Do you feel anxious about your competition?
Why Last Mover Advantage Matters More Than Ever
We've all heard of the “first mover advantage”—the idea that being the first to enter a market gives a business the upper hand. Capture the market early, and you make all the money. Right?
Not anymore.
In today’s fast-moving, hyper-connected world, first-mover advantage is quickly eroded. The internet has leveled the playing field. Competitors catch up fast—often improving on the original idea and executing it better.
That’s why last mover advantage is what really counts today.
Take Facebook. It wasn’t the first social network. MySpace and Orkut came long before it. But Facebook became the last social network—by building a better product, executing with precision, and creating a platform people didn’t want to leave.
Even Google wasn’t the first search engine. Yahoo! and Ask.com came earlier. But Google Search became so good that it became the last search engine people needed.
So, if you think being the first with a brand-new idea gives you an edge—think again.
New ideas are overrated.
What matters is execution. If there’s already a proven demand, your competitors have done the hard work of validating the market for you. All you need to do is serve that market better.
When I launched my digital marketing courses in India, I wasn’t the first. But I noticed a clear gap: the existing courses were expensive and lacked quality. So I created affordable, high-quality, self-serve courses.
My goal isn’t just to be another course creator. I want to be the last digital marketing educator my followers need. That takes time—but it’s possible with the right execution.
To execute well, you need:
A long-term vision
A clear understanding of your strengths
A product that truly stands out and serves unmet needs
Some initial investment
Access to mentors and advisors
A committed team to help bring your vision to life
Most successful businesses didn’t win because of a revolutionary idea. They won because they executed better.
So, stop obsessing over ideas. Focus on building, refining, and serving.
And don’t fear competition. If you can do better than what already exists, the market is waiting for you.
Competitors educate the market. You just need to deliver a better experience.
Cheers,
Deepak Kanakaraju