Want to sell something on Amazon but do not know how? You need an easy-to-follow guide that breaks down the steps of how to sell stuff on Amazon and teaches you everything you need to know to make your online store successful.
A small business can make money on Amazon if they know how to do it right.
Amazon is one of the biggest online stores in the world, and it gives sellers a great chance to get their goods in front of a lot of people.
Do not jump into the unknown, though. First, learn how to sell things on Amazon.
I will walk you through every step of the process in this blog post, from setting up your seller account to making your ads more visible.
8 Steps For How To Sell Stuff On Amazon
When you first start selling online, you might be curious about how to get started on Amazon.
No need to worry. Thus, I am present to provide some advice on how to begin.
Plan what to sell and how to sell it on Amazon by following these steps:
1. Decide on Products To Sell
To start selling things online, you must first choose the items you want to sell and come up with business ideas.
If it seems hard to come up with product ideas, do not worry. I have some tips that will help you.
First, look into the market to find out what items are selling well and why. You want to buy things that people will always want but that does not have a lot of competition.
You should also focus on selling things you are interested in and know a bit about if you want to have more fun and be more successful.
There are tools like Jungle Scout that can help you with your research. It helps you find products that people want and shows you how the market is changing.
2. Check Out Dropshipping & Business Ideas
Once you know what goods you want to sell, it is time to think about how to sell them.
You can make your own products, buy and resell products (retail arbitrage), etc.
A popular method Amazon sellers use is drop shipping, where you sell products directly from the supplier without holding any inventory.
The supplier takes care of shipping products when a product sells, and all you do is provide the shop and link for customers to get to.
It is a great way to sell popular products without a huge investment or needing a storage room at home.
As any business idea does, dropshipping comes with its own challenges, like depending on your supplier to complete orders on time or low inventory issues.
3. Figure Out A Selling Strategy
Now that you have a clear idea of what you want to sell on Amazon and how you want to sell it, it is time to craft a selling plan.
Your strategy should be based on the goods you have chosen to sell, your target audience, and the amount of competition in your niche.
Think about pricing and marketing, and provide customer service to help you reach people and provide the best experience for them.
Maybe it is creating interesting social media content and showing how your goods work, demonstrating why someone needs it, and a link to your shop so they can get it themselves.
Your plan should also involve SEO- aka optimizing your text so it pops up when people look for it.
Optimizing your product listing and product detail page with relevant keywords and high-quality images can help improve product exposure and drive traffic to your store.
4. Create Your Seller Account & Add Products
Since you have your business idea and selling strategy, it is time to start your Amazon seller account.
Go to the Amazon Seller Central homepage and follow the steps. You fill out information about your business, including tax information and bank account data.
If you plan to use Amazon Fulfillment, you must also send your goods to Amazon’s warehouse.
Follow the instructions to build your shipping plan and send your products to the designated warehouse.
You will need to pick out your Amazon plan that you will use to sell goods. Amazon gives two primary plans for sellers:
Individual sellers
If you plan to sell a limited number of things each month, the Individual plan might be the right Amazon seller account for you.
It does not have a monthly subscription fee; instead, there is a fee of $0.99 for each thing you sell on Amazon.
It comes with fixed shipping rates for all products sold, which might not be the most cost-effective choice for your e-commerce business.
Professional plan
On the other hand, if you expect to sell 40+ items per month, the Professional plan would be the plan you want to choose.
It has a monthly subscription fee of $39.99 but has tools and more help to sell your things.
Unlike the Individual plan, this plan offers the following benefits:
- No additional fee per item sold, reducing overall selling costs for large inventories
- More control over shipping rates
- Ability to offer a wider range of shipping options to customers
Add Your Products To Amazon
This step is crucial; you will want to get it right to attract a steady stream of customers. Here is how to get your product listed the right way:
- Create a detailed product listing highlighting the unique product features and why customers use it/want it.
- Use high-quality images and videos that clearly show what you are offering.
- Give precise descriptions on the product detail page for size, usage, weights, and more.
- Optimize product listings with relevant keywords to enhance visibility in Amazon search results, making your products more appealing to potential customers.
5. Reach Customers
If you want to start selling on Amazon, you need to make sure that people can see and be interested in your product pages.
Sponsored items and Sponsored Brands are some of Amazon advertising tools that you can use to get people to notice your items.
Broaden your reach by tapping into various selling tools like:
- Amazon ads
- Amazon product advertising API
- social media platforms
And here’s some Savvy Pro tips:
- Get your customers to review your business, and make sure they include pictures and videos. It raises awareness of your store and gives potential buyers more faith in you.
- Use social media to get more people to know about your business and see your products.
- You could get people to try your products (sometimes for free) and write reviews about how well they work.
- Also, do not ignore bad comments! You might need to start over, choose a different product, or even show people how they are using it wrong.
6. Pick Delivery Options
You can send your goods to customers in a few different ways.
Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a famous choice that lets you:
- Do not store your items at home; instead, send them to Amazon delivery centers.
- If you want, you can have Amazon handle the shipping, packing, and customer service.
- Allow people to use Amazon’s Prime shipping service
You can also ship and fulfill the orders yourself, which gives you more control over the process but may require more work and more room for the items.
7. See What Works & What is Not Selling
Keep an eye on what is working and what is not for your e-commerce store if you want to make sales and keep the pace going.
First, find out what your customers buy most often. Do keyword research to improve the listings for those goods that do not sell as well, or check out the prices of similar products from other sellers.
Do not forget that it is not all about sales. It can make a huge difference to improve the customer experience as a whole.
Last but not least, the online market is always changing. You will stay ahead of the competition if you follow the latest trends and listen to what your customers want.
8. Revise & Grow Your Shop
To figure out what works and what does not in your Amazon store, you need to keep an eye on your sales.
Metrics like units sold, revenue generated, and customer reviews can help you find places to improve and make choices based on data to boost sales.
If something is not broken, do not fix it. But if your goods are not selling, you need to think of better ways to market them or try new ones that meet customer needs better.
You can learn a lot about how your customers use your goods and spot trends and patterns with the help of tools like Amazon Seller Central.
Amazon Selling Fees
Seller Plans
Amazon offers sellers two main plans:
- Individual Plan: Suitable for selling 40 items or less monthly; charges $0.99 per sale
- Professional Plan: Ideal for selling 40+ items monthly; priced at $39.99 per month; offers additional tools and features
Selling Fees
In addition to subscription fees, Amazon charges additional selling fees for each item sold:
- Category Referral fees: Charged based on the product category; range from 8% to 45% of the item sale price
- Additional fees: FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) (storage, shipping, etc.- see more below); rental fees; cataloging costs; administration fee on refunds
- Optional services: Advertising; inventory/storage with shipping; premium account services
Knowing the different selling fees and how they apply to your products will help you better control your costs and make sure that your Amazon business makes money.
FBA Fees
With FBA, you can make shipping easier and give your customers a better experience. Still, it is important to think about the costs and add them to your total business costs.
The fees that buyers pay for Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) cover the costs of storage, packing, shipping, and customer service.
There are two main types of FBA fees:
- Fulfillment: Size and weight of the product determines the fees you are charged
- Inventory Storage: Fees are determined by the storage space used in Amazon’s fulfillment centers
Shipping Costs
Shipping costs change based on the shipping method you choose and whether you use FBA or self-fulfillment:
- You can use Amazon’s low shipping costs and Prime shipping program with FBA, which can help you get more customers.
- If you decide to ship and complete your orders yourself, you will need to pay for the boxes, the postage, and any other fees that your chosen shipping carrier may charge.
Best Stuff To Sell
When you sell on Amazon, you can choose from a huge range of product types. However, some will make you more money than others.
Dropshipping
Dropshipping is a popular business model among Amazon sellers, as it allows them to:
- Sell products without holding inventory
- Require minimal initial investment
- Experiment with different products and markets without investing in inventory
- Has potential for high-profit margins
This low-risk plan gives you options and lets you test and grow your business without having to pay for inventory management up front.
Printables
Selling printables is a good way to start a business because it gives you passive income and does not require you to keep a lot of products or pay a lot for production.
Printables are digital files that you can make, like plans, templates, or art that other people can download and print at home.
To make printables for Amazon and list them, you need to create the item and set it up so that it can be downloaded digitally.
I think you should go to Gold City Ventures free E-Printables class to find out more about what kinds of printables you can make and sell for money.
Home Decor
One of Amazon’s most popular types of products is home furniture, which includes things like wall art, throw pillows, and light fixtures.
Items are always in high demand, which means that Amazon sellers can make money by selling them.
It is important to keep up with the latest trends in home decor and sell things that are both stylish and useful.
Kitchen Gadgets
Kitchen gadgets are high-demand items that make cooking easier and more enjoyable.
Popular kitchen gadgets include cooking utensils, small machines, and new tools.
These things can be highly profitable to sell on Amazon, as they cater to a large audience of home cooks and food enthusiasts.
Kids Toys
Kids toys remain one of the best categories on Amazon to create sales, especially during the holiday season.
As parents look for ways to keep their kids entertained, they shop for toys that interest them.
Popular toys that sell on Amazon include board games, puzzles, video game systems, and building blocks.
Other Selling Sites
While Amazon is a powerful platform for selling online, other choices exist for sellers, including third-party sellers.
Here are shops I have used to sell our blog goods and other popular online selling platforms:
Shopify
Shopify is a famous e-commerce platform that allows you to develop and manage an online business with simplicity.
It is a wonderful alternative for sellers who want more control over their store appearance and operation and the opportunity to customize their product selections and promotions.
Shopify services businesses of all scales and varieties and makes selling online inexpensive for small business owners like you.
By using Shopify as an alternate or additional store on the side, you can reach a bigger audience and diversify your sales channel.
Your Own Website
While it may require more time and work to put up and maintain, a well-designed website may be a lucrative sales channel as well as a great supplement to your Amazon business.
Building your own website to sell things directly to customers gives you more control over your branding, product details, price, and customer experience.
A professional, user-friendly website helps you to display your items, tell your brand story, and communicate with your customers more directly.
Furthermore, having your own website on a web host like Bluehost allows you to select your own shipping and payment choices, giving you more control over your business.
Etsy
An Etsy store is perfect for sellers who make their own products or sell artisanal and creative items.
Etsy lets you attract a specific audience that values quality and individuality by emphasizing workmanship and originality.
Combining Etsy and Amazon for selling allows you to expand your consumer base and reach a broader audience.
In addition, if you are interested in handmade or vintage stuff, I have a ton of Etsy shop ideas for you!
eBay
eBay is a well-known online marketplace where customers may buy and sell new and old things.
eBay, with its auction-style format and consumer-to-consumer transactions, provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity to sell online and reach a wide audience.
I have mostly flipped flea market products and items we no longer use, but that is only one profitable eBay business concept!
Final Thoughts
Selling on Amazon can be a profitable online business if done correctly, and these steps will guide you through the process of setting up your successful shop!
From creating an account to optimizing your listings to marketing on social media, these steps can help you become a successful Amazon seller.
With the proper research and hard work, you can sell items on Amazon and make a profit with proper planning.
So, if you want to make $1000 per month in sales, follow my steps and tips and get out there!
FAQs – How To Sell Stuff On Amazon: Savvy Guide To Earn $1000
How do I start selling on Amazon?
To start selling on Amazon, create a seller account on the Amazon Seller Central platform. Provide the necessary information, choose a selling plan, and follow the on-screen instructions to set up your account.
What can I sell on Amazon to make $1000?
You can sell a variety of products on Amazon, including electronics, books, clothing, handmade items, and more. Research profitable niches, consider your interests and expertise, and analyze market trends to identify products that can help you reach your $1000 goal.
Do I need to register as an individual or professional seller?
The choice between an individual and professional seller account depends on your selling volume. If you plan to sell fewer than 40 items per month, an individual account may be suitable. For higher volumes, consider a professional account.
How can I optimize my product listings on Amazon?
Optimize your product listings by using high-quality images, writing compelling product descriptions, including relevant keywords, and setting competitive prices. Ensure accurate product information to enhance your listing’s visibility.
Are there fees associated with selling on Amazon?
Yes, Amazon charges various fees, including referral fees based on the product category and fulfillment fees if you use Amazon’s fulfillment services. Review the fee structure on Amazon Seller Central to understand the costs.
How can I increase sales and visibility on Amazon?
Increase sales by utilizing Amazon’s advertising services, optimizing product listings for relevant keywords, offering competitive prices, and providing excellent customer service. Consider participating in Amazon promotions and discounts.
Can I use Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) to streamline shipping?
Yes, Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) allows you to store your products in Amazon’s fulfillment centers. Amazon handles packing, shipping, and customer service, making it a convenient option for many sellers.
How can I manage inventory effectively on Amazon?
Use the inventory management tools on Amazon Seller Central to track your stock levels. Monitor sales trends, restock popular items, and consider using FBA for efficient inventory management.
What are the best practices for customer service on Amazon?
Provide prompt and helpful responses to customer inquiries, address any issues or returns promptly, and maintain a positive seller rating. Good customer service contributes to long-term success on the platform.
How can I market my products outside of Amazon to boost sales?
Utilize social media, your own website, and email marketing to promote your Amazon products. Consider running external advertising campaigns to drive traffic to your Amazon listings.
Remember to stay informed about Amazon’s policies and guidelines, continuously optimize your strategy, and adapt to market trends for sustained success in selling on Amazon.
