Collaboration vs. Competition: Knowing When to Join Forces
Not Every Competitor Is Really a Competitor
When you’re building your business, it’s easy to look around your space and think, “They’re doing what I’m doing… that means we’re competing.”
But here’s the truth: many of the people you think of as competitors are actually potential collaborators. You might be serving the same audience, but in different ways, with different strengths, or at different stages of the journey.
And sometimes, teaming up with them can create more value for everyone than trying to fight for the same slice of the pie.
When It’s Competition
Competition is natural, and sometimes it’s healthy. You’re competing when:
Your offers are nearly identical.
You’re targeting the same customer with the same promise.
Buying from you directly replaces buying from them.
In these cases, collaboration rarely works. That’s where you double down on what makes you unique and focus on differentiating yourself.
When It’s Collaboration
Collaboration shines when:
You’re solving different problems for the same audience. (Ex: A branding coach teaming with a copywriter.)
You’re serving different levels of the journey. (Ex: A beginner-focused course creator collaborating with someone who teaches advanced mastery.)
You’re offering different formats. (Ex: A live-coaching program plus someone else’s self-paced digital course.)
Instead of competing for the same dollars, you’re building a bigger pie together.
Why Collaboration Wins
When done right, collaboration can:
Expand your reach to an already-warm audience.
Boost your credibility by being associated with trusted peers.
Deliver more holistic solutions for your people, things they’d have to piece together otherwise.
It’s not about splitting your wins; it’s about multiplying them.
The Litmus Test
Before you reach out to collaborate, ask yourself:
Does this person share my values and care about the same outcomes?
Would combining our strengths give our audiences more value than either of us could alone?
Can we work together without confusing or undercutting each other’s core offers?
If the answer is yes, it’s probably a collaboration. If not, stay friendly, but keep building your own lane.
Final Thought
You don’t have to go head-to-head with everyone in your niche. Sometimes the smartest move isn’t to compete, but to collaborate. Because when you align with the right people, you’re not just growing your business, you’re creating a bigger, better space for your entire audience.
