Amazon is a powerful marketplace, and its advertising platform can be a game-changer for brands looking to boost visibility and drive sales. However, simply running ads doesn’t guarantee success. Many sellers unknowingly make critical mistakes that lead to wasted ad spend, poor campaign performance, and ultimately, missed opportunities.
If you’re running Amazon ads and not seeing the return on investment (ROI) you hoped for, chances are you might be making one (or more) of these common mistakes. Here are the top 5 Amazon advertising mistakes that could be draining your budget—and how to fix them.
1. Using Broad Match Keywords Without Control
The mistake: Many advertisers use broad match keywords hoping to capture a wider audience. While this can drive traffic, it often leads to irrelevant clicks, low conversion rates, and higher costs.
Why it’s costly: Broad match can trigger your ads for loosely related search terms. For example, targeting “leather shoes” might display your ad for “leather shoe cleaner” or “synthetic leather boots.”
The fix: Use a mix of match types (broad, phrase, and exact), and regularly review your Search Term Report to identify irrelevant queries. Add those as negative keywords to prevent future wasted spend.
2. Not Using Negative Keywords
The mistake: Ignoring negative keywords means you allow Amazon to keep showing your ads for irrelevant or unprofitable searches.
Why it’s costly: Irrelevant clicks = wasted money. Without negative keywords, you’re letting Amazon decide where to show your ads, which can lead to low-quality traffic.
The fix: Continuously update your negative keyword list based on underperforming search terms from your campaign reports. This will refine your targeting and improve ACoS (Advertising Cost of Sales).
3. Lack of Campaign Structure and Segmentation
The mistake: Combining all your products into one campaign or not segmenting by product type, keyword intent, or performance level.
Why it’s costly: Poor structure makes it difficult to analyze performance, allocate budgets correctly, and optimize effectively.
The fix: Structure campaigns based on goals—such as branded vs. non-branded keywords, product categories, or performance tiers. This gives you better control over bidding, budget allocation, and performance tracking.
4. Ignoring Product Listing Quality
The mistake: Sending traffic to poorly optimized product listings.
Why it’s costly: No matter how good your ad is, if your product listing has weak images, low-quality copy, or poor reviews, users won’t convert—and your ad spend will be wasted.
The fix: Ensure your product listings are fully optimized:
- High-quality images
- Compelling titles and bullet points
- Clear product benefits
- Competitive pricing
- Positive reviews
An optimized listing converts more clicks into sales, maximizing your ad spend.
5. Setting and Forgetting Your Ads
The mistake: Many sellers set up campaigns and forget to monitor or optimize them regularly.
Why it’s costly: Amazon ads require ongoing management. Market trends change, competitor bids fluctuate, and customer behavior evolves.
The fix: Review your campaigns weekly. Monitor metrics like:
- CTR (Click-Through Rate)
- ACoS
- Conversion Rate
- Spend vs. sales
Make data-driven adjustments—pause underperforming keywords, adjust bids, test new creatives, and refine your targeting regularly.
Final Thoughts
Amazon ads can be incredibly profitable—but only when executed with strategy and discipline. Avoiding these common mistakes can significantly improve your campaign performance, reduce wasted spend, and drive better ROI.
Whether you’re managing ads yourself or through an Amazon advertising agency, taking the time to analyze and optimize your campaigns can make a huge difference in your brand’s success on Amazon.
Need help fixing your Amazon ads? Contact our expert team at [Your Company Name] for a free audit and let us help you turn your ad budget into profitable sales.
