# PPC Settings {% 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 Settings \[BETA\] โ†’**](https://dashboard.sellermagnet.com/ppc/settings) {% 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“‹ Overview The **PPC Settings** page is where you manage your Amazon Advertising connection, configure automation preferences, set target ACoS (Advertising Cost of Sale) and bid boundaries, configure budget alerts, and control data sync schedules. This is the **first place to visit** when setting up the PPC Manager, every other feature (AI Optimizer, Analytics, Keyword Research) depends on the configuration you establish here. > **New to SellerMagnet PPC?** Complete the Getting Started Checklist at the bottom of this page before moving on to the AI Optimizer. A properly configured Settings page is the foundation for every automated action the system takes on your behalf. *** ## ๐ŸŽฅ Video Walkthrough {% hint style="warning" %} **Video tutorial coming soon.** A full guided walkthrough of this feature will be available here shortly. {% endhint %} *** ## ๐Ÿ—‚๏ธ Page Layout The Settings page uses a **sidebar navigation** with the following sections: ### Account * **Amazon Ads Connection:** Connect or disconnect your Amazon Advertising account via OAuth * **Profiles & Marketplaces:** View and manage connected marketplace profiles (EU, NA, FE) ### Configuration * **Optimization Settings:** Set target ACoS, bid ranges, and lookback periods * **Automation Settings:** Configure approval modes, daily limits, and schedules * **Budget Alerts:** Set thresholds for spend warnings and overspend protection ### Integration * **Sync Schedule:** Configure how often campaign data is refreshed from Amazon * **API Status:** View connection health, last sync timestamp, and error logs *** ## Connecting Your Amazon Ads Account ### Step-by-Step {% stepper %} {% step %} #### PPC Settings > Account > Amazon Ads Connection Navigate to **PPC Settings > Account > Amazon Ads Connection**. {% endstep %} {% step %} #### Connect Amazon Ads Account Click **Connect Amazon Ads Account**. {% endstep %} {% step %} #### Step 3 You will be redirected to Amazon's OAuth authorization page. {% endstep %} {% step %} #### Step 4 Log in with the Amazon account that owns (or has been granted access to) your advertising campaigns. {% endstep %} {% step %} #### Step 5 Grant SellerMagnet the requested permissions (read campaign data, modify bids, manage keywords). {% endstep %} {% step %} #### Step 6 After authorization, you are redirected back to SellerMagnet. Your campaigns begin syncing automatically. {% endstep %} {% endstepper %} **Connection status** is shown at the top of the page: | Status | Indicator | Meaning | | ---------------- | ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Connected** | Green dot | Account linked and data syncing normally | | **Pending** | Blue dot (pulsing) | Initial sync in progress: may take 5-15 minutes for large accounts | | **Disconnected** | Red dot | No account connected: click Connect to begin | | **Error** | Red dot with exclamation | Connection failed: see Troubleshooting section below | > **Pro Tip:** If you manage advertising for multiple seller accounts (e.g., your own brand plus a client), you can connect each account separately. Each account gets its own set of profiles and independent sync controls. {% hint style="danger" %} **Common Mistake:** Do not connect with a sub-user Amazon account that has restricted advertising permissions. The connection will succeed, but the sync will fail for campaigns the sub-user cannot access. Always connect with the account that has **full advertising console access**. {% endhint %} *** ## Profiles & Marketplaces After connecting, all your Amazon Advertising profiles are listed with: * **Country flag and marketplace code** (e.g., DE, FR, US, UK) * **Account name** as registered in Amazon Ads * **Sync status** indicator (green = syncing, gray = paused) * **Last sync timestamp** showing the most recent successful data pull * **Campaign count:** total number of campaigns detected for this profile * **Option to set as default profile:** the profile used when you open the PPC Dashboard If you have **multiple accounts** (e.g., EU and NA), each profile appears separately with independent sync controls. ### Scenario: Managing 3 EU Marketplaces > You sell on Amazon DE, FR, and IT. After connecting, you see three separate profiles. You set DE as your default (it is your largest market) and leave all three syncing on a Daily schedule. When you open the PPC Dashboard, it loads your DE campaigns by default, but you can switch to FR or IT with one click. > **Quick Win:** Set your highest-revenue marketplace as the default profile. This saves clicks every time you open the PPC Dashboard, since you will be viewing your most important data first. *** ## โš™๏ธ Optimization Settings ![SellerMagnet PPC Settings](/files/PS4TeQjbm654PHg7uBvS) These settings define the **global boundaries** the AI Optimizer and all automation rules use when generating recommendations. | Setting | Description | Default | Recommended Range | | ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------------------ | | **Target ACoS (%)** | Global target ACoS used across analytics, AI suggestions, and automation rules | 25% | 15%--40% depending on margins | | **Min Bid** | Floor bid: automation will never suggest a bid below this value | 0.02 | 0.02--0.10 | | **Max Bid** | Ceiling bid: automation will never suggest a bid above this value | 5.00 | 2.00--10.00 | | **Lookback Period** | Number of days of historical data the AI analyzes when generating suggestions | 14 days | 7--30 days | | **Currency** | Display currency for PPC metrics across all dashboards | Auto (from profile) | Match your accounting currency | ### How to Choose Your Target ACoS Your target ACoS should reflect your **profit margins after all costs** (product cost, FBA fees, shipping, returns). Use this formula as a starting point: > **Target ACoS = (Selling Price - Total Costs) / Selling Price x 100** For example, if you sell a product for 30.00 and your total costs are 18.00: > Target ACoS = (30 - 18) / 30 x 100 = **40%** This is your **break-even ACoS**. Set your target below this to ensure profitability. Most sellers set their target at 60--80% of their break-even ACoS. > **Pro Tip:** If you are in a **product launch phase**, consider temporarily setting a higher Target ACoS (e.g., 50--60%) to prioritize visibility and keyword ranking. Lower it once you have established organic sales velocity. {% hint style="warning" %} **Important:** The Min Bid and Max Bid apply to **all** AI-generated bid suggestions. If your Max Bid is set too low for competitive categories, the AI may be unable to bid effectively on high-value keywords. Check your category's average CPC before setting this limit. {% endhint %} ### Lookback Period: Which to Choose? | Lookback Period | Best For | Trade-off | | --------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------- | | **7 days** | Fast-moving categories, daily deal products, recently launched campaigns | Reacts quickly but may overfit to short-term noise | | **14 days** (default) | Most sellers: good balance of recency and statistical significance | Recommended starting point | | **30 days** | Stable, evergreen products with consistent demand | Slower to react to sudden changes but highly reliable | | **60: 90 days** | Seasonal analysis, long-term trend identification | Use sparingly, data may be stale for bid decisions | *** ## โš™๏ธ Automation Settings These settings control **how and when** automated changes are executed. | Setting | Description | Default | Notes | | -------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Approval Mode** | Manual Review, Auto-Apply, or Paused | Manual Review | See comparison table below | | **Daily Bid Change Limit** | Maximum percentage a single bid can change in one day | 20% | Prevents sudden large swings | | **Automation Window** | Time range when automation can execute changes (HH:MM--HH:MM, in your local timezone) | 00:00--23:59 | Restrict to business hours if you want to monitor changes as they happen | | **Blackout Dates** | Specific dates when no automated changes are applied | None | Use during Prime Day, Black Friday, or other promotional events where you want full manual control | ### Manual Review vs. Auto-Apply: Which Mode Is Right for You? | Factor | Manual Review | Auto-Apply | Paused | | ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **How it works** | AI generates suggestions; you approve or reject each one in the Approval Center | AI generates suggestions and applies them automatically within your configured limits | AI still generates suggestions but takes no action | | **Best for** | New users, cautious sellers, agencies managing client accounts | Experienced sellers with proven AI trust, high-volume accounts | Temporary pause during promotions or account audits | | **Control level** | Full control: nothing changes without your explicit approval | Hands-free, changes happen within your guardrails (bid limits, daily change caps) | Full pause, no automated changes | | **Time investment** | 10--30 minutes per day reviewing suggestions | Near zero (periodic monitoring recommended) | Zero | | **Risk level** | Lowest: you see everything before it happens | Moderate, bounded by your limits but changes happen unsupervised | None, no changes made | | **Recommended for** | First 2 weeks of using SellerMagnet PPC | After you have built confidence in the AI's suggestions | Prime Day, Black Friday, or any event where you want manual-only control | > **Best Practice:** Start with **Manual Review** for the first 1--2 weeks. Review every suggestion the AI makes. Once you see that 80%+ of suggestions align with your judgment, switch to **Auto-Apply** to save time. Keep the **Daily Bid Change Limit at 20%** as a safety net. {% hint style="danger" %} **Common Mistake:** Switching to Auto-Apply on day one without reviewing any suggestions first. If your Target ACoS or bid boundaries are misconfigured, the AI will optimize toward the wrong goals. Always validate your settings with Manual Review first. {% endhint %} ### Blackout Dates: When to Use Them Set blackout dates for any period where you want **complete manual control**: * **Prime Day** (typically July): bid competition spikes; manual bidding gives you real-time control * **Black Friday / Cyber Monday:** same reasoning; budgets can drain in hours * **Lightning Deals or Coupons:** if you are running a promotion, you may want to manually increase bids temporarily * **Inventory low periods:** if stock is running low, pause automation to avoid driving sales you cannot fulfill *** ## Budget Alerts Configure notifications for budget-related events: | Alert | Description | Default Threshold | Notification Method | | ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------- | -------------------------------------- | | **Daily spend threshold** | Alert when daily spend exceeds a set amount | Off | In-app notification + optional email | | **Budget exhaustion** | Alert when a campaign's daily budget is fully consumed before end of day | On | In-app notification | | **Overspend protection** | Automatically pause campaigns that exceed their daily budget by a configurable margin | Off | In-app notification + automatic action | | **Weekly spend summary** | Receive a summary of total spend vs. budget across all campaigns | Off | Email digest | > **Quick Win:** Enable **Budget Exhaustion** alerts immediately. If your daily budget runs out by 2 PM, you are missing the entire evening shopping window. The alert lets you react by increasing the budget or adjusting bids before you lose more impressions. ### Scenario: Protecting Against Runaway Spend > You manage 15 campaigns across DE and FR with a combined daily budget of 500. You set a **Daily spend threshold** alert at 400 (80% of total) and enable **Overspend protection** at 110% (550). If a click-fraud spike or unexpected search volume pushes your spend past 400, you get an alert. If it reaches 550, campaigns are automatically paused until the next day. You sleep soundly knowing your monthly budget cannot spiral out of control. *** ## Sync Schedule | Frequency | Description | Best For | | ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Hourly** | Data refreshed every hour | Active optimization during peak events (Prime Day, product launches) | | **Every 6 Hours** | Data refreshed 4 times per day | Sellers who check campaigns multiple times daily | | **Daily** (recommended) | Data refreshed once per day, typically overnight | Most sellers, balances freshness with API quota usage | | **Weekly** | Data refreshed once per week | Low-activity accounts or seasonal products in off-season | | **Manual** | Only syncs when you click "Sync Now" | Testing, troubleshooting, or accounts on pause | You can click **Sync Now** at any time to trigger an immediate data refresh regardless of your schedule setting. > **Recommendation:** Use **Daily** sync for most accounts. Switch to **Hourly** only if you are actively optimizing campaigns during a high-stakes event and need near-real-time data. Hourly sync consumes more of your Amazon Ads API quota. {% hint style="warning" %} **Note:** After changing your sync schedule, the new frequency takes effect starting from the **next scheduled sync**. If you switch from Weekly to Daily, the first daily sync will run within 24 hours. {% endhint %} ### API Status Panel The API Status section shows: | Field | Description | | ------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Connection Health** | Green (healthy), Yellow (intermittent issues), Red (connection lost) | | **Last Successful Sync** | Timestamp of the most recent complete data pull | | **Last Sync Duration** | How long the most recent sync took | | **Records Synced** | Number of campaign/keyword records updated | | **Error Log** | Recent API errors with timestamps and codes (if any) | *** ## Disconnecting To disconnect your Amazon Ads account: 1. Scroll to the bottom of the **Account > Amazon Ads Connection** section. 2. Click **Disconnect** (red button). 3. Read the warning message carefully. 4. Type "DISCONNECT" in the confirmation field and click **Confirm**. {% hint style="danger" %} **Warning:** Disconnecting removes all active sync schedules and pending automation actions. Your **historical data within SellerMagnet is preserved**, but no new data will be fetched until you reconnect. Any pending AI suggestions in the Approval Center will be discarded. {% endhint %} {% hint style="info" icon="lightbulb" %} **Tip:** If you need to temporarily stop syncing without losing your configuration, set your Sync Schedule to **Manual** and your Approval Mode to **Paused** instead of disconnecting entirely. {% endhint %} *** ## Recommended Configuration Templates Use these templates as starting points based on your seller profile. Adjust values as you learn what works for your specific products and margins. ### New Seller (< 6 months on Amazon) | Setting | Recommended Value | Rationale | | ---------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Target ACoS | 35--45% | Higher target allows the AI to prioritize visibility and data collection | | Min Bid | 0.05 | Slightly above floor to stay competitive | | Max Bid | 3.00 | Conservative cap while you learn your category CPCs | | Lookback Period | 7 days | Shorter window to adapt quickly as you learn the market | | Approval Mode | Manual Review | Review every suggestion to learn how PPC optimization works | | Daily Bid Change Limit | 15% | Tighter limit for more gradual changes | | Sync Schedule | Daily | Sufficient for most new accounts | ### Experienced Seller (6+ months, established products) | Setting | Recommended Value | Rationale | | ---------------------- | ---------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- | | Target ACoS | 20--30% | Tighter target focused on profitability | | Min Bid | 0.02 | Standard floor | | Max Bid | 5.00--8.00 | Higher cap for competitive keywords you have validated | | Lookback Period | 14 days | Balanced recency and statistical reliability | | Approval Mode | Auto-Apply | Trust the AI after initial validation period | | Daily Bid Change Limit | 20--25% | Standard range for established campaigns | | Sync Schedule | Daily or Every 6 Hours | Daily is usually sufficient; 6-hour if actively optimizing | ### Agency Managing Multiple Clients | Setting | Recommended Value | Rationale | | ---------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- | | Target ACoS | Per client (set individually per profile) | Each client has different margins and goals | | Min Bid | 0.02 | Standard across clients | | Max Bid | Per client | Varies by client budget and category | | Lookback Period | 14 days | Consistent baseline across clients | | Approval Mode | Manual Review | Agencies should review before changes hit client accounts | | Daily Bid Change Limit | 15% | Conservative to protect client relationships | | Sync Schedule | Daily | Manageable across many accounts | | Budget Alerts | All enabled | Critical for agency accountability | {% hint style="success" icon="rocket" %} **Agency Pro Tip:** Set up **Budget Exhaustion** and **Daily Spend Threshold** alerts for every client account. Nothing damages client trust faster than an unexpected budget overrun. Alert thresholds should be agreed upon with the client as part of onboarding. {% endhint %} ***
โš ๏ธ Common Mistakes to Avoid | Mistake | Why It Hurts | How to Fix | | ------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Setting Target ACoS without knowing your margins | AI optimizes toward the wrong goal, you may generate sales at a loss | Calculate your break-even ACoS first (see formula above), then set target at 60--80% of break-even | | Max Bid set too low for your category | AI cannot compete for high-value keywords; you lose impressions to competitors | Research average CPCs in your category via Amazon Ads console and set Max Bid at 1.5--2x the average CPC | | Switching to Auto-Apply on day one | Misconfigured settings + no human review = potentially wasteful changes | Start with Manual Review for 1--2 weeks minimum | | Ignoring Blackout Dates during Prime Day | AI may over-bid during artificially inflated competition, draining your budget | Add blackout dates for major shopping events well in advance | | Using Hourly sync when Daily is sufficient | Wastes API quota, increases load, and provides minimal benefit for stable accounts | Reserve Hourly sync for high-stakes events only | | Connecting with a restricted Amazon sub-account | Sync succeeds partially but misses campaigns the sub-account cannot access | Always connect with the primary account that has full advertising permissions |
\## ๐Ÿ”ง Troubleshooting ### Connection Issues | Problem | Likely Cause | Solution | | ------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | OAuth redirect fails | Browser blocks pop-ups or cookies | Disable pop-up blocker for SellerMagnet domain; clear cookies and retry | | "Access Denied" after authorization | Amazon account lacks Advertising API permissions | Verify the account has Amazon Ads access (not just Seller Central); contact Amazon support if needed | | Connection status stuck on "Pending" | Initial sync is processing a large account | Wait up to 30 minutes for accounts with 100+ campaigns; if still pending, click Sync Now | | Connection drops after a few days | Amazon OAuth token expired | Re-authenticate by clicking **Reconnect**; SellerMagnet automatically refreshes tokens, but edge cases can require manual re-auth | ### Sync Problems | Problem | Likely Cause | Solution | | ----------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Last sync timestamp is stale (24+ hours old) | Sync schedule may be set to Weekly or Manual | Check your Sync Schedule setting and switch to Daily if needed | | "API Rate Limit" error in error log | Too many sync requests (common with Hourly on large accounts) | Switch to Every 6 Hours or Daily sync; the error resolves automatically once rate limits reset | | Missing campaigns in the dashboard | Campaigns created after the last sync | Click **Sync Now** to pull the latest campaign data | | Data mismatch between SellerMagnet and Amazon console | Amazon Ads reporting delay (up to 12 hours for some metrics) | This is normal Amazon behavior, metrics like attributed sales can take up to 72 hours to finalize | ### Budget Alert Issues | Problem | Likely Cause | Solution | | ----------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Not receiving email alerts | Email notifications not enabled or email in spam | Check notification settings; add SellerMagnet to your email whitelist | | Overspend protection not triggering | Threshold set too high or feature toggled off | Verify the threshold value and ensure the toggle is enabled | *** ## โ“ FAQ
Can I connect multiple Amazon Ads accounts? Yes. Each Amazon Ads account appears as a separate set of profiles. You can connect as many accounts as you manage.
Does disconnecting delete my historical data? No. All data previously synced is retained within SellerMagnet. Disconnecting only stops new data from being pulled.
How long does the initial sync take? Typically 5--15 minutes for accounts with fewer than 50 campaigns. Large accounts (100+ campaigns, thousands of keywords) may take up to 30 minutes.
Can I set different Target ACoS values for different campaigns? The Target ACoS in Settings is a **global default**. You can override it per campaign in the Analytics Dashboard or per rule in the AI Optimizer. The global value is used as a fallback whenever no campaign-specific target is set.
What happens if I change settings while the AI has pending suggestions? Existing pending suggestions in the Approval Center are **not retroactively updated**. They were generated under the previous settings. New suggestions generated after the change will use the updated configuration. You can dismiss old suggestions and wait for fresh ones.
Is my Amazon Ads API data secure? Yes. SellerMagnet uses OAuth 2.0 for authentication (we never see your Amazon password), and all data is encrypted in transit (TLS 1.2+) and at rest (AES-256). Your advertising data is never shared with third parties.
What Amazon Ads API permissions does SellerMagnet require? SellerMagnet requests read and write access to Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands, and Sponsored Display campaigns. Write access is required only if you use Auto-Apply mode; Manual Review mode only reads data and stages changes for your approval.
*** ## Getting Started Checklist Use this checklist to ensure your PPC Settings are properly configured before moving to the AI Optimizer: * [ ] **Connect your Amazon Ads account** via OAuth and verify the connection status shows "Connected" (green dot) * [ ] **Review your marketplace profiles** and set your primary marketplace as the default * [ ] **Calculate your break-even ACoS** and set your Target ACoS at 60--80% of that value * [ ] **Set Min and Max Bid boundaries** appropriate for your product category * [ ] **Choose a Lookback Period** (start with 14 days if unsure) * [ ] **Set Approval Mode to Manual Review** for your first 1--2 weeks * [ ] **Configure Daily Bid Change Limit** (20% is a safe starting point) * [ ] **Set Blackout Dates** for any upcoming major shopping events * [ ] **Enable Budget Exhaustion alerts** so you know if campaigns run out of budget early * [ ] **Set Sync Schedule to Daily** (or Hourly if you are in active launch mode) * [ ] **Verify the first sync completes** by checking the Last Sync timestamp * [ ] **Review the API Status** panel to confirm no errors *** ## โžก๏ธ What's Next? {% content-ref url="/pages/iWrHWpvfg4usrjbVNyFz" %} [PPC Manager: Overview](/ppc-management-beta/ppc-manager-overview.md) {% endcontent-ref %} {% content-ref url="/pages/pQTsyjXdDCQAMg0Eueka" %} [PPC Analytics](/ppc-management-beta/ppc-manager-overview/ppc-analytics.md) {% endcontent-ref %} --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.sellermagnet.com/ppc-management-beta/ppc-manager-overview/ppc-settings.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.