competitors and start thriving, contact us today!