The PPC Den: Amazon PPC Advertising Mastery

In this solo episode, Michael kicks back by the river in Texas and reflects on what’s really been working in Amazon PPC this year. After talking to about 80 sellers and marketers every month, one thing stands out in 2025: shifting spend from non-converting to converting. He breaks it down with real numbers, talks through what most people miss when they try to lower ACOS, and shares exactly how to track and cut non-converting spending.  Plus, he drops a few of his favorite tactics like duplicate search term analysis and n-gram analysis. Most importantly, he walks through one fix that can dramatically improve your ACOS — without spending more.  We’ll see you in The PPC Den! 🦡 Highlights * 00:00 – Greetings from the Pedernales River, thoughts about PPC and spring * 00:51 – The most important insight of 2025 * 01:01 – Mike’s favorite Amazon PPC action: redirecting spend * 01:31 – What really causes high ACOS: not sales, but spend * 01:59 – How to find non-converting spend * 03:27 – Example from an account: $10K spend, $30K revenue, 60% non-converting * 04:27 – How to reduce ACOS from 33% to 31% without creating new campaigns * 05:27 – Redirecting $1000 non-converting spend to a keyword with 50% ACOS * 05:57 – The joy of lowering ACOS and increasing revenue at the same time * 06:22 – How to track non-converting spend: first steps * 06:51 – Why it’s important to check reports over different periods (7, 14, 28 days) * 07:30 – What it means if spend doesn’t double when the period doubles * 08:27 – Why it’s important to use longer periods for data analysis * 08:56 – First step after downloading the report: sort by highest spend without orders * 09:24 – Data analysis by buckets: broad, phrase, auto, close match * 09:52 – How to combine repeated search terms for more accurate analysis * 10:20 – Importance of aggregating data across keys appearing in different ad groups 🦡 Resources & Links * 🦡 GET AD BADGER [https://www.adbadger.com/pricing-product-tour/⁠]➡️ * Where to find Michael, Michael Erickson Facchin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-erickson-facchin/] * Non-Converting Spend: Misunderstood or Mismanaged? A Closer Look at Your PPC Campaigns [https://www.adbadger.com/blog/amazon-ppc-education/non-converting-spend-misunderstood-or-mismanaged-a-closer-look-at-your-ppc-campaigns-the-ppc-den-podcast/] * What strategies can help minimize wasted spend in Amazon PPC? [https://www.adbadger.com/blog/amazon-ppc-education/what-strategies-can-help-minimize-wasted-spend-in-amazon-ppc-the-ppc-den-podcast/] * How to Achieve Low ACOS with Negative Keywords? [https://www.adbadger.com/blog/amazon-ppc-education/how-to-achieve-low-acos-with-negative-keywords-the-ppc-den-podcast/] * Analyzing 2 Amazon Advertising PPC Accounts With Low ACOS [https://www.adbadger.com/blog/analyzing-2-amazon-advertising-ppc-accounts-with-low-acos-the-ppc-den-podcast/] * Why Is Your ACOS So High? [https://www.adbadger.com/blog/amazon-ppc-education/why-is-your-acos-so-high-the-ppc-den-podcast/] * 📚 Unlock our FREE comprehensive Amazon Marketing Playbook [https://www.adbadger.com/amazon-ppc-checklist/] * Subscribe to our newsletter [https://www.adbadger.com/newsletter/] * Transform your workflow with our comprehensive Amazon Advertising checklist [https://www.adbadger.com/amazon-ppc-checklist/] * Review all our show notes [https://www.adbadger.com/podcast] - Host and Executive Producer: Michael Erickson Facchin Senior Producer: Nancy Lili Gonzalez Podcast Coordinator & Graphic Designer: Sofiia Podash Video and Audio Editor: Pedro Moreno

In this episode, Michael sits down with Brent Zahradnik to dive deep into how to find products that actually sell on Amazon — without spending a dime on ads. Brent breaks down his exact process for spotting organic winners, sharing real-life examples, tools, and tips that helped him build a successful Amazon business. They cover how to analyze market trends, read customer signals, and pick products that practically sell themselves.  Whether you’re just starting out or looking to scale your store, our insights will help you avoid costly mistakes and find products with real potential.  We’ll see you in The PPC Den! 🦡 Highlights * * 0:00 — Intro * * 1:05 – Discussing Product Research Without Ads   * * 3:20 – Importance of Targeting in Amazon PPC   * * 5:10 – Traffic Sculpting Strategy: What It Is and How It Works   * * 7:00 – Tips for Optimizing Ad Campaigns   * 9:30 – Success Stories and Common Mistakes to Avoid   * 10:45 – Outro   🦡 Resources & Links * * 🦡 GET AD BADGER [https://www.adbadger.com/pricing-product-tour/⁠] ➡️ * * Where to find Michael, Michael Erickson Facchin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-erickson-facchin/] * * Where to find Brent, Brent Zahradnik [http://linkedin.com/in/brentzahradnik] * * Amazon’s New Expanded Product Targeting: How Do I Make the Most of It? [https://www.adbadger.com/blog/amazon-ppc-education/amazons-new-expanded-product-targeting-how-do-i-make-the-most-of-it-ppc-den-podcast/] * * 5 Things You Don’t Know About Product Targeting [https://www.adbadger.com/blog/amazon-ppc-education/ppc-den-podcast-ep-78-5-things-you-didnt-know-about-product-targeting/] * * Sneaky defaults that drain your budget in 2025 [https://www.adbadger.com/blog/amazon-ppc-education/sneaky-defaults-that-drain-your-budget-in-2025-the-ppc-den-podcast/] * * 6 Steps To Have A Successful Product Launch For Your Amazon PPC Campaign [https://www.adbadger.com/blog/6-steps-to-have-a-successful-product-launch-for-your-amazon-ppc-campaign-the-ppc-den-podcast/] * * 📚 Unlock our FREE comprehensive Amazon Marketing Playbook [https://www.adbadger.com/amazon-ppc-checklist/] * * Subscribe to our newsletter [https://www.adbadger.com/newsletter/] * * Transform your workflow with our comprehensive Amazon Advertising checklist [https://www.adbadger.com/amazon-ppc-checklist/] * * Review all our show notes [https://www.adbadger.com/podcast] - Host and Executive Producer: Michael Erickson Facchin Guest Co-Host: Brent Zahradnik Senior Producer: Nancy Lili Gonzalez Podcast Coordinator & Graphic Designer: Sofiia Podash Video and Audio Editor: Pedro Moreno

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 matters * * 5:30 — When to hit the big RESET button on negatives * * 7:30 — Sneaky campaign-by-campaign negative cleanup hacks * * 10:00 — Benefits of resetting negatives for visibility * 13:00 — Ad Badger tools that make negative keyword ninja moves 🦡 Resources & Links * * 🦡 GET AD BADGER [https://www.adbadger.com/pricing-product-tour/⁠]➡️ * * Where to find Michael, Michael Erickson Facchin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-erickson-facchin/] * * How to Achieve Low ACOS with Negative Keywords? [https://www.adbadger.com/blog/amazon-ppc-education/how-to-achieve-low-acos-with-negative-keywords-the-ppc-den-podcast/] * * How And Why To Use Negatives In Your Amazon PPC [https://www.adbadger.com/blog/amazon-ppc-education/ppc-den-podcast-ep-104-how-and-why-to-use-negatives-in-your-amazon-ppc/] * * Answered Prayers: Negative ASIN Targeting Comes to Auto Campaigns [https://www.adbadger.com/blog/amazon-ppc-education/ppc-den-podcast-ep-90-answered-prayers-negative-asin-targeting-comes-to-auto-campaigns/] * * Negative ASIN in Amazon PPC Auto Campaigns: Is it Possible? (Part 1) [https://www.adbadger.com/blog/amazon-ppc-education/ppc-den-podcast-ep-82-negative-asin-in-amazon-ppc-auto-campaigns-is-it-possible-part-1/] * * Negative ASIN in Amazon PPC Auto Campaigns: Is it Possible? (Part 2) [https://www.adbadger.com/blog/amazon-ppc-education/ppc-den-podcast-ep-83-negative-asin-in-amazon-ppc-auto-campaigns-is-it-possible-part-2/] * * 📚 Unlock our FREE comprehensive Amazon Marketing Playbook [https://www.adbadger.com/amazon-ppc-checklist/] * * Subscribe to our newsletter [https://www.adbadger.com/newsletter/] * * Transform your workflow with our comprehensive Amazon Advertising checklist [https://www.adbadger.com/amazon-ppc-checklist/] * * Review all our show notes [https://www.adbadger.com/podcast] - Host and Executive Producer: Michael Erickson Facchin Senior Producer: Nancy Lili Gonzalez Podcast Coordinator & Graphic Designer: Sofiia Podash Video 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 Amazon * 13:05 – Why do analytics matter more than ever? * 15:22 – Can brands still scale in 2025? * 19:00 - Optimization based on click and view attribution * 20:00 - How to download a bulk file for analysis of ACoS and other metrics * 21:00- Benefits and drawbacks of VCPM campaigns for different brands * 22:00 - VCPM campaigns and their potential for brands with unique products * 25:00 - Marketing campaigns similar to "Shark Tank" for unique products * 26:00 - VCPM with high CTR vs. CPC campaigns * 29:00 - High CTR in VCPM campaigns leading to better engagement cost reduction * 30:00 - When VCPM campaigns are effective for unique products? 🦡 Resources & Links * 🦡 GET AD BADGER [https://www.adbadger.com/pricing-product-tour/⁠] ➡️ * Where to find Michael, Michael Erickson Facchin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-erickson-facchin/] * Where to find Elizabeth,  Elizabeth Greene [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-greene-junglr/] * Junglr [https://junglr.com/] * Sneaky defaults that drain your budget in 2025 [https://www.adbadger.com/blog/amazon-ppc-education/sneaky-defaults-that-drain-your-budget-in-2025-the-ppc-den-podcast/] * How to Make Amazon Advertising Profitable in 2025? [https://www.adbadger.com/blog/amazon-ppc-education/how-to-make-amazon-advertising-profitable-in-2025-the-ppc-den-podcast/] * RPSB (Research peel stick and block) 2025 Update [https://www.adbadger.com/blog/amazon-ppc-education/rpsb-research-peel-stick-and-block-2025-update-the-ppc-den-podcast/] * Why Aren’t You Testing Placement Adjustments in Amazon PPC?  [https://www.adbadger.com/blog/amazon-ppc-education/why-arent-you-testing-placement-adjustments-in-amazon-ppc-the-ppc-den-podcast/] * 2025 Amazon Marketing Resolutions and Intentions [https://www.adbadger.com/blog/amazon-ppc-education/2025-amazon-marketing-resolutions-and-intentions-the-ppc-den-podcast/] * 📚 Unlock our FREE comprehensive Amazon Marketing Playbook [https://www.adbadger.com/amazon-ppc-checklist/] * Subscribe to our newsletter [https://www.adbadger.com/newsletter/] * Transform your workflow with our comprehensive Amazon Advertising checklist [https://www.adbadger.com/amazon-ppc-checklist/] * Review all our show notes [https://www.adbadger.com/podcast] - Host and Executive Producer: Michael Erickson Facchin Guest Co-Host: Elizabeth Greene Senior Producer: Nancy Lili Gonzalez Podcast Coordinator & Graphic Designer: Sofiia Podash Video 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 TACoS * * 5:00 - The interaction between paid and organic sales on Amazon * * 7:30 - Evaluating PPC effectiveness with TACoS * * 10:00 - Balancing paid vs. organic sales for better performance * * 12:00 - The importance of a long-term strategy in optimizing TACoS * * 15:00 - How to lower TACoS and improve overall performance * * 18:00 - Maximizing profitability through improved ad spend * * 21:24 - Can a higher ACOS still lead to a healthier business? Yes, it can * * 22:22 - Targeting keywords where your brand has an advantage * * 22:38 - Creating a single keyword campaign to maximize visibility and orders * * 23:01 - Search query performance data and its role in boosting organic sales * * 23:28 - Recap: The four misconceptions about TACoS and corrections * * 24:17 - The exciting new features in our software * 26:17 - Always consider TACoS in relation to organic performance and profitability 🦡 Resources & Links * 🦡 GET AD BADGER [https://www.adbadger.com/pricing-product-tour/⁠] ➡️ * Where to find Michael, Michael Erickson Facchin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-erickson-facchin/] * How to Make Amazon Advertising Profitable in 2025? [https://youtu.be/zelN_YBqM9o%C3%A0] * How Do I Optimize for Total ACOS Goals in Amazon Advertising? (Classic) [https://youtu.be/j6KMO-HIVm0] * Evolving Thoughts: Total ACOS for Amazon Advertising  [https://youtu.be/AjsbCSeTvzA?si=AmLUx_Kq4FhiEIeJ] * How do I Improve Amazon Total ACOS Fast? Boost Organic Ranking [https://youtu.be/M07pepUyXWc?si=JmObcdrOg8VHxQmm] * 📚 Unlock our FREE comprehensive Amazon Marketing Playbook [https://www.adbadger.com/amazon-ppc-checklist/]: https://www.adbadger.com/amazon-ppc-checklist/ [https://www.adbadger.com/amazon-ppc-checklist/] * Subscribe to our newsletter [https://www.adbadger.com/newsletter/] * Transform your workflow with our comprehensive Amazon Advertising checklist [https://www.adbadger.com/amazon-ppc-checklist/] * Review all our show notes [https://www.adbadger.com/podcast] - Host and Executive Producer: Michael Erickson Facchin Senior Producer: Nancy Lili Gonzalez Podcast Coordinator & Graphic Designer: Sofiia Podash Video and Audio Editor: Pedro Moreno