#096: The Amazon Ads Slow Burn Strategy

Read Time: 2.5 Minutes

If there's one question I hear from authors more than any other about Amazon Ads, it's this:

"Why aren't my ads driving sales right away?"

I get it.

You've set up your campaign, spent time researching the perfect keywords, and... crickets.

Or worse, you're spending money with minimal returns. It's enough to make you want to turn every campaign off and declare "Amazon Ads don't work".

But here's what most authors don't realize: Amazon Ads are a slow burn strategy, not a cash register.

The Learning Curve That Pays Dividends

We live in an instant gratification world. We expect immediate likes, immediate sales, immediate results.

But the most powerful marketing systems don't work that way.

Amazon's algorithm needs time to learn.

Unlike Facebook Ads or BookBub Ads that can deliver near-instant traffic, Amazon's system is methodically gathering data about:

→ What times of day your ideal readers are shopping

→ How your bids compare to other authors bids on the same keywords

→ Which readers are most likely to not just click, but actually purchase

→ How relevant your keywords are to your advertised book(s)

Those first 2-4 weeks? of a new campaign They're not a failure—they're a part of the data collection process.

The algorithm is learning about your book, and you're learning about the algorithm.

What matters most in this phase? Nothing but time and patience (hard as it might be).

Why the Wait Creates Your Competitive Advantage

The patience barrier weeds out the competition.

When most authors give up because they don't see immediate results, they create an opportunity for those who persist.

This is precisely why Amazon Ads remain underutilized —most authors simply don't stick with them long enough to reach the tipping point.

Having Patience Without Wasting Budget

While patience is necessary, that doesn't mean you should haphazardly blow your entire budget without strategy. During this initial period, you should:

→ Start by placing small bets with daily budgets of $5-10, not $50

→ Make sure your ads are actually getting impression before worrying about clicks or sales

→ Cast a wider net with keywords initially, then refine based on data

→ Consider early spending as an investment in market research, not just sales

The Long-Term Advantages of Amazon Ads

Once your campaigns gain traction, Amazon Ads offer unique advantages that no other platform can match:

→ Your ads appear exactly where readers buy books

→ You can profitably advertise your entire catalog, not just new releases

→ You reach people already shopping for books like yours

→ Successful campaigns can often scale without losing efficiency

→ Finding high-purchase intent readers

→ Higher conversion rates than other advertising platforms

Ready to Master the Slow Burn Strategy?

If you're intrigued by the potential of Amazon Ads but intimidated by the learning curve, next week, I'm launching my updated for 2025, Amazon Ads Mastery For Authors course.

Inside, I'll walk you through:

→ How to identify exactly which types of keywords drive profitable sales, not just clicks

→ Uncovering high-converting keywords that you may have usually glossed over

→ Managing your campaigns in just 1-2 hours per week

→ Scaling good-performing campaigns into breakthrough campaigns

The course officially launches on Friday, March 14th, but I'm opening up the doors early for authors on the wait list.

>> Join The Wait List Here <<

Waitlist members will get access on Tuesday, March 11th—three days before the public launch date.

Whether you decide to join us or not, remember this: Amazon Ads rewards the patient and persistent and are building sustainable, profitable businesses.

To Your Success
– Matt