According to John Lennon, "Amateurs borrow, professionals steal". Lennon apparently stole the quote from T.S Elliot confirming it's merit. Before you begin reaching for the number of the local law enforcers, we should point out that we're not advocating a raid on the unassailable online giant that is Amazon. There are however certain business principles that we can take away to enhance our businesses.
Accessibility
Amazon excels in making things as simple as possible for people to find. Whether through an online portal or nestled in a busy industrial estate, always ensure that your customers can find your offering easily.
Advertising
Never underestimate the power of good quality advertising. A cohesive campaign that focuses on your customer's wants and needs will go a long way to building your reputation and sustaining it.
Anticipate Trends
Keeping an eye on the latest trends will help you stay ahead of your competition. What are the hot topics in your industry? How can you reach out to your customers in these areas? Google provide and excellent tool for setting news alerts to monitor trending topics.
Use Technology to your Advantage
Amazon conducts it's business online in the cloud. This is an ideal setting for most businesses, removing many traditional barriers to market place entry. Having your store-front, advertising and other services hosted in the cloud means less paperwork, more flexibility and greater accessibility for your customers.
Why not try out some of these principles in your own business?
