amazon agencies play a critical role in helping brands grow on one of the world’s most competitive marketplaces. however, not all amazon agencies deliver the same level of quality, strategy, or results.
in fact, many brands struggle not because amazon doesn’t work — but because their agency is making avoidable mistakes.
in this blog, we’ll cover the most common mistakes amazon agencies make, how these mistakes impact brand performance, and how mainfold ecommerce approaches amazon growth differently.
1. focusing only on ad spend instead of profitability
one of the biggest mistakes amazon agencies make is optimizing for spend or revenue, not profit.
common symptoms include:
- pushing higher budgets without justification
- celebrating revenue growth while margins decline
- ignoring tacos and blended profitability
this approach benefits the agency’s billing model but hurts the brand long term.
how mainfold ecommerce avoids this
we track acos and tacos, ensuring paid growth supports organic sales and overall profitability.
2. using generic ppc templates for every account
amazon is not one-size-fits-all.
many agencies reuse the same:
- campaign structures
- bid strategies
- keyword groupings
across different categories and brands.
this leads to:
- inefficient spend
- poor intent targeting
- limited scalability
our approach
mainfold ecommerce designs ppc structures based on:
- category behavior
- competition level
- product margins
- growth stage
customization is non-negotiable.
3. scaling ads before fixing listings
driving traffic to a weak listing is one of the fastest ways to waste money.
mistakes include:
- increasing bids without improving conversion
- ignoring image and content quality
- separating ppc and seo responsibilities
our approach
we fix:
- listing seo
- creatives
- conversion flow
before aggressive scaling begins.
4. ignoring keyword intent
not all keywords are equal.
common agency mistakes:
- chasing high-volume keywords with low buying intent
- mixing research and purchase intent keywords
- failing to segment campaigns by intent
this inflates clicks without conversions.
how mainfold ecommerce handles this
we classify keywords by:
- discovery
- comparison
- purchase intent
and build campaigns accordingly.
5. poor negative keyword management
negatives are as important as active keywords.
mistakes include:
- rarely reviewing search term reports
- slow reaction to wasted spend
- incomplete negative frameworks
this leads to budget leakage.
our process
we review search terms frequently and apply:
- exact negatives
- phrase negatives
- cross-campaign negatives
to protect performance.
6. lack of clear reporting and insights
many agencies send reports that:
- are data-heavy but insight-light
- don’t explain why changes were made
- lack next-step recommendations
this leaves brands confused and disengaged.
mainfold ecommerce difference
our reports focus on:
- what changed
- why it changed
- what we’ll do next
clarity drives better decisions.
7. overpromising results
guarantees are a major red flag.
mistakes include:
- promising ranking positions
- guaranteeing sales numbers
- claiming instant results
amazon performance depends on many variables outside agency control.
our stance
we set realistic expectations and focus on:
- process
- metrics
- continuous improvement
trust beats hype.
8. reacting instead of planning
some agencies operate in constant firefighting mode.
signs include:
- random bid changes
- no documented strategy
- no testing roadmap
this leads to inconsistent performance.
how we work
mainfold ecommerce operates with:
- quarterly roadmaps
- testing frameworks
- proactive optimization
planning replaces panic.
9. poor inventory alignment
ads without inventory planning cause:
- stockouts
- ranking loss
- wasted momentum
many agencies ignore inventory completely.
our approach
we align:
- ad spend
- forecasted demand
- replenishment cycles
to protect growth.
10. neglecting organic growth
some agencies rely entirely on ads.
mistakes include:
- no seo strategy
- ignoring organic ranking trends
- overdependence on paid traffic
this makes growth expensive over time.
mainfold ecommerce focus
we use ads to support organic growth, not replace it.
11. weak onboarding and audits
skipping deep audits leads to poor strategy.
mistakes include:
- starting optimization without understanding history
- ignoring past data
- not identifying structural issues
our onboarding process
we begin with a deep audit covering:
- ppc
- seo
- conversion
- inventory
- competitors
strategy starts with understanding.
12. lack of accountability
some agencies:
- blame amazon
- blame competition
- avoid responsibility
this stalls improvement.
our philosophy
mainfold ecommerce owns results and adapts when strategies don’t work.
how brands can avoid these mistakes
before hiring an amazon agency:
- ask how they measure success
- request sample reports
- understand their ppc structure philosophy
- clarify how often they optimize
- ensure profitability is a priority
the right questions prevent costly mistakes.
why mainfold ecommerce is different
brands choose mainfold ecommerce because:
- we focus on profitability
- we customize strategies
- we integrate seo, ppc, and conversion
- we communicate transparently
- we plan before we scale
we don’t repeat the common mistakes amazon agencies make — we build systems to avoid them.
final thoughts
amazon agencies can accelerate growth — or quietly drain budgets if they make the wrong decisions.
understanding the common mistakes amazon agencies make empowers brands to choose better partners and protect their investment.
at mainfold ecommerce, our goal is simple: build sustainable, profitable amazon growth through structure, strategy, and transparency.
collaborate with us today -> www.mainfoldecommerce.com
