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!

🦡 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

• 🦡 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

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• Transform your workflow with our comprehensive Amazon Advertising checklist

• Review all our show notes​​​​​

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Host and Executive Producer: Michael Erickson Facchin

Guest Co-Host: Steve Patenaude

Senior Producer: Nancy Lili Gonzalez

Podcast Coordinator & Graphic Designer: Sofiia Podash

Video and Audio Editor: Pedro Moreno