How to use Amazon’s Sponsored Products ads for increased visibility

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Using Amazon’s Sponsored Products ads is an effective way to increase visibility for your products and drive sales on the platform. These ads are designed to promote individual product listings by placing them prominently in search results and on product detail pages, allowing sellers to gain more exposure and reach potential customers. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to effectively use Amazon’s Sponsored Products ads for increased visibility:

Sponsored Products ads are pay-per-click (PPC) ads that promote individual product listings to drive traffic and sales. These ads appear in various locations, including:

  • Search results on Amazon
  • Product detail pages
  • Below the buy box on product listings

a. Prerequisites

  • Amazon Seller Central Account:You need to have an active seller account.
  • Eligible Products: Your products must be eligible for Amazon Advertising (not all categories qualify).

b. Creating a Sponsored Products Campaign

Follow these steps to set up your campaign:

  1. Log Into Seller Central:
    Navigate to the “Campaign Manager” under the “Advertising” tab.
  2. Create a New Campaign:
    Click on the “Create campaign” button and select “Sponsored Products.”
  3. Choose Your Campaign Settings:
    • Campaign Name: Give your campaign a clear and descriptive name.
    • Start and End Dates: Set a start date (and optional end date).
    • Daily Budget: Determine your daily budget for the campaign (this controls how much you are willing to spend).
  4. Select Your Targeting Type:
    You can choose between two targeting options:

    • Automatic Targeting: Amazon automatically matches your products with relevant search terms based on their algorithms.
    • Manual Targeting: You choose the keywords you want to target. This allows for more control over where your ads appear.
  5. Choose Your Products:
    Select the specific products you want to promote through your campaign.
  6. Set Your Bids:
    Set your bid amount for each targeted keyword. Bids can be adjusted later based on performance.
  7. Create Your Ad Group:
    Organize your products into ad groups. This is useful for managing campaigns with multiple products.
  8. Review and Launch:
    Double-check your settings and launch your campaign.

If you opt for manual targeting, keyword research is crucial. Here are some strategies for effective keyword selection:

  • Amazon Search Bar Suggestions:Start typing in the Amazon search bar, and note the suggestions that appear. These are commonly searched terms related to your product.
  • Competitor Analysis: Review competitors’ product pages to find keywords they use in their titles and descriptions.
  • Keyword Tools: Utilize keyword research tools such as Helium 10, Jungle Scout, or Keyword Tool to identify high-traffic keywords relevant to your products.
  • Long-Tail Keywords: Incorporate long-tail keywords that are specific to your product to target a more niche audience.

Once your campaign is live, monitoring its performance is essential:

  • Track Key Metrics: Monitor metrics such as impressions, clicks, click-through rate (CTR), conversion rate, and advertising cost of sales (ACoS).
  • Adjust Bids: If certain keywords are performing well, consider increasing your bids for those keywords to improve visibility. Conversely, reduce bids or pause keywords that are underperforming.
  • Analyze Search Terms Report:Review the search terms report in the Campaign Manager, as it shows which search terms resulted in clicks and conversions. This information can help refine future targeting.

To get the most out of your ads, regularly optimize your campaigns:

  • Testing Variations: Test different bids, targeting strategies, and product images to see what works best for your audience.
  • Utilize Negative Keywords:Implement negative keywords to filter out irrelevant traffic and prevent your ads from appearing for certain search terms that do not convert.
  • Segmentation: Segment campaigns by product performance, geographic location, or targeting type to facilitate easier management and optimization.
  • Ad Scheduling: Consider setting up ad scheduling to run ads only during peak shopping times based on your sales data.

If you are a brand registered seller, utilizing Enhanced Brand Content (EBC) or A+ Content can enhance your product detail pages. This additional content can help convert ad clicks into sales:

  • Add Rich Media: Use high-quality images, charts, and text descriptions to highlight your product’s benefits and features.
  • Focus on Branding: Clearly communicate your brand story and value propositions to engage potential customers.
  • Cross-Selling Opportunities: Utilize A+ content to suggest related products, enhancing the chances of additional sales.

Amazon provides analytics and reporting tools to analyze ad performance:

  • Campaign Performance Reports:Use these reports to gain insights into the effectiveness of different ads and keywords.
  • Conversion Tracking: Set up conversion tracking to see which ads lead to actual sales.
  • Optimize Based on Data: Use insights drawn from data to make informed decisions regarding future ad campaigns.

It’s vital to set clear goals for your Sponsored Products campaigns:

  • Define Objectives: Are you focused on increasing visibility, sales, or market share? Tailor your campaigns to meet these goals.
  • Budget Allocation: Start with a reasonable budget, evaluate performance, and adjust your budget to allocate more to successful initiatives.

Amazon’s Sponsored Products ads can significantly enhance product visibility, drive traffic, and increase sales when used strategically. By following this guide, you can effectively set up and optimize your advertising campaigns to maximize your return on investment. Remember to regularly monitor performance, adjust strategies based on data, and consider integrating your efforts with your overall marketing strategy for the best results.