TACOS Tuesday - Amazon Ads Tactics

In Episode 51 of TACOS Tuesday, Hamish Conway and Sebastian Hargreaves unpack three revealing insights from their Amazon ads audits—insights that could be quietly draining your budget and holding back your growth. Drawing on data from dozens of brands and millions in ad spend, they explore how many sellers lean too heavily on Sponsored Products while underusing high-potential ad types like Sponsored Display, the hidden risks of over-investing in branded search terms that can cannibalise your own sales, and the often-overlooked problem of wasted ad spend across broad, phrase, and auto targeting. They also share benchmarks to help you measure whether your ACOS and ad efficiency are truly competitive, and practical ways to reallocate your budget for stronger returns. Tune in to find out how your performance stacks up, and how small strategic shifts can lead to big gains on Amazon.

In this special 50th episode, we celebrate one year of our TACOS Tuesday Podcast - it’s our first birthday! Hamish Conway and Sebastian Hargreaves reflect on what a year of weekly episodes has revealed about winning on Amazon, and what’s next. They dig into the rise of challenger brands, the decline of early-mover advantage, the explosive growth of Prime in Australia, and how AI and content velocity are changing the game. You’ll hear how to future-proof your brand, scale profitably with TACOS, and navigate rising CPCs, DSP, and Amazon’s evolving ad ecosystem. Whether you’re an emerging seller or an established brand, this episode offers fresh insights, real-world examples, and forward-looking strategies to help you stay competitive and keep growing on Amazon.

Amazon has pulled the plug on Google Shopping ads - so what does that mean for brands? In this episode, Hamish and Sebastian break down why Amazon may have made this move, the trends pointing to declining external traffic, and how brands can adapt. Discover strategies to monitor your metrics, fill traffic gaps with smart ad spend, test new channels like Google Shopping on your own, and leverage Amazon’s customer journey analytics to uncover where your shoppers are coming from. If you’re selling on Amazon, this episode is packed with actionable steps to navigate the shifting landscape.

In this short and sharp solo episode, Sebastian Hargreaves breaks down the key takeaways from Prime 2025, unpacking the data behind ad performance during the high-volume event. He reveals why ROAS dropped despite a 200% spike in ad sales, the critical role of Prime Deal badges, and how strategic spend, especially on the first and last days can make or break your results. If you're planning for Black Friday or future Prime events, this episode is packed with actionable insights to sharpen your Amazon ad game.

Ready to stop guessing where your Amazon ad dollars are going? Hamish Conway and Sebastian Hargreaves reveal what six months of real Sponsored Products data from Amazon Australia tells us about which placements are actually performing. They unpack surprising insights on cost-per-click, conversion rates, and ROAS across top of search, rest of search, and product pages - highlighting where most brands are overspending or missing opportunities entirely. You’ll also hear why product page ads may be undervalued, how to structure your campaigns for scale, and why now is the time to double down on Amazon AU before competition and costs catch up. If you're running ads on Amazon AU, this episode is packed with sharp, actionable takeaways to help you optimise spend and scale smarter while the market is still underpriced.

This week on TACOS Tuesday, Hamish Conway sits down with Jim Vrondas from WorldFirst for a timely dive into the world of international payments, currency volatility, and the hidden costs that e-commerce sellers often overlook. Jim shares expert insights on how brands can protect profit margins with smart hedging strategies, avoid the double-conversion trap, and manage expenses more efficiently across borders. With real-world examples and a clear look at trends in global e-commerce, this episode offers practical tips for sellers scaling across marketplaces and markets - from the US to Europe to Southeast Asia.

For sellers looking to save money, time and gain peace of mind when expanding globally, reach out via WorldFirst https://www.worldfirst.com/au/ or connect directly with Jim on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimvrondas/?originalSubdomain=au, and start simplifying your cross‑border payments today.

 

This week on TACOS Tuesday, Hamish Conway sits down with Timothy Malakou, Brand Manager at Sheldon and Hammond, one of Australia’s most respected distributors of premium home and kitchenware. Representing powerhouse brands like OXO, Scanpan, Global Knives, and Avanti, Sheldon and Hammond has seen remarkable growth on Amazon, with a 45% lift in ad-attributed sales and 35% total sales growth in just 12 months. Tim shares his journey, insights into brand building on Amazon, and how they’ve balanced retail partnerships with DTC growth. Packed with practical takeaways on negotiation, ad strategy, and product launches, this episode is a must-listen for any brand navigating the evolving e-commerce landscape.

In Episode 44 of TACOS Tuesday, Hamish Conway and Sebastian Hargreaves break down exactly how to prepare for Amazon Prime Day - whether you’ve secured official deals or not. With just weeks to go, they cover the key steps to maximise sales: from ad strategies and pricing tactics to managing budgets across the crucial first, middle, and final days. They also reveal smart lead-in and lead-out moves, how to avoid wasted ad spend, and why some sellers might benefit from holding back. If you want a clear, profit-focused game plan for Prime Day, this one’s a must-listen.