4 Pros and Cons Of Using Large Online Platforms For Business

You already know that an online presence is vital for a company to grow. That’s why it’s important to consider your selling platform wisely before venturing into online business. And, though, many young businesses need to start small with the support of inexpensive e-commerce platforms, there may be some challenges with them. Here are some pros and cons of using large online platforms for business.

Pros and Cons Of Using Large Online Platforms For Business #1: Getting Started

Pros: There are now plenty of platforms which allow entrepreneurs to set up under their much larger business umbrellas. Options like WordPress for websites and Etsy for selling are good examples. They are pre-developed and easy to use platforms which can be a huge help for establishing a new business. They are also good at speeding things up when business is slow. The existing customer base and website designs mean you can start selling online immediately.

Cons: As far as the challenge, a large platform means you are selling right beside your competitors. Consumers see your store but they also see others that may offer the same things cheaper or faster. This keeps you in a large pond with bigger fish that can eat you up. 

Pros and Cons Of Using Large Online Platforms For Business #2: Branding

Pros: When starting in business, making a name for yourself is about the most important thing you can do. How else can you expect to build customer loyalty, or even make use of word of mouth? You can’t. Hence why businesses put so much effort into developing logos and choosing the right brand name. Once you have your flavor and style set, you can expect to get some visibility with a large platform. This is due to the existing traffic these sites have.

Cons: The trouble is, you may struggle to stand out in a crowd even with a stellar brand and shop design. Customers will remember that they bought that item on Etsy but may not remember your company at all. This makes word of mouth marketing difficult. 

Pros and Cons Of Using Large Online Platforms For Business #3: Sites and Servers

Pros: Using a large platform for business offers you the opportunity to use all the bells and whistles that a largely funded company has. The sites are usually well-designed, updated frequently, and offer all of the backend amenities. You can also expect that maintenance issues will be taken care of promptly. And, you don’t have to pay top dollar for all of this.

Cons: Larger platforms often use one server to host all their user sites. This is a problem when you consider that excessive traffic elsewhere could slow your loading times. Given that nearly half of internet users click off if a site doesn’t load in seconds, that’s a cause for concern. By comparison, opting for a VPS (virtual private server) straight off ensures no one else’s traffic slows your site. Even better, there are plenty of affordable VPS options out there. 

Pros and Cons Of Using Large Online Platforms For Business #4: Building Skills

Pros: Using a large online platform for a website or shop may help you to get your feet wet in business before you head into deep water. The digital technology world can be quite scary for newbies. When I first started my WordPress blog 10 years ago, I was literally terrified of imploding my site…lol. I learned slowly over time that it really isn’t that hard when you know the basics. I am grateful for the large platform in this sense.

Cons: Setting up on an existing platform can also hold you back skill-wise. This is especially true if you don’t do your own maintenance or construction. I learned as I went because I did it all myself. I recommend trying to learn this stuff early no matter what platform you are on. Ask lots of questions and choose to grow your skill level.