AMAZON IN AUSTRALIA: HOW SMALL BUSINESSES CAN COMPETE WITH THE ONLINE GIANT

It's not long now before Amazon makes its Australian debut, and there is no doubt its arrival will have big consequences for online businesses that aren't prepared to compete.

A survey has shown that once the American-based retail giant is open for business in Australia, nearly 1 in 3 shoppers will be purchasing product from Amazon instead of their existing network of online merchants.

While at a first glance things might look bleak for small-medium businesses (SMBs), the arrival of Amazon actually presents a unique opportunity for SMBs to become more competitive than ever before.

If you run an online shop, now is the time to be tightening the screws in the back end of your sales platform and investing time into managing relationships with your customers.

Tracey Voyce, director of leading website and internet marketing tools supplier Bloomtools, says the one thing small businesses do best is create a great personal experience for the customer.

This is something Amazon can't do, as its business is primarily run by algorithms and software.

Voyce says personalisation is the most important thing a SMB should focus on, as customers are more willing to part with their money over something that is tailored specifically to their needs. Read more

Paris Faint - Business News Australia - 31 May 2017