More and more consumers are using online marketplaces, such as Amazon.com, rather than going to the brand’s actual website. Those online retailers out there who have their own site for sales may want to consider becoming a part of those large marketplaces and selling through them in addition to running their own sites. Consumers tend to feel that they have more benefits, such as easier shopping, the ability to buy a wider variety of items at once, and real reviews. While Amazon is certainly valuable and popular with consumers, it also offers benefits for sellers.
Namely, they can further your reach and put your brand and your products in front of millions of customers, many of which would never have found your website. Working with Amazon can also make it a bit easier to sell online, thanks to their system and their tools. However, it does mean that you need to learn how to put your products on the site so you can start selling, and there is a bit of a learning curve.
Sign Up and Start Selling on Amazon Right Now
If you have your own ecommerce store already, it is actually relatively easy to get things going. You can sign up at Amazon for their professional program, which costs a monthly fee of $39.99 currently. Just keep in mind that this price can change. Set up your seller profile and then you can start listing your products. Some of the information you will need to create your account as a seller include business name, contact information, payment and shipping info, policies, and a bit about the company.
When you are getting ready to list a product, you will need to include a variety of different information:
- Product ID
- Title
- Description
- Search Terms
- Images
Sellers have several options through Amazon that they can use when they are uploading their products. Those who have a relatively small number of products, fewer than fifty, can use the Add a Product feature, a tool within Seller Central. They can also use Listing Loader, which is a good option for sellers who are selling items already listed with Amazon. It is an Excel template and is a download from Seller Central. Another download from the same place, also an Excel template, is Inventory File. Those selling products that are not on Amazon yet will want to use this tool.
New Ecommerce Retailers
Those who are just getting started in online retail will also find some great tools from Amazon. It features template design tools to make it easier and faster to set up the space. They can create their own navigation and product categories, use promotion widgets, and even create a branded shopping cart. They make it easy for you to process credit cards and much more.
Tips for a Successful Relationship with Amazon
Amazon is a great channel that offers quite a bit of potential, and to make the most of it, you may want to look for software that can make managing this, and all of your channels, much easier. Make sure you keep up with your inventory and that you check orders daily. Ship on time, and make sure your prices are accurate and the same throughout all of your channels.
No matter where you are right now with your ecommerce business, you really can benefit quite a bit from working with Amazon. They are one of the true powerhouses in the world of online selling, and you want to take advantage of their power and reach to make the most of your sales.