Alternative platforms for audiobooks and audio content similar to Audible comprise Libro.fm, Scribd, Google Play Books, Kobo, and Downpour for audiobooks. Or podcast platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and Overcast for a wide range of podcast listening options.
Alternative
Key Features
Core Strengths
Weaknesses
Scribd
1. Audiobooks and eBooks: Offers a vast library of audiobooks and eBooks. 2. Unlimited Reading: Provides unlimited access to a wide range of content. 3. Originals: Includes Scribd Originals and documents.
– Extensive library of audiobooks and eBooks across various genres. – Unlimited reading for a flat monthly fee. – Includes exclusive Scribd Originals and other documents.
– Audiobook selection may not be as comprehensive as Audible’s. – May not have the same level of exclusive content. – Requires a subscription for full access.
LibriVox
1. Free Public Domain Audiobooks: Offers free access to public domain audiobooks. 2. Volunteer Narrators: Audiobooks are narrated by volunteers. 3. Global Content: Provides audiobooks in multiple languages.
– Access to a vast collection of public domain audiobooks at no cost. – Volunteer narrators contribute to a wide variety of titles. – Multilingual content for users worldwide.
– Limited to public domain books, so may not have the latest bestsellers. – Audiobook quality may vary based on volunteer narrators. – Lacks the premium features and exclusive content of paid services like Audible.
Google Play Books
1. Audiobooks and eBooks: Offers audiobooks and eBooks for purchase. 2. Personal Library: Allows users to upload and store their eBooks. 3. Cross-Platform: Accessible on various devices.
– Access to a vast collection of audiobooks and eBooks for purchase. – Option to upload and manage personal eBook collection. – Cross-platform compatibility for reading on different devices.
– Pricing varies for audiobooks and eBooks, and some titles may be expensive. – Lacks the subscription model for unlimited access. – Limited to purchased content and may not include free offerings like Audible.
Storytel
1. Audiobooks and eBooks: Offers a catalog of audiobooks and eBooks. 2. Unlimited Streaming: Provides unlimited streaming of content. 3. Offline Access: Allows for offline listening.
– Diverse collection of audiobooks and eBooks in multiple languages. – Unlimited streaming for a fixed monthly fee. – Offline access for listening without an internet connection.
– Availability of titles may vary by region. – Limited to the subscription model and may not have a pay-per-title option. – May not have the same depth of content as Audible.
Hoopla
1. Library Borrowing: Offers access to audiobooks and other media through local libraries. 2. Offline Access: Allows users to download content for offline use. 3. No Cost: Free with a library card.
– Enables borrowing of audiobooks from local libraries at no cost. – Offline access for convenience while on the go. – Broad range of media, including eBooks, comics, and more.
– Availability depends on local library participation. – Limited to borrowing and may not have a commercial audiobook selection. – May have waitlists for popular titles.
Amazon has a diversified business model. In 2022 Amazon posted over $514 billion in revenues, while it posted a net loss of over $2.7 billion. Online stores contributed almost 43% of Amazon revenues. The remaining was generated by Third-party Seller Services, and Physical Stores. While Amazon AWS, Subscription Services, and Advertising revenues play a significant role within Amazon as fast-growing segments.
In 2022, most of Amazon’s revenue came from the US, with over $356 billion in revenue, followed by Germany with $33.6 billion, the UK with $30 billion, Japan with $24.4 billion, and the rest of the world generated almost $70 billion in net sales.
Both the North American and International segment of Amazon are running at negative margins. Indeed, in 2022, for the North American segments, of almost $316 billion in revenue, Amazon spent almost $319 billion in operating costs to run it, thus it generated $2 billion in operating losses in 2022.
For its International segment, of $118 billion in revenue, Amazon spent almost $126 billion to operate it. Thus, it reported a $7.7 billion operating loss.
While for AWS, with $80 billion in revenue, Amazon spent $57 billion to operate it, thus generating almost $23 billion in operating income.
The high operating costs are primarily due to the high cost of running Amazon’s inventory and fulfillment infrastructure behind its e-commerce operations. Indeed, Amazon is as much as a physical player as a digital one.
Amazon was not profitable once AWS was removed in 2022. In fact, Amazon, without AWS generated $10.6 billion in operating losses. While Amazon, without AWS, generated $12.2. billion operating income.
Amazon is subdivided into three operating profit segments: North America, International, and AWS. Amazon AWS is the most profitable segment, with almost $23 billion in operating profit in 2022. While Both the North American and International segments run at negative operating losses, with $2 billion and $7.74 billion in operating losses, respectively, in 2022.
In 2021, Amazon generated almost $470 billion in revenue, vs. eBay’s over $10.4 billion. In comparison, looking at revenues, Amazon was 45x times larger than eBay.
Amazon’s mission statement is to “serve consumers through online and physical stores and focus on selection, price, and convenience.” Amazon’s vision statement is “to be Earth’s most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices.”
In the Amazon Shareholders’ Letter for 2018, Jeff Bezos analyzed the Amazon business model, and it also focused on a few key lessons that Amazon as a company has learned over the years. These lessons are fundamental for any entrepreneur, of small or large organization to understand the pitfalls to avoid to run a successful company!
Amazon has a business model with many moving parts. The e-commerce platform generated $220 billion in 2022, followed by third-party stores services which generated over $117 billion; Amazon AWS, which generated over $80 billion; Amazon advertising which generated almost $38 billion and Amazon Prime, which generated over $35 billion, and physical stores which generated almost $19 billion.
The Amazon Working Backwards Method is a product development methodology that advocates building a product based on customer needs. The Amazon Working Backwards Method gained traction after notable Amazon employee Ian McAllister shared the company’s product development approach on Quora. McAllister noted that the method seeks “to work backwards from the customer, rather than starting with an idea for a product and trying to bolt customers onto it.”
The Amazon Flywheel or Amazon Virtuous Cycle is a strategy that leverages on customer experience to drive traffic to the platform and third-party sellers. That improves the selections of goods, and Amazon further improves its cost structure so it can decrease prices which spins the flywheel.
In the letter to shareholders in 2016, Jeff Bezos addressed a topic he had been thinking quite profoundly in the last decades as he led Amazon: Day 1. As Jeff Bezos put it “Day 2 is stasis. Followed by irrelevance. Followed by excruciating, painful decline. Followed by death. And that is why it is always Day 1.”
Gennaro is the creator of FourWeekMBA, which reached about four million business people, comprising C-level executives, investors, analysts, product managers, and aspiring digital entrepreneurs in 2022 alone | He is also Director of Sales for a high-tech scaleup in the AI Industry | In 2012, Gennaro earned an International MBA with emphasis on Corporate Finance and Business Strategy.
