The Ultimate Guide to Selling on Amazon
Since Amazon is currently one of, if not the most customer-centric company in the world, cooperating with them in order to sell your products would definitely be an advantage. Many have realized this and decided to start selling their products through Amazon but find it hard to navigate all the rules, regulations and caveats in effect. In the beginning, everything looks complicated and overwhelming, until it no longer is, and this guide is here to help you get to the “no longer is” part quicker.
Choose which product you want to sell
From big businesses to small ones to individuals who create hand-crafted goods, anyone can find cooperation with Amazon beneficial, yet not all products are equally easy to sell. With 20 product categories open to all sellers and 15 more which require Amazon's approval, there is hardly any shortage of options when it comes to the choice of the product you would like to sell, but since only a limited number of sellers can operate within the 15 categories requiring approval, it’s important to choose your niche carefully. If you believe that your products are of the highest quality, you can request approval from Amazon and apply for the Professional Selling Plan subscription. Once your product is approved, you’re all set. Here, the product categories requiring approval are listed as well:
- Automotive & Powersports
- B2B Business Products
- Collectible Coins
- Fashion Jewelry
- Fine Jewelry
- Fine Art
- Grocery & Gourmet Food
- Industrial & Scientific
- Luggage & Travel Accessories
- Personal Computers
- Professional Services
- Shoes, Handbags, & Sunglasses
- Sports Collectibles
- Video, DVD, & Blu-Ray
- Watches
Match your selling plan to your business model
There are two options when it comes to choosing Amazon’s selling plan. The first option is an individual plan and the other is a professional plan, and both of them have their pros and cons. If you want to know how to sell on Amazon and make money, the answer is largely going to depend on how your business model fits the selling plan you’ve chosen and emphasizes its benefits. The individual selling plan is the best choice for those who sell up to 40 items per month. It includes referral and variable closing fees, as well as a fee of $0.99 per item sold. On the other hand, the professional selling plan caters to those who sell more than 40 items per month, making the subscription fee of $39.99 along with the referral and variable closing fees an attractive alternative to the individual plan.
List your products
Before you list any of the products you want to sell, you’re required to create an Amazon seller account. Once the account has been verified, you can start listing your products (one at a time for individual plan users). If the products you are listing are already on Amazon, all you need to provide is the quantity, quality and shipping options available. The process is somewhat more elaborate for products that are not already listed on Amazon, as that will require you to provide the product’s universal product code (UPC) and stock-keeping unit (SKU). Also, a product description, title and price will be required.
Set up shipping options and watch the money flow in
While any seller on Amazon has the option to handle shipping themselves, it’s unlikely anyone will want to pass on the opportunity offered by Amazon. With the Amazon fulfillment program, you can send your inventory to Amazon, which will then take care of the storing, packaging and shipment. This program also makes your product eligible for Amazon Prime free two-day shipping, a benefit for both sellers and clients. Once you’ve opted for the shipping method, you can start selling. Make sure all of your products have the right title, and that both the pictures of the products and their descriptions present them in the best possible way. You can also run pay-per-click marketing campaigns through the platform in order to improve product visibility.
Listen to your customers and data
Thankfully, Amazon allows its sellers to send automated follow-up emails to their customers in order to invite them to review the product, which is an opportunity not to be passed. The more reviews a product has, the more trustworthy and relevant it will appear. This is why product reviews can have a considerable impact on your sales. In addition, Amazon’s Seller Central account offers its users a way to analyze their performance through metrics such as the quantity of units sold and the number of sales you’ve generated for the day, brand performance and page views. The platform can also provide insight into trends by comparing the performance of one day’s sales to another.
Conclusion
Whatever you’re looking to sell online, with the numerous benefits it offers, such as very affordable fees and flexible selling plans, it’s hard to imagine anyone not wanting to work with Amazon. Whether you’re a beginner or a veteran when it comes to sales, Amazon truly is the best option for both buyers and sellers in most cases.
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