Sponsored Display Optimization: Stop Wasting Ad Spend on Amazon!
How to Fix Wasted Amazon Ad Spend?
Discover why most Sponsored Display campaigns waste budget and how to fix it. Learn how to optimize your ads for visibility, efficiency, and ROI.
You’re Not Just Running Ads You’re Flying Blind
Are you running Sponsored Display ads but not actively reviewing the performance?
If so, you’re not optimizing you’re burning money.
Without data-backed adjustments, your campaigns become passive billboards rather than active revenue machines.
According to Amazon Ads data, brands that regularly optimize Sponsored Display campaigns experience up to 28% higher ROAS compared to set-it-and-forget advertisers.
Tracking Nothing? Expect Nothing.
Many advertisers assume Amazon Sponsored Display is “plug and play.” In reality, it requires weekly optimization just like Sponsored Products.
Without tracking key metrics, you’ll miss:
- High ACoS indicators
- Low CTR red flags
- Poorly performing ASINs draining budget
What to track weekly:
- ACoS (Advertising Cost of Sale)
- CTR (Click-Through Rate)
- ROAS (Return on Ad Spend)
- ASIN-level spend and conversions.
Visual suggestion: Include a weekly KPI tracker mockup
Looking Isn’t Analyzing (And It’s Costing You)
Pulling a report isn’t the same as interpreting it.
Most advertisers stop at checking dashboards—but never connect the dots between data and decisions.
Instead, ask:
- Which audiences or ASINs are converting?
- Are my retargeting placements driving sales?
- Which campaigns deserve more (or less) budget?
Use:
- Targeting Report → See which placements are delivering ROI
- Product Report → Filter by underperforming SKUs
- Audience Report → Segment by retargeting vs in-market.
Data without action is just digital clutter.
Sponsored Display Without Adjustment = Guaranteed Waste
Amazon’s ad environment shifts daily:
- Competitors change bids
- New ASINs enter your category
- Sponsored Brands and DSP ads crowd your space
Yet many brands let Sponsored Display ads run untouched for weeks.
This is like running a TV ad campaign with no idea who’s watching, clicking, or buying.
Make small weekly optimizations:
- Pause low-performing ASINs
- Boost budget on high-CTR audiences
- Test updated creatives or copy
- Exclude irrelevant placements
No Strategy = No Scale
If you don’t have a plan for Sponsored Display, you don’t have a strategy and your ads will drift.
Here’s what a performance plan looks like:
|
Step |
Action |
|
Review |
Weekly dashboard review (ACoS, CTR, ROAS) |
|
Analyze |
Deep dive into targeting & product reports |
|
Adjust |
Pause waste, reallocate budget, test new ads |
|
Repeat |
Run weekly → monthly, → quarterly reviews |
Consistency beats complexity.
Visual suggestion: Insert a simple 4-step Sponsored Display Optimization loop diagram
What Brands Doing It Right Look Like
Let’s break it down with a real example:
The Problem
A lifestyle brand spent ~$1,800/month on Sponsored Display but saw no lift in sales or awareness. Their CTR was below 0.20%, and their ACoS stayed above 80%.
The Fix
- Paused 6 underperforming ASINs.
- Replaced outdated creatives.
- Introduced custom retargeting audiences.
- Shifted budget to converting placements (0.39% CTR).
The Result
- CTR jumped by 81%
- ACoS dropped to 32%
- Revenue from Sponsored Display grew by 58%
All from weekly 20-minute adjustments, not major budget increases.
Bonus: What Most Advertisers Miss in Sponsored Display
|
Missed Element |
Why It Matters |
|
Audience segmentation |
Segmenting by behavior (retargeting vs new) improves precision |
|
Custom creatives |
Amazon allows rich creatives, not just default product images |
|
Budget pacing |
Daily caps can throttle performance without alerting you |
|
ASIN exclusions |
You can avoid cannibalizing your own listings |
Ready to Fix the Leaks in Your Sponsored Display Strategy?
If you’re spending on Sponsored Display without analyzing what’s working, you’re leaving money and momentum on the table.
Let our team audit your campaign structure, performance, and placements for free.
Book your free strategy call here
Let’s build a winning ad strategy tailored to your brand.
