How do I sell on Amazon?

To sell on Amazon, you need to follow a series of steps and consider several strategies. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you get started:

Conduct Market Research

Before you begin, it's crucial to conduct market research to identify profitable products with relatively weak competition. You can:

• Review Amazon’s bestsellers lists to see what products are currently in demand2.
• Use keyword research tools like Jungle Scout to analyze search volume and consumer interest2.
• Read Amazon product reviews to identify gaps in the market and areas where you can improve upon existing products2.
• Check Amazon’s list of product restrictions to ensure compliance2.

Choose a Selling Strategy

You have several selling strategies to consider:

• Retail Arbitrage: Buy products at a discount and resell them on Amazon at a higher price2.
• White Labeling: Sell generic products under your own brand name or logo2.
• Private Labeling: Produce products through a third-party manufacturer based on your specifications and sell them under your brand24.
• Dropshipping: Sell products without holding inventory, where the third party fulfills and ships the orders24.

Write a Business Plan

Draft a business plan that includes:

• Listing your products to sell
• Determining product pricing
• Defining your marketing plan
• Identifying your ecommerce business model
• Creating a plan for inventory management2.

Create an Amazon Seller Account

To start selling, you need to create an Amazon seller account:

• Decide between an Individual or Professional selling plan. The Individual plan is pay-as-you-go with a $0.99 fee per sale, while the Professional plan is a $39.99 monthly subscription with additional benefits2.
• Gather necessary information such as business email, bank account details, active credit card, government-issued ID, tax information, and phone number2.

Set Up Your Account

Once you've chosen your plan, set up your account on Amazon Seller Central. This platform allows you to manage all aspects of your Amazon business, including listing products, handling orders, and managing payments23.

List Your First Product

There are two ways to list products:

• For products already listed on Amazon, use the existing ASIN and follow the prompts to list your item under the same product detail page2.
• For new products, create a new listing by selecting the product category, entering product details, and uploading photos. Amazon will assign an ASIN once the listing is approved2.

Optimize Your Product Listings

To increase sales, optimize your product detail pages:

• Write targeted and concise product titles with relevant keywords23.
• Upload clear and high-quality product images and consider adding videos23.
• Write thorough product descriptions using bullet points to highlight key features and benefits23.
• Include product variants to display different sizes, colors, and styles of the same product2.

Choose Fulfillment Options

You can choose between Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) and Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM):

• FBA: Amazon handles storage, packaging, and shipping. This option provides access to Prime shipping and Amazon’s customer service4.
• FBM: You handle storage, packaging, and shipping yourself2.

Utilize Promotions and External Traffic

• Leverage promotions like Lightning Deals to increase product visibility and drive sales2.
• Drive external traffic by using social media, collaborating with influencers, and creating discount codes to direct customers to your Amazon listings2.

Set Your Pricing Correctly

Ensure your pricing strategy is competitive and fair:

• Avoid pricing practices that violate Amazon’s Fair Pricing Policy, such as setting prices significantly higher than recent prices or adding excessive shipping fees2.
• Use repricing tools to automatically adjust your prices to stay competitive2.

By following these steps and strategies, you can effectively start and manage a successful Amazon selling business.