Sneaky defaults that drain your budget in 2025

This episode explores sneaky default settings within Amazon advertising campaigns that can negatively impact performance and drain budgets. Against the backdrop of the ever-evolving Amazon advertising landscape, the hosts discuss several instances where seemingly innocuous default settings, such as automatically including keywords related to product categories or the absence of suggested negative keywords, can lead to uncontrolled spending. More significantly, the discussion highlights the default setting of "dynamic bids up and down," which, while potentially increasing sales in some cases, can also lead to unpredictable and potentially unprofitable bid fluctuations. For instance, the default setting of "maximize reach" for ads served off Amazon is discussed, emphasizing the importance of monitoring and adjusting this setting to avoid wasted ad spend. The hosts also touch upon defaults in sponsored brands and sponsored display campaigns, further illustrating the need for advertisers to actively review and adjust these settings to optimize their campaigns for better results. Ultimately, the episode underscores the importance of intentional campaign setup and continuous monitoring to avoid the pitfalls of these default settings and achieve optimal performance in Amazon advertising.