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In this newsletter, you’ll find:
Let’s dive in: 👇
With Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days behind us, it’s time to laser focus in on the remainder of your Q4 success.
Last week, we covered tips from the Pilothouse Amazon team on (1) promotion strategy, (2) main sales days strategy, and (3) advertising and creative strategy. Today, it’s all about inventory.
Let’s dive in: 👇
4️⃣ Inventory strategy
Effective inventory management is crucial in Q4. Why? Because of increased sales velocity and longer receiving times at Amazon’s warehouses.
Here are some tips to manage your inventory effectively:
📦 Regular shipments to Amazon
🎃 Stock up before October 31st
😣 Prepare for possible stockouts
💰 Maintain consistent pricing
✅ Set up both FBA and FBM
The Pilothouse Amazon team used these cumulative strategies to capitalize on Prime Day in July (which set sales records for several clients) and will use them to generate consistent success this Q4. Will you be joining them? 👀
What would you think if Google wasn’t just inflating the price of those low-competition keywords but gave their entire search algorithm a makeover to rake in more cash?
That’s what Megan Gray, an attorney known for her winning streak against tech giants, proposed after sitting in on Google’s antitrust trial.
To summarize Gray’s claims, when users search for something like "children's clothing," Google might secretly switch it up with something like "NIKOLAI-brand kidswear." Sneaky, right?
If Google was caught swapping out organic search results to boost ad clicks, that's not a good look. 😬
Gray’s article has since been removed from Wired’s website but remnants of her claims remain public. We took this opportunity to examine the information Gray saw that caused such an uproar in the first place and if there is any evidence to back her up.
For more information, including:
We’ve got everything you need to know right here.
Brands are making strategic shifts in their marketing efforts to increase engagement and stay competitive.
Two key trends are emerging:
US marketers are allocating more budget to email marketing, recognizing its effectiveness in reaching and engaging their target audiences.
In a recent survey by SeQuel Response and ISG, it was found that 62% of US B2B and B2C marketers have increased their direct marketing budgets in the past year, with email marketing being the top area of investment.
Email marketing is favored by marketers due to its high return on investment, yielding $36 for every dollar spent, according to Litmus. However, there is a challenge as 48% of US internet users admit to frequently ignoring or deleting emails from brands without reading them. To address this, brands are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) and automation tools to deliver personalized and targeted messaging to their audiences. Nevertheless, Google's new email sender guidelines, which make it easier to unsubscribe from bulk senders, may pose challenges for email marketers.
🛍️Retail media networks (RMNs)
Retail media networks are gaining prominence as a valuable marketing channel. A survey conducted by digital marketing platform LiveIntent reveals that 73% of marketers plan to increase their investment in RMNs over the next year, with 43% already reporting positive results from RMN campaigns.
Retail media networks are retailer-owned advertising services that allow marketers to purchase advertising space across all digital assets owned by a retail business. They leverage the retailer's first-party data to engage with shoppers throughout their buying journey. Marketers are particularly drawn to channels that require customer logins, such as email newsletters, promotional emails, video streaming services, and social media.
The adoption of RMNs is on the rise, with 60% of marketers having a general understanding of them, and 84% foreseeing increased adoption in the next year. Moreover, a majority (63%) believe that RMNs are more effective than other forms of digital marketing, and 54% have seen significant improvements in sales and customer engagement from RMN campaigns.
Staying updated on these trends can help enhance engagement, deliver personalized content, and harness valuable first-party data for better brand results.
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🎞️ Meta announces new ad options for Facebook Reels ahead of the holiday push. Including Collections Ads, Multi-Destination Reels Carousel Ads, and "Swipe Left" functionality for brands in preparation for the holiday season, while also enhancing brand suitability controls via third-party verification.
🔍 Google: Demand more from social with AI-powered ads. Demand Gen campaigns are offering diverse ad formats, improved reporting, and advanced audience and bidding solutions to help advertisers capture and engage audiences effectively.
🤖 The head of Germany's cartel office warns that the rise of artificial intelligence could strengthen the market power of Big Tech companies, highlighting the need for regulators to monitor potential anti-competitive behavior in areas such as smart homes, web search, online advertising, and cars.
Patiently waiting for someone to call on you after raising your hand in Google Meet 😅
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DTC Newsletter is written by Rebecca Knight and Michael Venditti. Edited by Claire Beveridge and Eric Dyck.
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