---
title: 9 Strategy Ideas to Deal with Low-Priced, Part-Time Competitors
description: 9 Strategy Ideas to Deal with Low-Priced, Part-Time Competitors
---

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# [9 Strategy Ideas to Deal with Low-Priced, Part-Time Competitors](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/9-strategy-ideas-to-deal-with-a-low-price-part-time-competitor)

 Written by [Mike Brown](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/author/mike-brown) | Jul 6, 2011 9:50:07 AM

On Twitter recently, a** full-time freelancer complained** about a [part-time freelancer, who also has a full-time job, using a strategy of undercutting the market with overly low-priced proposals for creative projects](http://www.njcreatives.org/membership/120-how-much-should-i-charge.html). She complained that **part-time competitors' pricing strategies were unfairly bringing down** client perceptions of **market prices**.

**<https://www.brainzooming.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Low-Priced-Competitor-3.jpg>In any business, competitors in related markets can enter "your" space** as an add-on strategy to what they do. Since what you do isn't a core market for them, they're often **operating from different cost structures and commitments to the market**. They **may **be quite willing to **implement low-priced strategies to grab market share **at the expense of traditional competitors.

Back in my corporate position in [business-to-business transportation](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Less_than_truckload_shipping), we endured more than a decade of UPS and FedEx, much larger competitors in adjacent markets, serving a large, profitable portion of our market  through implementing new pricing strategies. Our company, tied down by various real and perceived roadblocks, never delivered a shot across the bow to let UPS and FedEx know they weren't welcome in our market. Ironically, both competitors eventually entered the market using a more traditional strategy with some successes, but many challenges.

#### 9 Strategy Ideas You Could Try

**If part-time competitors are wreaking havoc **in your market with low-priced products and services, here are **9 strategy ideas to protect your overall competitive position and make it harder for them to compete:**

**1. **Identify **where you can be a part-time player**, employing a strategy to** disrupt that market **and grow your business.

**2. **Dramatically** change your processes and cost structure to compete** at a lower price.

**3.** Since your core market is your full-time focus, **compete through** some combination of greater **responsiveness**, sharper **focus**,** being smarter** about what you do, offering better **quality**, and/or providing better **overall value**.

**4. **Offer** more option**s as a way to showcase your specialization.

**5.** Provide **questions **a potential customer should ask and get answered** to ensure a low priced part-timer is **a **legitimate **provider.

**6. Offer **an** introductory promotional price** in exchange for a longer-term commitment.

**7.** Develop** other revenue streams **which subsidize your primary market.

**8. Buy and re-sell the part timer's service** to more price-sensitive customers.

**9. Offer a satisfaction guarantee on the part-time competitor's work**. If a customer isn't happy with the part-timers work, offer a discount to "fix" it.

#### What Are Your Strategy Ideas?

Are you** facing low-priced, part-time competitors**? **What strategy ideas  are working **or not working for you** in dealing with them?** *[- Mike Brown](https://www.brainzooming.com/about-brainzooming/mike-brown/)*

* *

***The Brainzooming Group****** helps make smart organizations more successful by rapidly expanding their strategic options and creating innovative plans they can efficiently implement. Email us at [info@brainzooming.com](mailto:info@brainzooming.com) ******or call us at 816-509-5320 to see how we can help you devise a successful innovation strategy for your organization.***

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