Tim Armstrong is the Founder and CEO of Flowcode, a QR code generator platform for DTC companies. He was the former President of Google Americas, where he built and led the platform from a SaaS search provider to one of the largest ad businesses in the world. Tim was also the Chairman and CEO of AOL, where he helped establish the site as a content company before selling it to Verizon for $4.4 billion. During his time at AOL, he was named by Fortune magazine as one of the 40 Under 40.
The digital landscape is constantly evolving, and brands must adapt to new trends and regulations in advertising and data collection. Consumer relationships, engagement, and trust remain at the core of these rapid developments. So how can you optimize first-party data to keep consumers top of mind?
Advertising has become commoditized, and brands are exchanging first-party data with competitive companies, consequently undermining brand and customer value. Instead, Tim Armstrong says to regain control of consumer data by identifying its use and location. Understanding this information allows you to monitor real-time traffic on your ads or marketing campaigns and interact with your audience to foster transparent relationships and deliver value.
In today’s episode of The Digital Deep Dive, Aaron Conant invites Tim Armstrong, Founder and CEO of Flowcode, to speak about how brands can provide consumer value in the volatile digital ecosystem. Tim also addresses the multi-touch attribution model’s potential, AI’s impact on digital business, and how to navigate regulatory compliance during data collection.
BWG Connect provides executive strategy and networking sessions that help brands from any industry with their overall business planning and execution. We network and knowledge share together to better understand and adapt to the newest trends, strategies, and pain points shaping growth in the digital space. BWG Connect, in conjunction with BWG Strategy, has built an exclusive network of 125,000+ senior professionals and hosts over 2,000 virtual and in-person networking events on an annual basis.
In addition, we have had 1x1 conversations with over 5,000 brands and have a real-time pulse on what digital strategies are successful and why. This in-depth knowledge allows our team to operate on the cutting-edge and provide our clients with best-in-class guidance on how to win in the digital world. We have provided free consultations and strategy sessions for companies of all sizes, from start-ups to Fortune-100, to enable growth, resolve issues and make curated service provider introductions that can impact your digital footprint.
We have held to the philosophy of providing high-level insights and actionable knowledge with no sales pitches in order to provide to our network the ability to listen, learn and act to improve themselves as well as their organizations. Our ultimate goal is to be the resource out there to help digital executives find the research they need to excel in the modern marketplace.
If you are interested in getting involved with any of our current or past events, you can find them here. If you are looking for help & would like to set up some time to chat with our team, you can schedule a time or reach out directly to Aaron@bwgconnect.com or Tiffany@bwgconnect.com.
Michael Southworth is the Co-founder and CEO of Elemerce, a full-service eCommerce marketing agency that has successfully launched and developed several multimillion-dollar eCommerce brands. Elemerce’s team specializes in marketing, SEO, consumer products, eCommerce trends, and Amazon’s marketplace to help clients reach their goals, increase brand equity, and elevate their Amazon sales. As a connector, entrepreneur, and investor, Michael has created successful businesses in fashion, packaging, marketing, and entrepreneurial networking.
Funding for small businesses has become more difficult to acquire. As a result, startups aren’t vetting their options and are accepting opportunities from aggregators whose primary goals are to close deals and expand their portfolios. So what's the best way of obtaining capital for your brand?
Michael Southworth advises identifying an end goal for your business. Whether you’re looking to exit or obtain capital for growth, developing an objective helps you determine an ideal funding method. One of the most valuable funding models you can leverage is partnerships. Strategic partners provide resources and expertise to optimize your business operations and maximize its value for potential investors, allowing your plans to materialize.
Join Aaron Conant in today’s episode of The Digital Deep Dive as he sits down with Michael Southworth, Co-founder and CEO of Elemerce, to talk about funding models for startups. Michael also addresses market trends in the brand acquisition space, how to acquire partners to maximize your business value, and the key criteria for brand success.
BWG Connect provides executive strategy and networking sessions that help brands from any industry with their overall business planning and execution. We network and knowledge share together to better understand and adapt to the newest trends, strategies, and pain points shaping growth in the digital space. BWG Connect, in conjunction with BWG Strategy, has built an exclusive network of 125,000+ senior professionals and hosts over 2,000 virtual and in-person networking events on an annual basis.
In addition, we have had 1x1 conversations with over 5,000 brands and have a real-time pulse on what digital strategies are successful and why. This in-depth knowledge allows our team to operate on the cutting-edge and provide our clients with best-in-class guidance on how to win in the digital world. We have provided free consultations and strategy sessions for companies of all sizes, from start-ups to Fortune-100, to enable growth, resolve issues and make curated service provider introductions that can impact your digital footprint.
We have held to the philosophy of providing high-level insights and actionable knowledge with no sales pitches in order to provide to our network the ability to listen, learn and act to improve themselves as well as their organizations. Our ultimate goal is to be the resource out there to help digital executives find the research they need to excel in the modern marketplace.
If you are interested in getting involved with any of our current or past events, you can find them here. If you are looking for help & would like to set up some time to chat with our team, you can schedule a time or reach out directly to Aaron@bwgconnect.com or Tiffany@bwgconnect.com.
As Amazon’s yearly performance continues to skyrocket, brands must develop new measures to keep up with increasing marketplace demands and evolving conditions. Recently, Amazon has placed limitations and prices on 3P seller services, and paid media and customer acquisition costs have risen both on and off the platform. All of this is compounded by inventory shortages, which hamper advertising efforts, decrease conversions, and compromise overall brand success.
So what trends can you observe from Amazon’s 2022 season, and how can you prepare for what lies ahead?
Amazon’s growth fluctuated throughout 2022, with peak performance observed during Prime Day and the Q4 holidays. The platform experienced an overall sales growth of 20% from the previous year, mainly attributed to fruitful Prime Day deals. Comparably, holiday sales increased by 19% year-over-year. On the business side, Amazon’s 1P sellers grew by only 7% during the holidays, whereas 3P vendors saw a staggering 28% growth rate.
While these KPIs seem to indicate success on the platform and profitable opportunities for brands, conversion rates and advertising performance experienced major setbacks. While traffic increased by 20-30% yearly, conversion rates decreased by over 14%, and click-through rates and cost-per-click declined by 8% and 14%, respectively. These measurements resulted from inventory shortages and suppressions at the end of the year, causing brands to redistribute their ad spend in a short time span.
How has this data affected brand performance in 2022?
Brands that incorporated holiday promotions into their advertising budgets observed greater exposure off Amazon, leading to higher conversion rates. Likewise, businesses who monitored their inventory and product SKUs during the December shortage could withdraw their ad spend and promotions before depletion, thereby increasing ROAS.
With 3P seller central becoming increasingly prevalent, Amazon is placing restrictions on inventory and restructuring capacity. This means that brands can view both their capacity for the month and the estimated capacity for the near future. While this appears to enhance inventory planning and replenishment for the holiday season, sellers must bid for additional space, so profitability and sales remain uncertain in 2023.
Following 2022’s reduced advertising performance, budgets are projected to increase by 25%. Nicole Reich, Co-founder and VP of Marketing and Sales at Retail Bloom, attributes this inflation to a “need for omnichannel reports and insights, meaning that as people continue to invest in digital ad spend, they want to understand where those ad dollars are going and what’s impacting the ROI.” These data-driven decisions on ad spending are essential to offset the costs of 3P seller services and drive conversions.
3P seller conditions and ad spend allocations are major factors influencing brand profitability, so driving traffic from other marketplaces is paramount to success. One way to accomplish this is through Amazon Ads. Some of these ads — like sponsored display videos — allow you to promote your brand both on and off Amazon by targeting various products, categories, or audiences and expanding your reach.
For a more data-driven approach, you can analyze your performance on Amazon, develop KPIs for targeting consumers on different platforms, and measure the resulting ROI. Regardless of your chosen method, consider how each performance metric impacts your budget and structure it accordingly to streamline success.
Tom Logan is the Co-founder and CEO of Cohley, a content generation and testing platform that helps brands create content for social ads, email marketing, websites, and more. Tom is also a member of Founders Pledge, an initiative enabling philanthropy among founders and investors. Before founding Cohley, Tom was the Director of Customer Development at Piqora and a Client Success Manager for Wildfire by Google.
As content creation grows more expensive, brands are beginning to reduce their budgets. But this introduces risks since content is essential for channel diversification, audience reach, and in-ad optimization. So how can you enhance your content budget to maximize growth?
When developing content to boost brand performance and visibility, Tom Logan emphasizes the value of testing and learning. With the rise of new digital channels, you have to leverage various approaches to position your brand and determine the appropriate channels to allocate spending. It’s also beneficial to analyze KPIs and advertising data so you can guide strategies and refine content. User-generated, short-form videos on Instagram and TikTok effectively generate engagement and results.
In this episode of The Digital Deep Dive, Aaron Conant welcomes Tom Logan, Co-founder and CEO of Cohley, back to the show to talk about why brands shouldn’t cut content budgets. Tom discusses how brands can optimize content budgets, the key factors influencing brands’ decision-making, and the importance of developing an R&D budget for testing and learning.
BWG Connect provides executive strategy and networking sessions that help brands from any industry with their overall business planning and execution. We network and knowledge share together to better understand and adapt to the newest trends, strategies, and pain points shaping growth in the digital space. BWG Connect, in conjunction with BWG Strategy, has built an exclusive network of 125,000+ senior professionals and hosts over 2,000 virtual and in-person networking events on an annual basis.
In addition, we have had 1x1 conversations with over 5,000 brands and have a real-time pulse on what digital strategies are successful and why. This in-depth knowledge allows our team to operate on the cutting-edge and provide our clients with best-in-class guidance on how to win in the digital world. We have provided free consultations and strategy sessions for companies of all sizes, from start-ups to Fortune-100, to enable growth, resolve issues and make curated service provider introductions that can impact your digital footprint.
We have held to the philosophy of providing high-level insights and actionable knowledge with no sales pitches in order to provide to our network the ability to listen, learn and act to improve themselves as well as their organizations. Our ultimate goal is to be the resource out there to help digital executives find the research they need to excel in the modern marketplace.
If you are interested in getting involved with any of our current or past events, you can find them here. If you are looking for help & would like to set up some time to chat with our team, you can schedule a time or reach out directly to Aaron@bwgconnect.com or Tiffany@bwgconnect.com.
George Wescott is the Founder, CEO, and Managing Partner at A-Ventures Global (AVG), a private equity portfolio focused on technology solutions and services for eCommerce optimization. As a digital pioneer, he has over 25 years of experience developing and managing high-performing digital marketplaces, brands, and communities. George is an investor and holds multiple technology board and advisory roles at companies, including Equity Commerce, ChangeUp, and Humming.
Digital transformation is on the rise, and Amazon sellers must remain savvy to optimize their accounts. One viable solution is eCommerce integrations, which involve hiring expert talent to facilitate change or integrating new technology into your architecture. But talent acquisition costs are exorbitant, and retaining these employees is often ineffective. So how can you integrate new systems to maximize your value chain?
According to George Wescott, there are two types of eCommerce systems: a monolithic system, where each component is combined into one large application or a multiple-application system. Monolithic systems are antiquated, so it’s more common for seller central accounts to utilize a tech stack with 15-30 applications. When transitioning to a multi-app, integrated system, George says it’s critical to consider a best-in-class tech stack that’s API-first and can consolidate software seamlessly.
In this episode of The Digital Deep Dive, Aaron Conant sits down with George Wescott, Founder, CEO, and Managing Partner at A-Venture, to talk about eCommerce and technology integrations. George explains how eCommerce and technology integrations will evolve in the future, which new technology companies should consider, and Buy with Prime’s role in the developing marketplace.
BWG Connect provides executive strategy and networking sessions that help brands from any industry with their overall business planning and execution. We network and knowledge share together to better understand and adapt to the newest trends, strategies, and pain points shaping growth in the digital space. BWG Connect, in conjunction with BWG Strategy, has built an exclusive network of 125,000+ senior professionals and hosts over 2,000 virtual and in-person networking events on an annual basis.
In addition, we have had 1x1 conversations with over 5,000 brands and have a real-time pulse on what digital strategies are successful and why. This in-depth knowledge allows our team to operate on the cutting-edge and provide our clients with best-in-class guidance on how to win in the digital world. We have provided free consultations and strategy sessions for companies of all sizes, from start-ups to Fortune-100, to enable growth, resolve issues and make curated service provider introductions that can impact your digital footprint.
We have held to the philosophy of providing high-level insights and actionable knowledge with no sales pitches in order to provide to our network the ability to listen, learn and act to improve themselves as well as their organizations. Our ultimate goal is to be the resource out there to help digital executives find the research they need to excel in the modern marketplace.
If you are interested in getting involved with any of our current or past events, you can find them here. If you are looking for help & would like to set up some time to chat with our team, you can schedule a time or reach out directly to Aaron@bwgconnect.com or Tiffany@bwgconnect.com.
Saoud Khalifah is the Founder, CEO, and CTO of Fakespot, an online service that detects fake reviews and misinformation using AI. Since 2016, 20 million people have used this free service to analyze reviews on Amazon, Best Buy, Sephora, Walmart, and Yelp. Saoud was on the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 list for Retail and eCommerce. Before founding Fakespot, he was a Software Engineer at Goldman Sachs.
When shopping online, 90% of consumers consider product reviews and ratings before making a purchase. But 30% of reviews are fraudulent, either generated by a robot or paid individuals. So what does this entail for the future of eCommerce, and how can you mitigate scammers to boost sales?
Artificial content is becoming increasingly prevalent, and reviews are only a portion of the problem. Amazon and other marketplaces are doing little to prevent fraudulent activity, resulting in a loss of trust among consumers. To protect your brand, Saoud Khalifah advises building loyalty upon initial launch. The most authentic businesses have a simple and modest online presence in which real customers leave reviews that display brand loyalty.
In today’s episode of The Digital Deep Dive, Aaron Conant chats with Saoud Khalifah, Founder, CEO, and CTO of Fakespot, about how fraudulent reviews impact eCommerce businesses. Saoud discusses the types of review manipulations, how brands can address fraudulent reviews, and the future of online marketplaces amid scams.
BWG Connect provides executive strategy and networking sessions that help brands from any industry with their overall business planning and execution. We network and knowledge share together to better understand and adapt to the newest trends, strategies, and pain points shaping growth in the digital space. BWG Connect, in conjunction with BWG Strategy, has built an exclusive network of 125,000+ senior professionals and hosts over 2,000 virtual and in-person networking events on an annual basis.
In addition, we have had 1x1 conversations with over 5,000 brands and have a real-time pulse on what digital strategies are successful and why. This in-depth knowledge allows our team to operate on the cutting-edge and provide our clients with best-in-class guidance on how to win in the digital world. We have provided free consultations and strategy sessions for companies of all sizes, from start-ups to Fortune-100, to enable growth, resolve issues and make curated service provider introductions that can impact your digital footprint.
We have held to the philosophy of providing high-level insights and actionable knowledge with no sales pitches in order to provide to our network the ability to listen, learn and act to improve themselves as well as their organizations. Our ultimate goal is to be the resource out there to help digital executives find the research they need to excel in the modern marketplace.
If you are interested in getting involved with any of our current or past events, you can find them here. If you are looking for help & would like to set up some time to chat with our team, you can schedule a time or reach out directly to Aaron@bwgconnect.com or Tiffany@bwgconnect.com.
John Ghiorso is the Senior Vice President of eCommerce at Media.Monks, a global marketing services company. He is also the CEO and Founder of Orca Pacific, a full-service Amazon and eCommerce agency that brings cutting-edge strategies and managed services to over 100 industry-leading brands, including Reebok, Godiva, Levi, and Mars. The company completed a merger with Media.Monks in 2020.
In his role, John leads Media.Monk’s performance and enterprise teams which are composed of former Amazonians and top industry experts. With a decade of Amazon expertise, he has built a reputation for approximating industry reactions and forecasting shifts within Amazon’s marketplace. John’s insights have been featured in publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Vox, and Modern Retail.
Amazon pioneered eCommerce and retail media, leading other retailers to follow suit. Yet, these platforms are becoming commoditized and competitive, so brands need to develop sound strategies to remain relevant. How can you optimize eCommerce and retail media to maximize profitability?
John Ghiorso warns against over-advertising on your website because it can diminish the customer experience by reducing site performance. Instead, he recommends establishing a unified retail media strategy that encompasses multiple channels. This entails collaborating with cross-functional teams and analyzing key KPIs to diversify your retail media budget, thereby increasing cumulative ROI.
Join Aaron Conant on today’s episode of The Digital Deep Dive as he welcomes John Ghiorso, Senior Vice President of eCommerce at Media.Monks, to address retail media trends and projections for 2023. John explains Amazon’s role in retail media and eCommerce, how to optimize ads on your eCommerce site, and the importance of developing a unified retail media strategy.
BWG Connect provides executive strategy and networking sessions that help brands from any industry with their overall business planning and execution. We network and knowledge share together to better understand and adapt to the newest trends, strategies, and pain points shaping growth in the digital space. BWG Connect, in conjunction with BWG Strategy, has built an exclusive network of 125,000+ senior professionals and hosts over 2,000 virtual and in-person networking events on an annual basis.
In addition, we have had 1x1 conversations with over 5,000 brands and have a real-time pulse on what digital strategies are successful and why. This in-depth knowledge allows our team to operate on the cutting-edge and provide our clients with best-in-class guidance on how to win in the digital world. We have provided free consultations and strategy sessions for companies of all sizes, from start-ups to Fortune-100, to enable growth, resolve issues and make curated service provider introductions that can impact your digital footprint.
We have held to the philosophy of providing high-level insights and actionable knowledge with no sales pitches in order to provide to our network the ability to listen, learn and act to improve themselves as well as their organizations. Our ultimate goal is to be the resource out there to help digital executives find the research they need to excel in the modern marketplace.
If you are interested in getting involved with any of our current or past events, you can find them here. If you are looking for help & would like to set up some time to chat with our team, you can schedule a time or reach out directly to Aaron@bwgconnect.com or Tiffany@bwgconnect.com.
Tyler Gregg is the Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Ampd, an ad automation toolkit that enables brands to launch expert Google Ads to Amazon campaigns. Ampd began as a data science company helping DTC brands leverage Google analytics and advertising data. During his seven-year tenure at the company, Tyler has held various roles, including Strategic Business Development Manager, Head of Growth, and Director of Operations. Before Ampd, he was a Product Manager at Altus Alliance.
Paid media and customer acquisition costs are exorbitant, and Amazon is overtaking the digital landscape with the highest conversion rates. As brands struggle to keep pace with these rapid developments, how can you structure your advertising budget to drive traffic to Amazon?
When assessing how to spend your paid media dollars, Tyler Gregg recommends diversifying your advertising budget by investing in multiple channels. This requires conducting keyword and product research to determine where your customers are going. For instance, you may find higher traffic for a specific product on Google Ads, so converting those consumers to your Amazon storefront is essential. By leveraging traffic on other platforms, you can optimize your ad spend and maximize conversion rates.
In this episode of The Digital Deep Dive, Aaron Conant sits down with Tyler Gregg, VP of Strategic Initiatives at Ampd, to talk about converting traffic from Google Ads to Amazon. Tyler discusses the importance of diversifying advertising budgets, how to leverage brand initiatives to optimize Amazon ad campaigns, and key takeaways from Amazon Ads’ unBoxed 2022.
BWG Connect provides executive strategy and networking sessions that help brands from any industry with their overall business planning and execution. We network and knowledge share together to better understand and adapt to the newest trends, strategies, and pain points shaping growth in the digital space. BWG Connect, in conjunction with BWG Strategy, has built an exclusive network of 125,000+ senior professionals and hosts over 2,000 virtual and in-person networking events on an annual basis.
In addition, we have had 1x1 conversations with over 5,000 brands and have a real-time pulse on what digital strategies are successful and why. This in-depth knowledge allows our team to operate on the cutting-edge and provide our clients with best-in-class guidance on how to win in the digital world. We have provided free consultations and strategy sessions for companies of all sizes, from start-ups to Fortune-100, to enable growth, resolve issues and make curated service provider introductions that can impact your digital footprint.
We have held to the philosophy of providing high-level insights and actionable knowledge with no sales pitches in order to provide to our network the ability to listen, learn and act to improve themselves as well as their organizations. Our ultimate goal is to be the resource out there to help digital executives find the research they need to excel in the modern marketplace.
If you are interested in getting involved with any of our current or past events, you can find them here. If you are looking for help & would like to set up some time to chat with our team, you can schedule a time or reach out directly to aaron@bwgconnect.com or Tiffany@bwgconnect.com.
Destaney Wishon is the Co-founder and CEO of BetterAMS, an advertising services firm that helps brands increase their advertising sales on Amazon. She started at BetterAMS as an Account Executive, where she provided perspective on new industry standards for brands’ eCommerce strategies. Destaney is passionate about providing in-depth, strategic recommendations on sponsored products, brands, and displays, and DSP. As an Amazon advertising thought leader, she has spoken in over 9,000 podcasts and events.
Amazon Advertising has become costly, and brands are struggling to allocate their budgets and optimize campaigns to drive conversions. So, what metrics should you consider when structuring your advertising campaigns to maximize return-on-ad-spend (ROAS)?
Amazon Ads expert Destaney Wishon advises against leveraging metrics like Amazon’s new-to-brand and recommends analyzing search term reports instead. This metric provides accurate conversion and loyalty rates by enabling you to view and distinguish between branded and non-branded searches. Destaney also utilizes cost-per-click (CPC) and ROAS to assess and categorize each campaign.
In this episode of The Digital Deep Dive, Aaron Conant speaks with Destaney Wishon, Co-founder and CEO of BetterAMS, about Amazon Advertising campaigns. Destaney also discusses how brands should structure their advertising budgets, how to leverage external marketing campaigns to drive traffic to Amazon, and the common mistakes brands make when maximizing conversions.
BWG Connect provides executive strategy and networking sessions that help brands from any industry with their overall business planning and execution. We network and knowledge share together to better understand and adapt to the newest trends, strategies, and pain points shaping growth in the digital space. BWG Connect, in conjunction with BWG Strategy, has built an exclusive network of 125,000+ senior professionals and hosts over 2,000 virtual and in-person networking events on an annual basis.
In addition, we have had 1x1 conversations with over 5,000 brands and have a real-time pulse on what digital strategies are successful and why. This in-depth knowledge allows our team to operate on the cutting-edge and provide our clients with best-in-class guidance on how to win in the digital world. We have provided free consultations and strategy sessions for companies of all sizes, from start-ups to Fortune-100, to enable growth, resolve issues and make curated service provider introductions that can impact your digital footprint.
We have held to the philosophy of providing high-level insights and actionable knowledge with no sales pitches in order to provide to our network the ability to listen, learn and act to improve themselves as well as their organizations. Our ultimate goal is to be the resource out there to help digital executives find the research they need to excel in the modern marketplace.
If you are interested in getting involved with any of our current or past events, you can find them here. If you are looking for help & would like to set up some time to chat with our team, you can schedule a time or reach out directly to aaron@bwgconnect.com or Tiffany@bwgconnect.com.
Amazon hosted their most recent unBoxed conference and discussed the newest products, updates, and insights to help brands refine their advertising strategy.
Don’t be troubled if you missed the conference — advertising experts are here to explain the most significant developments to help you utilize the most efficient tools for growing on Amazon in 2023 and beyond.
Many brands employ sponsored display ads in their advertising strategy. In their newest update, Amazon added four new features to sponsored display ads.
The first of these features impacts non-endemic sellers, who are now able to utilize sponsored display ads on the platform. In the past, insurance companies, finance companies, and other brands that don’t sell products directly on Amazon couldn’t utilize the Demand-Side Platform. Now, they can leverage sponsored display and pay-per-click ads.
The second major update is a new promotional strategy with the unofficial title of “Amazon rewards.” Previously, if you ran a coupon on Amazon, that coupon could be seen by everyone, and you couldn’t make a coupon exclusive to an ad type. However, with the new promotional strategy, you can offer credit or gift card coupons to Amazon customers if they purchase your product, and it will only show up for those customers who see your sponsored display ads. “This is pretty monumental,” Johnathon Braga explains, “In terms of the impact of a coupon tied with a promotional or advertising strategy on Amazon, this is going to be huge in really seeing the dual impact there.”
Another new feature relates to sponsored display video. With more ad placements filling up on Amazon product detail pages, it’s easy to get lost in the mix. But sponsored display video lets your brand separate itself from the page full of advertisements, effectively increasing engagement and conversion rates.
The fourth sponsored display ad development improves forecasting. It can be difficult to forecast if you don’t have external tools outside of the ad console. But with new and improved features, Amazon will give you a forecast pulled directly from the ad console and project how much you could spend on campaigns.
Amazon Marketing Stream, which delivers Amazon Ad campaign metrics, is better than ever. “You can get hourly insights [which] come directly from Amazon,” Scott Miller explains, “And you're getting faster notifications of this because you can get this at any point of the day. So you can almost have real-time optimization…[and] there's a push-based system, which just means that you can have this set up to run so that you can turn campaigns on and off, you can adjust the spend, depending on the time of day, where you can really make the best use of your budget.”
In addition to Amazon Marketing Stream improvements, Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC) is making transformations. Amazon has created a dashboard to help brands understand attributions and measure advertising across the channel. The platform now allows brands to see the customers’ path to purchase. Improved planning, actionable insights, new audiences, and a better understanding of customer data are just some of the AMC benefits.
Demand-Side Platform (DSP) was another big storyline across the unBoxed conference. A series of additional updates will help brands optimize the Amazon programmatic platform. One of these updates is digital signage. With an increasing number of brick-and-mortar stores, brands can take advantage of Amazon’s in-store digital signs to display ads.
More updates that can help brands get in front of customers are granular targeting and new audience tools. Organizations on Amazon can now target custom audiences by creating exclusions to focus on customers who aren’t familiar with the brand, haven’t made a purchase, and other similar filters.
Previously, Amazon only had behavior targeting, where brands could see past purchase history and other kinds of behavior. But now, they’ve rolled out contextual targeting, which can target shoppers based on websites they’re using — not just shopping behaviors.
The best way to optimize these new tools is to partner with a company that knows the ins and outs of these updates. David Liggins II says, “These things can get really complex, and that's why you have teams that are specialized with their expertise and making this simple and building out these strategies for you. There's so much to pay attention to and to look at…it is literally a full-time job, just understanding what these tools can do for your business. But when you implement them in the right way, that's when you really start to leverage your growth.”
