Brexit was a divorce - a one way move that had a massive impact on us, the children, caught in the bitter cross fire and the ripples are still being felt so many years on.
Reaffirming the terms of use that work for you on any platform should be something we all do, at least on an annual basis. A 360 review of what's working, what isn't etc. Divorce is drastic - sometimes necessary, but doesn't need to be a first move.
I have regular wobbles on platforms - currently eBay, Amazon, Debenhams, Etsy, Vinted, My own website.
eBay is my home platform, yes very 2000 - that made me laugh out loud, not my most profitable but the place that grounds me as a business. It helps me test what's working, research and the community keeps me up to date with what's going on in the wider retail market and with legislation.
I reassessed eBay earlier this year having become very frustrated with some of the hoop jumping. I stepped back, stopped trying so hard and reflected on what works. It feels less pressured now, I'm doing okay too - I think I know which hoops Its worth jumping through for my business model. I've more time to use most productively on the business.
Lots of people are reporting websites doing well recently, so is mine. I have this slight inkling its Google pushing our visibility to gain our custom as we see a shift towards monetisation of AI. Potential in the near future we will one click shop direct from AI. Agentic shopping is live in the US (just). I think the likes of eBay will be a hundred steps ahead of us small website owners in this area and we will struggle to gain traction on AI initially, where the existing big platforms will dominate. Agentic shopping could dominate very quickly if we base its adoption on the same traction general AI adoption has had. Its going to be interesting times the next few years in ecommerce.
