Competition
From the book “Zero to one” : The concept of “Disruption” was coined to describe threats to incumbent companies, so startups’ obsession with disruption means they see themselves through older firms’ eyes. If you think of yourself as an insurgent battling dark forces, it’s easy to become unduly fixated on the obstacles in your path. But if you truly want to make something new, the act of creation is far more important than the old industries that might not like what you create. As you craft a plan to expand to adjacent markets, don’t disrupt: avoid competition as much as possible.
The most valuable business of the coming decades will be built by entrepreneurs who seek to empower people rather than try to make them obsolete.
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but for collaboration
The notes herein are in no way intended to prove that el RED is better than the enormous platforms listed . It is merely to demonstrate the attempt in a Blue Ocean strategy to in fact steer clear & away in value proposition to these giants. In some features, we may in fact collaborate with the giants to make our platform perform better.
 (As Listed By Them) |
 |
 Jobs |
 Entrepreneurs, students, businesses |
| Professional Profile |
Personalities. Eq, not just Iq.To be built and promoted as a replacement of a Business / Calling / Identity card |
| Endorsements and testimonials |
Clear ahead in value on Ratings & Reviews |
| Important business connections |
Make the most of all connections / weak links. Connect meaningfully |
| Reach out to like minded people |
Reach out to those that you need “now” |
| Distracting Feed |
Self Interest feed |
Facebook groups & Linkedin groups are often filled only with solicitation posts 🤷🏻
Why an alternative to LinkedIn ?
At Linkedin,
- Anyone can send a message
- Mostly for jobs / professionals
- E directory
- Inability to find collaboration / partner
- Feed is annoying rather then addictive
- Intrusive by sharing who is checking profile
elRED is about partnering, and not just working. It’s about collaborating, not taking up a job– we are a collaboration tool across networks, groups, communities etc.
Challenge
A. It could start offering templates for users to personalize their profiles.
B. Just may offer better need / collaboration tools for “My Network”
Opportunity
A. It is unlikely to be a preferred chat platform.
B. It is unlikely to be a dynamic needs platform.
C. It is unlikely to be the go to platform for collaboration
D. As most LinkedIn users have many in their network which have no use, weeding off the noise for LinkedIn will be very difficult, if at all.
E. They don’t focus on networks like el RED is. Infact, LinkedIn groups are not efficient.
Q. Many have their profiles on Linkedin already. Why would they set up a “personality” on elRED ?
- As the primary action of elRED is “to find” by stating needs.
- Connection is a by-product and users may want to set their ideal personalities for the same.
- LinkedIn profile questions and elRED personality setup are very different and will address a different need of the user.
- elRED attention is not on the resume but on the real person and on students, small business, creative individuals…mostly non professionals.
- Templates offered on elRED create Personalities and thus individual identities.
- User personalities would show upfront recognised network / communities, user is part off. elRED will also showcase the leadership roles in any of these networks. Humans love to show off within their communities and with the leadership brandishing their roles within the community, the likelihood of their effort to make sure the platform is used extensively by the community will be much higher.
- elRED would also list ‘Awards / Honors’ received from the platform and or other users listed, upfront to allow the users to be recognised for their achievements.
 | |
| Shop front | Collaboration |
| Have to self promote | Platform promotes |
| Retail tool / Online commerce | Find / Collaboration Tool |
| Find / Collaboration Tool | USP is Find / Search |
| Costs money | Free |
Other Community / Network platforms
Slack: Primarily used as a Team collaboration tool with a heavy focus on messaging. el RED is focused on collaboration in and via networks.
Circle: Is primarily a platform for those that manage their communities. Conversation , discussion place and nothing in collaboration.
Kutumbh: Regional platform, honestly did not understand its value proposition
Reddit: Anonymous , discussion board. el RED is pretty much the opposite with being authentic real identity and less discussion, more efficient.
Final thoughts on competition
is all about intra & inter community, networking & collaboration which we believe is a Blue Ocean strategy from most competition.
Amazon challenged offline business, shopify created blue ocean to amazon.
Instagram challenged Facebook and Snapchat, Tik Tok has since created blue ocean to Instagram.