Voice-only ads might be coming: here’s what marketers need to know about Amazon Alexa+
Marketers need to prepare for the shift from visual ads to conversational promotions on smart devices.
Imagine running ads with no images, no text, just voice — directly through smart speakers and other devices. That possibility isn’t far off. Last week, Amazon officially introduced Alexa+, its latest voice assistant upgrade powered by generative AI.
This new version promises smoother conversations, more personalized interactions, and support across more devices — including car systems, smart TVs, and of course, Amazon’s own Echo line.
Alexa+ is available in the United States as a subscription service for US$19.99 per month (free for Prime members), with the goal of keeping users in Amazon’s ecosystem. But for marketers, the bigger opportunity could come from something Amazon hasn’t directly confirmed yet: ads inside Alexa conversations.
Short on time?
Here is a table of content for quick access to what you need:
- What Alexa+ means for ads and voice marketing
- How marketers can prepare for voice-only ads
- Other AI voice assistants exploring brand integration
What Alexa+ means for ads and voice marketing
Amazon’s advertising business is already one of its fastest-growing revenue streams, bringing in over US$47 billion in 2024. With Alexa+, Amazon could open up new inventory for audio-based ads, letting brands insert themselves into conversations when users ask for recommendations, product suggestions, or content.
Some early versions of this exist. Echo Show devices already display product ads and Alexa smart speakers sometimes suggest premium subscriptions — especially for Audible and Amazon Music. But with generative AI handling conversations, Alexa+ could push this further. Instead of a simple product suggestion, imagine Alexa delivering a branded message, podcast-style, based on the user’s purchase history or preferences.
The upside for marketers? A chance to reach users in more personal moments, like when they’re cooking, driving, or asking for help with daily tasks. The risk? If the ads feel intrusive, users could disable features — or the assistant itself.
Patrecia Meliana
How marketers can prepare for voice-only ads
Voice ads aren’t completely new. Brands have experimented with podcast sponsorships and audio ads on Spotify and YouTube Music. But ads inside smart assistants like Alexa+ could work very differently — blending into conversations instead of interrupting them.
Here’s how marketing teams can prepare:
- Rethink copywriting for voice
Traditional ad copy doesn’t work for voice. Shorter, conversational scripts with natural language will perform better. Think about how your brand would actually talk to someone in their kitchen or living room.
- Focus on contextual relevance
If Alexa knows the user is cooking, a relevant recipe product ad feels natural. If they’re setting reminders for a trip, a travel insurance suggestion makes sense. Relevance matters more than ever.
- Measure brand lift, not just clicks
Without visual elements or clickable CTAs, voice ads will rely on brand recall, sentiment tracking, and audio attribution tools. Brands need to rethink performance measurement for voice platforms.
Other AI voice assistants exploring brand integration
Amazon isn’t the only player building smarter voice assistants. Here’s how other platforms are integrating brand content — even if they aren’t fully ad-supported yet:
- Google Assistant
Brands can create custom Google Actions (similar to Alexa Skills) to offer services through Google Assistant. Some brands also optimize for voice search SEO, ensuring their content is the top response when users ask questions.
- Apple’s Siri
Apple keeps Siri’s ecosystem relatively closed, but brands can still work with Siri Suggestions to appear contextually when users search or use related apps. Siri Shortcuts also let brands create voice-triggered actions for apps.
- Samsung’s Bixby
While less popular, Bixby Capsules allow brands to build interactive voice experiences on Samsung devices. Adoption is low, but for brands targeting Asian markets, Bixby could still play a niche role.
Alexa+ ads aren’t officially confirmed, but Amazon’s history with monetizing every touchpoint makes it likely. For marketers, the smart move is to start building voice-friendly content strategies now — so you’re ready when (not if) the ad opportunity arrives.
Brands that understand how to write, test, and measure conversational content will have an edge. Whether it’s voice search SEO, podcast-style storytelling, or branded skills, the sooner brands adapt to audio-first content, the better positioned they’ll be for the next phase of digital advertising.
This post is created by ContentGrow, providing scalable and tailored content creation services for B2B brands and publishers worldwide. Book a discovery call to learn more.
