It is very important that you know what your competition is doing at all times.  This is something that is critical to the success of your business.  I have heard some people say, "We're only concerned with what we're doing.  We don't worry about the competition."  I'm here to tell you that thinking in that way can kill a business enterprise... fast.   No one in your business should ever utter those words.  Here is a list of 4 good reasons you should keep up with "the other guys."

​1.  Being Different Is How You Can Stand Out In A Crowd, Win Fans, And Grow Exponentially

There is no question that the best way to stand out in a crowded field is to be "different."  You must have something that you do that is very unique from everyone else.  Once you identify something that you can do that makes you special, make sure that you do that thing extremely well.  Doing something unique and wonderful will make others talk about and recommend your business to others.  That is how you build a following that will be loyal to your brand.  Knowing what your competition is doing will allow you to find opportunities to turn clients into fans.

​2.  If You're Doing Something Unique and Great Today, Your Competition May Have Started Doing It Too!

After you find the thing that makes you unique in the marketplace, you still have to monitor your competition because yes, they do steal your good ideas.  I like to use the example of Chic-Fil-A.  The company was really the first fast food restaurant to bring high customer service to the industry.  Their reputation for service is really legendary.  They have built a very loyal fan base of customers and stand way above their competition.   One of their signature customer service points is that they always say "my pleasure" after serving a customer.  Well, lo and behold, after a while I started to hear the familiar "my pleasure" words uttered by another fast food restaurant's employees.  Wow.  They stole their signature saying.  Well, after a while, saying "my pleasure" will no longer be unique.  So how will they stand out in the crowd when other companies start to steal their great ideas?  Well, the only way you can stay ahead of the competition is to know what they are doing.  Always, always, always, monitor them to see if they have taken your great ideas and then look for new ways to be unique.

3.  Learn From The Mistakes Of Your Competition 

Keeping up with what your competition is doing may also allow you to learn from any mistakes that they make.  Learning from other people's mistakes is the best way to learn.   If your competitors have newsletters or email lists, subscribe to them so that you can always be in the loop with what they are doing.  You can also go to Google News and set up a news alert for your competitors.  If any news item or press release is posted about them, it will go directly to your inbox.  Keep your eyes and ears open so that you can pick up on any missteps from your competition.

4.  You Can Make Sure Your Products Or Services Are Priced Right For Your Market

Businesses who don't keep up with how much other companies are charging for similar products or services can price themselves right out of business.  Consumers are very savvy these days and routinely  go online to get price comparisons.  If they can find your product or service at a similar quality but at a lower price, you will probably not get their business.  This is why you MUST know how much people are being charged for similar services.  The more intelligence you gather from your competitors the more ammunition you have in your fight for market share.

I sincerely hope that these tips will allow you to see just a few reasons why you should always stay on top of what your competitors are doing in your market.

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The Center For An Urban Future has a new study that provides data on women-owned businesses in each of the nation’s 25 largest cities, including the overall number of women-owned firms, the growth rate for women-owned businesses and male-owned businesses, and average revenues per women-owned business.

The study, which was funded by Capital One, has many interesting findings.  Here are a few:

• Of the nation’s 25 most populous cities, Memphis had the fastest growth in women-owned businesses between 2007 and 2012, the most recent year for which data from the U.S. Economic Census is available. The number of women-owned businesses in Memphis increased by 116 percent.

• Fort Worth had the second highest five-year growth rate, with women-owned firms growing by 78 percent, followed by Atlanta (65 percent), Houston (62 percent) and Dallas (58 percent).

• Of the 25 largest cities, Dallas ranks first in revenues per women-owned business, with $198,599 in average sales. San Antonio was second, with $191,223 in average sales, followed Fort Worth ($186,435), Houston ($181,122), and San Francisco ($175,766).

On Monday March 21, 2016, the Professional & Technology Diversity Career Fair was held in Atlanta, GA.  The event was located at the Crowne Plaza Perimeter At Ravinia.

Scheduled exhibitors included:

• ALSAC/ St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital 
• COUNTRY Financial 
• FINRA
• National Association of African Americans in Human Resources (NAAAHR)
• National Association of Black Accountants (NABA)
• National Association of Professional Women 
• National Society of Hispanic MBAS
• Urban League of Greater Atlanta 
• NextEra Energy, Inc. 
• Technology Expresso
• WestRock
• and more.
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Here are a few photos we took while attending.

If you or someone you know are looking for a professional job opportunity, you may want to visit their website to learn more about what's available right now.  Visit: http://www.blackcareernetwork.com

You may also find more events to attend on our event calendar.