What is the Difference Between Manual and Automatic Campaigns

If you’re selling on Amazon, running ads is a key way to boost your visibility and sales. But when it comes to Amazon PPC (Pay-Per-Click), you have two main types of campaigns to choose from: manual and automatic. Each type has its purpose and advantages. Understanding the difference between them can help you create a smarter advertising strategy that delivers results.

What are automatic campaigns?

Automatic campaigns are the easiest way to start advertising on Amazon. When you choose this option, Amazon takes care of the heavy lifting for you. The system automatically selects keywords and targets products based on your listing’s content, category, and relevant customer searches.

In an automatic campaign, you don’t have to manually choose keywords or worry about targeting settings. You simply set your budget and bid, and Amazon’s algorithm does the rest. 

This type of campaign is great for:

• Beginners who are new to Amazon ads.
• Sellers who want to quickly start driving traffic to their listings.
• Testing new products to see how customers find them.

What are manual campaigns?

Manual campaigns give you more control over your advertising. With this type of campaign, you choose the specific keywords and products you want to target. You also set individual bids for each keyword, allowing you to prioritize certain terms over others.

Manual campaigns are ideal for sellers who:

• Have some experience with Amazon PPC and understand how keywords work.
• Want to refine their targeting to focus on high-performing keywords.
• Are looking to improve their ad performance with a data-driven approach.

One of the biggest benefits of manual campaigns is precision. You can focus your budget on the keywords that are most relevant to your product and audience. This can help you reduce wasted ad spend and improve your return on investment (ROI).

However, manual campaigns require more effort. You need to conduct thorough keyword research and regularly monitor your campaign’s performance. Working with Amazon PPC experts can make this process easier, as they have the skills and tools to optimize your ads effectively.

Which one should you use?

The best choice depends on your goals, experience, and resources.

If you’re new to Amazon advertising, start with an automatic campaign. It’s a great way to gather data on what keywords and customer searches drive traffic to your product. Once you have some data, set up a manual campaign to focus on high-performing keywords. This will help you improve your ad performance and reduce wasted spending.

In many cases, it’s smart to run both types of campaigns at the same time. Automatic campaigns can help you discover new keywords and opportunities, while manual campaigns allow you to refine your strategy and maximize your ROI.

Final thoughts

The difference between manual and automatic campaigns comes down to control and precision. Automatic campaigns are great for beginners and broad targeting, while manual campaigns offer a more focused approach for sellers who want better ROI.

For the best results, use a combination of both. Start with automatic campaigns to gather data, and then refine your strategy with manual campaigns. And if you’re looking for expert help, an Amazon account management agency can make your PPC efforts more efficient and successful.