Amazon is the world's largest online store by sales and market value. This online business has changed the way people around the world do business. Jeff Bezos founded this company on July 5, 1994, in Washington, USA. He served as the CEO of the company until July 2021. Andy Jassy became the president and CEO of Amazon on July 5, 2021.
Amazon's initial success came very quickly. It started as an online bookstore and continued to expand. In 1997 the company went public and is now listed on the NASDAQ in the US. Without the help of the press, the company was able to sell books in 45 countries within two months. Amazon is now present in over 200 countries and sells almost all of its products on its website. Its subsidiaries include Audible, Twitch, IMDb, and Amazon Web Services.
Amazon’s marketing strategy has been a case study in all the top MBA colleges. Amazon’s marketing strategy has helped the company achieve a valuation of $1.7 trillion in 2021. So, here we will discuss Amazon’s marketing strategy and how it helps differentiate the company from its competitors.
The 4Ps of Amazon Marketing Strategy
Amazon focuses on a company or brand's “marketing mix,” which consists of the 4Ps:
- product
- price
- place
- promotion
This section provides a comprehensive explanation of the functionality of each element.
product
Amazon once only sold books online, but now sells millions of products across many categories. Some of its most popular products include shoes, jewelry, clothing, toys, home and kitchen items, electronics, books, outdoor gear, sporting goods, car accessories, and art. Amazon sells products from small businesses and retailers, but promotes its own brand, Amazon Basics.
price
Businesses can price their products in a variety of ways. Here are some ways to keep in mind:
- Cost-Plus Pricing
- Value Pricing
- Competitor Pricing
- Price discrimination
Amazon frequently employs a pricing strategy called “competitive pricing,” in which the company sets its prices based on those of its competitors, helping it keep costs low and offer customers more choice.
Amazon also uses the following methods for pricing:
- Promotional Price
- Behavioral Pricing
Amazon is able to change its products every day because of the way it operates its business. This is Amazon's biggest feature and makes it difficult for other companies to compete with Amazon.
3. Location
Amazon's online store has grown in many parts of the world over the past few years. Now, millions of products are easily available to customers from all over the world. Even if you live in a remote part of the world, you can receive your package from Amazon in no time. One of the reasons for the company's success is its fast shipping and the establishment of fulfillment hubs.
4. Promotion
When it comes to marketing, Amazon understands the importance of communication. They use many different types of advertising to reach people who might buy or use their products. Amazon often runs sales and discounts, which is a great way to build their brand. They advertise regularly in a variety of places, including their website, newspapers, TV, billboards, and social media. There are also affiliate sites that partner with Amazon.
Also Read – What are the 7Ps of Marketing? Read this article to find out!
Amazon Marketing Channel Types
Amazon PPC ads are divided into three groups:
1. Headline Search Ads
If you want to get your brand noticed, a great way to do it is through headline search ads. Amazon currently has two ways to promote your brand, especially during the holiday season.
- Headline Search Ads
- Amazon Store
Combined with your title and Amazon Storefront, search ads help people learn more about your brand and the products you sell, building trust with customers and ensuring your products are displayed in the right way.
By combining headline search ads, Amazon Storefronts, and sponsored products into one pay-per-click (PPC) marketing campaign, you can easily reach more shoppers in less time.
2. Product Display Advertising
Another type of effective PPC ad is the “Product Display Ad”. It is placed next to a product or in the “Similar Products” section of a product page. This type of ad is for self-service only. It is linked to the product's ASIN, giving merchants many options to target different types of customers based on their behavior.
3. Sponsored Product Ads
One of the best ways to get more people to see and buy your products is to pay for advertising. Sponsored product ads appear at the top when people search for anything on Amazon.
Amazon's Digital Marketing Strategy
Amazon's digital marketing strategy is comprehensive and they reach out to their customers through digital marketing. Everyone is on social media these days. Amazon promotes their products on social media and leverages the users who use those sites to drive them to their product pages, which helps in increasing sales. Amazon has partnered with several big and small national influencers to reach out to their audience more effectively. They use Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, and Facebook.
Amazon on Facebook
Amazon India has 10 million followers on Facebook. The company primarily uses Facebook to share company news and advertisements. The company uses heavy advertising to promote its sale days. It also publishes posts on various topics to keep people updated.
Instagram Amazon
Interviews and featured advertisements with artists from various backgrounds are a major part of Amazon's Instagram marketing plan. The company has over 2.8 million followers on Instagram. The company's strategies for Instagram and Facebook are very similar, except that the company doesn't post updates about company news on either platform. Both platforms have very similar posts from the company.
Amazon's Twitter
Amazon India has a different plan to acquire new customers through Twitter. It uses a wide range of content to stay in touch with its followers, run contests to acquire new customers, and follow and create trends. The company is one of the largest in its field with 2 million Twitter followers. Its Twitter content sounds more like a personal recommendation than an advertisement.
YouTube Amazon
The best thing about Amazon's YouTube ads is that they grab people's attention right away. Amazon strives to make their ads interesting and valuable at all times, and they achieve this by making their customers feel special most of the time.
Amazon on Pinterest
Over 1 million people follow Amazon on Pinterest, and the company uses Pinterest to promote and grab people's attention with a wide range of themes for its products.
Amazon's use of digital marketing is unmatched. To stay competitive, they need to keep creating more compelling content and publishing it in the best way possible. Amazon's marketing strategies are regularly updated to stay ahead of the curve. Competition in the retail industry is complex, but Amazon's marketing strategies help the company stay ahead of the competition.
Becoming a digital marketer in 2022
Amazon's 2024 marketing plan demonstrates the value of creativity, customer-centric strategies, and data-driven decision-making. Amazon remains at the top of the e-commerce industry because it leverages cutting-edge technology, customized marketing, and flawless buying experiences. Strengthening customer loyalty programs, expanding advertising platforms, and optimizing search algorithms are key strategies. Simplilearn's Digital Marketing Certified Post-Graduate Program offers in-depth instruction on digital marketing techniques and resources for professionals who want to become experts in cutting-edge tactics. The program equips participants with the tools they need to put effective marketing tactics into practice and stay ahead in a fierce digital industry.