Let’s get something out of the way right up front: No, we’re not suggesting you copy another company’s logo, website, or clever tagline. We’re not going to tell you to poach their employees or their customers. We haven’t been at the top of our game for almost 35 years by copying others, and we’d never recommend that approach to anyone else. Originality is everything in marketing!
However, if you’re not paying attention to what your competitors are doing well, then you’re ignoring one of your best free marketing resources.
Recognizing what others are doing well also means that you know it when you see it. You’re not left scratching your head about why people use them—you’re always thinking about it, and then you’re challenging yourself to do even better.
Think of it this way: Your competitors have already spent time and money experimenting. They’ve launched campaigns that flopped. They’ve redesigned websites. They’ve tried promotions. Some worked. Some didn’t.
You don’t need to repeat every experiment. You just need to notice the results.
Here are four things you should be stealing from your competitors:
- Steal Their Bad Reviews. Yes, you read that right. Those five-star raves might indicate a few things they’re doing right, but you’ll get more out of the harshest criticisms. Because then, instead of copying their great ideas, you’re identifying the gaps—and filling them. Give customers everything they want that they can’t get there.
- Steal Their FAQs. Businesses often use help pages to answer questions that customers raise a lot. By browsing these, you’ll better understand where confusion enters the picture during their customer experience. Can you provide better clarity around those points of friction? Here’s an example: If they’re always asking about shipping timelines, be sure you’re extremely clear about yours so that customers never have to ask.
- Steal Their Speed. Reach out to your competitor through email. Call customer service. Fill out their contact form. See how long it takes to get a response. Then, challenge yourself to be faster. It’s highly likely that customers will go with the business that prioritizes their outreach and gets back to them first.
- Steal Their Mistakes. Every business has blind spots—even yours. The trick is that it’s usually much easier to spot someone else’s. Spend a few minutes browsing a competitor’s website, scrolling through their social media, or visiting their storefront. Ask yourself: What’s missing? What’s confusing? What would I do differently? Chances are, you’ll notice gaps they’ve overlooked. Then turn those observations inward. Sometimes the smartest thing you can “steal” isn’t a great idea—it’s a lesson learned before they do.
At the end of the day, your competitors will be the ones looking at you. This rhythm is healthy. It keeps everyone doing their best work and moving the field forward. And with Mad 4 Marketing on your side, you’re certain to always stay one smart move ahead.