On Your Terms®

There can be so much pressure to engage with people offering the same professional services that you do online – especially when you’re starting out. I’m here to tell you that “community over competition” is BS. Don’t listen to it. That doesn’t mean you can’t be polite and friendly with other people doing what you do, but at the end of the day, they’re not your clients and they’re never going to be your clients. You only have a finite amount of time and energy to spend professionally, so why waste it on your competition? Taking a step back will be better for you in more ways than one. It can feel counterintuitive so here are my six tips for navigating online communities and social media and an explanation of why each one is the right thing to do.I reached out for questions on this topic, so I also answer a few of those on this episode. I explain how avoiding consuming the work of your competitors will make you feel healthier in the long run and how it’ll lead to you doing better work and I also lay out how you can still be friends with your competition just because you’re not necessarily seeing their Instagram posts any more!In this episode, you'll hear… 03:16 - Engaging with your competition online09:45 - The pitfalls of being a follower14:43 - Dealing with analysis paralysis17:46 - Standing out from the competition21:50 - Outsourcing market research24:16 - Connecting with your ideal clients25:44 - What to do when your competition buys your product29:34 - Answering your questionsCONNECT:Get Sam's weekly newsletter, Sam's SidebarFollow Sam on InstagramFollow Sam on YouTubeSubscribe to Sam's Substack, Beyond BusinessTake Sam's free legal workshop "5 Steps to Legally Protect & Grow Your Online Business"DISCLAIMERMentioned in this episode:Legal WorkshopDo you feel lost thinking about how to legally protect your online business? Head to mylegalworkshop.com to sign-up for immediate access to my free 1-hour legal workshop, 5 Steps to Legally Protect & Grow your Online Business.Legal Workshop

Hey, I'm Sam Vander Wielen, an attorney turned multi-seven-figure entrepreneur and the host of On Your Terms®, a podcast all about helping you legally protect your online business and learn the marketing strategies that will actually help you grow it.I understand how overwhelming legal protection can be, and I'm here to help break down the legal stuff that you need to know in a no-fear, no-fluff, your-best-friend-just-so-happens-to-be-a-lawyer kind of way. And the vibes? Think cozy coffee shop instead of stuffy lawyer's office.On Your Terms® is all about giving you marketing strategies that you won't hear many other seven-figure entrepreneurs talking about, mostly because they're holding it for themselves. And I'm giving you legal insights that are tailored specifically for what you're going through as an online business owner: From growing your email list to being uniquely yourself, I've got you covered.Episodes drop twice a week, ranging from bite-sized tips to in-depth educational sessions to guest interviews, so you always have something to fit your schedule and needs. You'll also hear behind the scenes of how I'm building my business — from marketing, to scaling, to hiring and more.Ready to join the Terminator Squad? (Oh, by the way, that's what I call my most loyal listeners!) Follow On Your Terms® wherever you listen to podcasts to be notified of new episodes, just like magic.And if you're looking for a great place to start, check out episode one, where I tell you why competition is a good thing. Don't wait to start legally protecting and growing your online business. Grab a cup of coffee and come join us.Resources:Learn more at samvanderwielen.comListen to Episode 1. Community Over Competition is BS: Tips to Navigate Your Competition in a Healthier WayConnect with Sam on Instagram: @samvanderwielenProduced by NOVA Media