How to Make a Logo & Build your Amazon Brand

Building a Brand that Buyers Trust

You don’t need a logo to sell on Amazon, but it is a worthwhile investment. Your logo is the building block for all other marketing materials, like business cards, social media, emails, and PPC advertising. It goes beyond seller ranking and reviews to establish a professional identity that buyers can trust. All private label sellers, regardless of fulfillment method, can benefit from learning how to make a logo.

Everything about your product and packaging sends a message to the buyer, but nothing speaks as loudly as your logo. Having one makes it easier to report counterfeit products (it is even easier if you are signed up for Brand Registry) and protect your reputation. Your logo is your biggest opportunity to prove your legitimacy and communicate your values, so you need to make sure that it is an accurate representation of your brand.

What Makes a Good Logo?

When consumers first come in contact with your brand, one of the first things they will notice is your logo. A well-designed logo keeps buyers interested and shows that you are committed to providing a quality experience for shoppers.

Effective logos typically follow these general principles:

Applicability

Your logo should speak for your brand, but it also needs to reflect the interests of your target audience. Pay attention to what works for your top competitors. Is there a specific style that seems to resonate with buyers? What do you offer that can differentiate your product from competitors? Answering these types of questions will ensure that your logo is both effective and, leading us into our next point, unique.

Uniqueness

It is okay to draw inspiration from current design trends, but your logo needs to set you apart from the competition. Badge logos, similar to the ones below, have become popular for their adaptability and compact style. A badge might be the best choice for you or it may not. Either way, you should not settle on a design just because it is popular at the moment. For example, younger audiences are particularly good at picking up when a brand is trying to be cool rather than authentic. Take the time to research trends to discover what best fits your brand.

Template from bypeople.com

Simplicity

Your logo should be easy to read at a glance, so stay away from vague shapes and heavy lines that are too close together. Consider the Apple logo: an extremely simple shape, an apple with a bite missing, but eye-catching and memorable nonetheless. The IKEA logo is another good example of using basic shapes and complementary colors – an easy visual trick – to grab your attention. Try to stick to a maximum of two colors and shy away from overly complex graphics.

Scalability

You want your logo to be recognizable regardless of size. Use vector software like Adobe Illustrator, or save your design in different resolutions for scalability. Make sure the design works in black and white as well as color. One trick is to begin designing in black and white and then switch to color once you settle on a basic layout. If you are outsourcing your logo, the designer should provide you with several different file types for digital display and printing.

You want your logo to be more than just a pretty image. It needs to be memorable so you can stand out against the hundreds, or even thousands, of other sellers in your product market.

How to Make a Logo

There are lots of free tools available online that explain how to make a logo if you would like to do the design work yourself. Or, if you have space in your budget, you could outsource the task to a design firm or freelancer. Your decision will also depend on how much involvement you would like in the design process.

Do-It-Yourself

Use free design tools like Canva, Piktochart, or Adobe Spark, or pay for professional vector software like Adobe Illustrator. Most sites have blog posts or instructions on how to make a logo with their software. If you use a free site, you may have to pay to download high-resolution images for printing.

The main benefit is you are in complete control of the process, from sketching to final design.
If you want complete control but do not want to draw a single thing, websites like SquareSpace and Logojoy create logo prototypes based on your preferences and offer them in different resolution packages at varying prices.

Freelance

More pricey than doing it yourself but less costly than hiring a design firm.

You get what you pay for (less for quick, easy designs, more for high-quality designs).
You do not have much input beyond your initial proposal and a round or two of edits.

Design Firm

Most expensive option, but the highest quality of work.

You have little to no input beyond the initial consultation.
If you do not like the final product, you are out a lot of money.

It is always a good idea to know what direction your logo should take before paying for a branding package. Use one of the free design sites to create a mock-up so designers will have a clear idea of what you want.

Get a Second Opinion

It is easy to get caught up in the excitement of creating a logo and miss a crucial flaw in your design. Mistakes like this happen quite often, even for big companies or events.

For example, the logo for the 2012 London Olympics was extremely controversial. Traditionally, Olympic logos have featured a popular landmark or recognizable symbol from the host city, so they celebrate the occasion while also advertising the location. The 2012 design may have been technically exciting, but many were angered by the lack of London specific imagery and did not consider it a true representation of the city. Because this logo alienated its audience, it has generally been considered a failure. Mistakes like this can easily be avoided in your design by getting a second or third opinion on your logo design.

How to Make a Logo for Brand Registry

Last year, Amazon rolled out a new and improved Brand Registry program that gives private label sellers an added edge on the market. Brand registered sellers can access advanced product page customization options and receive extra protection against counterfeiters and listing hijackers.

To enroll, you must have an active registered trademark that is the same mark as what appears on your product or packaging. According to Amazon, your trademark must be in one of these forms:

a text-based mark

a stylized text-based mark (like the Coca-Cola or Google logos)
an image-based mark with words, letters or numbers

If you already have a logo that fulfills these requirements, all you have to do is register the design for a trademark.

Besides building buyer recognition, adding your trademark to your product or packaging provides an extra layer of security against hijackers who mimic your registered brand at a cheaper price. Once you report the hijacking, Amazon can typically remove the copycat listing in just a few hours. If Amazon needs more proof of infringement, you can order the hijacker’s product and then send it to Amazon as proof they are not selling the same branded item.

A trademarked logo is an incredible addition to your marketing toolbox. If you have a larger Amazon store, becoming brand registered will give you the protection and visibility you need to grow your business.

Final Thoughts

The marketing needs of an online storefront are not the same as a brick-and-mortar retail store, but the same branding strategies apply. Creating a logo and registering your brand are two very effective ways to set yourself apart from other private label sellers and build customer loyalty. Here at Viral Launch, we want to provide you with all the information you need to become successful on Amazon. For more on Amazon selling strategies, we encourage you to subscribe to our blog, check out our Youtube channel, and listen to our Follow the Data podcast.

How to Find Manufacturers for Amazon Products

The journey to selling on Amazon can be a long one. The first step is of course choosing a product that matches your budget in a market that you can confidently break into. Next up is turning your idea into a tangible product! You may be wondering how to find manufacturers, especially if you are a first-time Amazon seller, but it is easier than you may think.

Finding a supplier or manufacturer can be an intimidating process for experienced and first-time sellers alike. You want to find a supplier that will not only supply you with stock, but will also become a business partner with you as your company grows.

Domestic vs. Overseas

Your first step is to decide whether to buy from a domestic or overseas supplier. Most sellers will end up sourcing from China because the costs are so much cheaper, even after accounting for shipping and quality inspections. There are benefits and disadvantages to both, and it will ultimately come down to your personal preference and budget.

Advantages of sourcing overseas:

Cheaper production costs
More manufacturers to choose from
Wider variety of products

Disadvantages of sourcing overseas:

Turnaround time is longer
Harder to ensure the manufacturer’s legitimacy
Quality of goods is not guaranteed
Little to no legal safeguards or payment protections
Shipping is more expensive and must clear customs
Communication barriers and cultural differences may be hard to navigate

Advantages of sourcing domestically:

Quality is perceived as higher
Shorter turnaround and shipping times
Easier to verify the legitimacy of the manufacturer
More legal safeguards and payment protections

Disadvantages of sourcing domestically:

Production costs are dramatically higher
Fewer product options

You do not have decide between one or the other right away; just keep those factors in mind as you begin your search.

What to Look for in a Supplier

Your goal should be to find a supplier that you can have a lucrative long-term partnership with. As you begin searching for suppliers that can create your product, look for those who exhibit these traits:

Good communication: Do they respond to your messages in a timely manner? Do they ask for clarifications?

Helpful: Do they answer your questions completely? Are they honest about setbacks and shipping delays? Are they willing to have a quality control inspection done by a third party?

Reputable: What do other vendors in the space say about them? Will they provide copies of their business licenses and agree to a property inspection?

Experienced: Have they been in business for 3 years or longer? How many orders do they process every year?

Flexibility: If there is a problem with production, are they willing to work with you to find a solution?

Affordable: Do your profit margins allow you to work with them? Are they willing to negotiate prices?

In addition, look for suppliers who make a wide range of products and can keep up with your growing Amazon business. If your orders increase dramatically, or if you want to diversify your products, you want a supplier who will be able to meet your needs right now as well as in the future.

Finding a Supplier

Compile a list of at least 10 suppliers to make initial contact with so you can find the right partner as quickly as possible. The process may seem overwhelming at first, but there are multiple sources of information that can speed up your search and make it easier.

Directories

The internet is a great place to start looking for suppliers. Most online directories allow you to browse products and get in touch with suppliers worldwide, all in one place.

Alibaba is the largest online wholesale manufacturing directories and one of the most popular one-stop shops for sellers looking to source their products from overseas.

We actually just hosted a Webinar with Alibaba.com, talking a bit about Q4 but also about sourcing and manufacturing! Check it out in the video below:

Because counterfeit accounts are harder to track on such a massive database, Alibaba offers several supplier verification categories to protect buyers from fraud and increase payment security, including (but not limited to):

Trade Assurance: Your payment is protected if the supplier does not ship on time or if the product quality does not match what you specified in your contract.
Gold Supplier: Suppliers with a gold rating have gone through a verification process by an approved third party inspector.
Customs Data: You can access the public trading records of all the companies that have shipped into the United States.
Inspection Service: If you make an order through Trade Assurance, you have the option to get a quality control inspection from an Alibaba approved third-party inspection company.

To further narrow down your choices, you can filter search results by vendors that have Trade Assurance and Gold Supplier badges. You can also browse the supplier’s company profile to check their certifications, production capacity, and physical location to determine their legitimacy before making initial contact.

Other popular online directories include:

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council only has China based suppliers

Trade Shows

Trade shows offer buyers a chance to talk directly with a large number of potential suppliers at one time. The Canton Fair is the largest and longest-running trade fair in China and takes place twice a year. Most booths display finished products, but you should still ask if they can do custom orders. You can also collect free product samples instead of paying expensive airfare to ship them. Being able to communicate face-to-face with suppliers is essential for building trust and developing a better relationship for future orders.

References

Ask businesspeople and other eCommerce sellers in your professional network about how to find manufacturers that would work best for your needs. You are more likely to get an honest assessment of a supplier’s capabilities from someone who has worked with them in the past. If you develop a rapport with a supplier who ends up not being a good fit, do not be afraid to ask them for recommendations.

Always keep your profit margins in mind as you look for a supplier. Pay attention to minimum order quantities, and add up the costs of production, including shipping and FBA fees to determine if you could actually make a profit.

You may be able to put yourself into a better financial position by negotiating prices with your supplier. For more tips on how to find and negotiate with a manufacturer, be sure to check out our Follow the Data podcast episode on the subject.

Final Thoughts on How to Find Manufacturers

Finding the right manufacturer takes patience, perseverance and a little elbow grease, but by the end you will be one step closer to making your Amazon dreams a reality. Here at Viral Launch, we want to provide you with all the information you need to become a successful Amazon seller. For more on Amazon selling strategies, we encourage you to subscribe to our blog, check out our Youtube channel, and listen to our Follow the Data podcast.

Setting Up an LLC: A 3-Step Guide to Forming Your Own Business

If you’re looking to start selling on Amazon, setting up an LLC is a great place to start. Creating your own LLC will help you to establish your own private label brand. This is highly popular for people looking for a side hustle or larger opportunity to help make money from home.

What is an LLC?

LLC stands for Limited Liability Company. It is a legal entity that separates and protects your personal assets if your business is sued (fingers crossed that doesn’t happen!).

While the concept of forming your own company might seem daunting, creating your own LLC does not have to be scary or overwhelming.

Here are the 3 main steps to setting up an LLC:

Pick a state
Pick a name
File the paperwork

Let’s dig in deeper so you’re ready to go!

1. Pick a State

Where should you form your LLC?

The first step in setting up an LLC is picking a state. There is such a thing as “hype states” however, so take caution here. Every state has its own set of rules and requirements regarding LLCs, so make sure you choose the right one for you. States like Delaware and Nevada are often hyped up as great places to form LLCs, but unless you are a resident of those states, they will only increase your costs and double your paperwork.

So which state is the best state to organize your LLC in?

The short answer: the state you live in is the best state!

The long answer: when deciding on which state to register your LLC in, there are two questions you should consider.

Where do you live?
Will your business have a physical presence outside of the primary location?

Keep in mind that LLC regulations vary per state. Make sure you double check your state’s laws, regulations, and fees before you start the process. You can find all that information at its Secretary of State’s Office or online with a quick Google search.

If you’re using a website to find that information, make sure the url ends in “.gov” or the state’s abbreviation. This ensures the information you will be receiving is accurate and up to date on your state’s LLC best practices, rules, and regulations.

Where do you live?

What is your physical address? Where does your mail get delivered to? Wherever it is, that is the state and location where you should form your LLC. Why?

Well, there are a lot of reasons, but the short answer is it saves on fees and paperwork.

What if you want to form it someplace else?

If you want to form an LLC that is outside of the state you live in, you most definitely can. What you would need to file for is a Foreign LLC. If you choose to go this route, make sure you have a full understanding of what it means to form a Foreign LLC. When you form an LLC in the state you live in, you are forming a Domestic LLC. If you form an LLC in a state you do not live in, you are forming a Domestic LLC and a Foreign LLC.

For example, if you live in Indiana but want to do business in Wisconsin, you would file for a Domestic LLC in Indiana. Once your Domestic LLC is filed and certified by the state of Indiana, you would then move forward with filing a Foreign LLC in Wisconsin.

While forming a Foreign LLC has its own benefits, it will have a higher price tag and require more paperwork.

Forming a Foreign LLC essentially means you have 2 LLCs, one in your home state (domestic) and one in a different state (foreign). This leads to you doubling what you would have to do if you were only establishing a Domestic LLC.

With a Foreign LLC, you would have:

2 LLCs (Domestic and Foreign State)
2 state filing fees
2 annual report fees
2 registered agents (one in each state)

As you can see, setting up a Domestic LLC in your home state is the most cost-effective way to go!

What if your LLC will have a business presence outside of the primary state?

A business presence could be a storefront, office, or even a sales representative. If you have any of these outside of your primary state, filing for a Foreign LLC is a must! While it involves extra costs and paperwork, it is a small price to pay to make sure your LLC is legal in all states.

Other reasons for forming a Foreign LLC include:

Having a business bank account in another state
Selling in a state through an agent, distributor, or manufacturer
You transact or hold business in that state

What if it is all online?

As for a business that is 100% online, like many third-party Amazon sellers are, the answer is still a Domestic LLC. This is because the majority of online businesses are run from people’s homes. Even if you travel while working, you should register your LLC in the state you have the biggest connection to.

To determine which state that is, ask yourself the following:

Where is your primary address?
What state do you file taxes in?
What state are you a resident of?

The answer to those questions will lead you to the best state to file in. Once you have determined what state you will be filing in, the next step in setting up an LLC is finding a legal name!

2. Pick a Name

What should you name your LLC?

A good LLC name is valuable because it helps customers remember and distinguish you from other competitors.

When it comes down to it though, deciding on your LLC name is more than just picking something that sounds cool. Yes, you want something that is unique which your customer base will remember, but you want to make sure you do it right.

Is it legal?

The official name that appears on file with the state is your LLC’s legal name. This is a crucial asset to your LLC so make sure your name is legal.

It cannot include state-prohibited words such as Bank, City, or Insurance.
It must include Limited Liability Company or an acceptable abbreviation (LLC, L.L.C., Ltd. Liability Co.) at the end.
The legal name cannot be the same as an LLC that already exists on file.

Each state has its own list of prohibited words. These are in place so your LLC will not get confused with official government agencies, offices, or businesses. There are also words that are restricted, pending state approval. These might include words such as Bank, Insurance, or Hospital. You can file to have approval to use those words, but it will cost a small fee and will lengthen how long it will take to fully register your LLC.

Is it available?

To find out if the name you want is available, you can do a name check. Your state’s LLC office will be able to tell you if your proposed name is available or not. Websites like LegalZoom also offer services including checking LLC name availability. If it is, great! You can move forward with filing. If not, it’s unfortunately back to the drawing board.

If your name is available but you are not quite ready to file, one thing you can do is reserve your LLC name. Most states will allow you to reserve an LLC name for a short period of time for a fee.

The final step to take in setting up an LLC might seem like the least fun, but will actually take you the least amount of time.

3. File the Paperwork

What paperwork is the right paperwork?

After deciding on your state and LLC name, next comes the paperwork. And let’s be real, paperwork is not fun. It can be time consuming and confusing. Thankfully, the paperwork for registering an LLC is actually very user friendly! On average, it will only take you a half hour to an hour to complete it.

What you will be filing is known as Articles of Organization and an LLC Operating Agreement.

Articles of Organization

Articles of Organization is a formal legal document that needs to be filed to establish a limited liability company at the state level.

Forming and filing this paperwork should take less than an hour. You can either do it yourself or consult an experienced attorney. Most states’ Secretary of State websites contain pre-printed forms for you to use so you can just fill in the blanks. Companies that specialize in helping people file for LLCs also offer free Article of Organization forms that are user friendly. So if you want to do it yourself, you are certainly able to. Plus you’d be saving on attorney fees!

Just do a quick online search to find the one that best fits your LLC. Wonder. Legal offers a great online template that allows you to select the state you want to form your LLC in and updates the template accordingly.

Having trouble finding Articles of Organization in your state? Try searching for a Certificate of Organization or Certificate of Formation. Same thing, just different names.

Here’s what information is included:

Name of the LLC
Address of the LLC (principal place of business)
Type of Legal Structure (i.e. a Limited Liability Company)
Purpose of the LLC’s business (use broad language to avoid limiting future prospects)
Name and address of the registered agent
Name(s) of manager(s) and members of the LLC (if known at the time of filing)
Effective Date
Duration

Registered Agent

Every business that is registered with a state as a legal entity must have a registered agent. Also called a statutory agent or agent of process, a registered agent is the person who will accept federal and state legal documents and service of process.

Be careful about companies telling you to hire them as your registered agent. Some trick people into thinking they need an experienced company, but that just results in more money out of your pocket.

Anyone can be a registered agent! You, a friend, a family member, etc. As long as they have a business address in the state your LLC is located and are available during business hours, they can be your registered agent.

Once all of that information is gathered, all that’s left to do is sign and file. When filing, you also need to take into account the cost of filing fees.

Filing Fees

Make sure you check filing fees in your state. Articles of Organization can be filed with your state’s Secretary of State office or a similar state agency that can handle business registration. All states require payment of a corresponding filing fee. The amount varies depending upon the state of organization. While most states have modest fees averaging $50, other states such as Tennessee charge $300.

LLC Operating Agreement

An LLC Operating Agreement is rarely required to be filed by state law, but it is essential that one is still created. LLC Operating Agreements set rules of ownership and operation of business. It allows you to structure the financial and working relationships in a way that best suits your business. This can be for a single-member LLC or a multi-member LLC.

The operating agreement helps guard your limited liability status and ensures your business is governed by your rules.

Here are the main things typically included in LLC Operating Agreements:

Percentage interests of member(s)
Rights and responsibilities of member(s)
Voting powers
How profits and losses will be allocated
How the LLC will be managed
Meeting and voting procedures
What to do if a member wants to sell their interest dies, or becomes disabled

Many companies have created templates for LLC Operating Agreements so you do not need to start from scratch. The Northwest Registered Agent offers an amazing free LLC Operating Agreement pdf and/or Word download.

Next Steps for Setting Up an LLC

You’ve completed the 3 main steps to setting up your own LLC. Congratulations! So what comes next?

Publish a Notice (if required by state)

Depending on your state, there may be an additional step. A few states require you to publish a notice in a local newspaper. It is a simple notice that states you are forming an LLC. It must be published several times over a period of weeks and an “affidavit of publication” is then submitted to your LLC filing office. If you are having trouble with that, your local newspaper should be able to help you out.

Licenses and Permits

After filing, be sure to secure all licenses and permits before you open your doors. Not all businesses are the same, so what you need will vary depending on the purpose of your LLC.

Here are the most common licenses and permits you may need:

Business license (tax registration certificate)
Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN, Employer ID Number, Federal Tax Number, etc.)
Seller’s permit
Zoning permit

Annual LLC Fees

In addition to the one-time filing fee to form your LLC, each state requires an annual fee. The annual fee is called the Annual Report in the majority of states but can also go by these names:

Annual Certificate
Annual List of Members
Annual Registration Fee
Biennial Report
Biennial Statement
Business Privilege Tax Return
Decennial Report
Franchise Tax Report
Periodic Report

The average annual fee in the United States is $100. There is no way around this. You must pay this fee to keep your LLC in compliance and in good standing regardless of income or LLC activity. If you do not pay it, your LLC will be dissolved.

Did you know that Viral Launch Started as an LLC?

Casey Gauss was a fresh college dropout and coding with socks on his hands to stay warm when he co-founded Viral Launch as an LLC in 2014. It is now 2018 and that LLC has transformed into a tech company that has over 50 employees. Driven by the desire to help other people launch their own online businesses, Viral Launch continues to grow as an 8-figure corporation.

If Casey was able to do it, why not you?

Viral Launch is Here for You

As always, Viral Launch is here to help you in your Amazon journey. For more tips on Amazon advertising and selling strategies, we encourage you to subscribe to our blog, check out our Youtube channel, and listen to our Follow the Data podcast.

Q4 Selling Strategy: Viral Launch & Alibaba.com

Q4 is already here. Are you prepared? In this episode of Follow The Data, Cameron talks through essential dates to take into consideration for your Q4 strategy, as well as how to launch your product to capture increasing sales. We also brought Alibaba.com onto the show to talk through manufacturing/sourcing strategy. Alibaba.com also has some deals in store for our listeners! Tune in, take note of those dates and strategy, and get ready for Q4.

Access Alibaba’s Deals: bit.ly/Super-September

Keep up to take with VL on Instagram:
bit.ly/Cameron_Insta
bit.ly/Casey_Insta

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Seller Strategy Series | Tom Wang: Increasing Sales, Brand Development & Successful Mindsets

The goal of this series is to talk through high-level Seller Strategies from Amazon Sellers who are killing it in the CURRENT Selling Game. We’re talking through what they’re doing to scale their business: What’s currently working, what’s NOT working, where underpriced attention is, where you should be investing your time, and where Amazon is headed in general.

In today’s episode, I’m talking with Tom Wang, a Seller of his own who’s been implementing a lot of high-level strategy and is VERY in-tune with what other sellers are going through. Part of what we talk about in this episode involves developing a healthy entrepreneurial / Amazon-oriented mindset. Let’s dive in.

Check out our YouTube for more content: http://bit.ly/VLsubscribe
Subscribe & Comment on the latest video to see if you win a $50 Amazon Gift Card!
Get Connected To Tom here! EcomHub.com

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6 Best Amazon FBA Tools and Apps

When it comes to selling on Amazon, there’s always an abundance of items on the to-do list. As many brands are made up of just one person or a small team, there’s a lot to keep track of from picking a product and managing inventory to creating a listing and advertising… and everything in between. So how do you keep track of everything? Luckily, there’s an Amazon web app or tool for nearly every step of the selling process.

Here’s a list – in no particular order – of some of the best paid and free Amazon FBA tools and web apps designed to help you take your e-commerce business to the next level.

1.Take your Business On-the-Go with the Amazon Seller App

Before we get started, we should first mention one smartphone app every seller should have.

This might be pretty obvious for more seasoned sellers, but it’s definitely an important one. This is essentially Amazon giving sellers a free tool to help make their selling experience a whole lot easier and organized even when you’re on the go. You’d be crazy not to take advantage of it, right?

What it does: In short – a lot. This is essentially Seller Central in your pocket. With this app, you can analyze sales, quickly make pricing changes, view fees, create listings, upload photos, manage orders, respond to messages and much, much more.
Why we love it: For starters, we love it because it’s free. It’s also great because it has many of the major features and functionality of Seller Central available to you at any time. With this app, you’ll be able to manage your business from just about anywhere.
How to get it: This app is available for free in the Apple or Android app stores.

Ok, now that we’ve covered the Amazon Seller app, lets get back to the best third-party web-based apps and tools for sellers!

2. Take the ‘Ew’ Out of Reviews with Feedback Genius

Amazon reviews are a touchy subject to say the least. That’s why finding any tool that helps sellers manage and gather reviews within Amazon’s terms of service is like coming across an oasis in the middle of the Sahara. One of the most popular review apps is Feedback Genius from Seller Labs.

What it does: Reviews serve as social proof on Amazon, and they’ve got a major impact on clicks and conversions. Therefore, reviews are extremely important, and sellers must have a solid review-gathering game plan. Feedback Genius is a powerful Amazon FBA tool to help sellers gather and manage reviews as well as communicate with buyers through automation and helpful notifications.
Why we love it: Feedback Genius is great because it takes a lot of the legwork out of review aggregation and management. This app allows sellers to automate the bulk of their messaging to buyers and set up notifications so you never miss a review or feedback.
How to get it: Visit the Seller Labs website and create an account. New users can also try out a 30-day free trial!

3. Track Inventory and Run Ad Campaigns with Teikametrics

Making sure you’re on top of your inventory and successfully managing your advertising campaigns are extremely important aspects of selling on Amazon. Knowing how much product you have left and when to restock helps you to maximize profits and maintain ranking. And getting in front of shoppers through sponsored ads expands your sales potential. Luckily, there’s an FBA-focused tool out there that can help you keep track of inventory and advertise your products called Teikametrics.

What it does: This tool helps Amazon sellers create and follow smart inventory systems and sponsored ad campaigns. Manage your investments, track replenishment, and find your true profitability with Teikametrics’ FBA platform. You can also automate your sponsored ad campaigns to increase profitability. It’s all in one place.
Why we love it: Teikametrics is great because it’s designed with the FBA seller in mind. You get help managing inventory to reduce stock-outs while also learning valuable strategies to improve sales velocity and ranking. And when it comes to PPC, Teikametrics’ automated bidding allows you to get the best placement for max profitability without lifting a finger.
How to get it: Visit the Teikametrics website to create an account and get started.

4. Utilize Viral Launch’s Suite of Tools to Launch your Business into the Stratosphere

Here at Viral Launch, our mission is to provide sellers with the best information and tools out there for their selling journey – whether it’s from us or not. So with that being said, please forgive us for this shameless plug. Our Viral Launchpad (see what we did there) is based around 4 main tools:

Product Discovery: Our product finding tool allows you to find individual products that meet your criteria, review initial keywords, discover successful brands, and search subcategories for up-and-coming products. It also has advanced filters allowing you to customize your research process to get personalized results.
Market Intelligence: Once you’ve used Product Discovery to find a few products you’re interested in, it’s time to use Market Intelligence to verify your choices. This tool lets you verify demand for products by showing you estimated sales numbers, keyword search volume, trends, market conditions and much more.
Keyword Research: Like we mentioned earlier, finding the right keywords to include in your listing is huge. Our tool allows you to search a general keyword associated with your product and then presents you with a list of other possible keywords. Along with the keyword list, you’ll also get data like Search Volumes, Priority Score, Relevancy Score, Opportunity Score, Trends and more.
Launches: Also known as giveaways, launches are a great way to help move your product up in keyword ranking. At Viral Launch, our clients work with one of our Amazon Seller Coaches to target a major keyword for their product with a lot of search volume. Then, we determine what number of units to give away at a discounted price and for how long. Amazon recognizes these sales which in turn moves the product up in rankings for the major keywords, getting it in front of the eyes of more shoppers.

5. Own Your Taxes with Avalara

Is there anything more fun than doing your taxes? Oh, wait, there is? That’s right, unless you’re a CPA or an Excel whiz, taxes are tedious at best and massively confusing at worse. As an FBA seller, taxes can get even more confusing as changing legislation makes things increasingly difficult. Not to fear, Avalara is here with tax tools designed specifically for the needs of Amazon sellers.

What it does: Among other tax solutions, Avalara software automates sales tax compliance. Amazon sellers can easily understand how much they owe in each state that they have nexus. Avalara can even prepare and file your returns according to a filing calendar. It’s like having your very own accountant on your payroll!
Why we love it: Avalara provides real-time rate calculation and automatic return filing. No more manually entering data and other tax information… with Avalara’s sales tax engine, the right rates and rules will be applied every time!
How to get it: It’s simple, visit the Avalara website, sign up and get started!

6. Make Accounting Easy with Quickbooks

Whether you’re a solo Amazon seller or part of a small team, there’s a lot to keep track of. From expenses to taxes and everything else, that’s a lot of work to put on the shoulders of one, or in some cases, a few people. But with Quickbooks Online, you can keep track of all the important aspects of your business all in one place.

What it does: It might be better ask what Quickbooks Online doesn’t do. Sellers love this tool because of the wide range of services it offers. With Quickbooks Online, you can keep organized books with everything in one place. Automatically import and categorize your transactions, and you can even share your books with your accountant for seamless collaboration. This way, when tax time rolls around, you’re set up for a painless experience.
Why we love it: To be successful in any business, you need to know how much cash you’ve got on hand and how much cash you’re spending. Quickbooks Online allows you to see in real time how much money you’re making and spending… all in one place.
How to get it: Visit the Quickbooks website and sign up for the plan that best fits you and your business! There’s also an option for a free 30-day trial. If you’re having trouble setting up Quickbooks for your Amazon FBA business, get help from the pros. Find a bookkeeper like CapForge Bookkeeping Pros, who specializes in FBA, and they can help you set up your books correctly. After a free consultation, you’ll understand how CapForge can simplify your Quickbooks for peace of mind.

Bonus Round: International Sellers

7. Take Your Business Worldwide with WorldFirst

One of the main reasons Amazon provides sellers such a massive opportunity is because of the sheer size of their user base. Millions of shoppers from around the world are browsing Amazon every single day. But with different rules and regulations in each overseas economy, selling worldwide can be tricky. With the help of WorldFirst, you can build your business overseas and easily bring your money back home.

What it does: Amazon requires you to open a bank account in any country where you sell products, which can cause logistical headaches and great confusion. WorldFirst allows you to set up Amazon receiving bank accounts in overseas marketplaces like USD, JPY, CNY, GBP, EUR and CAD.
Why we love it: One of the best things about WorldFirst is that it’s extremely cost effective. For starters, it’s free to open an account which makes it easy to get started. There are also no fees for receiving money and no monthly charges.
How to get it: All you have to do is visit the WorldFirst website and sign up for an account.

Combine Amazon FBA Tools and Web Apps with Hard Work and Dedication

While the Amazon FBA tools and apps listed in this guide are great resources, they aren’t the end-all-be-all for whether or not you’ll be successful on Amazon. By that, we mean that merely signing up or using these tools won’t ensure success. It’s also completely possible these or other popular tools just aren’t right for you and your business – and that’s fine!

The best way to maximize your chances of successfully of being a successful seller is to combine Amazon FBA tools like these with hard work and plenty of research. It’s also important to make sure you stay up to date on any changes that may be taking place within the Amazon marketplace.

The great thing is a lot of this information can be easily found online, it just takes some effort on your part to find them. Like we mentioned above, Viral Launch hopes to be your source for information about all things Amazon. We encourage you to subscribe to our blog, check out our Youtube channel or listen to our podcast Follow the Data.

Amazon Brands: How Many Exist & What’s their Revenue?

We’re all aware that Amazon sells its own line of products on their ecommerce site, but you may be surprised to learn just how many Amazon brands exist. Some are quite obviously owned by Amazon, as their name includes a reference to the company. But many others are marketed under completely different brand names with no hint that they belong to one of the largest online retailers in the world.

Amazon began their journey into manufacturing and selling their own goods in 2009 with the launch of its AmazonBasics line. According to Recode, since that time they have grown to offer products in nearly 80 different brand names, with 60 alone being added since the beginning of 2017. Many of the recent lines have been focused in the clothing, shoe and jewelry markets.

Are Amazon Brands Profitable?

This recent push to add more brands has made Amazon’s intention of growing their product lines pretty clear. This means even more revenue for the already multi-billion dollar company. But just how much are these private label brands bringing in for Amazon?

Reported by CNBC, a SunTrust analyst estimates that Amazon’s private label sales should produce $7.5 billion on the online marketplace in 2018. This is up 108% from their previous estimation of $3.6 billion in 2017. Though this is small in comparison to some of Amazon’s other areas of business, it’s still a significant money maker that is expected to grow even more in future years.

How Do Amazon Brands Compare to Others?

Amazon’s private label brands compete well with other major brands in the online marketplace. The same SunTrust analyst reports that Coresight Research has discovered Amazon brands are the fourth most purchased clothing or footwear line on the online retailer. Its clothing brands are only surpassed by market giants Nike, Under Armour and Hanes.

Current Amazon Brands

Amazon is silently releasing more and more brands without any public announcement of these new launches. The company already has lines of clothing, shoes, jewelry, baby products, snack foods and many household items. Recode reports that Amazon offers products under 75 different brand names. Quartz adds that Amazon has also trademarked or applied to trademark as many as 800 other names, suggesting that the company plans to keep growing their product lines.

According to Recode’s reports, the 75 Amazon brands include:

Clothing, Shoes & Jewelry

206 Collective

7Goals

A for Awesome

Amazon Essentials

Arabella

Buttoned Down

Cable Stitch

Camp Moonlight

Clifton Heritage

Coastal Blue

Comfort Denim

Outfitters

Core 10

Crafted Collar

Daily Ritual

Denim Bloom

Emma Riley

Essentialist

Good Brief

Goodsport

Goodthreads

Hale Denim

Haven Outerwear

Hayden Rose

Indigo Society

Isle Bay Linens

Kid Nation

Kold Feet

Lark & Ro

Leather Architect

Lily Parker

Madeline Kelly

Madison Denim

Mae

Mariella Bella

Mint Lilac

Moon and Back

Ocean Blues

Painted Heart

Paris Sunday

Peak Velocity

Plumberry

Quality Durables Co.

Rebel Canyon

Rugged Mile Denim

Savoir Faire

Scout + Ro

Signature Society

Smitten

Social Graces

SomethingForEveryone

Spotted Zebra

Stocking Fox

Suite Alice

The Fix

The Lovely Tote Co.

The Luna Coalition

The Plus Project

The Slumber Project

TheCambridgeCollection

Trailside Supply Co.

True Angel

Ugly Fair Isle

Velvet Rope

Wild Meadow

Wood Paper Company

Cross-Category

AmazonBasics

Grocery

Happy Belly

Wickedly Prime

Health & Household

Amazon Elements

Mama Bear

Presto

Home & Kitchen

Pinzon

Rivet

Prime Members Only

Along with these 75 brands come some stipulations on who can purchase. There are many Amazon clothing brands that are exclusive to Prime members, so the average non-Prime shopper will never see them. This makes Prime memberships all the more appealing as you now have access to free shipping and more products.

Additionally, in 2017 Amazon rolled out Prime Wardrobe, a shopping service that sends clothing items to your home so you can try them on before purchasing. This makes their clothing items even more accessible. Since there are already several successful online businesses that provide similar services, it makes sense that Amazon would want to get in on this.

What Does This Mean For Sellers?

As we can see, it appears that Amazon has some major plans for further product line expansion. Just how far they plan to go and the effect on the market as well as other sellers remains to be seen. While their products are competitive in a variety of categories, smaller brands with proper marketing tactics and effective product listings are still able to come out successful as well.

It’s still important to be cautious as you enter into markets where Amazon is present as a seller. Often, Amazon will be able to compete on price, kick-starting price wars and lowering margins for other sellers in the space. If you’re considering entering into a market where an Amazon brand is present, just be aware that you may need to lower your price in order to stay competitive. Keeping a competitive edge through listing optimization will increase your ability to compete in a market that Amazon has entered.

To ensure your listing has all the elements to stay competitive, talk to an Amazon Seller Coach at Viral Launch. Our experience working with over 8,000 brands has given us the tools and knowledge to help you succeed.

Importance of Accurate Amazon Sales Estimate Data

When starting your FBA business, Amazon sales estimate data is among the most important elements of your Amazon research. This type of data will inform your decisions at nearly every step of the process. From what products to source to how much inventory you’ll need and when to reorder, sales estimates will help keep you on the path to success.

As with most things in life, there’s no surefire way to assure you’ll be successful selling on Amazon. But with hard work, dedication and proper research, you can increase your likelihood of success. And luckily for sellers, there are a lot of options and tools out there that provide sales estimates, including the Viral Launch Amazon sales estimator Market Intelligence.

In this guide, we’ll go over Amazon sales estimate data and why it is so important for the future of your online business.

Why Sales Estimates are So Important

Sales estimates are one piece of the puzzle when it comes to maximizing your potential for success on Amazon. But what makes sales estimates so important?

Amazon does not disclose the number of sales that products on the platform are making each day or each month. And without knowing which products are selling well, it’s almost impossible for an Amazon seller to feel confident choosing a profitable product. But with sales estimates, sellers can eliminate the guesswork and ensure the highest probability of success.

With accurate sales numbers, sellers no longer have to randomly pick a product and hope for the sales to roll in. Instead, sellers can understand how the top products in a market are performing. With an idea of how many daily sales to project for their own products, sellers have invaluable insight into crucial questions, such as:

How much money do I need to invest in this product?
How many units of inventory do I need to order from my manufacturer?
How many products will I sell each month?
How much money will I make on this product?

Answering these questions and aligning them with your goals is the first step in your journey to success on Amazon.

Amazon sales estimate data is the cornerstone to choosing a great product to sell on Amazon. Here at Viral Launch, we understand your need for the most accurate data possible. We know that your business depends on it.

That’s why our team has invested loads of time, money, and energy into crafting a comprehensive estimation algorithm. We’ve run over 30,000 product launches, and we lead the industry when it comes to interpreting how Amazon’s algorithms work. And because of this, we are confident in our ability to provide you with the most dependable data in the industry.

When you access these sales estimates, you can be confident in your product selection and in your competitive research.

Sales estimates can also help you predict when you’ll need to order inventory, so you can always stay one step ahead.

It can also be useful when determining potential profit for a product. Couple sales estimates with your Amazon FBA fees by using an FBA Calculator and you’ll be able to get a better idea of how much money in total a product will potentially bring in.

Want to see Market Intelligence in action? Check out this tutorial:

How We Calculate Our Sales Estimates at Viral Launch

In order to produce the most accurate sales estimates as possible, we must be as thorough as possible in our estimation algorithms.

Our sales estimates, powered by Market Intelligence, are based upon historical data, which is a crucial component to the level of desired accuracy. By utilizing the billions of data points at our disposal, we’ve formulated a precise method of estimating sales. In our journey of crafting the most accurate sales estimation algorithm, we brainstormed all possible indicators of sales on Amazon’s platform.

After much testing and trial-and-error, Viral Launch landed on estimating sales based on BSR, or Best Seller Ranking. Each product’s BSR fluctuates on an hourly basis. While many sales estimators on the market will use current BSR, we know that because BSR changes frequently and sometimes drastically, this does not provide an accurate representation of sales.

For example, we watched a product’s Best Seller Rank jump from 98,000 to 38,000 in one hour due to one sale. Then in the next hour it fell back down to 76,000. This drastic fluctuation is happening across the marketplace all the time. So, if you look at a product’s BSR in the morning, it may be very different than the same product’s BSR in the afternoon or evening. Looking at the current BSR to estimate the number of sales over the last month is like trying to predict the plot of a movie based on a single still frame. Without context, it is extremely difficult to guess correctly.

In order to build an accurate sales estimation algorithm, we built our system to take into account the vast fluctuations in BSR that occur all month. Rather than simply taking the current BSR into account, Viral Launch uses historical data through complex algorithms to produce comprehensive numbers. These sales estimates give a much more holistic view into a product’s sales than a dangerous snapshot of data does.

We update our BSR-to-sales mapping algorithm each night to further ensure the highest level of accuracy. This way, our calculation remains consistent with the natural trends of the market, where other sales estimators lack.

To learn more about BSR and how we use it to estimate sales, read this Amazon BSR guide.

Because we are tracking BSR for hundreds of thousands of products on an hourly basis over days, months, and years, our tool is also the only one on the market that can show you trends across an entire market, allowing you to make the most informed decisions. Whether you’re doing inventory planning for Q4 or simply looking at the trajectory of a trending product, Market Intelligence provides a 1,000ft view of the market for maximum insight and better business decisions.

How to Find Amazon Sales Estimates

Now that you know a little bit about why sales estimates are important and how we get the data, let’s go over how to find them. First, head on over to Market Intelligence and perform a search.

For this example in the image below, we’ve searched for a random product: a first aid kit.

As you can see from the image above, after performing your search, you’ll be presented with loads of helpful information.

One of the first columns sellers look at is Monthly Sales. This metric is a product’s estimated units sold over the last 30 days. To gather this, we use a “comprehensive estimate,” estimating sales based on averaged BSR each day.

By scrolling to the right, you’ll find your sales estimates. You will also find “Next 12 Month Sales.” This number denotes the estimated units that are projected to be sold within the next 365 days. To the right of that is “Next 12 Month Revenue,” which is the product’s current price multiplied by the projected future sales.

Keep in mind, you can filter and arrange your columns to present you with only sales and revenue data. Take a look at the image below, you can see everything from Monthly Sales to Next 12M Revenue in an easy to read format.

Market Intelligence also provides market trends, which averages the sales for the top sellers in the market. Analyzing the Amazon market trends for a potential product gives insight into how the product performs throughout the year on average. If you’re looking at one product’s past sales, you can’t attribute peaks and valleys to seasonal trends with certainty.

Perhaps the product went out of stock or the seller drastically raised the price to cause a drop in sales. But by looking at the market trends as a whole, you can understand the market and what you are getting into by sourcing this product.

This historical data can give you an great idea of where a product has been, where it is currently at, and it can give insight into where the product is headed.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully you have a better understanding about what Amazon sales estimate data is and how Market Intelligence calculates them with precision. Amazon sales estimates are just one piece of the puzzle, albeit a pretty important one.

There’s a lot more to learn about becoming an Amazon seller, but one of the biggest tips we can leave you with is to do your research. Whether it’s for product sales, keywords, manufacturing or anything else, you have to make sure you’ve done your homework before jumping in.

Here at Viral Launch we’d love to be your source for all things Amazon — both in tools and information. We encourage you to subscribe to our blog, check out our Youtube channel or listen to our podcast Follow the Data.

What is Private Label? An Introduction to the Popular Amazon Selling Method

Most people have heard of the online retailer Amazon. A lot of people use it as one of the main ways they buy products and goods. In fact, in early 2016, it was reported that Amazon had more than 310 million active customer accounts worldwide. And in 2017, net sales totaled $178 billion. What a lot of people might not know, is that a good portion of Amazon sales come from private label products.

And the great thing is, anyone can learn how to sell on Amazon, especially through private label.

In this post, we’ll go over private label products and how you can use them to build an Amazon business from the point of view of a seller. We’ll cover what a private label product is, where to get them and how to pick the right one.

First, we need to answer the question:

What is Private Label?

The concept of private label as it applies to Amazon and selling is actually pretty simple. Think of all the products that are on Amazon. Everything from phone chargers and first aid kits to kitchen utensils, toys and everything in between. Have you ever stopped to think about where these products come from and who is selling them? More often than not, the “company” behind the product listing you’re looking at isn’t so much a company as a single person or small team selling products.

So where do they get the products? People who sell private label products on Amazon “source” generic products from manufacturers and then market them under their own brands as a “third party seller.” This is actually one of the most popular ways to sell on Amazon because it’s the most scalable. As a third party seller, you buy your product in bulk from a manufacturer at lower per unit prices and then re-sell on Amazon for profit.

Sourcing Private Label Products

So this next step in understanding what private label is learning how sellers find them. One of the most popular ways to source products is through the website Alibaba. In short, Alibaba connects you with overseas manufacturers allowing you to purchase your selected products in bulk for resale. However, there are some things you have to keep in mind. Many of the manufacturers you work with will be from another country, so you’ll have to think about possible communication issues and cultural differences when dealing with them.

Just to give you an idea of what the Alibaba interface looks like, take a look at this example search we performed for a random product, in this case a phone charger.

You can’t see on that screenshot, but there are literally 100 pages of products related to phone chargers that you could source and sell under your own brand. By just browsing through the searches, you can get an idea of what the per unit prices will be for products like these, what the minimum order the manufacturer will accept is, and there’s even a button to “Contact Supplier” directly through Alibaba. And once you choose a specific product listing, there’s even more information available.

All this available information will allow you to do your homework on the manufacturer, to ensure they will be a good partner to work with. Alibaba also has its own quality assurance metrics to help you pick legitimate manufacturers to work with, but a lot of the work will still come from your end during communications with prospective partners.

Picking the Right Product

Now you that you know where to get a product from, let’s talk about how to choose the right product. Like with everything on Amazon, this process takes a good deal of research. You don’t just browse Alibaba, find a product you think is cool and then sell it. First, you need to do your homework.

Choosing the right product to sell private label is crucial to your success. One wrong move can cost you time and money, or worst, ruin your Amazon business before it begins. When thinking about what product to sell there are a lot of factors to consider like price/profit margins, marketplace viability, popularity and much more. By using a product finding tool, like Product Discovery from Viral Launch, you can generate a list of possible products that align with your goals.

After you’ve got a list of items you think could be winners, it’s time to validate. There are a lot of market research tools out there for Amazon sellers, including our own Market Intelligence. This type of software eliminate guesswork so you can steer clear of risky products that might lose you money.

For instance, our tool allows sellers to see demand for a product by looking at estimated sales numbers, keyword search volume, and market trends. You can also take a look at how top competitors have performed and are performing with similar products.

Our tool also allows you to look at potential barriers to entry like reviews, big brands and high initial investment.

Want to learn more about how to find great products? Check out this video:

Next Steps

Now you know where a vast majority of the products available to buy on Amazon come from, you might be thinking about getting involved. If so, there’s still a lot to learn about how to become an Amazon seller. You’ve got to start an Amazon seller account, figure out how you want to fulfill your orders, learn what makes an effective listing and how to market your product and much more.

One of the most important things to keep in mind as you continue on your journey of becoming an FBA seller is to never stop learning. Things can change on Amazon in what seems like the blink of an eye, so it’s important to stay up-to-date. What’s great is that information is out there, you just have to be willing to put in the time and effort to research.

Your friends at Viral Launch would love to be there every step of the way by providing tools and resources for your Amazon journey. If you’re interested in learning more information about all things Amazon, we encourage you to subscribe to our blog, check out our Youtube channel or listen to our podcast Follow the Data.

How To Increase Sales on Amazon: What We’ve Learned From Working With 8,000+ Brands

Is your Amazon product stuck in a rut? Selling consistently can be a challenge, and with sales lower than you want them to be, you’re probably left wondering what you’re doing wrong. Your low sales volume could be due to any number of things. Maybe your listing isn’t optimized well for main keywords. Maybe people are choosing to buy a similar product with more reviews. If your stock isn’t moving as fast as you would like, we’ve got some tips to help you learn how to increase sales on Amazon.

Before we begin, it’s worth noting that there’s no one quick fix to increase your product’s sales. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a silver bullet. Amazon uses a variety of factors to determine which products appear on page one for any specific search. And just because your product is on page one, doesn’t necessarily mean it will convert well. These tips give you a range of ideas that will all work together to help boost your sales.

1. Optimize Your Listing

In order to make sales on Amazon, you have to get your product in front of shoppers. No one is going to buy a product they’ve never seen. In order to rank in Amazon’s search results across all major search terms and get your product seen, your listing needs to be optimized for relevant keywords related to your product.

This can be achieved by using a keyword research tool to help you identify high volume keywords. Be sure you are utilizing a tool that utilizes only Amazon data. When you search the main keyword that describes your product, the tool should give you the monthly search volume for that exact word as well as other suggested keywords to use and their monthly search volume.

Once you have a list of relevant keywords to your product, you can start writing your listing. Unlike Google, Amazon’s search engine focuses on unique keywords, meaning if a keyword is in the listing once, no extra weight is give if it is used again.

While using a keyword multiple times doesn’t give your listing an extra boost, the placement of keywords does matter in ranking. A keyword placed in the title will carry more weight than a keyword placed in the bullet points or backend. With that in mind, it’s usually best to place the highest volume keywords in the title to capture as many searches as possible.

To keep track of all the keywords while writing, we recommend using a listing builder tool. Many of these tools will remove a word from your “master keyword list” once you have used it in the listing.

If you don’t feel particularly confident in your writing abilities, another option is to hire a professional copywriter to create your listing for you. An experienced writer will be able to work with you to write engaging and informative copy that captures all main keywords and adheres to your brand voice. If you’ve got the money in your budget, this option could take one thing off your plate.

It’s important to remember that an optimized listing can only get you so far. Yes, it will ensure that you are indexed for all relevant terms and provide useful information, but it takes a combination of things to convert sales. Make sure your entire listing is strong from top to bottom. This includes investing in professional photography, ensuring your product is priced competitively, and getting to the top of search results.

2. Focus on Increasing Your Review Count

Over 85% of online shoppers say they trust product reviews as much as they trust a personal recommendation. This means that having a high number of reviews plus a high review rating can translate to big sales for your product. However, about 90% of Amazon shoppers never leave feedback, meaning the vast majority of shoppers are never giving their opinion.

Obviously there’s no way to ensure every person that buys your product will leave a review. But there are a few tactics you can use to help encourage past buyers to login and write their thoughts on your product.

Marketing Inserts

Many Amazon sellers find that a small insert in your product packaging can nudge buyers to visit your review page and leave their thoughts. This simple reminder can also contain information on who to contact if for some reason there are any issues with the product at the time of delivery. This allows you the chance to make things right before the buyer torches you in a bad review.

That being said, there is a risk in adding these inserts to your product packaging, since Amazon’s terms are written so loosely. While some sellers see success with marketing inserts, add them at your own risk and know that Amazon could take action.

Email Follow Up

Email follow ups are a great way to communicate with buyers. It’s usually best to send a series of emails that builds up to asking for a review. You can create an email template for each of the follow up steps and use an automated email system to send these out:

Delivery Confirmation – Sent 1 to 5 days after delivery, this email will confirm the delivery of your product. This is also a great time to provide a contact number and let the customer know they can reach out with any issues they might have. You always want customers to contact you first with any problems in order to deter them from leaving bad reviews.
Review Request – The third email, sent 5 to 15 days after delivery, should contain a request for a review. Explain to the customer how reviews help your business and that you would really appreciate it if they took the time to leave their opinion. You can even include a link that will take the customer directly to your review page.

It’s best to end your email sequence at 2 emails. Any more than that, and it may appear spammy to customers. While nothing will ensure every single customer leaves a review, an email follow up sequence will help to nudge customers in the right direction

Important Note: When asking customers to leave reviews of your product, be sure to not offer any incentive for a review. This is against Amazon’s terms of service. It’s crucial to not break any of these rules when it comes to asking for reviews, as Amazon has recently been cracking down and suspending accounts for review manipulation. Make sure you read the terms of service thoroughly and that you aren’t in violation of any of them when asking customers to leave feedback. For more info. concerning email follow-ups, check out our video below!

3. Run a Promotional Launch or Giveaway

At first thought, this may seem counterproductive in your search for how to increase sales on Amazon. How could giving away your product at a discount help make it a success? But there is a science behind this process that could help boost your ranking and improve your sales in the long run.

What is a Launch?

A product launch is a targeted giveaway meant to project your listing to page one of search results for a major keyword. The overall goal of this process is to increase organic sales, but you’ll have to giveaway your product at a deep discount in order to boost keyword ranking. To rank among your top competitors, you must match or slightly exceed their daily sales for a short period of time. Usually this discount is 90% or more so that you’re able to sell the required number of units per day.

Who Can Help Me with a Launch?

The Amazon Seller Coaches at Viral Launch are here to help you in every step of this process. First we’ll help you identify a keyword to target for your launch. Then using Amazon data for your specific market, we’ll determine the number of units you’ll need to give away in order to achieve page one status.

Typically, launches run for 7 to 10 days. This range is the sweet spot. It allows enough time for Amazon to recognize the sales, while also being short enough that it limits the number of units you’ll have to give away. This will allow you to boost ranking while also saving money.

While a large portion of our data points to 7 to 10 day launches being the most effect for sales history and velocity, Amazon’s algorithms are constantly changing. This means it’s important to keep an eye out for the latest best practices. Some Amazon sellers have recently found success giving away a larger amount of inventory within one day for a larger, sharper sales peak to boost ranking.

What Happens After a Product Launch?

Once your product is ranking, the goal is to get enough organic sales that you can maintain your page one ranking. This places a lot of importance on your listing, photos and price. Be sure your copy is optimized for your main keywords. Upload professional product photos and make sure your product is competitively priced. All these factors will help you convert and maintain your ranking.

4. Utilize PPC Ads

PPC (Pay Per Click) ads allow your listing to get more exposure for a targeted keyword. When you set up a PPC campaign, you set a daily budget and bid on a click price. Amazon will then post your listing as an ad for targeted keywords. You do not pay unless the ad is clicked. However, keep in mind that just because someone clicks, does not mean they will buy, so be sure your listing and photos are optimized to convert sales. There are two types of Sponsored ads in Amazon Seller Central:

Manual – This allows you to pick the specific keywords you want to target. If you know which keywords your listing converts best for and you want to target them specifically, this is a great option.
Automatic – This option allows you to set a budget and then Amazon’s algorithms will select which keywords to present your product for. These ads can be a bit unfocused or random, but can give great insight into which terms your product converts well for and can still help to get your product seen.

Use the Data

One thing people often overlook about PPC campaigns is that it gives you tons of useful data about your listing, impressions and conversions. This can help you improve your listing and increase sales. For example:

High Clicks, Low Sales – If you’re getting a lot of clicks for a keyword, but low sales, you may be able to tweak your copy and optimize the listing in order to take advantage of the customer interest in the specific keyword.
High Conversions – If you’re getting a high number of conversions for a specific keyword, you may want to put even more focus on and budget into that keyword, as it’s clearly paying off for you.
High Impressions, Low Sales – If it seems that you’re getting a lot of impressions, but no one is buying your product, this may mean that your chosen keyword isn’t relevant to your product. This then causes people to click the ad, but leave the page as soon as they realize it isn’t what they want.

Bonus Tip: External Traffic

While it’s against Amazon’s guidelines to include any links or marketing language in your listing that takes shoppers away from their site, you are allowed to push visitors from other sites to your product on Amazon. You can utilize your company website, blog, etc. to bring people to your Amazon listing.

If you have a website or blog with decent traffic, start including links to your product listing. You’d be surprised of the difference this can make. The goal is to get as many eyes on your product as possible, so the more paths to your listing, the better.

Keep in mind though that for some sellers, driving external traffic isn’t always the best use of effort or money. First focus on using the tips previously mentioned in this post and take advantage of the immense traffic that Amazon already provides.

Get to Work!

Remember there’s no magic bullet for increasing your sales on Amazon. A variety of factors go into ranking, converting and staying competitive in any market. Don’t simply pick one of the tips out of this list and assume it will mysteriously solve all of your problems. Take your time, gather data, do research and create a strong overall listing with optimized text, professional photos and a competitive price. With all these factors working together, you’re sure to find the methods that make your revenue grow!