Automation

Automated Bid Rules

15 min read
Last updated: December 2024

Set It and Forget It: Intelligent Bid Optimization on Autopilot

Manually adjusting bids for every keyword is time-consuming and inefficient. WallyPilot's Automated Rules feature applies intelligent bid optimization to your campaigns automatically, based on performance metrics like ACOS, spend, sales, and impressions.

The system learns from your campaign data, applies strategic bid adjustments, and continuously optimizes for your target ACOS — all without manual intervention.

This comprehensive guide will show you everything you need to know about creating, managing, and optimizing automated rules for maximum ROI.

What Are Automated Rules?

The Definition

Automated Rules are condition-based actions that automatically adjust your campaign bids based on real-time performance data. Think of them as a 24/7 campaign manager that monitors your metrics and makes strategic bid changes to hit your target ACOS.

How It Works: The Three-Phase Process

1

Data Collection Phase

WallyPilot gathers performance data from your campaigns (default: 5 days). No changes are made during this learning period.

2

Analysis Phase

The system analyzes metrics and patterns to identify optimization opportunities (default: 3 days).

3

Optimization Phase

Rules apply bid adjustments automatically. Runs continuously every 3 days by default.

Why Use Automated Rules?

Save Time

Eliminate hours of manual bid adjustments. Rules run 24/7, monitoring and optimizing even while you sleep.

Hit Target ACOS

Stay consistently at your target ACOS by automatically adjusting bids when performance drifts.

Maximize Performance

Instantly capitalize on winning keywords and cut losses on underperformers faster than manual monitoring.

Data-Driven Decisions

Rules use actual performance data, not gut feelings. Every bid adjustment is backed by metrics.

The 6 Predefined Rule Categories

WallyPilot provides 11 predefined rules across 6 categories. You can select one rule from each category to create a comprehensive optimization strategy.

1. Target ACOS Rule

Maintain optimal performance when you're in the sweet spot

When ACOS is 25-40%:

Action: Set bid = CPC (maintain current performance)

Strategy: When performance is good but not exceptional, this rule maintains stability by matching your bid to your average cost-per-click.

2. High ACOS Rules

Reduce bids when spending too much per conversion

ACOS 40-60%

Action: Decrease bid by 10%

ACOS 60-100%

Action: Decrease bid by 20%

ACOS 100%+

Action: Decrease bid by 25%

Choose one: Only one High ACOS rule can be active. Select the threshold that matches your risk tolerance.

3. Low ACOS Rules

Increase bids on highly profitable keywords to scale

ACOS < 25% with 3+ sales

Action: Increase bid by 20%

High volume, high profitability = aggressive scaling

ACOS < 25% with 1-2 sales

Action: Increase bid by 10%

Profitable but low volume = conservative increase

Strategy: When ACOS is low, you're spending efficiently. Increase bids to capture more traffic and sales while maintaining profitability.

4. Spend With No Sales Rules

Handle keywords burning budget without converting

Spend $50+ with no sales

Action: Decrease bid by 20%

Significant wasted spend = aggressive reduction

Spend $20-50 with no sales

Action: Decrease bid by 10%

Moderate spend = moderate reduction

Spend < $10 with no sales

Action: Increase bid by 10%

Low spend might mean bids too low to compete

Warning: These rules prevent budget waste on non-converting keywords. The counterintuitive low-spend rule tests if you're simply not bidding high enough.

5. No Spend Rule

Activate dormant keywords

When keyword has no spend at all:

Action: Increase bid by 20%

Why: If a keyword isn't spending anything, your bid is likely too low to win any auctions. This rule helps activate dormant keywords with potential.

6. No Impressions Rule

Progressive bid increases until visibility achieved

When keyword has no impressions:

Action: Raise bid by 10% every 24 hours until impressions start

Progressive Strategy: This rule keeps increasing bids daily until your ad starts showing. Once impressions begin, other rules take over based on performance.

How to Set Up Automated Rules

1

Navigate to Automated Rules

From your WallyPilot dashboard, click on "Automated Rules" in the navigation menu.

2

Select Advertiser Account

Choose which Walmart advertiser account you want to create rules for.

3

Select Campaigns

Search and select one or more campaigns to apply automated rules to. You can select multiple campaigns for bulk rule application.

Note: Automatic (Auto-targeting) campaigns are not compatible with automated rules. Only manual targeting campaigns can use this feature.

4

Select Rules

Choose one rule from each of the 6 categories. Each category handles a different performance scenario.

Recommended Starting Configuration:

  • Target ACOS: 25-40% = Set bid to CPC
  • High ACOS: 40-60% = Decrease by 10%
  • Low ACOS: < 25% with 3+ sales = Increase by 20%
  • Spend No Sales: $50+ = Decrease by 20%
  • No Spend: Increase by 20%
  • No Impressions: Raise by 10% every 24 hours
5

Configure Settings

Timing Settings

Days Before Analyzing

Default: 5 days

Data collection period

Days Before Optimizing

Default: 3 days

Analysis period

Days Between Runs

Default: 3 days

Optimization frequency

Performance Settings

Target ACOS

Your goal: e.g., 30%

Desired advertising cost percentage

Max Bid (Optional)

Safety limit: e.g., $2.50

Rules never exceed this bid

6

Create Rules

Click "Create Automated Rules" to activate the automation. The system immediately begins the data collection phase.

What Happens Next:

  • • Rules are applied to all selected campaigns
  • • Data collection begins immediately
  • • First optimization will occur after 8 days (5 + 3 default)
  • • Subsequent optimizations run every 3 days

Advanced: Custom Rules

Create Your Own Logic

Beyond the predefined rules, WallyPilot allows you to create custom rules with your own conditions and actions. This is perfect for unique business logic or complex optimization strategies.

Custom Rule Capabilities:

  • Combine multiple conditions (AND/OR logic)
  • Set multiple actions to execute together
  • Choose from various metrics and operators
  • Enable/disable independently from predefined rules

Managing Your Automated Rules

Viewing Active Rules

Navigate to Automated Rules → Manage Existing Rules to see all your active rule sets.

You'll see:

  • • Current phase (Learning, Analyzing, or Optimizing)
  • • Days until next action
  • • Target ACOS and max bid settings
  • • Number of campaigns using the rule
  • • Last execution time

Pausing & Resuming Rules

Use the toggle switch next to each rule to pause or resume automation without deleting the rule configuration.

When to Pause:

  • • Testing manual bid changes
  • • Campaign restructuring
  • • Seasonal promotions
  • • Temporary budget constraints

Benefits of Pausing:

  • • Keeps your configuration
  • • Easy to restart later
  • • No data loss
  • • Resumes where it left off

Editing Rules

Click the edit icon to modify Target ACOS and Max Bid settings without recreating the entire rule set.

Note: You cannot edit which predefined rules are selected or timing settings. To change these, create a new rule set.

Best Practices for Automated Rules

Do's

  • Start conservative: Use default settings for first rule set
  • Set a max bid: Prevents runaway bid increases
  • Let it learn: Wait full 8 days before judging results
  • Monitor weekly: Check performance trends in manage page
  • Test on 1-2 campaigns first: Validate before scaling

Don'ts

  • Don't skip max bid: Always set a ceiling for safety
  • Don't change mid-learning: Let data collection phase complete
  • Don't use on auto campaigns: Only manual targeting supported
  • Don't expect instant results: Rules need time to optimize
  • Don't forget to monitor: Automation isn't "set and completely forget"

Advanced Optimization Strategies

Segmented Rule Sets by Product Type

Create different rule sets for different product categories. High-margin products can use more aggressive Low ACOS rules, while competitive products might need stricter High ACOS thresholds.

Seasonal Adjustments

During peak seasons (holidays, Prime Day), pause rules temporarily and bid more aggressively manually. Resume automation after the spike to return to normal optimization.

Combine with Manual Optimization

Let automated rules handle day-to-day bid maintenance, while you focus on strategic decisions like keyword research, negative keyword mining, and campaign structure optimization.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Rules Not Optimizing

  • • Check that you've waited the full data collection + analysis period (default 8 days)
  • • Verify the rule is set to "Active" status (not paused)
  • • Ensure campaigns have sufficient traffic and data
  • • Check if max bid limit is preventing increases

ACOS Not Improving

  • • Rules optimize for target ACOS over time, not instantly
  • • Check if your target ACOS is realistic for your product margins
  • • Review which specific rules are triggering (may need different thresholds)
  • • Consider if product pricing or competition has changed

Can't Select Campaign

  • • Automatic campaigns are not supported for automated rules
  • • Campaign must be active (not paused or ended)
  • • Verify campaign belongs to the selected advertiser account
  • • Check that campaign uses manual targeting

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