Selling on Amazon – 14 Helpful Tools for Online Retailers
Did you know that well over 1.5 million sellers operate on Amazon? And thousands more list of new products every day. So, it becomes clear that meeting the bare minimum won’t help you get ahead in the marketplace.
Boosting Amazon sales takes time and effort, but it’s not impossible to do, as long as you use the right tools and strategies. It’s well-known that the platform favors customer experience, its FBA method, and that success depends on winning the Buy Box. For the average small business, these can be difficult to get right. But, luckily, there are software solutions that can help you get ahead.
The following tools are perfect for online retailers who want to step up their game. They range from simple, task-oriented solutions to complicated management systems that take care of several aspects of selling at once. Whether you choose to employ one or all is up to you. But you can definitely expect an increase in efficiency and results.
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Product Research
Before you can even get started with selling online, you will need to do some serious research. If you’ve developed a brand new product, then you’ll already have done this. But, if your idea is to purchase items at an affordable cost and sell at a margin, then you’ve got some work ahead of you.
The general guidelines for great products to sell on Amazon advise that you opt for products that:
- Are small and lightweight
- Sell all year round
- Aren’t associated with a single brand
- Make at least ten sales per day
- Aren’t low quality
- Are easy to source and ship
- Have sufficient monthly searches on Amazon
- And most importantly, allow for at least a 25% margin.
Yes, you can do this manually, but it will take you a lot of time. That’s why it’s not a bad idea to look into a product research tool such as Unicorn Smasher or Jungle Scout. These will automate the process, saving you time and effort.
Keywords
Once you’ve got your products, you’ll have to create your listings in a way that encourages organic traffic, relevant page views, and high conversion rates.
The objective on Amazon is the same as on Google, where you want your pages to come up at the top of SERPs. But here, you will have fewer SEO strategies that you can employ. So finding the best keywords is of crucial importance.
There are many Amazon keyword tools, both free and paid. If you have the budget, then definitely go with something more professional, like Ahrefs. If, however, you have limited funds, there are great free alternatives such as Sonar and Keyword Tool that you can use.
Winning the Buy Box
One of the things you need to know about selling on Amazon is that winning the Buy Box should be one of your top priorities. The factors that go into securing this coveted position include customer satisfaction, fulfillment method, reviews, conversion rates, and price.
So, it’s not a bad idea to focus your efforts on providing the best possible customer experience you possibly can. There are several tools you can use to do just that:
- Keep an eye on your inventory, never letting your stock run low. Solutions that work well include InventoryLab and Sellbrite, but you can also check out RestockPro, which is perfect for FBA.
- Be hyper-vigilant with reviews. Some software solutions can notify you when you receive negative feedback, allowing you to take action quickly. A solution such as Feedback Genius by SellerLabs is an excellent choice, as it can help engage buyers, improve your rankings, and supports high-volume stores.
- Adjust your prices to stay ahead of the competition. Yes, you can do this manually, but those with many listings might find this too time-consuming. Know what to look for in a repricer and choose the best solution you can afford. Sometimes, you’ll find that a higher initial investment can bring in more profits, so don’t be afraid of spending slightly more.
Ship Your Items More Efficiently
If for any reason, you haven’t chosen the Fulfilled By Amazon model of selling, you will need to step up your shipping game. Know that Amazon Prime subscribers (more than 100 million US households) have access to free two-day and same-day shipping, and you’re going to have to compete with that.
Sometimes, a tool made specifically for FBM retailers can help you be more efficient in this manner. If you sell over multiple platforms, you can use something like ShipWorks, which works with carriers such as DHL, UPS, and FedEx. This tool can also get you discounted rates so that you have an edge over your e-commerce competitors.
Alternatively, if you are part of FBA, use a solution like AMZ Refund. It will automatically identify shipping issues and apply for refunds so that your seller rating doesn’t suffer.
Consider Future Growth
One of the biggest advantages offered by Amazon is the sheer number of people who see it as the primary choice for online shopping. However, the platform does have its drawbacks. The biggest of these is the lack of tools to build brand loyalty.
As customer retention is a budget-friendly way of making profits, you’ll want to do everything in your power to build lists you can use for email marketing and retargeting campaigns. If you have a website or social media accounts, sending people directly to your Amazon listings won’t allow you to do this. You’ll need a landing page that will enable you to capture leads.
An Amazon landing page tool is, thus, the perfect solution. LandingCube, for example, can help you both with running PPC campaigns, as well as with growing your customer lists. Or, if you only sell through Amazon and want to make it your main focus, you can direct your focus towards advertising, which is best done by Sellics, one of the most powerful tools you can find.
Remembering the Basics
And the one app that you have to have, no matter your objective? That would be the official Amazon Seller app. This handy solution will allow you to always keep on top of your store. It shows information about account health, orders, inventory, and lets you easily connect with customers so that you never fall behind.
As you can see, there are many tools you can use to maximize your efforts in the Amazon marketplace. Of course, no matter what software you invest in, your rankings will always reflect the quality of your products and customer service. So don’t forget to pay close attention to them at all times.
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