This Here Web Aint Big Enough For Both Of Us! Can You Corner Web Market Share With Negative Action

If you're a fan of Western movies I'm sure you've heard mostof the title line before; just replace "Web" with "town."That line of dialog is offered right before the two cowboysgo outside and have a deadly gun duel. Wind blowntumbleweeds and shades of the OK Corral as a backdrop!

Nevertheless, can mean spirited politics help you corral alittle corner of the Web? Can you put up no trespassingsigns on what you've deemed to call your own?

Most progressive Net businesses grab market share by theirgood business practices and excellent customer service.There's more than a few of those that come to mind. Thereare others - less enlightened - that use negative practicesto maintain their market foothold.

Creative ways to slow down or stop your perceivedcompetitors or opponents are many. They can take the form of misinformation, gossip, poisonous tips, setting up dummyemail accounts to spread rumors, etc, etc

A few of them will work in the short term. Some will be moreeffective than others. Most will stain your personal andbusiness name, when found out! All of them are foolhardy!

Yes, you can raise your hand to the sky and block the sun;yet and still, it's not an accurate description of what'shappening. When the mighty Mississippi river wants to changecourse, how can it be stopped? When the Net wants to grow,expand and mutate, how are you going to tame it to yourpetty designs?

Entire countries have bent to the will of the Web! Here's anexample: Long-standing phone monopolies in Central Americancountries used political pressure to stop their citizensfrom making Internet phone calls, to no avail! Though "special legislation" was passed, there was such ahuge outcry from the rest of the Net, they relented! Let the Net be the Net, is the call of wisdom.

Historically speaking, the Web is an infant. It willcontinue to grow and expand, networking even the most remoteoutpost or village! Powerful and speedy microchips will giveus the ability to reach out to other people and cultures.Language barriers will be eliminated with real-time, two waytranslation. Stone Age villages are going to join the modernworld in one fantastic step!

The swift technological change and the accelerated rate ofdeployment promise a bumpy ride, to say the least!All we can do is grab the beast by the tail and hang on;uncertain as to where it leads and what it will look like!

Those are just a few of the things awaiting us, in the not-too-distant future. I'm sure there are many more in store;not imagined, unseen and unexpected. The only two constantfactors are: growth and change! In its tender years, the Nethas grown and mutated in ways barely imagined a decade ago.

If I've waxed too fantastically in the preceding paragraphs,I do apologize! The point is to explain the utter futilityof arresting or trapping a corner of the Web! By its verynature it's the agent of revolutionary change and growth;never to be proclaimed as your self-appointed kingdom! It won't work!

All Internet Marketers should consider the preceding whenmaking policy decisions that deal with perceivedcompetitors. Notice my usage of the word "perceived." Just because an upstart business wants some of the turf youformerly called your own, is no reason to engage inattrition and trench warfare.

These are much better options:

(a) Find weak areas in your competitor's business. Not somuch for the purpose of exploiting them, but to see if youcan supply some of their needs. No matter what thecopywriters say, all businesses have strong and weak areas.

(b) Look for product lines that are complementary and formlinking relationships. The nature and placement of the link will insure mutualbenefit from the agreement.

(c) When provoked by some of the negative practices of other- less progressive - competitors, do what you must to upholdyour reputation. If it's something trivial and small, turnthe other cheek and seek the high road; not from altruismbut to save your time, energy and attention for moreproductive endeavors. Pick your battles on principle and only when all other avenues are exhausted.

When all things are considered, the best use of your time inmaintaining market share should be spent in finding newresources and partners. Likewise, implementing new contentdelivery technology will prove very effective. By all means,every possible effort should be made to convert competitorsinto friends and partners.

The alternative is so unsavory:

While the Web continues its relentless gallop, leaving bothyou and your sparring partner in the dust; will you evenrecognize why you went into battle, in the first place?

About the Author:

Francisco Aloy is the creator of The Newbie Business Guide.For more resources on website building, visit Mr. Aloy's website and look at our section on SiteBuilIt integrated hosting.http://www.newbie-business-guide.com/website_building.html