If you’ve been running your ecommerce business in stealth mode lately, this one’s gonna make your ears perk up.
📢 Amazon just stopped advertising on Google Shopping. Let that sink in.
This isn’t a blip. This is a shift in the ecommerce universe.
As someone who’s managed millions in ad spend and written Make Each Click Count – The Google Shopping Edition, let me break it down for you:
Amazon stepping away from Google Shopping?
That’s not a threat. That’s an open door—for you.
🧨 A Power Move from Amazon (But Why?)
Look, I wasn’t on the Zoom call when Bezos’s replacement made the call. But I’ve been around long enough to read between the lines.
Here’s my take after 15+ years in PPC combat boots:
🧠 1. Amazon’s Data Game is Next-Level
They don’t need Google to find out what you buy. They already know what kind of coffee you like, how many dog treats you reorder, and that you bought socks twice last month.
Why pay Google for that data when they already own the goldmine?
💸 2. CPCs Have Been Climbing
Clicks on Google Shopping are more expensive than a dinner at Ruth’s Chris lately. If you’re Amazon, why drop $100 million annually for clicks when you can drive buyers straight to your own platform?
📊 3. Amazon’s Selling Ads Now
They’ve built their own ad empire—Sponsored Products, Brands, DSP—you name it. It’s like they stopped shopping at Costco and opened their own wholesale club.
🥳 What It Means for You, the Independent Ecommerce Hustler
This is where things get juicy.
Amazon leaving the Google Shopping party doesn’t mean it’s over. It means the VIP table just opened up.
🔻 1. Lower CPCs
We’re already seeing some of our clients enjoy 10–15% lower cost-per-clicks in key categories. Why?
Because the biggest spender just left the bidding war. Less competition = lower prices. Simple.
💥 2. More Impressions, More Clicks
Amazon used to hog the top row of Shopping ads like a seagull at a beach picnic. With them gone? Your products can actually breathe.
More exposure. More clicks. More chances to win.
💰 3. Better DTC Growth
Fewer Amazon listings = more shoppers landing directly on your website.
That means you can:
- Tell your story
- Collect first-party data
- Build brand loyalty
Just like Amazon’s been doing for years. Only now, it’s your turn.
🚀 Here’s What You Should Do Next (The 3 Pillars of Profit)
If you’ve read Make Each Click Count (and if you haven’t, shame on you 😉), you know I always go back to the fundamentals:
📈 1. Track Like a Bloodhound
Use Google Tag Manager.
Set up product-level tracking.
No excuses. If you don’t know your ROAS, you’re flying blind.
🛠️ 2. Campaign Structure is King
No spray-and-pray here.
Break it down:
- 🔹 Bestsellers in their own campaign
- 🔹 High vs. low margin items separated
- 🔹 Use custom labels for pricing tiers, seasons, and profit levels
Segment smarter, bid better.
🧹 3. Optimize That Product Feed
Your Shopping feed is your digital shelf.
Update:
- Titles with high-converting keywords
- Product types that match search intent
- Descriptions that sell
📌 Pro tip: Keywords like “Amazon PPC guide” or “Amazon listing optimization” might not be on Google Shopping directly—but they do help feed SEO traffic into your full funnel.
⚠️ But Don’t Celebrate Just Yet…
Here’s the cold shower.
Just because Amazon’s gone doesn’t mean you win by default.
You’re still competing with:
- 🛒 Walmart
- 🛍️ Target
- 🐾 Chewy
- And thousands of DTC brands who get it
If your pages are slow, your prices are too high, or your reviews look like a 2-star motel? You’re not getting the click.
Step up your game.
🧠 The Big Lesson Here
Amazon’s exit from Google Shopping isn’t a red flag.
It’s a green light.
If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to scale, this is it.
You can grab market share—without a 100-million-dollar budget.
But only if you’re ready.
🔑 So get your tracking tight. Clean your feed. Dial in your bids. And go make each click count.
💬 Repeatable Proverb:
“When giants leave the room, it’s your time to speak.”
💡 FAQS – Amazon & Google Shopping: What You Need to Know
Q1. Does Amazon still advertise on Google at all?
Yes, but they’ve dramatically reduced Shopping Ads specifically in the U.S. They’re going all in on internal traffic.
Q2. Will this last?
No one knows. But for now? It’s a golden window of opportunity.
Q3. Should I increase my Shopping budget now?
If your ROAS supports it—yes. But only if your tracking is dialed in.
Q4. What’s the #1 thing I can do today?
Segment your Shopping campaigns and audit your product feed.
Q5. Is it worth switching from Amazon to DTC?
Yes—but keep your Amazon channel alive. Diversify, don’t jump ship.
Q6. Do custom labels still matter without Amazon in the mix?
More than ever. They let you bid like a pro, even without deep pockets.
Q7. I’m new to Google Shopping—where should I start?
Start with Make Each Click Count – The Google Shopping Edition. It’s got everything you need.
Need Help with Amazon Ads? If you’re looking to maximize your Amazon ad returns, sometimes you need an expert who’s been there, done that. I’m Andy Splichal, author of Make Each Click Count and host of the Make Each Click Count podcast. Amazon’s PPC landscape can be overwhelming, but with the right guidance, you can make every dollar count, I’m here to help. Let’s make those clicks count!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andy Splichal is the founder and managing partner of True Online Presence, author of the Make Each Click Count book series, host of the Make Each Click Count podcast, founder of Make Each Click Count University and certified online marketing strategist with twenty plus years of experience helping companies increase their online presence and profitable revenues.
He was named to Best of Los Angeles Awards’ Most Fascinating 100 List in both 2020 and 2021. To find more information on Andy Splichal, visit trueonlinepresence.com or read The Full Story on his website or his blog, blog.trueonlinepresence.com.
