Amazon Prime Instant Video Catalog Grows

Such is the online video content war: catalogs grow, compete and find their way into the homes / devices of as many eyeballs as possible.... after all, content wants to be seen and ultimately the economics for all are dictated on content being seen by as many eyeballs as possible. It's why I believe that over time libraries will exist and overlap on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, web, app stores, etc. It's inevitable... And here is:- continued proof of that trend - and yet another reason to be bullish on Amazon, Amazon Prime and Amazon Instant Video

And most importantly: Yo Gabba Gabba is now available with unlimited streaming from Amazon. Attention parents - this alone is reason enough to buy the Kindle Fire!!

Amazon's Kindle Lending Club Makes the Already-Affordable Kindle Fire Even More Attractive

In the last month alone, I have purchased three books on the Amazon Kindle store (I use the Kindle app on the iPad)... had Amazon's new Kindle Lending Library program been live, I would have simply purchased the Kindle Fire and considered it an eventual cost-saving: - I've spent $40+ on books over the last month alone - The device itself is $199, now comes with effectively free books... and a gadget with much more

No brainer right? (big caveat: assuming content library is strong - it certainly appears to be)

And that's why Amazon is brilliant: - They changed the tablet landscape through pricing. - They used it, along with other launches, to drive Prime membership and usage. - They are now introducing a new way to deliver / consume books ... which has already happened to music (hello: Turntable.fm, Spotify, Pandora) - And yet again users have to ask if the Apple & iTunes & iBooks experience is worth paying more for than Amazon's (Kindle Fire, Kindle Store, ec)

Amazon Sells Prime Gorgeously

Amazon is the king of simple, effective marketing units. Here are two more that promote Amazon Prime. (Never mind the fact that I already subscribe to Prime and am not sure why I am seeing these promotions...) Amazon gives five value props: 1. FAST Shipping 2. No Minimums 3. Wide Selection 4. Send Anywhere 5. Instant Videos

Here are the two units for shipping and selection. They are brilliant: clever, on brand and compelling:

Amazon Experiments with Customer Reviews, Also Launches Amazon Vine

I buy everything on Amazon and rely on their customer reviews more-so than their product descriptions, recommendations, etc. My Amazon experience is normally something like this: - visit Amazon.com with some intent / need, usually using the search box to begin - after sorting by bestselling and filtering for "Amazon Prime Only", I arrive at my product set - I then open up all potential products in individual tabs ... and compare based on customer reviews and pricing ... .... usually spending more time reading the negative reviews

Today, I noticed something strange though: Amazon has hid the reviews one click away. In their normal place, Amazon has a "Buy This Product and Related Accessories" module and the standard "Customers Who Viewed This Item Also Viewed..." module. Not only did I find the navigation painful, I found it presumptuous to replace necessary product information with accessories (for a product that I do not yet know enough about):

I shop on Amazon because it is a better experience than anything else available - online or offline. Efficiency and content / information are a big part of that. Amazon has been known to routinely test page layouts and modules - my feedback on this one: I hope it is just that... a test.

Also relevant (in ironic timing), Amazon has launched a new customer reviewer program called "Amazon Vine". Note to Amazon: how do I become a part of this?!

What is Amazon Vine™? Amazon Vine™ is a program that enables a select group of Amazon customers to post opinions about new and pre-release items to help their fellow customers make educated purchase decisions. Customers are invited to become Amazon Vine™ Voices based on the trust they have earned in the Amazon community for writing accurate and insightful reviews. Amazon provides Amazon Vine™ members with free copies of products that have been submitted to the program by vendors. Amazon does not influence the opinions of Amazon Vine™ members, nor do we modify or edit their reviews.