Paul’s Perspective:
Understanding the overwhelming control a few tech giants have in the advertising landscape is crucial for businesses mapping out their marketing budgets and strategies. This piece serves as a wake-up call to diversify marketing efforts and negotiate effectively in an environment increasingly shaped by the market power of Alphabet, Meta, and Amazon.
Key Points in Article:
- Alphabet, Meta, and Amazon captured $163 billion of the $325 billion U.S. ad market in 2023.
- The dominance of these platforms has risen from 40% in 2019 to nearly 50% by 2023.
- Other major players, such as retail media networks like Walmart Connect, are gaining but remain far behind.
- Marketers face rising costs and limited alternatives outside the big three for scaled digital campaigns.
Strategic Actions:
- Assess your current ad spend distribution across platforms.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of campaigns with Alphabet, Meta, and Amazon versus alternative channels.
- Explore opportunities in emerging retail media networks for diversification.
- Monitor rising costs and campaign performance as you allocate budgets.
- Develop strategies to avoid overdependence on dominant platforms.
Dive deeper > Full Story:
The Bottom Line:
- Alphabet, Meta, and Amazon together account for 50% of all U.S. advertising spend, highlighting their unprecedented influence over the digital ad market.
- This concentration affects advertisers’ strategies and intensifies competition for visibility and audience reach.
Ready to Explore More?
We work alongside business owners to rethink digital ad strategies and uncover cost-effective ways to compete, tapping into our broad team expertise. Let’s talk about how we can help you adapt and navigate an evolving ad market with greater confidence.


