Barry Welford started a Cre8asite Forum thread where he asks, Does the Internet level the playing field? Barry W. believes that "The Internet has levelled the competitive playing field." But has it really? DianeV said that "First, the Internet made it more level. Then, SEO made it more level."
kensplace tries to break down the pros and cons:
The big boys with money have a few advantages over the little guy.They can advertise more They can devote more resources to a problem They can devote resources to support They can (and this is a biggy) just purchase a little guys hard work outright. They have more money for better hardware.
The little guys have a couple of advantages. They are more flexible. They are usually more inventive and produce better quality work/ideas.
Nadir rightly points out that the "big guys can buy the little guys." Which Ammon Johns answers that it was that which resulted in "the first web bubble." Ammon continues to explain that the big guys are now being smarter, they are hiring employees and consultants that have this expertise.
What I have noticed reading this thread is that it is the same story. The big guy versus the little guy. Be it Internet marketing, be it generic marketing, be it a war (David vs. Goliath). The little guys are more flexible and they can be smarter - but brut force can over power the little guy in due time. Egol summed it up nicely; "1) Being the first mover in your field and getting the jump on them. In a showdown the fastest draw wins if you can hit your challenger. 2) A person working on a "passion" will generally defeat someone working on a "profit"."
As Ammon closes;
There are still niches that either are not profitable enough for the big companies to develop, or that the big companies haven't seen yet. That too will always be true. That is where the little guys of today can become the big guys of tomorrow.Welcome to the basics of marketing.
Eat it up while it lasts and hope you catch the wave. Keep finding those niches!
But in my opinion, I do not think the little guys are on the same level as the big guys.
Forum discussion at Cre8asite Forums.
