Everything You Need to Know About Selling on Amazon
Amazon has fast become the go-to place for online consumer shopping, offering just about anything you may want or need. There are currently more than 2.5 million sellers on Amazon, making it a very influential market — and showing why it’s such a popular business plan to want to become a successful seller on Amazon.
If you’re looking to break into the marketplace and earn money as a seller, here’s everything you need to know.
It May Not Be Like Selling Elsewhere
You may have vast experience with selling as a business, perhaps through your own eCommerce store or elsewhere, but Amazon has its own set of rules. You need to understand that selling on Amazon may not be like selling in other places online, so don’t necessarily think that because you have years of selling experience, you don’t need to read Amazon’s guidelines.
Stick to One Seller Account
You may think opening multiple selling accounts will increase your chances of success, but Amazon prohibits multiple accounts. Stick to one single-seller account and work on optimizing this.
You Can Have Your Account Suspended
If you didn’t already know, you don’t have free reign when it comes to selling on Amazon. You always need to understand (and abide by) Amazon’s selling rules, guidelines, and policies. If Amazon decides that your account and selling habits aren’t up to scratch, for whatever reason, they can suspend your account.
If this happens, it’s important to seek out expert guidance for appealing suspensions, such as riverbendconsulting.com, so that you can get your Amazon account back on track as soon as possible and minimise the damage to your selling reputation.
Some Products May Need Specific Approval
Amazon has an open category policy, in which certain items don’t need specific permission to sell. However, some categories do require approval from Amazon before you can begin selling. These include:
— Automotive
— Fine art
— Professional services
— Grocery products
The list is extensive, so be sure to check your intended product against the categories under Amazon’s guidelines to see whether it falls under the open category or whether it requires approval.
Work Out the Best Plan for You
Deciding on the best-selling plan means understanding how many items a month you intend to sell. Amazon sellers can operate under the following plan choices:
Individual Plan
With this plan, you will pay Amazon an individual fee for each item you sell ($0.99 with other variable fees) and works best for those sellers who intend to sell no more than 40 items a month.
Professional Plan
With this plan, you pay Amazon a set fee of $39.99 a month (with other variable fees) and can sell an unlimited number of items. Therefore, if you know you intend to sell well over 40 items a month, the Professional Plan will be better for you.
Increase Your Chances
You want your listings to look professional and to stand out. Be sure to include as much information as possible, such as detailed product descriptions, measurements of items, and shipping costs.
Also, be sure to always include professional quality photos to show off your products.
As long as you stick to Amazon’s guidelines, there’s no reason your selling cannot be a success.
