Running your own Amazon ads can be an excellent way to take control of your book marketing strategy, and many self-published authors start by learning the process themselves. Mastering ad management can give you insights into how your book performs, and it’s an important skill to have. However, it’s important to recognize that this takes time, patience, and a significant learning curve
Effective advertising starts with thorough keyword research and targeting the right audience. Finding the right keywords requires not only understanding what readers are searching for but also figuring out which terms will deliver results for your specific book. It’s not as simple as picking a few words that sound relevant. You’ll need to dive into Amazon’s search trends, competitor analysis, and long-tail keywords that capture the right traffic.
Amazon ads require daily monitoring and optimization. After launching a campaign, it’s essential to stay on top of the data—checking impressions, clicks, and conversion rates regularly. Small changes, like adjusting bids or removing underperforming keywords, can make a big difference in your ad performance. This isn’t something you can do once and leave alone; it’s a continuous process that needs close attention.
Amazon’s advertising platform is powerful but complex. There’s a lot to learn, from understanding the different ad types (Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands, etc.) to interpreting key metrics like cost-per-click (CPC) and advertising cost of sales (ACoS). Mastering this platform takes time, especially if you’re trying to balance it with writing, publishing, and promoting your book.
While ads are an important part of promoting your book, they are just one element of a broader marketing strategy. You’ll still need to focus on other areas like building an email list, generating reviews, and creating content that drives organic traffic.
Managing ads on top of all these other tasks can be overwhelming, especially as you scale your efforts
Amazon ads require daily monitoring and can take several hours each day. Without proper monitoring, your ad spend can quickly spiral out of control. Further, occasional works like keyword research, new product research, finding relevant -ve keywords etc. can be on top that.
While learning and managing KDP ads on your own can be rewarding, not every publisher has the time or resources to invest in the daily tasks it requires. If you find yourself struggling to balance ad management with your writing and publishing responsibilities, there are several alternative approaches to handling your ads. Each comes with its own set of benefits and trade-offs.
If you’re a publisher with multiple books or run a small publishing company, hiring an in-house ad manager or team could be a viable option. This allows you to have direct control over your ad campaigns while delegating the time-consuming work to someone else.
Pros: Having an in-house team gives you more flexibility and control. You can tailor your ad strategies to your books’ specific needs and ensure daily attention to campaigns.
Cons: Hiring a skilled ad manager can be expensive, and if you bring in fresh talent, you’ll need to invest time in training them. Even with a team, you’ll still need to stay involved in strategy and performance tracking to ensure your ads are running effectively. Full delegation isn’t always possible, as ad strategies require ongoing adjustments. For smaller publishers or individual authors, setting up an in-house team can be both costly and time-consuming.
Freelancers can be a more affordable option for handling your KDP ads. Websites like Upwork or Fiverr are filled with freelancers offering Amazon advertising services at competitive rates. This option allows you to free up time for other tasks while still getting your campaigns managed.
Pros: Freelancers are generally more cost-effective than agencies or in-house teams. You can hire them for specific projects or on a part-time basis, making it a flexible solution.
Cons: The quality and reliability of freelancers can vary widely. Many freelancers may not have extensive experience with KDP ads or may be juggling multiple clients, meaning your campaigns may not get the attention they need. Additionally, if a freelancer leaves, you’re left with the task of finding and onboarding a new one, which can disrupt your campaign progress.
For authors who want to take a hands-off approach but still get expert ad management, hiring a KDP advertising agency is often the best choice. Agencies specialize in running ad campaigns for authors and have the knowledge, experience, and tools to optimize ads for maximum effectiveness.
Pros: Agencies bring a wealth of experience, often having managed campaigns for hundreds of books across various niches. They typically have access to advanced tools and strategies that can help optimize your campaigns for better results. With an agency, you can focus on other aspects of your business while trusting experts to handle your ads.
Cons: Agencies can be more expensive than freelancers, and finding the right agency with relevant experience is not easy. However, the cost is often outweighed by the time saved and the expertise applied to your business in a long run.
Choosing the right KDP ads agency is a critical decision for your self-publishing business. Not all agencies are created equal, and the one you select will have a significant impact on your ad performance, sales, and profitability. Here are some key factors to consider when vetting potential agencies:
The first thing to look for in an agency is experience, particularly within the Kindle publishing space. Running ads for books is different from running ads for other types of products, and an agency experienced with KDP will understand the nuances of targeting book buyers, selecting relevant keywords, and maximizing royalties.
Look for an agency that can provide case studies or real-world examples of successful clients. Case studies demonstrate that the agency not only has experience but has delivered measurable results for authors in similar situations.
What to ask: Ask for case studies or examples of other authors or books they’ve worked with successfully.
We are in publishing since 2016 and still actively publishing. After working with more than 100 clients and still managing ads for our own brand, we know the entire game – not just ads. Be it reviewing the product page, or niche analysis or overall market trend – we stay on top of that.
Every author has different goals for their KDP advertising campaigns. Whether you’re looking to increase sales, build a readership, or improve your book’s ranking, it’s important that the agency understands and aligns with your vision. An agency that understands your unique goals will craft a campaign that supports your long-term publishing goals.
What to ask: Discuss your specific goals with the agency and ensure they are able to develop a strategy that matches your expectations and vision.
At BackedBy, we take the time to understand each client’s publishing goals before formulating an ad strategy. Whether the focus is on maximizing sales, increasing organic visibility, or building long-term brand recognition, we tailor our approach accordingly.
Every book is different, and a one-size-fits-all approach to advertising is unlikely to produce the best results. A good agency will develop a strategy tailored to your book’s genre, target audience, and goals. Tailored strategies ensure that your ads are reaching the right audience, optimizing ad spend, and maximizing visibility for your specific book.
What to ask: Discuss how the agency approaches strategy development and whether they take time to understand your book, audience, and goals before launching campaigns.
At BackedBy, we begin by analysing the ad account, books, niche, and competition. For accounts with a strong history, we review past performance before making any adjustments. Our approach varies based on content type, adapting strategies for high-content and low-content books accordingly.
Amazon ads are not a set-it-and-forget-it tool. It require consistent optimization to stay effective. Without regular optimization, your campaigns can lose traction, leading to inefficient ad spend. A good agency will monitor your campaigns daily, making adjustments to keywords, bids, and targeting to improve performance over time.
What to ask: Ask about how frequently the agency checks and optimizes your campaigns. Make sure they are proactive about identifying opportunities to improve performance.
At BackedBy, we assign dedicated executives and shared managers to each client after onboarding. This will ensure that the person managing your account has sufficient time to analyse each details An ad executive can spend 4-5 hours analysing your account on a daily basis. With managers to oversee the procedures, regular monitoring and optimisation flows without any errors.
One of the most important aspects of working with an agency is transparency. You need to know how your campaigns are performing, what actions the agency is taking, and where your ad budget is being spent.
Clear reporting ensures you can track the success of your campaigns and understand where improvements are being made. Additionally, frequent communication helps you stay in the loop and allows you to provide input or ask questions.
What to ask: Inquire about how often the agency provides performance reports, what kind of metrics they track, and how accessible they are for calls or discussions.
At BackedBy, each client has a dedicated Slack channel for real-time updates on strategy changes, campaign optimizations, and key insights. We also notify clients about new competition, sellers listing the same book, or negative reviews that may impact performance.
Every Monday, we provide a KPI report summarizing key metrics, performance analysis, and planned next steps, keeping clients informed without the need for constant monitoring.
Finally, consider pricing and the overall value the agency provides. While agencies can be more expensive than freelancers, they often offer better long-term results.
Make sure the agency’s fees align with your budget, and consider the value they provide in terms of time saved and expertise gained.
What to ask: Ask about their pricing structure, whether it’s a flat fee, percentage of ad spend, or performance-based pricing. Ensure that the pricing reflects the value they provide.
At BackedBy, we don’t charge you any commission on your sales. Ours is a fixed management fees. What we guarantee you is a consistent attention and best management of your account by trained ad experts. We charge for the time and effort. We believe the risk and reward of running a business belongs to the owner.
Successfully managing KDP ads requires continuous learning, optimization, and a strategic approach. While DIY advertising can be rewarding, it often comes with challenges that impact profitability and long-term growth. Finding the right support—whether through freelancers, an in-house team, or a specialized agency—can make a significant difference in your results.
that understands publishing, takes a data-driven approach, and focuses on long-term profitability, book a free call today to see how we can help you achieve better results!
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