Mohamed Aden

Mohamed Aden is the Director of Operations at Seller Interactive, an Amazon Marketing Agency. He has extensive experience in eCommerce, project management, and operations management. Mohamed has managed a portfolio of 80 client accounts generating over $10 million in yearly revenue. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Honours Political Science and Business Management from McMaster University. Mohamed is a certified Project Manager and has received certifications in Advanced Google Analytics and Ontario Ministry of Labour’s Supervisor Health and Safety Awareness. He is fluent in English and Somali. In his free time, Mohamed enjoys nature walks and other outdoor activities. LinkedIn Twitter
How to Outsource Products to Sell on Amazon: A Definitive Guide

Are you looking for wholesale products to sell on Amazon? Or are you planning on selling smaller quantities? Before you decide on your business model, it’s important to learn how to outsource products to sell on Amazon and weigh your options.

You can choose from retail arbitrage, wholesaling, dropshipping, or private labeling. Amazon sellers have different ways of finding products to sell on Amazon. If you're a new Amazon seller or looking forward to changing the way you outsource, there are many ways to do this.

In this blog post, you'll learn how to find profitable product ideas and where to outsource products to sell on your Amazon business.

Tips for Finding the Best Products to Sell on Amazon

Before you sell a particular product on your Amazon store, ensure you've researched it extensively. Through this, you can see the best products to sell on Amazon.

Check out these tips on how to come up with profitable product ideas:

1. Establish a Criteria

Other sellers on ecommerce websites know what they want to sell on the platform. Meanwhile, some online sellers continuously search for trending products and outsource them through wholesale or a private label.

To help you evaluate if a product idea is something that will sell well on the Amazon marketplace, take a look at this list.

  • Product cost. Find out how much your costs will be in manufacturing or buying a wholesale product.
  • Product quality. Can you secure a reputable supplier that can give you high-quality products to sell?
  • Challenges in shipping products. Will you need specialty fulfillment support like Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) to ship products? Check if your products are easy to ship and how much the possible shipping costs will be.
  • Competition. Who are your current competitors on your chosen niche product? Look at their prices and customer reviews.
  • Ideal customers. Determine who your ideal customers are and how to reach them on Amazon.

2. Evaluate Product Ideas

Once you understand how product cost and fulfillment significantly impact profitability, you can discover items that meet your criteria. Here are some ways to find best-selling products to sell:

  • Type in a search term on Amazon and select "Sort By: Best Sellers." Check how popular the product is compared to others in that product category.
  • Use Product Opportunity Explorer in Amazon Seller Central to determine the number of users searching for specific keywords on Amazon.
  • Check the trending products on Amazon's Hot New Releases, Movers and Shakers, or Gift Ideas.
A screenshot of the Amazon Hot New Releases page

3. Avoid a Product Category Dominated by Big Brands

Big brands dominate a lot of consumer goods. These brands leverage their big names, marketing, and budget to surpass their competitors, including beginner Amazon sellers.

If you want to sell a product, it's essential to identify a niche market where you can still sell products, and big brands will not overpower your presence.

6 Ways Amazon Sellers Can Outsource Products to Sell

After doing your product research, you must look for manufacturers or suppliers that can supply your own products. You can order the products from a direct supplier or outsource them differently. 

Here are some ways to get wholesale products to sell on Amazon as your inventory. 

An illustration of a shelf with products and a banner reading “clearance sale”

1. Products on Clearance

Who says you can't buy products on clearance aisles and sell them on Amazon? There are a lot of sellers who do it this way. Usually, they find a product on the clearance aisle, or it's heavily discounted in thrift stores or local and online auctions and sell it on Amazon. This is a good stepping stone, especially if you're learning the ropes of selling on the platform.

This way of product acquisition is perfect for beginners because you won't need a large investment. You can sell what you have in the meantime and profit from it. If you'd like to invest the money you've earned from selling products, you can do it again and buy it in bulk. 

You can also opt for higher-priced items like electronics and home appliances. To succeed, remember you must be able to profit off at least 20 percent for every item. This way, your efforts in finding the items and uploading all of these on Amazon will at least be paid off.

An illustration of a surplus store

2. Liquidation Stores

There are numerous liquidation and surplus stores all over the country. So, if you have one near you, you can make the best of it by buying items from these stores and selling them on Amazon. You can usually find discontinued products in these stores. 

The health and beauty product category is big on these products. Take advantage of this particular market by scourging through liquidation stores. The reason behind this is that discontinued items are treated like rare finds. 

If your customer sees that you're selling their favorite item that's not being offered in physical stores or by any other Amazon sellers anymore, then you can expect that person to buy from you. 

You can even sell these products at a higher price because of their decreased supplies.

It's a win-win situation - your customers are happy because you have their favorite products, and your profits for each product sold are higher, too!

An illustration of a handshake surrounded with boxes

3. Retail Arbitrage

This is one of the most common ways of outsourcing products to be sold on Amazon. This involves buying products from retail stores and selling these on Amazon for a profit. You can implement two ways so you can maximize your profits. You can buy from retailers in bulk or price it way higher than the others.

Buying in bulk is the best way to keep your pricing competitive without sacrificing your profits. The only difference with retail arbitrage is that you're outsourcing from retailers, not wholesalers. Due to this, you might not be able to get a substantial discount from buying in bulk. 

However, retail arbitrage on Amazon doesn't require a large upfront investment. It lowers your risk, so you can do this if you're starting out but want to work on more inventory than usual. 

An illustration depicting a delivery truck with an arrow pointing towards a man while the man is shown with an arrow pointing towards the store

4. Dropshipping

Dropshipping is one way to easily sell your products without having to go through the hassle of storing these in your warehouse. If you're working with a large volume of products, this can bring in more sales for you. However, it will also mean that you have to spend more money on storage costs or investing in inventory management software.

You can either address this in two ways. You can either start selling as many products as you can in a short time or opt to choose dropshipping instead. This type of inventory sourcing is best, especially for small to medium-sized companies looking to scale their businesses but don't have the money yet to invest in their own storage. 

An illustration of bottles on the left with a label “no brand” with an arrow pointing towards bottles with a label “your brand”

5. Private Labeling

Private labeling is a form of outsourcing tactic wherein you purchase products directly from a manufacturer. It's similar to direct sourcing in that you source your products straight from the manufacturers. But in this case, suppliers manufacture generic products and then add your labels so you can sell them under your brand.

This approach also involves wholesaling to acquire the materials for your private label products at a reduced cost.

An illustration of stacked boxes

6. Wholesale Suppliers

If you're looking forward to further scaling your business, you can source your inventory through wholesaling. This method involves getting a lot of bulk inventory that you can sell and profit off. Since you're buying it at wholesale price and in bulk, you can get higher profit margins for it. 

For wholesaling, you will spend more on product acquisition. Before you fully immerse yourself into getting wholesale, you should ensure you have enough following and demand. It's risky if you don't have the demand for higher quantities of products yet. But if you already do, then this might be a great match for your business.

Key Takeaway

These are the six easiest and most reliable ways to outsource your products. But of course, deciding on the best selling method should depend on the nature and demand for your business.

Doing product research and stocking your inventory are the first and second steps—the next is to list these products on Amazon. This might be a little tricky, especially for new sellers, but we have the right people for that!

Be an Effective Amazon Seller With Seller Interactive

If you want your products to be noticed on Amazon, you must hit the ground running and ensure you’re doing the best practices from the very start. This is where an Amazon agency like Seller Interactive comes in. These are the professionals you should turn to if you want to sell effectively on the platform. Do you need help in managing your product listings? Book a call with us today. Let us do wonders for your business!

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8 Amazon Seller Problems You Can Get Over With The Help Of Experts

Do you remember your first time selling on Amazon? You must've felt nervous and intimidated by the thousands of online sellers more knowledgeable and skilled than you. Entering a massive marketplace can be daunting; you will face many Amazon seller problems before ranking high, especially with the intense and excessive competition. 

Don’t feel discouraged! Everyone starts from scratch. You can reach success with the right strategies and a team of Amazon experts to help you work your way through the ins and outs of selling on the marketplace. This article will talk about some of the common issues new sellers face and how to overcome them with the help of consultants.

8 Common Challenges of Newbie Amazon Sellers and How Amazon Experts Can Help

A successful Amazon business does not happen overnight. Some challenges you will encounter are inevitable, but they always have solutions. However, finding and implementing the solution alone might be challenging, so working with an Amazon expert is best. We enumerated the common issues below.

1 - Looking For Products To Sell

The first challenge when you enter the Amazon marketplace is looking for a product to sell. Initially, you want to sell products in high demand but with little competition. On the top of your head, it is tempting to sell all the ideas you have. But you have to take the time to research if these products give you a healthy profit margin.

But how do you know which products are those? Several product research tools are available to help, and fortunately for you sellers, Amazon experts can help with knowing which products are best to sell on Amazon. They can help find items that will generate income throughout the year and attract your target market.

2 - Massive Competition

Sellers on Amazon have continuously increased over the years. According to Marketplace Pulse, as of April 2023, there are 6.3 million third-party sellers on Amazon worldwide. It is undoubtedly a massive competition load, and as a new seller, it can be difficult to attract customers and be on top of the ecommerce industry. 

There are effective strategies to overcome this challenge and improve your Amazon ranking. First, understand how selling on Amazon works: What factors help increase seller ranking? You can find them in the recent algorithm. What are the don'ts to avoid an account suspension? If these are unfamiliar, consult an Amazon optimization consultant.

3 - Getting Customer Feedback

Collecting consumer feedback on Amazon is difficult because you're a new and less unknown seller. Some even attempt to manipulate Amazon reviews (usually by giving a shopper some incentive in exchange). Fortunately, Amazon has taken action and updated the community guidelines. Still, we never know what could happen in the future.

The solution is to focus on providing a seamless customer experience. Be the kind of seller that people can trust and enjoy communicating with. Amazon seller experts can help you with strategic implementations that elicit positive reviews, such as product launching. Through these efforts, you can naturally gain genuine feedback from your customers.

amazon account log in page on mobile

4 - Strict Guidelines

While Amazon is an easily accessible platform, its eligibility, marketing, and content infringement guidelines are quite strict. As new sellers, it can be overwhelming and discouraging at first, but you need to understand them to start selling on Amazon.

Learn and stay alert on policy updates or changes. If they're not easy to understand, you can always call an Amazon specialist to explain the rules. Since they help set up your account and create an effective marketing strategy on the platform, they are well-versed with the dos and don'ts of Amazon policies.

5 - Repricing Struggles

Due to the high competition on the platform, Amazon price wars are very prominent. Everyone wants a spot on the Amazon Buy Box. Many sellers lower their retail prices aggressively to lure Amazon shoppers to their business. As a result, newbie sellers often make the mistake of setting rates that exceed the required minimum or maximum price. 

This mistake can cause a suspension for violation of fair pricing guidelines. When faced with repricing wars, don't get too carried away. Instead, focus on reasonable pricing and never overprice your products. If you get an account suspension, appeal for reinstatement. An Amazon consultant can help you counter or prevent account suspensions.

6 - New Seller Limitations

If you're a newbie retailer on Amazon, you will be subject to certain listing limitations. For example, you need approval to sell in specific product categories, preventing you from expanding to a larger target audience. While Amazon doesn't directly tell you these limitations, you will eventually notice them when organizing your Amazon product listings.

You need to progress to grow into an established seller account and be eligible to maximize selling to as many product categories as you wish. Amazon vendor consultants can provide insights on how to grow your seller account—from account management, Brand Registry to product listing; these industry experts got your back.

7 - Inventory Management

Inventory management can pose a significant challenge for new sellers on Amazon. As an online marketplace that thrives on quick order fulfillment and customer satisfaction, failing to meet Amazon's standards can result in lost sales, negative reviews, and potential account suspensions.

There's also excess inventory and international labeling standards. When sending your items to an Amazon warehouse, consider all the packaging requirements and inventory costs.

Professional services can help you maximize available Amazon seller tools, particularly the Amazon FBA program. This program offers shipping services, handles the packaging process, and provides storage space for a fee. Amazon experts can help your products reach these fulfillment centers and inform you of the FBA fees so you can sell in a breeze.

8 - Amazon Listings

It's not impossible to generate million dollars in the Amazon marketplace. However, with such tight competition, you need to stand out among the other sellers to do so. In the online business model, product listing is essential for customers to see your online store. No one will buy from you without visibility, so there's no income to generate.

Incomplete product descriptions, poor image quality, lack of competitive pricing, and inadequate keyword optimization may hinder your store from appearing in Amazon's organic search. For these issues, seek help from an experienced Amazon expert to get your listings to rank.

What Can Amazon Experts Do For An Amazon Business

What can go wrong with selling on Amazon? Several strategies can make and break your business. If you're still doubtful about consulting an Amazon expert or hiring a professional service, here is the range of support Amazon experts can provide new Amazon sellers.

  • Advertising management
  • Product listing optimization
  • Inventory control and management
  • Branding
  • Competitor insights
  • Seller performance reports

It's important to note that the specific services Amazon experts provide may vary depending on the individual or agency you choose to work with. Evaluating your specific needs and goals is recommended when engaging with experts who specialize in the areas that align with your business objectives.

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5 Things a Seller Can Do to Reduce Customer Effort on Amazon

As a customer-centric company, Amazon has always been dedicated to reducing customer effort—delivering streamlined, user-friendly solutions that effectively address customer needs. The ecommerce platform has successfully created a seamless experience for both consumers and sellers with this customer-first philosophy.

And as an Amazon seller, you can adapt that same mindset to take your business further. Let'snow dive into the five ways Amazon streamlines customers' shopping experiences and how you  can leverage them:

1. Proactive Customer Service

Amazon’s ever-evolving algorithm continuously fine-tunes itself to anticipate customer needs and preferences. They understand that the key to their success lies in accessibility and customer loyalty. 

Likewise, Amazon sellers must also be mindful of the processes and interactions they share with their customers. Seek out ways to eliminate barriers and facilitate smoother customer experiences, living up to Amazon’s goals. Here are three ways you can provide excellent customer service as an Amazon seller:

An infographic of 3 ways an Amazon seller can provide excellent customer service: learn from customer Feedback, use Amazon analytics, and choose the best logistic solutions

Learn From Customer Feedback

Listening to customer feedback on Amazon is crucial in providing superior customer service. By analyzing customer complaints and learning from negative feedback, Amazon and sellers can identify pain points and work toward improving products, advertisements, or operations. 

When you take the necessary steps to address your customers' concerns, you show them that their opinions matter, ultimately fostering customer loyalty.

Use Amazon Analytics

By analyzing customer behavior, Amazon sellers can offer relevant product suggestions to shoppers, making their overall experience more personalized and enjoyable. This increases the likelihood of customers finding what they are looking for, and eventually, sales, in less effort. 

Take advantage of built-in resources, like Amazon Brand Analytics, so you can incorporate key data into your competitive strategies.

Choose the Best Logistic Solutions

Customer service also means choosing the best delivery and fulfillment method to benefit your customers. Amazon is known for its prompt and reliable delivery options—Fulfillment by Amazon, Fulfillment by Merchant, and Amazon Prime. You must provide efficient logistic solutions that will suit your business and products best. 

2. Effective Self-Service Options

Amazon is also dedicated to providing excellent self-service options, which reduce the need for Amazon customer service assistance. These allow Amazon customers and sellers to solve minor issues all on their own. 

With minor issues out of the way, an Amazon customer service agent can focus on larger and more complex issues that require further investigation.

Seamless Returns and Refunds

Amazon's seamless returns and refunds are a prime example of efficient and convenient self-service options on the ecommerce platform. 

The process is user-friendly, straightforward, and hassle-free. For example, customers can initiate the returns process online and drop off the item at the nearest Amazon physical store or Hub Locker. Big store chains such as Whole Foods, Kohl’s, and Staples also host drop-off points for returns. This results in a seamless and stress-free customer experience, allowing Amazon to maintain its reputation for excellent customer service.

An Amazon locker inside a 7-Eleven store at Baltoro, New York

Photo by Adam Matan on Wikimedia Commons

3. Streamlined eCommerce Experience

One of the primary reasons for Amazon's success is the sequential and systematic approach to handling all processes in the platform. By prioritizing user-friendly features and a seamless interface, Amazon has earned customer loyalty and maintained an edge over competitors. Amazon's streamlined experience shines explicitly in these three areas: the optimized checkout process, Amazon filtering system, and their predictive auto-fill and auto-correct features.

infographic - 3 streamlining strategies that reduce customer effort on amazon - optimized checkout process, amazon filtering system, predictive features

Optimized Checkout Process

Amazon provides a hassle-free shopping cart experience and allows you to save multiple shipping addresses and payment methods. As a result, the chances of cart abandonment are reduced. With saved preferences, checking out becomes a breeze for returning customers, further solidifying their loyalty to the platform.

Amazon Filtering System

Amazon's filtering system demonstrates its commitment to streamlining the customer experience. You can quickly narrow your search results using various filters, including categories, price ranges, and ratings.

This functionality empowers customers to find products that suit their preferences without wasting time browsing irrelevant options. By delivering focused results, Amazon exceeds customer expectations and minimizes effort.

Predictive Features

Predictive auto-fill and auto-correct features not only assist in entering delivery addresses and searching for products but also help prevent user error, saving time and frustration. For example, Amazon's search function intelligently corrects misspelled words and suggests related items, ensuring customers still find what they're looking for despite typing mistakes.

4. AI and Automation in Customer Service

Amazon focuses on creating a seamless customer experience by leveraging AI and automation to reduce customer effort. Their customer service strategy relies heavily on technology while maintaining a human touch to ensure customer satisfaction.

AI graphics showing images of robots, thought bubbles, and codes

Amazon Lex

Amazon achieves this by using Amazon Lex, an AI-driven conversational interface that helps create intelligent chatbots to improve customer interactions. These chatbots turn automated interactions into natural conversations, enabling customers to have their concerns addressed promptly without waiting for an available customer service agent.

Amazon Web Services

Furthermore, Amazon's use of Amazon Web Services (AWS) accelerates its contact center analytics and conversational AI capabilities. This empowers them to analyze customer feedback and continuously improve their processes, leading to better customer engagement and reduced user effort. Analyzing data can also lead to proactively shying away from potential issues that will put customer satisfaction to risk.

5. Superb Customer Experience With Expert IT Support

When the above methods are insufficient, customers are connected with an expert associate who can address their issues competently. Your Amazon business can enjoy the benefits of Amazon's expert IT support. When customers feel they have access to professional support when needed, they are more likely to trust your brand and remain loyal in the long run. 

Additionally, having an excellent IT support team can help your company detect and fix issues proactively, leading to continuous improvement in your overall customer service delivery.

Get Customer Service Assistance From Seller Interactive

As a business owner, you can learn from Amazon’s customer service to enhance customer satisfaction, foster loyalty, and drive growth. By maintaining a customer-first mindset and striving for constant innovation, your business can develop exceptional service and secure a lasting competitive advantage within and outside the platform. 

Doing all these with the assistance of experts will make the tasks easier, for sure. If you need help ensuring your customers are cared for so you achieve your sales and business goals, partner with us here at Seller Interactive. We do full account management, which puts customer consideration at the forefront of your Amazon business.

Book a call now so that we can discuss the details with you.

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6 Amazon Marketing Strategies You’ll Learn From a Digital Agency

There are two paths to grow in the world of Amazon: organic and paid advertising. Some businesses pursue one or the other, while others use both ways simultaneously. Regardless of the approach, developing effective Amazon marketing strategies is essential to succeed on this thriving ecommerce platform.

But simply relying on textbook knowledge of digital marketing or resorting to trial and error won’t take you far enough. Maybe now is the moment for you to work with an Amazon agency, especially if you lack familiarity with the intricacies of marketing.

Curious about what an Amazon marketing company can teach you? Are they really crucial for your success? Read through this helpful guide.

Why an Amazon Marketing Agency Is Vital for Success

Amazon, the largest online marketplace, gives sellers many opportunities to thrive. From millions of active shoppers to an extensive range of products, achieving unparalleled reach and brand exposure on this platform is possible.

But with great opportunities comes great competition. The sheer number of sellers and products on Amazon makes it challenging for individual businesses to stand out and grab the attention of their target audience. 

This is where an Amazon marketing agency comes in. First, allow us to explain why they are your bridge between business and success on the ecommerce platform.

They Are Experts in Amazon’s Ecosystem

An Amazon marketing agency knows its way around the digital landscape. They watch the market trends, strategies, and algorithm changes that shape the Amazon marketplace.

They can guide you through the intricacies of advertising campaigns, various pricing strategies, and promotions, all while ensuring that your activities abide by Amazon’s rules and regulations.

Their expertise becomes your compass, guiding you to make informed decisions, streamline your operations, and achieve optimal results.

They Are Data-Driven Professionals 

An Amazon marketing agency knows that numbers don’t lie. They are skilled in monitoring and analyzing the performance of your ad campaigns and listings, extracting valuable insights that can fuel your success.

Delving deep into the numbers and data helps them ensure that you are always on the right track. They guarantee that every move on Amazon is backed by solid evidence and informed decision-making.

They Can Be Your Time- and Resource-Savers

In the fast-paced world of Amazon, every second counts. By entrusting your marketing efforts to a professional’s capable hands, you can reclaim precious hours and redirect your resources toward other critical aspects of your business.

This means you gain the freedom to focus on product development, fine-tuning your inventory management, and delivering exceptional customer service. With the dedicated support of an Amazon marketing agency, you can confidently delegate the nitty-gritty details of your business, knowing that seasoned professionals are steering the ship.

They Are Knowledgeable About Comprehensive Marketing Strategies

An Amazon agency is well-versed in crafting comprehensive marketing strategies. They understand that successful marketing extends beyond advertising alone.

With their proficiency, they can shift into various realms of digital marketing, including content marketing, social media marketing, influencer collaborations, and much more. By harnessing these interconnected strategies, they can create a balanced approach that drives conversions on Amazon.

6 Areas an Amazon Marketing Agency Can Support You With

The areas in which an Amazon marketing agency can help you depend on your business goals. But here are some critical areas they can support you with.

1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

pie chart - Market Share of Search Engines as of 2023 (Statista)

According to Statista, the global search market is dominated by Google, with a market share of approximately 85.53%. Bing, another online search engine, accounts for 8.23% of the market. Yahoo holds a market share of 2.44%.

The data shows that the search engine market influences online user behavior and purchasing decisions. That’s why it’s unsurprising that platforms like Amazon, which rely heavily on product search and discovery, are also impacted.

The ideal Amazon marketing agency can help you optimize for your chosen search engine. Through comprehensive keyword research, they can identify the high-ranking terms and phrases for your product listings. Doing so will strengthen the presence of your product pages and drive more traffic.

Always remember: most online consumers won’t go past the first page to get the product they want. So the more visible your products are, the more people will buy from your store.

Below are more additional search engine optimization techniques that an Amazon agency can help you with:

  • Image Enhancement: They can advise you on uploading high-quality images that effectively showcase your products. They can help you optimize product images to meet Amazon’s guidelines and maximize their impact.
  • Product Categorization: A proper product category improves visibility and makes it easier for customers to find your products.
  • Backend Search Terms: They can modify backend search terms to include relevant keywords that customers may use for a product search. 

2. Pay-Per-Click or PPC Advertising 

Sponsored search or pay-per-click advertising is also one of the essential elements of Amazon’s marketing strategy. Whereas Amazon SEO is all about growing your business organically, PPC advertising is where you can grow exponentially.

Like Google Ads, you must have knowledgeable PPC experts to execute Amazon ads efficiently and get desired results as soon as possible. You can save valuable time and resources that would otherwise be spent on trial-and-error approaches or useless ad campaign management.

The great thing about paid Amazon advertising is you only get to spend whenever a shopper is redirected to your page. These users have higher buying intent and are interested enough to read more about your products. 

As one of Amazon's targeted online marketing channels, Sponsored Search provides businesses like yours with abundant opportunities to hone their marketing efforts. You can explore various ad options, including Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands, and Sponsored Display Ads.

Each ad offers unique advantages and differences.

Sponsored Product Ads

Sponsored Products, like Headline Search Ads, are a great choice to draw attention to a particular product. These ads promote individual product listings within the search results or product detail pages. 

The popularity of Sponsored Products stems from the numerous benefits they offer:

  • Product Discoverability: You get to boost a product that you want to be discovered by the consumers. 
  • Seasonal Item Promotions: Whether it's holiday-themed products, limited-time offers, or seasonal merchandise, these ads allow you to gain customer’s interest during specific periods and capitalize on increased demand.
  • Generating Interest in New Products: By strategically targeting relevant keywords and optimizing your ad campaigns, you can attract attention to your latest offerings and drive sales.

Sponsored Brands

Let's say you want to teach consumers more about your brand than your products. In that case, Sponsored Brand ads are the perfect marketing strategy for you. 

Here, you can promote a custom headline, logo, and display with up to three products in your advertisement. The ad will show at the top of the Amazon search results. When the links are clicked, shoppers will be redirected to your store page. 

The advantage of working with Sponsored Brands as your form of advertisement are the following:

  • Builds Brand Awareness: The display elements in the ads contribute to building a solid brand presence and increasing familiarity with your brand.
  • Store Page Redirection: The ads direct Amazon shoppers to the store, giving them a front-row seat to your product collection. You can show your bestsellers or offer potential customers other relevant data that will entice them to purchase.

Sponsored Display Ads

While Sponsored Product and Sponsored Brand ads rely on keyword targeting, Sponsored Display Ads take a different approach. With product display ads, Amazon uses the audiences’ demographics to target a specific market, making it suitable for aiming at both a product and the audience.

Say you are selling cosmetics—you don’t have to enter specific keywords such as “lipstick” or “foundation” into your ad. Amazon will show your ad to audiences who fit your bill regarding their age, gender, and interests. 

This way, you can get your ads across to high-intent consumers even if they are not actively searching for your products. 

By working with Sponsored Display Ads, you get to do the following:

  • Customizable Ad Creatives: You can include product images, titles, prices, and your brand logo to make your ads visually appealing and engaging for potential customers.
  • Automated Targeting: Any sponsored product display ad can automatically identify and target relevant audiences based on their shopping behaviors and browsing history.

3. User-Generated Content (UGC)

Amazon stands out among both online and offline retailers due to its unparalleled diversity in product offerings. The wide range of products on the site makes it a preferred destination for consumers looking for a vast selection of options.

The significance of Amazon's product variety becomes apparent when considering its impact on consumer preference. Customers worldwide who add items to their shopping carts are often influenced by the reviews they read.

In its pursuit of becoming the most customer-centric company globally, Amazon has designed its review system to provide users with insights, including star ratings, written reviews, and images and videos shared by buyers. There's also a section on the listing page wherein they can answer other users' questions about the product.

Amazon sellers can also answer user-generated questions. But do you have all the time to answer such inquiries posted on every product listing page?

This is what an Amazon advertising agency can help you with. You will have a team of account listing experts who will take the time to know more about your product. They will answer the customer’s questions on your page. These answers can turn those hesitant users into potential buyers.

It is also through this proactive approach that you can generate sales. But with user-generated content, you have to take extra steps in making your consumers want to review. You can do this through the following: 

  • Use the "Request a Review" Tool: This tool allows Amazon stores to send automated emails to customers, politely requesting them to leave a review after their purchase.
  • Participate in Amazon Vine: Sign up for Amazon Vine to get the chance to have Amazon's most trusted reviewers rate your products. Their positive reviews can greatly enhance your product's credibility and visibility.
  • Engage Social Media Followers: Encourage your followers to purchase and review your products on Amazon. Run promotional campaigns, offer exclusive discounts, and actively communicate the value of their feedback.

4. Video Marketing 

an infographic of Ad Specs for Animated and Video Ads

Don't forget to outline your market strategy with video ads. With video marketing on the Amazon Marketplace, you can show products in action, tell compelling stories, address customer pain points, and establish a genuine connection with your primary audience.

Of course, you can take videos using a smartphone, but professional cameras are encouraged to get the best video quality possible. It's also best to have your videos professionally taken or produced by someone who does video editing shoots.

If you lack confidence or expertise in video production, collaborating with the best Amazon advertising business agency is a wise decision. They can ensure that all your direct marketing initiatives adhere to Amazon's strict video content requirements.

Here are some tips you can follow when uploading videos to Amazon.

  • Duration: Keep your videos concise and engaging, avoiding lengthy presentations. Capture viewers' attention and deliver your message effectively within a reasonable timeframe.
  • Background: Choose clear and solid colors like white or black as the backdrop when showcasing your product in detail. A clean and uncluttered background helps highlight your product's features and creates a professional look.
  • Sound: Avoid adding distracting music or background noise that could detract from the main message.

5. Product Launches

Product launches are usually for new products in your line. You might think these are not exactly needed since you’re on an online platform, but product launches are more valuable than you think. 

Keep in mind that consumer shopping habits have evolved. Customers are more inclined to explore new products and seek out unique offerings. A well-executed product launch can capture their attention, generate excitement, and drive interest to your brand.

Here’s what an Amazon agency can do for you during the process.

  • Comprehensive SEO Check: They can conduct SEO analysis to uncover gaps or missed opportunities in your brand’s visibility. Leveraging their expertise ensures your product secures top-page rankings and increases customer satisfaction.
  • Product Listing Management: They will use reliable tools and proven methods to manage your product listing content and develop a strategic launch strategy.
  • Conversion Rate Optimization: Post-launch, the agency will provide you with vital metrics to monitor the conversion rates of your product listings. They will analyze key performance indicators, such as click-through rates and customer feedback.

6. Affiliate Marketing 

Numerous websites offer affiliate marketing nowadays. You can see this on Instagram with influencers asking their followers to "swipe up," directing them to certain products.

Amazon also offers its own affiliate program called Amazon Associates. Here’s how it works. 

Once someone clicks on that link and buys the product, the influencer who posted the link will receive a commission. You, as the business owner, get the sale. It's a win-win situation for both the seller and the affiliate. 

With the Amazon Associates program, any approved affiliate can create their unique affiliate site link and share it on their social media platforms or websites. All you need to do is wait for the followers of these influencers to click on the product links, and voila, you've earned more sales!

While it may sound enticing to enroll your business in the program, it may not work for all product categories. It’s best to assess this strategy with a marketing consultant and explore its feasibility concerning your product offerings. 

Seller Interactive: Your Expert Amazon Marketing Strategy Specialist 

Don't stress too much and waste your time learning about how different marketing strategies on Amazon will play out. Instead, divert your time, efforts, and attention to the other aspects of your business where you're ultimately needed. 

Say goodbye to the guesswork and hello to Seller Interactive. With us, your business is guaranteed to be in safe hands. Our experience handling various brand accounts from all sorts of niches can attest to this. With years of experience under our belt, we're confident that we know how marketing on Amazon works. 
Ready to make your product shine in the world’s largest marketplace? Book a call now.

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4 Amazon Keyword Tips You Need, According to Listing Experts

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to finding business success. Different people take different paths to achieve their goals. Some learn from the failures and successes of others, while some prefer to learn from their own experiences.

Interestingly, these principles also apply to learning Amazon strategies like listing optimization. You must embrace a blend of these approaches to outrank your competitors and propel your business forward.

But if you truly want to improve things, include this in your journey: listening to listing experts. You will certainly be able to apply their Amazon keyword tips to refine your keyword research strategy and quickly connect with your target audience.

In this blog post, we’ve gathered four keyword tips we think are gold. Unlike other articles, these tips aren’t generic; we based these on Amazon experts’ years of experience, study, observations from their accounts and competitors, and forward-thinking. 

4 Important Amazon Keyword Tips Backed by Listing Experts

Amazon keywords can make all the difference in the success of your product listings. It’s not just about incorporating popular terms in your listings; it’s about strategically optimizing them to align with your customer’s search behaviors and preferences.

It might be tough to conduct Amazon keyword research, but you don’t have to do it alone. This is where listing experts come into play. They know the ins and outs of Amazon’s search algorithm. They have conducted extensive research and gained valuable insights into what works and what doesn’t in the realm of keywords.

So, what are their expert-backed tips to help you master Amazon keywords?

Tip #1: Know the Relevant Keywords

We all know the power of keywords, these being a primary element to rank on Amazon. While there is no single formula on how we can use them, experts have listed three keyword ideas to optimize your content on the platform.

infographic - amazon keyword tips for optimizing content

Use Main Keywords

The easiest way to begin your listing optimization is to look for valuable keywords and use the top-ranking ones in your account. This strategy is what most people use because it means investing in what's already working.

Leverage Other Keywords

Unfortunately, main keywords pose stiffer competition, just like with other search engines. With tons of pages and hundreds of listings appearing, the chances for you to get a click and sale are small.

Here enters the possibility of using secondary ranking keywords. They may have low search volume, but they face less competition. This increases your chances of more sales and clicks, especially when paired with appealing images and content. 

Use Long-Tail Keywords and Be Creative

Using long-tail keywords may not be widely adopted, but experts consider it a hidden gem. This is an often overlooked opportunity because long-tail keywords don’t usually have high search volumes. However, they attract more qualified and motivated users, boosting the number of visitors to your page.

Because Amazon users search for their desired items using long-tail and more specific keywords, you can target these keywords and expect higher sales and soaring conversion rates. These higher rates will enhance your visibility and prominence in the Amazon search engine.

Tip #2: Avoid Putting Your Brand Name in the Product Title

Many sellers often make the mistake of including their brand name in the product title, thinking it will help them with their Amazon search term optimization. Experts strongly advise against using your brand name in the product title, even if it may seem beneficial. 

Instead of brand name, you must prioritize terms that align with what customers are searching for rather than using words (like your brand name) that don’t have high search volumes. By optimizing the title with descriptive and targeted keywords, you can increase its relevance without compromising valuable search term space.

Tip #3: Don’t Forget Your Off-Page

There is more to Amazon than meets the eye. What we mean by this is that there are more areas where you can incorporate keywords than what appears on your product page

Backend Keywords

Also known as hidden keywords, backend keywords are vital to boosting your conversion. They may look like a compilation of key phrases that do not make sense, but search engines index them to help customers find the products they’re looking for.

The strategy of some Amazon listing experts goes like this: 

Step 1: Copy the ASIN and the keyword phrase on the search. If your product appears, then your product is appearing for the search term you used. 
Step 2: Use a keyword research tool to check all the keywords associated with your ASIN. If your product appears for the search then, you’ll know you chose the keywords correctly. 
Step 3: If there are search keywords absent in your content, create a list and include them in the backend. Focus on variations, synonyms, and related keywords. Avoid using keywords already present in your on-page content.

Online Platforms

Look beyond Amazon; you’ll see countless ways to increase your audience and direct more qualified traffic to your listing.

  • Option 1: Setting up your website is your best bet if you want the freedom to write everything about your product. Make it easy for customers to click the buy button for more conversions and ranking. Don’t forget to link your Amazon account to the site.
  • Option 2: Use the power of social media influencers to your advantage. Connect with influencers and have your brand endorsed on their social media channels. Their followers are your potential clients.
  • Option 3: Invest in email marketing. Make your pitch short but snappy and informative. Tell the readers what your product is and the advantages of using your product. Include a quick link leading to your Amazon product pages for easy access.

Most Amazon SEO companies offer all these services mentioned. Delegate the tasks to a team of experts to ensure quality and efficiency. 

Tip #4: Be Consistent in Keyword Usage

Consistency is the key to Amazon listing optimization. This means you must:

  • Use the Same Keyword in All Your Listing Areas: From product titles to backend search terms, maintaining consistency helps search algorithms recognize the relevance of your listing and enhance its presence in search results.
  • Take Advantage of Keyword Research Tools: These keyword tools filter irrelevant keywords and identify relevant ones. They also provide keyword suggestions, search volume data, and direct competition analysis, saving time and effort.
  • Avoid Keyword Stuffing: Experts discourage keyword stuffing, even if you think using as many keywords as possible is helpful. Focus specifically on using important keywords within your content. 
  • Avoid Subjective Keywords: Avoid subjective keywords that may not align with the nature of your customer. Stick to certain keywords that directly relate to your product and cater to customer preferences.
  • Consider Customer Search Behavior: Conduct market research with tools like Google Trends and Google Analytics. Adjust your keywords naturally. By understanding how customers search for products like yours, you can consistently optimize your listings to meet their needs.

The Ultimate Amazon Keyword Tip: Work With Experts

a businesswoman working with sales statistics

The work never stops in finding the best keywords for listings. You need dedication and commitment to outshine other Amazon sellers and bring your brand to the forefront. Keep digging, exploring, and refining your keyword strategy to stay one step ahead. With this approach, you can conquer the cluttered marketplace and make your brand shine brightly.

If you want to make better decisions and fewer mistakes, work with Seller Interactive. We have industry knowledge and detailed guidance to help you navigate the complexities of keyword optimization.

At Seller Interactive, we offer a range of Amazon services to amplify your performance, including:

  • Amazon Full Account Management
  • Listing Optimization
  • Amazon SEO
  • Sponsored Ad Management/PPC Management
  • Product Launch
  • Brand Protection and Assistance
  • Amazon Account Suspension Appeal and Reinstatement
  • Reimbursement and Refund
  • FBA Wholesale Partnership 

Seller Interactive: Your Ultimate Listing Experts

There are things you can do on your own. But with all the tasks ahead of you, getting help is the way to go. You'll be at peace knowing that professionals are handling your optimization, which is vital for your success on Amazon. 

Let your brand be known! Book a call with us to discuss your business needs and what we can do for you.

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Amazon FBA Pros and Cons: What You Need to Know

Running a business on Amazon may seem easy, but it is far from it. Aside from learning how to maximize online business opportunities, you must also consider how other Amazon-related aspects work. 

Some of those are managing an Amazon seller account, optimizing product listings, navigating Amazon's fee structure, dealing with customer inquiries and reviews, and understanding the intricacies of Amazon policies.

Fortunately, there is a solution that can help alleviate some of the challenges of Amazon selling: the Fulfillment by Amazon program. With the FBA service, you can outsource your products' storage, packaging, and shipping to Amazon’s fulfillment centers. In short, they free up your time and resources to focus on what you do best: growing your business. 

But despite the benefits this program offers, it also has its drawbacks. In this article, we'll look closer at Amazon FBA's pros and cons so you can make an informed decision on whether it aligns with the needs of your ecommerce business.

How FBA Works on the Amazon Platform

center view of a warehouse hallway illustrating an Amazon fulfillment center

Before delving into the pros and cons of Amazon FBA business, everyone should know how the program works, especially new sellers.

Any business working on the vast eCommerce platform can enroll their store or products on FBA, granting them access to Amazon warehouse facilities. By registering for the program, sellers agree to have Amazon handle the entire order fulfillment process, shipping costs, returns, refunds, and product warehousing.

There is no limit to the number of products Amazon sellers can sign up for with the FBA program. Plus, Amazon offers FBA wholesale for businesses that sell their products in bulk. It is more beneficial for wholesale sellers to join this program. With it, they don’t have to deal with many SKUs and order placements personally.

Let’s now talk about the critical aspects of Amazon FBA.

  • Process

If you’re interested in becoming an Amazon FBA seller, we can provide you with a more detailed outline of how the service works:

  • You take the goods to one of Amazon’s warehouses.
  • Amazon securely stocks the goods in its warehouse.
  • Customers buy the items. 
  • Amazon handles the whole process, from billing to inventory updates.
  • Amazon will package and mail the order to the consumer.
  • Amazon meets the rest of the customer service needs, including returns and refunds.
  • Amazon transfers your revenue earnings directly into your bank account.

Amazon's staff will dispatch all shipments, handle customer calls, inform them when their item has been shipped, and manage delivery and payments. All you have to do is replenish them with the stock and collect the cash. Running out of stock can lead to problems as Amazon cannot fulfill and ship orders for out-of-stock items.

  • Cost

The next thing you must know about the FBA program is the fees. Logically speaking, you’re expected to pay for the service and the labor. After all, Amazon offers you its service and takes a lot of workload from you; ultimately, business is business.

There are two primary components of Amazon’s FBA costs:

  • Inventory Storage Costs

Paying for Amazon's inventory storage is the key for small to medium-sized businesses looking for storage space. But suppose you're unsure about it. In that case, compare renting or buying your warehouse costs versus using the FBA program.

  • Fulfillment and Shipping Costs

Sufficient manpower is crucial for ensuring the safe delivery of packages. Leaving your fulfillment and shipping operations to Amazon can be advantageous, provided you understand the unique nature of your business, products, and business model.

The Pros and Cons of Joining the Amazon FBA Program

closeup of Amazon Shopping app on a mobile screen

In the Amazon marketplace, sellers only have little leeway to make errors. With one lousy delivery or poor fulfillment, customers have a higher chance of avoiding their business in the future. That's why many of them are jumping to FBA to handle their logistics work. They can satisfy consumer needs while minimizing the risks of errors.

But more is needed to know this information alone; you also need to weigh the pros and cons of joining the program. From here on, we will help you decide whether being an Amazon FBA seller is for you.

Pros

First, let’s sift through the advantages of Amazon FBA for sellers.

  • You can use Amazon’s prestige to your advantage. Customers trust Amazon's reliability and credibility, so they feel assured that their orders will be delivered and can be returned if necessary. This trust factor can greatly impact their buying decisions.
  • You acquire the opportunity to deliver lightning-fast operations. Amazon's one-of-a-kind online shopping system provides quicker loading and delivery. They’re able to distribute goods to your clients faster than you can.
  • You can boost your Amazon ranking and popularity. Amazon FBA can improve your product's search rankings as it is classified based on price alone, unlike products from non-FBA sellers that are sorted by total price, which includes shipping costs.
  • You have a higher chance of getting the Buy Box. This button is the large 'Add to Basket' icon on all Amazon product lists. Winning the Buy Box would mean increasing your sales and outperforming your competitors.
  • You can provide customers with free shipping. Offering free shipping to Amazon Prime customers can give you an advantage over non-FBA sellers, especially during the busy shopping season.
  • You can lower operating costs. You won't have to worry about storage, staff, or management thanks to Amazon fulfillment centers. You’ll be able to concentrate on delivering more goods and increasing your earnings.
  • You won't have to contend with too many client inquiries. Amazon offers 24/7 support to FBA sellers. They also give your customers the same support and assistance, so you won't have to deal with fulfillment and shipping issues anymore.

Cons

While many sellers have found great online sales success with FBA, some still need to fully embrace the program. Here’s why:

  • Potentially costly charges. Paying Amazon FBA fees is required for sellers using the program, but only some are willing or able to do so. For others, the cost of using FBA can eat into their profit margins, making it difficult to justify the expense.
  • Increased returns. Vendors often discover a spike in the amount or volume of returns. This is attributed, in part, to Amazon’s no-questions-asked return policy. Previously, Amazon would mail returns to you, and you have to pay to proceed with the return. The platform is now trying to send the returns directly to your warehouse.
  • Long-term storage fees. Amazon charges extra for items that have been stored for a long time. They may bill you and negatively impact your metrics for slow-selling items. You must factor in this cost to ensure FBA is financially viable. 
  • Laborious product preparation requirements. FBA requires specific packaging and labeling standards for goods entering Amazon's warehouse, which can be time-consuming and tedious on your part.
  • Complex sales tax. Sales tax is administered at the state level. It can be confusing which tax rate to use if your business resides in one state but has its inventory warehouse in another. 

Final Say: Should I Go With FBA or Fulfill Orders Myself?

Signing up for the Amazon FBA program must be a challenging decision for you. But we believe that its benefits still outweigh the drawbacks you’re considering. From storing your products at the Amazon fulfillment center to managing your inventory, FBA can provide faster yet reliable delivery to customers, eliminating the hassle of multitasking.

While fees are inevitable in the FBA program, the increased convenience and sales potential make it a worthy option. It’s up to you to calculate the potential costs, assess your business’s nature, and consider other important business aspects. This lets you determine how well your business fits the program’s requirements.

Getting on Amazon FBA doesn’t seem so bad. All you need is the right knowledge and assistance from Seller Interactive to guide you every step of the way! 
Contact us today. Learn more about Amazon FBA and how it can boost your business.

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Improve Your Brand Visibility with Amazon Store Optimization

Brand visibility makes the world go round—at least on Amazon. As a seller, visibility can spell the difference between a business earning millions and a part-timer selling a couple of products monthly.

Amazon Stores are an excellent way of achieving this. Brand owners can further separate themselves from the competition using a storefront that offers shoppers an immersive experience.

Let's discuss how Amazon Stores work and some Amazon store optimization tips to enhance brand visibility and bring you closer to ecommerce success.

closeup of amazon website logo with blurred clothing products in the background

What Is an Amazon Store?

Amazon Stores allow you to showcase your brand and products in an engaging way. It is like an eye-catching miniature website for your brand in the world's largest online marketplace, aiming to establish a unique and professional presence.

With Amazon Stores, you can

  • help shoppers discover your entire product range with your own branded URL on Amazon,
  • easily customize your Store using on-brand pre-designed templates and drag-and-drop tiles, and
  • measure success using metrics such as page impressions, visits, sales, and traffic sources.

Amazon Store vs. Amazon Storefront

While some sources use them interchangeably, they have different meanings.

An Amazon Store refers to your brand's home on the platform. It's a custom shopping destination with multiple pages showcasing a brand's story and products. You need to join the Amazon Brand Registry to create a Store with no extra fees and complete with a unique Amazon URL.

On the other hand, Amazon Storefronts are carefully picked destinations highlighting top products from Amazon sellers. This feature was introduced in 2018 to empower and support small businesses, offering a curated place to shop exclusively for American small and medium-sized brands.

business plan illustration

Why Invest in Amazon Store Optimization? Here are the Top 6 Benefits

While Amazon Stores seem like a promising solution, you want to know exactly what you will gain from it. This ensures that you're investing time and effort in activities that will help you meet your business goals.

Amazon Store Statistics

Let's begin with two of Amazon's internal data statistics.

  • +83% dwell time: Stores consisting of three or more pages experienced a remarkable 83% increase in shopper dwell time, along with a 32% increase in attributed sales per visitor.
  • +35% attributed sales per visitor: Stores regularly updated within the initial 90 days witnessed a significant 35% boost in attributed sales per visitor and attracted 21% more repeat visitors on average, contributing to their overall success.

Improved Search Engine Optimization Rankings

Search engines love Amazon. It is guaranteed to reflect on the first page of the search results, so take advantage of that to entice more visitors with a compelling Amazon Store. A well-optimized custom Store offers easy navigation and other relevant functions. These qualities naturally contribute to higher SEO rankings.

Increased Traffic and Sales

Amazon Stores are excellent for helping people discover more about your brand and products. There's much to consume on Amazon results pages, so a customer might not notice who's selling what. But with a compelling Store, you separate yourself from the rest, catch people's attention immediately, and get a chance to be chosen over non-Store sellers.

Enhanced Brand Credibility and Trust

With a well-optimized and attractive Store, you have more chances of generating customer loyalty. They will find your brand professional and genuine because you've created a place to find almost everything they want to know about your offer. That's precisely the formula for customer trust.

Take Your Business Online

In today's digital age, establishing an online presence is crucial for the success of any business, and Amazon Store provides a platform to achieve just that. With a Store, you can seamlessly take your business online and reach a vast and diverse customer base.

The convenience of online shopping on Amazon allows customers to easily browse and purchase your products, boosting your sales and revenue. Furthermore, you can ensure your business is here to stay, regardless of any potential restrictions in the future, similar to those encountered during the coronavirus pandemic.

Stunning Way to Showcase Your Inventory

Enough with the dull and messy sight of standard ecommerce inventory templates; with Amazon Stores, you can easily display your product detail page in a more efficient way that helps customers to browse through them per category, ranging from best-sellers to the type of ingredient used.

3 Steps to Start an Amazon Store

Can I create my Store now? 

Not so fast! In the past few years, Amazon has been strengthening its stance on providing accurate brand representation for its customers and proactive brand protection for its sellers. So this feature is exclusive to brand owners and involves a few requirements.

Here are three steps summarizing how to start building your Amazon Store.

1) Enroll in the Amazon Brand Registry

Before you create your store, enroll in the Amazon Brand Registry first. Doing so will make you eligible for Store creation, facilitate the management of your product listings, access powerful tools, and be automatically protected.

2) Start Building Your Store

Here's how you start creating your Store in chronological order.

  • Review the Store's ad policies and ensure your ASINs and content comply.
  • Structure your Store with a homepage and category pages using the templates and features available.
  • Add branded content to those pages such as videos, text, and images to show your offerings in action.
  • Add ASINs next and group them according to their variation and pricing. Choose between the product grid or product tile feature to organize how your listings appear.
  • Include unique header photos, lifestyle images, and other interactive creatives to provide a dynamic buying experience for your customers.

3) Submit Your Store for Approval

When you're ready to publish your newly constructed Amazon Store, submit it for review. Allow yourself sufficient time because Store moderation can take up to 24 hours.

How to Know If Your Amazon Store is Approved or Not

When your Store is approved, you'll spot a link in the Stores section in your Amazon advertising account. This also includes Manage Store and See Insights options.

Meanwhile, a rejected Store has two different types:

  • Soft rejections -  Helps you catch errors you may have missed during Store creation. You can ignore these warnings and submit the Store for approval.
  • Hard rejections - Unlike soft rejections, you can't move forward without addressing these issues.
a pile of memo stickies with business-related words written on them

The Next Step: Managing Your Store and Implementing Amazon Store Optimization Strategies

Is your Store approved? Congratulations! Now what?

The next step is to manage and strategize your Store activities. In building a business on Amazon, no single surefire blueprint or formula guarantees success. Entrepreneurs should create plans from A to Z in line with current market trends and the pace where the business is at. This ensures you still progress if one strategy doesn't work.

Here are some valuable tips for managing and implementing Amazon Store strategies.

  1. Conduct a Post-Launch Checklist
  2. Understand Amazon's Algorithm
  3. Optimize Your Product Listings
  4. Utilize Effective Keyword Research
  5. Enhance Content with Compelling Visuals
  6. Leverage Customer Reviews
  7. Use Sponsored Ads to Increase Store Traffic
  8. Know When to Make Store Changes
  9. Monitor and Adapt Strategies Based on Data

Conduct a Post-Launch Checklist

The first thing you should do when your Store goes live is to ensure all the necessary setups and considerations are addressed after launching. Your post-launch checklist will serve as a systematic guide to verify everything is in order and identify anything else that may require your attention.

Here's what you can do:

  • Link your ASINs to your Store's brand byline (the hyperlinked brand name on the product detail pages that directs organic traffic to your Store.)
  • Submit a request to the Vendor or Seller Central account support team to replace your long URL with a short one you have in mind.
  • Hit up the Insights dashboard to see how your Store is performing.

Understand Amazon's Algorithm

You need to understand how Amazon's latest algorithm, the A10, works and affects how you run your Store. The current update shows what Amazon considers several factors that can affect your product's ranking and relevance in the search results. 

colourful letters spelling out algorithm update on white background
  • Keyword Relevance
  • Impressions
  • Click-Through Rate (CTR)
  • Conversion Rate
  • Amazon PPC Advertising
  • Sales History
  • Sales Velocity
  • Internal Sales
  • Organic Sales
  • Customer Ratings
  • Pricing
  • A+ Content
  • Delivery Time
  • Customer’s Location
  • Customer’s Purchase History
Amazon store optimization services factors

Optimize Product Listings

Optimizing your product listing ensures a high search ranking for your chosen keywords. The A10 updates didn't change a lot about this aspect. It only changed the weight of each part of the product listing. Here's what you can do:

Product Title

The A10 rules prioritize keyword readability and relevance over placement. Focus on those two factors and make things work within the 200-250 character limit. Resist the temptation to cram as many keywords in the title as possible. 

The preferred format should be:

[Brand Name]  [Product Type]  [Feature #1]  [Feature #2]  [Variance]

Bullet Points

Outline the features and benefits your customers will get from your product in bullet points and within 1000 characters (including spaces). Make your points concise but can evoke a customer's emotions. Avoid making them too long, as readers might skip reading them.

Product Descriptions

Don't treat your product description as an afterthought; Amazon customers still read them. When a buyer is intrigued about what you wrote in the bullet points, they go to the description for more details. You can put the materials used, the item's texture, assembly instructions, and other benefits here.

Backend Search Terms Optimization

Most sellers overlook backend keywords when it's one of the most important parts of a listing. Keywords that you can't put in the other parts of a listing should be placed here. Prospective buyers can't see them, but search engines do.

The limit for backend keywords is 249 bytes, including spaces and punctuation marks, so don't waste this valuable piece of real estate. Use it efficiently.

Utilize Effective Keyword Research and Implementation

Just like in Google, the effective use of keywords is vital in Amazon SEO. This determines how the algorithm analyzes what customers are looking for and matches the most relevant products to their queries. 

Enhance Content with Compelling Visuals

The ecommerce world is often noisy and cluttered. It's hard to stand out in an environment like that, so you need eye-catching visuals to make heads turn. They must also be relevant and compelling, representing your brand short and sweet.

Product Images

After searching, the first thing potential buyers check is the product image. This is the ultimate driver for sales. Ensure your images are optimized and geared towards converting those browsers into buyers.  

EBC / A+ Content

Buyers are likely to buy from your brand if they see something unique. It comes down to how uniquely you can showcase your wares. A+ Content (formerly Enhanced Brand Content) can do that for you by allowing special characters in the product title and other features that will catch any jaded customer's eyes.

Videos

Videos are an excellent way to increase online engagement if we look at social media trends. It could show potential buyers what the product looks like in real life or demonstrate a few of its features.

You can put videos under the image block or below the fold under “Related video shorts.” Depending on your goals, you can create brand videos, how-tos, testimonials, unboxing, or how a product operates under extreme conditions. 

amazon customer reviews about product features on mobile screen

Leverage Customer Reviews and Ratings

Reviews mean a lot to Amazon. It shows how reliable your product is and how customers like what you're selling. More positive reviews would go a long way in improving your search traffic, according to the A10 algorithm.

Of course, your initial plan would be to get as many good reviews as possible. But before making elaborate plans to achieve that, you need to consider a few things.

Memorize Amazon's Rules

Review and memorize Amazon's Customer Product Reviews Policy to avoid any infractions. These rules include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Don't create a review of your own product or a competitor's product.
  • Never offer rewards in exchange for reviews on your products or a competitor's.
  • Don't ask any family member or employee to review your product.
  • Asking a reviewer to remove or change their review is unacceptable.
  • Never put any incentive to get a positive review on the box or shipping label.
  • Avoid using a third-party service that offers free or discounted items tied to a review.
  • Don't do anything that can influence a customer's review in any way post-purchase.

Violating these rules could result in listing suppression, account suspension, permanent deactivation, or legal action. Be careful.

Spread the Word About Your Amazon Store

Making people outside Amazon aware of your store is a good idea, as long as you create a funnel to filter the people coming in. Social media has always been an excellent platform for marketing. Some examples of these platforms are Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, and Pinterest. 

Improve Your Overall Customer Service

Good customer service significantly affects how customers see your products. It begins with promptly addressing customer queries and ends with effectively handling post-purchase inquiries.

  • Answer queries about your store and products promptly. Not only will you lose sales if you fail to do this, but you might start the buyer-seller relationship with the wrong impression.
  • Be honest about your products. Don't try to exaggerate, overhype, or embellish anything about your products, as these will come back to haunt you. Avoid making unsubstantiated claims unless you have documents to prove them.
  • Set your customers' expectations about the delivery time frame. Bad reviews come from not telling customers when they can expect their package. Using a logistics partner with a tracking feature might help ease any doubts your customers may have.
  • After your buyer receives the package, they might have more questions about the product, or something wasn't up to their expectations. You must be vigilant in answering these questions, as ignoring them might result in an awful review.

Use Sponsored Ads to Increase Store Traffic

Sponsored Ads can increase your impressions faster than advertisers who choose to skip them. Consider linking Sponsored Brand campaigns to your Store's homepage or any subpage to bring in more relevant traffic and make the customer's journey seamless.

You should also try sharing your unique Store URL on your off-Amazon channels, such as your ecommerce website, social media platforms, or blog.

Know When to Make Changes to Your Store

You must continuously update your Amazon Store for new or returning customers, trends, seasonality, content refresh, and new releases. It's not a one-time task; you must check it regularly to see if it requires an update. Doing so will also boost your repeat visitors and attributed sales per visitor.

Watch out for the following signs and take immediate action:

  • Low daily traffic
  • Excellent traffic, but sales are low.
  • Some category pages convert well, but they lack traffic.

Monitor and Adapt Strategies Based on Data

Finally, it's crucial to ensure your Store optimization techniques are effective. You can do so by checking the See Insights dashboard, identifying your specific store KPIs, and tracking other metrics in your account. Additionally, you should stay up-to-date on the Store feature's releases, updates, and other important announcements.

All this information will affect your brand visibility, so adjust your strategies according to your Store's performance insights.

Keep the Ecommerce Engine Running

Treat your Store as a pride factor for your business. It's one of the best platforms to showcase what your brand is all about, expand your targets, and thrive in the competitive digital market.

And after getting your Amazon Store on the map, all you have to do is keep it going. However, the rules change, so you must always be ready to take the next step. We hope this discussion empowers you with the necessary knowledge and confidence to succeed in your ecommerce marketing journey!

What Seller Interactive Offers

It takes work to keep up with the constantly-changing ecommerce world. Because of this, many sellers get Amazon store optimization services to keep an eye on their accounts and ensure they're on the right track. You should, too.

Seller Interactive can be your partner agency in fulfilling all the Amazon tasks you need. We offer:

  • full account management,
  • search engine optimization,
  • sponsored ad management,
  • product launch management,
  • product listing optimization,
  • wholesale partnership,
  • brand protection,
  • account suspension appeal and reinstatement,
  • reimbursement and refund, and
  • DSP advertising.

When the tasks seem daunting, we have a team of experts to assist. With years of experience, we have seen what works and what doesn't on Amazon. We are committed to making every account we manage to succeed. 
Contact us, so you can discuss your business needs and present you with our offer.

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5 Reasons Amazon Negative Reviews Are Useful for Optimization

On average, 88% of customers read product reviews before buying to ensure they're not wasting money. Amazon shoppers are no different. In fact, Amazon's A10 algorithm considers seller feedback and product reviews as some of the many deciding factors when ranking products in the search results. 

So, the consensus among sellers is that customer dissatisfaction and negative product reviews are bad. You're better off not having them. But that's not entirely true. There are a few good things that bad reviews on Amazon can benefit sellers regarding account optimization

While having too many of them can negatively affect your search ranking, having no negative reviews can also hurt your conversion rate. Surprisingly, negative feedback can benefit you as an Amazon seller in the long run. Read on to find out how!

Seller Feedback vs. Product Reviews

Before continuing with how the ways negative reviews help with account optimization, let’s first differentiate these two seemingly similar terms: seller feedback vs. product reviews. They may be related, but they have significant differences.

When optimizing your Amazon account, it is crucial to understand how each aspect works, as they play a vital role in enhancing your visibility and reputation on the platform.

5 Reasons Amazon Negative Reviews Aid in Optimizing Your Amazon Account

Don't worry too much about negative product reviews. Instead, look at ways to make them work in your favor. Here are five reasons outlining why negative reviews can be vital in your Amazon business: 

1) Products with Mixed Reviews Are More Credible

Most customers are considerably knowledgeable about eCommerce and the broader landscape of retail. If you think buyers are unaware of certain sellers creating positive but fake reviews for their own benefit, you'd better think again. 

A 5-Star Rating Could Mean the Seller Only Has a Few Reviews.

The Amazon A10 algorithm, like customers, relies on seller authority to rank products. It's easy to get a perfect rating but what matters more to Amazon is consistency. 

To illustrate, which product rating do you think is more trustworthy: a perfect 5-star rating with less than 100 reviews or a 4.6-star rating and over a thousand reviews? Unsurprisingly, most people would choose the latter because it has more significant social proof.

Don't be fooled by flawless stars; embrace the power of over a thousand voices!

An almost-perfect rating with more than a thousand reviews shows that the product still managed to satisfy or even go beyond the majority of customer expectations. 

Customer Expectations Are Not the Same

Have you ever heard of the saying, “You can't please everybody?” This notion holds greater significance in the retail business. Managing the customer’s expectations can be challenging because of the diverse shopping preferences and requirements. The following reasons contribute to this phenomenon: 

  1. Social media has a significant influence on people's expectations. 
  2. Their expectations are affected by false advertising.
  3. Buyers feel that the customer is always right.
  4. The herd mentality overshadows the desire for individualism.

These reasons make it harder for sellers to please everybody, and customers are also becoming aware of it. Consequently, prospective buyers no longer look for a seller with a perfect 5-star rating. They'd rather have someone with around 4.9 stars or nearly-perfect star ratings.

Buyers Expect Honest Reviews

Amazon customers love getting a wealth of information about products. The more information they get, the more informed their purchase decisions will be. Because of this, the demand for honest reviews has significantly increased. People want to know not only the valuable features of the products but also where it falls short.

Contrary to popular belief, customers knowing the negative aspects of your product won't necessarily push them away. The decisive factor in their choice is still the price. You often see reviews like, “It's good for the price,” or “It's worth the price,” showing how people factor in the price when it comes to satisfaction.

Many buyers consider 5-star reviews without any other detail fake. For a negative product review to be helpful, it should have three components:

  • The bad aspects of the product.
  • How the product helped solve (or didn't solve) a buyer's problem.
  • How the product compares with others like it.

2) Negative Reviews Outline Your Product's Weaknesses

As a seller, improving your products is a must, not just for Amazon account optimization but also to satisfy your customers. You can't accomplish that without getting information from them; after all, they're the ones buying and using your products. 

If you're the manufacturer, you can have your development team look at negative reviews, so they'll know what other things they can do to enhance your products. You can also pass it on to the manufacturer if you aren’t the one who’s making them. 

Example: A customer complained about a particular weakness in the boots he bought for his daughter, where snow accumulates at the bottom of the soles. This negative review will serve as room for improvement for manufacturers. The manufacturer should clarify that the boots require a break-in period to perform well in snowy conditions. This information can then be added to their updated Amazon product listing description, so future customers will know what to expect.

3) It's an Opportunity for More Buyer-Seller Interaction

Consumers want to be treated as a person, not a number. Automated communication is good, but some prefer to communicate with the seller directly about their concerns. This way, you can get more information about their negative product review. 

A 30,000-respondent survey conducted by Bazaarvoice states that 48% of the respondents are more likely to buy from businesses that respond to their customer reviews. This can potentially boost conversions and sales.

Confirm the Validity of the Issue

When browsing Amazon, look for the "Verified Purchase" label on the right side of the product variances. The negative review may be invalid if you do not see this label. Responding to invalid issues serves no purpose, so we recommend creating a request for Amazon to remove it. 

⚠️ Any sign of profanity can also be a ground for removing the bad review. To do so, click the “Report abuse” button under the review or email [email protected] to notify Amazon about your concern.

Acknowledge the Negative Customer Experience

Let your customer know you feel bad about the negative experience. Empathy is one of the most critical aspects of customer service. Show them that you're also human and you understand their situation.

Sincerely Apologize and Offer Solutions

Making excuses is not an option here. It will only make the situation worse. Tell your customer that you regret the negative experience and start offering solutions. There are several options to address the problem without influencing the original review. 

Check out this game-changing feature for registered brand sellers, where you can easily communicate with unsatisfied customers and address their concerns:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRNgX_ymIkQ

You may process a refund, replace the product, process a return, offer discounts, or offer freebies. Remember, Amazon has policies penalizing sellers trying to manipulate customer reviews.

4) Customers Want to Know the Worst-Case Scenario

Some buyers are crafty when choosing the products they purchase. They evaluate your products and services based on the specifications in the ratings. And among these ratings, the negative reviews uncover the worst-case scenario associated with buying from you. 

Most buyers look at these reviews objectively. For example, if they see a one-star review stating that their purchase was delivered two days late, they may perceive such a rating as quite severe for a slight delay. This might even make them buy from you. Compared to a seller with no negative reviews, you appear more credible for letting these reviews reveal your drawbacks.

5) Negative Reviews Can Unexpectedly Spark Inspiration.

Most importantly, negative reviews that go into detail about what went wrong with the product or service may actually spark inspiration in the seller. They can provide better insight into your target audience’s needs, allowing you to not only improve but also give you a brand-new product or service idea.

Example: If your phone case product gets a review criticizing its inability to withstand water, you can manufacture and offer waterproof products more durable than your current designs.

Bad Reviews Aren't the End of the World

If you receive a negative product review, calm yourself and get to work. It's not the end of the world. Customers write negative reviews all the time. Your overall average star rating may suffer slightly, but it’s crucial to remember that having a few of these can be useful to you as a seller. 

That said, it doesn't mean your goal is to get as many bad reviews as possible. The point is not to get discouraged when you get some. When done right, Amazon account optimization can make them work in your favor. 

Remember the saying, “Nothing is permanent except death, taxes, and unfavorable reviews.” If you plan to sell for some time on Amazon, expect a few negative reviews and know precisely what to do using the tips we shared. Are you still finding it difficult to optimize your Amazon account? Let the experts handle it on your behalf! Book a call with Seller Interactive’s Amazon professionals today.

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The Benefits of Amazon PPC Outsourcing You Need To Know

It takes several tasks to establish, maintain, and reap success with your Amazon business. These include account creation, account protection, store optimization, management of stocks and sales, shipping, and advertising. Some of these are best done with the help of a good Amazon PPC outsourcing company

A PPC team comprises professionals offering a wealth of knowledge and experience to bring you the best Amazon PPC strategy. But how does PPC advertising on Amazon even work, and will hiring an Amazon PPC management agency help enhance your campaign performance? 

Let’s delve into the ins and outs of Amazon PPC advertising and discover how professional Amazon PPC services can help boost your brand.

A Look Into Amazon Advertising

You may already be a long-time Amazon seller but still a novice in Amazon's advertising platform. If so, let’s briefly discuss how it works. 

Pay-per-click, or PPC, is Amazon's internal advertisement system wherein sellers bid on keywords to either rank on the search results or be advertised in multiple areas on the website.

To participate, sellers must determine the keywords they want to rank for each listing. Then, they bid for a certain amount, and whoever has the highest bid gets the ranking or advertisement. The winning seller must pay Amazon each time someone clicks on the listing.

3 Types of Amazon Ads

The platform has three primary types of ad formats that can boost product visibility, increase conversions, and improve overall profitability:

  • Amazon Sponsored Products - These advertisements can be seen at the top of, along the sides of, within the search results, or on the product detail page. This format can either be automated or manually run.
  • Amazon Sponsored Brands - Commonly called headline ads, they appear as banners, usually on top of shopping results. This lets you feature your logo and three of your most popular products, leading the buyer to the brand's page.
  • Amazon Sponsored Display - allows sellers to advertise their products on third-party apps or websites. Amazon’s cookies will trace which buyer visited your listing or a similar one. Amazon will then promote your product on other websites the buyer visits, such as Facebook, Twitch, Instagram, or Netflix.

Choosing the most effective ad format heavily depends on your brand's goals and target audience. Carefully bidding on the right keywords for your listing will also significantly affect the performance and outcome of each advertising format.

The Basics of Keyword Research and Bidding

Keywords are words or phrases that best describe the content and are strategically selected and applied to improve a brand’s visibility and ranking in search results. People enter these terms on a search engine to find what they’re looking for. 

For example, if someone is looking for a pair of shoes, they may type "running shoes" or "best running shoes for men/women." In the context of Amazon SEO optimization, listings should contain these keywords to appear in the search results.

Types of Keywords

There are two types of keywords: short-tail and long-tail keywords. While both are equally important for a PPC campaign, advertising experts advise bidding more for long-tail keywords.

These keywords are wordier, more specific, and less likely to be searched than short-tail keywords. 

Additionally, long-tail keywords suggest buyers invested effort into refining their search terms, indicating they are more likely to buy the product

Types of Keyword Match

To get a good grasp on the research process and find the right Amazon keywords to use, here are the different match types you will encounter. 

  • Broad Match - Amazon shows your manual ad campaigns to broader search terms (your keyword and its variants), reaching more potential customers. You're just going to have tougher competition because of their search volume. 
  • Phrase Match - This is a more refined manual ad campaign. You'll appear to buyers searching for products with specifications. They know precisely what they are looking for, so there's a higher chance of purchasing.
  • Exact Match - When you use this type of keyword, you already foresaw the audience who will see your listing, click through them, and buy them. You will only appear in the specific keywords you set to bid for. 
  • Close Match - This automatic ad campaign uses keywords that closely match your products. 
  • Loose Match - This is another option when using Amazon's automatic ad campaign. A counterpart of phrase and broad match, it shows your ads to terms loosely linked to your product.
  • Substitutes - Amazon will make your ad appear on products related to yours as a suggested alternative. 
  • Complements - Are you affiliated with other products? Amazon will make your ad appear on product pages that complement your offer.

Top 5 Essential Metrics

Tracking and analyzing key metrics is crucial to run successful Amazon PPC campaigns. Here are the top 5 essential KPIs every Amazon seller should learn.

  • ACoS - The price of running a PPC campaign.
  • CPC -  The cost of what you pay for the ads based on the clicks they get. 
  • CVR -  Indicates the number of page visits resulting in a sale. 
  • ROAS - Refers to how much money you make on a campaign for every dollar spent.
  • CTR -  The percentage of people viewing and clicking your ads that include call-to-action.

What Can an Amazon Advertising Agency Do for Your Business?

Advertising on Amazon is no easy feat. The number of tasks you have to handle can be confusing and overwhelming. Fortunately, dozens of advertising companies can assist you and alleviate the burden of managing your Amazon PPC campaign alone.

From deciding which advertising campaign is best to strategic keyword bidding and account management, here are effective strategies you can apply with the help of an Amazon advertising agency.

Increase Brand and Product Awareness and Sales Using Amazon Sponsored Products and Sponsored Display Ads

Professional Amazon PPC advertising companies understand when to use each type of Amazon ads for success.

Amazon Sponsored Products work best to increase awareness about a specific product in your store. This product can be your bestseller. Advertising it more will ensure the stability of sales and brand visibility.

On the other hand, Amazon Sponsored Display is more focused on increasing brand awareness because this ad appears on Amazon and off-Amazon pages. Because your brand is exposed to a larger audience, you can rake in more potential buyers. 

What if you run out of stock? That won't be a problem—this ad will appear only when you have stocks, so keep your listing updated.

In eCommerce, visibility is king. Your partner Amazon advertising agency will help you reach a wider audience through this strategy.

Seamlessly Comply With Amazon’s Brand Guidelines Amazon Sponsored Brands 

Amazon is a marketplace ruled by guidelines to ensure that all sellers are in a fair selling field. These rules also ensure that all content is legitimate and not overselling. Some of Amazon's brand guidelines include call to action (CTA) dos and don'ts, proper use of images and logos, color regulations, citing details about your products, and co-branding. 

Not abiding by these guidelines can mean non-launching or even the termination of your campaign. When you have invested so much in the research but failed to get the rules right, your efforts may not see fruition. 

Fortunately, Amazon is proactive enough to show their sellers the way by publishing complete and detailed guides on what types of ad copies and creatives they can place on their Sponsored Brands ads, including a list of recommended CTAs.

Amazon Sponsored Brands aid in the seamless execution of Amazon's brand guidelines by providing advertisers with a dedicated advertising format to showcase their brand and products consistently and appealingly.

The platform even offers a brief but concise checklist for Sponsored Brands ad users to help them ensure all necessary elements follow Amazon’s policies. 

Screenshot of Amazon Sponsored Brands checklist for ad formats and copies

Following these recommended guidelines and formats will prevent constant ad rejections and enable sellers to maximize their ad performance and drive better results. This ultimately promotes brand visibility efficiently and effectively.

Relying on Amazon PPC outsourcing will clear the worry of non-compliance with Amazon brand guidelines. An Amazon advertising agency will not only abide by the rules but also ensure that the end product is appealing to get clicks and sales from customers. 

Attract a Larger Audience by Creating and Managing Amazon Stores

We all become buyers of someone else's products at some point. In these moments, try to be more aware of your behavior as a buyer. This way, you can understand more about your customers' needs. 

Do you research the products or read some reviews before buying? Guess what—you're part of the 70% of the consumer market, both offline and online, who do the same thing. 

If you want to attract the rest of that 70%, establish your Amazon Store or an off-Amazon website. Putting up an Amazon Store may be the best Amazon PPC strategy for you, but launching an off-Amazon website can also be a supplemental tool to get your brand's message across. 

Amazon Store

An Amazon Store is a visually engaging extension for your product listing. You can present your whole product portfolio using multimedia and introduce your brand to your viewers. Character counts are expanded, so you can discuss your unique selling points more.

Most importantly, your Amazon Store will serve as a push for buyers still thinking twice about purchasing your products.

Off-Amazon

If you wish to create a presence outside of Amazon to attract a larger audience, partnering with an Amazon advertising agency is the way to go. Off-Amazon websites do not put sales as a primary goal, but they can be a bridge for internet users looking for products similar to yours. 

An Amazon advertising agency would know which strategies work best for you. They will consider different factors, such as the profile of your potential customers, the budget, and the timeline allotted for your campaign. Depending on your goals and budget, you can also have the best of both worlds.  

Research, Brainstorm, and Execute a Keyword Strategy

Keyword research and strategy is more than just incorporating certain words into your listing up to a set frequency; it is done with technique. When devising a keyword tactic for your campaigns, you can either let Amazon do all the strategizing on your behalf, do it entirely by yourself, or combine both:

  • Automatic Campaign - Amazon decides which keywords to bid for based on your product’s relevance to the search terms. This campaign benefits new sellers and those unfamiliar with keywords, giving them more time to focus on their core business.
  • Manual Campaign - For manual campaigns, you will be the one to choose the keywords and bid for them, including intensive research and campaign performance monitoring. This gives you more freedom and flexibility to participate in the process actively.
  • Automatic + Manual Campaign - Your Amazon PPC outsourcing partner company would know if combining the two is the ideal solution for you. Automated campaigns enable more precise targeting and data on the effectiveness of your chosen keywords.
The visibility of your campaign all boils down to whether or not you're using the right keywords and campaign strategies.

The great thing about working with a professional Amazon PPC service is that you have a foundation to build upon, so you’re not essentially starting from scratch. These experts have years of experience and observations on consumer behavior, so they know how to start strong.

While there's no single formula to guarantee a business’s success, you can always rely on the best Amazon PPC strategy unique to your brand for optimal results. 

Be Unique, Stand Out, and Get the Sale With Professional Graphic Designers

Think of an ad you can still remember from years ago; what about that ad left a lasting impact on you? You want to have this kind of recall from your campaign. Pay attention to your visuals, target what's trendy, and create images that sell

Amazon knows that not all sellers on their platform can create ads from scratch. Hence, they provide many types of paid ads that you can launch in just a few clicks through templates. While this is convenient for Amazon sellers like yourself, note that because of the templates, the results may not be as original as you would like them.

Give your brand the visuals it deserves by hiring Amazon ad management services. Ensure high-quality graphics and content done by an in-house creative team. They will polish your campaign from the color palette and tagline to its signature layout. Their tasks will also include monitoring ad assets throughout the campaign to measure effectiveness. 

Summary

Amazon PPC outsourcing is a wise choice if you need professional help handling your advertising campaigns. Your partner Amazon PPC agency will take care of your ads' keywords, strategies, and layout to ensure they instantly catch attention, create a lasting impression, and drive sales out of potential buyers.  

Experience the Perks of Amazon PPC Outsourcing With Seller Interactive

Seller Interactive offers the complete services you need to succeed on Amazon. We provide complete account and campaign management, search engine optimization, listing optimization, and more. Our primary goal is to provide strategies and solutions to help your business reach new heights and boost your Amazon sales. Call us at 1-800-820-3746 for inquiries, and outsource your Amazon PPC ads today.

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The Only Amazon Marketing Agency Guide You Need This 2023

Putting up your own business seems like an easy thing to do. But most people only see the tip of the iceberg. They see the fruits they can get from creating their own business, but not the process of how to get there. 

One of those processes? Creating effective marketing strategies for your Amazon business.

So, why should business owners like you consult an Amazon marketing agency? What do you gain from meeting with an Amazon seller consultant? 

We answer your questions (and more) about Amazon online marketing agencies in this blog.

A Peek Into the World of Amazon Marketing Agencies

Amazon marketing agencies work with Amazon sellers to increase visibility and conversion rates to maximize their profits. Keyword research, strategic planning, product photography, listing optimization, content creation, and more are among the services they provide. 

Working with Amazon Marketing Company is the perfect way to collaborate with pros who can help boost your sales and drive profits.

Types of Amazon Marketing Service Agencies

Did you know Amazon has an average of 220.48 million monthly visitors? Amazon advertising agencies, like the ones below, are popping up to take advantage of Amazon's undeniable success. 

What are the types of Amazon digital marketing agencies and their corresponding functions?

  • Amazon Review Service Agency: Handles all reviews and encourages customers to leave positive feedback. They also mitigate negative reviews.
  • Amazon Optimization Agency: Ensures your product listings reach your targets by staying updated with algorithms and SEO practices.
  • Amazon Content Agency: Composes compelling content and descriptions that inform your target customers about the importance and benefits of buying your product.
  • Amazon Advertising Agency: Guarantees the correct execution of paid product ads to increase a seller’s success rate. The best example is through a PPC campaign
  • Amazon Branding Agency: Ensures all product listings and marketing media reflect your brand, giving it a unique identity that helps prospects remember you. Having your product branded or trademarked is your defense against hijackers.
  • Amazon Listing Agency: Creates and uploads listings optimized for success.
  • Amazon Creative Agency: Responsible for the creative side of product promotion, like photo layout, video editing, and more.
  • Full-Service Digital Agency: An all-around agency that handles all things involving advertising campaigns and brand protection. This agency helps from end-to-end and can be cheaper than agencies with specialized services.

Why Do You Need an Amazon Marketing Agency?

Growing your business entails challenges and hurdles. What if you can get help with it? Keep reading as we share eight reasons Amazon consulting experts can help you grow your business.

To Manage and Optimize Ads

Because managing and optimizing ads are time-consuming, conversing and engaging with Amazon consulting experts is vital. These consultants craft and optimize your ads through in-house technology.

An Amazon marketing agency optimizes your product listings and ads for you, so you can focus on other operations, save time on tedious tasks, and grow your business.

For Branding

Drafting logos, creating taglines, and even designing branding kits take time and effort, especially for business owners.

We can bet that your competitors study the target market, especially with how they respond with their brand and business. The ones at the top have a dedicated team of experts that do this to make sure every line, shape, color, and text deliver a branding message their target market desires. 

To be on the same level as your competitors, hire your own Amazon consulting experts. They will be your own team of experts who can help you strengthen your branding’s message and put marketing materials together that accurately represent your brand.

To Optimize Product Listings

Ranking high on search results is tough, especially for resellers or third-party (3P) sellers.

Choosing the right keywords, images, and product descriptions influence how these listings rank and convert into sales. SEO services for Amazon help increase your organic rank on Amazon and maximize the Amazon A10 algorithm. 

To Check Reviews

Negative reviews weigh more when it comes to Amazon. It’s what psychologists call the negativity bias. So when customers check other customers' reviews, they’re likely searching for that one scathing comment in the haystack of positive ones. 

The task of an Amazon marketing agency is to make sure that if a shopper ever finds a negative review, there’s a reasonable (and polite) rebuttal and a resolution for it.

To Stay Updated With Amazon’s Policies

Amazon constantly changes to improve the service quality it provides its customers. As companies work on the growth of their business, keeping up with the updates and policies may be put on the backburner.

When you work with consultants, you get ahead since you get to review updates quickly and easily. Consultants keep you in the loop and even send you a summary of the updates directly!

To Connect With Amazon Support

Customers, sellers, and resellers need help connecting and communicating with the Amazon support team for various reasons. For those who sell, the most common ones are related to orders and Seller Central account issues which impact business.

Amazon consultants help third-party sellers (3P sellers) easily reach Amazon support through their collaborative relationship with the marketplace. By easily connecting with them, agencies can make resolutions fast, mitigating any loss of business.

To Learn From Experts

One of the indirect effects of working with an Amazon marketing agency is the transfer of knowledge. Most agencies have an open communication through online channels wherein business owners can ask questions. 

A free flowing exchange like this becomes an opportunity to consult with the team freely should the owner wishes to gain marketplace insight. Apart from knowledge, sellers can also be exposed to new tools and technologies that the agency integrates to a merchant’s Amazon account.

Types of Solutions You'll Get From an Amazon Marketing Agency

Full-service amazon marketing agencies can help you get started in the digital marketing sphere. On Amazon, you have four leading solutions to make your products and brand known, while off Amazon gives you three.

Amazon Ads 

  • Sponsored Product: This type of PPC advertising is the most commonly used. It puts your products on center stage, appearing on results and product pages of customers looking for similar products. You want these potential buyers to click on your ad and buy from you instead.
  • Sponsored Brands: Contrary to the first advertising solution that shows the product itself, Sponsored Brands show minimal but highly appealing taglines, photos, and other visuals with the brand's logo. It aims to create brand awareness and an audience interested enough to click to see your complete product portfolio. In creating awareness, consistency in branding is the key.
  • Sponsored Display: This solution will make your ads appear on the Amazon platform, third-party websites, and applications. You may create ads focused on your products or materials for brand awareness. An Amazon marketing agency will assist you with setting clear goals and objectives, creating advertisements for your product or brand, and deciding what targeting goals you should have.
  • Amazon Stores: Like building a website, Amazon Stores will provide you with a unique URL for your brand, which you can publish on other platforms to lead more visitors to your store. A partner agency will provide Amazon-sponsored ads management, which includes search engine optimization, a customized Amazon store layout, and branded images. 

Website Creation and Optimization

If you already have an Amazon store, do you still need to establish a separate website? It depends on your goal as a seller. If you want to increase your brand's credibility and have more space to discuss your products and related topics, build a website. 

The step-by-step of creating a website is a bit complex for one person. We're talking about developing the site itself, content creation, site management, maintenance, and a bunch of other processes. 

A helping hand from an Amazon marketing agency with a team of in-house content writers, website designers, SEO specialists, customer support professionals, and marketers can do wonders in this area.

Off-Amazon Ads

  • Google for Retail: Another advertising solution you can use to expose your products to viewers outside Amazon is Google for Retail. Commonly called Google Ads by Amazon sellers, Google for Retail offers three main campaigns you and your partner agency can choose depending on the business goals you have set.
  • Search Campaigns: This works like Amazon's pay-per-click advertising, where you only pay when potential buyers click on your ads, visit your website, or contact you. Your ads will appear when customers search for products or information related to yours.
     
  • Smart Shopping Campaigns: Users need not search for your brand. Google has an algorithm that measures every user's search and view behavior. This will let your ads automatically appear on highly-viewed pages that offer similar products.
     
  • Shopping Campaigns With Partners: With this campaign, manufacturers and retailers can collaborate. Manufacturers can support their retailers’ advertising campaigns by allocating a budget for them. With this, both manufacturers and retailers can benefit from increased sales. 

Social Media Campaigns and Management 

Your partner Amazon marketing agency will utilize the benefits of social media marketing and marketing plans to make your brand and products known.

They can partner with social media influencers to endorse your brand and create different content for various social media platforms, among other things. This will help increase sales, brand awareness, and product advertisements.

Other Digital Marketing Efforts

  • Search Engine Optimization: SEO is all the efforts done to rank a product or service organically on Amazon’s search engine without spending on advertising. This includes keyword research and listing optimization. When done well, SEO efforts can bring significant effect on your Amazon product’s rankings, and your store’s overall rank as well.
  • Email Marketing: This digital marketing effort provides specific content to its target consumer. The content can take on the form of a newsletter, a product update, or a full blown promotion. What’s amazing about email marketing is that it serves as a medium for more digestible forms of content that can boost customer engagement.
  • Affiliate Marketing: Collaborating with social media influencers and content creators is the gist of affiliate marketing. It aims to use the popularity and “influence” of these personalities and associate them to the product a seller is advertising. In effect, they can boost a brand’s image and sales.

Should You Hire an Agency?

Though we can’t stress the importance of an Amazon agency enough, we’re sure you have numbers running through your head. We know you want to know if the benefits outweigh the expenses of hiring professionals.

To get a balanced perspective, you can look at the pros and cons of hiring an Amazon marketing agency. Read through our list below to help you decide whether or not you should work with experts given your budget.

Benefits:

  • Expert Knowledge: The main advantage of working with an Amazon marketing service agency is having people with extensive marketing knowledge. Experts who understand marketing will greatly benefit you by giving you solutions to certain issues that are beyond your scope of knowledge and expertise given your role as a seller on Amazon.
  • More Help: You pay for an entire team when you consider hiring an agency and not just a single expert. This means you have more hands on deck, allowing your company to produce more marketing materials and promote your brand more effectively, which you can't do with lacking manpower.
  • Higher Rate of Success: Marketing agencies have been shown to help boost the likelihood of an Amazon store’s success by leveraging social media to gain more customers. Experts in certain areas of Amazon collaborate with other experts such as social media managers and SEO specialists in a unified effort to achieve your business goals. This collaboration of experts within the marketing agency brings about tremendous results that sellers can see and feel in just a couple of months.

Drawbacks:

  • An Extra Expense: The common drawback is that hiring a marketing agency will cost your company more money than doing things on your own. In exchange for paying them for their services, you must also pay for PPC ad spend and any other techniques they recommend.
  • Different Points of View: One more possible drawback is that your perspective for your strategic plan may differ from that of the marketing agency. You should, of course, have the final say as their client. However, they may try to persuade you that their vision is superior, which can cause some friction and slow down the entire process.

The benefits and drawbacks above are a fair evaluation of the things an Amazon agency can bring your business when you take them on. If you still need more information to make a decision, check out an agency’s portfolio and case studies to see real results from previous clients, expressed in hard numbers.

Hire the Best Marketing Agency

Opting for an Amazon marketing agency is a significant move for a business owner. Hiring consultants means you have to allot a budget for them, and you will be using a portion of your resources for professional help. So, don’t waste your time, effort, and money—here is a checklist to help you when choosing the best Amazon agency.

  • Years of Experience in Ecommerce: You have to know how long your agency has been in the ecommerce industry, so ask for how long they’ve been in business and several tried-and-tested strategies that worked for them over the years.
  • Services Offered: Agencies must typically cover Amazon seller management and store setup services, customer/seller support services, SEO and digital marketing campaigns, content and catalog supervision, and review management.
  • Knowledge About Amazon Buy Box: It is a basic thing for agencies to work around the Buy Box that contains the "Add to List" and "Add to Cart" buttons. They must have the expertise to win this portion of Amazon through product optimization and affordable pricing.
  • Satisfied Clients: Most Amazon agencies have websites where you can see the positive reviews from their clients and their portfolio of case studies. Try to learn about the accounts they have successfully optimized.
  • Best Practices for Amazon Optimization: Not all Amazon agencies operate ethically: there are agencies that  practice black-hat strategies, including staged product or brand reviews and violations of search engines' guidelines to increase your product ranks. Remember that the results of these practices are temporary, and your account has the chance to be banned on Amazon. Steer clear of such agencies.
  • Eagerness To Learn About Your Business: A collaboration with an Amazon marketing agency starts with a consultation call. From this interaction, you can gauge the enthusiasm of the representative. A good measure of eagerness is if they ask questions about your business and offer bits of advice to give you insights on what they will do if you take them on.

Time To Make a Choice

You have everything you need to decide whether you should opt for individual specialists or partner with a full-service Amazon marketing agency. Now you must choose if you want to support your vision of growth and longevity in ecommerce.

As a takeaway, give your goals careful thought and put a number and a deadline to them if you can. If you do this, you’re already halfway to taking the leap for growth in the Amazon marketplace—the other half is talking to an Amazon marketing agency representative so you can hash out a concrete strategy to reach your goals. This is how an Amazon business grows.

If you want to learn more about Amazon marketing services, read "Mastering Ad Essentials With Amazon Marketing Services".

Call us now at 1-800-820-3746 and let’s map out the Amazon growth you’ve always dreamed of.

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How to Create a Suspension POA for Amazon FBA Shipping Plan Issues

Amazon's ambition to be the Earth's most customer-centric company knows no bounds. Its policies almost always favor its buyers. The anti-counterfeiting policy, customer product review policy, customer returns policy—the list goes on.

Hence, you must at least know how to write an Amazon Suspension Plan of Action (POA), especially when you've missed out on “surprise” changes and updates regarding their policies.

One of these sudden policy changes affected Amazon sellers and their FBA inventory and shipment in late 2020. What aspects are included in Amazon shipment plans in the first place, and what shipment issues must every seller avoid to prevent their account from being suspended?

Let’s revisit the Amazon FBA shipment fiasco in 2020 and learn how Amazon sellers like you can deal with suspension scares without breaking a sweat.

Shipping FBA Inventories to Amazon

The FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) model allows sellers to ship their products to Amazon’s fulfillment centers and let the ecommerce giant manage inventory, handle packaging and customer shipping, and even process item returns on their behalf.

Besides setting up the FBA account and creating product listings, all Amazon asks from interested sellers is to prepare and ship the products to their fulfillment centers on time. 

You must package your items securely, print the necessary shipping labels, and create a sound Amazon FBA shipment plan to ensure your products arrive at fulfillment centers without a hitch.

A shipment plan is a set of instructions detailing how you will ship your products to fulfillment centers. In it, you must specify your product details, quantity, packing type, and the shipping service (freight forwarder or courier) you will use for shipping.

Inventory Set-up

After selecting which items are needed, you must define how much each product will go through shipping.

Place your desired amount in the Units box. You might have to perform actions in other sections of the page, such as the Information Required tab (asking for details about your product) and the Removal Required tab (asking you to remove the items listed in this section).

Product Preparation

The next step is to prepare the product for shipment. You can pack your products yourself or let Amazon pack them by signing up for the FBA prep service. Like inventory placement service fees, the FBA prep service works with a per-item fee.

Note that Amazon can only prepare products with a single UPC or EAN corresponding to an ASIN in their catalog. Ensure that the items are securely packed and follow Amazon’s packaging requirements even if you avail of their prep service.

Product Labeling

Shipping inventory can’t go smoothly without the proper labels. Barcode labels allow sellers to track the product throughout the shipping process. Hence, every item must have a label. 

Like product shipment prep, you can print box labels yourself or let Amazon handle the product labeling on your behalf with FBA Label Service. Ensure that these labels are uncovered and scannable.

Shipment Plan Review

Once their products are packed and labeled in the shipping box, sellers must review the shipment plan’s information on the Review Shipments page and ensure the details are correct. 

The page will display a list of shipment names, their respective shipment IDs, and their fulfillment center destinations. Once satisfied, sellers can click on the Approve shipment button to approve the shipment plan.

Preparing for Shipments

After reviewing your shipment details, you can input your shipping method and mode, specify your carrier, identify the number of total shipping boxes, and schedule and pay for the shipment next. 

You can send a small parcel delivery (SPD) or a less-than-truckload (LTL) shipment for the shipping method. Meanwhile, you can choose air, ocean, or land transportation for your shipping mode.

Possible Amazon FBA Shipping Plan Issues

While it may seem simple enough, encountering several issues related to FBA shipment is inevitable. Here are some FBA shipping mistakes that you may commit, unintentionally or otherwise. Some of these can be harmless, but others can cause an account suspension.

  • Putting incorrect barcode labels
  • Covered or obscured packaging labels
  • Inputting the wrong shipping address
  • Deleting shipments from the approved list
  • Shipping ineligible items, such as alcoholic beverages, gift cards, damaged items, etc.
  • Not paying your shipping costs
  • Not following the schedule you’ve set for shipment

The 2020 Amazon FBA Shipment Mishap

On September 2, 2020, Amazon released a policy wherein they will suspend the selling privileges of a seller account if they fail to go through with exact scheduling details on their Amazon FBA shipping plan. 

Unfortunately, the policy was effective on August 25, 2020, which makes the notice nine days late. This scenario shows you can be caught off-guard, which results in an untimely Amazon account suspension.

Here is the complete statement from Amazon Seller Central forums:

Amazon announcing their shipping policy change via Amazon Seller Central Forums

How did sellers react to this new policy?

Several sellers complained that they couldn't meet this requirement since some don't communicate directly with their shipping company. Worse, the courier doesn't update them about their shipments' status.

One argued that it is illogical that sellers should be responsible for this since they don't have control over the entire shipping process, something a designated shipping company does. Another Amazon seller suggested penalizing carriers instead of them.

In situations like these, you can't adapt and adjust quickly because several factors are involved. 

The entire supply chain was shaken because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Stay-at-home and social distancing policies were enforced to prevent the spread of the virus. Some carriers needed to limit their staff to avoid crowding their workplace, thus, slowing their operations.

Also, earlier in 2020, sellers had to cope with other recent changes in Amazon's policies connected with the coronavirus outbreak, like the suspension of inbound shipment to the Amazon fulfillment center for non-essential products in March 2020. 

And, in July 2020, the quantity limit rule they imposed on all categories was decreased to make more room inside their FBA warehouses for the holiday rush orders.

Writing an Amazon Suspension Plan of Action (POA)

Because of these sudden policy changes, it’s no surprise that many Amazon sellers got in a pickle and had their accounts suspended during that brief period. 

If you experience something similar, you must send an Amazon appeal letter to reinstate your suspended Amazon seller central account. You need to compose an Amazon POA that has three sections:

  • The root cause(s) of the suspension.
  • The temporary solutions you have taken to resolve the problem.
  • The steps you will implement to prevent it from happening in the future.

Should you act right away the moment you receive the dreaded suspension notification? We suggest not acting in haste but taking a moment to pause and reflect to analyze the issue. Also, Amazon will give you 14-17 days to send an appeal, so don't rush things.

This is why sometimes it is better to seek an Amazon suspension appeal service offered by a third-party company. Emotions will not drive them; they can look at the situation objectively. They also have years of experience deciphering Amazon's vague responses in their suspension emails.

Here is a sample template of a POA:

Sample template of an Amazon Suspension Plan of Action (POA)

Ensure your POA is short, concise, and in an easy-to-read format. Don't be too detailed and too wordy. Use bullet points, not numbers. More importantly, never blame your customers and take responsibility for the mistake, even if it wasn't your fault to begin with.

Bonus: What does Amazon want you to do?

As we read the replies in the Seller Central forum, one seller commented that perhaps this is Amazon's way of urging a third-party seller account to use Amazon-partnered carriers and only applies to LTL and FTL shipments. 

These are only assumptions, though, and need clarification from Amazon first.

But if you are keen to opt for Amazon-partnered carriers and think it benefits your business, you might consider including this in your Amazon Suspension Plan of Action.

Seller Interactive’s Amazon Appeal Service

Amazon’s detailed FBA shipment plan creation can help sellers go through the entire shipping process smoothly. However, your account may face suspension scares due to unavoidable or unexpected events, like human error or sudden policy changes.

In that case, writing a solid suspension POA is a must. However, don't hesitate to ask for help if you doubt your writing skills. Remember that you have a steep chance of getting reinstated, so there is no room for mistakes. You can use an Amazon appeal service to help you get back your Amazon seller account. 

Do you have a hard time writing an Amazon suspension plan of action? Seller Interactive has a team of Amazon suspension experts willing to help you get your Amazon account reinstated in no time. 

Book a call today, and let us help you get your account back!

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Amazon Brand Guidelines You Must Know To Avoid Getting Penalized

Amazon has been helping sellers worldwide for more than two decades now. The platform allows retailers to use their online marketplace to sell their products and automatically gives them access to its enormous customer base. An Amazon seller can even place Amazon's logo or trademarks on their advertisements as long as they comply with Amazon brand guidelines.

Amazon PPC optimization is not just about adjusting bids and using high-converting keywords. You must also enhance the appearance of your ads, like the CTAs, colors, images, and logos. One foolproof way to attract more customers is placing an Amazon brand logo on your PPC campaign. However, you can't do it on a whim.

This article will discuss some of the brand guidelines you must keep in mind to avoid being penalized and where you can use their logo for your Amazon PPC marketing campaigns.

Understanding Amazon Brand Guidelines

"You may not use any Amazon logos or other Amazon trademarks, other than the Badge, in your online or offline marketing materials (including product listings on Amazon websites) unless you have written permission from Amazon."

-Amazon.com

We got you there, right? You almost lost hope at the "You may not use any Amazon logos or other Amazon trademarks..." But as you continue reading, the rest puts that smile back on your face.

So, what is the lesson here? Read and understand Amazon's rules and guidelines from top to bottom and front to back. Otherwise, you may miss an opportunity to put an Amazon logo on your ad or get penalized because you're unaware of their terms of service.

Now, let us go back to the quote above. It is not just a quote but one of the hundreds of rules the platform has laid out for Amazon sellers. It states that you must have written permission from Amazon before using logos, trademarks, or any other brand elements. 

You must also follow the guidelines below.

  1. Call-to-Action (CTA) and Messaging

As a review, a call-to-action or CTA is a short phrase in an advertisement that tells customers what action to take after they click on a PPC ad. For example, an Amazon PPC marketing ad with "Add to Cart" as its CTA should direct the customer to a View Cart page.

Overall, the recommended CTAs in the brand guidelines on Amazon are as follows:

Shopping CTAs

  • Shop now at Amazon.com 
  • Shop now
  • Pre-order now
  • Clip coupon
  • Add to Cart

Interaction CTAs

  • Learn more
  • See more
  • Watch now
  • Expand ad
  • Close

Amazon-Branded Text Links

Meanwhile, here are allowed Amazon-branded text links:

  • Learn more
  • See details
  • Watch now

If you're planning to use an Amazon-branded text link, follow these standards:

  • Font and Size: For small ads, it should be Frutiger 57 Condensed, in size 11.5. On the other hand, large ads should be set to Frutiger 67 Condensed at 14 point. 
  • Length: The phrase should not exceed 30 characters and on a single line only.
  • Color: You can use any color with the following conditions:
  • CTA elements like arrows, text, and underlines should have the same base color.
  • The CTA complements the promotional graphic.
  • The CTA stands out from the Amazon PPC marketing ad.
  • Graphical Styling: There should be one pixel of clear space on either side of each descender.
  • Special Offers and Discounts aren't allowed in the text link, such as "save $1" or "10% off."

Amazon-Branded Buttons

You may also use Amazon-branded button CTAs when text links aren't visible enough. These include "Add to Cart," "Add to Wish List," "Shop Now," and "Clip Coupon." But you can only use these on ecommerce ads, and they should be displayed based on the brand guidelines of Amazon. 

This is because Amazon's brand buttons are an essential part of the shopping experience on the platform.

2. Amazon Capitalization and Punctuation

The word "Amazon" should be in the title case (all capitals or lowercase not allowed).

AllowedNot Allowed
Shop Now at Amazon.com Shop now at AMAZON.COM
Shop now at amazon.com
Shop now at AMAZON.com

3. Amazon Brand Phrases

Amazon uses a variety of gimmicks on its platform to encourage customers to make a purchase. You may also use these proprietary phrases and terms, but they require Amazon's permission first:

  • Gold Box
  • Deal of the Day
  • Super Saver Shipping
  • 1-Click
  • Seller Central
  • Wish List (or Wishlist)
  • Today's Deals
  • Subscribe & Save
  • Kindle
  • Amazon Mom
  • Look Inside the Book
  • Similar phrases (e.g., "One Click Install")

But when one of these terms is used in a blog post, you don't need Amazon's approval.

  1. Colors

If your Amazon PPC marketing campaign has similar colors to Amazon's brand colors, it must be slightly different from the Amazon.com page to make it stand out. For your reference, here are the specific Amazon brand colors:

amazon brand colors

Source: Screengrab from Amazon.com

Additionally, you can't use both in any graphical treatment if you aim to imitate the Amazon brand.

  1. Logos and Imagery

You cannot mistake that signature orange smile. And the way it connects the letters "A" and "Z"? Brilliant. This is why Amazon fights tooth and nail to guard its precious logo. They also set standards on how it must look in a co-branded campaign, as follows.

Size

The logo should be no smaller than 1" wide for print, or 72 pixels on the screen.

Clear Space

It is the space around the logo, and it is based on the logo's bold letter 'o.' It looks like this:

amazon brand logo with full width of "o" on both sides of the horizontal space and a half height of "o" on the vertical space

Source: Screengrab from Amazon.com

Colors

Amazon's corporate colors are Black and Amazon Orange. When the logo uses one color only, a black or white smile is permitted—never gray.

from left to right: amazon letters in white and the smile in amazon orange against black background and white amazon letters and smile in black background

Source: Screengrab from Amazon.com

You should not alter the appearance or proportion of the logo. Use the guidelines below:

  • Don't use unapproved colors.
  • Don't outline the logo.
  • Don't modify or recreate the provided artwork.
  • Don't insert the logo in a sentence.
  • Don't layer other content on the top or below the logo.
  • Don't use the logo without the smile.
  • Don't place the logo on a patterned background.
  • Don't place a drop shadow behind the logo.
amazon corporate colors

Source: Screengrab from Amazon.com

Additionally, you must seek approval from the Amazon brand team if you want to use only the logo's arrow or smile.

  1. Product Imagery

Amazon brand guidelines also include the rules when selecting a photo for your PPC ads:

  • You must own the rights to all the imagery used in your Amazon PPC marketing ads.
  • Product imagery should not be sourced from Google or any other search engine site.
  • Product imagery must be related to the offered product or promotion.
  • Seek approval first before using any advertisement imagery.

You may use the guidelines above as a part of your weekly Amazon PPC optimization. It may not improve your Amazon CPC (cost per click) right away, but adding an Amazon brand logo can be a magnet for clicks and conversions.

Where To Place Amazon Logo or Trademarks

We've established that you must secure written approval from Amazon before using its official brand elements like logos, CTAs, colors, and more. But where can you use them? This is where the concept of co-branding enters the picture.

In co-branding, you can add an Amazon brand logo or any branding elements in your PPC ad. But here's the catch: you can only use it off Amazon. You’re not allowed to use the logo on Amazon. Why? Customers might mistake it as a product offering of Amazon itself. It also misrepresents the Amazon logo, deceiving and misleading consumers.

The Amazon advertising products you can use outside its marketplace are Sponsored Display ads and Amazon DSP (Demand-Side Platform).

In Closing

You don't need to be an Amazon PPC expert to understand why the number one online marketplace is adamant about protecting its intellectual property. They even have detailed brand guidelines that you must know like the back of your hand. 

It is not only for the sake of lowering your Amazon CPC. Following their guidelines is crucial to keep being an Amazon seller. Otherwise, all your hard work will go down the drain.
If you want to understand more about Amazon brand guidelines, Seller Interactive has experienced Amazon PPC experts willing to help you with your Amazon PPC concerns. Contact us today.

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