Your Competitors Are Getting More Attention — Here’s How to Catch Up
Your competitors are probably not winning attention because they have better logos. They are winning because buyers understand them faster.
When a competitor seems to be everywhere—at events, in client conversations, on LinkedIn, in tender discussions, or even in your target buyer’s office—it can feel like they have a much bigger marketing budget. This article explains how Australian businesses can catch up without copying competitors. We’ll look at positioning, event presence, sales follow-up, client retention, staff advocacy, and practical branded items that help you get noticed.
Why are competitors getting more attention?
Competitors attract more attention when their message is easy to repeat. If a buyer can sum up what they do in one sentence but finds your offer hard to explain, your competitor has the edge.
Common reasons competitors pull ahead include:
The aim isn’t to be the loudest. It’s to be the easiest to remember.
What should you fix first?
Begin by focusing on the moments when buyers are already comparing you to others. These situations often matter more than general advertising. Focus on:
- First email response.
- Sales proposal.
- Trade show or event presence.
- Staff’s appearance at client-facing moments.
- Follow-up after meetings.
- Onboarding or welcome pack.
- Your referral process.
How do you catch up without copying competitors?
Copying a competitor’s campaign often makes your brand seem less original. Instead, look for the actions that make them successful.
The better question is: what can your business become known for that is useful, specific, and credible? For example, a construction supplier might become known for practical site-readiness. A recruitment firm might become known for fast hiring checklists. A university supplier might become known for orientation kits that students actually use. A professional services firm might become known for short, useful decision guides.
How can merch help without becoming the whole strategy?
Custom-branded products are most effective when they support a message that already resonates. They shouldn’t be the only focus of your campaign.
Bulk ordering can help when a business needs a consistent presentation across teams, branches, or events. Buying in larger quantities can reduce the per-unit cost and keep the campaign visually aligned.
What account-manager experience applies here?
Charles Liu’s experience is helpful for businesses that want more attention but have budget limits. He appreciates clients who share their budgets and explain how they’ll use the products, as this helps him make better recommendations and secure better pricing. He also knows how to handle branding and tight deadlines.
That is practical advice for any competitive campaign. A vague brief, such as “we need something impressive”, is hard to act on. A stronger brief says:
- “We are exhibiting at a Melbourne industry expo in six weeks.”
- “We need to attract procurement managers.”
- “Our competitors are using premium notebooks and coffee vouchers.”
- “We want something useful under a set per-unit budget.”
- “The item must fit inside a conference tote.”
Shealeigh Keeney’s experience also fits this topic. She enjoys understanding what clients are trying to achieve and turning ideas into something meaningful for their brand. She also notes that unclear expectations or sudden last-minute changes make the process harder. For businesses trying to catch up quickly, clarity is a competitive advantage. The clearer the brief is, the more room there is for creative recommendations.
How can you regain attention at events?
Events are one of the easiest places to see if your competitors are ahead. If their booth is busier, watch what they’re doing, but don’t just copy them.
Look for:
- Is their message clearer?
- Are staff standing and speaking to attendees?
- Do they have a simple activity?
- Are their giveaways visible and useful?
- Is their follow-up offer obvious?
- Are they collecting leads properly?
Then, create your own approach based on what your business does best.
In events like these, our account manager, Ariane Milarpez, with over 17 years of combined industry experience, emphasises the importance of designing an interactive booth and giving out merch that aligns with the event.
What we advise
To catch up with competitors, don’t copy their flashiest idea. Instead, make your message clearer, improve the buyer touchpoints you already have, and use practical campaign items to help people remember and follow up. Charles Liu, the owner of Cubic Promote, always tells us that the business that wins attention is usually the one that buyers can understand, remember, and act on the fastest. Feel free to contact us for custom branding options, a quote, or to set up a meeting with our experts.
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