Marketing | Marketing

What is Amazon DSP

A Beginner Friendly Guide

By Abhinav Tiwari
Jun 09, 2025 | 5 Minutes | |

What is Amazon DSP? A Beginner Friendly Guide

In today’s digital world, where brands are constantly fighting for attention online, advertising platforms like Amazon DSP are changing the game. If you have ever wondered how brands show you the perfect product ad   even when you are not browsing Amazon   there's a good chance Amazon DSP is behind it. But what exactly is it? Let’s break it down in simple terms.

So, what is Amazon DSP?

Amazon DSP (Demand Side Platform) is a programmatic advertising platform. In everyday language, it is a tool that helps advertisers buy display, video, and audio ads across Amazon’s network   and beyond   in an automated way.

This means your ads can appear not just on Amazon.com and its apps (like Prime Video or IMDb), but also on third party websites and apps where Amazon sells ad space.

You dont need to be selling on Amazon to use it either. Whether you're a brand that sells on Amazon, your own website, or even in physical stores, Amazon DSP can help you reach the right audience at the right time.

 

Why is Amazon DSP powerful?

Here are a few reasons marketers love Amazon DSP:

1. Audience Targeting with Rich Data

Amazon knows what millions of users browse, buy, and search every day. That’s powerful data. DSP advertisers can use this to target users based on real shopping behavior   not just interests or demographics.

For example, if someone searched for “running shoes” on Amazon recently, you can target them with ads for your own athletic gear, even on non Amazon websites.

2. Brand Safe, Premium Inventory

Your ads can show up on top quality placements including:

  • Amazon.com & mobile app
  • IMDb
  • Twitch
  • Fire TV
  • Leading third party sites & apps

So you're not guessing where your ad ends up   you're in trusted spaces.

3. Creative Ad Formats

Amazon DSP supports several formats like:

  • Display banners
  • Video ads (in stream and out stream)
  • Audio ads (on Amazon Music or Alexa enabled devices)

This allows you to engage users in multiple ways across devices.

 

Who is Amazon DSP for?

  • Large brands with substantial media budgets looking to scale reach.
  • Ecommerce sellers wanting to retarget shoppers who viewed but didn’t buy.
  • Brands not selling on Amazon but still want to tap into Amazon’s audience and data.

Note: While smaller advertisers can use it, Amazon DSP usually requires a minimum ad spend. But there are partners (called Amazon DSP managed service providers) that can offer self serve or care off options for smaller budgets too.

Amazon DSP isn’t just about running ads   it is about making smarter decisions using rich data and automating the process of reaching the right customer at the right time. Whether you are launching a new product or building brand awareness, Amazon DSP can give you a competitive edge with deep insights, broad reach, and performance driven tools.

In short, it is Amazon’s way of helping advertisers go beyond the "buy now" button   and meet shoppers wherever they are online.

Authors

Abhinav Tiwari

Sr. Director - Media
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