Gene Alvarez

In a discussion on social software and online selling, Amazon is one of the most often used examples.

However, in the examples used in these discussions Amazon’s perceived image is different to each person. So as beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Amazon’s business model is in the eyes of the user. For example, if I asked you to complete this question Amazon is…

What would be your answer?

Here are some of the ones I hear.

• An online mall where it enables vendors to sell within the Amazon experience
• A retailer where they sell goods they stock and ship
• A brand  in itself representing the bench mark for online shopping (from product research to purchase)
• A destination site (start all your shopping here)
• A technology provider of cloud computing?
• A technology provider that can run your online store for you

However, one of my most popular inquiry questions I receive is “How do we create a customer experience like Amazon?”

Well the answer to the second questions lies in the first. What do you think Amazon is?