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In this episode, we trade spreadsheets for trench coats and step straight into the shadows of Amazon PPC’s darkest alleyways. What looks like “bad performance” or “great ACOS” at first glance? — rarely is.
Together with Steve, we crack open five real PPC cases from the Miami field files:
a suspicious drop in ACOS that wasn’t what it seemed…
a top-converting ASIN that suddenly vanished from the scene…
a keyword framed for a crime it didn’t commit…
an auto campaign that went rogue overnight…
and finally, the delicate, dangerous game of cutting branded spend.
Each case reveals the same truth: great PPC managers aren’t just optimizers — they’re detectives.
Welcome to The PPC Crime Scene Files!
Episode Highlights
- 0:00 – Intro
- 0:24 – Case 1: ACOS Mystery
- 2:52 – Goal Setting & LTV Discussion
- 6:40 – Case 2: Listing Suppression
- 17:14 – Case 3: Keyword Placement Detective Work
- 23:09 – Case 4: Runaway Auto Campaign
- 28:14 – Case 5: Branded Spend Investigation
- 36:46 – Wrap-up & Lessons Learned
Links & Resources
- 🦡 GET AD BADGER ➡️
- Find Michael Erickson Facchin — Ad Badger’s CEO and soul, PPC whisperer, and your go-to guide through the wild world of Amazon advertising
- Our guest today is Steve Patenaude
- When Higher Total ACOS Means More Profit
- How to align team goals using Amazon PPC data tools?
- How can you quickly and efficiently improve your Amazon listing?
- B2B Placements in Amazon PPC
- Why Aren’t You Testing Placement Adjustments in Amazon PPC?
- Should You Segment Automatic Sponsored Product Campaigns?
- Smart Strategies for Branded Spend in Amazon Ads
- 📚 Unlock our FREE comprehensive Amazon Marketing Playbook
- Subscribe to our newsletter
- Transform your workflow with our comprehensive Amazon Advertising checklist
- Review all our show notes
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If you missed them, check out our previous episodes of The PPC Den Podcast:
Find even more episodes here.
Podcast Credits
- Host and Executive Producer: Michael Erickson Facchin
- Guest Co-Host: Steve Patenaude
- Senior Producer: Nancy Lili Gonzalez
- Podcast Coordinator and Graphic Designer: Sofiia Podash
- Video and Audio Editor: Pedro Moreno
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