Why TACoS is so important (Even more than ACoS)
- Perseids Digital

- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
When managing Amazon PPC campaigns, many sellers focus heavily on ACoS (Advertising Cost of Sales) as the key metric for success. While ACoS is important, it only tells part of the story. TACoS (Total Advertising Cost of Sales) offers a broader perspective that can transform your Amazon advertising strategy and help you maximize Amazon sales with PPC in a sustainable way. Understanding why TACoS matters more than ACoS can improve your Amazon PPC management and boost your overall business growth.
What is ACoS and Why It’s Limited
ACoS measures the ratio of ad spend to sales generated directly from those ads. For example, if you spend $20 on Amazon Sponsored Products ads and generate $100 in sales from those ads, your ACoS is 20%. This metric helps sellers understand how efficiently their ads convert clicks into sales.
However, ACoS only accounts for sales attributed to ads. It ignores the impact of advertising on your organic sales and overall brand growth. This narrow focus can lead to short-term thinking, such as cutting ad spend to lower ACoS without considering how ads influence total sales.

What is TACoS and Why It Matters More
TACoS measures the ratio of total ad spend to total sales, including both paid and organic sales. For example, if you spend $20 on ads and your total sales (organic + paid) are $500, your TACoS is 4%. This metric shows how advertising affects your entire Amazon business, not just the sales directly linked to ads.
TACoS helps sellers understand the long-term value of Amazon advertising. A low TACoS means your ads are driving organic sales growth and improving your Amazon listing optimization. This is a sign of a healthy Amazon PPC strategy that supports sustainable growth.
How TACoS Reflects True Amazon PPC Success
Amazon PPC is not just about immediate sales from ads. It’s about building brand awareness, improving product visibility, and increasing organic rankings. Here’s how TACoS captures this broader impact:
Organic sales growth: Ads can boost your product’s organic ranking by increasing sales velocity and CTR (Click-Through Rate). This leads to more organic sales without additional ad spend.
Amazon listing optimization: Running Amazon Sponsored Brands and Sponsored Products campaigns helps identify high-performing keywords through Amazon keyword research for PPC. This data can improve your product titles, descriptions, and backend keywords.
Reduced wasted spend: Monitoring TACoS alongside ACoS encourages better Amazon PPC bid optimization and use of negative keywords to avoid irrelevant clicks and reduce wasted spend on Amazon PPC.
Balanced PPC campaign structure: TACoS encourages a balanced approach between aggressive ad spend and organic growth, avoiding common Amazon PPC mistakes to avoid like over-reliance on paid ads.
Practical Tips to Use TACoS in Your Amazon PPC Strategy
To improve your Amazon PPC management and maximize Amazon sales with PPC, consider these tips:
Track both ACoS and TACoS: Use ACoS to measure immediate ad efficiency and TACoS to understand overall business impact.
Focus on Amazon PPC best practices: Structure your PPC campaigns with clear goals, use negative keywords, and continuously optimize bids.
Invest in Amazon listing optimization: Use insights from Amazon PPC campaigns to improve your product listings, which will boost organic sales.
Use Amazon Sponsored Brands and Sponsored Products strategically: Sponsored Brands help build brand awareness, while Sponsored Products drive direct sales.
Analyze CTR and conversion rates: High CTR with low conversion may indicate listing issues, while low CTR suggests poor ad targeting.
Avoid common Amazon PPC mistakes to avoid: Don’t rely solely on ACoS, ignore organic sales impact, or neglect negative keywords.
Why Amazon Sellers Should Care About TACoS
Entrepreneurs running Amazon businesses need to think beyond immediate ad costs. TACoS offers a clearer picture of how Amazon advertising supports overall growth. By focusing on TACoS, sellers can:
Improve Amazon ROAS: Return on ad spend improves when ads contribute to organic sales growth.
Reduce wasted spend on Amazon PPC: Better bid optimization and keyword management lower unnecessary costs.
Build a sustainable Amazon PPC strategy: Long-term growth comes from balancing paid and organic sales.
Make informed decisions with Amazon PPC data: Use Amazon keyword research for PPC and campaign analytics to refine your approach.
How to Run Amazon PPC Campaigns with TACoS in Mind
Running successful Amazon PPC campaigns requires a clear understanding of both paid and organic sales impact. Here’s a simple approach:
Set clear goals: Define what success looks like for your ads, including both direct sales and organic growth.
Monitor TACoS regularly: Track total sales against ad spend to see the full impact of your campaigns.
Optimize PPC campaigns continuously: Adjust bids, add negative keywords, and test new keywords based on performance data.
Use Amazon PPC management tools or agencies: Consider partnering with an Amazon PPC agency for expert Amazon ads optimization.
Integrate Amazon listing optimization: Use PPC insights to improve product pages and boost organic rankings.
Final Thoughts on TACoS and ACoS
Focusing only on ACoS can limit your understanding of Amazon advertising success. TACoS reveals how your Amazon PPC strategy drives total sales growth, including organic sales. Brands who use TACoS as a key metric can improve Amazon ROAS, reduce wasted spend, and build a stronger, more sustainable Amazon business.


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