Your director at Amazon asks about Amazon Photos: should we add more Amazon Photos sharing capabilities or focus on storage?

Introduction

The trade-off we're examining today is whether Amazon Photos should focus on enhancing sharing capabilities or prioritize storage improvements. This decision is crucial for the product's future direction and user engagement. I'll analyze this trade-off by considering user needs, business objectives, and technical feasibility, ultimately providing a data-driven recommendation.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Context: I'm thinking about the competitive landscape for photo storage and sharing. Could you provide insights into our current market position compared to competitors like Google Photos or iCloud?

Why it matters: Helps frame our strategic priorities Expected answer: We're strong in storage but lagging in sharing features Impact on approach: Would influence whether we need to catch up or differentiate

• Business Context: Based on our revenue model, I assume Photos contributes indirectly through Prime subscriptions. Is this correct, or are there direct monetization strategies in place?

Why it matters: Determines how we measure success and prioritize features Expected answer: Primarily drives Prime subscriptions, some potential for print services Impact on approach: Would focus on engagement metrics over direct revenue

• User Impact: I'm curious about our user segments. Do we see different behaviors between Prime and non-Prime users regarding photo storage and sharing?

Why it matters: Helps tailor features to user needs and behaviors Expected answer: Prime users store more, but sharing is consistent across segments Impact on approach: Might suggest different strategies for different user groups

• Technical: Considering our current architecture, how scalable are our options for expanding sharing capabilities versus enhancing storage?

Why it matters: Influences feasibility and resource allocation Expected answer: Storage improvements are easier to scale with current infrastructure Impact on approach: Could lean towards storage if sharing presents significant technical challenges

• Timeline: Is there a specific event or deadline driving this decision, such as a competitor launch or internal milestone?

Why it matters: Affects urgency and scope of potential solutions Expected answer: No immediate deadline, but part of Q3 planning Impact on approach: Allows for a more thorough analysis and potentially phased implementation