Amazon has changed the world. In addition to procuring a product from overseas and having it arrive in days, sellers can also create teams to build, market, and ship that product. They can do all of this by leveraging global talent. It is because of this powerhouse mechanism that entrepreneurs are drawn to Amazon. The site boasts more than 2 million sellers, with a quarter million of those making over $1 million in sales.Like so many other hopefuls, I wanted to succeed on Amazon. While I did, that success took far longer than it needed to because I made five key mistakes. I’m going to discuss those mistakes with you today so that you can avoid them, and reach your revenue goals much faster.
1. I didn’t find the right product
I thought it was easy – put up a shop on Amazon Marketplace and people will just click and buy, right? This is the biggest mistake I made, and it’s one that countless other sellers are making right now.Remember, Amazon has 2.5 million sellers and each one wants to be a top seller. To stand out, you absolutely need to have a product that fits these criteria:
- It must be in-demand or from a very specific niche (hard to find elsewhere)
- It must be a quality product
- You must be able to source it consistently to avoid stock shortages (which hurts your ranking on Amazon)
I made the mistake of just looking at where I could find cheap products that I could markup, but quickly realized that I was in direct competition with sellers in that same mindset. We were all selling the same thing at vastly different price points. Analyzing the marketplace with the helpful tools is the solution when you decide what to sell on Amazon. Picking the right product for your brand and being able to provide that product consistently, is vitally important to your success as an Amazon seller.
2. I didn’t use keywords in my content
I keep saying that number – 2.5 million sellers – because forgetting how vast your competition is, enables most of your worst Amazon Marketplace mistakes. Once I got smart and started using the AMZscout Pro Extension to find a profitable product to sell, I neglected to properly promote it. My digital shopfront’s content was sparse and didn’t contain keywords.Keywords are short terms people use when searching for products; for example, “best color printer,” or “compact pro camera.” I just listed off some bullet points, and that meant people who were using Amazon’s search bar weren’t directed to my page.AMZscout’s keyword tools saved the day. It was the fastest and easiest way for me to find keywords, compare them to my competitor’s keywords, and track those keywords’ effectiveness over the long term.
3. I didn’t use high quality photos
I took a few pictures of my product using my iPhone, and I also cut and paste some pictures from the manufacturer’s website. Big mistake! Amazon actually recommends what kind of photos to use and if you ignore this advice, the algorithm pushes your page off buyers’ radars. Successful sellers have large, clear photos on a white background that show the product in detail and from multiple angles. There are Amazon product photographers that can create great photos for you, and they are well worth the investment.
4. I didn’t do price comparisons
I thought that the price of my product should be calculated to cover my costs and make a fair profit. I learned that I needed to factor in what the product was going for on the market – not just with my competition- but also with other sites like eBay and Shopify. AMZscout’s Amazon to eBay comparison extension was a fast way to correct this mistake.
5. I didn’t leverage the startup tools that could have grown my business more quickly
There are plenty of successful sellers creating tools to help other sellers grow their brand on Marketplace. At first, I only saw other sellers as competition, but then I realized many of them were building careers not just by selling, but also by advising. When I took advantage of their tools – and many of them were low-cost or free – I saw great improvements in my profits and my proficiency.
Conclusion
There is no need to make these common mistakes when you launch your first product on Amazon. This site is a game changer that enables everyone to have a shot at making a good income and being their own boss. Other sellers and product providers, like AMZScout, are happy to share their experience and tools to help you succeed.