Easy as 1-2-3: The 3-Step Process to Take Your Amazon Business to the Next Level

We Asked CANOPY’s Amazon Agency Pros to Come Up With the 3 Fastest Ways to Get Your Business Moving. Here They Are!

December 9, 2022
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Brian R. Johnson

It’s always fun to start an Amazon business. But, it’s when you begin to scale up that things really become exciting.

The secret to creating the kind of forward momentum you need to grow often lies in the ability to focus your attention on the few steps that really matter.

I’ve seen blog posts that detail 10, 15, or 20 steps necessary to find eCommerce success.

I had a feeling that it might be more simple than that.

That’s why I reached out to the former Amazonians, multi-million dollar sellers, and award-winning experts that make up the Canopy Management Tribe.

I wanted to know if there was a more precise, easier-to-follow list that would help Amazon sellers at all levels quickly find momentum on this increasingly competitive marketplace.

The Tribe made it easy for me and said that when push came to shove, there are really three things that Amazon sellers need to concentrate on.

Here they are::

1) Long Tail Keywords Help You Target Less Competitive Niches

For many, selling on Amazon begins with a search for a product to sell. Others may have an idea of a product, but need to understand the best way to make sure that it’s discoverable by prospective buyers.

That’s where keyword research comes in.

Long tail keywords are multiple-word phrases that shoppers use when searching for a product. They are searched for less than single words or shorter phrases. Because of that, they return narrower results for more specific products, which often leads to higher rates of conversion.

Let’s say that you’re looking for an Amazon FBA product to sell. Most online-selling experts advise trying to find a product that occupies a smaller, less fought-after niche.

Or, you are trying to optimize your Amazon listing so that buyers who are looking for a product just like yours don’t get tired of searching and either give up or buy something they don’t really want. If you want your Amazon store to stand out from the crowd, you want to take advantage of this kind of Amazon SEO.

For example, a short tail keyword such as “computer stand” will return a lot of results, as well as a great deal of competition for sellers, and confusion for buyers.

Instead, implementing an Amazon marketing strategy that includes a long tail keyword search term such as “sustainable wooden computer stand with drawer” will allow you to target a smaller niche or help a buyer find exactly what they are looking for.

PRO TIP:

A keyword tool such as that offered by Jungle Scout, or Helium 10, can help you find high-intent, extremely valuable long tail keywords to drive traffic to your listing.

Using Helium 10’s Xray keyword-research Chrome extension I was able to take a closer look at the following Amazon product. I’ve been looking for a small flashlight to include in an emergency kit for my car.

Here are just a few of the top ranked, long tail keyword phrases that I found. Had I not taken the time to do this research, I might have overlooked “lumens” as a keyword. At the same time, it looks like I’m not the only one thinking about safety on the road.

Researching four or five similar items in the same niche that you are interested in can give you a good overview of the keywords that Amazon buyers will use to find your product.

2) Optimize Your Listings to Make Them POP

When was the last time that you searched for something on the internet and clicked past the first page? When I don’t find what I’m looking for, I immediately assume that I’m not searching with the right keywords and will rephrase my request.

Most Amazon shoppers just don’t make it past page one of the search results. As an Amazon seller, it’s crucial that you structure your product listing to rank as high in the search results as possible.

That’s referred to as Amazon listing optimization.

Because the first thing the customer does is look at the images of a product, I’m going to start there.

Amazon has a very clear idea of what they want. They want rich, vibrant images that compel purchases. After all, they want you to make a sale so that Amazon customers continue to trust and rely on their marketplace. They also want to make sure that when Amazon customers open the package, there are no surprises.

Here is a short list of rules governing Amazon images that are most often flagged by Amazon for non-compliance.

The image must be the cover art or a professional photograph of the product being sold. Drawings or illustrations of the product are not allowed
The image must not contain gratuitous or confusing additional objects
The image must be in focus, professionally lit and photographed or scanned, with realistic color, and smooth edges
All products should fill 85% or more of the image frame
The full product must be in frame
Backgrounds must be pure white

Lifestyle Imagery Makes the Product Come Alive!

Emotionally evocative lifestyle photos show how the product is used. They also help shoppers to imagine themselves using the product in the home or workspace.

Make Sure to Include Infographics

Infographics demonstrate the most important selling points of your product. They can include the product’s size, features, certifications, accessories, and instructions on how the buyer can use the product.

Don’t Forget About Video

Amazon agencies and digital marketing pros say that when it comes to stopping the scroll, nothing performs quite like video. It’s a great way you can promote your product, increase your conversions and stand out on Amazon.

First, you’ll need to establish Amazon Brand Registry. Afterwards you can take advantage of Amazon’s Enhanced Brand Content. It’s a premium Amazon feature that allows sellers to supplement their product descriptions with visually rich content including video.

A full list of Amazon’s image requirements are listed here.

Now that you have the Amazon shopper’s attention, here’s a checklist that you can follow to make sure that your written copy is as solid as your images. Your first step should be checking for basic spelling and grammatical errors in the listing copy.

Follow these guidelines for your listing title:

Don’t forget about Amazon shoppers using their smartphones. There’s limited room, so your title will be truncated. Make sure to place your main keywords at the very front of your titles.
While you want to be sure to include three or four of your top keywords, be careful to not “keyword stuff.”
Include your band name in the title. It’s important to begin to instill brand confidence and recognition.

Follow these guidelines for your bullet points:

It’s a good idea to lead off with a summarization of each bullet point with bolded and/or capital letters. By doing this, you’re helping your customers to quickly skim the listing.
You want to make sure to include most of your medium and high search volume long tail keywords in the copy of your bullet points.
Take the time to expand on your product’s features. Put yourself in the shopper’s shoes and anticipate questions that they might have.