Justin Nuckols, an Amazon DSP strategist, and Adam Mellott, a performance measurement expert, dive into the intricacies of key performance indicators and DSP effectiveness. They emphasize the importance of setting realistic expectations and understanding campaign intent beyond just ROAS. The duo discusses optimizing marketing strategies throughout the customer journey, from awareness to purchase. They also highlight Amazon Marketing Cloud’s role in providing insights that enhance ad integration and drive conversions, advocating for a comprehensive approach to advertising at every funnel stage.
Understanding the importance of setting realistic expectations and recognizing that DSP advertising focuses on long-term incremental gains is crucial for success.
Different marketing funnel stages require tailored measurement approaches, with specific metrics such as conversion rates and CTR significantly impacting DSP campaign optimization.
Deep dives
Understanding the Intent of DSP Advertising
The primary focus when engaging with Demand-Side Platform (DSP) advertising revolves around comprehending the platform's intent, which may not solely translate into immediate increases in revenue. Brands often expect significant sales lifts from DSP, but it's crucial to recognize the role of incrementality and the broader marketing objectives, including brand awareness and consumer education. For example, DSP can effectively target potential consumers who may not have initially been aware of a product but are in the market for it. Therefore, aligning advertising strategies with the specific goals of increasing awareness or re-engaging past customers is essential before determining relevant KPIs.
Measuring Success Across the Marketing Funnel
Different stages of the marketing funnel require distinct measurement approaches to assess the performance of DSP campaigns accurately. High purchase intent strategies, like those at the bottom of the funnel, should focus on metrics such as conversion rates and purchase volumes, ensuring they yield the majority of sales. Conversely, consideration strategies, located in the middle of the funnel, hinge on metrics like click-through rates and video completion rates to gauge consumer engagement effectively. By clearly defining these metrics per funnel stage, brands can optimize their DSP spend and evaluate performance beyond just return on ad spend (ROAS).
The Role of Awareness in DSP Campaigns
Awareness tactics play a crucial role in DSP advertising, particularly as brands transition from traditional media to more targeted digital strategies. The primary metrics for awareness campaigns include reach and impressions, aiming to engage relevant audiences based on behavioral and demographic data rather than broad options available through traditional advertising. An effective awareness campaign increases consumer engagement with detail pages, setting the stage for higher consideration and conversion rates in subsequent funnel stages. For example, targeting potential home buyers based on their online behavior allows brands to engage customers before they even start searching for products, creating a more favorable position for future sales.
Amazon DSP Series Episode #4 - In episode four of our Amazon DSP Series, Justin Nuckols and Adam Mellott are putting more focus on key performance indicators (KPIs) and measurement strategies for DSP specifically. They stress the importance of understanding what you want to achieve with DSP, whether it's building brand awareness or remarketing to existing customers. It's clear that while Return on Ad Spend (ROAS) is crucial, it's not the only metric that matters.
Setting realistic expectations is vital with DSP because it is all about incremental gains. During the episode Adam notes, "DSP is a long game and initial or immediate results cannot and should not be expected out of the gate." Justin and Adam also discuss how to optimize strategies for different stages of the marketing funnel, from awareness to consideration to purchase intent - highlighting metrics like conversion rate, click-through rate (CTR), and average order value (AOV) as essential for understanding the effectiveness of your campaigns.
The duo also explains how Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC) provides valuable insights into how DSP integrates with your other advertising efforts. By using tools like the path to purchase and media mix modules, you are able to see how different ad types work together to drive conversions. Justin emphasizes, "You should be advertising at every stage of the funnel, everywhere a customer can see you. It leads to the strongest conversion rate."
Key Points Mentioned:
Setting Realistic Expectations: DSP is a long-term strategy, and immediate results should not be expected. Patience and continuous optimization are key.
Tailoring KPIs to Goals: It's essential to define your DSP goals, whether it's for brand awareness or remarketing, and adjust KPIs accordingly.
Optimizing Across the Funnel: Different stages of the funnel require different metrics and strategies, from conversion rates at the purchase stage to reach and impressions at the awareness stage.
Integration with AMC: Using Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC) helps understand how DSP works with other ad types to drive overall effectiveness.
Granular Targeting: DSP allows for detailed targeting based on web activity and demographics, setting it apart from traditional advertising methods.
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