Amazon PPC (Pay-Per-Click) is an essential advertising tool for sellers on the Amazon platform. It allows you to promote your products by bidding on relevant keywords, and your ads will be displayed when customers search for those specific keywords. When setting up an Amazon PPC campaign, one important decision you need to make is whether to use broad match or phrase match keywords. In this article, we will explore the differences between these two match types and analyze their effectiveness in driving sales on Amazon.
Understanding Amazon PPC
Before diving into the specifics of broad and phrase match keywords, let’s get a better understanding of how Amazon PPC works. With Amazon PPC, you only pay when someone clicks on your ad, hence the term “Pay-Per-Click.” This makes it a cost-effective way to advertise your products and reach potential customers.
Before we begin: Every Amazon Seller needs a suite of tools for Keyword Research, Product Development, and Listing Optimization. Our top pick is Helium 10 and readers of this post can get 20% off their first 6 months by clicking the image below.
When you run an Amazon PPC campaign, you have the opportunity to showcase your products to a highly targeted audience. By bidding on relevant keywords, you increase the visibility of your ads and attract potential customers who are actively searching for products like yours. This targeted approach ensures that your advertising budget is spent efficiently, as you are only paying for clicks from users who have expressed interest in your product.
Amazon PPC operates within an auction-based system. When a user searches for a keyword that you are bidding on, Amazon’s algorithm determines which ads to display based on a combination of factors, including your bid amount and the relevance of your ad to the search query. This means that simply having a high bid does not guarantee your ad will be shown. It is essential to optimize your campaigns by selecting the right keywords and crafting compelling ad copy to increase your chances of winning the auction and securing ad placements.
Basics of Amazon PPC
To get started with Amazon PPC, you need to choose relevant keywords that customers are likely to search for when looking for products like yours. When someone searches for a keyword you are bidding on, your ad may appear, depending on various factors like your bid amount and relevancy. By targeting the right keywords, you increase your chances of reaching customers who are more likely to convert into buyers.
Keyword research plays a crucial role in the success of your Amazon PPC campaigns. It involves identifying the terms and phrases that your potential customers are using to search for products similar to yours. By understanding the language they use and the specific keywords they enter in the search bar, you can optimize your campaigns to align with their search intent.
One effective strategy for conducting keyword research is to analyze the search terms that have led customers to your product listing organically. This data can provide valuable insights into the keywords that are already driving traffic and conversions. Additionally, you can use Amazon’s keyword research tools to discover new keyword opportunities and identify popular search terms within your niche.
Importance of Keywords in Amazon PPC
Keywords are the foundation of a successful Amazon PPC campaign. Proper keyword research is crucial to identify the terms your potential customers are using to search for products. By incorporating these keywords into your PPC campaigns, you can ensure your ads are displayed to the right audience, improving your chances of generating sales.
When selecting keywords for your Amazon PPC campaigns, it is essential to strike a balance between relevance and search volume. While it is important to target keywords that accurately describe your product, you also want to choose keywords that have sufficient search volume to drive meaningful traffic to your listing. Finding this balance can help you maximize the visibility of your ads and increase your chances of attracting qualified leads.
In addition to selecting the right keywords, it is crucial to continuously monitor and optimize your campaigns based on performance data. By analyzing metrics such as click-through rates, conversion rates, and cost per click, you can identify underperforming keywords and make data-driven adjustments to improve the overall effectiveness of your Amazon PPC campaigns.
Broad Match Keywords
When it comes to keyword match types in Amazon PPC, broad match is the default setting. Broad match keywords allow your ads to be displayed when a customer’s search query contains any words that are synonymously related to your targeted keywords. For example, if you bid on the broad match keyword “running shoes,” your ad may appear when someone searches for “athletic sneakers” or “jogging footwear.”
Broad match keywords offer a flexible approach to targeting potential customers. By encompassing a wide range of search queries, they have the potential to reach a larger audience and increase your ad’s visibility. This can be particularly beneficial if you are looking to generate brand awareness or reach new customers who may not be familiar with your product.
However, it’s important to note that not all search queries triggered by broad match keywords will be highly relevant to your product. While broad match allows for synonymously related terms, it can also result in your ads being displayed for search queries that may not align perfectly with your product offering. Therefore, it’s crucial to closely monitor your campaigns and regularly review the performance of your broad match keywords.
Defining Broad Match Keywords
With broad match keywords, your ads have the potential to reach a larger audience as they can display for various search queries. While this can increase visibility, it’s important to note that not all search queries will be highly relevant to your product. Therefore, it’s essential to monitor your campaigns closely to ensure your ads are being displayed to your target audience.
One way to optimize the use of broad match keywords is to regularly review and refine your keyword list. By identifying high-performing search terms and adding them as exact or phrase match keywords, you can increase the precision of your targeting and improve the overall performance of your campaigns.
Additionally, it’s important to consider the context in which your ads are being displayed. Broad match keywords may trigger your ads for search queries that have different intents. For example, if you sell running shoes, your ad may appear for someone searching for “running shoe repair” or “running shoe size chart.” While these search queries are related to running shoes, they may not necessarily indicate an immediate purchase intent. Therefore, it’s crucial to assess the relevancy of the search queries triggered by your broad match keywords and adjust your bidding and targeting strategies accordingly.
Pros and Cons of Using Broad Match Keywords
One advantage of using broad match keywords is that they allow you to discover new search terms that are relevant to your product. This can help you uncover new opportunities and expand your reach. By analyzing the search terms report in your Amazon PPC account, you can identify relevant search queries that are generating impressions and clicks. Incorporating these search terms into your keyword list can help you refine your targeting and improve the overall performance of your campaigns.
However, the downside of broad match keywords is that they can also result in wasted ad spend if your ads are repeatedly displayed for irrelevant search queries. While broad match provides flexibility, it’s important to strike a balance between reach and relevancy. Regularly reviewing your search terms report and adding negative keywords can help mitigate this issue. Negative keywords allow you to specify search terms for which you do not want your ads to be displayed. By excluding irrelevant search queries, you can optimize your ad spend and ensure that your ads are shown to the most relevant audience.
Furthermore, it’s crucial to continually monitor and optimize your campaigns when using broad match keywords. By analyzing the performance metrics such as click-through rate (CTR), conversion rate, and return on ad spend (ROAS), you can identify areas for improvement and make data-driven decisions to enhance the effectiveness of your advertising efforts.
Phrase Match Keywords
On the other hand, phrase match keywords provide a more targeted approach. With phrase match, your ad will be displayed when a customer’s search query contains your targeted keyword in the exact order you specify, with additional words before or after it. For example, if you bid on the phrase match keyword “men’s running shoes,” your ad may appear when someone searches for “best men’s running shoes” or “affordable men’s running shoes.”
Understanding Phrase Match Keywords
Phrase match keywords offer a balance between broad reach and relevancy. They allow you to target customers who are searching for specific variations or phrases related to your products. This match type can be particularly effective in fine-tuning your campaigns and maximizing your ad spend.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Phrase Match Keywords
By using phrase match keywords, you have more control over when your ads are displayed. This helps ensure that your ads are being shown to customers who are actively looking for products related to your keyword. However, since phrase match is more specific, it may reduce the potential reach of your ads. It’s essential to constantly monitor and adjust your bids and keyword list to strike the right balance between reach and relevancy.
Broad vs Phrase: A Comparative Analysis
Now that we have looked at the basics of broad and phrase match keywords, let’s compare their effectiveness in driving sales on Amazon.
Keyword Relevance in Broad and Phrase Match
While broad match keywords have the potential to reach a larger audience, their relevancy can vary. This means your ads may be displayed for search queries that are not directly related to your product. On the other hand, phrase match keywords offer a higher level of relevancy by targeting specific variations or phrases. This can result in more qualified clicks and higher conversion rates.
Cost Implications: Broad Match vs Phrase Match
When it comes to cost, broad match keywords may require more ad spend to reach a similar number of conversions compared to phrase match keywords. This is because broad match keywords can display for a wider range of search queries, including those that may not be directly relevant to your product. By using phrase match keywords, you can focus your budget on more targeted searches, potentially driving more effective results.
Optimizing Your Amazon PPC Strategy
To make the most out of your Amazon PPC campaigns, it’s important to optimize your strategy based on the match type you choose. Here are a few best practices to consider:
Best Practices for Keyword Selection
Regardless of the match type you choose, thorough keyword research is essential. Look for high-volume, relevant keywords that align with your products and target audience. Keep an eye on search term reports and identify new keywords to add or negative keywords to exclude.
Monitoring and Adjusting Your PPC Campaigns
Regularly monitoring your campaigns is crucial for success. Review your performance metrics, such as click-through rates and conversion rates, to identify areas for improvement. Continuously adjust your bids, keywords, and ad copy to optimize your campaigns and achieve better results over time.
In conclusion, when it comes to Amazon PPC, both broad and phrase match keywords have their pros and cons. Broad match can provide wider reach, but it requires closer monitoring to ensure relevancy. Phrase match offers more control and higher relevancy, but it may limit your potential reach. Ultimately, the best approach is to test and iterate, finding the right balance that works for your products and target audience.
Maximize Your Amazon PPC Campaigns with Your eCom Agent
Ready to take your Amazon PPC strategy to the next level? Subscribe to Your eCom Agent’s AI Tools and harness the power of artificial intelligence to optimize your campaigns effortlessly. Whether you’re looking to refine your keyword matches, analyze customer feedback, or enhance your product listings, Your eCom Agent provides the cutting-edge tools you need to succeed. Don’t let hours of manual work hold you back—embrace the future of Amazon selling and watch your business thrive.