Before you can start making sales, you have to open up an account on the Amazon platform and develop your storefront.
Opening your account
So, you’ve decided to join the international brands and small businesses selling their wares on Amazon. The first step you need to take is to open your own Amazon seller account.
You probably already have an Amazon account for buying products — it seems like most of us do! But a seller account will allow you to put items on the market, not just in your shopping cart.
To sign up for your seller account, head to Amazon seller central. In time, you’re going to get very familiar with this page. Feel free to log in with your pre-existing Amazon shopper account. That will make the process a little quicker.
To sign up, you’ll need the following details to hand: your business and contact address, your telephone number, identity details, and a chargeable credit card. Got all that ready? Great! Start inputting your information.
Make sure you answer each question carefully. The wrong information could cause unnecessary delays or problems later on. You’ll be asked what type of business you run and you’ll be expected to share its name as registered with the government.
Once you’ve added all your information, you’re ready to move on to the next step: choosing the right selling plan for you. This is where your credit card will come in handy!
Choosing a selling plan
All different kinds of businesses sell on Amazon. Of course, it isn’t free to do so. However, there are benefits for sellers that they’re happy to pay for. When you sell on an established platform like Amazon, you benefit from the platform’s international infrastructure. Customers feel comfortable making purchases from this site.
You can choose to sell as an individual or as a professional. The difference between the two plans relates mainly to the number of products you wish to sell.
Do you have a large product line? Maybe you want to sell over 40 products, in which case you’ll need a professional account. This will cost a little more, but you’ll also enjoy certain advantages.
With a professional account, you’re able to access detailed information about the sales you make. This data can be very useful, informing improvements to your online business. You’re also able to sell using programs such as Launchpad or Homemade using this plan.
If you’re selling less than 40 products and you don’t need detailed sales reports, then an individual selling plan is probably best for you. Maybe you have less than 40 products at the moment but you’re hoping to grow your business over time.
Don’t worry! Amazon allows you to switch your seller plan, so you have room to develop.
Choosing products
One of the biggest decisions you’ll make when launching your store is which products you will stock in it. When making this decision, you might want to ask yourself the following questions:
What kind of customer am I targeting?
Think about the demographic you plan to reach with your store. This will inform the products that you offer, as you can tailor options to their tastes and preferences. Is your typical customer young or old? Do you plan to target a particular gender? Knowing who you’re selling to will help you meet their needs and advertise to them more effectively.
How crowded is the current marketplace?
Before you start stocking your online store, check out what’s already available on Amazon. If you can offer a brand new product to the platform, this is preferable. Carving your own niche means you don’t have to directly compete with others.
Given the vast range of items already on sale, you might not be able to offer something completely different. However, it should have its unique selling points that make it stand out.
What can I manage logistically?
When you choose to sell on Amazon, you have a range of logistics options to choose from. For example, you might choose your store to be “Fulfilled by Amazon,” in which case Amazon will stock and ship items on your behalf.
If you’re handling order fulfillment, this will dictate what you’re able to sell. You need to think about what you can reasonably store and send all over the world!
Listing products
Once you’ve chosen the products you want to stock, it’s time to think about how you will list them. Listing your products effectively is incredibly important.
The way you describe and photograph your items will affect how high they appear in product rankings, whether customers are likely to click on them, and whether those clicks can be converted into sales!
