Top 10 Amazon PPC Mistakes That Kill Your Profitability-And How to Fix Them
Are you running Amazon PPC ads but not seeing good results?
It’s a common challenge. Many sellers, like you, invest in ads without a clear understanding of what’s going wrong.
Amazon pay-per-click can significantly boost your product’s visibility and sales, but only if executed correctly. A single mistake, however, can quickly deplete your budget and hinder your profitability.
Let’s embark on a journey to understand the 10 most common Amazon PPC mistakes, how to fix them, and how agencies like eCom Managers can empower sellers to avoid them.
- Not properly doing keyword research
The Problem:
Many sellers target random or broad keywords, such as “shoes” or “bags.” This attracts clicks from people not really interested in those items.
The Solution:
Focus on specific keywords describing your product well, for instance, “leather laptop bag for men.” To identify high-converting terms, use Amazon tools or keyword research software.
How eCom Managers Handle It:
They use advanced keyword tools and AI data to find keywords that drive real sales, not just clicks.
- Negative Keyword Usage
The Problem:
Without negative keywords, your ad might appear for irrelevant searches. For instance, your ad for “women’s running shoes” could appear for “men’s formal shoes.”
The Solution:
Add negative keywords regularly to prevent ads from appearing for irrelevant searches.
How eCom Managers Handle It:
They review the search term reports every week and weed out wasteful keywords to improve the campaigns.
- Not Optimizing Product Listings
The Problem:
Even the best ads can fall flat because of a poorly written title, a poor-quality image, or weak bullet points.
The Solution:
Optimize your product listing before running ads by using clear images, strong titles, and highlighting the benefits.
How eCom Managers Handle It:
They have experts who create optimized listings with strong keywords, attractive visuals, and clear product descriptions.
- Setting the Wrong Bids
The Problem:
Bidding too high wastes money, and bidding too low means your ads won’t get enough impressions.
The Solution:
Start with a balanced bid and adjust it over time based on performance.
How eCom Managers Handle It:
They monitor daily bidding, using AI tools to ensure every single click is worth the cost.
- Not Monitoring Campaign Performance
The Problem:
Some sellers set up their campaigns and then totally forget about them. Without tracking, you’ll never know which ads are performing.
The Solution:
Check your ad reports regularly and review metrics such as click-through rates, cost-per-click, and advertising cost of sales.
How eCom Managers Handle It:
They also send you weekly reports of precise, straightforward data. That’s where you see what is working and what’s not; no guesswork involved.
- Targeting Too Many Keywords
The Problem:
Having too many keywords only spreads your budget too thin and reduces focus on profitable ones.
The Solution:
Start small, with 10–20 well-researched keywords, and scale once you determine what works.
How eCom Managers Handle It:
They test and filter keywords to ensure only those that produce tangible results remain, while filtering out underperforming ones.
- Not using automatic and manual campaigns together
The Problem:
Some sellers use only automatic campaigns or only manual ones, which means they don’t get all the valuable data.
The Solution:
Use both: automatic campaigns find new keywords, while manual ones let you control targeting.
How eCom Managers Help:
They also run both types side by side; they move the top-performing keywords from automatic to manual campaigns for better performance.
- Poor Budget Management
The Problem:
Running out of daily budget too quickly means your ad stops showing during peak hours.
The Solution:
Adjust your budget according to the best-performing campaigns and product demand.
How eCom Managers Handle It:
They analyze which campaigns deliver the best returns and allocate budgets smartly so no money goes to waste.
- Ignoring Competitor Analysis
The Problem:
Many sellers never check what competitors are doing: pricing, keywords, or ad strategy.
The Solution:
Constantly observe competitors and learn from their ad placements, offers, and keywords.
How eCom Managers Help:
They employ competitive analysis tools to study your rivals and make your ads more appealing and cost-effective.
- Not Testing Different Ad Types The Problem:
The Problem:
You can’t just rely on a single ad type, such as Sponsored Products.
The Solution:
Try using all ad types —Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands, Sponsored Display, and even Sponsored TV Ads — to reach different buyers.
How eCom Managers Handle It:
They create multi-layered campaigns that leverage all ad types to increase visibility and build brand trust.
Why Amazon is Better Than Other Ad Platforms.
Amazon PPC targets people who are ready to buy, not just browsers. Other platforms, such as Google and Facebook, serve ads to the general public. Amazon serves your ads to customers who are already looking for your product. That’s why Amazon PPC delivers higher conversion rates and better return on investment than most other platforms.
Final Thoughts
Running Amazon PPC ads can be an excellent way to grow your business-but only if you avoid common mistakes. With a reputable agency like eCom Managers, you acquire a team that does the following: Deeply understands Amazon’s system, uses AI and data to improve campaigns, saves you money by cutting wasteful ads, and helps you achieve real, long-term growth. If you think your ads could be performing better, it’s time to act.
Get your Free PPC Audit Checklist now and discover what improvements you can make to your Amazon campaigns.