Amazon PPC (Pay-Per-Click) advertising is one of the most powerful tools to boost your product visibility, drive traffic, and increase sales.
But here’s the catch: if you’re not careful, it can quickly turn into a money-draining nightmare.
At Brandock, we’ve seen it all. From poorly structured campaigns to wasted ad spend, our Amazon pros have helped countless sellers clean up their PPC mess and turn their campaigns into profit-generating machines.
In this blog, we’re breaking down the top 5 Amazon PPC mistakes that could be sabotaging your success—and how to avoid them.
Whether you’re a new seller or a seasoned pro, these tips will help you optimize your campaigns, reduce wasted spend, and maximize ROI.
Mistake #1: Setting and Forgetting Your Campaigns
Why It’s a Problem
Amazon’s marketplace is dynamic and ever-changing. What worked last month might not work today. If you’re not actively monitoring and optimizing your campaigns, you’re leaving money on the table.
How to Fix It
Monitor Weekly: Check your campaigns at least once a week to analyze performance metrics like CTR (Click-Through Rate), ACoS (Advertising Cost of Sale), and conversion rates.
Adjust Bids: Increase bids for high-performing keywords and decrease them for underperforming ones.
Test and Iterate: Experiment with different ad copy, keywords, and targeting strategies to find what works best.
Mistake #2: Poor Keyword Choices
Why It’s a Problem
Using irrelevant or overly broad keywords is like throwing darts in the dark. You’ll end up paying for clicks that don’t convert, wasting your budget on unqualified traffic.
How to Fix It
Do Your Research: Use tools like Helium 10, Jungle Scout, or Amazon’s own search term reports to find high-intent keywords.
Focus on Long-Tail Keywords: These are less competitive and more specific, often leading to higher conversion rates.
Leverage Match Types: Use a mix of broad, phrase, and exact match keywords to balance reach and relevance.
Mistake #3: Ignoring Negative Keywords
Why It’s a Problem
Negative keywords are your secret weapon to prevent wasted ad spend. Without them, your ads could show up for irrelevant searches, costing you money without driving sales.
How to Fix It
Build a Negative Keyword List: Regularly review your search term reports and add irrelevant terms to your negative keyword list.
Use Negative Match Types: Apply negative keywords at the campaign or ad group level to refine your targeting.
Update Regularly: As your campaigns evolve, so should your negative keyword list.
Mistake #4: Unstructured Campaigns
Why It’s a Problem
Messy, disorganized campaigns make it hard to track performance and optimize effectively. Without a clear structure, you’ll struggle to identify what’s working and what’s not.
How to Fix It
Organize by Goals: Create separate campaigns for different objectives, such as brand awareness, product launches, or profit maximization.
Use Ad Groups Wisely: Group similar products or keywords together to make management easier.
Label Everything: Use clear, descriptive names for your campaigns and ad groups to stay organized.
Mistake #5: Not Utilizing ALL Ad Types
Why It’s a Problem
Amazon offers three main ad types: Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands, and Sponsored Display. If you’re only using one, you’re missing out on opportunities to reach different audiences and achieve different goals.
How to Fix It
Sponsored Products: Use these to promote individual products and drive sales.
Sponsored Brands: Build brand awareness and showcase multiple products with custom headlines and logos.
Sponsored Display: Retarget shoppers who’ve viewed your products or reach new audiences based on interests and behaviors.
Combine Strategically: Use a mix of ad types to create a comprehensive advertising strategy that covers all stages of the buyer’s journey.
Your Next Steps
Audit Your Campaigns: Use the tips above to identify and fix common PPC mistakes.
Don’t let poor PPC management hold you back.
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