The PPC Den: Amazon PPC Advertising Mastery

What’s up, Badger Nation? Mike here, camping in the Cascades, hunting for the elusive North American badger  and some killer Amazon PPC tips.In this episode, we dive into the power of negative keywords and why doing a negative keyword reset could seriously level up your ad game. Think of it like clearing out the old to make space for the new — your product and market change, so your negatives should too.I share smart ways to reset negatives without chaos, why timing (hello, seasonality!) matters, and how to get more control over your PPC traffic flow.If you’ve been scared to add negatives because “what if I need them later?” — here’s the secret: you can take them off again. This reset lets you clean up wasted spend AND test new opportunities.We’ll see you in The PPC Den!🦡 Highlights ​​0:00 — Mike goes wild chasing badgers in the Cascades 🦡2:30 — How top sellers keep ACoS super low 4:00 — Why negative keyword management matters5:30 — When to hit the big RESET button on negatives7:30 — Sneaky campaign-by-campaign negative cleanup hacks10:00 — Benefits of resetting negatives for visibility13:00 — Ad Badger tools that make negative keyword ninja moves🦡 Resources & Links🦡 GET AD BADGER ➡️ Where to find Michael, Michael Erickson FacchinHow to Achieve Low ACOS with Negative Keywords?How And Why To Use Negatives In Your Amazon PPCAnswered Prayers: Negative ASIN Targeting Comes to Auto CampaignsNegative ASIN in Amazon PPC Auto Campaigns: Is it Possible? (Part 1)Negative ASIN in Amazon PPC Auto Campaigns: Is it Possible? (Part 2)📚 Unlock our FREE comprehensive Amazon Marketing PlaybookSubscribe to our newsletterTransform your workflow with our comprehensive Amazon Advertising checklistReview all our show notes-Host and Executive Producer: Michael Erickson FacchinSenior Producer: Nancy Lili GonzalezPodcast Coordinator & Graphic Designer: Sofiia PodashVideo and Audio Editor: Pedro Moreno 

Today, Elizabeth Greene and I dove into one of the most misunderstood topics in Amazon advertising — vCPM in Sponsored Brands campaigns. Mike still hears people say how great the low ACOS looks for vCPM, but we broke down why that can be misleading.We talked about the difference between CPC and vCPM, how attribution works (clicks vs views), and how ACOS is calculated depending on what data source you're looking at — ad console, bulk files, API, or AMC. We also discussed when vCPM actually makes sense and when it doesn't. Spoiler ⚠️: don't use it for brand defense.We walked through how vCPM can become cheaper than CPC if your CTR is high enough, the creative and retargeting advantages it can offer, and why Mike sees less than 5% of ad budgets going to vCPM even in his best accounts.If you've ever been confused about why you can't switch from vCPM to CPC, or how to measure true performance in SB campaigns  this episode is for you.We’ll see you in The PPC Den!🦡 Highlights ​​0:00 - Meet Elizabeth Greene 2:20 – How to adapt to instability in eCommerce?5:20 – What do clients expect in 2025?6:12 – The role of automation: good or bad?8:05 – How campaign structures changed in 2025?9:15 – Performance Max and new ad formats on Amazon13:05 – Why do analytics matter more than ever?15:22 – Can brands still scale in 2025?19:00 - Optimization based on click and view attribution20:00 - How to download a bulk file for analysis of ACoS and other metrics21:00- Benefits and drawbacks of VCPM campaigns for different brands22:00 - VCPM campaigns and their potential for brands with unique products25:00 - Marketing campaigns similar to "Shark Tank" for unique products26:00 - VCPM with high CTR vs. CPC campaigns29:00 - High CTR in VCPM campaigns leading to better engagement cost reduction30:00 - When VCPM campaigns are effective for unique products?🦡 Resources & Links🦡 GET AD BADGER ➡️ Where to find Michael, Michael Erickson FacchinWhere to find Elizabeth,  Elizabeth GreeneJunglrSneaky defaults that drain your budget in 2025How to Make Amazon Advertising Profitable in 2025?RPSB (Research peel stick and block) 2025 UpdateWhy Aren’t You Testing Placement Adjustments in Amazon PPC? 2025 Amazon Marketing Resolutions and Intentions📚 Unlock our FREE comprehensive Amazon Marketing PlaybookSubscribe to our newsletterTransform your workflow with our comprehensive Amazon Advertising checklistReview all our show notes-Host and Executive Producer: Michael Erickson FacchinGuest Co-Host: Elizabeth GreeneSenior Producer: Nancy Lili GonzalezPodcast Coordinator & Graphic Designer: Sofiia PodashVideo and Audio Editor: Pedro Moreno

In this episode of the PPC Den podcast, Michael dives into the world of Amazon PPC metrics, and trust us, things get tasty. He compares your PPC performance to TACoS —yes, TACoS! Michael breaks down key metrics like ACOS, TACOS, and ROAS, explaining how each one impacts your campaign’s flavor and success. Grab your Amazon PPC metrics (or maybe just a really tasty Mexican taco) and tune in for this savory breakdown!We’ll see you in The PPC Den!🦡 Highlights ​​0:00 - Intro 1:30 - Explaining the difference between total ACOS and TACoS5:00 - The interaction between paid and organic sales on Amazon7:30 - Evaluating PPC effectiveness with TACoS10:00 - Balancing paid vs. organic sales for better performance12:00 - The importance of a long-term strategy in optimizing TACoS15:00 - How to lower TACoS and improve overall performance18:00 - Maximizing profitability through improved ad spend21:24 - Can a higher ACOS still lead to a healthier business? Yes, it can22:22 - Targeting keywords where your brand has an advantage22:38 - Creating a single keyword campaign to maximize visibility and orders23:01 - Search query performance data and its role in boosting organic sales23:28 - Recap: The four misconceptions about TACoS and corrections24:17 - The exciting new features in our software26:17 - Always consider TACoS in relation to organic performance and profitability🦡 Resources & Links🦡 GET AD BADGER ➡️ Where to find Michael, Michael Erickson FacchinHow to Make Amazon Advertising Profitable in 2025?How Do I Optimize for Total ACOS Goals in Amazon Advertising? (Classic)Evolving Thoughts: Total ACOS for Amazon Advertising How do I Improve Amazon Total ACOS Fast? Boost Organic Ranking📚 Unlock our FREE comprehensive Amazon Marketing Playbook: https://www.adbadger.com/amazon-ppc-checklist/Subscribe to our newsletterTransform your workflow with our comprehensive Amazon Advertising checklistReview all our show notes-Host and Executive Producer: Michael Erickson FacchinSenior Producer: Nancy Lili GonzalezPodcast Coordinator & Graphic Designer: Sofiia PodashVideo and Audio Editor: Pedro Moreno 

Are you Scared Sammy or Aggressive Andy? In this solo episode, Michael walks through takeaways from The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel, and how those lessons apply to your Amazon PPC Campaigns. He’ll discuss the importance of luck, the bias of recency, managing search term reports,  different scenarios implementing these lessons through Scared Sammy and Aggressive Andy, and more!This episode is a rerelease of one of our most popular episodes. Please note the resources and link section for any relevant updates.We’ll see you in The PPC Den!🦡 Resources & Links0:00 – What to Expect in This Episode00:27 – The Psychology of Money1:00 – The Importance of Luck1:50 – Time Horizons & Risk Tolerance2:37 – The Bias of Recency5:00 – Managing Search Term Reports8:10 – Who Was Right?🦡 Highlights ​​🦡 GET AD BADGER ➡️ Where to find Michael, Michael Erickson FacchinThe Wait Is Over… Search Term Reports For Sponsored Brand Ads Are HereLong Tail Search Terms: The Amazon PPC Silent KillerHow Do I Identify And Handle Duplicates In Amazon Search Term Report?📚 Unlock our FREE comprehensive Amazon Marketing PlaybookSubscribe to our newsletterTransform your workflow with our comprehensive Amazon Advertising checklist Review all our show notes-Host and Executive Producer: Michael Erickson FacchinSenior Producer: Nancy Lili GonzalezPodcast Coordinator & Graphic Designer: Sofiia PodashVideo and Audio Editor: Pedro Moreno 

In this episode with Sean Stone, we dive into the zone of possibility on Amazon. Ever wonder if your product can actually rank, or are you just throwing ad spend into the wind? We’ll break it all down — how to spot real rankable opportunities, why your conversion rate is your secret weapon, and how to build smart, isolated keyword budgets that actually make sense.Oh, and before we get serious, you’ll hear some fun warm-up stories — like why Sean has a Walt Disney mug he didn’t choose himself, and why Nicolas Cage and The Rock are now his permanent office coworkers.If you're ready to think differently about PPC and get more out of what you already have — this one's for you.We’ll see you in The PPC Den!🦡 Highlights00:00 – Intro05:00 – What is the Zone of Possibility?11:00 – How to spot rankable products18:00 – Smart PPC budget moves24:00 – Rankable vs incremental keywords31:00 – When to spend, when to stop38:00 – Your conversion rate superpower44:00 – How PPC drives organic growth ​​🦡 Resources & LinksWhere to find Michael, Michael Erickson Facchin🦡 ⁠GET AD BADGER⁠ ➡️Where to find Sean,  Sean StoneStone's GoodsSneaky defaults that drain your budget in 2025Should You Use Amazon Ad’s New Budget Rules?How to Use Amazon’s New Budget Tab and ReportHow Can I Use Phrase Match To Rank Higher On Amazon?Launching 54 Campaigns to Rank Multiple Products in the Top 10 on Amazon📚 Unlock our FREE comprehensive Amazon Marketing PlaybookSubscribe to our newsletterTransform your workflow with our comprehensive Amazon Advertising checklistReview all our show notes-Host and Executive Producer: Michael Erickson FacchinGuest Co-Host:  Sean StoneSenior Producer: Nancy Lili GonzalezPodcast Coordinator & Graphic Designer: Sofiia PodashVideo and Audio Editor: Pedro Moreno

In this episode with Noemi Bolojan, we’re talking about something a lot of people miss — the sneaky defaults in Amazon ads that quietly eat up your budget. You set up a campaign, trust the platform to guide you, and boom — money’s leaking without you even noticing.Noemi breaks down how things like automatic bidding (yep, it goes up and down by default), broad targeting, and off-Amazon ads all kick in unless you change them. Sounds helpful, right? But in reality, those settings often work better for Amazon than they do for you.Think your product is getting shown to the right audience? Not always. Default category targeting or expanded targeting might be pushing your ads to places they don’t belong — and you’re paying for it. So if you’re running ads in 2025, this episode is a little wake-up call. We’ll see you in The PPC Den!🦡 Highlights ​​00:00 – Intro01:09 – Amazon Ads in 202502:43 – The Hidden Budget Drainers03:30 – Keyword Category Auto-Targeting Without Consent06:34 – Manual Targeting That’s Not Really Manual13:31 – Campaign Bidding Strategy: The “Up and Down” Trap18:17 – Maximize Reach = Maximize Waste?20:20 – Auto-Launch in Other Countries? 25:25 – Product Targeting Campaigns Showing for Keywords27:48 – Sponsored Brands30:10 – Category Targeting Defaults31:22 – Expanded Product Targeting32:51 – Sponsored Brands Defaults Across All Ad Formats34:27 – Sponsored Display Defaults to VCPM Reach36:51 – Sponsored Brands Video Glitch42:33 – Sponsored Display: All Targeting Types Defaulted On🦡 Resources & Links🦡 GET AD BADGER ➡️ Where to find Michael, Michael Erickson FacchinWhere to find  Noemi, Noemi BolojanScale WaveHow to Make Amazon Advertising Profitable in 2025?Tackle 70% Wasted Spend with N-Gram Laddering in Amazon AdsHow Product Targeting in Manual Campaigns on Amazon Actually Works (Classic)Bidding On Branded Keywords: What Happens When You Turn Them Off?📚 Unlock our FREE comprehensive Amazon Marketing PlaybookSubscribe to our newsletterTransform your workflow with our comprehensive Amazon Advertising checklistReview all our show notes-Host and Executive Producer: Michael Erickson FacchinGuest Co-Host: Noemi BolojanSenior Producer: Nancy Lili GonzalezPodcast Coordinator & Graphic Designer: Sofiia PodashVideo and Audio Editor: Pedro Moreno

You're listening to the PPC Den Podcast.In this episode, I’m diving into a topic that’s been on my mind lately. It all started when I was cleaning up a client's search term report. At first glance, things looked fine. Decent ACoS, plenty of conversions, nothing too dramatic. So I kept digging. And that’s when I noticed it — this pattern inside the search terms. A couple of words, just two or three, that kept repeating across multiple phrases. That’s when it hit me — this is an N-Gram problem.In today’s episode, I’ll walk you through what N-Gram Laddering is, how I used it to clean up that account, and how you can apply it to your own search term reports.  If you’ve ever felt like your campaigns are doing okay, but not great — this might be the insight you didn’t know you needed.We’ll see you in The PPC Den!🦡 Highlights ​​00:00 – Intro01:00 – How I discovered a hidden pattern in a client account03:15 – What are N-Grams in Amazon PPC05:20 – The moment I realized it was hurting performance06:45 – Breaking down N-Gram Laddering08:10 – How to identify wasteful patterns in your search term report10:00 – When to negate and when to keep N-Grams11:30 – Applying the N-Gram mindset to your daily optimization13:00 – Common mistakes 14:15 – Why it’s worth your attention15:00 – What’s next on PPC Den 🦡 Resources & Links🦡 GET AD BADGER ➡️ Where to find Michael, Michael Erickson FacchinUse the n-gram Sheet to get insight in 5 minutesN-Gram Guide: Fixing Low-Click Terms in Amazon PPCHow N-gram analysis found a keyword with 200 clicks and 1 orderHow Can I Be The Most Efficient With My N-Gram Analysis?How Do I Implement N-Gram Analysis on Amazon PPC?🎉Ad Badger v3 Software Launch Webinar📚 Unlock our FREE comprehensive Amazon Marketing PlaybookSubscribe to our newsletterTransform your workflow with our comprehensive Amazon Advertising checklistReview all our show notes-Host and Executive Producer: Michael Erickson FacchinSenior Producer: Nancy Lili GonzalezPodcast Coordinator & Graphic Designer: Sofiia PodashVideo and Audio Editor: Pedro Moreno

Badger Nation,  we just dropped an epic episode with Joe from Ad Advance and it’s straight-up fire. AMC is like unlocking a secret door to your most valuable customers. I’m talking about those people who viewed your product, added it to cart, but didn’t buy—and you can bring them back with precision.Good news, AMC finally lets you layer audiences on top of your Sponsored Product campaigns. Amazon made it super easy too.  A few clicks and you’re creating killer campaigns that hit your most valuable prospects exactly when it matters.We’ll see you in The PPC Den!🦡 Highlights ​​00:00 – Intro01:20 - What is Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC)?03:45 - Creating Your First Audience05:10 - Why Retargeting Works 10:15 - The Power of Stacking Audiences12:00 - Building Effective Funnels16:50 - Common Use Cases 20:30 - Insights on Sponsored Ads & DSP Integration 26:00 - Starting Your First AMC Audience28:30 - Using No-Code Templates30:00 - Creating Rolling vs. Fixed Audiences 32:00 - Optimizing Sponsored Ads with AMC Audiences36:00 - Outro & Where to Find Joe🦡 Resources & Links🦡 GET AD BADGER ➡️ Where to find Michael, Michael Erickson FacchinWhere to find Joe, Joe ShelerudAd AdvanceHow Can I Best Use Amazon Marketing Cloud?How Do I Get Started With Amazon DSP?An Introduction to Targeting Options on the Amazon DSPInto The Great Unknown: Amazon DSP With Kiri MastersUsing Amazon DSP and AMC to Fully Understand the Customer JourneyAmazon DSP Campaign Setup Made Easy: A Complete GuideFinding Your Audience in Amazon’s Demand-Side Platform (DSP)🎉Ad Badger v3 Software Launch Webinar📚 Unlock our FREE comprehensive Amazon Marketing PlaybookSubscribe to our newsletterTransform your workflow with our comprehensive Amazon Advertising checklistReview all our show notes-Host and Executive Producer: Michael Erickson FacchinGuest Co-Host: Joe ShelerudSenior Producer: Nancy Lili GonzalezPodcast Coordinator & Graphic Designer: Sofiia PodashVideo and Audio Editor: Pedro Moreno

Hello Badger Nation,In this episode, we’re joined by Mike Frekey for a practical and insightful look into Amazon’s Product Opportunity Explorer. Mike walks us through real use cases (including a wild one involving “cool thing for mom” and a surprise detour into music boxing machines).The big insight?  You don’t have to guess what the market wants—Amazon is telling you. You just have to know where (and how) to look.📝 Your homework? Open Product Opportunity Explorer, choose one niche, and dig into the trends, features, and customer feedback that could shape your next product move. And don’t forget to share your findings in the comments—we’d love to hear what you discover!We’ll see you in The PPC Den!🦡 Resources & Links00:00 – Intro01:20 – Locus of Control in Marketing02:44 – Intro to Product Opportunity Explorer05:17 – Why Sellers Use POE06:45 – Mother's Day Gift Search Example11:00 – Search Term Deep Dive13:32 – Trend: “Cool Thing for Mom”16:07 – Purchase Drivers17:45 – Negative Feature Impact 21:29 – Review Insights & Returns26:17 – Broad vs. Specific Search Terms27:01 – Music Box Category Deep Dive31:00 – Iterating on Product Ideas34:30 – Trends & Competition 35:24 – When This Comes Up in PPC 38:20 – POE Feature Wishlist🦡 Highlights ​​🦡 GET AD BADGER ➡️ Where to find Michael, Michael Erickson FacchinWhere to find Mike, Mike FrekeyIG PPCHow Can I Reach My Full Potential In The Amazon PPC Space?How Can I Best Use The Product Opportunity Explorer For My Amazon PPC Campaign?How Do I Maximize Sales With Amazon’s Product Opportunity Explorer?Product Opportunity Explorer Unlocks Amazon Success📚 Unlock our FREE comprehensive Amazon Marketing PlaybookSubscribe to our newsletterTransform your workflow with our comprehensive Amazon Advertising checklistReview all our show notes-Host and Executive Producer: Michael Erickson FacchinGuest Co-Host: Mike FrekeySenior Producer: Nancy Lili GonzalezPodcast Coordinator & Graphic Designer: Sofiia PodashVideo and Audio Editor: Pedro Moreno

Have you ever had one of those moments where you realize you’ve been looking at something the wrong way this whole time? Yeah, that’s exactly what happened in this episode.Michael from Ad Badger sat down with Abe Chomali, and they got real about something a lot of Amazon sellers don’t want to admit—just because your ads are bringing in sales doesn’t mean you’re actually making money. They talked about why ACOS can be super misleading, how some brands are spending more and somehow making less, and why profitability is the real metric that matters. Also, did you know there’s an entire eBay market for failed startup swag? Because I didn’t, and now I can’t stop thinking about it.We’ll see you in The PPC Den!🦡 Highlights ​​00:00 – Why Kirkland hoodies are a thing01:24 – Would you rather have lunch with Joe Camel or the Marlboro Man?03:07 – The biggest challenge for Amazon sellers in 202505:20 – Why ACOS and ROAS don’t tell the full story anymore07:58 – The hidden pressure on margins 12:06 – The problem with tracking profitability per product18:17 – Why some products look unprofitable but actually drive huge sales23:19 – The biggest mistake people make when analyzing ad spend28:38 –  Balancing high ACOS vs. low ACOS campaigns35:31 – The one report every Amazon seller should check weekly40:09 – How to spot anomalies in your Amazon data45:48 – The unexpected backstory behind Abe’s office décor🦡 Resources & Links🦡 GET AD BADGER ➡️ Where to find Michael, Michael Erickson FacchinWhere to find Abe, Abe ChomaliXP StrategyAmazon Advertising Stats for 2025RPSB (Research peel stick and block) 2025 Update2025 Amazon Marketing Resolutions and Intentions3 Must-Try Amazon PPC Strategies for Higher ROAS & Lower ACOS📚 Unlock our FREE comprehensive Amazon Marketing PlaybookSubscribe to our newsletterTransform your workflow with our comprehensive Amazon Advertising checklistReview all our show notes-Host and Executive Producer: Michael Erickson FacchinGuest Co-Host: Abe ChomaliSenior Producer: Nancy Lili GonzalezPodcast Coordinator & Graphic Designer: Sofiia PodashVideo and Audio Editor: Pedro Moreno