Afraid to start something new? Things like selling on Amazon can seem huge, but it’s also an attractive and lucrative business. Amazon opens up a world of opportunities for anyone, whether you’ve been in the game for years or it’s your first time selling something online. In this post, we’ll break down the essential steps you need to take to get started with how to sell on Amazon, along with some additional tips.
How to Sell on Amazon?
To sell on Amazon, here’s the deal – you’ve got to get the basics down first. Here are some of the main steps that will help you a lot.
1. Choose the Right Selling Plan
Before you start selling, it’s crucial to understand Amazon’s two main selling plans:
- Individual plan: This plan is best for those who want to sell less than 40 items per month. You won’t pay a monthly fee, but there is a 99-cent charge for each item sold. However, in this way, you won’t have access to certain features like “advanced reporting tools”.
- Professional plan: The Professional plan costs $39.99 per month, and it’s ideal for serious sellers who plan to sell more than 40 items per month. This plan also gives you access to extra features like bulk listing, advanced selling tools, and reporting.
Understanding your sales volume is key to choosing the right plan. While the Individual plan might seem cheaper, the Professional plan offers much more value in the long run, especially if you plan on growing your business.
2. Set Up Your Seller Account
To sell on Amazon, you also need to create a Seller Account. However, setting up an account is simple:
- Go to Amazon Seller Central and sign up.
- Provide your business details (name, address, and phone number).
- Include your bank account information for payments.
- Verify your identity by providing a government-issued ID and a credit card.
Once your account is set up, you’ll have access to Amazon’s powerful Seller Central dashboard, where you can manage everything from inventory to customer reviews.
3. Protect Your Brand with Amazon Brand Registry
If you’re selling a unique brand, it’s a good idea to protect your intellectual property by enrolling in Amazon’s Brand Registry. This provides several benefits, such as enhanced protection against counterfeit products, greater control over your product listings, and access to more marketing tools.
To enroll in the Brand Registry, you’ll need a registered trademark for your brand. This is an essential step if you want to safeguard your brand and stand out from the competition.
4. List Your Products Effectively
A great product listing can make all the difference in whether or not a customer buys from you. When listing your products:
- Use clear and high-quality images: Make sure your product pictures are well-lit and high-resolution. Multiple views from different angles help potential customers visualize the product better.
- Write an accurate, detailed description: Be clear about the features and benefits of your product. You want your customers to get it at a glance, right? So, throw in some bullet points to highlight the key features – it’ll make things way easier to understand.
- Optimize your keywords: Include relevant keywords that shoppers are likely to search for. Amazon uses these keywords to match products with customer searches.
A well-crafted listing helps increase visibility and conversion rates, so invest time and effort into perfecting your product page.
5. Make Sure Your Products Are Legal and Comply with Amazon’s Rules
Amazon takes product compliance very seriously. When selling on Amazon, you should check that:
- Your products are legal and safe to sell in your region.
- You comply with Amazon’s Community Guidelines.
- You follow specific requirements for your product category (e.g., toys, electronics, or cosmetics).
It’s essential to check the legal requirements for the type of products you plan to sell to avoid potential issues. Avoid violating Amazon’s rules, and this is super serious if you don’t want your account to be suspended.
6. Set a Competitive Price
Pricing is a key factor and should not be ignored. Your prices need to be competitive but fair. If it’s too low, and you may risk appearing untrustworthy or hurting your profits; too high, and customers might choose your competitors.
Here are some tips for pricing:
- Research competitors: Look at other sellers in your product category. What are they charging, and what do their reviews say?
- Factor in Amazon fees: Don’t forget to account for Amazon’s referral fees, which can range from 6% to 45% depending on the category.
- Consider your costs: Your price should cover not only the cost of goods but also any additional expenses like shipping or Amazon’s fulfillment fees. Or you would rather never being a seller for losing your money.
Additionally, make sure to offer convenient payment options for your customers. Commonly used methods include credit/debit cards, and PayPal. However, how to use PayPal on Amazon? While Amazon doesn’t directly support PayPal for purchases, you can set up PayPal as a payment option through external services if you have a website or use it for transactions outside Amazon.
7. Choose Your Fulfillment Method
You can fulfill orders in two ways:
- Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA): Amazon will store your products, handles shipping, and provides customer service. FBA also makes your products eligible for Amazon Prime, which can boost your sales.
- Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM): You store and ship the products by yourself. This gives you more control but requires more effort on your part.
FBA is the more hands-off option, but FBM might be a better choice for smaller operations or if you want to maintain complete control over your inventory.
Protect Your Business Online
While you’re focusing on optimizing your product listings and fulfillment methods, don’t forget to protect your online safety.
Using a secure VPN like LightningX VPN can help protect your business data, especially when you’re managing sensitive information like supplier contracts or customer details.
With it, your connection is encrypted, keeping your business safe from potential cyber threats. It’s an extra layer of protection, helping you avoid interruptions in your work and secure your operations as you grow on Amazon.
8. Advertise Your Products
Amazon offers advertising tools to help boost your visibility and sales. To make your business go further, you’d better take advantage of these profits. Here are a few options:
- Sponsored products: These are ads that appear in search results and product detail pages.
- Amazon sponsored brands: Display your brand’s logo and multiple products in search results.
- Amazon storefront: Create a custom store for your products that customers can browse.
Advertising can give your products an extra push and help you stand out from competition.
Additional Tips for Success on Amazon
While following the steps above will get you started, here are some additional tips that can help you succeed:
- Customer service is key: Always respond to customer inquiries quickly and professionally. Amazon values good customer service, and happy customers are more likely to leave positive reviews.
- Optimize for mobile: More customers are shopping on mobile devices than ever before. Make sure your listings look good on phones and tablets.
- Track your performance: Use Amazon’s Seller Central tools to monitor your sales, reviews, and inventory. Adjust your strategies based on the data you collect.
- Build a reputation: Consistently offering great products and services will build your reputation on Amazon. Positive reviews and a high seller rating are essential for long-term success.
- Stay updated with Amazon’s policies: Amazon frequently updates its policies and guidelines, so make sure to stay informed about any changes that could impact your business.
Conclusion
This is all you need to know about how to sell on Amazon. Pick the right plan, adjust your listings, and keep pushing forward – that’s how you build a successful Amazon business.
Remember, persistence is key. Keep growing your brand and listening to your customers, and you’ll find success on this massive platform.
