The Amazon Marketplace team is debating: should we add more Marketplace promotional features or focus on organic discovery?

Introduction

The Amazon Marketplace team is facing a critical decision: should we enhance promotional features or focus on improving organic discovery? This trade-off involves balancing short-term revenue gains against long-term platform health and user experience. I'll analyze this problem by examining the current marketplace ecosystem, evaluating potential impacts, and proposing a data-driven approach to make an informed decision.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Context: I'm assuming this is about the main Amazon.com marketplace, not a specific category or region. Could you confirm if this is a global initiative or focused on a particular market?

Why it matters: Impacts scale of implementation and potential cultural considerations Expected answer: Global initiative Impact on approach: Would need to consider regional variations in user behavior and regulations

• Business Context: Based on the focus on promotional features, I'm thinking this might be driven by a need to increase GMV or seller engagement. Can you share the primary business motivation behind this consideration?

Why it matters: Helps align solution with core business objectives Expected answer: Increase in GMV and seller satisfaction Impact on approach: Would influence the balance between short-term revenue and long-term ecosystem health

• User Impact: I'm assuming this affects both buyers and sellers. Can you provide any insights into which user segment (e.g., new vs. existing buyers, small vs. large sellers) we're most concerned about?

Why it matters: Helps prioritize features and tailor the solution Expected answer: Focus on new buyers and small to medium sellers Impact on approach: Would guide the design of promotional features and discovery algorithms

• Technical: Considering the scale of Amazon's marketplace, I'm thinking about the technical feasibility of implementing new promotional features. Are there any significant technical constraints or ongoing infrastructure projects we should be aware of?

Why it matters: Influences the scope and timeline of potential solutions Expected answer: No major constraints, but need to consider scalability Impact on approach: Would affect the complexity and rollout strategy of new features

• Resource: Given that this is a strategic decision, I'm assuming we have flexibility in resources. Can you give me an idea of the team capacity and budget available for this initiative?

Why it matters: Determines the scale and speed of implementation Expected answer: Moderate team capacity, flexible budget based on projected impact Impact on approach: Would influence the ambition and phasing of the proposed solution