eCommerce Wars: How to Compete with the Biggest and Best

If you’re currently running a small online business, you’ll know how difficult it is to compete. Whatever it is you do, it’s pretty safe to say there are much bigger players doing the same.

The thing is though, there is nothing to say that even the tiniest ecommerce startups cannot stand shoulder to shoulder with the biggest and best on the web. Or perhaps even, take a step or two ahead of them. 

Impossible?

Not at all – you simply need to mould and refine your strategy accordingly:

Focus On Their Weaknesses

When it comes to establishing your own unique selling points, the key lies in identifying the weaknesses of your rivals. For example, Expedia and Amazon and clearly two of the biggest names in online retail. However, they are specialists in absolutely nothing. Jack of all trades, master of none. Which in turn gives you the opportunity to stand out as a master of whatever it is you do. 

You aren’t going to be able to compete as an all-round retailer, so why not concentrate on what you do best? This way, you will be able to provide the kinds of specialist resources, customer service and general focus your target audience expects. Think of yourself less as a retailer, more as an all-round online resource tailored to the interests of your audience. 

Long-Tail Search Terms 

The more focused you become on one specific area, the more you can capitalise on longer search terms. Bigger retailers do not have this luxury for the simple reason that they have far too many products and services available. Instead, they have to be somewhat generic or focus on their bestsellers.

As for the little guy, you can be so much more specific and focused when it comes to answering the questions your customers are asking. Especially if you are focusing on a specific locality, which can tip the balance in your favour even more so. 

Personal service 

Due to their size, complexity and the sheer number of customers they have, major online brands are fundamentally unable to offer truly personal customer service. Like it or not, those who shop with the big dogs need to accept that they are little more than statistics. By contrast, smaller businesses have every opportunity to take things to a much higher level when it comes to personal service.

As you probably already know, the modern consumer values quality customer service over and above the low prices and even product quality. Which in turn means you don’t necessarily have to compete in price terms, just as long as you deliver the goods service-wise. 

Be unique

Last but not least, the very worst thing a smaller online business can do is attempt to emulate what it is the bigger brands are already doing. There are so many unfortunate attempts to copy the likes of Amazon, eBay, Expedia and so on already doing the rounds. And in all instances, their respective owners are struggling to stay afloat.

Think of it this way – why would anyone do business with an Amazon replica, when they could just as easily do business with Amazon? Think of your online business as the local retailer competing with a nearby supermarket. To attract and retain customers, you are going to need to be unique, interesting and able to give them something your rivals cannot. Suffice to say, this is something you are not going to achieve by borrowing too many ideas from those you are looking to outshine.