Copycat Blues

You cruise your Facebook feed and stop short.  THAT is identical to YOUR best seller.  Or you JUST released a pattern for monkey toe ear warmers and BAM, there are two more.  Including a free one.  Or you just released a new color palette and hers is SUPER CLOSE.

What do you do when you feel like someone copied you?  I'd like to walk you through it.

STEP 1:  Get away, far away, from your business social media platforms.

Why?

Nothing makes a customer want to click "unfollow" faster than negativity.  They want sunshine and rainbows and beautiful work.  That's what they followed you for in the first place.  A passive-aggressive vaguebook post is unpleasant.  Blatant calling out is worse.  If you still need to vent, see step 2.

STEP 2:  Find a safe place to vent briefly.

Vent where your customers are NOT.  Some ideas include a private Facebook group of professional contacts/suppliers, a private post to a trusted list on Facebook, or a PM/email to someone you really trust.

STEP 3:  Getting over it.

You can't stay angry.  You can't produce new, beautiful things when you're only thinking about so-and-so the copycat.  So here are some of my personal self-coaching bullet points when I feel copied.

• Imitation is the highest form of flattery.  You're doing really well if someone else just wants to BE you.  
• How original was the idea REALLY?  A pink hat with a white flower . . . Maybe I wasn't the first and definitely not the last.
• Great minds think alike.  It is possible that they saw the same thing that inspired you.  Especially if you're a bit naughty and being VERY inspired by licensed characters. 
• Your loyal customers are not interested in other people's copies of your work.  
• You provide your customers with something special that they do not.  Are you using better materials?  Is your item photographed better?  Do you push yourself to provide superb quality?  Do people do a happy dance when they open your package and find it beautifully wrapped, or showered with fun little surprises?  

STEP 4:  Stay the course.

If the person is copying your best seller or something you're very well known for, don't give it away!  You keep doing you.  And you do it your very best.

STEP 5:  Innovate

Its hard to keep copying someone who keeps coming up with great stuff.  People WILL notice.  So keep coming up with things that are unique to your brand.

Note:  True copycats will usually undercut you on pricing as well.  Don't panic!  You know your price is fair.  They will raise their price or quit. Nobody likes working for free.  See steps 4 and 5.