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Free market Analysis
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Free market Analysis
+1 801-210-0894

Author: David Narayan

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How to take advantage of Amazon’s New Sponsored Display Beta Campaign Type

There is simply no getting around it: more and more businesses are competing for ad space and targeting the same broad group of online shoppers. Fortunately, there is a solution. With Amazon’s new display beta campaign advertising, you can gain a competitive edge in advertising, and even use your competitors’ ads to help boost your own.

Remember: Because of the pandemic, lockdowns are still a reality for many. For this reason, online shopping is more popular than ever before. If you’re looking for a way to attract a more specific audience to your online sales page, Amazon’s new sponsored display beta campaign is just what you’ve been looking for.

What is the new sponsored display beta campaign?

This new marketing offer from Amazon, the world’s largest online sales platform, is a self-service advertisement method that offers access to key performance measures for your ads. This allows you to target a specific audience, one that is more likely to spend their money on your product. 

This tool offers display advertising options that can match any budget or experience level. Its fast and user-friendly creative models will help you kick off your advertising campaign, even if it’s your first time working with this type of software. It also offers detailed campaign insights; you can adjust your campaign in real time.

Performance metrics can help you understand which audiences to target and when, based on product type, availability, price, and customer type. It will help you engage audiences that are browsing or discovering products, or those that are ready to buy. Your choice of target audience can depend on whether you want to move a product quickly, or just further spread brand and product awareness.

Audience targeting can be based on a customer’s previous searches, views, and purchases, whereas product targeting is divided into two categories: 

Sponsored Display: Awareness to Intent

Audience targeting depends on the consumer’s level of awareness and interest in buying can be gauged through the consumer funnel, which begins at basic consumer awareness and progresses to intent to buy.

(insert Better AMS Awareness to Intent funnel graphic)

The process flows from searches to views, from views to categories, from categories to individual products and from individual products to purchases. 

Searches are keyword indicative searches, in the “problem solving” phase of buying. This is when a consumer may not know specifically what they’re looking for, but has begun to search for that answer.

“Views” refer to the shoppers who have viewed the detailed product pages of your advertised products.

“Categories” are groups of products with similarities between them and the ability to be refined. These could include “headphones” or “baby toys.”

“Individual products” target specific products that are similar to yours on Amazon.

How is this different from other Amazon advertising formats?

Amazon’s New Sponsored Display Beta Campaign Type advertising is similar to other types of AMazon advertising, but has some key differences as well. With the beta campaign, you’d still be able to take advantage of the exposure and audience specificity of Amazon advertising.

One key upgrade with the new Amazon sponsored beta display campaign is that it allows you to create your advertising content and use it outside of Amazon’s web pages. This feature has never been offered with Amazon’s advertising campaigns and will let you take full advantage of other parts of the internet for advertising.

This is a great way to start experimenting with DSP for your online business, if you haven’t already. Demand-side platforms allow online advertising purchasers to manage ad space in real time, as a consumer is browsing. This allows specific product advertisements to be seen as a shopper is searching for that product, if the advertiser so desires. 

Another advantage is that the ads can target specific ASINs through amazon. This means that your ad can be posted directly underneath other product listings that are very similar to yours.

This type of advertising also runs true re-marketing because it can target shoppers who have made similar or other specific purchases in the past. For example, your advert for patio umbrellas could be targeted specifically at consumers who’ve recently purchased outdoor furniture or deck staining materials, by ASIN.

Is it for you?

If your online business or FBA sponsored display could use a boost in sales, there’s never been a better time than right now to dive deep into advertising. If you want the ability to track and analyze consumer metrics in real time, make changes to your advertisements as shoppers are seeking your products, and extend your marketing campaign beyond Amazon, this sponsored display beta campaign is fit for your business. This campaign is the widest-reaching campaign Amazon has ever offered, at a time when more shopping is happening online than ever in history. 

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Keeping Your Personal Information Safe Amidst Amazon’s Latest Policy Change

 On July 8th, Amazon made an announcement that both intrigued and concerned many, particularly frequent Amazon sellers. That announcement? Sellers’ addresses will now be shown on their own page, as well as their business name.  Amazon’s reasoning sounds innocent enough: “These features help customers learn more about the businesses of a seller and the products that they are selling”.  

Buyers can now benefit from having a physical location and name in the event that they need to take legal action against a seller for counterfeit goods or products that cause harm, and sellers will no longer be able to create secondary accounts after being suspended.  

This is fine for larger brands that sell through Amazon but problematic for people who work from their homes, as this means that their home addresses will be listed. This is especially true for many artisans on Amazon Handmade.

In an attempt to assuage any fears sellers may have, Amazon mentioned in their announcement that this practice is already used in Japan, Mexico, and Europe. This change is to take effect September 1st of 2020.  

Responses have been mixed, with many sellers expressing concern over their personal information becoming so easily accessible.  Luckily, they have alternatives if they wish to keep their personal information from being abused. Read on to learn more.

1. Get a P.O. Box or a Private Mailbox

Instead of using their home address, sellers can switch to a P.O. Box or rent a private mailbox at their local UPS store.  Both will keep your mail and your mailing address secure.  Small business owners will likely benefit more from a mailbox through UPS, especially if they live in a state that requires them to have a registered agent for their business. That is because these mailboxes provide a physical address, whereas a P.O. Box does not. 

Sellers who don’t already have their business registered as an LLC  might want to consider doing so. This will remove their name from their profile and list their new business name instead.  UPS also has the added benefit of accepting shipments from other carriers, such as FedEx or German based DHL, which P.O. Boxes don’t offer. 

2. Invest in An Office Space.

Even sellers who work out of their homes can create a business address.  There are two methods small businesses can use for creating physical office space.  Renting office space helps small businesses get their foot in the door.  Having a separate address and space improves a business’ image.  Before signing a lease sellers need to, first and foremost, examine their budget.  If it doesn’t break the bank some of the next things to consider is how much space is needed, if their location is ideal, and what sort of amenities will be needed to complete the space.  

Sellers could also look into coworking, which means using communal space with other businesses.  Aside from providing a physical address they will have access to standard office equipment such as fax machines and printers, a receptionist, and most importantly coffee.  Utilizing these spaces does not require a lease; the expenses scale according to the size of the business.  Sellers will be provided with a unique opportunity to meet with other entrepreneurs and freelancers, which allows many professionals to come together to network and pool their knowledge.  When you surround yourself with hard-working people, you too are likely to stay motivated. 

So, if the coffee isn’t enough to keep you going, the ambiance will. 

3. Try a Virtual Office

Another popular option is to open a virtual office. Virtual offices provide small businesses with a physical address as well as other benefits a traditional office setting offers such as videoconferencing, a virtual assistant, and provide remote work.  Virtual offices remove the travel obligations that physical offices impose,  which is likely to be especially appealing to those business owners looking to expand their reach. Videoconferencing allows for global communication, so a small business isn’t restricted to local companies for meetings and potential partnerships.  

However, virtual offices can be costly to open and maintain, which may not be feasible for newer small businesses. That said, you may be able to negotiate a month-to-month leasing option for greater flexibility.  Virtual offices are quickly gaining popularity, with some predicting that most if not all business will be conducted through virtual offices.

Conclusion

What steps sellers should take next depends on the size of their business, what type of goods they sell, and whether or not they wish to expand.  There are some who are in favor of this change, but many are understandably skeptical.  Fortunately there are ways to keep your information safe without sacrificing your business.

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Top 6 Small, American-Owned Businesses on Amazon You Should Know

We should all strive to support more local businesses. In the digital age, that has become easier than ever before, now that stores can sell their products both through their own sites and through a popular platform like Amazon.  

Amazon Handmade offers artisan-only products, handcrafted by talented teams and owners across the world.  You can search for all sorts of DIY products by category or by region of origin, which is particularly useful if you want to show some love to your home state.  Here’s a list of six American-owned businesses selling on Amazon Handmade that you’ll want to check out.  

1. Sonrei

Sonrei sells eco-friendly, cruelty-free sunscreen that works for all skin types.  Their products are sold by Sonrei but are Amazon fulfilled, meaning you’ll receive free-shipping if you’re using Amazon Prime.  They have received positive press from a range of different media outlets, including Forbes, Bustle, and Allure.  

Based out of California, the store received its name from the Spanish verb sonreir, meaning “smile.”  Most of the company’s founders are of Brazilian or Indian heritage, so their products are made with melanin in mind. It’s completely translucent so there is no visible residue no matter how dark your skin tone may be.  

Staying true to their eco-friendly image, Sonrei has partnered with 1% For the Planet, donating 1% of their gross annual profit to environmentalist non-profit organizations.  

2. Pegai

Family-owned and Texas-based, Pegai specializes in leather goods of heirloom quality.  Their products include wallets, portfolios, passport covers, checkbook covers, and camera straps.  They also accept custom orders.  

What sets them apart from many stores is their strong emphasis on ethical business practices.  They value all of their employees and pay them fair wages. Their team is made up mostly by female workers, a move that was inspired by learning some Turkish factories will exploit female labor workers with inadequate pay (the creator Volkan is from Turkey).  

Pegai offers quality goods that are ethically produced at reasonable prices, as they don’t see these things to be mutually exclusive.  It’s hard to deny the appeal of a store that equally values its employees and its customers. 

3. The Address Planter

The Address Planter  was first established in 2018. This couple owned-store based out of Mesa, Arizona started as a DIY project they adopted for their own home and a few family members.  Char and Jason LeJeune received so many compliments from their neighbors that they decided to start their own business making and selling planters.  They made their first sale in 2019 and have found success on both Amazon and on Etsy.  

Their creative planters, which bear your home’s address number, are all custom-made; they offer a variety of shapes and will work with your dimensions.  You also choose the type of wood and the stain, and their numbers are made with weather resistant stain.  

While they don’t include the plants themselves, you can contact them to discuss a custom arrangement.  They have since branched out into handcrafted interior wooden decor.  These are sure to entice anyone looking to brighten up their home’s exterior!

4. BeetsandApples

Based out of Virginia,  BeetsandApples specializes in home-made soaps, candles, lip balms, bath salts, and other spa essentials, all in one convenient gift box.  Her items make excellent gifts, especially the customized gift boxes designed for many different occasions and recipients, ranging from a maid of honor to expectant mother. 

There are others based on scent and mood, like lavender for relaxation.  She also takes custom orders.  On the store’s page, owner Ruby says about her products, “I get inspired from everything nature offers –vibrant color, delicate shapes of flowers & leaves and unique scents of different herbs & flowers, and I turn these inspirations into my products.”

5. Telestic Design

“Telestic” is an English word of Greek origins, meaning “pertaining to religious or esoteric mysteries.”  While there’s nothing esoteric about their products, the company is owned by three self-proclaimed “creative hooligan adventurers finding inspiration in the Pacific Northwest,” which sounds intriguing in and of itself.  

Another store selling woodcraft goods, most of their catalogue consists of jewelry such as earrings and pins (but as their description implies, they’re not afraid to get creative).  Most of their fun, funky products have a pop culture twist to them, meaning these crafters in Oregon have something for everyone.  A note to all you Amazon Prime users, this store is also Amazon fulfilled! 

6. Feroniart

Based out of Virginia and owned by Nursefsan Ugurla, FeroniArt makes planner inserts and refills that complement popular brands like Kate Spade and Happy Planner, custom-engraved water bottles, tumblers, pop culture themed mugs, and other fun drinkware.  

Their Amazon store opened in 2017 and their Etsy store, which opened in 2016, carries clothing as well.  You can find more art and inspiration on their Instagram page.  Through the website you can subscribe to a newsletter and stay up-to-date on all things happening with FeroniArt.

Amazon: A Haven for Small Businesses

It is easy to think of Amazon as one large faceless corporation where many invisible little parts work together to drive one complex system. In actuality, it is a place for many small business owners to sell their goods and establish a name for themselves. Explore Amazon today for other small businesses to patronize!

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Elements of a Successful Amazon Product Title

Selling on Amazon comes with its own unique plethora of challenges and learning opportunities. None, however, are as important as creating an impactful product title. 

In this article, we will take a closer look at why it is important to weigh all the elements of your product listing as well as all you need to know about best and worst practices. 

Why Listing Optimization Matters

At the end of the day, a well-formulated product title can improve your rankings and, ultimately, your conversion rates. Meaning more profits and, hopefully, more returning customers. Evidently, this is an extremely important element if you are hoping to make a profit on your Amazon listings. 

Unfortunately, creating an impactful listing is not the most simple thing in the world. This leads to a situation where more than 1,000 Amazon sellers see the importance of listing optimizations, but 29% find the process challenging, and 95% of Amazon product listings being set up incorrectly. There are, however, a few simple guidelines you can follow to create a productive and prosperous listing–and we have the inside scoop.

Creating Your Listing

The first place that you might go to gain insight into successful product listings is Amazon’s Seller Central. This resource alone provides key insight into proper formatting and basic elements to include. For example, you should capitalize the first letter of each word, spell out measurements, and use numerals for numbers. 

Whie those basic rules will get you further than shooting into the dark, there are some more advanced methods of creating a product listing that works for you.

What to Avoid

  • Subjective Descriptions: There is no need to include words like “Great,” “Reliable,” or other descriptions that are not directly relevant to your product.
  • Promotions: Free shipping, 50% off deals, and other promotional deals should be saved for further in your listing. 
  • Unnecessary Features: If the size and color are not relevant to the product do not include it in the title. Price is another one of these unnecessary features for titles.

Best Practices

  • Integrate Keywords: SEO is king when it comes to product listings. Be sure to include those relevant keywords into your title in a natural way.
  • Put Yourself in Their Shoes: To determine what is relevant, try stepping back from your position and act like you are going shopping for your product. What key information are you looking for?
  • Follow Best Practices: Seller Central has a pretty good idea of what works on their own website. Be sure that you are following all formatting guidelines that are provided.

The product title is the first thing users see. It encompasses what you have to offer and the style of your brand; it also determines how you will appear in search results. Therefore, it is essential to optimize your product title in the most effective way possible. 

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10 Tips For Great Communication With Chinese Suppliers

Starting and maintaining an Amazon business can be difficult in and of itself. What makes it even more difficult, however, is attempting to formulate relationships or outsource products with foreign manufacturers without the proper tools and knowledge. 

Unfortunately, this situation is more than likely to come across the path as you continue on your Amazon journey, as you can oftentimes find less expensive products in other countries. Chinese manufacturers are especially common to come across. 

In this article, we will go over 10 ways in which you can improve your relationship with your Chinese suppliers or get ahead of the game and figure out the ins and outs of foreign product sourcing.

By following these 10 key tips, interacting with foreign manufacturers will be as easy as 1-2-3.

1. Do Your Research

Every good business interaction starts with thorough research about the companies and the people you will interact with. Manufacturing is no different. Get all the information that you can online and if you need more in-depth answers, don’t be afraid to reach out with a few preliminary questions.

2. Keep Your Emails Simple 

Even if your Chinese supplier has exceptional English skills, it is important to remember that English is not their first language. Therefore, technical wording, slang, or spelling mistakes can make it difficult for your business partner to receive the right message. 

It is also important to not mistake simple for brief or undetailed. When contacting manufacturers for an official RFQ (request for quote), be sure to include all necessary details even if it seems obvious to you. Unfortunately, not even suppliers can read your mind.

3. Provide Visual Aids 

Going in-depth can get complicated quickly. If you are covering a more complex topic over email, try including a picture or a diagram that can help you get your point across more clearly. 

4. Share Your Inspection Results

Third-party inspection companies can improve your relationship with your supplier in ways you likely never expect, since most profession QC companies employ workers with a variety of available languages. These inspections can find quality issues that you would never expect and have the potential to improve the supplying process drastically. However, these inspections are worthless without properly communicating with the supplier themselves.

5. Go Beyond Email

When it comes down to it, emails are an extremely impersonal and can leave a lot of room for confusion or misunderstanding. This, ultimately, will create additional stress for both parties. Instead, we suggest communicating on platforms you and your partner are comfortable with. Skype, WeChat, or a simple phonecall are all significant ways to further your relationship and trust. If you can, meet with your supplier face-to-face.

6. Follow Up Over the Phone

No one appreciates it when their inbox is flooded with dozens of emails inquiring about the same thing. If you are having difficulty connecting with your supplier or have had a recent miscommunication, try picking up the phone and talking person to person. A friendly tone and a helping hand are sometimes all it takes to get the ball rolling again. 

7. Communicate Respectfully

While you contact your supplier, be sure to maintain proper titles and etiquette that is common in Chinese culture. Social standing is incredibly important in the majority of Asian countries. Try not to find yourself slipping into casual tones when conducting business. Avoiding direct eye contact, personal touches, and harsh handshakes are ways to get on your supplier’s bad side. Instead, engage in some small talk and remember that you are engaging with professionals. 

8. Cut out the Middle Men

If all of this communication between two people can lead to communication difficulty, image what would happen if you were to involve two or three other individuals in the pipeline. Even if the middle man is a legitimate professional, having them involved will only make it easier to misinterpret what the other is saying. For that reason, we recommend always engaging and interacting with your supplier directly.

9. Uphold Cultural Norms

Throughout all of this communication, it is vital to remember that each party is coming from completely different cultural backgrounds. Do not get frustrated if your supplier does not value the same things that you do, or if they ask personal questions. To them, this is simply common business practice. At the end of the day, there is nothing more important than being respectful toward your equal man. 

10. Build Trust

Last but not least, it is essential to trust your supplier. While the vetting process should be complete and thorough, it is not uncommon for Chinese suppliers to prioritize personal relationships above business ones. Trust, camaraderie, and mutual benefit are all key aspects of a successful business relationship with your Chinese supplier. 

While doing business with Chinese suppliers can be daunting and intimidating, you can make the process much less painful by following these 10 key tips. Now get out there and get selling.

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Amazon launches start-up accelerator programs (Invite Only)

Selling on Amazon can be difficult, especially for smaller, startup businesses and less experienced sellers. The company is notorious for suspending or banning sellers who do not comply exactly with its strict rules and regulations. This process is especially difficult for new businesses attempting to pop up during a time of worldwide economic turmoil caused by the novel coronavirus. Just a few examples of these hardships are the Dow and the FTSE seeing their biggest quarterly drops in the first three months of the year since 1987, and experts predicting that the global economy will shrink 3% by the end of the year. 

To help these struggling businesses out, Amazon has launched two start-up accelerator programs: the Accelerator Programme and the Amazon Licensed Brands Programme. Amazon means these programs to help assist with the startup process and coordinate with established companies who are not yet selling on Amazon. In return, Amazon requires a long-term commitment to selling on the platform

Unfortunately, not everyone has access to these exclusive programs, as Amazon has deemed it invite-only. The current trajectory is that approximately 200,000 small to medium-sized businesses that will receive extensive business training, access to discounts, and invaluable marketing knowledge. Amazon will also run a week-long boot camp that will help up to 1,000 mostly offline businesses step into the digital world and trade online.

In this article, we will delve into what exactly these programs are, how they can benefit your business, and why you should apply for the exclusive opportunity. With that in mind, let’s dive right in. 

The Accelerator Programme

If you are looking to create an exclusive brand for Amazon, you will definitely be interested in this program. Brands on board with this system will fill selection gaps and opportunities as well as sell via the third-party marketplace, which accounts for 64% of global e-commerce sales. To us, that already sounds like a pretty good deal. When dealing with Amazon, though, you can always expect more than what you ask for. 

What’s Being Offered

On top of an already profitable market space, Amazon’s program will assist your brand by providing access to its top-tier connections. A few of these perks include: 

  • Access to Amazon’s extensive customer base in Europe: Amazon is becoming more and more heavily involved in the continent each year, as it has consistently proven to be a major component of their success. In 2018 alone, the company created 11,580 jobs in e-commerce, automation, and digitalization. This expansion has led to 1.1 million active sellers in Europe today. 
  • Access to Amazon’s invite-only Vine customer reviews program: This is an exclusive opportunity to receive unbiased, trusted feedback that can increase your brand’s profits. Since a shocking 92% of buyers are more likely to purchase after reading a trusted review, this perk is an incentive useful on its own. 
  • Support on building A+ content: Amazon is focused on providing its customers with the best experience possible. A major part of this is creating top-notch content. The brand name alone affected 74% of consumers. In this program, Amazon professionals will make sure that you are appealing to the widest audience possible. 
  • Access to impactful merchandising tools to promote products on five European websites: After being enrolled in this program, you can promote products on Amazon Deutschland, United Kingdom, France, Spain, and Italy. That is an absurd amount of customers that never would have been possible without this opportunity.
  • Amazon-funded merchandising campaigns: There is no one better at selling and marketing products on Amazon than those who work at the company themselves. These experts will run and fund the merchandising campaign that is guaranteed to bring profits to your brand.
  • Opportunity to be featured on the “Top Rated from Our Brands” gateway: This opportunity that highlights your brand is only achievable through the Accelerator Programme. Amazon brands are becoming more and more popular as the company strives to create more exclusive brands; this chance could land you at the top of the charts for a long time to come.  
  • Opportunity to convert to an Amazon Private Brand: If you are already selling on Amazon, you know the challenge of competing with Amazon Prive Brands. Amazon currently owns 146 private label brands and sells over 7,200 products under these organizations. If you do well enough during the Accelerator Programme, you have the potential to stop competing and start profiting alongside these brands. 

What Is Required

With all of these great perks, Amazon is, of course, going to expect certain qualifications and fees. Here is the inside scoop on all that is required to participate in Amazon’s Accelerator Programme:

  • Your brand will need to be exclusive to Amazon, meaning you cannot sell anywhere else. With over $280 billion sales occurring in 2018 and the company seeing a consistent 22% sales growth rate, we don’t see that as much of an issue.
  • Your company will need to use Amazon’s fulfillment service, meaning either filled by Amazon or Seller Fulfilled Prime. This is great if your inventory consists of large items, is seasonal, or you want to deliver items quickly at a lower cost. 
  • You will need to be committed to producing detailed ASIN’s, or Amazon Standard Identification Number, to ensure customers know about the products you provide.
  • Provide a Social Responsibility Audit. This refers to a formal review of your company’s endeavors, procedures, code of conduct, and impact on society. Amazon has been particularly interested in organizations that are environmentally friendly over the last few years. If this is you, chances are there is a higher chance of your company being selected for the program. 
  • An additional fee of 7% points on top of the normal sales fee Amazon charges. These fees are variable, ranging from $0.99 per item sold to $39.99 per month (plus additional selling fees). Before you sign off on this, though, be sure this is something your company can afford.

The Licensed Brands Programme

The Licensed Brands Programme will allow you to participate as a seller to list against Amazon Owned Brands UMI and Eono. Because of this, the only brands that will be invited to participate in this program are high-quality products that offer great prices. Evidently, there are a number of requirements to take part in the once in a lifetime opportunity.

The Requirements

Amazon does not joke around when they say they have a high bar for products and sellers they are looking to participate in this program. The qualifications include: 

  • Provide industry associations audit certifications from: 
    • Amfori BSCI
    • Better Work
    • Responsible Business Alliance 
    • SEDEX Members Ethical Trade Audit
  • Have a Factory Quality Audit completed by a third-party auditor. Don’t worry, Amazon will fund this. 
  • Go through the process of product testing for the products you are looking to list on Licensed brands, including compliance checks and Intellectual Property. 
  • Use Amazon’s fulfillment service throughout the Programme in order to ear the Prime checkmark we all so desperately love. 
  • An additional 10% points on top of the normal referral fee Amazon already charges. This, however, is the only charge. FBA fees and all other fees stay the same and you are wholly in control of pricing and inventory management.

The Benefits

Undoubtedly, though, all this trouble comes with substantial rewards. We believe that Amazon team members are completely invested in the success of their brands and the products they list and are able to provide you with all the tools you need in order to achieve insurmountable success. For the Licensed Brand Programme, these tools include:

  • The opportunity to be featured on Private Brands homepage of Amazon EU sites
  • Strategic placement of your products on similar ASIN’s
  • The chance to be featured in the Top Rated from our Brands field
  • Access to free Vine reviews
  • A dedicated team who will run and optimize your Amazon Advertising campaigns

The Purpose

Now that we have discussed the individual aspects of each program, let’s discuss the incentives to take part in these programs and what Amazon itself hopes to achieve. After all, the invite process itself can be grueling and time-consuming. If your company is not interested in the rewards, it’ll definitely not be interested in what it takes to get them.

First and foremost, Amazon is using these programs to further fuel its own business. Do not be mistaken, this does not mean that your company or brand cannot also benefit from the program, but we think it is vital that you understand from the start that Amazon’s primary goal is to fuel Amazon-exclusive sellers. 

There are a few things to be wary of before excitedly signing up to be an Amazon-exclusive product. For example, Exclusive sellers give Amazon the option to take a large chunk of the portions for using their premium features. Additionally, some experts claim that display ads and Amazon’s deal fees are simply not significant enough to completely exclude all other marketing channels. If you break this exclusivity agreement––even on accident––Amazon will take away all of your privileges and suspend your seller’s account. Additionally, you are tying your entire business to one company, and that can be scary than anything we listed before. Therefore, be sure to talk this decision over before signing up. 

It is not all bad, though. Being an Amazon-exclusive client comes with its own array of benefits, including: 

  • Product Videos: Product videos are in. In fact, customers watch an average of 16 hours of online videos per week, and 84% say they have been convinced to buy a product or service because of a brand’s video. Simply put, that is a lot of conversion for your brand.
  • Display Ads: Despite what some people say, it has been proven that display ads actually can be useful if applied properly. Some companies generated nearly 20% higher gross merchandise sales and 20% more delta page views. 
  • Personal Brand Development Manager: If you haven’t figured it out by now, Amazon can be a complicated land filled with unknown jargon and extreme expectations. By becoming an exclusive seller, however, you will be granted your very own brand developer that will help you market your products more effectively and turn your best efforts into tangible profits. 

Previous Amazon Programs

This is not the first time that Amazon has done programs such as this. Though it is unclear when the programs began, similar programs to assist small sellers have been existing since approximately 2017. 

Unlike this year, the 2019 program did not allow third-party sellers to take part. This, in addition to allegations of Amazon accumulating data from third-party sellers and using it to compete against them, resulted in some legal tension between the European Commission and Amazon. Amazon’s chief executive Jeff Bezos is set to testify in front of the US Congress this summer alongside leaders of Facebook, Apple, and Google.

Is It Right for My Business?

In order to determine if an exclusive Amazon relationship is right for your business, be sure to carefully weigh the pros and cons with each department of your business team. If you determine it is, or already have experience in the retail space and are looking for ways to further your Amazon experience, we definitely suggest doing everything that it takes to get an invite into Amazon’s exclusive programs and learning all there is to know about the world of selling on Amazon. 

Your Other Option

Don’t think Amazon programs are right for you? Don’t worry, we at Digital Dive Marketing have got you covered. We are your right hand, your digital partner, and all you need in order to scale your business with personal online strategies. Our services include lead generation, LinkedIn management, search engine optimization, Google adwords, web design and development, landing page creation, and more! 

Say goodbye to Amazon’s excessive strings-attached program and work with a company that cares only about your success. You can schedule a call and get in contact with one of our marketing experts today or visit our website for more information.  

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Amazon delivery driver quits mid-shift, abandons truck and packages

Have you ever been so fed up with work that you wish that you could just abandon shop and leave? That’s exactly what this Michigan Amazon delivery driver did. Derrick Lancaster, 22, abandoned his Amazon Prime truck full of packages in the middle of the road with gas in the tank and keys in the ignition. 

Lancaster posted a Tweet the same day. As of June 29, the Tweet had 25,100 retweets and 217,000 likes. It read: “I quit amazon f–k that driving s–t i left the van on 12 miles and Southfield y’all can have that b—h and its full of gas wit the keys in the IGNITION .” 

The exhausted worker reported that he was working from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and making approximately 200-300 stops a day and earning just $15.50 per hour—$6.05 above Michigan’s minimum wage. 

Previous Allegations Against Amazon

Lancaster is not the only Amazon Prime worker that has experienced difficulty with his job recently. Nationwide closures due to Covid-19 resulted in an unprecedented surge in online shopping, even doubling in some areas. The US alone has as many as 69% of online shoppers, and experts expect the market to reach 4 trillion this year. This surge left delivery drivers and warehouse workers alike scrambling to meet impossible goals. 

In February, the company cut ties with small delivery firms around the country who were not meeting its standard, resulting in 1,300 drivers out of work. Amazon again cut workers during the first months of the global pandemic who were speaking up about unsafe working conditions. 

This is not the first time Amazon workers have complained about conditions. In 2019, allegations arose that the company was putting the speed of delivery above the safety of drivers and pedestrians. This debate came to a peak when an Amazon delivery van hit and killed a cyclist in San Francisco. 

Moving Forward

Nonetheless, Lancaster said he regretted the way he went about quitting his job, calling it “immature and irresponsible.” Others, however, claim he is a working-class hero bringing light to the struggles of the modern-day worker. 

Lancaster has continued to update his Twitter feed, making jokes about the press attention and defending himself against the barrage of criticism. Amazon assured its customers that it was taking appropriate action and that this was not something Prime users can typically expect. 

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4 Practical Tools for Amazon Merchants

We are not going to lie, selling on Amazon can be hard. There are regulations to follow, new systems to acquaint yourself with, and the constant stress of upkeep. We get it. Chances are, though, you are working much harder than you need to be. Someone out there – someone older, wiser, and more tech-savvy than we are – has paved the way to make being a merchant more fun than exhausting by creating a handful of helpful Amazon tools. 

While each merchant and merchandise has its own unique components and selling points, there are four practical Amazon tools that you should be using right now. In this article, we will be taking a thorough look at four of these tools and how you can utilize them to create more relaxing time for yourself. Face it, you could use another minute in the morning to treat yourself to a real breakfast every once in a while. So sit tight and get comfy, because I am about to tell you the secrets of the trade. 

1. Canva 

The first life-changer I am going to introduce you to is Canva, a tool that will make your photo editing process as easy as 1-2-3. You are probably aware that these product images are essential to a profitable business. In fact, 64 percent of clicks are going toward just the first three products on the Amazon search page. It is generally a good practice to have photos that portray scale, showcase variety, and have clean composition and background. 

You can use Canva to accomplish all of your graphic design needs without having to take an extensive course or hire an expensive employee. Whether it be Facebook ads, shirt designs, or photo manipulation, Canva has got you covered for a total of zero dollars! Yes, you read that right, Canva is completely free. Of course, there is the standard option to upgrade the program and gain access to additional fonts, backgrounds, and other individualization tools (for just $1 per image). But if you don’t need it, don’t buy it. 

2. Facebook Ads

This next Amazon tool is likely one that you are already familiar with but may not understand the benefits of using it for your own profits. By combining Facebook ads with your already solid Amazon strategy, you can create a powerful and rewarding cycle that will drive your profits through the roof. Since Facebook has over 2 billion active monthly users, this space can be quite intimidating for the first little while. The benefits, however, are unbeatable.

With Facebook ads, you can find your target audience, discover your conversion rate, and grow your email list. At the end of the day, Facebook advertisement is all about visibility. Facebook ads have even been found to have a higher rate of return than Google ads! If you are a smaller brand just starting to get your name out there, this tool may be especially beneficial. 

3. Helium 10 Chrome Extension 

Next on our agenda is Helium 10. If you have never heard of this resource before, don’t worry. You will soon be much more familiar with it than you ever would have thought possible. Helium 10 is used for product insights, ranking tracking, and other invaluable, imperative tools that can benefit you as a seller. With this tool, you can download product ratings directly from the customer review section, trace inventory levels, and determine price margins and extracting fees. It basically does all the boring, hard, Excel work we know you loath. 

Helium 10 also has a completely free option; however, most of the features will run out after a certain amount of uses. If you find yourself liking it, you can purchase the Platinum Plan for $97 per month, or the Diamond Plan for $197 per month. If find yourself doing very specific things with Helium 10, there is also the option to subscribe to individual features with their a la carte plan. 

4. anata

Most important of all the tools out there is Anata – your one-stop shop for all your business needs. At Anata, we will cover everything the above organizations do and more. From product photography and inventory forecasting to brand consulting and advertising, Anata offers all you need in order to be a successful Amazon merchant. 

Are you confused about all the business jargon in Amazon seller central and seller central support just isn’t cutting it? Need help determining if you should sell FBM or FMA? Don’t even know what these terms mean? That’s okay! Our Amazon consulting service is here to help all levels of merchants. In addition, you pay us only if you are making a profit, so there is no chance of throwing any money to the wind. 

Visit our website or get in contact with a professional today to learn more about what Anata can do for you. 

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How to Create an Effective Amazon Product Listing

When selling online, business owners don’t have the benefit of a beautiful storefront or helpful employees to push their product; a customer’s opinion is only formed based on how informative and eye-catching the product listing is. It is important to make a good first impression with an item’s title and main image, but equally as important is the product description, which is the key to convincing customers that what you’re selling is best. 

Here’s how to make sure your product listing has your merchandise leaping off virtual store shelves. 

Keywords

Paying attention to keywords is a large part of promoting any sort of product online. The more your product is search engine optimised the more likely it is to appear in basic search results. This means that each item should have a few keywords that best describe it that are placed throughout the product listing. 

There is such a thing as overloading keywords though, which can make a product listing look like spam. These keywords should be spaced out within the description so that they are still pleasant to read while also triggering the website’s search algorithm. 

Remember, write for humans, not the algorithm. If you engage in “keyword stuffing”, Google is onto you.

Title

The title of a product should include the most important of the keywords describing the item without being overly long (again in order to avoid looking like spam). A title should be straight to the point, as often shoppers’ eyes are simply skimming over a results page. Also, unless your brand is a household name that people would often search for on its own then it should never go first within a title, as it will decrease the search engine optimization of your product. 

Put simply, Apple can get away with starting their product listings with their name. Your brand may not be so lucky. 

Visuals

The main image in a listing should always be the product against a white background. This makes it clear what item you are selling and is easy to see when looking through a results page that has many images on it. However, the more visuals of a product the better. The best things to include are images of the item at different angles, as well as pictures or even videos of the item in use. 

Don’t be cheap when it comes to photos, either. Put in the effort for good lighting and consider a professional photographer. You may also want to put a watermark on your image, to stop scammers from using it to sell inferior products. If people see your product image floating around a bunch of different pages, they’ll write you off as a scam, as well!

Product Description

The main selling points of your product should appear in the bullet points that are listed at the top of the item’s page; these are the key item features. Most customers will simply scan through these, so they should be easy to read and to the point. This is where you want to list the most important features of your product, as smaller details can be placed in the larger description further down the page. If you want to draw attention to a certain word, consider putting it in all caps, though this method should not be overused or it can become hard to read. 

When writing a more in depth product description, large, chunky paragraphs should be avoided. Listing accurate details of a product is important, but part of selling is telling the customer why they need your product. Make sure to highlight an item’s benefits, and let the customer know how owning this product will make their lives better. 

Conclusion

Your product may be the best in the world, but if you don’t put the effort into selling it, your customers will pass you by. But with good images, strong writing and a little bit of search engine optimization, you can hook your target audience.

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