These are important words to live by as an Amazon seller if you want to avoid account suspension. The Amazon marketplace is developed with the customer in mind. That's why the "Earth's most customer-centric company" kicks out sellers who violate the ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number) and Amazon variation policy.
Don't worry; we will teach you how to prevent an Amazon suspended account because of unintentional variation and ASIN violations and share tips about creating an Amazon suspension appeal.
Understanding Variation Listings and Amazon Account Suspension
Before going anywhere near an Amazon suspension discussion, learning the ins and outs of Amazon variation listings is crucial. By knowing the boundaries of the policy, you can avoid unintentionally violating it and understand how you may have abused it (in case you did).
What are variations for, and when can Amazon sellers effectively use them without breaking Amazon’s rules?
💡 Variations, also called as parent-child relationships, are sets of products closely related to each other, differing only in specific product characteristics such as size, color, etc.
Sellers must also be familiar with the following terms and relationships to understand the variation system further:
Parent product or parent listing - refers to the general non-buyable category under which all child ASINs or products fall.
Child products or child listings - fall under the parent product category. These are related buyable items with unique ASINs.
Variation theme - shows how each child product differs from each other. While single-variation theme categories are most common, two-variation themes are also accepted for some products (e.g., size-color theme).
Sellers and customers both benefit from the variation listing system. The parent-child listing allows interested customers to browse products easily, improving their online shopping experience.
On the other hand, multiple variations of a product can boost the visibility and traffic in a seller's store, resulting in increased sales and conversions.
The variation model can also be a cost-effective way to offer multiple child ASINs. Here’s a wonderful example of a brand called My Daughter Journals that used personalization for low-cost variations:
🚫 However, it is important to follow Amazon's guidelines for creating variations and avoid resorting to duplicating listings. While parent-child listings benefit both parties, abusing this feature can lead to severe consequences. Variation manipulation is one of Amazon’s big no-nos.
How Variation Misuse and Duplicate ASINs Result In a Suspension
You can mess up your Amazon product listings in many ways, including duplication. According to Entrepreneur's article, this may happen "if the same item is accidentally listed twice under two different ASINs."
Technically, Amazon only requires a single ASIN per unique product. So ASIN duplication can lead to poor customer experience, the retail giant’s ultimate pet peeve.
Aside from duplication, here are other actions that are considered violations of the Amazon variation policy:
Adding an incorrect variation under the ASINs you created.
Adding products that are different from the parent ASIN or variation family.
Editing the parent product’s detail page so it won't match its children.
Adding multi-pack variations that aren't manufacturer-created to an already existing parent.
Adding multi-pack children by bundling two or more of the same manufacturer products.
Adding newer product versions or models of the parent ASIN.
As stated in Amazon's ASIN Creation Policy, creating a new ASIN based on an existing product listing or committing misuse of variations may result in an Amazon suspended account or removal of your selling privileges. When this happens, you have no choice but to file an Amazon suspension appeal.
Steps and Tips for Filing an Amazon Suspension Appeal
Just in case you've got an Amazon Vendor Central suspension notification (or Amazon Seller Central for third-party sellers), follow the steps below to get your account reinstated:
Do not panic and rush to reply when you receive the "letter of doom." We know it is hard to remain calm when your source of income is in peril, but being patient will pay off in this situation.
Speaking of patience, never send multiple letters or status requests to Seller Performance.
Do not use impolite language or blame Amazon or the buyer when sending an appeal. Amazon doesn't tolerate excuses or reasons.
Create a professional, brief, straight-to-the-point, and factual Amazon suspension appeal. Use bullet points and authentic credentials.
Amazon gives you 17 days to submit an Amazon suspension appeal, and you will send this appeal via the link indicated in the suspension notice email.
It would be best to craft a "Plan of Action" which tells why you've got an Amazon suspended account, what actions you've taken to resolve the issue (workarounds), and your permanent solutions to avoid recurrence.
The official waiting time until they will notify you of their decision is within 48 hours. But the cold and hard truth is you NEED to wait 60 days or more because the Seller Performance team often receives thousands of appeals.
How to Avoid an Amazon Suspended Account
Naturally, you wouldn't want to experience the nerve-wracking process of Amazon's suspension appeal. So here are some tips to avoid violating the ASIN Creation Policy:
✅ Check if the ASIN or product exists before taking any other action. You may do this by searching within the “Add a product” page of the Amazon Seller Central account. Search by UPC, EAN, model, or product name.
✅ Enroll your brand in the Amazon Brand Registry to protect your products and listings.
✅ You can request a brand or SKU-level UPC exemption for unique products without an existing UPC, EAN, ISBN, JAN, or ASIN code. To do this, send a support letter on the “Apply for a GTIN exemption” page. Amazon will reply to you within two working days.
✅ Provide fitment data to Amazon for car & motorcycle and power sports products. There's a dedicated page for this, which is called the Part Finder tool.
✅ Join the Amazon Custom program for print-on-demand or customizable products. It boosts discoverability, search relevance, listing efficiency, and inventory management. Plus, a product with multiple designs only requires one UPC exemption.
✅ Don't list different products on the same detail page. Incorrect usage of a variation theme is also prohibited. For example, different colors should not be listed within a size theme. Also, ensure that your product listings are optimized.
✅ If you have forgotten having created a listing in the past, you have the option to delete it, or you may merge them.
✅ Alternatively, you may ask Amazon to do this for you. Report to Amazon Seller Support if someone else created the duplicate listing, and you may do this if you are the brand owner.
In your Amazon Seller Central account, select "Contact Seller Support." Then go to Selling on Amazon > Products and Inventory > Product Page Issue and choose "Merge duplicate or split product pages."
In Closing
Getting an Amazon suspended account is the bane of the existence of any seller. No one wants to endure the tiresome process of getting an account reinstated and writing an Amazon suspension appeal.
That's why you should have weekly maintenance, including checking duplicate ASINs and ensuring correct product variations. If you want to solve your suspension problem fast, exploring Amazon appeal services to recover your suspended account without a hitch would be better.Seller Interactive has a team of experienced Amazon experts willing to help you reinstate an Amazon suspended account. Book a call today with our Amazon professionals.
Images are one of the most crucial elements of effective Amazon product listings.
Shoppers on Amazon have tons of options right at their fingertips, and before they can even click on a product, they've already laid their eyes on product images. If you want to get ahead of the competition, having alluring, high-quality photos is paramount.
As the cliche says, a picture is worth a thousand words; for Amazon, a picture is its salesforce. Product images reflect the quality of your products, a reason why product photography should be as crucial as other methods of optimizing listings.
Below are ten amazing hacks that can help you with Amazon image optimization. Stand out from the rest with compelling product images now!
10 Amazon Image Optimization Hacks for Picture-Perfect Product Images
A professional photographer may have shot your product images, yet those same highly-priced images are failing to sell more products. This is because product photography is more than just stunning, expensive imagery; the photos also need to catch up to the platform's standards, which seasoned Amazon marketing consultants can help you with.
Let's explore ten expert-backed image optimization hacks to help you create picture-perfect product images.
Hack #1: Spruce Up Your Main Image
Amazon has strict rules regarding the main product image, but don't worry. Plenty of ways exist to make it stand out from the rest. Below are easy tips to make your image stand out without violating Amazon's image guidelines.
Only Show the Product
Avoid placing texts, props, borders, or items that show the scale of the product. The purpose of the main image is to focus on the product you’re selling.
Use a Pure White Background
Note that Amazon wants a specific white background for the main images. It should be set to RGB 255, 255, 255 (see Google's color picker or any color chart for reference).
Using the right kind of white is crucial since Amazon wants your product to look like it is floating in the interface. If you are no design geek, you can always outsource this task to experts who can edit your photo's background to the right color for a small fee.
Close Up Within the Image Frame
Amazon requires a product to take up at least 85% of the image frame. Avoid cropped images since they will make your product look small in the thumbnail that appears in your search and PPC ads. Ensure that your image is zoomable so shoppers can look into the details of your product.
A poor-quality image that can't be zoomed in can decrease your ads' click-through rate (CTR) and reduce the organic traffic your listing receives.
Stay Informed About New Guidelines
Keeping yourself updated and reviewing the Amazon seller support page is always a good thing, as the platform's image guidelines can change anytime.
Hack #2: Take Advantage of All the Image Slots
One of the most common mistakes sellers commit is not having enough images for their product listings. Some listings only contain 2 or 3 images; you do not want that in any of your own. Amazon gives most product categories seven or more image slots to take advantage of.
Use the opportunity to add as many images as possible so that your target shoppers can take a better look at your product from different angles and perspectives. You can have even more than sevenimages for your product listings, but shoppers will only see seven on the product detail page unless they click on additional images.
Quick Pro Tips
If you want to include product videos, note that one will use the 7th slot on your listing.
Upload images showing the front, back, and even the packaging.
Your goal in using the first four images is to visually demonstrate how your product will benefit the buyer's life and why it should matter to them. You can do so by showing the product used in different settings, backgrounds, or angles.
See examples of how we did this with some of our own products:
Images from Kitchables sell double-walled glasses that not only keep your drink warmer for longer, but are also shatterproof, scratch-resistant, and dishwasher-safe.
Product photos for our Ashtonbee Pee Pads clearly show what it can do for your baby. The images demonstrate how the pads are fully absorbent with their multiple layers, insulation, dryer-friendliness, and suitability for twin beds.
We not only state the benefits but also show them in a manner that is easy to understand and emotionally connect with.
Use Lifestyle Images the 6th and 7th Images
Your most critical images should be in the first 6–7 slots of your listing. Use them to sell the lifestyle your products evoke using lifestyle images instead of simply putting as many images of your products from different angles—this will not lead to maximum conversion. With lifestyle photos, you can effectively showcase your product's benefits.
There are two goals when using the last two images on your listing.
The first is to convey how the product would look in your customer's everyday life. You want to show how your iPhone case is going to look not just on their phone but also how it would look on their car mount and their office desk.
The second goal is to use elements in your product image to associate your product with a lifestyleconsistent with your brand.
Ultimately, it's all about how we feel. Your Amazon product listing must clearly and simply make a customer feel something compelling enough to result in a purchase.
Hack #3: Size Matters
Appropriate image sizing plays a vital role in how your product images on Amazon are viewed. According to Amazon, the right size should be at least 1000 pixels to be zoomable. When you use pictures that are too small, they may appear pixelated, disabling the zoom feature for desktops.
But even with the correct image size, the thumbnails won't look good without the proper proportions. Using the recommended aspect ratio, which is 1:1, is vital. You should also avoid uploading rectangular images on Amazon.
Inconsistencies in the image sizes will make your product look less professional and dramatically decrease your conversion rate.
Quick Pro Tip Showing scaled items next to your products can be essential in reducing returns and increasing the number of positive reviews. This way, you can communicate effectively about the actual size of your product.
Hack #4: Mirror Your Bullets for Mobile-Friendly Images
When it comes to indexing and ranking, Amazon puts a lot of emphasis on titles and bullets. Your images may not do much in bringing traffic to your listings; however, they can convert the traffic your listing receives. So if you're considering optimizing Amazon listings for mobile use, the best way is to make your images attractive and informative.
The product title and images on mobile are the only content that will appear above the fold. Typically, most shoppers never scroll down to where the bullets are shown. That is why it is crucial to highlight your products' advantages and the main benefits in the additional images.
Remember that mobile use and desktop use on Amazon are two different things. So be sure to optimize your product listing for both devices.
Hack #5: Let Your Buyers Envision Themselves Using Your Products
Understanding your market is crucial in crafting the perfect product images for your listing. Research your customers’ demographics, average income, beliefs, and more, and use the information you gather to help your images be more compelling to them.
For example, if your product is expensive and targets the upper class, be strategic with your lifestyle photos and use cozy and state-of-the-art backgrounds to represent your target market accurately. Let your potential customers see that the product they will buy from you fits their needs and lifestyles.
Hack #6: Leave No Room for Photoshop Fails
Many sellers use Adobe Photoshop to improve their product photos. However, there are things that you need to avoid, which we’ve outlined below.
Shadows
Watch out for shadows. They easily give away your Amazon image’s flaws. So, ensure that your shadows fall where they are supposed to be. Otherwise, your image will look unprofessional.
Scaling
If you are photoshopping props to accompany your image, ensure they are accurately scaled to maintain genuineness and visual harmony. Wrong scaling can give Amazon the impression that you are misleading customers about your product's size. This can result in returns and restricted Amazon Standard Identification Numbers (ASINs).
Hack #7: Avoid Typos
Refrain from letting a misspelling or grammatical error slip into your images. Proofread your copy through programs like Grammarly, or have them checked by at least two or more people you can trust before uploading.
Hack #8: Always Follow Category Requirements
Amazon has specific product image rules that vary per category. These include placements of shoes, usage of a mannequin, and nutritional labels. Amazon might make some changes without notifying its sellers, so always make it a habit to re-check the image style guidelines now and again.
Hack #9: Invest in A+ Content
Aside from the image slots Amazon provides at the top of the product detail pages, you can also utilize the A+ Content feature to upload other images—that is, if you are an Amazon Brand Registry member.
Say No to the Same Image
Avoid repeating the same images from slots in the A+ Content. Instead, use it to upload new, varied images to give your target consumers a more detailed look at your product.
Quick Pro Tip Use A+ Content to showcase the following:
Comparison charts
Unique selling points
Brand story
More lifestyle pictures
Instructions for use
Hack #10: Like Every Ad Campaign, TEST!
Lastly, it is crucial to note your listings' performance to know which work and which don’t. You can use various tools to do split testing or get Amazon product listing optimization services to do it in your stead.
You can also do it yourself by manually comparing data from the Detail Sales and Traffic Report. Use your gathered data to identify your strongest and weakest points and continuously improve your performance.
Bonus: Two Additional Tips When Optimizing Product Photos on Amazon
Here are two more actionable tips you can use today to really make your product listings on Amazon stand out using images.
Know Your Goal
Any element you put into your images must have a specific purpose, which contributes to your goal. In this case, the ultimate goal is to sell more products.
Suppose an element in an image does not directly contribute to your sales or conversion. In that case, it is, at best, taking up valuable real estate and at worst, hurting your conversion rate.
Example: Our goal for Gator Cable products was to clearly communicate the product's primary features within the hero shot. Within seconds, the buyer can understand that this cable is HDMI on both ends and compatible with an Xbox, UHD TV, and more.
The bright red coloring also helps distinguish it from other cable products, quickly standing out in the crowd.
The secret to this is understanding exactly what you want to show your customers. Naturally, it's all about the benefits and how the product can meet a potential buyer's needs. So before taking different image angles, identify their purpose first.
Include Packaging To Stand Out, but With Caution
Amazon's rules aim to minimize cluttered and spammy-looking results pages. If you keep that in mind, you can significantly add to the effectiveness of your all-important hero shot! Add product packaging and other graphics to your images only if it adds to the aesthetics of Amazon’s search results.
For example, pick a color that stands out from the major competition. If your competitors all use white or black, consider including a box with a more vibrant color in the hero image.
Key Takeaway
When creating your Amazon product listing, you want images that can answer all the questions that your consumers might have in mind. From understanding the essence of image size to optimizing for mobile devices and leveraging different angles, these hacks will help showcase your products in the best possible light, increasing sales and customer engagement.
If you want to learn how to optimize Amazon product listings without any hassle, Seller Interactive is the agency you are looking for. We offer Amazon optimization listing services that will help your business scale. Our full-service Amazon marketing services give you a competitive edge in today's ecommerce market. Book a free consultation and talk to one of our account managers today.
Keywords are indispensable on Amazon. Without these precious words and phrases, your customers will have difficulty finding your product listings. This is where search engine optimization (SEO) and Amazon keyword ranking come in.
Developing and executing effective SEO strategies is crucial to achieving a high ranking on the retail giant. This increases the likelihood of more people discovering and choosing you over your competitors. However, note that SEO methods encompass a broad range of approaches, and what you employ on Amazon differs from those used on other search engines like Google.
There are specific techniques to ensure you get the most out of keywords on your Amazon product listings. So let Seller Interactive give you some expert tips on how to rank up on the platform’s search results.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq-8vBWvZ0E
Place brand names last.
One of the reasons you need help ranking for a keyword may be because you're using a brand name at the beginning of the product title. It's time to switch things up and place it at the end of the title instead.
You may feel skeptical about this tip. After all, Amazon recommends putting the brand name on your product title before any other keywords. But the truth is this is not a violation of any guidelines on the platform.
When Amazon rolled out its new guidelines, they suggested starting the product listing title with the brand name (or anywhere applicable for some categories) to increase your keyword ranking status. But this may prove to be more disadvantageous for your brand. Why?
People rarely search for brand names when shopping online. And this also applies to Amazon.
When you put your brand's name first, you sacrifice your most precious keyword real estate. Remember that optimizing your product title involves putting the top-ranking keywords in it.
So instead of prioritizing your brand name, put your wealth of keyword ranking status in front. Then end your title with your brand name.
Worried that this will get you delisted? Relax. As we’ve mentioned, you will not be violating Amazon's guidelines. If you're gunning for brand recognition as part of your business strategy, there are better ways to create a branding strategy that works. Read on to know more!
Learn what your customers are searching for on Amazon.
Taking the time to learn what your customers are searching for on Amazon is crucial for sellers to effectively reach their target audience and optimize their product listings.
Potentially high-converting keywords match customers' product search queries on Amazon. That's why sellers must align their keyword strategies to match these search terms. Doing so increases the chances of their products appearing in relevant search results, improving visibility and attracting potential customers.
When sellers match multiple keywords with the ones their target customers use, it also significantly enhances their rankings. This is because Amazon's search algorithm indexes relevant keywords based on various factors, including keyword relevance and customer search behavior, to determine which products to display in search results.
This strategic approach to backend keywords and overall keyword optimization allows sellers to compete effectively for search volume and visibility, maximize exposure, and ultimately drive more traffic and sales to their Amazon listings. They can do so even without using PPC campaigns.
Search for more long-tail keywords.
Including long-tail keywords in product listings and descriptions greatly benefits Amazon ecommerce sellers. These keywords are specific and exact phrases that are more targeted and less competitive than shorter, generic ones.
Long-tail keywords are about specificity, indicating that customers know what they want to buy. Mining long-tail search terms help sellers increase their chance of attracting highly relevant and qualified traffic to their product listings and get better chances of gaining conversion, leading to better keyword ranking.
In fact, one of our esteemed experts unveils a compelling strategy utilized by some of the most successful brands on Amazon—a technique that doesn't rely solely on main keywords.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/qf2vRzNBAcs
Incorporating long-tail keywords can enhance a seller's visibility and competitiveness in the crowded Amazon marketplace. Generic keywords often have high competition, making it challenging for sellers to rank highly in search results. However, sellers can tap into niche markets and target an untapped audience by leveraging less saturated long-tail keywords. This could lead to higher sales and profitability on the platform.
Use Amazon keyword tracking tools.
Using a keyword rank tracking tool is crucial to improve your products' position in the highly competitive Amazon marketplace. It allows you to monitor the keyword performance of a given search term, enabling you to identify which keywords are working effectively and which ones may need adjustment or replacement.
An excellent Amazon keyword tracker shows you more than just keyword rankings. It can give you sales and revenue data, search volume, and degree of competition. It can even show you products you can sell using the keyword. These features help you make informed, data-based decisions.
Additionally, keyword rank trackers provide insights into your competitors' rankings. You can determine how many keywords your rivals dominate, allowing you to analyze their strategies and make informed adjustments to compete with them or carve your niche in.
Here are three popular tools you can use to track keywords that will help you in your journey to raise your product page rank in the Amazon marketplace:
Helium 10
Known for its comprehensive suite of Amazon seller tools, Helium 10 includes a powerful tracker because of its keyword research option. The tool also offers an extensive product research feature to help you find the right products to sell on Amazon.
Jungle Scout
Alongside its product research capabilities, Jungle Scout offers a keyword rank tracker at par with Helium10, allowing you to optimize your listings and outperform competitors.
AMZ Tracker
AMZ Tracker's keyword tracking feature offers real-time data on keyword rankings, enabling you to identify trends and optimize your product listings accordingly.
These tools offer valuable features to monitor keyword rankings, gain insights into competitor strategies, and optimize your product listings for better visibility and sales performance on Amazon.
Amazon Keyword Ranking Is Achieved Through Excellent SEO Practices
The tips above are only some of the best practices successful sellers use to rank keywords. If you want to go beyond ranking and improve conversion, you have to learn advanced SEO techniques. This will require a lot of skill, time, and effort to accomplish.
But fear not! You can always take the short and sure route by working with a team of experts from Seller Interactive. Learn more about the advantages of using the right SEO for boosting Amazon rankings, and take advantage of our free SEO consultation today.
Keeping your listings relevant is of the utmost priority when selling on Amazon. You want your listings to rank high on the search results and win the Buy Box. By continuously being relevant, your sales will steadily grow and your conversion rate will increase. To do this, the value created for the customers should be at the forefront of your goals when you optimize your Amazon product titles.
Sadly, most listings are not correctly optimized. More often than not, Amazon sellers focus on the product detail page instead of allocating enough time for each part of the listing. The Amazon product title should be given equal emphasis. Many businesses list their products without using the correct keywords to attract the most potential buyers and generate higher conversion rates.
If you want to understand how to optimize your Amazon product title,continue reading.
Understanding the Amazon Product Title
The Amazon product title is a critical but often overlooked part of product listings.
Product titles influence customers' willingness to click on your listings and check out the key product features for more information. An SEO-optimized title can drive customers to your listing, while an unstructured one can drive sales away from your business.
Using Amazon search engine optimization helps improve your Amazon product title. It can generate more leads and create product titles that will entice buyers to click on your listing.
Importance of SEO-Optimized Amazon Product Titles
You may ask why it is essential to optimize Amazon's product titles when you can simply create any title and post it on Amazon. Well, the answer to that is your Amazon product title can affect your buyers' interest in your product.
To expound more on the topic, below are the reasons why an optimized product title is essential.
Describes the Product
Customers are keen to get information quickly. They want to save time trying to figure out the product and prefer to know about it at a glance. By optimizing your product titles, customers can quickly find all the vital information describing your product.
Titles are the headlines of Amazon's search results—the first aspects a potential buyer sees among several that compete with their attention. So, your titles should help readers understand the product's features and benefits. Optimizing titles this way adds value to the customer's experience.
Helps in Ranking Higher
When optimizing your product title, the goal is for your listing to reach as many people as possible. Amazon will use your title to place your product in a specific category. If you want it to rank high, you must optimize it.
Furthermore, the keywords used in your product title play a part in wooing Amazon's algorithm in your favor. If you use relevant keywords that are precise for what you offer, customers will quickly see your product on Amazon's top page when they search specifically for something like it.
Let's say you are selling an insulated water bottle. Instead of a title that says, "Insulated Water Bottle," you can change it to "Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle With Spout Lid 18 oz Blush Colored."
The first one doesn’t provide details, while the other offers valuable information. By optimizing your product title, you attract buyers who are looking specifically for what you’re selling to click on your listing, thereby generating more leads and ranking higher on Amazon.
Increases Conversion Rate
By creating a descriptive and optimized product title, you earn more clicks that can turn into conversions. Your customers can easily find your listing, and you provide valuable information for them. In the example above, stating critical details about the product's design and features helps increase the product's selling points.
The more relevant leads you have, the bigger your chance for conversion. More conversions will also boost your ranking on the search results.
Gives Value to Your Customer
The majority of people today want information served in an instant. If something does not deliver within a few seconds, they skip it altogether. You want to save them from wasting their time and give information as quickly as possible.
What makes customers visit your store frequently? When they get what they want—fast. Efficient product titles play a part in drawing buyers in.
If an Amazon seller keeps optimizing product titles to their full potential, buyers—new and old—take notice, which builds loyalty to the brand and the store.
This is the beauty of Amazon title optimization: you make your products enticing, and by doing so, you create leads.
Creates Familiarity
When sellers habitually practice optimizing their listing’s titles on Amazon, it builds familiarity. The way they organize information becomes an identifying feature for both potential and existing customers and helps increase their familiarity with your products and your brand.
The habit of optimizing product titles for familiarity also works for Amazon’s A10 algorithm. Whether by using the same title convention or closely related keywords in the same product categories, you prompt the algorithm to read your product titles in a way that’s favorable to your business. The familiarity makes it more likely to bring the product into your customer’s visibility.
Attracts the Right Customers
As sellers, isn't this one of the main goals you have for your business? The practice of optimizing your Amazon listings aims to make it easy for the right customers to find and purchase your products.
In SEO, there's a concept called search intent. It means that whenever a potential buyer keys in a product query on the search bar, intention drives their choice of words. As a general rule, the more specific the keywords they use and the longer the phrases, the stronger their intent to purchase a product is.
Your job as an Amazon seller is to match your selection of keywords to the ones your target customers use. This way, when they type in words with the intention to buy in their minds, Amazon finds your product based on the relevant keywords you used and puts it in front of the customer.
Remember that optimizing your titles helps boost your conversion rate, decreases cart abandonment rates, and generates more sales. That's because you attract the buyers that want or need your product.
Defining an Amazon Product Title
Before you go on a deep dive with Amazon optimization, ensure you know what you're optimizing. Sellers think of various ways to attract customers to their listings. One of those ways includes optimizing your product titles; more often than not, titles are the first thing buyers look at when they search for items on Amazon.
Writing your product titles definitely plays an essential role in reaching out to customers. When you correctly compose your product titles, you'll appeal to more customers quickly.
Crucial Pieces of an Amazon Product Title
Before you start creating your product titles, take note of Amazon's requirements.
The parts of a product title are the following:
Brand Name
Quantity
Color
Size
Material/Key Feature
These five elements must be indicated on the product title to help customers understand your listing—they can know what you offer with a quick scan. When creating the product title, it is best to follow the format of starting with the brand name and ending with the product features.
The other requirements are:
Capitalize the first letter of each word.
Don't use ampersands unless it is part of a brand name.
Titles must not exceed 200 characters, including spaces.
Avoid using subjective phrases such as "100% quality guaranteed".
Numbers should be in numeral form.
Spell out the unit of measure, such as inch and pound.
All product titles must comply with the following requirements to avoid being flagged by Amazon.
Tips To Optimize Your Amazon Product Title
Now that you know the principles behind crafting an optimized Amazon product title, let's move on to the practical steps of making it happen.
Find the Best Keywords
Search engines thrive on keywords, and Amazon is no different. The largest ecommerce site has its unique algorithm to help a product listing rank high on the search results. Although there are other factors for a listing to rank high—such as price, quality, history, and selection—the product title's keywords make a significant impact.
You might think of using as many keywords as possible to optimize your title, but this practice can harm your ranking. Instead of stuffing your product title with many words, spend time conducting thorough keyword research that targets your buyers.
Keyword research is how you find relevant keywords that you can use for your product title. Research will give you a list of keywords, their search volume, trends, cost-per-click, and competition. From the information provided, you can choose the best keywords for your product.
To ensure you choose the correct keyword that will work best for your product, use Amazon's predictive search to see common keywords used by customers. Once you pick out your keywords, use only the best for your product title.
Integrating keywords in your product title will help your listing appear in the relevant search results when customers search for those keywords. Combine this with an expert keyword strategy and you’re on your way to increase your views and leads.
Use Clear and Descriptive Words
We've mentioned earlier that using clear and descriptive words will help customers quickly gain information about a product. It is the first thing they will see in the search results. Hence, using descriptive words will attract those leads to your listing.
So what kind of words should you include in your title?
Generally, you will want to include your brand name, color, size, features, and material. Each product category has its formula for creating product titles.
For example, electronics have a Brand + Model + Product Type + Color formula. The result will be something like KitchenAid KSM150PSER Artisan 5-Quart Mixer, Empire Red.
So, search up similar products to yours and see how the top products in your category organize their titles. You don't have to stick with Amazon's formula, but it can help if you're a beginner and don’t know where to start.
Value How Customers Experience Your Product Listings
When creating your Amazon product title, you always have to consider your audience and what value they will receive. These people are the ones who will purchase and benefit from your product, so put yourself in their shoes.
What are the things they need to know? What do you think they will get from your listing? What are they trying to find?
It's easy to think from a marketer's perspective, but you should also consider the buyer's perspective. It's always good to remember that from the moment you log in, your Amazon Seller Central account is your store, and the listings are your virtual products. You want to give customers as much detail as possible to give them a vicarious experience of what your products offer.
Ultimately, buyers need to be convinced of the experience while looking through your listings before they buy the product. They must fall into the idea of having the item before they decide to hold it in their hands. You make this happen by giving them a listing that they can experience and quenches their satisfaction.
When you compose your titles, think about what customers want to find when they search for keywords. What can you put in the title that provides information about your products? Does the existing title give your customers enough information?
Empathy is key here. Ask yourself these questions: what are they looking for when searching this particular keyword? What information will make them choose my product? What would make the product listing easier to view? Think about what they experience when they search for your product.
Avoid Using Irrelevant Words
We mentioned earlier that you should avoid keyword stuffing because it will affect your listing. This also goes when adding descriptive words to your product titles.
Most customers want to get information about a certain product as soon as possible. They conduct their own research to see if they will benefit from the items that they are looking at. Now, sellers need to know that being informative is key to their business. However, adding too much will drive customers away.
Avoid using irrelevant words. For example, you don't have to place the product's color if you offer various shades of it. Don't use words that are subjective or aren't true. For example, you are not allowed to use "Bestseller" or "Guaranteed Effective."
Avoid using promotions in your titles, which may prevent your listings from ranking on Amazon search results. Plus, some promotions are irrelevant to the products that you have. It may mislead your customers and result in a loss of traffic to your product listings. Lastly, stop with the fluff. You have a 200-character limit for the product title, so focus on keeping them simple, straightforward, and informational.
Follow Amazon's Rules
Amazon has its rules and requirements for creating a product title. You should review these before you post to help you avoid encountering problems.
If you want a more comprehensive guideline for product listings and search engine optimization in the Amazon marketplace, you can check out our guide here.
Samples of Winning Amazon Product Titles
Berry Premium 8 Piece Towel Set (Light gray); 2 Bath towels, 2 Hand towels, and four washcloths - Cotton towels
Format: Brand Name + Title + Color + Material
The product title follows the format of starting with the brand name, the title, color, and material. The title specifies it’s a bundle of towels consisting of bath towels, hand towels, and washcloths. The color is indicated because it has four other colors available. The fabric is also mentioned for those who prefer cotton towels.
When a user searches for a towel set, they will quickly know what they will receive when they purchase this one.
Format: Brand Name + Size + Product Type + Metal + Keyword
Online shoppers can't see the actual product; hence, being as descriptive as possible is essential. The product title specifies the metal, size, and usage of the product. It also uses the keyword “premium fashion jewelry”.
Barako Portable Folding Wine and Champagne Picnic Table for Wine Lovers, Mahogany, 30 x 50 inches
Format: Brand Name + Keywords + Target Audience + Material + Size
For this example, tons of adjectives indicate that the table is a portable folding table. It is suitable for wine, champagne, or a picnic. Customers will truly understand the value they will receive with only one look at the Amazon product title.
Kind Healthy Grains Granola Bar Clusters, Oats and Honey with Toasted Coconut, 11 Ounce Bags, Organic
Format: Brand Name + Keywords + Flavor + Weight + Type
The product title is properly optimized, and it provides useful information about the product without going overboard. Customers who love granola bar clusters can easily gather information about the product, as it details the flavor and weight.
Using Amazon's format, the product title describes the DVD player's model, the product type, and the color. This will help buyers of the DVD player pick the brand, color, and model they wish to buy.
Key Takeaway
Amazon is a great platform to sell your products on and make it big. Millions of customers use this platform, which means a ton of competition as well, so grabbing every opportunity is a must. One of the keys to increasing your leads and conversion rate is to create winning Amazon product titles.
Optimizing your product titles may take some practice at first, but the right titles will give you the results you want. If you’re still wondering how to optimize your Amazon listings or how to improve your listings on Amazon, we at Seller Interactive offer Amazon optimization services. Contact us and partner with our experienced team today.
Curious about how to win a Buy Box on Amazon? Amazon has become a household name in online retail in the past few decades. With the potential to reach a staggering $8.1 trillion by 2026, it’s no surprise that retail business owners are racking their brains, looking for a way to start selling on Amazon.
Given the fierce marketplace competition, Amazon sellers can prove their value to their customers by maintaining a healthy seller account, optimizing product pages, nailing SEO, and more. But one of the most highly sought-after strategies is securing the Buy Box spot.
Buy Box is a reputable placement on the Amazon product detail page that significantly impacts your sales. Sellers desire to win this as online shoppers can make instant purchases with just one click.
We’ll share everything you need about this feature, including how to quickly increase your chances of grabbing this special spot.
What Is the Buy Box?
When buyers visit an Amazon product listing, they are greeted with a comprehensive page filled with valuable information.
They will find a collection of product images on the left side of the listing. It provides a visual representation of the item.
In the middle section, the listing showcases important details such as the product title, average star rating, available variants, and bullet point descriptions. It offers a detailed product overview for potential buyers.
You'll find the Buy Box on the far right side of the listing.
This widget allows shoppers to quickly purchase products using the “Add to Cart” button. It will enable them to look at the product, decide, and purchase in two or three clicks. Buy Box is not tied directly to the listing itself. It functions as a distinct feature that highlights a particular seller’s offer.
What You Still Don’t Know About Buy Box
In the context of Amazon selling, Buy Box is not only a simple section of the product detail page; it’s a competitive arena that requires sellers to strive continuously for excellence.
They must comply with Amazon’s stringent criteria and meet specific performance standards to improve their chances of winning the Buy Box. To give you a starting point, here are some aspects of the Buy Box that you may still be unfamiliar with:
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Rotating Buy Box Ownership The ownership of the Buy Box is not static. It can change frequently based on the Amazon Buy Box algorithm and the performance of competing sellers. It only means one thing: even if a seller wins the Buy Box at a certain point, they must maintain high standards to retain it.
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Performance-Based Criteria Winning the Buy Box is not solely based on offering the lowest landed price. It is important, but Amazon also considers factors such as seller metrics (e.g., order defect rate, on-time delivery, customer response time, fulfillment method, and product availability.)
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Shared Buy Box Many sellers may sometimes share the Buy Box for the same product. This typically occurs when they have similar offers and meet the required criteria. Given this, the Buy Box rotates between these sellers, allowing each to be featured.
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Buy Box Percentage It refers to the share of time your offer is displayed in the Buy Box compared to other sellers competing for the same product. It indicates how often your offer is featured as the default choice for shoppers. A higher Buy Box percentage means you can generate sales more efficiently.
As an Amazon seller, you must prioritize these areas to maximize your potential to become a Buy Box winner.
What Happens if You Win a Buy Box on Amazon?
Winning the Buy Box on Amazon comes with several significant benefits for sellers. Here’s an overview of what happens when you win the Buy Box:
Increased Sales Opportunities: With multiple sellers offering various deals for most products, the seller who happens to be featured in the Buy Box will automatically win that sale when shoppers click on a particular product.
Ability to Create Amazon PPC Ads: If you own the Buy Box, you can create Amazon PPC (pay-per-click) ads. It’s an advertising technique where sellers bid on certain keywords or create sponsored ads to promote their brand effectively.
Meet Mobile Shopping Demands: Most of your customers are mobile phone users. Since it can’t fit much information, they scroll down often and simply choose the seller with the Buy Box eligibility.
How Do I Become Buy Box Eligible?
Unfortunately, not all sellers are qualified to become a Buy Box winner. But don’t despair! There are steps you can take to improve the odds. Here's what you can do:
Get a Professional Seller Account
Create an Amazon Seller Central account and opt for a Professional selling plan. It will cost you $39.99 a month, which is not a problem if you intend to use Amazon as one of your major selling platforms. This is essential to qualify for a share of the Buy Box.
Use Fulfillment by Amazon
Sellers that choose Fulfillment by Amazon for their products are instantly eligible for the Buy Box. FBA sellers have been found to win a share of the desired spot at a much higher rate.
But don’t fret; you can still win the Buy Box, particularly if you participate in the Seller Fulfilled Prime (SFP) program. It allows qualified sellers to fulfill Prime orders directly from their warehouses or fulfillment centers while maintaining the Prime badge on their listings.
Keep the Order Volume High
A high sales volume on Amazon indicates your ability to manage inventory and fulfill customer orders effectively. It demonstrates to buyers that you can meet their demands and satisfy their purchase needs. It also builds customer trust, suggesting that numerous buyers have already trusted your products and services.
💡 However, sales volume will be only helpful if you manage your seller account health. Let’s talk more about that below.
Maintain Your Account Health
Selling many products is useless if your account isn't healthy. You must consider three key factors that can significantly impact your Buy Box eligible status. These are:
Order Defect Rate: Considers customer feedback, returns, and other factors contributing to a negative buying experience.
Cancellation rate: Measures the percentage of orders the seller cancels before shipment.
Late shipment rate: Calculates the percentage of orders shipped after the expected ship date.
How Do I Win the Buy Box Consistently?
Amazon is pretty quiet about how sellers can win a share of the Buy Box. Luckily, any Amazon marketing agency can spill the secrets—and it involves several factors.
Win the Buy Box consistently with these tips:
Sell “New Condition” Products
It’s rare for a seller who sells “used” products to win the Buy Box. It would help if you focused on selling new products for a better chance.
Be a Prime Seller
Non-Prime sellers can win the Buy Box, but Amazon prioritizes sellers who can cater to their vast Prime member base. This preference is unsurprising, considering Amazon’s commitment to building a customer-centric environment.
Offer a Competitive Price
Competitive pricing means analyzing the market and adjusting your prices accordingly. While a lower price can translate to happier customers, engaging in price wars may not be sustainable or profitable in the long run.
Focus On Shipping Performance
Customer values reliable and fast shipping time. Aim to offer expedited shipping options and exceed their expected delivery times. Luckily, you can now rely on the Amazon FBA program.
Have Enough to Sell
Amazon must ensure you have the inventory to satisfy its customers' demands. If you're low on stock, it can negatively affect your chance of securing the spot.
Maintain Good Seller Feedback
Good customer feedback usually decides the winner, especially when everyone’s on the same level. You must answer queries within 24 hours, maintain product quality, deliver on time, and promptly address complaints. Keep Amazon’s customers happy, and you’re well on owning the Buy Box.
Is There an Amazon Consultant Near Me Who Can Help?
Winning the Buy Box is a sure sign of success on Amazon. Follow these simple tips, and you'll have a higher chance of getting more sales through an effective Buy Box strategy. If you need some advice from Amazon consulting experts about your sales strategy, Seller Interactive can help! Contactusto get started.
It's 2023, a new year for new trends in Amazon's digital marketing efforts. Many sellers and marketers are now scrambling to set their goals, optimize their listings, and brainstorm new strategies for their stores. The marketing strategy of Amazon's marketplace is indeed dynamic and constantly geared toward customer satisfaction.
There are so many details required to create an effective Amazon marketing strategy. That is why feeling overwhelmed at first is expected. Nonetheless, no matter how challenging implementing digital marketing strategies are, it's not impossible to make it work. So, sellers, take notes!
We'll give you a complete guide to help you maximize digital marketing strategies to propel your Amazon business this 2023.
Amazon's Marketing Strategy
The online marketing strategies that Amazon implemented over the years helped them reach a revenue of $127.38 billion in the first quarter of 2023. As a seller, you may use one of the techniques to build your own Amazon business.
Search Engine Optimization
Rankings on Amazon will not be possible without optimization. At the heart of optimization is SEO. It plays an integral role in making product listings accessible and visible to browsers.
An excellent optimizing strategy can land any listing at the top of the results, provided the relevant keywords browsers use during the search match those found in the content. Find out how SEO impacts rankings on Amazon by reviewing these important pointers.
A product listing's conversion rate corresponds with its ranking. Higher page rankings mean higher conversion rates, which translates to more sales.
If you want to outrank other sellers on Amazon, you better employ a highly competent SEO strategy.
When it comes to ranking, no seller will want to settle for any rank lower than 2. A page 1 ranking is always ideal. However, getting a page 3 ranking (or lower) means that the product will hardly sell at all.
When more people are viewing your pages, it means that they appear in search results often. A strong online presence is indicated by having more visible pages to potential customers.
You will not be able to create an effective Amazon marketing strategy in 2023 without primary keywords. To help you determine the best keywords, a good starting point is to put yourself in your prospective customer's shoes. Research consumer behavior and customer interest to pinpoint precisely the words they type during their searches.
Search Engine Marketing Through PPC
Studies have shown that 9 out of 10 online shoppers search on Amazon daily. This fact explains why sellers like you will benefit much from taking advantage of Amazon advertising solutions.
PPC plays a critical role in marketing strategies. Therefore, regardless of your previous digital marketing program, you must include PPC to maximize your campaign's advantages.
Here are the different Amazon PPC ads:
Sponsored Products: The sponsored product ads are positioned on the first page of search results and product pages. Therefore, they are immediately visible to browsers. You can take advantage of this solution if you are a professional seller, online bookstore vendor, or a Kindle Direct Publishing author.
Advantages: The ads connect with the target audience directly. They will see them every time they search for similar products. Once they click on your ad, they will be directed to your page immediately.
Sponsored Brands: Advertising on Amazon via Sponsored Brands or headline search ads boost brand awareness. It is visible in search results. It lets you creatively craft your copy to convey a strong message depicting the image you want for your brand. You can take advantage of the benefits of this solution if you are an Amazon seller subscribed to Brand Registry, vendor, book vendor, and agency.
Advantages: People browsing through Amazon for something to buy will see your ad at the top of the page just below the header. This strategic placement catches attention, automatically making your brand known to browsers. Upon clicking your ad, they will be directed to your page right away.
With this solution, browsers can click on the logo or a product image. Customers who click on the logo will be taken to a store or a custom landing page. If they click on the product, they will be directed to the product page.
Sponsored Display: Amazon recently introduced this new advertising option for Amazon sellers enrolled in the brand registry. To qualify, you must ensure that the products fall under one or more allowed product categories while complying with the restrictions. Vendors and agencies with clients who are professional sellers on Amazon can take advantage of it too.
Advantages: Amazon will determine the best audience for your products based on their activities on the platform. It works for both large and small businesses. It is advantageous, even if you have limited resources. It allows you to meet various marketing goals, such as building brand awareness, increasing sales, attracting customers, and solidifying your brand identity.
Stores: Creating a store can be done without advertising on Amazon. Like the other paid solutions, this option is available to sellers with brand-registered products, vendors, and agencies.
Advantages: Stores provides a multi-page store that lets you advertise your product for free. It is designed to familiarize browsers with your brand, allowing them to access your product portfolio. Setting up a store does not necessitate coding expertise. Moreover, you can use its insights as a vital reference for optimizing your ads.
Social Media Marketing
Social media marketing requires you to set up your brand page on popular social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Twitter. Take note that each platform has its target audience. This fact explains why you should set up a page for each.
Doing so expands your market reach further, allowing you to get your products in front of tens of thousands of potential buyers. It likewise gives you the privilege to tailor your audience in multiple demographics to drive sales and more customers to your business.
Follow Amazon's example by setting up social media accounts where you can advertise your Amazon wholesale business. It is an online marketing strategy for Amazon that takes advantage of off-site advertising to drive traffic and sales. For example, you can create an Instagram account dedicated to your products and add a link in the bio that will lead customers to your product listings on Amazon.
Email Marketing Campaigns
Email marketing involves sending emails to potential buyers and new customers. When done right, it is an effective strategy for developing a good business relationship with your target market. It can convince prospects, turning them into customers. Also, it can help your business's brand recognition and earn the patronage and trust of one-time buyers, transforming them into loyal customers who make repeat purchases.
You can utilize automated email programs for your email marketing. You can use them for informing your customers about new products, sending discounts to develop customer loyalty, or even using them for surveys to know your customer pain points so you can give them a positive customer experience.
Product Listing Optimization
Optimizing your product listings on Amazon is quite a challenge, given its dense competition. But by practicing proper methods focused on your buyers' needs, you can sell products while building a solid customer base.
Here are the elements of the page that you should optimize to capture your intended audience.
Product Title
The product title introduces your product to Amazon browsers. For titles, keeping it short works best. So, in creating the title, see that you limit it to no more than 200 characters (including spaces). Include the product name, brand name, distinctive features (size, color, the material used, etc.), and one or two benefits relevant to your customers' needs and experience.
With regards to placing an Amazon brand name, you put your brand at an advantage if you put it at the end of the title instead of the beginning.
Product Shots
Your product shots are high-quality images that showcase your product's quality and exceptional features. Captivating hero shots will help your product stand out, distinguishing your brand from your competitors.
Amazon does not allow any design enhancements and background color aside from white. You can make your images pop through these creative tactics:
Take photos from all angles.
Demonstrate the benefits of your product by taking lifestyle shots of real models using it.
If you have content from real users or satisfied customers, feel free to include it. To further emphasize it, provide an appropriate note or caption.
Highlight your product's edge over competitors by featuring organized and understandable charts, lists, or comparison diagrams.
The bulleted product key features provide potential customers with a more detailed explanation of your product's stellar qualities and advantages. Three to four sentences comprise each bullet description, with the main points written at the beginning in all caps.
The style of writing the copy is similar to that of advertisements. Each bullet copy needs to be concise and punchy. Use the space strategically by writing clear yet creative descriptions. Avoid stating obvious information in your images and reiterating the information used in the title.
Customers who take the time to read yourproduct description are on the verge of purchasing your product. They want more information and clarification. Hence, the description should elaborate on the information shared in the bulleted features.
You can discuss secondary benefits or features not stated in the bulleted copy. You can add more images and enumerate qualities that distinguish your product from the competition.
Enhanced brand content or A+ content allows you to elaborate further on your product description while providing more space for images and a creative layout. You can choose from pre-built templates designed to strategically house additional features such as tables, banners, interactive copy or pictures, and more.
Key Takeaways
Now that there's no stone left unturned when it comes to various online marketing strategies, you can start building a path to your company's success. The different marketing strategies will help your business grow in no time.
Whether you choose paid advertising, product display ads, Google ads, product promotion, or social media channels to create brand awareness and increase sales, one thing is for sure; it will benefit your business and make you into a customer-centric company. Have you decided on which online marketing strategy to try for your Amazon business? Let Seller Interactive help you! We have a team of industry experts who know how to jumpstart your Amazon store’s success. Book a call with us today!
The popularity of ecommerce and the continued rise of the Amazon marketplace has brought many opportunities for businesses worldwide. One of these is the growing trend of bulk selling, making many business owners wonder how to sell wholesale on Amazon.
Since Amazon sales continue to follow an ascending trend, the wholesale business has also become a profitable opportunity. It paves a way for sellers to get the most out of the ecommerce world. However, becoming a successful Amazon wholesale seller does not simply happen overnight.
Do you wonder how Amazon's wholesale business works? Read on, and you'll learn the intricate procedures inside.
How a Wholesale Business Works on Amazon
To begin, sellers must first have a general idea about wholesaling. Wholesaling is the process of directly purchasing bulk products from a manufacturer or a company to get a discounted retail price.
If you are just about to sell wholesale on Amazon or are simply looking for new ways to earn more, here's how the wholesale model works on Amazon.
Start with setting up your seller account.
Search for products that are in high demand.
Source the product directly from its manufacturer.
Create an optimized listing to rank against your competitors.
Launch and promote the product.
Manage and grow your business.
Wholesale Business License
An Amazon wholesale business license is the same as the regular business license you need to sell offline and online. Check the requirements in your locality, but generally offices just look for a valid tax ID and a business bank account registered in the company's name. Once approved, businesses can purchase products in bulk and begin selling in the Amazon marketplace, giving them the ability to resell the items at a profit.
Via Amazon wholesale, businesses can take advantage of Amazon's competitive pricing and fast shipping times. Amazon also offers tools and resources to help businesses manage their inventory, track their sales, and optimize their pricing strategies. Selling on Amazon wholesale is a great way for small businesses to grow their operations without the expense of hiring employees or investing in new infrastructure.
Inventory Management and Fulfillment
You still need to have inventory and think of order fulfillment when selling wholesale on Amazon. You'll face two options: Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) and Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM). These two programs are vital when you start your business on Amazon and start fulfilling orders.
Choosing Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) means you ship your bulk purchases directly to Amazon's fulfillment centers. Then, they will be in charge of storing and safekeeping the products. It's a lot more convenient, especially if you run a small business, because Amazon will process the storing, packing, and shipping on your behalf. This makes the fees for Amazon FBA wholesale suppliers lower than shipping the items to your customers yourself.
On the other hand, Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM) is when sellers handle storage, pick-ups, and packaging. Sellers also manage the shipping process, so your customers get their orders on time. This is the way to go if you want to take control of your inventory, costs, and branding. Additionally, FBM can help sellers avoid long-term storage fees and can expedite the fulfillment process for customers.
But for small businesses, FBA is still the better option because it offers reliable, fast, and efficient services without the hassle of personally doing everything. As a bonus, FBA means that your products will be eligible for free shipping and other benefits that help boost sales.
4 Benefits of Selling Wholesale on Amazon
Now that you know the essential details about wholesale selling on Amazon, it's time to talk about the benefits of the business model. If you are still deciding if wholesale selling is for you, these benefits can give you a push. But, if you've already begun following a wholesale business model, you can expect to reap these benefits.
Product Demand
One of the benefits of an Amazon wholesale business is the potential for high product demand. Amazon is the largest online selling platform worldwide, making it perfect for shoppers looking for convenience in purchasing the products they need. With wholesale selling, businesses can tap into this demand by providing a large volume of products at competitive prices.
Additionally, Amazon's search algorithms can help boost a product's visibility and increase its sales potential. This can lead to increased profitability and business growth, as well as the potential to expand into new markets.
Profitability
The Amazon wholesale business is a good way to get your business up and running. Compared with private labels, you do not need to do a lot of work with product research and development. Products come to you ready-made, which saves time, allowing you to focus on other essential tasks in your business operations.
One of the key benefits of selling wholesale on Amazon is the potential for increased profitability. By purchasing items in bulk at a discounted price, wholesalers can often achieve higher profit margins than they would with individual pieces.
Additionally, Amazon's vast customer base and efficient shipping and fulfillment processes can help wholesalers scale their businesses and increase sales volume. With Amazon's competitive fee structure and access to tools such as Amazon Business, wholesalers can take advantage of lower costs and streamlined operations to increase profitability.
Efficiency in Inventory
Efficiency in inventory management is a significant benefit of selling wholesale on Amazon. With Amazon's advanced inventory management system, sellers can easily keep track of their inventory levels, prevent being out of stock, and avoid overstocking.
By utilizing FBA, sellers can also reduce their fulfillment times and expenses, as Amazon takes care of storing, packing, and shipping the products. FBA allows for quicker turnaround times, which means more sales can be made, and businesses can thrive.
Time-Friendly
FBA and wholesale selling are a match made in heaven, as Amazon will take care of storing and shipping all your products to customers. With an extensive customer base on Amazon, you have the opportunity to tap into a vast market without worrying about the logistics of shipping.
Your operations will be streamlined from production to fulfillment. As a seller, you can now efficiently manage your time. You can now focus on product research and development, finding the best wholesale suppliers, marketing, customer service, and even developing your own products without worrying about the hassle of managing inventory.
3 Challenges You Will Face When Selling Wholesale on Amazon
Along with the benefits of wholesaling, you also need to be wary about the challenges. Knowing the hurdles you will face ahead of time will allow you to prepare in case you encounter them. You will also be able to proactively shy away from them by creating foolproof wholesale business models. Let's explore these challenges.
Product Research and Development
One of the biggest challenges faced by Amazon wholesale sellers is product research and development. You can rarely change or develop what your wholesale supplier is providing. There are also so many private label sellers and wholesale sellers on the platform making it difficult to stand out from the competition. As a result, it becomes even more difficult to offer unique wholesale products that customers will want to buy.
To stand out requires a thorough understanding of your target market and their needs, as well as extensive research into the latest trends and innovations when it comes to wholesale goods. Additionally, developing new products requires careful planning, testing, and investment, which can be a daunting task for small- and medium-sized wholesalers.
However, staying up-to-date on market trends and investing in product development are still worth it. Through these, sellers can differentiate themselves from competitors and attract loyal customers on Amazon.
Competition Among Other Sellers
Competition among Amazon wholesale sellers is another big challenge you'll face. The competition is not limited to your fellow wholesale sellers but also with established brands, private label products, and branded products.
With a large number of Amazon sellers selling products that are almost identical, it can be challenging to stand out in the market. But with a solid wholesale strategy, nothing is impossible.
Here are some tips for your Amazon wholesale business to succeed and differentiate itself from the competition:
Sell wholesale products that are of high-quality.
Provide excellent customer service.
Have competitive pricing and offers.
Track market trends and make timely adjustments.
Invest in marketing and advertising to reach your target audience.
Up-Front Wholesale Cost
As a wholesale seller, you need to invest a substantial amount of capital to purchase products in bulk from wholesale suppliers or manufacturers before you can list them for sale on the platform. The upfront cost can be a hurdle for small or new businesses with limited financial resources.
It requires careful planning of a wholesale strategy and financial management to ensure that the investment aligns with the anticipated demand and sales volume. Overcoming this challenge and sustaining a successful wholesale business on Amazon involves conducting thorough market research, analyzing profit margins, and establishing effective cash flow management strategies.
3 Tips on How to Sell Wholesale On Amazon
You are now armed with benefits and challenges knowledge when selling wholesale on Amazon. At this point, we are going to answer the lingering question of how to sell wholesale on Amazon. Having a wholesale business is complicated, but take note of these tips to make the journey easier.
Tip#1: Sell Products Customers Will Patronize
The entire wholesaling business is about riding on the success of other wholesale products and/or established brands' products. With this, resell existing branded products and wholesale products with high-demand among Amazon customers.
Research for wholesale products with minimum order quantities that are on par or beyond your sales goals per day. Ensure that there's sufficient customer demand, and establish reasonable pricing to earn profits. Find wholesale suppliers that are legitimate to ensure your operations are smooth because you will be replenishing your inventory as needed.
Tip #2: Calculate Your Estimated Profit
It's best to evaluate the online sales and profitability of the wholesale products you're planning to sell before ordering from a supplier and officially launching online.
Make sure that the item you want is within 2% of the Buy Box price. You'll find the widget on the right side of the Amazon product page where prices are listed. Next to it is a golden button that says “Add to Cart”.
Utilize Amazon's FBA calculator to know the product's fees. You need to enter the Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN) of the product into the calculator, enter the data, and review it.
Determine your profitability by deducting Amazon's fees and the product cost from the sales price.
Understand your turnover rate. You can avoid high Amazon storage costs by only stocking at least 2–3 months' worth of sales.
Tip #3: Look For Guaranteed Suppliers
Now that you have a product idea, find a legal business entity to be your wholesale supplier. Keep in mind that you're wholesaling their products, so you are offering to promote their brand and increase their sales too.
Getting private label products that aren't on Amazon yet is an opportunity for your business because you're helping the suppliers gain more customers on a different platform. Since these suppliers are big companies that sell branded products with patents, global marketing standards, and more, you add value to their brand.
Sell Wholesale With Seller Interactive
It's normal to get confused and feel overwhelmed with all the information mentioned above, especially if you're just starting with wholesale on Amazon. Sure, you'll face a number of challenges, but that's perfectly fine. That's how you grow not only as a seller, but even as a person. If you're finally ready to start selling wholesale on Amazon, get the help of Amazon specialists at Seller Interactive to streamline your wholesaling business.
Leave the worries to us. We'll handle everything, from storage and fulfillment, to logistics. We'll manage your Amazon wholesale account or act as a wholesale partner while planning and executing the best marketing strategies to help boost your business.
If there's anything that any seller doesn't want to go through, it's needing to get their Amazon suspended account reinstated. If you're already in this position, it only means that you cannot access your account due to the suspension. As a seller, you must be alarmed by this. Since your account is rendered inactive, it means that you won't be able to be on top of sales on Amazon.
Amazon Suspension Help: How You Can Get Your Account Reinstated
One of the most commonly asked questions by sellers who have encountered the same situation is how to get their Amazon suspended account reinstated. There are a lot of things that you first have to prepare before you write your Amazon seller suspension appeal letter. With that, here are the things that you need to do to get your account reinstated.
1. Understand why your account was suspended
The first thing that you should do is to understand why your seller account got suspended. There are a lot of reasons why an account gets suspended. These reasons are why you should thoroughly understand what you have possibly done wrong.
Most sellers don't mind conducting a thorough investigation. These sellers proceed to work on their Amazon seller suspension appeal letters as soon as they learn that their accounts are suspended. What they don't know is that knowing the underlying reasons for suspension will help them in crafting their letters.
So if you have encountered an Amazon seller account suspension, you must first try to understand what happened. You won't really have a hard time, and it shouldn't take you a full day to learn about what has happened.
When Amazon sends you a suspension letter, you will see the reasons why they have suspended your account. However, you do have to investigate these claims and see if they got it right. Here are the possible reasons why an account may get suspended.
You're selling items that are prohibited from being sold on the platform.
The moment you start selling on Amazon, you agree to the company's terms and conditions. This includes agreeing to what kind of products you can sell on the platform. There are a lot of items on the list of restricted products, but here are the most common ones:
Alcohol
Animals and animal-related products
Dietary supplements
Drugs and drug paraphernalia
Explosives, weapons, and other related items
Lock picks and devices that can be used for theft
Pesticides and pesticide-related devices
Plant and seed products
You might also want to check the full list of restricted products. This is so you will know if what you are selling can be sold on the platform. However, if you're already selling these products, then this might be one of the reasons why your account got suspended.
You're selling counterfeit items.
Aside from prohibited items, Amazon is serious in dealing with counterfeit items, as well. This means that even if you're not selling restricted items, as long as your products were tagged and reported as counterfeit, it can be a reason why you got the suspension.
Usually, the item categories that have the most counterfeit sellers would be movies, DVDs, beauty products, and electronics, among many others. Counterfeit items are fake or imitation pieces of any product. This is also one of the reasons why most sellers get account suspensions, but they fully insist that they haven't done anything wrong.
Just make sure that you check with your manufacturers or wherever you're sourcing your inventory. Since Amazon is pretty strict on this rule, you have to make sure that you have a trusted source for your products, as it might be a reason for your possible account suspension.
You've received a lot of negative feedback.
Customer obsession is one of the pillars of Amazon's values. This means that the company is pro-customers over anything else. They would often go through lengths like extending their returns policy to please their customers.
It's no surprise that Amazon would take negative feedback from their customers very seriously. Although sellers would get negative feedback on their products, too many negative reviews will grab Amazon's attention and flag your account for suspension.
You have duplicate accounts.
Since Amazon is already a big marketplace with hundreds of thousands of sellers already on it, the last thing that the company would want to deal with are sellers with duplicate accounts. Basically, this means that you cannot create duplicate accounts.
If you have two accounts for two separate businesses, you will be served a suspension notice. Amazon takes serious measures to make sure that there is just one account for every seller. This includes making sure that the accounts weren't made or accessed from the same IP address, or the billing details such as the physical address and bank accounts aren't the same for one account and another.
Since Amazon is also pretty strict about seller accounts being accessed through one IP address, it also means that any member of your household, as long as you're accessing the internet through the same wireless connection, can be flagged as a second account.
So even if you did not necessarily make two Amazon seller accounts, there might be some factors that can affect your suspension.
Opening a new account after yours gets suspended.
There are some sellers who wouldn't want to go through the trouble of making an Amazon seller suspension appeal letter. However, opening a new account after getting your seller account suspended will also be a reason for your suspension once again.
There might be some doubt on your part on how Amazon is going to know that you're the same seller. You might have already tried it, but it's a guarantee that you will not succeed in selling from your new account. Amazon will always find a way to suspend your account.
2. Don't let emotions get in the way.
When your account gets suspended, it's understandable to feel a lot of emotions. You might feel angry, frustrated, and sad, among other negative feelings. It's completely normal to have these feelings,.especially if Amazon is your primary source of income.
However, when writing your Amazon seller suspension appeal letter, it's not recommended that you involve much of your feelings. While it is understandable to some extent, you also have to take a professional approach in dealing with these situations.
Emotions won't help in getting your Amazon suspended account reinstated. So before writing your letter, make sure that you've fully set aside these initial reactions. It's also best that you work with an agency or someone who's had experience in writing suspension account appeal letters. This way, you're sure that you've fully detached yourself from what you're going to write.
3. Write your appeal letter.
It's not possible to get your Amazon suspended account reinstated without your appeal letter. So if there's a backbone to your appeal, this will be your letter. That's why you definitely have to focus on making sure that you've written your appeal properly.
When writing your letter, it's important that you include all the data that you've gathered from your own investigation. There might be some instances wherein you can point out that they have accused you of something that you didn't do. However, you should approach this in a way that sounds like you're laying down facts instead of accusing Amazon that they've done you wrong.
Present everything that you've gathered that will help in getting your account reinstated. Here are the other things that you should remember when writing your letter.
Don't be too defensive. Back your claims up with facts instead.
Don't criticize Amazon and their process. They're also just doing their job in making sure that everyone is following their rules.
Do take responsibility for what has happened. You can also go and try to explain your side.
Do indicate the things you're planning to do to resolve the problem and how you plan to avoid it from happening moving forwards. It's your way of showing that you're keen on making things right and are committed to adhering to Amazon's rules.
How to Open an Amazon Account After Suspension
You can only open it again after having your Amazon suspended account reinstated. Basically, the way for you to do it is to submit your appeal letter. When you're in the process of trying to get your account reinstated, you have to wait for a certain amount of time before you get your results. Here's a quick rundown of what you will have to go through.
17-day deadline
You have 17 days after receiving the notice of suspension to submit your appeal letter. This means that you have to investigate the situation and write your plan of action.
You have more than two weeks to work on these, so make sure that you're doing everything you can. Remember that your letter is the backbone of your appeal. This will be Amazon's sole basis on whether or not you're going to have your account reinstated.
48 hours after submission of appeal
This is Amazon’s official estimate of how long they will be able to respond to your appeal. However, this is a very rare scenario. This could also be affected by the numerous appeals that they have to attend to every day.
60 days or more
According to some sellers on Amazon's forums, there are some who have experienced about 60 days or more before they have received Amazon's decision regarding their suspension appeals. Although there is a 48-hour target response time for your appeals, this usually doesn't happen. So if you're looking for a response, make sure that you're patient with how the whole process works.
Key Takeaway
One of the worst things that can happen to you as a seller is to have your account suspended. For this, you may want to get Amazon suspension help from those who have dealt with this in the past. A properly written appeal letter will help you get your Amazon suspended account reinstated.
If you're looking for someone who can help write your suspension appeal letter, we, at Seller Interactive, are the people you should call. With our extensive experience in handling sellers who have been suspended, we definitely know how to create the letter that will help in increasing your chances of getting your account reinstated.
Want to know more about this? Send us a message at [email protected] to book a consultation!
It’s no secret that Amazon continues to be the top online marketplace even after over 25 years. However, it’s also not a surprise that scammers, fraudsters, and identity thieves are coming along to ride on the world’s largest online retailer. As an Amazon seller, it’s best to know how to deal with these constant challenges because these hijackers can make an impact on your sales. The good thing is that honest and trusted Amazon sellers can now get Amazon Marketplace protection to safeguard your brand and products from the rising number of unscrupulous online buyers and sellers.
What is Amazon Marketplace protection?
Amazon hijackers and counterfeiters like to target legit sellers through black hat practices. And without enough protection, your brand can be put to risk. An Amazon brand protection program is something that you should invest in so you can closely monitor your brand against these malicious entities.
You’ve already worked hard to build your business in the marketplace, that’s why you must have a well-thought-out brand protection strategy. You may use the Amazon Brand Registry as part of your Amazon brand protection solution. The Amazon Brand Registry gives you full control over the presentation of your products online. As the official brand owner, you can also create an Amazon request that delists product listings that are not under your brand.
Registering to the Amazon Brand Registry can also allow you to make another Amazon request that involves the merging of other listings with the same product as yours. It lets your brand and products be more professional and have high-standard representation, thus, allowing for more sales and better customer ratings.
There’s so much more to just putting your products out and letting customers know about your presence in the marketplace. Continue reading and you’ll find out why building a good Amazon brand protection program can benefit you in the long run.
Benefits of Amazon Marketplace protection
Using Amazon Brand Registry as part of your brand protection strategy allows you to access tools that can help you better represent your brand, find and report violations, and share information to prevent future marketplace violations.
Accurate Brand Representation
The Brand Registry lets you take control of Amazon product pages that use your brand. It means that buyers are now seeing correct and more accurate information about your brand and the products you’re selling.
Improved Marketplace Visibility
Your brand will now be more visible to a larger Amazon buyer community, especially if it's protected and has followed the marketplace community policies. In addition, you can also list your products through AWS (Amazon web service) Marketplace as part of your Amazon brand protection solution. AWS Marketplace has search tools which can organically expose your other relevant products to potential buyers.
Access To Search And Report Tools
Working with an Amazon marketing services agency that handles brand protection and assistance can give you access to powerful search and report tools. Hence, it will be easier for you to find potential hijacking or infringement cases that Amazon can take action on.
In addition, a good Amazon brand protection program can also help implement additional preventive measures against fraud, and remove potentially bad listings that may affect your online ratings.
Higher Amazon Rankings
Building your Amazon brand protection solution has a domino effect on your brand. An effective brand protection strategy can help filter out bad buyers. It can get you better customers that lead to more brand loyalty, thus, improving your overall performance metrics. This will result in a higher Amazon ranking and more business growth opportunities.
The Conclusion
Though they’re present everywhere, there are a lot of ways to keep these hijackers, counterfeiters, and unscrupulous Amazon members at bay. They should never affect your brand’s reputation, especially now that you have access to effective Amazon Marketplace protection.
In times like this, you can count on the expert guidance and tactical solutions of Seller Interactive. Let us help secure the growth of your business online as we vigilantly monitor your brand activities and spot the malicious sellers, all while applying immediate measures under Amazon guidelines. Consult with us today to start with your Amazon marketplace protection.
Amazon sellers are constantly searching for innovative ways to boost their sales and elevate their brands in the eyes of consumers. Within this competitive landscape, a recurring challenge arises: how can you entice your customers without blending into the crowd?
Enter Amazon Lightning Deals. This promotional offer is one of the most sought-after tools for buyers and sellers. Buyers view them as exceptional opportunities to secure great products at reduced prices. Sellers consider it an effective Amazon SEO strategy to improve product rankings and increase conversions.
Running a Lightning Deal on Amazon has been proven to be a game changer for businesses, and it can be for you too. In this definitive guide, we’ll sift through strategies and best practices to help you effectively create Lightning Deals on Amazon. Let’s get started!
The Anatomy of Amazon Lightning Deals
Amazon Lightning Deal is a promotional discount program that operates on a time-sensitive and limited-stock basis. Unlike other promotions that may last for days or weeks, this deal lasts 4 to 6 hours on the Amazon Deals page, creating a sense of urgency among shoppers.
Amazon directly manages and runs Lightning Deals. They carefully curate and oversee these promotional campaigns to deliver exceptional value not only for buyers but also sellers. By leveraging Amazon's infrastructure and reach, sellers can tap into a vast customer base, maximizing their products' visibility and potential sales.
Lightning Deals are available to all Amazon buyers, except on Prime Day or Week when only Prime members can see them. This targeted approach allows sellers to tap into the Prime member demographic known for their high engagement and purchasing power.
In creating Lightning Deals, sellers must first understand the structure and components of these limited promotions. Here's the anatomy of a product with a Lightning Deal:
Deal Label: A label affirming it is a Lightning Deal.
Countdown: The countdown indicates how much time you have to claim the deal.
Price Details: The actual price (Price), the current price after the discount is applied (With Deal), and how much you can save (You Save).
Claim Percentage: The percentage of how many products have been claimed.
What Are the Qualifications for Amazon Lightning Deals?
Sellers must meet certain criteria before running a lightning deal on Amazon. You may visit the Lightning Deal dashboard first to determine eligibility for your products. This is under the Recommendations section of the dashboard.
But if the result is "There are no recommendations at this time," make sure you pass the following benchmarks:
Product Rating: Your product should have at least a 3-star rating to feature a satisfactory level of customers.
Product Safety: Certain categories, such as hazardous materials, are not eligible for Lightning Deals due to safety and logistical considerations.
Product Discount: You must set a minimum 15% discount.
Product Variations: Include as many variations as possible to avoid being rejected.
Seller Status: You must be a Professional seller with a good Amazon sales history.
Product Condition: Your product is in new condition.
Inventory Storage: Your inventory must be well-stocked.
Rules and Restrictions of Lightning Deals
Even if you have the best intentions in using deals and promos, it’s still critical that you consider Amazon’s rules and restrictions. Knowing the potential challenges, you can set realistic expectations and make informed decisions.
Here are the limitations to keep in mind:
Maximum deal price: Amazon has the final say in setting the maximum price for Lightning Deals.
Timing allocation: You can specify the week when it will run, but Amazon will be the one to give the time and day.
Non-refundable lightning deal fees: Each submission incurs a fee, which is non-refundable. Sellers should be aware of this cost and factor it into their budget when planning promotional activities.
Selling distribution: A lightning deal can only run once every seven days.
Higher fees during peak periods: Pay a higher Lightning Deal fee during Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday.
How to Create and Run a Lightning Deal
Source: Screengrab from Amazon.com
If you’re still reading this, chances are you’re eager to learn how to create and run a Lightning Deal on Amazon. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:
Log into Amazon Seller Central.
Go to Advertising > Lightning Deals
In the Lightning Deals Dashboard, click Create a new deal.
Choose a product and press Edit.
Set the minimum deal quantity, price, date range, and product variations.
Hit the Submit Deal button.
Pro-tips:
Lightning Deals are subject to approval by Amazon. You should closely monitor the status of your submission.
Amazon gives you a chance to edit if they find a mistake. They will provide you with a green light. Watch out for the moment the status turns into “Upcoming or Approved.”
Amazon will charge you when you cancel a Lightning Deal less than 25 hours before the start of the schedule.
You could be blocked from future deal creations if you make last-minute cancellations.
Amazon can stop you from making deals if you frequently cancel them.
The Impact of Lightning Deals On Your Product
Your desire to attract new buyers and surpass competitors has undoubtedly led you to learn to create a Lightning Deal. Allow us to further ignite your motivation by highlighting the benefits that await when you choose to leverage this promotional opportunity.
Good inventory management: It provides a perfect opportunity to eliminate excess or stagnant inventory.
Regained attention: Buyers who missed out on your deal will follow you, adding more traffic to your store.
Product launch amplification: If you’re selling a new product, this is a great product launch idea that will help you measure sales value.
Increased exposure for new sellers: It offers six hours of brand exposure and fame, which is much-needed for new Amazon sellers.
Enhanced organic ranking: Amazon’s lightning deal can increase the organic ranking of your listings because of improved clicks, reviews, and sales.
4 Amazon Tips for Higher Lightning Deal Potential
Your business may have checked off the eligibility box, but if you want to secure higher Lightning Deal potential on Amazon, it's time to take things up a notch.
Apply these Amazon tips below:
#1: Improve Amazon Ratings and Reviews
Amazon’s goal is to be “Earth’s most customer-centric company.” This means that you must provide excellent customer service at all times. Remember these:
How you treat your customers affects your overall selling ratings. You can ask for reviews, BUT they should be given freely, without incentives. Be extra careful in managing product reviews because Amazon can suspend your account if you dare try review manipulation.
Don’t forget to monitor customer messages and respond to them within 24 hours. If a customer gives you a positive review, thank them.
Ask Amazon to remove customers’ negative reviews if they have violated Amazon’s guidelines. You can also resolve negative reviews promptly so the customer may consider reverting to the low rating given.
#2: Become Prime-Eligible
As mentioned earlier, prime eligibility helps you position your products for greater visibility and appeal to a broader customer base.
You have two options to get the blue badge: Seller Fulfilled Prime (SFP) or Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). Let's get straight to the point: we strongly recommend choosing the latter option. SFP has rigid requirements that even seasoned sellers need help to fulfill. One condition is that you have a timely shipment rate of 99%.
On the other hand, when you sign up for FBA, you're automatically Prime-eligible. Besides, you don't have to worry about order fulfillment because Amazon will pick, pack, and ship your items personally. Your returns and customer service are also taken care of.
#3: Perform Amazon SEO Optimization
Ensure your product listings are optimized. Check your title, descriptions, bullets, and images. Each element must pass the A9 algorithm parameters. The listing itself should entice the customer to purchase.
Use relevant keywords in your title and product features. Enhance your product images. Don’t overlook the importance of backend keywords, where you can add long-tail search terms and variations. Prioritizing Amazon SEO helps you stand out from the millions of products offering irresistible discounts.
#4: Replenish Inventory Before Setting up a Lightning Deal
If Amazon detects depleted stock from your inventory, they will automatically remove your listing and disqualify your product from participating in a Lightning Deal. Improve your inventory management by tracking it via your Seller Central dashboard. Start checking Selling Coach Reports, and from there, track your current inventory and restock with just one click.
Final Thoughts
Are Lightning Deals worth it? Absolutely yes! But remember that you must meet Amazon's prerequisites first to become qualified. You can only unlock the benefits of running a lighting deal and stand above your competitors by fulfilling the requirements.
And if you think it’s not enough to be eligible, there are additional ways to explore and refine your strategy. From optimizing your Amazon SEO to mastering inventory management, implementing these techniques will pave the way for a thriving and profitable business. Do you have any questions about Amazon deals and promotions? Seller Interactive has a team of experienced Amazon consultants willing to help you. Email us at [email protected] today.
One of the things that you should pay close attention to when you're selling on Amazon is your fulfillment methods. For this, you can go with either Amazon FBA or FBM.
Although FBA has more advantages than the other fulfillment method, you are free to choose whichever will work for you. In this blog post, we'll help you with the difference between FBA and FBM, so you can choose the best one that suits your Amazon business.
Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) Explained
If you're a new Amazon seller, one of the first fulfillment methods you will be introduced to is FBA. Basically, with FBA you're handing off the order processing and delivery to Amazon's Fulfillment Centers. You don't have to pack the items ordered, label, or ship them one by one. Amazon handles the fulfillment process for you.
Now, the question for you is: is Amazon FBA worth it? For the most part, having Amazon FBA as your fulfillment method is worth it, especially if you're targeting Amazon Prime members.
If you're still unfamiliar with how this method works, you can ask a trusted Amazon FBA consultant to help walk you through the process. In this way, you can ask how to start an Amazon FBA business, among the other questions that might come up.
Pros FBA Sellers Enjoy With Amazon FBA
Now that you know how Amazon FBA works, let's take a deeper look at this fulfillment method by exploring the benefits of FBA. Here are some of them.
Eligibility for Prime Shipping
If you choose Amazon FBA as your fulfillment method, your FBA products will all be eligible for Amazon Prime. Prime members can enjoy free two-day Prime shipping, while all Amazon customers can get free shipping on qualified orders.
Your eligible product listings will be displayed with the Prime badge so customers know that Amazon is handling the picking, packing, and shipping.
According to Statista's data, there were over 150 million Amazon Prime members worldwide in 2019. 112 million of those Prime members were from the United States. That's how big your market will be if you choose to become an Amazon FBA seller. Amazon sellers should always aim for wider market reach, which the Amazon FBA program can fulfill.
Winning the Amazon Buy Box
Amazon favors FBA sellers because the platform knows their orders will be delivered on time. Fulfillment method and on-time delivery are two important factors to getting the Buy Box.
With this, signing up for Amazon FBA program increases your chances of winning the Amazon Buy Box—the most coveted feature of Amazon sellers.
The Buy Box is where the "Buy Now" and "Add to Cart" buttons are on a product detail page. This makes shopping easier for many Amazon customers and helps Amazon sellers increase their visibility and sales.
Dedicated Customer Service
If you enroll in Amazon FBA, Amazon will handle customer service for you. Your customers can contact their support team via phone or email at no extra charge. Amazon will also manage product returns. If an Amazon customer wants to return a product, the platform will direct them to their online returns center.
Cons of Amazon FBA
Aside from the benefits, the Amazon FBA program also has disadvantages. Here are some of them.
Costs
Since Amazon will take care of the process, you must expect to spend some money on FBA fees: namely the fulfillment fee and monthly inventory storage fees. Fulfillment fees cover orders picked, packed, and shipped to your customers from Amazon's Fulfillment Centers.
Before Amazon does this, however, you’ll be in charge of getting your items to an Amazon warehouse, and you have to factor in this additional cost.
You'll also pay for monthly storage fees depending on the volume of your inventory stored in Amazon's Fulfillment Centers. To see if FBA is worth your while, you can use the "Revenue Calculator" in Amazon Seller Central.
Strict Packaging and Labeling Requirements
Your items should meet Amazon's packaging and labeling requirements before they can be accepted into the warehouses. Failing to prepare your inventory according to these guidelines increases the possibility of Amazon refusing your incoming shipment.
As a result, you will need to invest time and money to retrieve and re-prepare your inventory.
Merchant Fulfilled Network or Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM) Explained
Based on the name itself, you should already know what to expect. FBM is the complete opposite of FBA. Instead of Amazon shipping out your products, you will do everything on your own.
You will have to process orders, package them for shipping, label them, and send them out to your customers.
Pros FBM Sellers Enjoy With Amazon FBM
If you think you’re better off doing everything yourself, here are the benefits of FBM that may interest you.
Amazon Seller Fulfilled Prime
The Seller Fulfilled Prime is a program offered by Amazon. It allows sellers to complete their own orders and sell Prime-eligible products, but only if they meet Amazon's strict criteria. The program also enables you to display a Prime badge on your listings, making it easy for Prime customers to find your products.
Fewer Fees
With FBM, Amazon sellers obviously won't have to pay FBA fees. This means you don't have to worry about paying for fulfillment fees or Amazon's storage space. This is a huge benefit if you have a high level of expertise in logistics or if you have heavy and slow-moving items.
More Control Over Fulfillment Processes
Some Amazon sellers want total control over their business processes, even if it means that additional employees must be hired to ensure that every product is processed and shipped out properly.
So if you're the type of seller who wants full access to your inventory, processing, packaging, and shipping, then FBM might suit you better.
Cons of Amazon FBM
Aside from its benefits, you also have to be aware of the drawbacks of Amazon FBM. Here are some of them.
Fewer Chances of the Amazon Buy Box
One major disadvantage of FBM is that it can take a while before getting approved for the Amazon Buy Box. This can be a big loss, as Amazon has reported that 80–90% of purchases on their platform are made through the Buy Box.
Shipping Costs
Since you're fully responsible for handling everything on your own, you will also be responsible for shipping. You'll have to pay for shipping costs, packaging materials and shipping labels.
Shipping and handling may also affect your business if you're not properly prepared to deal with an influx of orders, especially during holiday sales.
Amazon FBA vs. FBM: Which Fulfillment Method Should You Choose?
Now that you know the main differences between both fulfillment methods, which is best for you? Let's compare FBA and FBM through the following factors.
Control Over Business Processes
Choose Amazon FBM if you want full control over your business processes. However, if you don't want to oversee your Amazon business's processing, labeling, and shipping, then FBA might be the suitable fulfillment method for you.
Customer Service
Handling customer service is one thing that's important for both Amazon FBA and FBM sellers. If you already have an established customer service set in place, you can consider going for FBM. With FBM, your team should be trained to handle all customer concerns.
But if you're not confident about managing it or don't have a huge team to handle customer inquiries, you can hand it off to the Amazon FBA program.
Warehouse Services
One major factor in this decision will have to be storage space. If you already have a warehouse, you'll save a lot in terms of storage fees.
But if you're just starting out and don't have a dedicated space, it might be worth your while to pay Amazon to store your products for you. Thus, go for Amazon FBA.
Key Takeaway
Your fulfillment method is one of the main things you must thoroughly decide on when selling on Amazon. More than simply deciding on who will fulfill your orders, this will greatly affect how your business will be run and your overall sales. Do you need help in dealing with your Amazon seller account? Talk to a reputable Amazon account specialist today.
Imagine putting in your best effort every single day to grow your Amazon business, only to discover that a portion of your earnings hasn’t been credited to you. Even worse, some of your packages have been damaged, stolen, or lost during shipment. Nothing can be more stressful than losing money and resources that could have been your profit.
Luckily, every Amazon seller is now entitled to Amazon reimbursement. But here’s another catch: they won’t notify you if you qualify for this program. Your sole responsibility is to file reimbursement claims to get back what Amazon owes you.
Whether you are new on Amazon or have been selling on the platform for quite some time but have never tried their program, this guide is what you need. We’ll look at various aspects of reimbursement in Amazon and find ways to get your money back.
Setting the Terms Straight: Refunds vs. Reimbursements
Let’s put things in perspective. Most Amazon sellers and buyers mix up the terms. “Refunds” and “reimbursements” are not interchangeable when discussing the amount or timing of your money’s return. It’s time to settle on what the two words mean in the Amazon context.
What Are Refunds?
Refunds are the amount the buyers get when they return merchandise. After they request to return an item, they are entitled to get the total purchase price back into their preferred refund method.
What Are Reimbursements?
Sellers get reimbursements when Amazon compensates for the returned items. Like buyers returning an item for a full refund, a seller must also initiate a request and go through a process before they get what is due to them.
A Brief Overview of Amazon Refund and Reimbursement
It’s understandable why both parties see refunds and reimbursements as the same thing. That’s because buyers and sellers are affected in different ways whenever there’s a returned item.
What makes them even more confusing is they both occur in the Amazon FBA program. Since one of FBA’s functions is processing customer returns, there can be instances where Amazon may owe the seller or buyer money for specific fulfillment-related issues.
Allow us to give you a brief look at the process on both sides.
The Buyer’s Side: Amazon FBA Refund Process
Customers must first go through the following steps to get their money back. Here’s how it usually works:
The buyer signs into their Amazon Seller Central account and requests a return.
Amazon sends the buyer a return shipping label.
The buyer packs the item and puts the shipping label on before returning it.
Amazon confirms receipt and processes returned items (within 30 days).
Once processing is complete, Amazon issues a refund to the customer.
The refund may be added to the buyer’s payment gift card balance or be received in the selected refund method.
There are cases wherein Amazon instantly refunds the amount. The buyer can follow through on the procedure by returning the item to the Amazon fulfillment center. If the buyer uses a paid method for the return, Amazon will deduct the shipping costs and restocking fees from their refund amount.
These are just some of Amazon’s policies regarding refunds. To know more about the entire refund system, contact Amazon customer service.
The Seller's Side: Amazon FBA Reimbursement Process
As for the merchant's end, the effect of return and refund requests from buyers hits them with a deduction, which they'll have to request for reimbursement. Here's an overview of the process:
The seller gets a deduction for the return funds on their next disbursement before Amazon sends a shipping label.
The seller gets a deduction for the refund upon issuing the refund to the buyer.
Once the items make it to the fulfillment center, Amazon will determine their condition.
If the returned item is deemed sellable, Amazon will restock it.
If the item is deemed unsellable, Amazon will investigate further if the seller is eligible for a reimbursement, which we will discuss in more detail below.
More Details on Filing Amazon FBA Reimbursements
Now that we have a general understanding of refunds and reimbursements, let’s dive deeper into a process specifically relevant for FBA sellers—filing for Amazon FBA reimbursements.
FBA businesses must not forget three things:
1. Eligibility
First, let’s talk about eligibility. Amazon has a strict requirement to determine whether an item is eligible for reimbursement. The item in question must pass the following criteria:
It should be registered in Amazon FBA when it is damaged or lost.
It must comply with the FBA product requirements and restrictions.
It must adhere to the FBA inventory requirements.
The shipping plan that you’ve submitted states the exact items and quantities.
It is not pending for disposal as requested.
It was not discarded at your request.
It is not a defective item.
The customer didn’t cause damage to the item.
Keep your seller account in normal status before filing a claim.
Before you uncover if there are any reimbursement claims you need to process, let’s look at the policy.
2. Policy
Amazon has a reimbursement policy for FBA sellers who experience issues with their inventory. Here are a few of the guidelines to keep in mind.
The re-evaluation of your request must have additional information, such as receipts or invoices.
Suppose Amazon later finds the lost inventory or discovers they reimbursed you erroneously. In that case, they may replace the item or reverse the credit from your account.
You won’t get a refund for prohibited items and expired items.
Amazon will only entertain requests with sufficient information. You need to provide detailed and relevant data such as sales history, Amazon Standard Identification Number with an issue, Amazon’s average FBA selling price, and others.
Amazon doesn’t allow the submission of multiple requests at the same time.
Amazon has the right to dispose of or resell the item they reimbursed for you.
Note that these rules are for lost or damaged inventory only. You may want to seek a trusted Amazon account manager if you need further help exploring Amazon’s policies.
3. Different Classes of Reimbursements
The following are types of FBA inventory reimbursements, which can take place at any time during the fulfillment process:
Items Lost or Damaged in Amazon Warehouse
Amazon stores and retrieves items upon order placement. Unfortunately, lost inventory can occur due to misplacement or being placed in another seller’s stock, affecting business operations. Given the circumstance, Amazon has no choice but to compensate sellers for every lost unit.
Damaged Item During Shipment to Customers or Back to the Warehouse
Whenever Amazon employees pick and pack your orders, they do it quickly and efficiently. We can’t blame them because hundreds of orders are fulfilled each day. Add to that, there’s Amazon Prime’s two-day shipping, which they have to get done quickly.
Since Amazon employees must move fast, accidents can happen. These accidents can cause damage to your items, thereby Amazon owing you a reimbursement.
Customer Returned the Item
While customer returns may sound common to you, one too many cases is a big problem Amazon sellers and employees face. But you can still make a reimbursement claim for the following reasons:
Customers received a refund but did not return the item.
Customer did not return the original item.
The returned product was not recorded.
Wrong refund amount was paid to customers.
Restocking fee was not credited.
Wrong Quantity of Orders
Despite your utmost care, incorrect order processing can happen. A customer may receive double or triple the number of items they ordered. The sad part is that Amazon will not improve their order accuracy, and customers won’t return the additional items in most of these cases.
Overcharging of Amazon Fees
Amazon FBA has its pros and cons. One of the disadvantages is the different types of Amazon FBA fees you need to pay, which includes storage, fulfillment, and commission fees.
The fees depend on the category, dimension of the item, and the distance and type of shipping package. In some situations, you are charged the wrong fee. These overcharged fees can add up, and you have the right to claim reimbursement.
How to File a Reimbursement Claim
Given the scenarios stated above, it’s unsurprising that sellers still have opportunities to bring back what they’ve lost in your business. But everyone must also know Amazon has become more meticulous in processing FBA reimbursement claims to ensure that all requests are legitimate and valid.
Review your shipments and inventory adjustment reports regularly. These are the details you need to take note of:
Ensure that the verified shipment delivery date is within nine (9) months.
Look at the Reconcile tab on your shipping workflow’s Summary page.
Before filing for claims, verify the contents of your FBA shipment, the quantity stated, and the other details in your shipping plan.
Inspect any discrepancies on the Reconcile tab containing the fulfillment center’s information.
Remember, Amazon may have already reimbursed you for the units you originally wanted to file. You can confirm this by visiting your Reimbursements report.
After reviewing your report, visit the Reconcile tab to claim lost inventory items. You may file claims for damaged units on the Contact Us page in Seller Central.
Documents that support your claim should be readily available for Amazon verification. These include Amazon shipment ID, proof of FBA inventory ownership, and proof of delivery.
For Fulfillment Center Operations
Amazon's Fulfillment Centers are busy places, and accidental damages are more common than you think. As an Amazon FBA seller, you should know what to do if such a case happens to any of your products.
To file for reimbursement:
Check the Inventory Adjustments report and verify that the unit was lost or damaged no more than 18 months ago.
Ensure that the unit was not restored or found in a sellable condition and not defective.
Review your Reimbursements report to determine whether or not the unit has already been reimbursed.
Use your transaction item ID in the Inventory Adjustments report for damaged items. Use the Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit (FNSKU) for lost items. These two will help you determine if you can file a claim.
For Customer Return Claims
You should file a claim within 45 days and not later than 18 months after the customer has filed for a refund or replacement.
Verify item refund/replacement status in Manage FBA Returns report and inventory.
Go to the Reimbursement report and see if you have already been reimbursed. `
Provide your customer order ID and other additional information during the application. Afterward, you have to wait until Amazon approves your claim.
6 Tips to Achieve Stress-Free Amazon Reimbursement Claims
Although filing an Amazon reimbursement claim can be time-consuming, there are ways to streamline the process. The following tips can help you maximize your reimbursements while simplifying your business operations.
Be wary of FBA seller reimbursement systems. Amazon may not like automated and bot-like responses.
Don’t forget to create a template per category. Remember, filing multiple claims at one go makes you a candidate for account suspension.
Send status requests regularly to ensure that Amazon acknowledges your claim.
A disorganized FBA warehouse system can put your reimbursement claim at risk, so optimizing your inventory management process is essential.
Make a habit of re-checking the accuracy of the details you received, such as the address and order quantity. It minimizes order inaccuracies and saves you the hassle of filing reimbursement claims.
Besides optimizing your listings and PPC ad campaigns, your responsibility is to manage your inventory and deliveries. Yes, Amazon FBA is there to assist you, but you must prevent setbacks like lost and damaged inventories by being as organized as you can.
Seller Interactive can be your partner agency if you are looking for the best Amazon experts. We’re here to help you protect your account and maximize your profits with our FBA reimbursement service for Amazon. This way, you won’t spend long hours cross-checking your inventory reports and wondering how long it will take for Amazon to reimburse you. Free yourself from this burden. Book a Discovery Call today!
