As one of the biggest eCommerce platforms, Amazon offers people an opportunity to break out of their dreary office jobs and start their own businesses.
It’s easy to get started as a seller on Amazon, even if it’s your first time doin so.
However, while it can be a lucrative career, it has its pitfalls, especially if you’re not mindful of utilizing the best practices.
Successful sellers know it takes just one mistake to turn a potentially profitable venture into a losing one.
My name is Omar Deryan, CEO at OJDS. We’ve optimized over 9,000 listings in the past 4 years, and in this article.
That said, here are three of the most common mistakes Amazon sellers make.
Mistake 1: Not Optimizing the Product Listing
You might think that amazon listing optimization is as straightforward as creating a product page for each item you sell.
Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.
Amazon uses an algorithm to determine how products are ranked in search results.
This is based on criteria like keywords, price, performance, conversion rate, and overall account health.
In short, the more optimized your listing is, the higher the chance customers will see it.
Optimizing your product listing involves placing items in the correct category and incorporating keywords relevant to search queries.
The product title is significant, as Amazon matches relevant product titles to buyer searches.
The product description matters, too. Customers are more likely to consider products with detailed descriptions that tell them the important things they need to know.
Aside from that, your product image should be clear and high quality.
Professional photo editing for amazon instills trust in customers, leading to better sales prospects for your business. Image optimization also helps improve page load speed and boost your search engine ranking.
While all of this might seem time-consuming, it’s well worth the investment. With thousands of competing stores on Amazon, optimization will help you stand out and catch buyers’ attention.
Mistake 2: Not Doing a Product Launch
Once you’ve optimized your listing, it’s time to go live with it. Unfortunately, many sellers do not realize the importance of doing a proper product launch.
Remember that a new listing is like a blank slate – no sales, no reviews, and almost invisible on search results. This does not bode well for your listing unless you make a proactive effort to get people to buy your product.
Launching is one of the best strategies to make customers aware of your product. It also helps convince Amazon’s algorithm to place your product on the first page of search results.
Make use of Amazon Sponsored Products or Amazon Pay-Per-Click (PPC) to drive traffic to your listings. This ad platform by Amazon allows sellers to run ads for their products in the search results and other listings.
Aside from that, you can explore other channels to let people know about your product. Google ads, social media ads, and email marketing are just some other platforms you can utilize to get your first sales.
Mistake 3: Not Using the Right Amazon Seller tools and Doing Things Manually
New sellers often fall into the trap of trying to do everything themselves. This eats up a lot of time and energy with minimal returns.
It’s hard to see how doing things manually is sustainable. Not only can it result in a chaotic business, but you’re also likely to get burned out after some time.
It doesn’t need to be that difficult. Here are some of the best Amazon seller tools you can use to keep your business running smoothly:
- Pricing tool
- Product and competitor research tools
- Inventory management tools
- Product review software
- Accounting and profit tracking tools
- Helpdesk software
- Listing optimization tools
- Amazon seller apps
These tools will help you create an organized system, leaving you with more room to focus on other essential aspects of your business.
Final Thoughts
Long-term success on Amazon might seem like a big dream, but it’s definitely achievable. The key is mindfulness and lots of research to avoid making these common mistakes.
Through a proactive approach and constant evaluation of your practices, you can become a successful Amazon seller.
