Speed, smarts and dexterity can often be the determinant between winning and losing.

Size doesn’t always matter in business. Speed, dexterity, hunger, smarts does.

At a board meeting 12 years ago, our chairman was Googling keywords during my marketing update. He pummeled me with questions and derisive comments. “How come this company is appearing on page 1 and we’re not? They’re so much smaller than we are are.”

I explained that size has nothing to do with search engine success. I explained that it was all about being smart, nimble, forward-thinking. We were early in our planning, I explained, and results will follow soon.

Remember, Netflix didn’t put Blockbuster out of business. Blockbuster put Blockbuster out of business. A smaller company with better ideas and a commitment to customer experience won the day.

For smaller companies worrying about their more well-funded competitors: you don’t need to outspend them, just outsmart them.

For bigger companies thinking size equals might: think again.

For the record and for that former chairman: we dominated search engine marketing in our industry and had the data to prove it…he just didn’t want to listen and learn.