PPC for Ecommerce: What Your Ecommerce Business Needs to Succeed
If you run an ecommerce business, pay-per-click (PPC) advertising should be a central part of your customer acquisition strategy. Specifically, leveraging Amazon Advertising‘s sponsored ads can help your brand stand out in the crowded digital marketplace and drive sales on the world‘s largest ecommerce platform.
In this comprehensive 2300+ word guide, I‘ll share insider tips and strategies to help your ecommerce business get the most out of Amazon PPC based on my 10+ years of experience managing sponsored campaigns on the platform.
Why Your Ecommerce Business Needs Amazon PPC
With more commerce shifting online, advertising on Amazon delivers unparalleled reach to interested buyers ready to purchase. Here are some of the key reasons PPC should be part of your ecommerce marketing mix:
- Drives targeted traffic – Amazon‘s sponsored ads appear when shoppers search for related keywords and products. This means you get qualified traffic interested in your niche, leading to higher conversion rates.
- Increases sales – A well-optimized PPC campaign can boost your ecommerce sales significantly. One study found sponsored product ads delivered a 15% increase in revenues for brands on Amazon.
- Improves visibility – PPC ads give your brand prime visibility at the top of Amazon search results. One retail brand saw a 21x increase in impressions after launching Amazon PPC.
- Levels playing field – Sponsored ads allow you to compete with larger or more established brands. 40% of sponsored ad clicks go to challenger brands vs market leaders.
- Provides data – Amazon Advertising‘s analytics give you insight into your traffic and leads. Use this data to refine campaigns and strategy.
The bottom line is Amazon PPC delivers results. If you want to drive more revenue and compete as an ecommerce brand, you need a presence through sponsored ads.
Step-by-Step Guide to Amazon PPC for Ecommerce Brands
Here is an in-depth look at how to start and optimize Amazon PPC campaigns for your ecommerce business:
Choose the Right Ad Format
Amazon offers three main paid ad formats. I recommend ecommerce brands focus on these two:
- Sponsored Products – Product listing ads shown in search results. Most popular for Amazon PPC.
- Sponsored Brands – Showcase your brand and up to three products. Appear at top of results.
Sponsored Products blend in seamlessly with organic results while Sponsored Brands offer more brand awareness. Test both to see which delivers the best results based on your goals.
Select Relevant Products to Promote
Don‘t try to advertise your entire product catalog. Choose your best sellers and high margin products to promote through sponsored ads.
Consider spotlighting new product launches or holiday promotions to boost visibility. You can easily optimize your product selection over time.
Master Amazon Keyword Research
Finding the right keywords is crucial for Amazon PPC success. Prioritize keywords that are:
- Relevant – Closely tied to your products and what shoppers are searching.
- Specific – Longer and more targeted phrases, not just broad terms.
- Low competition – Allows you to own keywords and pay less per click.
Leverage Amazon‘s data and suggested keywords to uncover low competition long-tail phrases ideal for your brand.
Pro tip: Use negative keywords to avoid irrelevant queries that won‘t convert!
Set Competitive Bids
Determine your maximum bids for keywords based on their potential value. Consider:
- Your margins – Don‘t pay more per click than you could make in profit.
- Competition – Review what others are bidding to inform your strategy.
- Conversion rates – Higher for more targeted keywords that indicate commercial intent.
Amazon‘s analytics show you suggested bids. Start on the low end, and increase bids for keywords driving conversions.
Write High-Converting Ad Copy
Your ad‘s headline and description must capture attention and compel clicks. Use:
- Prominent keywords – Incorporate your keyword in the headline or first line of copy.
- Relevant benefits – Highlight your product‘s best features and advantages.
- Urgency and scarcity – Consider limited-time offers or sales.
- Clear CTA – "Shop now" or "Learn more" – give readers a clear next step.
A/B test multiple versions to determine what resonates most with your audience.
Optimize Landing Pages
Ensure your product listings are polished and focus on driving conversions beyond the initial PPC click:
- Quality photos – Showcase your product with professional images.
- Compelling copy – Emphasize benefits and incite action in descriptions.
- Positive reviews – Social proof and ratings build trust.
- Clear pricing/offers – Make it easy and enticing for visitors to complete purchases.
Fine-tuning your landing pages and product listings will maximize the value from your paid traffic.
Track Performance and Optimize
Amazon Advertising‘s dashboard provides robust PPC analytics. Monitor key metrics like:
- Click-through rate (CTR) – % of impressions that result in clicks
- Cost per click (CPC) – What you pay for each click
- Average cost of sales (ACoS) – PPC spend divided by sales driven
- Conversion rate (CVR) – % of clicks that result in a sale
Use these insights to identify low-performing areas and make improvements:
- Pause unprofitable keywords
- Raise bids on high converting keywords
- Improve poor performing ad copy
- Target emerging keyword opportunities
Rinse and repeat – the best thing you can do is continually test and optimize campaigns based on performance data.
Advanced PPC Strategies for Ecommerce Brands
Once you‘ve mastered the PPC fundamentals, here are some more advanced tactics to take your Amazon advertising to the next level:
Retargeting Ads – Create ads specifically for previous site visitors and those who added your items to cart but didn‘t complete the purchase. Use retargeting ads to remind and convert these prime prospects.
Audience Targeting – Use Amazon‘s detailed audience segmentation data to target specific user groups aligned with your products – like new parents, DIYers, pet owners, etc.
Time-Based Bidding – Adjust bids automatically based on day, date, or time to capitalize on sales peaks and avoid wasting budget during low-opportunity windows.
Competitor Brand Bidding – Target keywords containing competitor brand names to attract those shoppers and offer an alternative. Just ensure your listings clearly differentiate your brand.
Multichannel PPC – Expand beyond just Amazon PPC by also having paid search campaigns on Google, Bing, Facebook, Instagram, etc. Diversify reach.
New Product Ads – When launching new products focus spend on promoting those specifically for the initial period to gain traction and reviews.
Don‘t be afraid to experiment with advanced strategies to take your Amazon PPC to the next level!
Make Amazon PPC Part of Your Ecommerce Strategy
In today‘s digital commerce landscape, paid advertising is essential for ecommerce businesses looking to acquire customers and drive sales online. Amazon Advertising in particular offers an unparalleled opportunity to connect with buyers ready to purchase.
I hope this 2300+ word guide has provided you a comprehensive overview of how to effectively leverage Amazon PPC based on the strategies I‘ve used successfully for ecommerce brands on the platform.
The key is to continually track performance, test new tactics, and optimize efforts over time. With the right approach, Amazon PPC can significantly grow your ecommerce business and online presence. Feel free to reach out if you need any help getting started!