One of the biggest challenges small data centers face is perception – in particular, the perception by many prospects that bigger is better.
Because perception, in many ways, is reality, there’s only so much you can do to change that perception. Or is there?
That’s the beauty of an Inbound, buyer persona-centric strategy: it favors innovative companies with more brains than oversized wallets.
The Battle of the Smaller Data Centers vs. the National Competition
The question asked:
Based on a relatively small physical size compared to “big box” data centers, many decision-makers are unwilling to consider our solutions, even though we possess capabilities and capacities well beyond what the larger companies can provide.
How do we get decision-makers to buy into the “big fish in a small pond” mentality and attention to detail that our growing roster of completely satisfied customers currently enjoys? This is a very common question that we hear.
Own Your Buyer Personas
This isn’t just a competitive intelligence issue. It’s more a matter of understanding your buyer personas better than anyone else on the planet – and executing a plan based on that.
(Note: A buyer persona is a semi-fictional representation of one of your ideal clients based on research and educated speculation.)
Once you understand who the two, three, four, or five different people are that you are trying to reach, look at who else is trying to get in front of them.
How to Test and Evaluate Your “Big Box” Data Center Competitors
And do this basic test on your competitors:
When you visit your competitors’ website home pages, are they talking about themselves? Are they really egotistical, really salesy, and self-promotional?
Or are your competitors providing really helpful, educational thought leadership?
Are they trying to be perceived more as corporate, sterile, “big box” kinds of salespeople?
Or are they trying to be seen as professors, advisors, or subject matter experts? That mindset can make an enormous difference when trying to compete effectively – and allow you to be the big fish in the small pond.
Doing this allows you to position your smaller data center in a way that the “big box” data centers are not.
What have you done to show your prospective clients that bigger isn’t always better? Share your approach in the Comments box below.
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