How to Become an Amazon Seller in 5 Easy Steps
Selling online will allow you to reach way more potential clients, as the internet doesn’t have any physical boundaries or borders. Anyone can buy anything even if the seller is miles and miles away. If you want to get in on the action, but you don’t want to go through the hassle of creating your own online store, you should become an amazon seller.
In this article, you’ll discover how to become an Amazon seller step by step. But not only that, you’ll find out the benefits and downsides of selling on Amazon, as well as some tips and tricks on how to do it with success.
Let’s begin!
Should you be selling online?
First of all, let’s see why should you be selling online.
Nowadays, more and more people use primarily their mobile devices, they’re just a click from getting all the information they are looking for, as well as purchasing everything they need.
In fact, 77% of consumers buy online. And if customers are online, you should too.
But is Amazon the right platform for you?
Should you sell on Amazon?
Selling your products on Amazon can be a great way to expand your business and increase your revenue, but it also has its downsides. Therefore, you should consider all the pros and cons of selling on this platform, before embarking on this endeavor.
Reasons to become an Amazon seller
-
Increased sales
Amazon has millions of monthly users, so it offers large exposure which naturally leads to more sales and profits.
-
Customer acquisition
Amazon increases your chances of attracting new customers because it attracts people who are looking for a specific product, not a brand.
-
International reach
Amazon allows you to sell your products globally and expand your market beyond your physical location.
Reasons NOT to become an Amazon seller
-
You have to pay fees
Selling on Amazon comes with a certain cost. If you have your own e-commerce you won’t have to pay these fees.
-
Competition
Amazon is one of the biggest markets, you’ll have to compete with other sellers that offer the same products.
-
Lack of control
When you sell on Amazon you must respect their rules, so you’re pretty restricted because the focus is on the products, not your brand.
Requirements to become an Amazon seller
Before learning how to become an Amazon seller, you’ll need to make sure you have all the information needed to open your account:
✔️ Basic business information, such as your legal business name and contact information.
✔️ Email address.
✔️ Internationally chargeable credit card.
✔️ A phone number that you’ll use during the registration process.
✔️ Your tax identity information, including your company’s Federal Tax ID number or your Social Security number.
✔️ State tax ID information.
Now you can proceed with signing up for an Amazon seller account.
Learn how to become an Amazon seller: 5 steps
Here is the guide on how to sell online and become an Amazon seller.
1. Open an Amazon seller account
To start selling on Amazon, you need to open an account, this means you need to:
Choose a seller category
- Amazon individual seller is made for businesses that plan to sell less than forty items per month. Amazon will take you $0.99 per sale and charge you some fees.
- Amazon professional seller is for businesses that plan to sell more than forty units per month. The monthly subscription fee is $39.99 and there are also referral and closing fees included.
- Amazon vendor is right for you if you manufacture products. Amazon buys the products directly from you and becomes a full-time distributor.
Set up your Amazon seller account and provide the following information:
- Your business name
- Your legal name and address
- Contact information
- Where products ship from
- Bank account information
- Shipping options
Complete your Amazon seller profile and fill in:
- Complete your seller profile by sharing your story with your future customers: who you are, how you started your business or other information that will help you connect with them.
- Add your logo.
- Detail your return and refund policies so that your customers know how they can return products, as well as how long does it take to process a refund.
Once you complete this first step, you can get access to the Seller Dashboard and move on to the second step.
2. Start listing your products
After creating your Amazon seller account, it’s time to add the products you want to sell. Individual sellers will complete this step by listing one item at a time, while professional sellers can add items in large batches.
You can place your products in one of two categories:
- Products already listed in the Amazon Marketplace
This means that there are other products like yours and you can use ready stock photos and descriptions. You need to describe the condition of items (if it’s used or new), the price, and the shipping options.
- Products not yet on Amazon Marketplace
This means that no other sellers are offering this type of product. Therefore, you need to provide additional information like:
✔️ The SKU or a number/code you create to keep track of each of your items.
✔️ The UPC/EAN Number that represents a twelve or thirteen digit barcode used to trace your items.
✔️ The product’s name or a title that represents it.
✔️ Images of the product that show it on a clear white background.
✔️ Product description in the form of bullet points to catch the buyers’ attention.
✔️ Search terms where you list words your customers would use to find your product.
Once you list all of your products, they should be immediately visible. However, sometimes it takes up to 24 hours to process your listings, so be patient. If it takes more time, contact Amazon to check if everything is alright.
3. Manage your inventory
After uploading your products to the Amazon marketplace, the next phase is to monitor the Seller Central website. In other words, you need to regularly control the new orders, maintain your inventory, check your performance indicators, and other activities to ensure efficient operations.
Properly managing your inventory is crucial if you want to become a successful Amazon seller. This means you always need to be ready to deliver your products and offer the best customer experience.
4. Select the “fulfillment” method
The fourth step on the path of becoming an Amazon seller is to decide how you’ll handle storing, packing and shipping your goods to customers. There are two available options:
- Fulfillment by Amazon
This means that Amazon takes care of all aspects, from packing and shipping to customer service and returns. Have in mind that this easy solution comes with additional fees.
- Fulfillment by Merchant
If you choose this option, you’ll be responsible for everything, not only for storage and order fulfillment but also for late or damaged packages.
5. Get paid
The last step to become an Amazon seller is to sell your products and receive your payments. Just take into consideration that Amazon allows you to sell, but with a certain commission, so you can expect fees from your sales that are proceeded biweekly.
Despite the fees, you can still make good profits by selling your products on this platform. Make sure you manage your inventory properly, write appealing product descriptions and upload high-quality images.
5 tips to be a successful Amazon seller
Amazon is a very competitive market, so it’s not enough just to open an Amazon store. If you want to succeed, you need to keep in mind a few things.
-
Find the right niche
It’s crucial to sell products people are interested in. So, make sure you follow new tendencies on social media or focus on areas that are always trending. However, try avoiding generic niches, as these will be more competitive. For instance, instead of sports clothing, opt for vintage clothes.
-
Be a marketer
You just can’t sit and wait, hoping that your customers will come to you. Instead, become a proactive marketer and promote your products on social media, your blog or through newsletters.
-
Analyze your competition
Don’t forget to keep an eye on the competition. Check their prices, marketing tactics, their special offers, and so on. Likewise, you can read their product reviews to find out what attracts customers.
-
Always answer
Responsiveness and readiness to remedy any situation is the best way to ensure top-notch customer experience and repeated sales. Try to respond promptly and help your clients.
-
Increase profits
There are some ways to work smarter and maximize your revenue. For instance, leverage the holiday season, start selling a whole range of products or join Amazon’s Associate’s program.
Sell on Amazon and Become More Profitable
After reading this guide on how to become an Amazon seller, you can see that it is an excellent way to expand your market and increase your profits. On the other hand, you need to be aware of numerous competitors, as well as the fees that Amazon takes.
All in all, if you work smart and with dedication, success will knock on your door.
Do you want to learn more about selling online? Keep reading:
Dropshipping: Can You Sell Online Without Inventory?
Whether you need financial assistance to manage your inventory efficiently or to start your own e-commerce, Camino Financial will provide you with affordable and flexible business loans. Our motto is No Business Left Behind, so we want to support you and help you grow your business.