> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.sellermagnet.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.sellermagnet.com/ppc-management-beta/ppc-manager-overview.md). # PPC Manager: Overview {% hint style="info" %} **Difficulty:** ๐ŸŸก Intermediate ยท **Reading time:** \~15 min {% endhint %} {% hint style="success" icon="rocket" %} **Open this page in your dashboard:** [**Go to PPC Manager: Overview \[BETA\] โ†’**](https://dashboard.sellermagnet.com/ppc) {% endhint %} {% hint style="warning" icon="triangle-exclamation" %} **BETA:** The PPC Manager is currently in beta. Some features may behave unexpectedly or change based on user feedback. Please report any issues at . {% endhint %} ## ๐Ÿ’ก What Is the PPC Manager? SellerMagnet's **PPC Manager** is a complete Amazon Advertising management suite built directly into your dashboard. It connects to your Amazon Ads account via the official API and provides powerful tools to **monitor**, **analyze**, **automate**, and **optimize** your Sponsored Products (SP), Sponsored Brands (SB), and Sponsored Display (SD) campaigns. Whether you are running five campaigns on a single marketplace or managing hundreds of campaigns across multiple Amazon regions, the PPC Manager consolidates everything into a single interface, eliminating the need to switch between Amazon Seller Central tabs, third-party spreadsheets, and manual reporting workflows. > **Supported campaign types:** Sponsored Products (SP). Sponsored Brands (SB). Sponsored Display (SD) {% hint style="info" icon="lightbulb" %} **Key terms in one line each** (you will see these everywhere in the PPC Manager): * **ACoS** (Advertising Cost of Sale) - ad spend divided by ad sales, as a percentage. Lower is more efficient. * **ROAS** (Return on Ad Spend) - ad sales divided by ad spend. The inverse of ACoS (25% ACoS = 4x ROAS). Higher is better. * **Match type** - how closely a shopper's search must match your keyword: **Exact** (that phrase only), **Phrase** (that phrase plus words around it), **Broad** (loosely related searches). * **Placement** - *where* on Amazon your ad shows: **Top of Search** (top of results), **Product Pages** (competitor detail pages), **Rest of Search** (lower results). * **Break-even ACoS** - the ACoS at which an ad-driven sale earns zero profit. Stay below it to stay profitable (see the formula below). {% endhint %} {% hint style="success" icon="calculator" %} **Know your Break-Even ACoS before you set any target:** ``` Break-Even ACoS = (Price - Cost - Fees) / Price x 100 ``` **Worked example:** a product priced at EUR 29.99 with EUR 8.00 cost and roughly EUR 6.00 in Amazon fees: ``` (29.99 - 8.00 - 6.00) / 29.99 x 100 = ~53% ``` Above \~53% ACoS you lose money on each ad sale; below it you profit. **Rule of thumb: keep your Target ACoS below your break-even ACoS to stay profitable.** {% endhint %} ![SellerMagnet PPC Manager Overview](/files/irES6obe6nbccKncQ5Pi) *** ## Who Is the PPC Manager For?
New Amazon SellersGet up and running fast with guided setup, clear KPI definitions, and AI recommendations that teach you best practices as you go
Solo OperatorsAutomate repetitive bid adjustments and search term harvesting so you can spend time on sourcing and listing optimization instead
Growing BrandsManage campaigns across multiple marketplaces (DE, US, UK, FR, IT, ES, etc.) from a unified dashboard without hiring a PPC specialist
Agencies & TeamsUse the Activity Log and Approval Center to maintain accountability and audit trails across team members
Enterprise SellersUse the AI Optimizer for continuous, data-driven campaign management at scale with full transparency
*** ## Key Features Summary View ![PPC Analytics sub-page: campaign performance trends and ACoS (Advertising Cost of Sale) breakdown](/files/GZsmDoYjZAhP3aD3jwCH)
**Analytics**In-depth campaign performance data with interactive charts and tables
**Search Terms**Identify winning and losing search terms, harvest or negate in one click
**Keyword Research**Discover new keywords for any ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number) across all marketplaces
**Bid Rules**Create automated bid adjustment rules based on performance metrics
**Activity Log**Full audit trail of every change, manual, rule-based, or AI-driven
**Approval Center**Review and approve AI recommendations before they go live
**Settings**Connect your Amazon Ads account and configure automation preferences
**AI Optimizer**Let AI continuously analyze and optimize your campaigns
> **Quick Win:** Even before setting up any automation, simply connecting your account and reviewing the Analytics page will reveal insights you cannot easily see in Seller Central, such as dayparting patterns, keyword-level profitability, and placement breakdowns. *** ## Getting Started ### 1. Connect Your Amazon Ads Account Navigate to **PPC --> Settings** and click **Connect Amazon Ads Account**. You will be redirected to Amazon to authorize SellerMagnet. Once connected, your campaigns and historical data will begin syncing automatically. {% hint style="info" icon="circle-info" %} **First sync** may take a few minutes depending on the number of campaigns and historical data volume. Accounts with fewer than 50 campaigns typically sync in under 2 minutes. Larger accounts with 200+ campaigns may take up to 10 minutes. {% endhint %} {% hint style="danger" %} **Do not disconnect and reconnect** your Amazon Ads account to "fix" a slow sync. This resets all historical data and forces a full re-sync. If your sync is stuck, use the **Sync Now** button or contact support. {% endhint %} #### Step-by-Step Connection Walkthrough {% stepper %} {% step %} ### Go to PPC Settings Go to **PPC --> Settings** in your SellerMagnet dashboard {% endstep %} {% step %} ### Click Connect Click the **Connect Amazon Ads Account** button {% endstep %} {% step %} ### Amazon Authorization You will be redirected to Amazon's authorization page {% endstep %} {% step %} ### Select Profiles Select the advertising profiles you want to connect (you can connect multiple marketplaces) {% endstep %} {% step %} ### Authorize Click **Authorize** on Amazon's page {% endstep %} {% step %} ### Redirect Back You will be redirected back to SellerMagnet, the sync begins automatically {% endstep %} {% step %} ### Wait for Sync Wait for the green "Sync Complete" banner before navigating away {% endstep %} {% endstepper %} {% hint style="warning" %} **Multiple Marketplaces:** If you sell on Amazon DE, Amazon US, and Amazon UK, you will need to authorize each marketplace profile separately. Each marketplace has its own advertising profile in Amazon's system. {% endhint %} ### 2. Review Your Dashboard Once synced, the PPC Manager homepage displays: * **8 key performance indicators:** Impressions, Clicks, Spend, Sales, ACoS, CTR, CVR, and CPC * **Recent activity feed:** Last changes made (manual, automated, or AI-driven) * **Alerts & notifications:** High-ACoS warnings, budget limits, pending approvals * **Quick-access cards:** Jump directly to any PPC sub-feature ### 3. Choose Your Optimization Strategy SellerMagnet supports three operating modes: {% hint style="success" %} **Not sure which mode?** Start with **Manual Review Required**. After 2 weeks of reviewing the AI suggestions and getting comfortable, switch to **Auto-Apply** to save time. {% endhint %} | Mode | Description | Best For | | --------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- | | **Manual Review Required** | AI suggests changes; you approve or reject before execution | Sellers who want full control and are learning PPC | | **Auto-Apply with History** | AI applies changes automatically; all changes are logged | Experienced sellers managing many campaigns | | **Paused** | Automation disabled; manage campaigns manually | Sellers who prefer 100% manual management | You can switch modes at any time from the **Approval Center** or **Settings**. > **Recommendation for New Users:** Start with **Manual Review Required**. This lets you learn from the AI's suggestions and understand why it recommends specific changes. Once you are comfortable with the quality of suggestions (typically after 2-4 weeks), switch to **Auto-Apply with History** to save time. *** ## Dashboard Homepage The PPC Manager homepage serves as your **command center**. In the summary view, you can see: * **KPI Summary Cards:** 8 metrics covering the last 30 days (configurable) * **Performance Snapshot:** Mini trend chart showing spend vs. sales * **Quick-Access Cards:** One card per feature with icon, description, and direct link * **Recent Activity Widget:** Latest 5-10 actions with source, entity, and timestamp * **Alerts Section:** High-ACoS keywords, budget warnings, sync issues, pending approvals * **Connection Status Banner:** Appears when Amazon Ads is not connected, with a direct link to Settings ### Understanding the KPI Cards Each KPI card shows three pieces of information: 1. **Current Value:** The metric for the selected date range 2. **Trend Arrow:** Up or down indicator compared to the previous equivalent period 3. **Percentage Change:** How much the metric changed compared to the previous period > **Pro Tip:** If your ACoS card shows a downward red arrow, that is actually a *good* sign, it means your advertising cost of sale decreased. Similarly, a Sales card with an upward green arrow means revenue grew. Pay attention to which direction is "positive" for each metric. *** ## ๐Ÿš€ Creating Campaigns with the Wizard The PPC Manager includes a guided **campaign creation wizard** that walks you through choosing a template, selecting your product, setting bids and budget, and launching, with expert coaching at every step so you make confident decisions even if you are new to PPC. ### Proactive Coaching Each wizard step includes **Expert tips** panels written in plain language. Before you launch, the final step shows three short coaching sections: * **What's happening** : explains the pre-flight checks and how the launch forecast is calculated * **What we recommend** : sets realistic expectations for your first week * **What to avoid** : warns against common early mistakes (for example, manipulating bids during Amazon's learning phase) Campaign templates (such as Brand Defense, Auto Research, and Manual Exact) each come with their own tip explaining when to use them and what results to expect. {% hint style="info" icon="lightbulb" %} **Why coaching matters:** The wizard is designed to teach as you go. Read the Expert tips on each step, especially the first time you create a campaign of a given type. They encode best practices that would otherwise take months of trial and error to learn. {% endhint %} ### Multi-Marketplace Roll-Out (Launch One Campaign Across Several Markets) On the wizard's **Launch** step, you can roll the same campaign out to **multiple marketplaces in one action** instead of rebuilding it market by market. {% stepper %} {% step %} ### Add marketplaces On the Launch step, click **Add marketplaces** and tick each marketplace you want to launch in (or use **Select all marketplaces**). By default, the campaign launches only on the marketplace you built it in. {% endstep %} {% step %} ### Review each market side by side A **review modal** ("Review your multi-marketplace launch") opens, showing every selected marketplace side by side. Bids and budgets are **converted to each marketplace's currency** at live exchange rates, and keywords are **localized per marketplace** so you are not pushing German keywords into the US market. {% endstep %} {% step %} ### Confirm before anything goes live Nothing is created until you confirm. Optionally tick **Launch all paused** to create the campaigns in a paused state so you can give them a final check in each market before turning them on. Then click **Launch all**. {% endstep %} {% endstepper %} {% hint style="success" %} **Why review per marketplace:** A bid that is competitive in Germany may be too low in the US, and a keyword that converts in one language may be meaningless in another. The review modal lets you sanity-check the FX-converted bids, budgets, and localized keywords for every market in one place before committing. {% endhint %} ### Re-Creating an Incomplete Campaign If a campaign was left in an **incomplete** state (for example, the build was interrupted before it finished), the wizard helps you finish it. It **pre-fills the settings from the incomplete campaign** and re-opens at the right step so you only have to confirm and create: * If your product ASIN was recovered from the campaign, you see *"Prefilled from the incomplete campaign. Review and create."* * If the ASIN had to be inferred, you are asked to confirm it: *"Prefilled from the incomplete campaign. Confirm the product ASIN is correct, then create."* * If no ASIN could be recovered, you are prompted to add it: *"Prefilled the campaign settings, add the product ASIN, then create."* {% hint style="warning" %} **Always confirm the ASIN.** When the wizard infers the product, double-check the ASIN before clicking Create. Creating a campaign against the wrong product wastes spend and is harder to unwind than to prevent. {% endhint %} *** ## Manual vs. AI Optimization: When to Use Which One of the most common questions from new users is whether to manage campaigns manually or let the AI handle everything. Here is a comparison to help you decide: | Aspect | Manual Management | AI Optimizer | | ---------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Time Investment** | 2-5 hours/week depending on campaign volume | 15-30 minutes/week reviewing AI actions | | **Best For** | Small catalogs (fewer than 20 ASINs), niche products with unique seasonality | Large catalogs, multiple marketplaces, stable product lines | | **Bid Adjustments** | You set bids based on your own analysis | AI adjusts bids based on performance data and your target ACoS | | **Keyword Harvesting** | You review search terms and manually add/negate | AI identifies winners and losers and suggests or auto-applies | | **Learning Curve** | Requires PPC knowledge | Works by default with sensible defaults | | **Risk** | Human error (forgetting to check, emotional decisions) | Over-optimization in low-data scenarios | | **Flexibility** | Maximum control | Control via guardrails (target ACoS, bid limits, approval mode) | > **Best Practice:** Many successful sellers use a **hybrid approach**, they let the AI Optimizer handle routine bid adjustments and search term management while manually managing campaign structure, budgets, and high-value keywords. *** ## Use Case Scenarios ### Scenario 1: You Just Launched a New Product You listed a new silicone phone case on Amazon DE and created your first Sponsored Products campaign. {% stepper %} {% step %} ### Connect Account **Connect** your Amazon Ads account in PPC --> Settings {% endstep %} {% step %} ### Wait for Sync **Wait** for the initial data sync to complete {% endstep %} {% step %} ### Set Mode **Set your mode** to "Manual Review Required", you want to learn from the AI's suggestions {% endstep %} {% step %} ### Review Analytics **Review Analytics** daily for the first two weeks to understand impressions, clicks, and early conversion data {% endstep %} {% step %} ### Check Search Terms **Check Search Terms** after 7 days to see what customers are actually searching to find your product {% endstep %} {% step %} ### Create First Bid Rule **Create your first Bid Rule** after 14 days when you have enough data, for example, "Lower bid by 15% for keywords with ACoS above 40% and at least 20 clicks" {% endstep %} {% endstepper %} {% hint style="warning" %} **New Product Warning:** Do not make aggressive bid changes in the first 7-14 days. Amazon's attribution window means sales data is delayed, and low data volume makes metrics unreliable. A keyword with 5 clicks and 0 orders is not necessarily a bad keyword, it just needs more data. {% endhint %} ### Scenario 2: You Manage 50+ Campaigns Across 3 Marketplaces You sell kitchen gadgets on Amazon DE, UK, and FR with over 50 active campaigns. {% stepper %} {% step %} ### Enable Auto-Apply with History **Enable Auto-Apply with History** to let the AI handle routine optimizations {% endstep %} {% step %} ### Set marketplace-specific target ACoS values **Set marketplace-specific target ACoS values:** 20% for DE (your strongest market), 25% for UK, and 30% for FR (still growing) {% endstep %} {% step %} ### Use the Activity Log **Use the Activity Log** to review AI changes weekly instead of daily {% endstep %} {% step %} ### Set up Bid Rules **Set up Bid Rules** for edge cases the AI does not cover, for example, "Pause keywords with over EUR 50 spend and 0 orders" {% endstep %} {% step %} ### Review the Approval Center **Review the Approval Center** for any high-impact changes the AI flagged for human review {% endstep %} {% endstepper %} ### Scenario 3: Seasonal Product Push (Q4 / Holiday Season) You sell gift sets and expect a 3x traffic increase during November and December. {% stepper %} {% step %} ### Increase budgets **Increase budgets** proactively, do not wait for campaigns to run out of daily budget {% endstep %} {% step %} ### Switch to Manual Review Required **Switch to Manual Review Required** temporarily so you can approve bid increases before they go live {% endstep %} {% step %} ### Use the Dayparting Heatmap **Use the Dayparting Heatmap** in Analytics to identify peak shopping hours during the holiday season {% endstep %} {% step %} ### Monitor ACoS daily **Monitor ACoS daily:** a temporary increase in ACoS is normal during high-traffic periods if your total profit increases {% endstep %} {% step %} ### After the season **After the season**, review the Activity Log to understand what worked and switch back to Auto-Apply {% endstep %} {% endstepper %} *** ## ๐Ÿ” Filters Available on All PPC Pages The following filters are available across **every** PPC sub-page for consistency: | Filter | Options | Default | | ----------------- | ------------------------------------------ | ------------ | | **Date Range** | Last 7, 14, 30, 60, or 90 days | Last 30 days | | **Marketplace** | All Marketplaces, or select a specific one | All | | **Campaign Type** | All, SP, SB, SD | All | Additional page-specific filters are documented on each feature's page. {% hint style="info" icon="lightbulb" %} **Pro Tip:** When comparing performance across marketplaces, set the date range to **Last 30 days** for the most statistically meaningful results. Shorter periods (7 days) can be skewed by daily fluctuations or Amazon reporting delays. {% endhint %} *** ## Data Sync & Refresh * **Automatic sync** runs on a configurable schedule (hourly, daily, or weekly, set in Settings) * **Manual sync** available via the **Sync Now** button on any PPC page * **Sync status indicator** shows the last sync timestamp and current state (syncing / up to date / error) {% hint style="warning" %} **Amazon Reporting Delays:** Amazon Advertising data can be delayed by up to 12 hours for some metrics. If you notice a discrepancy between Seller Central and SellerMagnet, wait for the next sync cycle. The data will reconcile automatically. {% endhint %} ### Recommended Sync Schedules | Seller Profile | Recommended Schedule | Why | | ------------------------------------ | -------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- | | Low-volume (fewer than 10 campaigns) | Daily | Sufficient for monitoring; reduces unnecessary API calls | | Mid-volume (10-50 campaigns) | Every 6 hours | Balances freshness with efficiency | | High-volume (50+ campaigns) | Hourly | Ensures AI Optimizer has near-real-time data for bid decisions | *** ## ๐Ÿ“ค Export Capabilities Most PPC pages support **CSV export** for offline analysis: * Analytics --> Keywords, products, placements * Search Terms --> Winners, losers, potentials * Keyword Research --> Discovered keywords with bid data * Activity Log --> Full action history * Bid Rules --> Optimization suggestions > **Pro Tip:** Export your keyword performance data monthly and keep a historical archive. This lets you compare keyword trends over time in your own spreadsheets or BI tools, which is invaluable for seasonal planning and year-over-year analysis. *** ## ๐Ÿ”„ Before & After: The Impact of Using PPC Manager Here is a real-world example of what sellers typically experience after adopting the PPC Manager: | Metric | Before (Manual in Seller Central) | After 30 Days with PPC Manager | Change | | --------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------- | -------------- | | **Time spent on PPC weekly** | 4-6 hours | 30-45 minutes | -85% | | **Average ACoS** | 32% | 24% | -8 points | | **Wasted Ad Spend** (keywords with spend, 0 orders) | EUR 380/month | EUR 95/month | -75% | | **Keywords actively monitored** | Top 50 (manual limit) | All keywords (automated) | +100% coverage | | **Negative keyword additions** | 5-10/month (manual) | 40-60/month (AI-assisted) | +6x | | **Missed budget opportunities** | Frequent (campaigns out of budget by 2 PM) | Rare (budget alerts and auto-adjustments) | Near zero | > Results vary based on campaign volume, product category, and marketplace. The above figures are based on aggregated data from sellers managing 10-50 campaigns on European Amazon marketplaces. ***
โš ๏ธ Common Mistakes to Avoid | Mistake | Why It Matters | | ----------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Mistake 1: Connecting and Forgetting** | Some sellers connect their account, glance at the dashboard once, and never return. The PPC Manager is most powerful when you review it regularly, even 10 minutes per week makes a significant difference. Set a calendar reminder if needed. | | **Mistake 2: Enabling Auto-Apply on Day One** | If you have never used SellerMagnet's PPC tools before, do not enable Auto-Apply immediately. Spend at least one to two weeks in Manual Review mode to understand the AI's logic and verify that its suggestions align with your business goals. | | **Mistake 3: Ignoring Marketplace Differences** | A keyword that performs well on Amazon DE may perform very differently on Amazon FR or IT. Always filter by marketplace when making optimization decisions. Do not apply blanket rules across all marketplaces. | | **Mistake 4: Setting Unrealistic ACoS Targets** | Setting a target ACoS of 5% when your product margins are 30% may sound aggressive and smart, but it can cause the AI to reduce bids so much that you lose all visibility. Start with a target ACoS that is 5-10 percentage points below your break-even ACoS and gradually tighten it. | | **Mistake 5: Making Changes During Low-Data Periods** | Avoid making major bid or budget changes based on fewer than 7 days of data or fewer than 100 clicks. Statistical significance matters, small sample sizes lead to bad decisions. |
\## ๐Ÿ”ง Troubleshooting ### "My Amazon Ads account won't connect" {% stepper %} {% step %} ### Step 1 Ensure you are logging into the correct Amazon account (the one associated with your Seller Central advertising) {% endstep %} {% step %} ### Step 2 Check that you have an active Amazon Advertising account, you need at least one campaign created in Seller Central {% endstep %} {% step %} ### Step 3 Disable browser ad blockers or privacy extensions temporarily, as they can interfere with the OAuth redirect {% endstep %} {% step %} ### Step 4 Try using a different browser or an incognito/private window {% endstep %} {% step %} ### Step 5 If the issue persists, contact SellerMagnet support with the error message displayed {% endstep %} {% endstepper %} ### "My data looks different from Seller Central" * **Timing:** Amazon Advertising data can be delayed by up to 12 hours. Click **Sync Now** and check again after the next sync completes * **Date Range:** Make sure you are comparing the exact same date range in both SellerMagnet and Seller Central * **Marketplace Filter:** Confirm you are viewing the same marketplace in both tools * **Currency:** SellerMagnet displays values in the marketplace's native currency. If you are viewing "All Marketplaces," values are aggregated (not converted) ### "The sync is stuck or shows an error" 1. Click **Sync Now** to trigger a manual re-sync 2. If the error persists, go to **PPC --> Settings** and check your connection status 3. Amazon occasionally revokes API tokens. If your connection status shows "Disconnected" or "Token Expired," click **Reconnect** 4. For persistent issues, check the SellerMagnet status page or contact support ### "I don't see all my campaigns" * Newly created campaigns may take up to 24 hours to appear in the API * Archived campaigns are not shown by default: check filter settings * Ensure all marketplace profiles are connected (each marketplace must be authorized separately) *** ## โ“ FAQ
Does SellerMagnet make changes to my campaigns automatically? Only if you enable "Auto-Apply with History" mode. In "Manual Review Required" mode, every change is presented for your approval first. In "Paused" mode, no automated changes are made at all.
Can I connect multiple Amazon Seller accounts? Yes. Each Amazon Advertising account can be connected separately in PPC --> Settings. You can switch between accounts using the marketplace/profile selector.
Does the PPC Manager work for Sponsored Brands Video campaigns? Yes. Sponsored Brands (SB) campaigns, including video campaigns, are fully supported for analytics and optimization.
How far back does historical data go? SellerMagnet imports up to 90 days of historical data on first sync. After that, data is accumulated continuously for as long as your account remains connected.
Is my Amazon Ads API data secure? Yes. SellerMagnet uses OAuth 2.0 for authentication (the same standard used by Amazon itself). We never store your Amazon password. API tokens are encrypted at rest and in transit.
Can I use the PPC Manager if I only run Sponsored Products campaigns? Absolutely. The PPC Manager works with any combination of campaign types. If you only run SP campaigns, the SB and SD sections will simply show no data.
Will the AI Optimizer overspend my budget? No. The AI Optimizer works within your existing campaign budgets. It adjusts bids and manages keywords but does not increase daily budgets unless you configure it to do so.
What happens if I disconnect my Amazon Ads account? Your historical data in SellerMagnet is retained, but new data will stop syncing. All automated rules and AI optimization will pause. You can reconnect at any time to resume.
*** ## โžก๏ธ What's Next? {% content-ref url="/pages/pQTsyjXdDCQAMg0Eueka" %} [PPC Analytics](/ppc-management-beta/ppc-manager-overview/ppc-analytics.md) {% endcontent-ref %} {% content-ref url="/pages/gVXllc12Kbkb0xuLJfxw" %} [PPC Settings](/ppc-management-beta/ppc-manager-overview/ppc-settings.md) {% endcontent-ref %} {% content-ref url="/pages/kw3mb3OSwMEFnPlRPVag" %} [PPC AI Optimizer](/ppc-management-beta/ppc-manager-overview/ppc-ai-optimizer.md) {% endcontent-ref %}