Choosing the Right Amazon Agency

In the bustling marketplace of Amazon, competition is fierce, with countless options for customers and millions of sellers fighting for attention. As the world's largest online retailer, Amazon is not just a platform; it's a trendsetter, constantly innovating to enhance the customer experience. These innovations often ripple through the retail industry, prompting other retailers to adopt similar strategies, including the rise of third-party sellers. Navigating this dynamic landscape requires more than just a great product; it demands expert advertising strategies to stand out and capture the attention of potential buyers.

Expert advertising is crucial for navigating the complexities of Amazon's advertising platforms and optimizing campaigns for better visibility. Partnering with a specialized Amazon agency can save you time and resources. These expert advertisers can reduce wasted ad spend, boost profitability, and analyze data to identify trends, optimize your campaigns, and make informed decisions. 

Agencies can help you scale your Amazon operations efficiently and effectively. Today, we’ll be sharing the 7 Best Amazon Advertising Agencies, including Straight Up Growth, BTR Media, Teikametrics, and more!

II. What to Look for in an Amazon Advertising Agency

Key attributes to consider when selecting an Amazon Advertising Agency include:

• Experience & Track Record: Case studies and proven success.
• When choosing an agency, prioritize those with experience in your product category and a proven track record of success. Look for detailed case studies with clear metrics to measure their effectiveness.
• Full-Service Offerings: PPC management, DSP, SEO, creative services.
• PPC management is essential for targeted advertising and increased traffic. Agencies can optimize your PPC campaigns and DSP services can target users based on behavior, leading to higher conversions. SEO services improve product listing discoverability; creative services are vital for creating compelling ad content.
• Data-Driven Approach: AI tools, automation, and reporting.
• AI tools help agencies analyze data to optimize ad campaigns and manage repetitive tasks. They also provide reports to track KPIs and customer journeys.
• Scalability: Can support growth from small to enterprise-level brands.
• Agencies supporting small brand growth offer customized, budget-friendly strategies. As brands grow, these agencies scale with them, managing larger budgets, extensive campaigns, and advanced analytics.

III. The 7 Best Amazon Advertising Agencies

Straight Up Growth

Best known for: Predictable growth 

Notable clients:  Peach Slices, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Creative Kids, Drunk Elephant

Straight Up Growth is an e-commerce growth agency that empowers brands with predictable growth by integrating their expert market analysis and proprietary data tools with your existing Amazon data. Their approach focuses on strategic planning, in-depth data analysis, precise forecasting, and innovative tactics aimed at maximizing revenue efficiently. 

They excel at guiding you on how to optimize your spending, ensuring you achieve the highest reach and conversion rates. They foster a collaborative partnership by prioritizing learning, ensuring shared knowledge, and a unified strategy.

Key Services: 

• Full-service management of your Amazon functions  
• Amazon DSP and AMC   
• Content Creation  
• List Optimization
• Operations/Case Management  
• Forecasting  
• Category Analysis  
• Reporting  

Case Study: A pet brand, experiencing significant DTC growth, sought to replicate its success on Amazon. Partnering with Straight Up Growth, they aimed to transform Amazon into a key revenue driver, expand their market share, and leverage Amazon's search dominance for efficient customer acquisition.

To achieve this, they implemented a strategic approach:

• Channel Strategy: They developed custom Amazon strategies through comprehensive brand, competitor, and category audits.
• Customer Acquisition: They built customer loyalty and repeat purchases through a cohesive Amazon omnichannel experience.
• Data-Driven Advertising: By leveraging key insights and best practices, they optimized advertising spend, maximizing conversions and margins.
• Predictive Growth: Accurate forecasting models ensured optimal inventory management, driving consistent revenue growth.

The Result: 

• $1M Monthly Sales
• #1 Organic Ranking
• 1,600 Reviews

They delivered explosive Amazon growth through strategic advertising and innovative processes, significantly expanding their market share.

Cartograph

Best known for: Working with brands in the Better-For-You CPG category

Notable clients: Olipop, cocokind, RAO’s Homemade, lemon perfect, Davids

Cartograph has a mission to help brands grow products that are better for people and the planet. They focus on profit and pricing, performance, supply chain, and channel to solve common Amazon challenges. They provide full-service management of Amazon sales and operations, overseeing the entire Amazon value chain powered by proprietary technology. 

Key Services:

• Operations Design
• P&L Management
• Advertising
• CPG Expertise
• Content Execution

Case Study: 4th & Heart, a ghee brand, aimed to expand its Amazon presence while managing advertising costs. Cartograph conducted tests involving adjustments to branded advertising spend, focusing on the relationship between paid promotions and organic sales. The goal was to understand how changes in ad spend impacted product rankings and overall sales performance. 

They achieved their goals by utilizing this approach:

• Focused on contribution margin and tested advertising strategies.
• Reduced branded PPC spend on key products to assess organic sales elasticity.
• Implemented a 3-month test, measuring KPI impact.

The Result: 

• #1 Ghee brand on Amazon in Year 1
• 47% reduced PPC spend. 

The brand saw growth in its Amazon channel, achieving increased sales and a reduction in paid advertising expenditures.

Blue Wheel 

Best known for: Omnichannel Expertise 

Notable Clients: Thermos, Sol De Janeiro, 5-hour Energy, beautyblender, Oribe

Blue Wheel Media is an omni-channel agency that specializes in helping brands succeed across a variety of online sales channels, including Amazon, Walmart, eBay, and DTC platforms. They offer marketplace management and performance advertising services, with a focus on marketplace advertising on Amazon. Additionally, they can optimize accounts across different countries to help brands reach a wider audience.

Key Services:

• Amazon Ads and DSP
• Paid Search/Social
• Brand protection
• Reporting & Analytics 

Case Study: Three Dog Bakery acquired Chip's Naturals, facing Amazon sales issues due to a dominant 3P seller and unstable inventory. They aimed to build brand identity, optimize listings, shift sales in-house via FBA, advertise, and train the internal team on Seller Central (previously Vendor Central).

Blue Wheel provided comprehensive Amazon marketplace solutions:

• Seller Central training
• Inventory stabilization and FBA implementation
• Listing optimization and brand cohesion (A+ content, brand store)
• Targeted advertising campaigns

The Results: 

• +96% Year-over-Year Topline Sales Growth
• 3.98 Year-to-Date ROAS
• 4.1% End-of-Year TACoS

Through optimized listings and advertising, they were able to create a unified brand identity and increase customer trust and internal team proficiency in Seller Central, which resulted in stable inventory and increased revenue.

Teikametrics

Best known for: AI-powered optimization

Notable clients: HP, Dickies, Disney, Dermalogica, Fruit of The Loom

Teikametrics is a technology company that provides an AI-powered optimization platform for sellers and brands on marketplaces like Amazon and Walmart. They specialize in optimizing advertising and inventory management for e-commerce sellers and aim to help businesses maximize their profitability on online marketplaces. 

Key Services:

• Advertising optimization 
• Inventory Optimization with AI
• Predictive AI Demand Forecasting
• Multichannel Feed Management

Case Study: Caudalie, a premium skincare brand, aimed to scale its top-selling Vinoperfect serum sales on Amazon despite high competition and advertising restrictions. Teikametrics implemented a full-funnel strategy using Amazon DSP and Streaming TV (STV), complementing existing sponsored ads.

They focused on:

• Retargeting serum viewers.
• Retention campaigns for repeat purchases.
• Conquesting competitor audiences (indirectly).
• Targeting in-market skincare shoppers.

The Results: 

• +108% total orders
• +71% ad sales
• +82% conversion rate

A combined awareness and retargeting strategy was found to be highly effective in boosting sales and visibility, especially in competitive markets.

Perpetua

Best known for: AI-powered automation 

Notable Clients: Crocs, Huggies, Franklin, Kleenex, Hero., Beekeeper’s Naturals

Perpetua is an e-commerce advertising and optimization platform designed to help brands and sellers maximize their performance on online marketplaces like Amazon, Walmart, and Instacart. They specialize in automating and optimizing advertising campaigns to drive sales and increase market share. 

Key Services:

• AI-Powered Marketplace Advertising Optimization
• Full-Funnel Advertising 
• Market Intelligence Reporting and Analytics

Case Study: Rich Insight needed to efficiently scale client Amazon sales, requiring streamlined PPC management and tailored strategies for varied brand maturity. They utilized Perpetua's AI-powered platform to automate campaign management, freeing up time for strategic development. 

They employed Amazon Sponsored Product ads with targeted strategies: 

• Category and competitor targeting for visibility.
• Branded targeting for funnel initiation.
• Keyword Boost for subcategory dominance.

The Results: 

• One home decor brand achieved a 55x total sales increase and a 90% ACOS reduction.
• Total amazon sales for one client grew 29x. 

They increased client sales, category share, and ad spend efficiency. Lastly, they enhanced Rich Insight's operational efficiency.

BTR Media 

Best Known for: Strategic PPC Optimization

Notable Clients: Bird Buddy, Hyperice, Garden of Life, PPI Beauty, Sposie

BTR Media is a dynamic and results-driven e-commerce advertising agency that empowers brands to thrive on Amazon. They are known for their strategic approach, leveraging data-driven insights and cutting-edge tactics to maximize their clients' growth and profitability. They focus on building strong client partnerships. 

Key Services:

• Amazon Advertising (PPC) Management
• Amazon DSP (Display) Management & Listing Optimization
• Brand Strategy & Management
• Reporting & Analytics
• International Marketplace Expansion

Case Study: Bird Buddy, launching on Amazon with no prior sales history, in a competitive market needed to establish a market presence. To accomplish this, BTR Media centered their approach around two primary goals: protecting Bird Buddy’s brand presence and expanding reach through aggressive category conquesting. 

They strategically protected the brand and expanded reach through a comprehensive, full-funnel Amazon Ads approach:

• Sponsored Products/Brands (Video) for brand protection and top-of-search dominance.
• Sponsored Display/DSP for category conquest and retargeting.
• Streaming TV for top-of-funnel awareness.
• Split testing video creatives.

The Results: 

• $2.2M ad revenue with $646k ad spend. 
• #1 New Release and Best Seller badges. 
• +280% Customer Growth. 

Bird Buddy's successful campaign led to a complete sellout after T5, establishing the brand as a strong competitor.

AMZ Pathfinder

Best known for: Full-Service Amazon Management

Notable Clients: Viter Energy,  LifePro, Ozark Armament, Tee Luv, Bull Guard, Pavlok

AMZ Pathfinder is an e-commerce agency that specializes in helping brands grow their presence and sales on Amazon. They offer comprehensive Amazon services, aiming to optimize every aspect of a brand's Amazon business. Their goal is to increase sales, improve visibility, and enhance overall brand performance on the Amazon marketplace.

Key Services:

• Amazon Advertising (PPC)
• Listing Optimization
• Brand Management
• Inventory Management

Case Study: A caffeinated breath mint and gum brand sought to boost sales and customer retention while controlling ACoS. They began to utilize Amazon DSP (ADSP) and Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC) with AMZ Pathfinder. 

To enhance sales, keep a good ACoS despite market fluctuations, and understand the difference between DSP and PPC, they:

• Broadened audience targeting to expand reach
• Retargeted through ADSP to boost sales
• Used AMC to examine channel performance (organic, DSP, PPC), emphasizing customer journey, repeat purchases, and sales attribution.
• Concentrated on DSP for customer retention

The Results: 

• Increased sales across organic, DSP, and PPC channels. 
• DSP drove repeat purchases and brand visibility.
• PPC drove impulse purchases and discovery. 

The strategic use of ADSP significantly improved customer retention and overall growth.

IV. How to Choose the Right Agency for Your Brand

• Matching your budget with the right service level.
• To begin, evaluate your advertising budget and identify the services you need. Then, research agencies that specialize in supporting businesses at your specific growth stage. Compare pricing structures and service offerings to determine the best value for your investment.
• Understanding your growth stage and agency fit.
• Different brands have different needs depending on their growth stage. Startups typically need hands-on support with a focus on building brand awareness, whereas established brands may require more advanced strategies for scaling and optimization. Therefore, when choosing an agency, it is important to evaluate their experience with similar brands and their ability to tailor their approach to meet your specific growth objectives.
• Evaluating contract terms and pricing models.
• Pricing models vary among agencies and can include flat fees, performance-based pricing, or hourly rates. Carefully review the contract to fully understand the services included, length of commitment, exit clauses, and pricing structure to determine the best fit for your goals and risk tolerance.

 

V. Q&A Next Steps

Success in the competitive Amazon marketplace requires expert advertising strategies. Partnering with an Amazon advertising agency can save time, reduce ad spend, and improve profitability. When selecting an agency, consider their experience, services offered, data-driven approach, and scalability. Match your budget and growth stage to the right agency, and evaluate contract terms and pricing to ensure the best value.

Take your business to the next level today! Schedule a consultation or trial with the agencies that fit your needs. All the details you need are available on their websites. And for expert Amazon growth strategies, be sure to contact Straight Up Growth. Don't wait - make it happen!

Q&A: 

1. Why should I hire an Amazon ads agency when I have an internal marketing team?

Hiring an Amazon ads agency can really benefit your internal marketing team. Agencies have specialized expertise to navigate Amazon’s unique platform effectively. This lets your team concentrate on other strategic marketing initiatives. Agencies handle the time-consuming tasks like keyword research, they have access to advanced tools, and they can quickly adapt your advertising efforts as your business grows. 

2. How long does it take to see results from Amazon advertising?

The timeframe for seeing results from Amazon advertising varies and can take anywhere from several days to several weeks. Initial results can be expected within 2 to 4 weeks, while longer-term results typically take a few months.

3. What’s the difference between Amazon PPC and Amazon DSP, and do I need both?

Amazon PPC (Pay-Per-Click) drives immediate sales by displaying ads to targeted audiences. You're only charged when a user clicks on your ad. Amazon DSP (Demand-Side Platform) builds brand awareness and retargets potential customers based on their shopping behavior and interests, even reaching them outside of the Amazon platform.

Choosing the right solution depends on your goals. If you need immediate sales, PPC is essential. If you're focused on building brand awareness, DSP is the better option. However, using both PPC and DSP can maximize your reach and effectiveness on Amazon.

4. What metrics should I track to measure the success of my Amazon ads?

To measure the success of your Amazon ads, you should track: 

• ACoS (Advertising Cost of Sales): the amount spent on advertising for every dollar of sales generated.
• ROAS (Return on Advertising Spend): revenue generated for every dollar spent on advertising
• CTR (Click-Through Rate): percentage of people who click on your ad, Conversion Rate: the percentage of clicks that result in a sale
• Sales and Revenue generated from your ads is important for assessing overall performance.

5. Can an agency help scale my brand beyond Amazon? 

Absolutely, an agency can expand your brand's reach beyond Amazon!  Amazon DSP can boost your visibility and sales by targeting specific audiences based on their shopping habits, retargeting users who have interacted with your product, and displaying ads on Amazon and other websites, which drives off-Amazon traffic.