E-Commerce Strategies

5 Audience Targeting Tips for Sponsored Brands

5 Audience Targeting Tips for Sponsored Brands

Apr 17, 2025

  1. Target specific demographics: Focus on age, income, education, and location to reach the right audience.

  2. Leverage customer behavior: Use shopping habits like purchase history, browsing patterns, and price sensitivity to refine your ads.

  3. Refine keyword & product targeting: Use exact, phrase, and broad match keywords, plus competitor and category targeting.

  4. Set up retargeting: Re-engage cart abandoners, past visitors, and previous customers with personalized ads.

  5. Analyze and adjust: Track metrics like ROAS, CTR, and ACoS to optimize your campaigns over time.

Quick Tip: Combine these strategies for maximum impact. For instance, pair demographic targeting with behavioral insights to craft highly relevant campaigns.

Use these tactics to cut wasted ad spend, improve ROI, and reach the right customers effectively.

New Auto Targeting for Amazon Sponsored Brands Full Details

Amazon Sponsored Brands

Amazon Audience Targeting Basics

To succeed with Amazon Sponsored Brand Ads, you need to understand its three main targeting methods. Here's a quick breakdown:

  • Keyword targeting: Ads appear based on what shoppers search for. Choose:

    • Exact match for highly specific terms.

    • Phrase match to target phrases in a specific order.

    • Broad match to cover variations of search terms.

  • Product targeting: Ads show up next to particular products or categories. Options include:

    • Targeting by category.

    • Targeting specific ASINs.

    • Targeting by brand.

  • Audience targeting: Ads reach shoppers based on their behavior, browsing history, purchase trends, brand preferences, and demographics.

Here's a comparison to highlight how each method works best:

Targeting Type

Best For

Key Advantage

Keyword

New product launches, competitive positioning

Captures direct intent

Product

Cross-selling, competitive conquest

Contextually relevant

Audience

Brand building, customer retention

Focuses on shopper behavior

For the best results, combine these approaches. Use keyword targeting to drive conversions from shoppers ready to buy, while audience targeting helps build awareness and loyalty. Align your strategy with your campaign goals to make your ad spend more effective.

In the next section, we’ll dive into actionable tips to fine-tune your targeting strategy.

1. Use Demographics for Better Ad Targeting

Demographic targeting can improve the performance and return on investment (ROI) of Sponsored Brands ads. By focusing on specific customer groups, you can create more relevant and engaging campaigns.

Here’s how you can use demographic targeting effectively in your Sponsored Brands campaigns:

Demographic Filter

Targeting Options

Ideal Use Cases

Age Groups

18–24, 25–34, 35–44, 45–54, 55+

Products tailored to specific age ranges

Income Levels

Low, Medium, High

Luxury goods or budget-conscious products

Education

High School, College, Graduate

Professional tools or learning materials

Location

States, Cities, Regions

Items for local markets or region-specific needs

When setting up these filters, you can combine multiple criteria to create highly targeted audience segments. For instance, if you sell high-end skincare, you might focus on women aged 35–54 with higher incomes in urban areas.

Steps to refine your demographic targeting:

  • Analyze customer data to identify key demographic groups.

  • Set filters that align with your target audience.

  • Track performance metrics like click-through and conversion rates for each group.

  • Adjust your strategy based on campaign results.

Starting with broader segments and narrowing them down as you collect data can help you find the most responsive audiences while maintaining reach. For example, you might begin by targeting several age groups, then focus on the one that delivers the best results.

Combining demographic filters with keyword and product targeting allows for highly precise campaigns. This approach reduces wasted ad spend by focusing only on relevant audiences. Regularly reviewing and analyzing campaign data is essential for fine-tuning your strategy.

If you want to maximize your advertising budget and reach the right customers, consider consulting Amazon advertising experts who can guide you in identifying and targeting the right demographics.

Next, explore how customer interests and behavior can further refine your targeting.

2. Target by Customer Interests and Behavior

Understanding customer interests and shopping habits can help fine-tune your Sponsored Brands campaigns. By analyzing purchase patterns and browsing history, you can design ad strategies that connect with your audience.

Here’s how you can segment your audience based on their shopping behavior:

Behavior Type

Targeting Criteria

Strategic Application

Purchase History

Recent buyers, Category shoppers, Brand loyalists

Upselling, Cross-selling, Brand expansion

Browse Patterns

Product views, Cart abandonment, Wishlist items

Remarketing, Product recommendations

Shopping Frequency

One-time buyers, Regular customers, Seasonal shoppers

Retention campaigns, Seasonal promotions

Price Sensitivity

Discount seekers, Premium buyers, Deal hunters

Price-based targeting, Special offers

Steps to Leverage Behavior Data

  • Analyze Shopping Patterns

    Dive into customer data to uncover trends like popular product combinations, price preferences, and seasonal buying habits.

  • Segment by Interests

    Break down your audience into specific groups. For example, kitchen appliance buyers could be segmented into:

    • Professional-grade cooking tools

    • Smart kitchen gadgets

    • Budget-friendly essentials

    • Niche baking accessories

  • Track Behavior Metrics

    Keep an eye on metrics like average order value, purchase frequency, preferred categories, and brand engagement.

  • Tailor Ad Content

    Adjust your ad messaging for each segment. For example, if your data shows a preference for eco-friendly products, spotlight those features in your ads.

3. Improve Keyword and Product Targeting

Once you've segmented your audience, take it a step further by refining your keyword and product targeting. This approach helps your Sponsored Brands campaigns become more relevant and effective, leading to higher conversion rates.

Keyword Research and Optimization

Focus your keyword research on terms that align closely with your product category. Include both general and specific search terms. For example, instead of just "kitchen blender", consider terms like "smoothie blender" or "commercial grade blender."

Keyword Type

Purpose

Example Applications

Broad Match

Reach a larger audience

blender, kitchen appliance

Phrase Match

Target specific search intent

professional blender, quiet blender

Exact Match

Attract high-intent buyers

vitamix professional series 750

Category-Specific

Focus on related products

smoothie maker, food processor

Product Targeting Strategies

Targeting specific products - whether they're complementary or from competitors - can make your ads more effective. Here's how to approach it:

  • Category-Level Targeting

    Find product categories your audience frequently shops in. This broadens your reach while staying relevant.

  • Competitor Product Targeting

    Highlight products with similar features to yours. This strategy works well for customers comparing options in your niche.

Performance Monitoring

Keep an eye on metrics like click-through rate (CTR), conversion rate, average cost per click (CPC), return on ad spend (ROAS), and impression share. Use this data to adjust your targeting: pause keywords that aren't performing well and double down on those that are driving results. This ensures you're making the most of your ad budget.

Advanced Targeting Tip

Analyze competitor listings to discover useful keywords and uncover new targeting opportunities. This can give you an edge in refining your campaigns.

4. Set Up Customer Retargeting

Customer retargeting helps you reconnect with shoppers who have already shown interest in your products. By focusing on these potential buyers, you can improve conversion rates and make better use of your ad budget.

Building Retargeting Audiences

Start by grouping your audience based on their past interactions. Common segments include:

  • Visitors to specific product pages

  • Shoppers who abandoned their carts

  • Previous customers

  • People who browsed your brand's store

This segmentation is the foundation for creating effective retargeting campaigns.

Personalizing Ad Content

Create ads that resonate with each group. For instance:

  • For product page viewers, highlight the features they explored.

  • For cart abandoners, showcase special discounts or limited-time offers to encourage them to complete their purchase.

Managing Ad Frequency and Timing

Find the right balance for ad exposure. Begin with more frequent ads to grab attention, then gradually reduce the frequency to avoid overwhelming your audience as the campaign continues.

Advanced Retargeting Tips

Take your retargeting efforts further with these ideas:

  • Dynamic Product Ads: Display items related to what the shopper previously viewed.

  • Cross-Selling Opportunities: Recommend complementary products based on their interests.

  • Seasonal Campaigns: Adjust your approach to match key shopping seasons or holidays.

Tracking and Optimizing Results

Keep an eye on important metrics like click-through rates (CTR), return on ad spend (ROAS), average order value (AOV), purchase rates, and ad frequency. Use this data to fine-tune your strategy and improve results over time.

5. Use Data to Adjust Targeting

This tip focuses on turning real-time data into actionable insights that can improve your Sponsored Brands targeting and overall campaign performance.

Key Metrics to Watch

Here are some critical metrics to help you measure and refine your campaigns:

  • CTR (Click-Through Rate): Indicates how relevant your ad is to your audience.

  • Conversion Rate: Tracks how often clicks lead to purchases.

  • ACoS (Advertising Cost of Sales): Measures how profitable your campaign is.

  • New-to-Brand Metrics: Identifies customers purchasing from you for the first time.

  • ROAS (Return on Ad Spend): Shows the return you're getting for every dollar spent.

Understanding Audience Behavior

Audience signals can reveal how well your targeting aligns with user intent:

  • High CTR but Low Conversion: Your ad is grabbing attention, but it's not converting. Consider refining demographic or interest filters to better align with purchase intent.

  • Low CTR but High Conversion: Your audience might be too narrow. Try broadening your targeting while maintaining relevance.

Data-Driven Adjustments

Use the table below to guide your targeting tweaks based on performance signals:

Metric Signal

Suggested Action

Expected Outcome

High ACoS

Focus on the most profitable audience segments

Improve cost efficiency

Low Impression Share

Broaden targeting criteria or raise bids

Increase campaign reach

Poor New-to-Brand Performance

Adjust demographic filters

Attract new customers

Set up a regular schedule to review these metrics and make changes as needed.

Suggested Review Schedule

  • Daily: Keep an eye on basic metrics like CTR and Conversion Rate.

  • Weekly: Evaluate audience segments for potential adjustments.

  • Monthly: Look for patterns in your targeting performance.

  • Quarterly: Conduct a deep dive into your targeting strategy.

Pro Tip: Advanced Analysis

Combine different data points - like performance by time of day or day of the week - to fine-tune your targeting and bidding strategies. These insights can help you get the most out of your campaigns.

Targeting Methods Comparison

To improve the performance of your Sponsored Brand Ads, blending different targeting methods can be highly effective. By merging the strengths of various approaches, you can address their individual weaknesses and achieve better results.

For instance, pairing behavioral insights with product targeting allows you to pinpoint repeat buyers and shoppers with strong purchase intent. Similarly, combining demographic information with shopping habits helps create more accurate audience segments.

This combined strategy ensures you connect with buyers at every stage of their journey by:

  • Broadening your audience while staying relevant

  • Boosting the accuracy of your ads

  • Continuously refining campaigns using data insights

Conclusion

Targeting the right audience in Sponsored Brand Ads involves using a mix of demographic, interest-based, and behavioral strategies, paired with ongoing, data-driven adjustments. This combination helps drive consistent campaign success.

Start with a broad approach and narrow your audience segments as you gather more data. Regularly adjust your targeting to match changing market trends and customer behavior. Pay attention to key metrics, shifting shopping habits, seasonal changes, and new opportunities to refine your campaigns effectively.

Blending different targeting methods and fine-tuning them with performance data can lead to better campaign results and a stronger return on investment. A strong strategy should include:

  • Demographics to define your audience clearly

  • Interest-based segmentation to ensure relevance

  • Behavioral insights to improve engagement

  • Performance tracking to fine-tune your approach

The key is finding the right balance between precision and reach. While highly specific targeting can improve conversion rates, maintaining a large enough audience is essential for meaningful sales. Use your campaign data to strike the perfect balance that maximizes results for your products.

About eStore Factory

eStore Factory

eStore Factory focuses on turning advanced PPC and audience targeting techniques into real results for Sponsored Brand Ads. With a team of over 70 professionals, we've driven over $250 million in sales by improving ROI through smart, data-based targeting.

We’ve delivered measurable outcomes for more than 5,000 brands by focusing on:

  • In-depth audience analysis to find the best segments

  • Keyword optimization based on performance data

  • Ongoing performance tracking to fine-tune strategies

  • Campaign management that prioritizes results

As a three-time Amazon SPN Award winner, we bring over ten years of experience in crafting strategies tailored to each brand’s unique goals. Our approach ensures Sponsored Brand campaigns connect with the right audiences and boost conversion rates.

A key part of our process is ongoing optimization. By regularly reviewing performance data and refining strategies, we help brands grow and succeed on Amazon.

Ready to improve your Sponsored Brand campaigns? Contact us today!

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