While the ubiquitous e-commerce giant Amazon is widely known as a purchasing platform, you may not have considered how simple it is to use the service for your own specific sales.

Amazon is a comprehensive business site that makes its name reaching the widest net of customers and using specific algorithms to bring those customers to the products that they want.

If you are bringing something to market, it is quick and easy to tap into the Amazon marketplace. However, there are tips and tricks you should know to make your listing more effective.

Obviously one could spend many hours drilling down into metrics that will help make specific decisions regarding how best to list your products on the site, but Red Stag Fulfillment has created step-by step instructions that lay out the basics.

It covers signing up for the platform as well as some strategic ideas behind concepts like “Winning the Buy Box” and fulfillment logistics. In it, they outline three basic elements to this process: 1) list it, 2) sell it, and 3) ship it.

[amazon_link asins=’1540575551′ template=’ProductAd’ store=’succeedingin-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’ef26dba4-449f-11e8-bee6-07c608b615c4′]Will your product sell on Amazon?

After millions of transactions, Amazon metrics point to specific product types as being most viable:

• Products that cost between $20 – $200
• Items that are able to move quickly (more than 10 per day)
• Products that do not require much assembly or knowledge
• Products that adhere to Amazon seller guidelines
• Products with a profit margin of 50-67%

This last bullet is tricky to assess because it requires that you understand your shipping costs, but Amazon has ways to assist in this as well.

How do you know what your profit margin will be?

Amazon is in the business of helping your business succeed. Therefore, they’ve provided a number of tools to assist you when joining their platform.

To determine your return on investment (ROI) you can use the Amazon Seller App, which helps calculate costs, keeping track of spending and estimating profits.

Download the Amazon Seller App (for Apple or Android)

List it

Before listing your product, it is crucial to set it in the best light and have logistics taken care of:

– Get high quality photographs made

– Obtain barcodes from a vendor like BarCodes Talk

– Make a compelling logo

– Set up a business account

Then click the SELL button on the top of the page and you are ready to begin.

[amazon_link asins=’1500123684′ template=’ProductAd’ store=’succeedingin-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’f93b93e3-449f-11e8-a9ba-2b7e1a7228d9′]Set up seller settings

As a new Amazon seller you will likely want to choose the individual seller category. The professional designation charges a monthly fee and assumes you will sell over 40 units per month.

On this page you can:

– Customize information: It is a personal choice to have specific information sent to you, but make sure that “Listing Notifications” and the “Report Notifications” are turned on.

– Shipping settings: If you can make your shipping costs low your product will be more competitive.

– Tax settings: Consult a tax professional as there are state laws that need to be considered.

– Personal info: This can be a way to distinguish your product – look for examples online.

How do you win (or lose) the buy box?

The small box that customers click when purchasing a product from Amazon is known as the Buy Box. As a seller, you are up against competitors to “occupy” that space. As you may guess, competition for the box is fierce.

How do you get in the box?

Amazon tracks a number of metrics that give your company advantages in waging the battle for the box. Some of the most important are:

– Low cost

– A pattern of fast shipping

– Strong reviews

– Continually available inventory

– Low returns rate (in fact if you have a return rate of over 8%, Amazon will suspend your account)

Strengthen your listing

There are various strategies employed to make an Amazon listing stand out. Common practice includes:

– A lengthy title: Adding details in the title section makes it easier for customers to find. exactly your product when they are looking for it.

– Bulleted content: Focus your content in bullets and use keywords.

– Solicit reviews: Remember, reviews are being tracked by Amazon.

Shipping

What your product is determines your best shipping options. Your choices are:

– Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) – Amazon has a shipping service that automatically integrates with your listing and means you are eligible for Amazon Prime members. However, because of their massive operation there are common customer service issues. Ironically, these may affect your sales status on the site if bad reviews come in.

– Seller fulfillment – You can handle shipping but Amazon charges a specific rate per product and if your shipping is more, you will pay that additional fee.

– Third party fulfillment – A fulfillment partner is a useful addition if your business is in the process of expansion. Research into the “right” company for you depends on your production and technical needs, but ultimately the convenience of a partner saves you on shipping costs and improves your service options. They also provide return service, customer service, and faster shipping, which leads to better reviews. This can be an asset when working toward winning that buy box.

By following these steps, it is relatively simple to set up your seller’s account and start shipping products via Amazon’s massive network. The nuances of selling, however, can be endlessly complex.

Both Amazon and other corporations, like fulfillment and supply chain services, are there to help you along the way as your company expands. Remember, if you make money, so do they—so choose your partners wisely and with the ideal needs of the product in mind.

Infographic provided by Red Stag Fulfillment.