Selling on Amazon isn’t just “list your product and watch the sales roll in.”
It’s a competitive ecosystem with its own rules — and if you don’t play smart, Amazon will eat your budget alive.
After managing millions in Amazon revenue, I see the same mistakes over and over again. The good news? They’re 100% fixable. Here are the top seven:
1. 💸 Running Ads Without Structure
Too many brands just “boost keywords” and hope for sales. Without a clear campaign structure (branded, non-branded, product targeting, etc.), you’re basically lighting money on fire.
Fix: Set up campaigns with clear goals and keep branded vs. non-branded separate.
2. 📝 Listings That Don’t Convert
If your listing isn’t clear, optimized, and trustworthy, no amount of ad spend will save you.
Fix: Strong titles, keyword-rich bullets, high-quality images, and A+ content. Your listing is your storefront — make it shine.
3. 📊 Chasing Vanity Metrics
Clicks and impressions look nice on a dashboard, but they don’t mean much if your profit is shrinking.
Fix: Track profitability (ACoS, TACoS, margins), not just traffic.
4. 📦 Inventory Chaos
Running out of stock kills your momentum and your ranking. On the flip side, overstock ties up cash and fees.
Fix: Forecast demand, monitor lead times, and keep buffer stock for Q4 or promo pushes.
5. ⚡ Treating Amazon Like Retail
Amazon isn’t Target or Walmart. The customer journey is different, the competition is brutal, and the rules change weekly.
Fix: Treat Amazon as its own ecosystem. Build specific strategies, don’t just copy retail playbooks.
6. 🤖 Ignoring Data
Amazon gives you a goldmine of data (search terms, conversion rates, competitor insights), but most sellers barely touch it.
Fix: Review reports weekly. Small insights can lead to big wins.
7. 🚫 No Testing Mindset
What worked last quarter may not work now. Too many brands “set it and forget it.”
Fix: Always test — ads, pricing, creatives, images. Amazon rewards iteration.
Final Thoughts
Amazon isn’t about having the “best product.” It’s about having the best strategy for the platform. Avoid these mistakes, and you’ll already be ahead of half your competitors.
👉 Question for you: Which one of these have you struggled with most?