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What to Know from Amazon unBoxed 2024: AI, Data and Creative Innovations

What to Know from Amazon unBoxed 2024: AI, Data and Creative Innovations

Commerce Commerce, Industry events, Retail media, Seasonal marketing, eCommerce Platforms 4 min read
Profile picture for user mediamonks

Written by
Monks

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Amazon unBoxed 2024, held from October 14-16, offered a glimpse into the future of advertising. Packed with keynotes, success stories and hands-on activations, this year's event highlighted Amazon’s commitment to scalable, high-impact solutions for brands of all sizes. From full-funnel measurement and reaching previously untapped audiences to AI-powered creative production, these updates are designed to help advertisers stay competitive, efficient and effective. As a gold sponsor, our team was on the ground in Austin, TX, diving into the key Amazon Ads updates that will impact brands moving forward. Here’s a recap of the highlights that stood out to us. 

Three updates to Amazon’s real-time measurement and analytics suite.

Gone are the days of waiting until the end of a campaign to understand what worked. Amazon’s advancements in measurement and analytics allow advertisers to adjust their strategies in real-time, maximizing ROI and optimizing performance on the fly.

1. Multi-Touch Attribution (beta). Tracks how multiple ad touchpoints influence conversions, including behavioral experiments, offering real-time insights so that mid-campaign adjustments can be made for better results. 

2. Conversion Path Reporting (beta). Identifies the key customer journeys and reveals how ads work together to drive conversions over a 30-day window, helping brands craft more targeted and effective campaigns. 

3. Long-Term Sales (beta). Allows brands to measure the impact of upper-funnel ads over 12 months, offering insights into how early impressions influence long-term sales growth. Also, this beta will help advertisers estimate yearly campaign impact on a brands sales across ad types.  

Three creative solutions to make content creation more accessible.

A major theme of this year’s event was the rise of AI in making creativity more accessible, powerful, and scalable for brands of all sizes. 

1. AI Creative Studio (beta). A centralized platform that brings together AI tools to help create and iterate thousands of ads effortlessly. Everyone, from beginners to seasoned professionals, can now access AI-generated images and videos, produce top-tier content and store it all in one place. 

2. Video Generator (beta). A free, AI-powered tool that simplifies video production, making ad-ready content more accessible to brands with limited time or resources. Video marketing is now faster, easier and more approachable for everyone. 

3. Audio Generator. This allows advertisers using Amazon DSP to create high-quality, interactive audio ads in minutes. Voice commands like, “Alexa, add to cart” make these ads dynamic and engaging, helping capture new customers and drive conversions.

Three innovative ad solutions to expand reach and drive results.

Amazon continues to expand possibilities for advertisers with new ad formats that enable brands to reach a wider, more targetable audience across premium channels, all without breaking the bank.

1. Sponsored TV. This self-service solution makes streaming TV ads accessible to brands of all sizes, with no minimum spend required. Now within reach for everyone, these ads deliver a 58% higher conversion rate compared to traditional TV ads when paired with Sponsored Ads (Amazon). 

2. Audience Bidding Controls. Combine Amazon Marketing Cloud data with your Sponsored Ads campaigns to unlock new potential. Leverage AMC insights to craft targeted audiences and adjust bids for Sponsored Products and Sponsored Brands, boosting visibility, measurability and driving more sales.

3. Prime Video Interactive Ad Solutions (beta). These interactive ads on Prime Video allow viewers to engage directly with brands, add items to their cart, or learn more about products without disrupting the viewing experience. According to Amazon, these ads can double brand favorability and increase purchases by 36%. 

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Six updates to Amazon DSP and AMC for more efficient campaigns. 

Amazon’s updates to its Demand-Side Platform (DSP) and Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC) reflect a focus on efficiency, control and making advanced tools accessible to all advertisers. 

1. Amazon DSP Ad Relevance. Target audiences without relying on ad IDs by leveraging Amazon’s proprietary signals and AWS-powered AI. This update helps future-proof campaigns as privacy regulations evolve. 

2. Amazon DSP Performance+. AI-driven campaigns designed to maximize ROI for specific conversion goals. Automation reduces manual effort, delivering better results with less hassle. 

3. Amazon Marketing Cloud for Sponsored Ads. Brands working with an Amazon Partner and running Sponsored Ads can now access AMC insights without needing DSP. Using AMC Audiences, brands can better target customers throughout their shopping journey, tailoring ad bids to specific segments for higher conversion rates. 

4. AMC Solutions. A suite of tools designed to generate insights from Amazon Marketing Cloud data and take swift action on those insights. It’s user-friendly, requiring no SQL knowledge or advanced analytics skills.

5. Ads Data Manager (beta). A tool to streamline first-party data management across Amazon Ads products. Brands can control their data, enabling more effective, privacy-safe ad strategies. 

6. AMC Audience with Publisher Data (beta). Leverage publishers’ first-party data to target audiences across platforms like iOS and Firefox, which are traditionally harder to reach. No ad IDs required, just smarter targeting. 

Amazon’s innovations are bridging the gap between creativity and efficiency for advertisers.

Amazon’s suite of new tools–whether it’s AI-powered creative studios, interactive video, or advanced measurement–delivers a blend of efficiency, accessibility, and creative freedom for advertisers. This means a greater control over campaigns, with the flexibility to experiment, measure, and refine campaigns.

From streamlining ad creation to offering real-time insights, these updates open doors for advertisers and brands of all sizes to test, learn, and engage their audiences more effectively. With more advanced creative options and data-driven insights, advertisers can fine-tune their campaigns to achieve both short-term gains and long-term growth. 

Wrapping up Amazon unBoxed 2024 and what’s next for Amazon ads. 

In sum, Amazon unBoxed 2024 brought a wealth of new innovations that will shape how brands reach and resonate with their audiences. As we move into 2025, it’s clear that those who embrace AI-driven, interactive, and data-rich tools will have a significant advantage in building meaningful connections and driving real results. 

A new era of Amazon Ads is here, and it’s more accessible, flexible and powerful than before. Our team is ready to guide brands through these updates and ensure they get the most out of Amazon’s latest innovations. From exploring AI-powered creativity to optimizing campaigns with real-time analytics, let’s connect and start driving success today.

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Recap the key updates from Amazon unBoxed 2024, including new AI tools and solutions for full-funnel advertising and measurement. What to Know from Amazon unBoxed 2024: AI, Data, and Creative Innovations Learn about key innovations from Amazon unBoxed 2024, including AI-powered creativity, real-time analytics, and new ad formats for brands of all sizes. amazon prime prime day amazon seller central vendor central online shopping ecommerce amazon ads amazon advertising eCommerce Platforms Commerce Seasonal marketing Retail media Industry events

Turning Prime Day Momentum into Holiday Season Success

Turning Prime Day Momentum into Holiday Season Success

Commerce Commerce, Retail media, Seasonal marketing, eCommerce Platforms 6 min read
Profile picture for user Nate Hogle

Written by
Nate Hogle
VP, Commerce Business Management

black-friday

Prime Day is often referred to as the Super Bowl of retail media and though it’s now behind us, its impact is far from over. For brands on Amazon, the insights and momentum gained during Prime Day provide a critical foundation for planning the upcoming holiday season, including Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and other major shopping events. With high stakes and intense competition, brands and advertisers must base their decisions on well-grounded data.

To help you navigate these opportunities, Monks teamed up with Pacvue to provide an in-depth analysis of Prime Day performance. By breaking down key metrics and trends, our goal is to provide insights that can refine your strategies and enhance your advertising campaigns as we head into the busiest shopping season of the year. 

During Prime Day 2024, our partner Pacvue collected data and insights into its advertisers' behavior and performance, including ad spend, cost-per-click, ROAS, conversion rates, and more, from thousands of Amazon advertisers in the United States, spanning every major category and brand size. Here's what we've learned from it. 

The predictable yet strategic nature of Prime Day. 

This year’s Prime Day played out much as expected, with predictable trends like higher CPCs, consistent shopping behavior, and a focus on mobile and personalization. While this predictability might seem mundane, it can be advantageous for prepared brands. Even in a predictable event, brands need to be strategic to stand out. 

FOMO drives last-minute purchases. While Day 1 sales were initially higher, Day 2 experienced a late surge in last-minute purchases driven by FOMO. This late-day surge is typical for Prime Day and presents an opportunity for strategic advertising. It’s beneficial for brands to reserve some ad budget for the final hours of any shopping event to capture these last-minute consumers.

Market leaders face growing challenges. Market leaders are finding it harder to retain and grow market share as the “Amazon formula” becomes widely understood. Lesser-known brands are entering the market with high-quality content, making it essential for big-name brands to not only rely on their legacy but also invest in premium content to stay competitive.

“As consumers become more price-sensitive, a recognizable brand name is no longer enough. Consumers are opting for copycat products that are 15% cheaper. Big-name brands must pair their legacy with high-quality content to retain their hold as the market leader," adds Matthew Boardman, Director of Content. 

Riding the halo effect into the holidays. 

Prime Day’s “halo effect” ensures that increased visibility and sales don’t end with the event. Categories like electronics (61% sales boost) and small kitchen appliances (76% surge) are likely to maintain their strong performance into the holiday season. But this impact isn’t limited to traditional holiday items—back-to-school spending spiked by 216%, demonstrating how early promotions can sustain interest and drive continued engagement in specific categories.

“Even if you’re not selling traditional back-to-school items, this season is a golden opportunity. Parents are in shopping mode, and there’s a halo effect across categories like household goods and apparel,” says Holly Johnson, Senior Advertising Manager. 

Rising Amazon DSP ad spend reflects shifting strategies. 

During Prime Day, Amazon DSP ad spend saw a 39% YoY increase, underscoring its growing role in product discovery and customer acquisition. However, despite a 135.4% spike in DSP ad spend leading up to Prime Day—aimed at capturing more new-to-brand (NTB) sales—key metrics like eCPM (effective cost per mile) and ATCR (add-to-cart rate) declined. This suggests that while DSP ads are attracting more attention, their cost-effectiveness and conversion efficiency are diminishing, pointing to a need for more refined targeting and optimized ad placements. 

"Expect more brands to incorporate lead-out deals for PD2 and T11,” advises Wyatt Burley, Senior Advertising Manager. “Combining AMC and DSP data from a promo period can be highly profitable for retargeting consumers who almost purchased. These consumers represent low-hanging fruit that only DSP/AMC users can effectively target.”

Amazon DSP is particularly valuable during seasonal events like back-to-school due to its ability to target in-market and lifestyle audiences. Brands should enhance their DSP creatives with lifestyle imagery and refreshed messaging to better engage consumers. Retargeting campaigns after Prime Day allow brands to reach a pool of already engaged consumers who are likely to be in the market for back-to-school shopping. 

Cross-selling is another effective strategy during these periods. For example, brands selling related products can use Amazon DSP to retarget consumers who recently purchased one item but not the other. This approach not only drives incremental sales but also strengthens brand loyalty. 

“By using DSP to retarget consumers with complementary products, like pencil boxes for those who bought pencils, brands can effectively increase basket size and reinforce customer relationships,” notes Mckay Elliott, Advertising Manager. 

Conversion rates reveal opportunities for strategic improvement. 

While Prime Day delivered strong sales, conversion rates revealed some challenges that brands need to address. For instance, the automotive category saw a 35.4% increase in conversions, likely driven by stable CPCs, but the Toys & Games category struggled with declining ROAS. As the holiday shopping season heats up, optimizing for conversion will be key to turning clicks into sales. Brands must focus on enhancing their ad creatives, sharpening targeting strategies, and improving the overall user experience on Amazon product pages.

“CPCs will rise across multiple categories during sales events, whether your brand is participating or not. Your costs will increase even if you’re not actively reaping the benefits so strategic refinement is vital,” says Tara Lynne Ferguson, Director of Commerce Advertising. 

Consumer behavior trends that are shaping the future.

Prime Day 2024 highlighted several trends in consumer behavior that brands should consider as they plan for the holiday season: 

Mobile shopping is on the rise. With 49.2% of Prime Day purchases made on mobile devices, brands must optimize their online presence for mobile users. This includes creating a seamless shopping experience across brand stores, creative assets, websites, and landing pages—efforts that can significantly boost conversions. 

"Brands that prioritized mobile optimization and had a well-planned SEO strategy saw the best results. Those that diversified their deals across their catalog rather than focusing on a few specific items were better positioned to navigate the volatility of deal placements and timing," says Johnathon Braga, Senior Advertising Manager

Personalization drives engagement. Today’s consumers expect personalized shopping experiences tailored to their preferences. Brands that offer customized deals and engaging content, such as lifestyle images and Sponsored Brand Videos, can better connect with consumers and showcase their products more effectively. 

“Leveraging AMC data to understand purchasing behavior allows brands to provide customized deals and recommendations that enhance the shopping experience and significantly boost conversion rates,” says Alyssa Schafer, ​​Retail Media Account Manager at Pacvue.

The growing impact of social media and influencers. Both continue to play a significant role in shaping consumer decisions. Brands can collaborate with influencers, host Amazon Live sessions, and create engaging campaigns to reach wider audiences. Promoting these efforts on Amazon brand stores and landing pages can further amplify their impact. 

“Consumers are getting savvier about what they truly ‘need’ and what’s a genuine ‘deal.’ With wallets not growing at the same rate as the economy, brands need to prepare for a more selective shopper this holiday season,” notes Catherine Sherwood, Associate Director of Commerce Account Management.

Prime Day as a springboard for holiday success.

Prime Day offers critical insights for refining strategies as we approach subsequent sales events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM). The data helps brands identify what worked and what didn’t, enabling brands to refine their promotional strategies for seasonal holidays and shopping periods.

"While BFCM is a longer event, the insights from Prime Day guide how brands should adjust their lead-in and lead-out strategies. Onsite ad targeting and strategies can be repurposed to maximize the impact during these shopping events," says Alyssa Schafer, ​​Retail Media Account Manager at Pacvue.

As the holiday season approaches, brands must analyze which products performed well during Prime Day, fine-tune ad targeting, and ensure product listings are optimized for search. For instance, categories like Toys & Games, which saw a 191.4% YoY increase in ad spend during Prime Day, are likely to continue driving significant revenue during the holidays. Brands should consider doubling down on promotions in these high-performing categories and leveraging advanced analytics to sharpen their strategies. 

The lasting gift of Prime Day. 

Prime Day 2024 may have been predictable, but this predictability highlights the need for strategic preparation. The data and trends from Prime Day are a lasting gift that provides valuable insights as we approach the busiest shopping season of the year. The halo effect, combined with a deep understanding of consumer behavior and spending patterns, equips brands to turn their Prime Day success into sustained growth through the end of the year and beyond. 

Building on Prime Day’s success for Q4. 

Ready for more? Contact us for tailored advice to keep the momentum going. 

Leverage Prime Day 2024 insights for holiday success. Explore strategies to turn momentum into sustained growth through Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and beyond. Turning Prime Day Momentum into Holiday Season Success Leverage Prime Day 2024 insights for holiday success. Explore strategies to turn momentum into sustained growth through Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and beyond. amazon prime prime day amazon seller central vendor central online shopping ecommerce amazon ads amazon advertising Holiday campaigns back to school eCommerce Platforms Commerce Seasonal marketing Retail media

From Prime Day to Holidays: Using the Halo Effect to Keep the Momentum Going on Amazon

From Prime Day to Holidays: Using the Halo Effect to Keep the Momentum Going on Amazon

Commerce Commerce, Retail media, Seasonal marketing, eCommerce Platforms 4 min read
Profile picture for user Xuanmai Vo

Written by
Xuanmai Vo
Content Marketing Manager

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Prime Day’s benefits don’t have to end when the event ends. Our experts agree: the work doesn’t stop once Prime Day is over. To truly capitalize on Prime Day’s success, you must plan your post-Prime Day strategies in advance, leveraging the halo effect for incremental growth on Amazon. Strategize to extend your sales momentum into busy seasons like back-to-school, the Turkey 5 (Black Friday and Cyber Monday) and the holidays. Each promotional period requires tailored approaches based on your brand’s goals and product seasonality. While the mechanics of preparation—like advertising and content readiness—remain consistent, the specifics might vary depending on the product launch and targeted keywords. Ultimately, it’s about aligning promotional strategies with the overarching goals for each sales event. Here’s how you can plan for post-Prime Day conversions. 

Prime Day might end after two days, but your sales momentum should continue. 

Adjust your bids and budgets back to their pre-Prime Day settings to avoid diminishing returns as ROAS drops due to deal fatigue. Wyatt Burley, our senior advertising manager highlights, “Maintaining the same strategy post-Prime Day will waste money, lower conversion rates, reduce efficiency and negatively impact your SERP relevancy and organic ranking, leading to long-term business consequences.” 

With that out of the way, let’s focus on what you should do after Prime Day ends. By understanding what worked and what didn’t, you can refine your strategies for future events. 

Monitor and analyze performance. Conduct a thorough analysis to identify areas for improvement by examining key metrics such as sales, conversion rates, customer acquisition and traffic sources. Dive deeper into long-tail metrics, including the number of new-to-brand customers acquired, glance view lifts, and assess the duration of these effects. This data will help your team understand the broader impact of your Prime Day efforts.

Align with your goals. Ensure that your post-Prime Day analysis aligns with the goals you set before the event. Whether it was increasing visibility, boosting sales or acquiring new customers, make sure you evaluate each lever that contributed to these goals.

Analyze competitor strategies. Plan to analyze what your competitors did during Prime Day and how they performed. Megan Boyko, our Account Director, suggests, “Take note of what the competition did because that may be telling for what they’re going to do for future promotional periods.” This information can help you refine your strategies and anticipate market trends.

Maintain advertising momentum. Don’t stop your advertising efforts once Prime Day ends. Instead, adjust your strategy to capitalize on the increased traffic and interest. Johnathon Braga, a Senior Advertising Manager, notes, “There’s a six-week window where you should retarget all the non-converters and cross-sell to those who didn’t purchase.” This extended advertising push can help maintain visibility and drive additional sales.

Leverage customer feedback. Reviews, ratings and social media comments can offer valuable insights into how your products were received. Use this feedback to address negative comments and to highlight positive reviews in your marketing efforts. This information is valuable for making necessary adjustments to your products or listings.

Leverage the halo effect to enhance your back-to-school sales and extend Prime Day momentum into the holiday season. 

Prime Day is part of a larger promotional calendar. Leverage the insights gained to prepare for upcoming events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday and other peak shopping periods. The same principles apply across all sales events. Brands need to examine not just the bottom-line sales but also glance views, conversion rates and both organic and paid traffic. Analyzing performance product-by-product is required to understand what drove the lift and identify any underperformers. Comparing this data with platform category performance reports helps forecast and refine strategies. This detailed analysis ensures that brands can effectively make informed decisions and optimize future promotions. 

The halo effect refers to the continued increase in brand awareness and sales following a major event like Prime Day. Increased visibility and heightened consumer interest create lasting brand impressions. Shoppers who engaged with your brand during Prime Day are more likely to return for back-to-school supplies and holiday gifts, driven by their previous positive experiences. The data collected during Prime Day, such as top-performing products and shopper preferences, can inform more targeted and effective promotional strategies for these upcoming events. Here’s how to leverage it: 

  • Analyze the data for targeted campaigns. Determine which products performed best, which customer segments were most engaged and which promotional tactics drove the highest conversions. This information can guide your back-to-school and holiday campaigns. For instance, if certain school supplies or holiday gifts experienced a surge in sales, prioritize these items in your upcoming promotions. Tailor your messaging to address the preferences and behaviors observed during Prime Day. 

  • Extend promotions and prepare for retargeting. With a whole new audience now familiar with your brand, aim to get them to make their second or third purchase within a few weeks after the event. Implement retargeting campaigns that remind shoppers of their Prime Day engagement and offer incentives to return. The goal is to keep your brand top-of-mind and encourage repeat purchases. 

  • Focus on content optimization. Now that you have fresh data, analyze shopper feedback and reviews to identify areas for improvement. Update your product listings with enhanced images, videos and detailed descriptions that address common questions or concerns. Ensuring your content is polished and informative will improve the shopping experience and boost conversions during the busy back-to-school and holiday seasons. 

  • Capitalize on seasonality and timing. Begin planning your back-to-school campaigns immediately after Prime Day. Highlight essentials like stationery, electronics, apparel or dorm room essentials to cater to students and parents. As you transition into the holiday season, emphasize gift ideas, festive decorations and exclusive holiday bundles. Align your promotions with key shopping dates and trends to maximize impact.

Wrap up Prime Day by sustaining momentum and driving incremental growth. 

If the past years have told us anything, it’s that Prime Day’s benefits can extend far beyond the two-day event. By planning these post-Prime Day strategies in advance, you can sustain momentum, drive continuous growth and turn one-time shoppers into loyal customers. These steps also allow you to analyze your Prime Day performance and make data-driven decisions for future campaigns. 

Ready to maximize your post-Prime Day success? 

Contact us for tailored advice and detailed tips to keep the momentum going. 

Extend Prime Day success with the Halo Effect. Discover strategies for back-to-school and holiday sales to maintain momentum year-round. From Prime Day to Holidays: Using the Halo Effect to Keep the Momentum Going on Amazon Extend Prime Day success with the Halo Effect. Discover strategies for back-to-school and holiday sales to maintain momentum year-round. amazon prime prime day amazon seller central vendor central online shopping ecommerce amazon ads amazon advertising eCommerce Platforms Commerce Seasonal marketing Retail media

Prime Day Strategy: 7 Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Prime Day Strategy: 7 Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Commerce Commerce, Retail media, Seasonal marketing, eCommerce Platforms 4 min read
Profile picture for user Amberleigh Benner

Written by
Amberleigh Benner
Director of Account Management

Common mistakes and pitfalls for Prime Day.

Prime Day offers incredible opportunities but can also be chaotic, leading to potential mistakes. To maximize your success, avoid common pitfalls and implement strategies that protect your brand. Steering clear of these blunders can save you time, money and effort, ensuring a smoother and more successful Prime Day experience. Here’s how. 

First, brands must understand consumer behavior, price sensitivity and brand loyalty on Amazon. Amazon shoppers are very price-conscious and will often hunt for the best deals, unless they are specifically loyal to a brand. Shoppers looking for generic items, like paper towels, will likely choose the option that offers the most value for their money, making it essential to consider your pricing strategy compared to other paid results. Even if competitors don’t have the exact same product, shoppers often think in terms of value and quantity. Additionally, some brands overlook the fact that increased traffic during Prime Day comes from deal-seeking shoppers. They’re not visiting the site for full-priced products, so offering compelling deals is necessary to capitalize on the increased traffic. 

Avoid these mistakes for Prime Day success. 

Mistakes are inevitable when crafting a strategy, and there’s no perfect formula since you can’t predict what other brands will do. Here are some frequent mistakes and how to avoid them: 

Mistake #1: Starting aggressive bidding and budget increases at the last minute. Many brands ramp up their bids and budgets either the day of the event or just a few days before, which puts them behind.

Don’t wait until the last minute to ramp up. Discuss and decide on your Prime Day products, promotions, budgets and inventory months before Prime Day. Strategically plan your promotions, inventory and advertising efforts well in advance to build momentum and maximize visibility.

Mistake #2: Pushing new or less relevant products that don’t have a proven sales history. Amazon's algorithm-driven platform can make launching new products on Prime Day challenging.

Push proven products, not newbies. Focus on products with a strong sales history, good category rankings and sales velocity. Launch new products ahead of Prime Day to build momentum, gain reviews and start the flywheel effect. Use Prime Day as a catalyst to boost visibility and sales for these products. This helps you capitalize on the increased traffic while ensuring your products have the necessary reviews and traction.

Mistake #3: Indiscriminately throwing discounts at everything. Your promotions need to be compelling and competitively priced. If your discount is 10% off but your main competitor offers 30% off, you'll be at a disadvantage.

Make your discounts count. Focus on a select assortment of products and leverage seasonal trends. Promote summer-appropriate items (e.g., outdoor gear, camping equipment, kayaks) and back-to-school necessities (e.g., school supplies, college essentials, cold medicine).

Mistake #4: Setting budgets that are too conservative. Those willing to spend more often see the most substantial growth. While cost-per-clicks may increase, so do conversion rates. 

Don’t be afraid to invest heavily. The returns can justify the expenditure. Monitor performance throughout the day and be ready to reallocate budgets to top-performing ads. Start ramping up your bids and budgets three to four weeks before the event to build momentum and better position your products.

Mistake #5: Underutilizing Sponsored Brand Ads. Typically, brands spend around 20% of their budget on these ads throughout the year, but this ad type performs exceptionally well during Prime Day.

Leverage the power of Amazon’s sponsored campaigns. Allocate a substantial portion of your budget to Sponsored Brand Ads for increased visibility. Use Sponsored Display Ads to retarget potential shoppers who have shown interest in your products, while using video ads to capture attention and boost brand recall. 

Mistake #6: Raising bids and budgets too early. This can lead to exhausted budgets by early evening. Brands often decide on a fixed number of advertised ASINs and split their budget evenly among them. 

Be flexible enough to reallocate your budget accordingly. Many consumers shop and convert later in the evening, so ensure your ads show at peak times like 7, 8, or 9 PM. Monitor performance throughout the day, double down on top performers and adjust budgets dynamically. Know when to turn off your deals, and revert settings by late evening on the second day to avoid overspending.

Mistake #7: Forgetting about the Halo Effect after Prime Day. Two critical strategies are often overlooked: retargeting and cross-selling.

Don’t ignore post-Prime Day opportunities. Implement lead-out strategies like retargeting and cross-selling to maintain momentum. Set benchmarks before Prime Day and be ready to revert to your pre-Prime Day bids and budgets immediately after the event. Failing to do so can lead to wasted money, lower conversion rates, and decreased efficiency, negatively impacting your SERP relevancy and organic ranking. Have a bulk sheet prepared detailing your historical spending and bids that drove growth. 

For additional preparation tips and insights, check out our Prime Day guide and checklist.

Monk Thoughts The Amazon shopper is very price conscious. They're looking for the best deal unless they’re brand loyal and looking for a specific product. To stand out, ensure your product appears in top search results, is competitively priced, and features high-quality images and compelling infographics.
Headshot; Amberleigh Benner, Director of Account Management

Playing the long game for incremental growth on Amazon.

Prime Day should not be viewed in isolation. It’s an opportunity to highlight your brand, gain new-to-brand shoppers and liquidate older inventory. More importantly, it’s a chance to capture consumers who may not have planned to buy immediately but are enticed by the discounts. This can lead to continued engagement and sales weeks or even months down the line. Think of Prime Day as a way to set the stage for future interactions with your brand. 

By optimizing your product listings and advertising strategies, you can make the most of Prime Day and drive substantial sales. At the same time, avoiding common mistakes and starting your preparations early can lead you to success. Focus on strategic planning, monitor your campaigns closely, and be ready to adapt to changing conditions. With these strategies in place, you’re well-equipped to achieve your Prime Day goals.

Ready to craft a winning Prime Day strategy? 

Our expertise lies in creating tailored strategies for incremental growth on Amazon. Contact us for expert advice and detailed plans to amplify your Prime Day results. 

Maximize your Prime Day success by avoiding common pitfalls, planning strategically, and implementing effective lead-in and lead-out strategies. Prime Day Strategy: 7 Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them Maximize your Prime Day success by avoiding common pitfalls, planning strategically, and implementing effective lead-in and lead-out strategies. amazon prime prime day amazon seller central vendor central online shopping ecommerce amazon ads amazon advertising eCommerce Platforms Commerce Seasonal marketing Retail media

Prime Day Success: Custom Strategies and Advertising Tactics for Amazon Sellers

Prime Day Success: Custom Strategies and Advertising Tactics for Amazon Sellers

Commerce Commerce, Retail media, Seasonal marketing, eCommerce Platforms 5 min read
Profile picture for user Johnathon Braga

Written by
Johnathon Braga
Senior Advertising Manager

Person looking at their phone at a button saying, "buy now."

Prime Day offers Amazon sellers a unique opportunity to boost visibility, clear inventory, attract new-to-brand shoppers and leave a lasting impression on shoppers. However, success hinges on having a robust and well-thought-out Prime Day strategy. Drawing from years of experience working with various brands, I’ve found that focusing on the right promotional tactics and advertising approaches can enhance visibility and drive substantial sales. By leveraging consumer psychology, strategic planning and category-specific insights, you can capture the attention of potential shoppers and make the most of this high-traffic event. For additional preparation tips and insights, check out our Prime Day guide and checklist.

Plan your Prime Day deals to attract early shoppers and maintain momentum. 

Lead-in and lead-out strategies are essential for Prime Day success. Start your deals in the weeks leading up to Prime Day to attract early shoppers and extend promotions in the days following to catch those who missed the event. Offering slightly lower discounts during these periods can maintain momentum and boost overall sales, engaging window shoppers and latecomers. 

Understanding consumer psychology is key. Put yourself in the shopper’s shoes: a 20% off limited-time deal with a big red badge on the search results page is more impactful than a simple 10% or 20% off coupon. Shoppers are drawn to the thrill of limited-time and Lightning Deals. 

Implement these tactics to maximize Prime Day sales if you missed the deadline for Lightning Deals. 

When Lightning Deals are no longer an option, don’t panic; there are other ways to attract early shoppers, maintain momentum and drive conversions. For example:

  • Run traditional promotions. To attract attention, use Best Deals or coupons with significant discounts. Best Deals provide red badging and placement on Amazon’s Deals page.

  • Offer Subscribe & Save coupons. Convert one-time shoppers into repeat customers with a 15% discount on the first subscription, particularly effective for frequently purchased items.

  • Bundle products for added value. Create product bundles to increase the average order value and provide better deals to shoppers.

  • Invest in sponsored campaigns. Boost your Sponsored Product Ads, Sponsored Brand Ads and Sponsored Brand Video Ads. These ads appear at the top of search results, featuring multiple products and directing shoppers to a specific deals page within your Brand Store. Video ads are a cost-effective way to increase brand recall and engagement. 

  • Retarget with Amazon’s Demand-Side Platform (DSP). Use DSP to retarget shoppers who have interacted with your brand to boost loyalty and drive repeat purchases. Sponsored Display Retargeting is a viable alternative for smaller brands without a DSP budget.

  • Leverage Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC). Use AMC to target shoppers who added products to their cart but didn’t complete the purchase. This is effective in the lead-out phase to convert undecided shoppers. This capability is not available in the DSP portal and requires an advertising partner with AMC access. 

  • Keep the momentum going after Prime Day. Continue retargeting and cross-selling for about six weeks after Prime Day. Adjust your bids to match post-event conversion rates, but maintain your budget to stay visible. Use DSP to retarget non-converters and cross-sell to those who purchased during Prime Day. 

Learn how to optimize ad placements and bids for increased Prime Day sales. 

Another important factor that will determine your success on Prime Day is visibility. There are certain strategies brands can use to maximize impact:

  • Increase top-of-search visibility. Consider strategies to ensure your ads appear at the top of search results, where shoppers are more likely to notice them. This can significantly impact your ad’s visibility and click-through rate. 

  • Plan your budget strategically. Break it down daily for the weeks leading up to, during, and after Prime Day. Focus on upper-funnel activities like DSP and audience targeting to build brand awareness. During Prime Day, shift to mid and lower-funnel tactics to capture the increased demand. After Prime Day, revert to normal bids and budgets to avoid off-peak overspending.

  • Utilize data from past events. Analyze historical data to understand which products and ad types performed best. This will help you focus your efforts on the most effective strategies and ensure you’re investing in the areas that will yield the highest returns. 

  • Ensure 24/7 ad activity. Prime Day traffic and conversions happen around the clock, so make sure your campaigns are active and visible for the entire 48-hour event to avoid missing out on potential sales during off-peak hours.

  • Make real-time adjustments. Keep a close eye on your campaigns and be prepared to make real-time adjustments. Adjust allocations to maintain visibility if you notice campaigns running out of budget. Remember, the 14-day attribution window can improve ROAS by 10-20%.

Evaluate your Prime Day success with these key performance indicators. 

Understanding your Prime Day performance is essential to gauge the impact of your promotional efforts and investments. By carefully considering the following metrics, you can evaluate the effectiveness of your strategies and make informed decisions to maximize future performance:

  • Top-Line Sales: Review your overall sales growth year over year to gauge the success of your Prime Day efforts. Once Vendor Central metrics are available, this should be your first metric to check. 

  • Total Advertising Cost of Sale (TACoS): TACoS offers a holistic view of your advertising efficiency by measuring total ad spend relative to overall sales. It helps you understand the impact of your ad investments. 

  • Conversion Rate: Compare your Prime Day conversion rate to the rolling four-week period leading up to the event. This will help you evaluate the effectiveness of your sales and promotional strategies. 

  • New-to-Brand Percentage: Track the percentage of new shoppers acquired during Prime Day. A high number of new customers can indicate future growth potential and brand expansion. 

  • Share of Voice (SOV): Measure your brand’s visibility compared to competitors. A higher SOV suggests greater brand awareness and market presence during Prime Day. 

  • Return on Advertising Spend (ROAS) and Advertising Cost of Sales (ACoS): Analyze ROAS to see the revenue generated per dollar spent on advertising and ACoS to understand the percentage of sales spent on advertising. Comparing these metrics year over year helps assess ad spend efficiency. 

Monk Thoughts Video ads are a powerful tool for Prime Day, capturing attention and boosting brand recall. They take up the most real estate of all ad types on Amazon, and even if shoppers don’t click, they still watch 30 seconds of your brand for free.
Headshot; Johnathon Braga, Senior Advertising Manager

Wrapping up your Prime Day strategy for maximum impact.

To make the most of Prime Day, understand consumer psychology, plan strategically, and tailor your approach based on your brand’s category. Success involves a mix of stacked promotions, mid-funnel advertising, strategic budget pacing, and dynamic adjustments based on real-time performance. Start your preparations now, as CPCs are expected to rise by 50% on Prime Day. Mid-event adjustments will be more expensive and challenging, especially for non-branded keywords. A well-crafted strategy will help you capture shopper attention and maximize returns. 

In a nutshell, Prime Day shoppers are hunting for the best deals. Decide your strategy ahead of time: if profitability is your goal, be more controlled with your deals; if growth is your goal, be more aggressive with promotions. 

Finally, remember that a solid Prime Day strategy is only as good as the results it delivers. Analyze your outcomes to refine your approach for future events. 

Ready to optimize your Prime Day strategy? 

We specialize in enhancing Amazon product listings and understanding shopper behavior to ensure your brand stands out and achieves maximum returns. Contact us for more strategic insights and techniques to maximize Prime Day results. 

Increase Prime Day sales with tailored strategies, ad optimization and category-specific tips for Amazon brands. Prime Day Success: Custom Strategies and Advertising Tactics for Amazon Sellers Increase Prime Day sales with tailored strategies, ad optimization and category-specific tips for Amazon brands. amazon prime prime day amazon seller central vendor central online shopping ecommerce amazon ads amazon advertising eCommerce Platforms Commerce Seasonal marketing Retail media

Prepare for Prime Day Success with Optimized Product Listings and Basket Building Tactics

Prepare for Prime Day Success with Optimized Product Listings and Basket Building Tactics

Commerce Commerce, Retail media, Seasonal marketing, eCommerce Platforms 4 min read
Profile picture for user Mckay Elliott

Written by
Mckay Elliott
Advertising Manager

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My team and I have worked with many Amazon sellers to help them succeed on Prime Day, and we know that success goes beyond just offering discounts. Part of a winning strategy requires optimizing your product listings and understanding the basket-building behavior of shoppers eagerly awaiting Prime Day deals. By meticulously fine-tuning your product details and strategically planning for shopper behavior in the weeks leading up to Prime Day, you can set the stage for a highly successful event. Whether your goal is to boost profitability or drive growth, these insights will help you tailor your approach for maximum impact. 

For even more preparation tips, be sure to check out our comprehensive Prime Day guide and checklist.

Get ready for Prime Day by upgrading your Amazon Brand Store and listings.

Optimize every detail for Prime Day. Even if you think your listings are already optimized, take a moment to ensure every detail is dialed in. Check that all of your content is up-to-date, especially if you've made recent product changes. Beyond individual listings, ensure your entire brand presence on Amazon is polished and consistent across your Brand Store, posts, and logos.

Boost your organic visibility on Amazon. Evaluate your organic performance in Amazon search results. Fine-tune your titles, bullet points, product descriptions, and backend keywords to boost your organic rankings. Organic sales are generally more profitable than advertising sales, so tracking and improving your organic performance should be a priority. Make incremental adjustments to potentially move from a lower search result slot to a higher one, enhancing visibility during Prime Day.

Give your Amazon Brand Store a Prime makeover. Your Brand Store plays a significant role in your overall strategy. Ensure it offers a seamless user experience, especially on high-traffic days like Prime Day. Focus on metrics like consumer interaction, add-to-cart rates, and click-through percentages. These insights will help you understand how shoppers engage with your store and identify which products drive the most interaction. 

To keep the shopping experience engaging, consider refreshing your Brand Store’s visuals, such as updating the header or images. While you can't make exaggerated claims like "50% off all products" due to Amazon's policies, you can still create a visually appealing and timely presentation. Some brands even update their Brand Store headers for specific holidays or internal promotions to maintain a fresh look.

Prime your listings for shopper confidence. In addition to the basics, consider these advanced tips to enhance your listings further and drive better performance on Prime Day: 

  • Leverage A+ Content and Enhanced Brand Content features to provide detailed, visually rich information about your products. This can improve conversion rates and help your listings stand out.
  • Incorporate high-quality product videos that demonstrate your product’s features and benefits. Videos can increase engagement and give potential shoppers a better understanding of your product. 
  • Actively manage your customer reviews and Q&A sections. Address negative reviews promptly and provide thorough answers to customer questions. Positive reviews and active engagement can significantly impact purchase decisions.

Prepare for Prime Day basket building by anticipating shopper behavior and adjusting ad budgets. 

In the two weeks leading up to Prime Day, shoppers tend to build their baskets in anticipation of deals. This behavior can result in lower conversion rates and reduced advertising ROI. To effectively navigate this period, follow these steps: 

Anticipate delayed purchases. Shoppers often add products to their cart but wait to purchase until Prime Day. Recognizing this pattern helps you better interpret performance metrics during this period. 

Set the right expectations for Prime Day. A temporary dip now means a big sales payoff later. Brands participating in Prime Day should start by pacing their budget day-by-day for the weeks leading up to, during, and after Prime Day. A detailed budget plan avoids overspending early and ensures there are enough resources to maintain visibility throughout the event.

Adjust Prime Day ad budgets. Consider reducing your ad budgets to avoid overspending. However, rather than drastically changing the advertising budget, just dial it back a bit. Stay visible and keep engaging with potential shoppers so you’ll be ready to retarget those who interacted with your ads when Prime Day hits. For instance, focusing on mid-funnel ads such as Sponsored Brand ads and Sponsored Brand Video ads can help maintain visibility and engagement during this period.

Maximize visibility during Prime Day. Standing out during this high-traffic event requires a strategic approach to ensure your product remains top-of-mind for shoppers. Here are some effective strategies to boost your presence and drive sales:

  • Increase your budget for Sponsored Product ads to maintain a strong presence throughout Prime Day. These ads help drive traffic directly to your product listings and keep your brand visible amid the competition.
  • Participate in Lightning Deals and offer enticing coupons to attract bargain hunters. These limited-time offers can significantly increase your product’s visibility and drive higher sales volumes by creating a sense of urgency and value. 
  • Leverage social media and influencer partnerships to create buzz around your Prime Day deals. Influencers can help expand your reach and build anticipation, making your products more appealing to a broader audience.
Monk Thoughts Avoid drastically changing your advertising strategy because you can retarget people on Prime Day who engaged with your ads in the lead-up period. When deals go live, they often return to purchase items from their baskets or explore your brand further.
mckay-elliot-headshot

Ensure Prime Day success with enhanced listings and strategies.

Optimizing your listings and preparing for basket building are crucial steps for Prime Day success. By polishing your listings, boosting organic visibility, and enhancing your Brand Store, you create a seamless and engaging shopping experience. Anticipating shopper behavior, setting realistic expectations, and adjusting your ad budgets strategically will help you navigate the high-traffic period effectively. Finally, leveraging advanced advertising tactics and engaging with influencers can amplify your reach and drive higher sales. With these strategies in place, you'll be well-prepared to capture the increased traffic and capitalize on Prime Day's opportunities.

Ready to optimize your Prime Day strategy? 

We excel in optimizing Amazon product listings and analyzing shopper behavior to help your brand achieve exceptional results. Our strategic insights and proven techniques can set you up for Prime Day success. For expert guidance and support, connect with us here. 

Optimize your Amazon product listings and prepare for basket-building to boost Prime Day sales and visibility. Prepare for Prime Day Success with Optimized Product Listings and Basket Building Tactics Optimize your Amazon product listings and prepare for basket-building to boost Prime Day sales and visibility. amazon prime prime day amazon seller central vendor central online shopping ecommerce amazon advertising eCommerce Platforms Commerce Seasonal marketing Retail media

Profit or Growth? Crafting a Winning Prime Day Strategy

Profit or Growth? Crafting a Winning Prime Day Strategy

Commerce Commerce, Retail media, Seasonal marketing, eCommerce Platforms 4 min read
Profile picture for user Wyatt Burley

Written by
Wyatt Burley
Senior Advertising Manager

blog-cover-light-bulb-prime-day-prep

At Media.Monks, we see Prime Day as a substantial opportunity for brands to boost sales and enhance visibility on Amazon. However, to make the most of this event, I recommend that brands decide whether to focus on profitability or growth, as these goals require different strategies and approaches. From strategic spending and category analysis to leveraging lead-in and lead-out strategies, our experts have come together to help you develop a plan that maximizes your success. For additional preparation tips and insights, don’t forget to check out our Prime Day guide and checklist.

Here’s how to tailor your Prime Day strategy to meet your objectives.

If your Prime Day goal is profitability, the key is to be strategic with your spending and focus on products with healthy margins. Here are some steps to consider:

  • Allocate your budget to a few key ASINs to minimize wasted spend and maximize ad efficiency. This focused approach helps you manage your resources effectively.
  • Use historical data and competitive analysis to understand the market landscape. Look at what your competitors are doing. How much are they spending? Are they running limited-time Lightning Deals or Prime-exclusive discounts? This information helps you decide where to allocate your budget effectively without overspending on inflated CPCs, which can rise by 30-40% during Prime Day.
  • Understand that consumer buying behavior has shifted to shoppers spending less on ecommerce. This makes it even more important to be even more strategic. If you can't compete with the big spenders, lowering your bids and maintaining efficiency might be smarter rather than chasing inflated cost-per-clicks.

If your Prime Day goal is growth, you might need to be more aggressive with your advertising and promotions. Here's how to approach it:

  • Increase your ad spend and run more extensive deals to capture a larger market share. To ensure your efforts are effective, you need a thorough understanding of your competitors’ actions and current consumer trends.
  • Understand that consumers want deals with big red badges, not regular-priced items. Think like a shopper: If your item is priced the same as it was yesterday, they'll likely wait or go elsewhere.
  • Use all available data to make informed decisions. Failing to do so will make your efforts more expensive and less effective. In some cases, if you can't afford to run deals or compete with high ad spending, saving your budget for after Prime Day when competition normalizes might be wiser.

Learn the importance of lead-in and lead-out strategies for Prime Day.

Whether your goal is profitability or growth, a comprehensive lead-in and lead-out strategy is what will drive and maximize your Prime Day success. The lead-in phase is about building awareness and interest and familiarizing Amazon shoppers with your brand, while the lead-out phase is about capturing residual demand and maintaining momentum to drive additional sales even after Prime Day ends. Here’s how to build awareness before the event and maintain momentum afterward. 

Lead-In Strategy: Starting Strong. The lead-in phase is about building awareness and familiarizing shoppers with your brand. This is not the time to focus on high ROAS; instead, run video placements, streaming TV ads, and Sponsored Brand Ads to move consumers down the funnel. 

Budget Pacing: Timing Your Treasure. When preparing for Prime Day, aligning on which products to push is important. These discussions should start early, ideally in February or March, to determine which products will be promoted and how the budget will be allocated. Planning your budget structure—whether to pull spending from August into July or otherwise—is key. Strategically plan your budget down to the day, considering how much to spend in the weeks leading up to Prime Day. This early alignment ensures that you are well-prepared and not scrambling at the last minute. During Prime Day, shift to lower-funnel tactics to capture demand, using Sponsored Product Ads and Sponsored Display retargeting to drive high returns.

Lead-Out Strategy: Finishing with Flair. Don’t let your efforts end when Prime Day ends. Many shoppers continue to shop in the days following the event. Extend your deals slightly and continue advertising to capture these late buyers. This approach can help you maintain momentum and capture additional sales. Focus on bottom-funnel ads like Sponsored Product Ads and Sponsored Display Retargeting to capture residual demand. This can help you ride the wave off of your competitors coming out of Prime Day.

Monk Thoughts If launching your biggest deal, build awareness with streaming TV and Prime Video ads. If budget is tight, focus on gaining relevance through proven strategies like launching a Sponsored Brand video a month before.
wyatt-burley-headshot

Pave the way to Prime Day success.

Identifying your goals for Prime Day will set you on the path to incremental success on Amazon. By focusing on strategic spending, analyzing historical data, and understanding consumer behavior, you can develop a tailored approach that aligns with your specific objectives. Whether your aim is profitability or growth, early alignment on product promotion, a well-planned advertising strategy, and a comprehensive lead-in and lead-out approach are key to success. Additionally, creativity in ad placements and leveraging advanced targeting options like Sponsored Display Retargeting can further enhance your campaign's effectiveness.

By starting preparations early and thinking strategically, you can maximize your returns on Prime Day.

Looking to make the most out of Prime Day? 

Media.Monks specializes in crafting tailored strategies that help brands achieve their goals, whether profitability or growth. Let us guide you through the process with expert insights and proven techniques. Reach out to us here. 

Maximize Prime Day success by choosing the right strategy: profitability or growth. Tailor your approach for Amazon’s biggest event. Profit or Growth? Crafting a Winning Prime Day Strategy Maximize Prime Day success by choosing the right strategy: profitability or growth. Tailor your approach for Amazon’s biggest event. amazon prime prime day amazon seller central vendor central online shopping ecommerce eCommerce Platforms Commerce Seasonal marketing Retail media
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Prime Day 2024 Checklist

Ready, Set, Prime: Check Off Your Path to Amazon Success

Prime day checklist report cover

Download now to start marking your milestones toward Prime Day success.

Alongside our guide, we’re offering a separate checklist as a resource for brands to prepare for Prime Day.

This resource ensures that every critical strategy and touchpoint is carefully created, implemented, and reviewed.

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Thorough Preparation: Ensure retail readiness by systematically addressing each critical aspect of your Prime Day strategy.
  • Seamless Execution: Use the checklist to execute strategies flawlessly, minimizing errors and maximizing efficiency.
  • Continuous Improvement: Review and refine your approach regularly based on detailed assessments, driving ongoing enhancements and better results.

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