Amazon advertising dominates discussions in r/AmazonSeller, r/FBAOnlineArbitrage, and r/ecommerce. Sellers share strategies, frustrations, and hard-won lessons about advertising on the world's largest marketplace.

This guide compiles seller insights from Reddit.

Reddit's Take on Amazon Ads

Amazon advertising opinions on Reddit reflect the platform's critical role in seller success.

What Redditors Praise

Purchase intent: Unlike social platforms, Amazon users are ready to buy. Reddit sellers emphasize that Amazon traffic converts at rates impossible on awareness-focused platforms.

Attribution clarity: On-platform conversions are straightforward to track. Redditors appreciate knowing exactly which ads drove which sales without complex attribution modeling.

Organic ranking impact: Reddit discussions frequently note that PPC sales boost organic rankings. Strategic advertising can improve visibility beyond the ads themselves.

Variety of ad types: Sponsored Products, Brands, and Display offer different approaches. Reddit sellers recommend testing multiple formats for optimal results.

Common Complaints from Reddit

Rising ACoS: Advertising Cost of Sale has increased significantly. Reddit threads describe needing larger ad investments for results that were once achievable with less.

Algorithm complexity: Amazon's advertising algorithms feel opaque. Redditors describe unexpected performance changes and difficulty understanding what triggers them.

Competition intensity: Aggressive competitors drive bid prices up. Some Redditors report unsustainable bidding wars in competitive categories.

Learning curve: Amazon advertising differs significantly from other platforms. Reddit discussions frequently mention the steep learning curve for new sellers, particularly when compared to more straightforward reddit paid advertising campaigns.

Seller Tips from Reddit

Experienced Amazon sellers share practical advice.

Campaign Structure

Reddit recommendations:

• Separate campaigns by match type (exact, phrase, broad)
• Create single-keyword ad groups for top performers
• Use auto campaigns for keyword discovery, manual for control
• Segment branded vs. non-branded terms

Optimization Tips

Common Reddit advice:

• Check search term reports weekly
• Add negative keywords aggressively
• Adjust bids based on placement performance
• Don't panic over daily fluctuations—look at weekly trends

Many sellers also leverage reddit advertising tools to complement their Amazon strategy and gather competitive intelligence from relevant subreddits.

Budget Guidelines

Amazon vs Reddit for E-commerce

How do these platforms compare for product sellers?

Platform Roles

When to Use Each

Amazon Ads:

• Converting ready-to-buy customers
• Improving organic rankings
• Competing for search placement
• Retargeting shoppers

Reddit:

• Building brand awareness
• Reaching research-phase shoppers
• Gathering product feedback
• Establishing category expertise

Understanding how much does reddit advertising cost helps e-commerce sellers budget effectively when expanding beyond Amazon's ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Amazon advertising profitable according to Reddit?

It depends on category, margins, and strategy. Reddit consensus is that Amazon ads are often necessary for visibility but require careful optimization for profitability.

What ACoS should I target?

Reddit advice varies by product lifecycle. Launches may run 50%+ ACoS for visibility; mature products typically target 15-25% for profitability.

Should I focus on Amazon or external traffic?

Reddit sellers typically prioritize Amazon PPC first. External traffic (including Reddit) becomes valuable for differentiation and brand building once Amazon fundamentals are solid. Many sellers work with a best reddit marketing agency to maximize returns from both platforms simultaneously.