Copycats and how to deal with the pesky creatures 

On various occasions, I get a call for help from someone who has discovered that another person has started to copy their own content. And here is what I advise when faced with this upsetting situation.

Firstly, whilst incredibly frustrating, don’t fall into the trap of becoming so consumed with this person that you take your eye off your own business.  This will be giving her a wholly unfair advantage if you start to let things slip at your end because you are so enraged and obsessed with what they are doing.  You will be walking straight into their trap.  Acknowledge what they are up to and then ….. ignore them!

Yes, easier said than done I know but if you don’t, the situation will eat away at you and cause you no end of stress and sleepless nights.

If they are directly copying work that you have copyrighted or are using your trade name etc, you can go through the legal channels to get them to stop.  However, if they are just taking your ideas and using for their own business, there is nothing you can do to stop them.  And to be perfectly honest, how original are your ideas?  There is rarely a new idea out there these days.  Everything tends to be a variation of something that has been done before.

Focus on YOUR business and YOUR customers

What you need to be doing is focusing on YOUR business and YOUR customers.

If this other person has to copy your ideas, they are going to seriously struggle in the long term when the harsh realities of running a business kick in.  If they are so short of their own ideas and have no imagination, they will just be a poor imitation of you.

And there is only one you.  And that is the one everyone loves.  They are NOT you and never can be.  Your work has your personality and vibrancy injected into it.  This other person cannot physically have this.  Some people may prefer their style of working and some will prefer yours.  That’s life!

Keep in contact with your own customers.  Keep talking to them, finding out what they love and what they would like to see more of.  Keep building those relationships so if your customers see her work, they will still come back to you.

Don’t waste any more of your energy on this person.  Use all your energy for continuing to focus on building your own fabulous business.

And at the end of the day, be flattered.  People are obviously sitting up, taking notice and talking about you or otherwise you wouldn’t have attracted this attention.