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If you’re selling on Amazon, you’ve probably heard of PPC. It stands for Pay-Per-Click. It’s Amazon’s way of letting you advertise—and only pay when someone clicks your ad. Sounds easy, right? Well, there’s a twist. You can choose between Automatic and Manual campaigns. So which one should you go with? Let’s break it down in a fun and simple way!
What Is An Amazon PPC Campaign?
Think of an Amazon PPC campaign as a way to boost your product’s visibility. Instead of hoping shoppers find you, you pay a little to jump ahead in the line. Whenever someone types a keyword, your ad might show up. If they click, you pay Amazon a small fee. It’s like buying a VIP pass at a concert, but for your product!
What’s an Automatic Campaign?
With Automatic campaigns, Amazon does most of the work for you. It decides what keywords your product should show up for. It gathers data, tests different combos, and shows your ad to shoppers.
This option is great if you’re just starting out. Why?
- Easy to set up – Takes only minutes to launch.
- Amazon does the heavy lifting – Keyword matching is handled for you.
- Good for research – You can see what keywords actually convert well.
But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Sometimes Amazon may show your ad for keywords that don’t really match your product. Which means wasted money.
What About Manual Campaigns?
Manual campaigns give you full control. You pick the keywords. You decide how much to bid on each. It takes a bit more effort, but it lets you zero in on what works.
The perks?
- Precision targeting – Your ad shows only where you want it to.
- Better control of budget – Spend more on top-performing keywords.
- Higher return – Once optimized, manual campaigns can be more profitable.
But remember, with great power comes great… confusion. It can take time and testing to get it right. If your keyword choices are off, your campaign won’t do well.
Automatic vs. Manual – Who Wins?
Now for the big showdown! Which campaign type is better? Honestly, it depends.
| Feature | Automatic Campaign | Manual Campaign |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Setup | Super easy | More complex |
| Control Over Keywords | Amazon chooses | You choose |
| Best For | Beginners, keyword research | Seasoned sellers, optimization |
| Budget Management | Less control | High control |
Surprise: you don’t have to choose just one!
Best of Both Worlds
Smart Amazon sellers use both. Here’s how:
- Start with an Automatic campaign to collect data.
- See which keywords get clicks and conversions.
- Use those winning keywords in a Manual campaign.
This combo lets you save time and improve results. You let Amazon do the research, then you take over and fine-tune.
Bonus Tips for PPC Success
- Monitor often – Check how your campaigns are doing.
- Adjust bids – Increase bids for high-performing keywords.
- Use negative keywords – Stop showing up for bad matches.
- Test, test, test! – Try new strategies regularly.
Final Thoughts
Amazon PPC can feel confusing at first. But once you get the hang of it, it’s a powerful tool. Automatic campaigns are perfect to get started and gather data. Manual campaigns let you sharpen your aim and hit the bullseye.
Rather than picking sides, combine their strengths. It’s not about choosing between a fork and a spoon—it’s using the whole toolkit. And with that, your sales just might start to soar.
Happy selling!
