One of the fail-proof strategies for sales on Amazon is competitive pricing. There’s nothing Amazon shoppers love more than a good deal. If you can give them that, you can be sure of getting their coins. 

Sometimes competitive pricing will mean offering discounts, coupons, and product bundles at slashed prices. But you cannot slash your profit point all through the year, so what better time to leverage discounted deals as a tool for sales than during Amazon Prime Day — the biggest online shopping event?

In this post, we’ll tell you how to leverage Amazon Prime Day as a tool for sales and visibility on Amazon. But first, what is Amazon Prime Day?

What is Amazon Prime Day?

Prime Day is an annual two-day online shopping event where sellers offer amazing deals, and shoppers get to cop their favorite products at discounted prices.

During this period Amazon usually experiences a steep increase in sales. In 2022, Amazon generated $12 billion in revenue from Prime Day sales alone. (Source: Chainstoreage)

Clearly, this shopping event is a great avenue for sellers who know the right strategies to use, to get their products off the market.

Still not convinced on why you should leverage Amazon Prime Day for sales and visibility in 2024? Here are a few reasons why you should take advantage of it.

Benefits of Amazon Prime Day

It can provide a significant sales boost

This is one of the top benefits of Prime Day to sellers on Amazon all over the world. With a great increase in the number of shoppers on the platform during the period, positioning your business and your products properly can spur a massive increase in sales.

There are lots of effective strategies you can use to ensure your business is well-positioned and to enjoy increased visibility on Prime Day. We will discuss some of these strategies in the later part of this post.

Prime Day enables you to study your buyers’ shopping habits, behavior, and preferences. 

Prime Day provides an unusual opportunity for you to learn about your customer’s shopping behavior. Because of the vast information and data that you can get from the sales during this period, you will be able to understand what products customers prefer, and what type of buyers prefer certain products. This way you can get a better understanding of your customer demographic. 

These are all the very useful information you can use to improve your business and drive sales up even after Prime Day.

It’s an easy way to clear old inventory

This shopping event is known for its many exclusive offers and discount sales. Many sellers use these offers to attract new customers and clear out old inventory. You also get to reach new customers who are interested in products that may have been in stock for a very long time.

Better brand visibility and awareness

One of the best ways you as a seller can prepare your business for mega sales during Prime Day is by running promotions on Amazon. You want to reach as many customers as you possibly can. One effective way to invest in promotional ads is because you are sure to get your return in the form of increased visibility and mega sales. 

5 Strategies to Help You Leverage Prime Day for Sales

With the increase in the number of buyers on Amazon during the online sales event, there’s also the issue of an increase in the competition among sellers trying to reach the most customers and make the most sales. 

The key to achieving maximum sales on Prime Day is to ensure that you put the right strategies in place before the event to ensure you are reaching the right customers. So what are some of these strategies you can use to leverage Prime Day to increase sales? Let’s take a look at some of them:

Stock up on inventory

This is one of the first and most important steps you need to take when preparing for Prime Day. You need to ensure that your inventory is stocked up and ready for sale. The last thing you want is to run out of products just as the event is getting starting. 

To fully maximize this opportunity, ensure that you have the right amount of inventory available at the Amazon fulfillment centers. It’s advisable to ship inventory to Amazon fulfillment centers two months before the event so you have time to attend to any issues that may come up. 

As a matter of fact, Amazon has officially announced that sellers who want to take advantage of Prime Day 2024 should send their inventory to their assigned fulfillment centers before June 15, 2024.

An easy way to manage your inventory levels and avoid stockouts is to use the ZonBase Profits tool. The Profits tool comes with an inventory forecasting feature that can help you monitor your inventory levels. This feature predicts an estimated restock date based on your sales history and daily sales numbers. 

You can access the tool for free for 7 days when you sign up for a free trial of ZonBase.

You should also ensure you check your Amazon storage limits before ordering products so you do not exceed your storage limit and be stuck with excess inventory. While preparing for Prime Day you have to be on top of your inventory management. 

Related: Understanding Amazon Storage limits

Optimize product listing 

Ensuring that your product listing is adequately optimized is a big part of achieving success on Prime Day. You may put many other strategies in place but if your product listing is not effectively optimized this will affect your sales.

The ZonBase AI Listify tool provides a no-stress and efficient way to create well-optimized listings from scratch without spending hours on content creation. All you have to do is provide a seed keyword and the tool will go through your competitor listings, identify their top-ranking keywords, and create a complete, well-optimized listing for you with minimal input from you.

You can try out the tool alongside other ZonBase tools when you sign up for a free trial of the software.

Let’s take a look at some ways you can optimize your product listing ahead of Prime Day.

• Use high-quality product images: Images are one of the faster ways to grab a customer’s attention, so ensure that you display high-quality images showing various angles of the product on your product page. 

• Optimize product title and description: Review and optimize your product title and description. Use relevant keywords that customers use in their product search, also ensure your product title and description are error-free, readable, and easy to comprehend.

• Use customer reviews: Display customer reviews in your product listing. The longer and more descriptive the customer review the better. The goal is to aid customers in their shopping journey by showing them what it would be like to use your product and what better way to do this than including customers’ reviews. Customer reviews will help optimize and increase the ranking of your product listing so you can reach more customers.

• Run Split tests: Split testing or A/B testing enables you to test out different product prices, images, and copies prior to Prime Day and deduce which works best. This helps gain useful insight as to what content customers prefer and you can use this information in optimizing your product listing.

Related: Top 6 Listing Optimization Guidelines.

Market your products heavily

It’s difficult to achieve success as a seller on Amazon without an effective marketing strategy. You need to have tools and strategies in place to help increase your product visibility so that you can reach a larger audience if you want to ramp up your sales before and after Prime Day. Some marketing strategies you should be using include:

• Use social media: Social media is a very powerful marketing tool that a lot of Amazon sellers fail to utilize effectively. It’s a great way to meet new customers, connect closely with your existing customers, and share product information with your new and existing customers. You can share high-quality images, videos of the product description, and even customer reviews on social media. 

There are various social media that could help boost your business visibility like interest, Instagram, Tiktok, and many others. You can share information about discounts and exclusive deals you’ll be offering to entice customers and have them anticipate your sales.

• Improve your PPC campaigns: You’ll have to improve and optimize your PPC campaigns as you prepare for Prime Day. One way you can achieve this is by Grouping Keywords based on their purpose so it’s easier for you to track each campaign and for your customers to understand. 

You should also increase the campaign budget when bidding for important keywords. This will help increase your organic ranking and boost your product visibility. 

• Use off-Amazon promotional ads: As much as you want to drive traffic internally to your page through Amazon promotional ads, you should also use off-Amazon ads to increase the visibility of your product listing. Platforms like Facebook and Google offer paid advertising tools that can help boost conversion. These tools offer valuable insight that will also serve as a guide for you when running promotional ads on Amazon. 

 Use competitive deals and discounts

To shoppers, Prime Day is all about exclusive deals and Amazing discounts. So if you want to attract customers, drive conversation and boost sales Prime Day sales you need to use deals and discounts. 

• Amazon Lightning Deals 

Amazon lightning deals are a great place to start. They are amazing deals offered by the seller for a short period to drive sales and very often these deals are very effective. You do however have to meet certain requirements as a seller to be able to apply for the lightning deal on Prime Day.

• You must be a professional seller
• You must obtain at least 5 seller feedback monthly
• You must have a seller rating of 3.5 stars or higher. 
• You should also check your inventory level because sometimes Amazon may set a minimum inventory limit that sellers are required to reach before applying for listening deals. 
• Your deal price offers must be the lowest you’ve offered for any deals since the start of the year.
• You will also be required to pay higher fees to run lightning deals during the prime day sales because of the increased amount of buyers and traffic available during this period. 

It’s always a good idea to leverage lightning deals because of the high conversion rate and the massive boost in sales you stand to enjoy.

To create lightning deals for Prime Day: 

• Sign into your seller account and go to your seller central dashboard
• Select “create deal” 
• Click on the eligible item in your inventory 
• Select the days you want your lightning deal to run.
• Enter deal price per product unit and quantity.
• Review all the details selected and ensure everything is in order before you click submit.

Amazon has officially announced that sellers who want to participate in the Prime Day sale must send in their deals before April 28, 2024.

• Offer exclusive discounts

Alongside lightning deals, you can create limited discount offers to attract customers. There’s usually an open window to set up your Prime Day discounts at the beginning of Prime week, so stay vigilant for when this opportunity comes up and jump on it. To create Amazon Prime Day exclusive discounts all you need to do is; 

• Log into your seller central account
• Select Advertising tab
• Click on the Prime Exclusive deal and set up your Exclusive discount.

• Use sales promotion:

There’s a wide variety of sales promotions you can use to boost sales on Amazon prime day. Some promotions that have been highly effective in the past are the “Buy two for the price one” and the “Buy one and get 50% off on your next purchase”.

 You can recreate referral codes and discounts on referrals and share them with your audience and existing buyers. This way not only do you get to reach new customers and increase sales but your existing audience will help you with product marketing. 

Come up with creative and effective ways to boost sales before the prime day and test them out to discover which strategies work best. 

Create product bundles

Creating product bundles involves packaging two or more related products and selling them together as a package deal. A good example would be selling a digital camera alongside a tripod stand and led video lighting as a product bundle or dog food and pet feeding bowls. 

The idea is to offer these products as a single unit at discounted prices and it’s a great way to increase sales cause you’d offer customers more for less and customers love that.  

You get to clear out old inventory by packaging them with complementary popular products. This enhances customer shopping experience and satisfaction because it makes it more convenient to buy related products without having to search for them on Amazon.

Do note that when you are creating product bundles for Amazon prime day you need to be sure that the products you are packaging as a unit are related in purpose and can be sold together. You do not want to package products that have no business together because these products won’t sell and instead of increasing sales you may end up stuck with excess inventory after Amazon prime day. 

A great place to get product bundle ideas is by checking the “frequently bought together” section in the Amazon product listing. You could also search for product bundles on Amazon to see what product bundles other sellers are offering.

Check out this post to learn everything you need to know about creating product bundles on Amazon.

FAQs

When is Amazon Prime Day 2024?

It is certain that there will be an Amazon Prime Day in 2024. Going by the timeline of the previous Prime Day events, Prime Day 2024 is expected to hold on July 11th and July 12th, 2024.

Is Prime Day the Only Sales Event on Amazon?

No, Prime Day is not the only shopping event on Amazon. It is, however, the biggest shopping event on the platform, closely followed by the Black Friday sales which holds in November every year. 

Conclusion

While you wait for the official announcement of the dates for Prime Day 2024, it’s not too early to start testing out marketing strategies that you intend to use to increase sales. The earlier you start the easier it is to deduce what strategies are not working and make changes when necessary.

Making sales on Amazon is not so easy because you’re not the only seller and the competition on Amazon is fierce. And if you want to make sales, you must be willing to come up with out-of-the-box marketing strategies. With the right marketing strategy, you can rake in massive sales and earn substantially on Amazon without stress.

Creating product bundles is one of the best marketing strategies you can implement if you want to boost your product sales. Remember, the easiest way to attract potential buyers is to offer them a deal that helps them save money and get more value, and a bundle helps you do that.

In this post, we will discuss everything you need to know about selling bundled products on Amazon. We’ll also tell you all about the Amazon Virtual Product Bundle Program and how it can help you boost your Amazon sales. First, what is product bundling?

What is Product Bundling?

Creating product bundles is a marketing strategy that involves grouping similar items together so you can sell off more items and make more money. To create a new bundle, you’ll have to group items that can function together and then sell them off as a single unit, but at a lower price. This way, you’ll be giving buyers the impression that they are getting more value at a lower price. Of course, this will cause a spike in your sales volume and average order volume, which can be exciting.

But as interesting as the idea of selling product bundles seems, it’s not something you should try out without learning how it works. In this post, we’ll show you how to create a new bundle. But, first, how does bundling work?

How Does Product Bundling Work?

The concept of bundling products sounds like wholesaling at first, but they are not the same. Selling wholesale products on Amazon involves selling the same items in bulk. Product bundling, on the other hand, involves merging and selling different products together.

Bundling works best with complementary products and frequently bought products. In other words, items that can be used together are the best for bundles. Shoppers often prefer to buy these items together instead of searching for them individually.

So, a well-designed bundle should make buyers’ searches easier. For instance, if you sell tables, you can create a package that includes a chair. Why? Because a buyer who’s looking to purchase a table most likely needs a chair as well.

If you sell both items, you can put them in a bundle and take some amount off the original cost of both items. This way, you’ll create the impression that you’re saving buyers’ stress and giving them more value at a lower price.

The best way to build bundles is to pair items that can be used together. But you should not only focus on pairing similar items; you should check out your customers’ previous purchases. You can use Amazon’s recommendation system to do this. Using the recommendation system is helpful because about 35% of purchases are based on recommendations. Also, 6 out of 10 recommendations lead to a purchase.

Learning how to sell bundles on Amazon may be difficult at first. But with the Amazon Virtual Product Bundle Program, you can easily build bundles.

Related: Best Products to Sell on Amazon

What is the Virtual Product Bundle Program?

You can create and sell virtual bundles that contain multiple product ASINs using the Virtual Product Bundles feature. By creating a bundle, you can sell two to five complementary products from a single listing. Brand owners can use this tool to sell bundles without having to package them together or change their FBA inbound inventory. In other words, you won’t have to create a separate bundle listing or make a new listing.

For example, if you sell a table under one ASIN and a chair under another, you may use the Virtual Product Bundles feature to bundle both items under one ASIN. And if you use FBA, Amazon will ship these items together when a consumer orders your entire bundle. So, it is not necessary to pack the items together.

Using this feature, Amz can update your stock quantity based on the availability of the lowest stock item. Amazon then assigns the bundle a unique SKU code that allows you to edit the bundle listing.
The program is currently a beta feature, and sellers have to be invited before using the feature. Still in doubt about the benefits of bundling products? Here are a few points to convince you further.

Benefits of Creating Product Bundles

A Perfect Way to Boost Product Sales and Order Volume

Bundling can boost individual item revenues and drive sales over time. By creating bundles, you can encourage buyers to buy more items instead of only a few items as they initially planned to. Thus, increasing your average order value.

For instance, instead of purchasing only a table, your customer may be offered the option of purchasing a table and two chairs as an entire bundle. This way, they’ll buy more than one product, and your average order value will increase. Win-win!

Reduced Marketing Costs

Bundling allows you to sell more while saving money on marketing and delivery. Instead of selling items individually, you can put products together and sell them as an entire bundle. By doing this, you sell off your inventory fast and make more money while at it.

Also, different items can be packaged together and shipped together. You also get to save money on promotions since you can group many items and market them as a bundle.

Lower Storage Costs

The longer your inventory stays in Amazon’s warehouse, the more you’ll incur expenses. If your products sell slowly, bundles are your best bet. With bundles, you can sell multiple products at once. And if you’re selling off items quickly, you can save money on inventory and shipping costs.

An Easy Way to Attract a Buying Crowd

Remember that multiple sellers often sell the same items on Amazon. So, if you sell your items at a fixed price and already have an audience, you can attract more customers. Your buyers most likely have an idea of your regular prices. So, a slight discount will make them feel like you’re offering more value at a lower price. Most shoppers will rather buy a pre packaged kit instead of picking individual items themselves.

Drawbacks of Product Bundling

As with everything that has benefits, bundling also has its cons.

Reduces Your Chances of Selling Products Individually

The most obvious con of bundling is that it reduces your chances of selling off items individually. Since you’ll be offering more value at a lower price, buyers will be less inclined to purchase items separately if they can buy them together.

Lower Profit Margin

Your profit margin may be affected since you will have to sell multiple products at a discounted price. You may make less profit than you would have if you had sold off the items in the bundle separately.

The benefits of bundling products far outweigh the disadvantages, so the strategy is certainly worth trying. Ready to start creating and selling bundles? Here are the different types of bundles you can start with.

Types of Product Bundles

Pure Bundling

This involves pairing multiple products and giving customers the option to buy them only as a new bundle. This bundle type works best for sellers who want to limit their customers’ choices. Hello Fresh, for instance, uses the pure bundling method. This bundling type uses a buy-one-get-all approach.

Mix and Match Bundling

This bundling method involves providing different product options and allowing customers to create their bundles themselves. These types of bundles work best for sellers who sell perishable items.

Cross-sell Bundling

This type of bundle contains multiple items that can be used together but cannot be used individually. Usually, one of the items in the bundle is an add-on. For instance, a bundle that contains a phone and earphones.

Gift-set Bundling

Gift packages are perfect for customers who wish to present a loved one with a collection of complementary items. This type of bundle is best sold during festive or holiday periods. For instance, if you sell human hair, you can create a bundle that contains hair and other maintenance tools.

New Product Bundling

This involves combining a newly released item with a top-selling item. The more in-demand and top-quality your main product is, the higher the purchase chances. This bundling method is mostly used by well-known brands that have just launched new products. The idea is to mix bestsellers with new releases to create awareness about them. This bundling method also works for pairing your highest priced item with a complementary lower priced one.

Stale Inventory Bundling

This is also known as “clearance sales” and involves selling old products to create storage space for new items. Consider combining a slow-moving item with a discounted version of one of your best-selling items in a bundle. This will make your offer more appealing to potential customers.

Buy-One-Get-One or BOGO Bundling

This bundling method works best for one-off purchases like electronics. The bundle often contains one main item and another item added at a discounted price. You can use this product bundle to convince buyers to buy more items at a discounted price.

Occasional Bundling

Sellers often create this type of bundle for special occasions. For instance, if you sell flowers, on Valentine’s day, you can create a bundle that contains flowers, chocolates, and scented candles. You can leverage this bundle to make more sales on special occasions.

Now that you know the different types of bundles you can create, you can start thinking of relevant packages for your business. But the first step to learning how to sell bundles is to check if you’re eligible to create bundles through the Amazon virtual bundle program.

Amazon Virtual Product Bundle Program: Requirements

The program is currently a beta feature and is only open to brand owners. Sellers who meet the following criteria will be sent an invite to use the program. Here are the requirements for eligibility:

• You must be a brand-registered seller and must be the owner of the ASINs you want to add to your bundle.

• Your products must be New and in stock.

• Gift cards, digital products, and used items cannot be added to a product bundle

• Bundles can only be created in the US marketplace.

The virtual product bundle feature is currently only compatible with Chrome and Firefox and can only work on the web-based app. Also, note that Amazon has a product bundling policy and it’s important that you follow the Amazon bundle guidelines as well.

How to Create Product Bundles

• Log in to your seller central account and go to the product bundle page.

• Select two to five product ASINs from your brand-registered products to bundle.

• You can upload up to 9 images to your listings. The individual items you uploaded previously will generate images automatically. However, it’s best to use an original image for the main image. Also, ensure that the main image shows all the items in the bundle.

• Complete your new listing. Enter the product title, description, and price. You have a maximum of 200 characters for your product title. Bundles should be priced lower than or equal to the original price of individual products in the bundle. If you price your bundle higher, you lose buy box eligibility. Plus, customers will be less likely to purchase if they have to pay a higher price for your bundle.

• The bundle price section shows the discounted price you’re offering.

• Lastly, enter the bullet points, SKU, and description for the product.

After you’ve created the bundle listing, you can adjust the product title, description, price, photos, and bullet points. Once the bundle has been saved, the bundled products and the bundle’s SKU cannot be changed. So, it’s important to incorporate relevant and high-volume keywords into your bundle listing since they send the right people to your listings. Also, ensure you follow the Amazon bundle guidelines for your product category.

The best way to find relevant keywords for your listings is to use Amazon software. But apart from keyword research, you’ll also have to create well-optimized listings to boost sales and conversions. For this reason, you need a tool that allows you to find the best keywords for your store and helps you create well-optimized listings. So, what’s the best Amazon software for your store?

How to Find Products for Creating Product Bundles

Selling bundles is a great strategy for success on Amazon, however, if you want to succeed, you cannot randomly put products together. You will have to carefully find in-demand and low-competition products that have a high chance of selling out quickly. Since the goal of creating product bundles is to combine complementary products in order to convince sellers to purchase, your priority should be selecting items that buyers would be willing to purchase as a pair.

Amazon has a section that can help give you an idea of these kinds of products, it’s called the “frequently bought together” section. Here, you’ll find products that buyers typically purchase together. Or, a method for creating a product bundle. The product options here can give you an idea of the items to include in your bundles.

Here are two other ways to help you find product options for your bundle.

• Search on Amazon

One straightforward way to find bundle product options is to search for “bundle” on Amazon. Most sellers who offer product bundles often use this keyword in their titles and listing descriptions.

You can uncover many profitable bundle options using this product research method. All you have to do is pick your desired product category, then type the search term “bundle”. For instance, if you sell in the fashion category, you can select “Fashion” and then search using this keyword.

• Use a Product Research Tool

Product research tools remain one of the best ways to discover profitable product options regardless of the selling method you plan to use. Wholesalers, arbitrage sellers, and even private labelers will find product research tools useful.

ZonBase offers four product research tools to help sellers uncover products with high demand and low competition. ZonResearch, one of ZonBase’s product research tools comes with inbuilt filters and presets to help you search for products and narrow down your search based on your preference.

With ZonResearch, you can select your preferred product categories, enter your filters and get access to an extensive list of product options to choose from.

You can try out this tool and other ZonBase tools for free for 7 days when you sign up for a free trial of the software.

Best Amazon Software for Keyword Research and Listing Optimization

ZonBase is the best Amazon software for keyword research and listing optimization. With the keyword tools, you can generate a list of relevant keyword options for different categories and even see their search volume and performance. The listing optimization tools also allow you to create well-optimized listings using your competitors’ listings cues. In other words, you can spy on your competitors’ listings and use their titles, descriptions, and content as a template for your own listings.

ZonBase also offers product research tools to help you find the best product combinations for your bundles. The software works excellently, even for sellers who sell products in different categories. In addition to this, the software offers PPC automation services and a listing optimizer that allows you to outsource listing creation to a team of experts. ZonBase is a one-stop shop for sellers. It provides a complete set of tools to help you scale your business seamlessly.

Check out the software

Conclusion: Should You Create Amazon Product Bundles?

Of course, you should. Bundles are an excellent way to market your products and make more sales without losing money. What’s more? Bundling works for every product category. All you have to do is find the best product combinations for your business.

Also, avoid creating unrelated product bundles and coming up with vague product bundle names. Sometimes, unrelated products are offered together as a bundle. Examples include pairing furniture and jewelry items, but doing this will reduce your chances of sales from your product bundles.

Check out your competitors’ for product bundle ideas and the best product bundle examples. Also, make sure your product bundles provide more value at a lower price. Otherwise, you’ll be losing customers. Additionally, seasonal bundles reduce your chances of making sales in the long run. So, try not to include too many seasonal items in the bundle. Don’t hesitate to try out this strategy for improved conversions now that you know how to sell bundled products on Amazon.

Based on statistics, this is a great business move because, so far, 69 percent of Americans have done their shopping online, and 25% of them do so at least once a month. Also, the bulk of these shoppers (59%) purchased apparel and 47% purchased their first item on Amazon.

The table below shows the countries with the highest eCommerce revenue per shopper. (Source: Optinmonster)

It is evident that selling online is never a bad idea, and there’s a market for every Amazon seller regardless of their country. Moreover, you can now sell internationally on Amazon. AMZN has over 16 marketplaces, and these countries are not left out. However, as you can already tell from the chart, selling online in the United States seems very lucrative. So, if you decide to sell on AMZN, you should first sell on Amazon USA and then expand to other marketplaces.

Planning to start selling on AMZN? In this post, we’ll tell you everything you need to know to sell in the U.S. marketplace, even if you don’t reside in America. 

Let’s get right into it. 

Why Should You Sell on Amazon USA?

Vast Customer Base

The U.S. marketplace is the largest online marketplace in the world. The marketplace boasts over three million monthly visits, placing it far ahead of eBay, the second-largest online retailer. Apart from the monthly traffic, there are a few other numbers that show why selling in the U.S. marketplace is worth it:

• There are over 142 million Prime members in the U.S. marketplace.
• The U.S. marketplace hosts about 350 million product listings, including the over 12 million products sold by AMZN itself.
• 64% of sellers in the U.S. marketplace have generated over $25,000 in profits in the course of running their businesses.
• 70% of sellers in the U.S. marketplace earn more than $1,000 monthly in revenue.

Limited Entry Barriers

You won’t have to face too many obstacles if you decide to sell in the U.S. marketplace. Unlike other marketplaces, there are minimal barriers to entry in the U.S. marketplace, and you can set up your business in no time. Also, 54% of U.S. sellers run their businesses in less than three months. And about 64% of the sellers hit the profitability mark in their first year. 

Plus, the U.S. marketplace typically approves new seller accounts in about a week. So, you won’t have to wait too long, and you can get other important tasks done in that time. 

It’s Easier to Sell in the U.S. Marketplace than in the European Marketplace

The unified European Amazon network is the only other AMZN marketplace that comes close to Amazon.com in terms of size. However, new sellers must overcome a few hurdles before selling on European marketplaces.

For instance, sellers must account for VAT to sell in the European marketplace. Whereas in the United States, retailers collect sales tax from customers, which is levied after the transaction is completed. Sellers in the EU are required to incorporate VAT earlier in the supply chain. This increases the cost of goods supplied, making it more difficult to price products competitively in the EU.

Furthermore, EU sellers cater to a wider audience, not just English speakers. In contrast, those who sell on Amazon USA can list their products in English since their audience comprises majorly of English speakers.

The EU marketplace caters to shoppers in Spain, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. So, the items and listings must be accessible in up to six languages. Of course, you can reach more people if you create your listings in different languages, but the stress of translating can also be a lot.

You Can Leverage Fulfillment by Amazon

The Fulfillment by Amazon service is one of AMZN’s fulfillment options. Under this service, AMZN handles storage, packaging, and shipping on behalf of its sellers. So, sellers who opt for this fulfillment option can focus on other aspects of their business. 

The service is available on other marketplaces, but sellers who have decided to sell internationally on Amazon USA will find it very useful. Without FBA, international sellers would have to ship their goods to their consumers overseas. Or they can locate third-party fulfillment options, which may be costly and time-consuming. 

If you’ve stalled on setting up an AMZN business because you’ve been wondering “can Amazon ship internationally?”, now you have your answer. 

If you sell on Amazon USA through FBA, you won’t have to worry about international shipping, customer service, or even returns processing. AMZN will handle all these major processes on your behalf. 

Which Countries Can Sell on Amazon USA?

At the moment, AMZN has about 19 marketplaces and accepts sellers from over 102 countries across the globe. So anyone can start selling globally on AMZN, but first, you must provide proof of residence in your home country, a valid phone number, and a chargeable international bank card. Sellers often ask, “Can you sell on Amazon USA from Australia or Canada?” Well, the answer is yes, you can, and quite easily too. In the next section, we’ll show you how to sell on Amazon USA from anywhere in the world.

How to Start Selling on Amazon USA

Selling in the U.S. marketplace is not so difficult. So even a foreigner outside of the USA can sell there. But like every other process on AMZN, there are certain requirements you’ll have to meet. So, to start selling in the marketplace, you must have:

• A valid credit card
• A credit card that is chargeable internationally
• If you can’t create a U.S. bank account, you may need to use Amazon’s Currency Converter. If you do, you can sell on AMZN without creating a U.S. bank account)
• Proof of residence (Utility Bill)
• Proof of Identification (ID, passport, driver’s license, and oftentimes Credit card or Bank statement)
• Tax information
• Phone number

Afterward, AMZN will send a postcard to the address you provided when signing up to confirm your address. With that, you can then enter the code that is on the postcard in seller central to confirm your account. Depending on where you live, it can take anywhere from 1–4 weeks. With COVID-19, there could be delays in this process. It is important to enter this code within 30 days of receiving it, as they will often send follow-up emails stating that the code will expire if not used within that time frame.

Create a seller central account

If you have all the requirements listed above, you can go ahead and create your seller account. To sell on Amazon USA, visit the U.S. website (amazon.com), then fill in all the required information. 

Check out our article on how to create a seller account if you need more help.

In addition to the basic requirements listed above, aspiring sellers must complete an online step-by-step interview to determine whether a W9 (as a US taxpayer) or a W-8BEN (as a non-US taxpayer) is required. 

AMZN may take up to 72 hours to review your application. They may also ask for further details sometimes, so make sure you respond to all requests promptly. 

Choose A Business Model

After creating an account, the next thing you’ll have to do is to choose a business method to sell with. AMZN offers five different business models, but three of them are more popular and profitable in the U.S. marketplace.

The three most common business methods in the U.S. marketplace are as follows:

• Private Label: You can decide to manufacture your own products to sell. To do this, you’ll have to find a profitable product option and then reach out to an overseas manufacturer to make them for you so that they carry your branding. Private labeling is the most popular business model in the U.S. marketplace, and about 67% of U.S. sellers use this model. 

• Wholesale: This business method involves buying in large quantities to reselling in small quantities to retailers. Unlike the private label model, which requires a seller to create their own brand, wholesalers sell already existing products.

• Dropshipping: Being a dropshipper is another option you may want to consider if you want to sell on AMZN. This business method is stress-free, and you won’t have to maintain inventory. 

• Retail Arbitrage: If you are on a budget, you can consider sourcing products from physical or online retail stores, then reselling them on AMZN. This way you can start your online business with little or no capital.

There are other e-commerce business models, but if you want to sell on AMZN without doing much heavy lifting, then these three are the best options for you. Regardless of the business method you choose, you will have to find a profitable niche and product options. When it comes to finding the bestselling products on AMZN, guesswork will not get you the results you want. So, it’s best to invest in software for product research. 

If you read to the end, we’ll tell you about the best software for product research. However, here are a few things to look out for when choosing products if you carry out manual product research. 

• Choose products that have high demand and low competition, preferably products that sell at least 200-300 units per month.

• Choose small and lightweight products. This way, you’ll be able to save costs on shipping. Also, try not to choose products that are fragile or can get damaged in transit.

• Make sure the products you list for sale are not patented. 

After choosing a product, the next thing you should do is source the products from suppliers. Look out for genuine suppliers to source high-quality products. You can also use ZonBase’s Hot products tool for supplier research. Here’s a faster way to find suppliers for your products.

• Open the ZonBase Hot Products tool and enter basic product information
• Set the filters based on your product preferences. You can filter products based on price, BSR Ranking, reviews, and the number of sales.
• The tool generates an extensive list of the best-selling products in any category in a matter of seconds. Click the ‘find a supplier’ option on each entry to find authentic suppliers.

Create Your Listings 

You’ll have to create a product listing if you want to sell through FBA. Here are a few things to keep in mind when creating your product listings:

• Use attractive product images: Ensure your product images are clear, attractive, and detailed. 
• Use clear titles and descriptions: Your titles and descriptions play a major role in your visibility, so you should include relevant keywords in your titles. Also, make your descriptions detailed, and use bullet points where necessary. 
• Add reviews to your listings: Customers want to see proof that others have purchased items from you and found them worth it. So, use reviews to persuade buyers to buy from you.

Choose a Reliable Freight Forwarder or Customs Broker

There are many processes involved in international shipping, especially for online vendors. So, if you want to sell internationally on Amazon without too many hassles, you should enlist the services of a freight forwarding company or customs broker. 

With a customs broker on your team, you won’t have to worry about too much paperwork and documentation. They’ll handle all the customs procedures, freight forwarding, and inventory storage for you. A freight forwarder, on the other hand, will ensure your products get to the fulfillment center safely. 

Here are a few of the services that custom brokers can render:

• Examining samples: Your customs broker can inspect your samples for you and tell you whether they are the exact products you requested from your supplier.

• Assurance of high quality: Your customs broker can inspect the quality of your goods in the same way that samples are examined. Before the products reach Amazon’s fulfillment hubs, third-party quality assurance organizations can evaluate and grade them.

• Fulfillment Preparation: Your products must be prepared before AMZN accepts them, and this includes having FNSKUs and other required labeling.

In addition, if your product requires some assembling that your supplier cannot provide, a third-party fulfillment prep center can help.

How Much Does it Cost to Sell on Amazon USA?

Selling on Amazon is a lucrative business venture, but it isn’t free, and you must understand the costs involved. Here’s a breakdown of the selling fees you’ll have to pay if you sell on AMZN.

Selling Plan Fees

To sell on AMZN, you’ll have to create a seller account and choose a selling plan. AMZN offers two selling plans: the individual selling plan and the professional seller account or selling plan. The individual plan costs $0.99 on every sale and is best for sellers who do not intend to sell up to 40 items per month. In contrast, the professional seller account requires a monthly subscription fee of about $39.99 and best suits sellers who want to sell more than 40 products in a month. 

Referral Fees

Referral fees are a fixed percentage of the total sales price and can range from 8% to 45%, depending on the product category. AMZN’s fees are calculated based on sales in dollars and the number of products sold in some categories. Electronics accessories, for example, are charged 15% of the total sales price for any component up to $100 and 8% for any portion larger than $100. Amz has a minimum referral charge that applies if the percentage-based payout is greater than the minimum referral fee, albeit this isn’t always the case.

Fulfillment Fees

This applies to FBA sellers and is the cost you’ll have to pay for AMZN’s services. This includes picking, packing, and order fulfillment. Fulfillment fees are calculated based on the item’s size and weight and are charged on a per-item basis. Your FBA fees and shipping costs may differ depending on your location and what kind of tax laws apply there.

“Starting on April 28, 2022, a 5% fuel and inflation surcharge will be applied to FBA fulfillment fees. The surcharge is subject to change.”

Inventory Storage Fees

This fee covers the cost of having your inventory stored in AMZN’s warehouses. The inventory storage fee is charged monthly and depends on the type and size of the item you’re selling. Note that the storage fee from January to September is different from October to December. Also, if your inventory stays in fulfillment centers for more than 365 days, you’ll incur extra costs in the form of long-term inventory storage fees. 

There are other fees that you may incur, but they are not fixed.

Check out the full list of Amazon FBA Fees

Tips for Selling on Amazon USA Successfully

Every day, more and more people are jumping on the opportunity to sell and make money on Amazon. In fact, currently, there are about 500,000 individual sellers. With this increasing number of sellers comes fierce competition. 

So, if you want to make your time on Amazon worth it, you have to come up with ways to beat the competition and ensure that your products are reaching your target audience. Here are a few tips to help you sell on Amazon USA successfully.

Monitor your inventory levels

Choosing the right products — products with high demand and low competition or market saturation is the first step to success. The next step is to ensure you never run out of stock. 

One way to avoid stockouts is to monitor your inventory level to ensure that your products are available. If customers notice that your products are mostly unavailable, you may end up losing sales because they’re likely to purchase from a competitor. 

You can use inventory management software to monitor your inventory levels and avoid stockouts. 

The ZonBase profits tool is an excellent tool for tracking your inventory, monitoring business expenses, and managing profits. The tool comes with an inventory forecasting feature that notifies you when your stock level is low. It also predicts an estimated restock date based on your sales history and sellout rate.

You can try out the ZonBase profits tool for free for 7 days when you sign up for a free trial of ZonBase.

Choose the right fulfillment option (FBA or FBM): 

Amazon offers two fulfillment options — FBA and FBM. Both options are great, but they offer different benefits, so it’s important to go for one that works best for you. 

Amazon FBA allows you to outsource major business processes like storage, order fulfillment, shipping, customer service, and returns processing to AMZN while you focus on other crucial aspects of your business; like product research, keyword research, and listing optimization.

FBM on the other hand will require you to handle your business processes by yourself from start to finish.  

Unlike FBA where Amazon is in control of your products, FBM puts you in control. However, you get to save more time and cut down shipping costs when you use FBA. If you opt for FBA though, you will have to pay Amazon FBA fees and this may add up eventually. 

Both fulfillment options are available to all sellers, but sellers who are on a tight schedule and have multiple commitments will find FBA more convenient. However, the ultimate decision is in your hands. 

Run Promotional ads 

Running promotional campaigns on Amazon can help to increase your brand awareness, thus increasing conversions and sales. 

AMZN offers a wide range of promotional tools and ad options. These tools have flexible formats with customizable features and customizable budgets that enable you to access these tools no matter your budget. 

Launching and managing promotional campaigns is a lot easier with PPC optimization tools because they also give you access to real-time insights which enable you to track the success of your ads. 

With ZonPPC, you can launch profitable campaigns and monitor the progress of your ads from start to finish. It is a data-driven and AI-based tool that allows you to monitor buds, change bids and adjust budgets on the go. 

The ZonPPC tool is available for free for 7 days when you sign up for a free trial of ZonBase.

Use social media to drive traffic to your store

Social media offers numerous benefits to you as a seller, you stand to reach a wider audience, build a connection with your customers, and showcase your product. 

It’s a great tool to build brand awareness. There are different social media platforms you could use, choose one that works best for you and start using it today. 

You don’t need to have a large budget or possess some kind of special skill, most of these platforms are easy to use and free. Create an account, showcase your product and services, join conversations, create content around your products, and include your links to drive people to your Amazon store.

Best Amazon Software for Product Research

Finding profitable products for your store is the first step to success on Amazon. But there are so many product categories, and product research may get overwhelming if you don’t have the right tools to help you sort through the several options at your fingertips. Thankfully, with Amazon software, you can now automate your product research process.

ZonBase is the best software for Amazon business automation, not just product research. The software not only offers high-tech product research tools, but also offers keyword research, listing optimization, sales estimation, and analytics tools. You will find this software useful if you want to sell on Amazon USA. You can also use the ZonBase Hot Products tool for supplier research. 

The software is quite affordable and can be accessed for free when you sign up for a free trial.

Conclusion

Selling online is always a great idea, and if you ever decide to sell online, you should consider selling on Amazon USA. If you’re located outside the United States, there may be a few challenges, but once you get past them, the rest of the journey will be a breeze. 

There is a lot of paperwork and regulation involved in shipping products from one country to another. These processes can be cumbersome, especially for new sellers. Also, no matter how much you try to evade them, they will remain in your face because a supply chain is necessary for every business. As a result, most sellers outsource this process to Amazon FBA freight forwarders. 

But only a little information is available online regarding shipping goods to Amz’s warehouse using Amazon FBA freight forwarders. This post provides a practical guide as to how and when to use Amazon FBA freight forwarders.

What is an Amazon FBA Freight Forwarder?

An FBA freight company or shipping company is an international shipping firm that provides logistic services for sellers. In other words, shipping companies assist sellers in shipping their goods to Amazon fulfillment centers from overseas factories. Some of these companies also ship products from one country to another for sellers who use the Fulfillment by Merchant option.

An Amazon freight forwarder typically provides the following services:

• Testing of products
• Consignment bookings
• Documentation for export and shipping
• Negotiate shipping charges
• Organizing logistics related to storage and shipping
• Inventory management
• Temporary storage
• Reservation of cargo space
• Monitoring the inland transportation system
• Cargo Insurance and filing insurance claims

International shipping involves several complex processes. But you don’t have to do everything yourself; Amazon FBA freight forwarders can manage all international shipping procedures on your behalf.

Why Should You Use an Amazon FBA Freight Forwarder?

Shipping companies manage complex shipping procedures on your behalf, and that’s the most important reason you should use them. But if this isn’t enough of a reason for you, here are a few other reasons you should use an FBA Freight Forwarder.

• Cost-effective shipping option: The Amazon FBA freight forwarders have long-standing relationships with carriers. This allows them to negotiate competitive shipping rates for you. Additionally, they can assist you with the consolidation of your shipments. Amazon freight rates are usually lower than the shipping rates you’ll get when you ship independently. So, you can save money by shipping through an Amazon freight forwarder.

• Expert Assistance: A freight forwarder has extensive knowledge of laws and regulations, documentation, and payment methods for international shipping. These skills make them ideal for handling logistics for international shipping. You will not have to worry about penalties or delays resulting from non-compliance if you use Amazon FBA freight forwarders.

• Time-saving: Logistic firms handle all paperwork, contact transportation service providers, pack and store goods, and more. Outsourcing the complex processes involved in getting your products from the manufacturers to Amz’s warehouse, gives you more time to focus on other aspects of scaling your business.

• Auxiliary services: These companies can also provide other services related to international trade. In addition, they can assist with customs documentation, insurance policies, bank paperwork, etc.

• No shipping hassles: Shipping goods can be an arduous task, especially for sellers who have multiple priorities and cannot keep up with tracking their shipments. Using an Amazon FBA freight forwarder saves you the stress of following up with the major processes involved in shipping.

• Safe shipment delivery: When you hire a reputable shipping company, you can rest easy when you ship to Amazon because you know that your package is in good hands with these professionals.

How To Ship to Amazon using an Amazon Freight Forwarder

Transporting products from your location to an Amazon fulfillment center may be a complex process. If you do not want to go through the rigors of shipping items yourself, you can outsource logistics to a freight forwarder. FBA Freight forwarders offer three basic transportation options, and these options vary in speed and cost. So, before settling for one, consider how quickly you want your shipments delivered to a designated Amazon fulfillment center.

• Air Freight:

A cargo shipment by air is a shipment of goods transported by charter or commercial carriers. Despite being the fastest option, it is also the most expensive. Airfreight is a good option if you need express shipping or shipping small quantities.

• Sea Freight:

This method involves shipping large cargo in shipping vessels over the sea. This shipping method is the slowest, but it is also the most cost-effective option.

• Ground freight:

Ground shipping is the process of transporting goods by land and rail. Goods are transported by truck from factories to airports or seaports. Then, from those ports to fulfillment centers by truck. This method is normally used in conjunction with the first two methods.

Documents supplied by freight forwarders

In dealing with shipping companies, you should look for the following documents:

• Shipper’s bill of lading: When a shipping company and a customer sign a bill of lading, it serves as proof of ownership.

• Commercial invoice: A commercial invoice is a document that is given to the customer for services rendered. Officials also use this document to determine customs duties.

• License for export: Export and import licenses are government documents. These documents make goods eligible to leave or enter the country.

• Certification of inspection: Upon purchasing insurance coverage for shipments, freight forwarders get a certificate of inspection. It protects them against any liabilities.

• Packing list: A packing list for exports provides more details than a regular packing list. Items are identified as well as their net and gross weights. Bills of lading are also prepared with it.

• Export declaration document for the shipper: This form provides details about goods that are to be exported, and are submitted at the port.

Factors to Consider When Choosing an Amazon Freight Forwarder

Choosing the best Amazon FBA freight forwarder is a challenge that most FBA sellers face. Here are a few factors to consider when choosing the best AMZ FBA freight forwarder

1. Expertise: You must look out for experienced Amazon FBA freight forwarders to prevent any errors that may lead to huge losses.

2. Excellent customer service: Customer service is an integral part of freight forwarding. Make sure the firm provides excellent customer service and prompt responses.

3. Multiple Services: Choose a company that can provide other services apart from shipping. These services include packaging and storage, inventory management, and insurance.

4. Credentials: It’s easy to fall prey to scammers when trying to choose an Amazon FBA freight forwarder. The easiest way to avoid this is to request testimonials and reviews, preferably from people who have used the service of the company that you have in mind.

5. Your desired results: Do they tick all the boxes in your list of important services? Will they be able to provide the service you need within the specified time frame? You should use these questions as a checklist when choosing a freight forwarder.

6. Financial Stability: Research your potential shipping service providers. Also, ensure they are financially stable and capable of delivering your requirements. Don’t hesitate to ask questions. By choosing their services, you will be placing a lot of trust in them, so make sure they can deliver.

7. Product/Shipment Tracking: Many shipping companies have support teams to answer your inquiries. Still, it is prudent to track your shipment as it is being shipped. Make sure the firm you are considering using has an integrated real-time tracking system. Also, make sure they can provide real-time updates.

8. Insurance coverage: A shipping loss can be caused by adverse circumstances or any unforeseen circumstances. A good logistics firm should provide comprehensive insurance coverage.

9. Delivery options: Some logistic firms claim to deliver internationally. But that does not necessarily mean they can deliver to every country. If you want to know where a shipping company picks up and delivers, you can check their website.

Also, make sure they deliver from port-to-port rather than door-to-door. It is necessary to book road transportation if they only offer port-to-port delivery and this may result in extra costs.

Amazon FBA Freight Forwarders: Costs and Fees

Amazon freight rates are usually more bearable compared to when you ship yourself. Freight forwarding services are not free, so before you hire an Amazon FBA freight forwarder, find out the costs and expenses involved.

• Custom Duties:

When goods are transported internationally, customs duties are imposed on them. Customs duty is a tax imposed on the import and export of goods. Although it serves as a means of revenue generation, the government also regulates the movement of goods through custom duties.

• Custom Examination Fees:

Most shipment especially potentially hazardous cargo undergoes a rigorous customs examination. This sometimes results in an extra fee.

• Demurrage:

If your shipment stays at the port for too long, you incur this cost. The longest a shipment is allowed to remain at the port is four to seven days. So, if your shipment exceeds this period, you may incur demurrage.

• Cargo Insurance:

Cargo insurance is an extra cost, so you should ask your prospective shipping firm about it. In most cases, it serves as a form of protection in the event of damage.

• Cost of Containers and Container Management:

You will be charged based on the size of the container you opt for. You can choose to use either a 20-foot or 40-foot container. The container management fees cover the operational expenses involved in shipping your goods.

Most shipping companies also charge documentation fees. You should confirm if the total cost includes this fee or not, to avoid any unplanned expenses.

Factors Affecting the Cost of Freight Forwarding Services

• High Demand:

There’s usually an increased demand for shipping services during specific periods. Especially when several sellers want their shipments delivered to Amazon, if this is the case, increased freight forwarding costs are to be expected.

• Shipping Distance:

The farther the pickup point is, the higher the freight forwarding costs.

• Fuel:

Fuel prices are prone to variations, and this can influence Amazon freight rates. In other words, if there is a fluctuation in fuel prices, then there will certainly be a change in freight forwarding fees. So be sure to always confirm.

• Capacity:

Shipping vessel capacity has a significant impact on freight forwarding costs. To solve this problem, you can use larger capacity vehicles that can haul more cargo without adding additional charges.

• Cargo Weight:

Freight forwarding relies heavily on weight. The classification of shipments is determined by various freight groups. Once the shipment’s weight reaches a specified limit, it is moved onto another freight group.

Clearance and freight forwarding regulations vary from country to country. Amazon FBA freight forwarders usually take note of any changes in these regulations, especially those that may affect prices. So, you should inquire about any regulation fees.

Freight Forwarding Phases

Freight forwarding services are usually in six stages; they are as follows:

• Export Haulage:

This is the process of moving the shipment from the seller’s location to the warehouse. It is usually by rail or truck. The duration of this phase is also unpredictable; it depends on distance and means of transportation.

• Items Checkpoint:

The goods have arrived at the freight forwarder’s warehouse at this phase. They will then be checked to confirm their condition and quantity.

• Exports custom clearance:

Customs officials of the export country submit the necessary information and documents. All these are important to clear the cargo. So, customs brokers and freight forwarders ensure consignments adhere to the law.

• Imports custom clearance

After export clearance, the shipment undergoes import clearance. The destination country verifies that the products were legally allowed to enter.

• Destination arrival and handling:

Freight forwarders handle all documentation at this point.

• Import haulage

After the cargo has been placed at the warehouse, it has to be delivered to its final destination. This is the last phase of the shipping process.

The Best Amazon FBA Freight Forwarder: A Guide to Making the Best Choice

Now you know what freight forwarders do and how they can help you. Here’s a guide to help you conclude the best Amazon FBA freight forwarder for your business.

• Research Import Restrictions on Your Products

To ensure safety and quality, different countries have different import restrictions. If you select a freight forwarder, make sure they know the government policies. This is to prevent any issues or running afoul of the law.

• Try out the company’s service with a little part of your shipment:

Doing a test run with a small shipment is a perfect way to assess a company’s performance. Thus, you can gauge costs, flexibility, and turnaround times. You can also get an idea of the range of services they provide.

• Select the Incoterm that suits you best:

Shipping firms who are new to the industry may find Incoterms confusing. We’ll start by defining what an Incoterm is.

Trade and sale of goods are governed by rules known as Incoterms. Incoterms is short for International Commercial Terms. Incoterms are EXW, FCA, and FOB, among others.
A delivery method called EXW is when the buyer is responsible for all risks and costs—starting with sourcing products and ending with delivery.

Free Carrier (FCA) is an arrangement where the seller is responsible for transporting the goods to a named location. This could be a port or terminal. From there, the buyer takes over transportation and all other processes.

Here, the seller ferries the cargo to the port. Then they ensure it is appropriately transported. Port-to-door freight transport is the term used here. The buyer assumes responsibility for all costs when the consignment is on board. This includes ocean freight.

• Calculate Fixed Costs:

Confirm your shipping company’s charges. Do your calculations, and factor in unplanned expenses. You can make use of the shipping fee breakdown provided above.

• Inspect the shipment packaging:

Please thoroughly inspect the goods, preferably once they arrive at the warehouse. This allows you to identify faulty and damaged products. Then you can replace them before they are transported.
Once you have chosen a logistic company to work with, here are a few tips to bear in mind.

• Ask as many questions as possible

• Bear in mind that mistakes happen.

• Get insurance, it will save you from losses and worry.

• When it comes to paperwork, observe due diligence.

• Make room for unexpected delays, and factor in extra time.

Customs Duties and Taxes to Factor in When Working with Freight Forwarders

Freight forwarding deals with import and export and there are customs fees and taxes involved in moving goods from one country to the other. So, once you find a good freight forwarder, the next thing to do is to get familiar with the costs involved. A few of them are listed below:

Orders that are sent outside the U.S. are subject to:

• Customs fees
• Import taxes
• Additional fees levied by the destination country

These fees are typically paid by the recipient of the international shipment. A full estimate of the customs duties and taxes is usually gotten when the shipment arrives in the destination country.

There may also be some unplanned, extra clearance charges and these must also be paid by the recipient. Both the fulfillment of these additional charges and the potential custom and tax costs are outside Amazon’s control.

Customs regulations vary greatly, but the right information on clearance procedures and the reasons for the delay can be obtained by contacting the local customs office.

Amazon’s Terms and Conditions for Freight Forwarding

Amazon has a couple of terms and conditions that you should take note of before sending your Amazon shipment through freight forwarders. A few of them are outlined below:

• Amazon will not take responsibility for any shipment or product damage after the shipment has been delivered. In other words, you or your freight forwarder will bear full responsibility for any goods lost or damaged after delivery.
• You cannot mention Amazon on any of the export documents — invoices, export declarations, packing lists, etc.
• You will need to get Amazon’s written authorization before exporting items if you or your freight forwarding company do not have a valid U.S. address.
• Amazon considers you and your freight forwarding firm as the exporter. So, you will be responsible for paying custom duties and taxes as well as complying with the import and export rules of the destination country.
• You can only reject a shipment immediately after it arrives if it is delivered in damaged condition. You should inform your freight forwarder about this and have them examine the goods thoroughly upon arrival.
• If you (or the freight forwarder you send to) have a U.S. address, you can purchase goods from amazon.com and send them to any U.S. location.

Conclusion

You need freight forwarding services if you want to ship to Amazon seamlessly. Freight forwarding services are even more vital if you intend to ship to Amazon from an overseas factory. So, with a reliable Amazon FBA freight forwarder, you won’t have to worry about anything related to international shipping. They’ll handle everything.

These points will help you find the best firm for your business if you want to ship to Amazon without stress.

ZonBase is an FBA software Suite that contains all the seller tools that you need in one place. With this tool, you can carry out research and optimize your listings. You can even research genuine suppliers for your products. These tools are available at a pocket-friendly price, and you can explore these tools for free for seven days.

When people talk about setting up small businesses online, they typically refer to becoming third-party or independent sellers. You might have heard that independent sellers account for more than half of the sales on the AMZN Marketplace. But do you know that’s not the only method of selling on the AMZ platform? 

Related: How to sell on Amazon like a Pro

How to Use Amazon For Selling: Two Channels

Generally speaking, Amazon offers two different departments or channels for prospective sellers to use: Vendor Central and Seller Central. Although “seller” and “vendor” mean the same thing in layman’s terms, they mean different things on the platform.

Let’s take a look at these two ways to leverage Amazon for business.

Become a First-Party Seller (Amazon Vendor)

Amazon Vendors (also called first-party sellers) usually sell products directly to AMZ through Vendor Central. Put differently, AMZ buys wholesale goods from vendors, usually large manufacturers or distributors. These vendors function as suppliers and transport their inventory to AMZ’s warehouse. AMZ pays vendors upfront for their bulk purchases.

After the sale, AMZ is deemed to be the owner and acquires all rights associated with the products. They will then market and sell the products directly to customers, using the AMZ brand image. Products supplied by Vendors usually have the phrase “ships from and sold by Amazon” included in their listing.

Vendors can make a lot of money by directly supplying AMZ with goods. Because you don’t have to compete with AMZ, you don’t have to worry about losing customers. Also, since AMZ has one of the biggest customer bases, you won’t run out of potential people to sell to. You make sure you send products consistently to AMZ, and they will do the rest.

Do you want to use AMZ for your business without handling the hassles of selling, marketing, and logistics? Then the Vendor program is the way to go. However, the Vendor program is not open to everyone as it is invite-only, so you may be limited in that regard.

Even if you know how to use Amazon for business as a vendor, you can’t do it without an invitation. Also, you need to have a huge capital before getting invited as a direct supplier for AMZ. Usually, it’s the big manufacturers with huge factories that get into this program. For these reasons, most people prefer to become independent sellers instead.

Become a Third-Party Seller (Amazon Seller)

So you want to know how to use Amazon for business without doing business directly with them? Then this option is the one for you. By becoming an independent seller, you enjoy more of the flexibility that an Amazon business offers because this selling channel gives you more control. You also don’t need an upfront capital as large as the ones for direct vendors.

The option of becoming an independent seller is more popular, particularly because it is a lot easier. Here, Amazon sellers sell directly to customers on the marketplace through a platform called Seller Central. As a seller, you own your inventory and have control over your Amazon business. You can fix your prices and market your products as you deem fit.

Amazon sellers have two order fulfillment methods to choose from Fulfillment-by-Amazon (FBA) or Fulfillment-by-Merchant (FBM).

Under the FBA model, you send your inventory to a fulfillment center for storage. Amazon offers to handle the picking, packing, and shipping of orders as well as customer service for you. Essentially, AMZ employees do all the heavy lifting so that you can focus on other crucial aspects of your business. However, AMZN doesn’t provide these services for free. They usually deduct the Amazon FBA Fee from your earnings to pay for this.

Alternatively, you can choose to fulfill orders yourself with the Fulfillment-by-Merchant (FBM) model. This means you are solely responsible for storing your inventory, picking, packing, shipping orders, and customer service.

While you won’t have to pay AMZN any fee, it may cost more in terms of time and labor. You will also need to secure the services of a reliable delivery company so that your margins do not suffer. This is because Amazon FBA offers fast shipping and, for Amazon Prime members, free two-day shipping. So to compete with FBA sellers, you have to guarantee the same level of efficiency.

If you want to sell on Amazon and save money on other total costs like warehousing, shipping, salaries, and the like, FBA is your best bet.

Different Selling Models for Amazon Sellers

Amazon sellers can use several different selling models to succeed on the platform. It’s very easy to start a small business on Amazon. All you have to do is to choose a suitable business model, then create your Amazon business account to get started. To help you out, we have listed some of the most popular business models below.

Retail Arbitrage

The word “retail arbitrage” might initially sound confusing and intimidating. But in actuality, the layman’s term for this is just “reselling”. When you adopt retail arbitrage, you need to locate a discount store and purchase items there for cheap. Walmart, mom-and-pop shops, Costco, or even online marketplaces like eBay can be your option here.

People who just want an easy way to start Amazon stores often use retail arbitrage as their method. It is cheap to start, easy to execute, and profitable. If you can find cheap products to resell on Amazon, this Amazon selling method can bring you a lot of money.

Wholesale Selling

Selling wholesale on Amazon involves purchasing products in bulk directly from manufacturers. By buying in bulk from manufacturers, you can drastically lower your cost of purchase. In a market as competitive as AMZ, keeping your costs of acquisition low is key to making good profits.

Another benefit of selling wholesale on Amazon is that you can negotiate with the supplier to get exclusivity. By getting an exclusive contract to sell as an authorized reseller, you won’t have problems competing with other sellers in your niche.

However, there’s a big downside to wholesale selling—it’s the need for huge upfront capital. You will be purchasing your products in bulk, so you need to have a large amount of upfront capital to cover your initial costs. You will be buying tens of thousands of products as a wholesale seller. If you don’t have a large capital to start with, it will be difficult for you to get started on this platform.

Dropshipping

Want to know how to use Amazon for business even if you don’t have a large warehouse to keep your inventory? Easy! Just use the dropshipping method.

In dropshipping, a seller acts as a middleman between the customer and the direct source or manufacturer. It is the direct manufacturer who fulfills the customers’ orders. All you have to do is send the customer to them to get the process started.

This is how dropshipping works- First, you need to post your product online. When a customer buys this product, you’ll contact your supplier and forward this order to them. Your supplier will now fulfill this order and ship the item to the buyer.

Related: How Amazon dropshipping works

But instead of using their name, the supplier will ship the product under your name. When your customer receives their product, your name will be written on the package. So, by acting as a middleman and putting your profits on top, you can make money without an inventory. 

Overseas B2C websites such as Aliexpress.com can be a popular source for your dropshipping products. However, the time frame for receiving the products is long since they will be coming from overseas. This could lead to buyer’s remorse or negative feedback from impatient buyers.

Another disadvantage is that you won’t have enough time to perform personal quality checks with dropshipping. Since the product is shipped straight to the buyer from the manufacturer, you can’t check for defects or damage. This can lead to you getting lots of negative reviews if you don’t choose your supplier well.

You can set up an Amazon small business using the aforementioned selling models. However, after setting up your business, you will have to carry out some tasks to make a profit. So, what should you do as an Amazon small business owner who wants to build a profitable business?

What You Need To Do As A Third Party Seller

Amazon sellers bear responsibility for all the major aspects of running their Amazon stores. This means their success is largely dependent on some crucial factors, which include:

• Finding and sourcing profitable and quality products
• Pricing competitively and profitably
• Keyword research for product listing optimization
• PPC Campaign management
• Competitive analysis
• Logistics (unless you use FBA)

If you handle these aspects well, especially with the use of seller tools, then you are bound to have a successful online business. You can also monitor your business performance on your seller account.

How to Become an Independent Seller on Amazon

Create an Amazon Business Account: Selling on AMZN is not difficult. The first step is to create an Amazon business account or seller account. There are two types of Amazon business accounts: the individual seller account and the professional seller account.

The individual business account is best for people who want to sell fewer than 40 items per month on AMZN. In contrast, the professional seller account allows sellers to sell more than 40 items per month.

The individual business account costs $0.99 per item sold, while the professional account costs a monthly fee of $39.99 regardless of the number of items sold. The individual Amazon account is best suited for an individual seller who is testing the waters and only wants to sell at their own pace, while the professional Amazon account works best for sellers who want to run their Amazon businesses full-time.

So, while you can start selling on Amazon for free, there is no such thing as a “completely free account,” because you’ll have to pay monthly fees once you start making sales.

Choose a Profitable Product: Using Amazon for business does not end with creating an Amazon account. After creating your Amazon business account, you will have to choose profitable product options for your Amazon business. The competition on AMZN is stiff, so if you want to make headway there, you have to sell what your customers will be interested in. Choosing an in-demand, low-competition product for your business is important, but it is not so easy.

The best way to find products for your Amazon store is to invest in Amazon seller tools for product research. Here’s how to use the ZonResearch tool to find the best selling products in any product category.

• Open the ZonResearch tool from your ZonBase dashboard

• Choose your marketplace, select your preferred product categories, and set the filters based on your specifications.

• Click the “Search” button 

Once you click the search button, ZonResearch delves into Amazon’s product catalog to bring you the best product options based on your specifications.

Not sure of the profitability of the options you got? Validate them with the Zon chrome extension. The ZonBase Chrome extension is a web app that allows you to run customized searches and validate your product ideas. Using this tool, you can sift through AMZN’s database to find hot product options for your Amazon business. 

Source Your Products: After finding a potential product option, the next thing to do is to find authentic suppliers to source from. Finding suppliers is an entirely different ballgame. You have to be careful or else you’ll get scammed or end up purchasing low-quality products.

When trying to pick a supplier, ensure you negotiate properly to make sure you get the best deal. If you do not have enough capital to start or source bulk orders, you can try to push for payment options with your supplier. Certain suppliers have great payment options to help you split your payments and ease up your burden. You may also want to find out if they can ship directly to an Amazon warehouse. This is a cost effective way to save money on shipping rates.

Once you find authentic suppliers, make a list of your preferred suppliers based on price, product quality, and any other benefits they’ll offer. For instance, some suppliers will not offer shipping benefits like free two day shipping, express shipping, or even shipping directly to customers.

There are many ways to find Amazon suppliers, but the most reliable way is to use software for supplier research. You can use the ZonBase Hot Products tool; a product research tool that doubles as a supplier research tool. Using the Hot Products tool, you can find the top 100 most gifted items with fewer than 30 reviews in any category. The tool then goes further to generate a list of authentic suppliers to source each of the product options at the best price possible.

Check out the Hot Products tool

For smooth sales, your preferred suppliers should be those who always have products in stock and can send your orders quickly. Remember, the easiest way to grow your small business is to always have your products in stock.

Create Your Listings and Promote Them

Your product listings are important if you want to make sales. If you want to outrank your competitors and boost sales on AMZN, you have to create well-optimized listings. To optimize your listings, include attractive product images and catchy product titles, use bullet points, and keep your product descriptions clear and concise. Listing optimization is way easier when you use a listing optimization tool like ZonBase’s Listify tool.

The tool places your new listing side-by-side with your competitors’ listings to help you compare and contrast. By doing this, you can pick out the winning strategies from theirs, implement them in yours, and boost your sales massively. Another strategy to boost sales is to run frequent promotions and ads to improve your visibility and conversions.

How To Use Amazon For Business Without Selling?

Many people who don’t have enough capital but still want to earn money online ask this question. They want to know how to use Amazon for business without selling products. And the answer is straightforward—just use affiliate marketing!

AMZ’s Affiliate Marketing Program allows you to earn money even without selling a single product. All you have to do is promote a product on your website using links and banners. You can write articles and blog posts or make videos showing the pros and cons of using these products. Within your content, you can use your affiliate links. Whenever a customer purchases a product on AMZ using your link, you’ll get a commission for promoting the product.

With the AMZ Affiliate program, you don’t have to learn how to use Amazon for business as a seller or vendor. You also won’t need to create an Amazon business account. All you need is to write great, informative, and helpful content. You’ll get commissions even without selling anything.

Should You Be A Seller or a Vendor? – Factors to Consider

Ease of Set-Up

As mentioned earlier, you must receive an invite from AMZ to become a vendor. On the other hand, becoming a Seller is open to anyone. All you need to do is create an Amazon account and supply the required information. So, if you want to start your Amazon business in no time, then becoming an Amazon seller is the better option.

Ease of Doing Business

Being a first-party seller is easier. Your business tasks are mainly fulfilling purchase orders, billing AMZ, and avoiding chargebacks. The seller model, on the other hand, is more complex. In addition to other day-to-day tasks, you will be responsible for handling logistics for order fulfillment (unless you use FBA).

Also, sales reconciliation, managing inventory, and taxation compliance. So, if you want a selling method that does not require much time and effort, then the Vendor program is your best bet.

Level of control

Sellers have sole control over their retail pricing and can set competitive product prices as they wish. On the other hand, vendors have no control over their retail pricing. AMZ can adjust the product prices at any time, and often will, in a bid to match lower prices offered by other sellers. This can negatively impact your profit margins. Sellers also have more control over their inventory and customer communication than Vendors.

Sales Volume Potential

Vendors tend to have higher sales volume than sellers. Their listings indicate that their products are from AMZ. Because of this, potential customers are more inclined to purchase them due to their trust in the platform. 

Conclusion

If you were wondering how to use Amazon for your business, you’re certainly armed with more information now. You can start an Amazon business either as a vendor or a seller. The Vendor program is invite-only and better suited for large manufacturers or suppliers. Becoming a seller is a more suitable option for a small business owner or an individual seller looking to diversify their income stream.

For a successful Amazon business, you need to use powerful seller software to help you analyze data before making business decisions. Zonbase is an all-in-one software that can meet all your needs. With Zonbase, you can conduct product research and find winning products to launch.

You can also do keyword research for your listings and PPC ad campaigns. It also allows you to edit your product images, track your competitors, and more. Zonbase allows you to do this in an all-in-one package, making it very practical and easy.

With Zonbase, you’ll learn how to use Amazon for business with just a few clicks of a button. And the best part is that you do not have to pay an upfront yearly fee before you can access the tools. You can simply sign up for a 7-day free trial and explore the software to your satisfaction.

Ready to check how Zonbase can help you and your business succeed? Sign up for a free trial.

But there is one other aspect that’s largely neglected—customer reviews. Reviews also play a crucial role in determining how many sales you make. Getting them can be difficult, but the Amazon Vine program can help with this. Unfortunately, many sellers do not realize this program exists. So, what is Amazon Vine?

In this post, you will learn all about the Amazon Vine Program. But first, let’s see how important ratings are.

• People trust reviews more than personal recommendations 91% of the time.
• Buyers read reviews before making a purchase decision in 95% of cases.
• 72% of customers won’t make a purchase until they read reviews
• A minimum of five reviews can increase sales by 270%

Ratings are extremely important. But getting them is not as easy as you would expect. There are several ways to get ratings on AMZ. But the Vine program is one of the easiest. If you’ve asked this “what is Amazon Vine?” question, then you should read this to the end.

In this post, we will explain what the Vine program is, its pros and cons, and how to enroll. We will also provide information on what it costs to enroll and whether it’s worth signing up for.

The vine program is AMZ’s way of helping sellers get credible reviews. AMZ invites its most trusted reviewers to try out products for free in exchange for ratings. Reviewers under this program are usually referred to as “Vine Voices”. The program creates a win-win situation for both the seller and the reviewer.

As straightforward as this program may seem, the fact remains that Amazon doesn’t just let anyone in. The majority of reviewers have been selected based on their review records. So “Vine Voices” comprises customers who leave helpful reviews regularly.

How Does the Amazon Vine Program Work?

• First, you’ll have to enroll to join the Vine program.
• As soon as you sign up, a reviewer will request to review your product.
• In exchange for a vine customer review, you will provide the product free of charge.

Vine reviewers are usually very thorough. Sometimes, they even go as far as including product images.

Do The Reviewers Get Any Extra Incentives?

Vine reviewers get free products in exchange for feedback. But apart from this, there are no extra incentives. Contrary to what you may have thought, reviewers do not get paid to review products.

According to AMZ, Reviewers are not paid to take part in the program.  The Vine Voices are chosen according to the ratings their reviews get. Vendors submit Vine products to Amazon, it is then distributed to reviewers. Also, Vine Voices have no contact with vendors. Vendors also do not have any influence over who reviews their products.

Vine reviewers are encouraged to provide objective feedback while following Amazon’s posting guidelines.

Check out this Amazon’s condition if you want to be an Amazon Vine Voice

How To Enroll In The Amazon Vine Program And Cost Of Enrollment

Before 2019, only first-party sellers could take part in the vine program. The cost of enrollment was also very high, ranging from about $2500-$7500 per ASIN.

Later on, third-party sellers could enroll in the program for free. Now, the program is no longer free. Amazon now charges a $200 fee per ASIN. Sellers will also cover the cost of the free products to be given to reviewers.

Amazon Vine Program Requirements

• You must be a brand-registered seller. So, if you aren’t one already, you should sign up for the Amazon brand registry program.
• You must be willing to provide your products for free if you want them to be reviewed.
• The number of ratings on your listing must be less than 30. For instance, sellers who already have about 20 reviews, can only get 10 from the program.

• Your products must be “brand new” and sold under FBA.
• Products must be “non-adult”.
• Your product must have already been launched at the time of enrollment.
• You need to ensure that your product is available for sale.
• Your listings should contain product images, titles, and descriptions.

How To Join The Amazon Vine Program

If you have read the above requirements and still want to join the program, here’s how to go about it.

• Log in to your Amazon Seller Central account.
• Click ‘Vine’ under the advertising tab.
• You must be enrolled in the Amazon brand registry program. If you are, the ‘Enroll in Amazon Vine’ button should pop up on your screen.
• On the next screen, enter your ASIN.
• Click “Begin Enrollment”.

What Happens After Joining The Program?

As soon as you enroll, you will send samples of your products to AMZ. Amazon will then let the reviewers know that your product is available for testing. There is currently a limit of five ASINs per person.

A reviewer’s previous purchases/reviews determine what Amazon offers them. In other words, if a Vine Voice mostly reviews or buys gadgets, they get to review products in that category.

In the first 28 days, Amazon will only show your product to Vine Voices who buy in your niche. In the event that there is leftover inventory after 28 days, the remaining products to all Vine reviewers.

Do Vine Reviewers Have To Leave Reviews?

The truth is that reviewers do not have to leave you feedback. It is important to remember that reviewers do not have to actually leave ratings. and are not required to write only positive feedback.

A Vine Voice review can take anywhere from 4–8 weeks after receiving the product. Reviewers need time to use products and give unbiased reviews.

What If I Get A Negative Review From A Reviewer?

A Vine reviewer and a seller cannot contact each other in the Amazon Vine program. This is because the system runs anonymously. A vine reviewer shouldn’t bother you, and you shouldn’t try to reach them. If you violate Amazon’s terms, you may face severe consequences, so don’t do it!

You cannot delete negative feedback if it meets Amazon’s product review guidelines. Vine Voices are selected based on the depth and honesty of their feedback. Enrolling your products in Amazon Vine does not mean that you’ll only get positive ratings.

Vine reviewers will review your products in the best way possible. But you may get some negative feedback. Before putting up your products for review, provide accurate details in your listings.

Related: How Does Amazon FBA Work?

Is the Vine Program Worth It?

Joining the Vine program comes with its pros and cons. Before deciding to join the program, you should consider both sides of the coin. To help you decide whether the program is worth it, we will discuss the pros and cons.

Pros

• A Great Way To Get More Ratings

You can receive as many as 30 ratings on the Amazon Vine program. Some reviewers may not leave reviews, so it is likely that you don’t get up to 30 reviews on some products. Still, this review strategy is better than having to wait for 30 customers to buy your products. As a matter of fact, not all customers leave feedback. So, the vine program is a more reliable approach to getting convincing reviews.

• Detailed, high-quality, and unbiased reviews

Vine Voices are selected based on their reviewer rank. A reviewer’s rank depends on how often they leave reviews. It also depends on how helpful other customers find their reviews. You can expect detailed and well-structured reviews. Some reviewers even go as far as including images and creating a pros and cons list.

• More practical feedback

Due to the comprehensive nature of vine reviews, customers can get a more detailed idea of how the product works. In contrast to regular customer reviews, vine reviews can help convince buyers better.

• Drives traffic and conversions

Customer reviews are among the most important factors that impact sales and conversions. Your bestseller ranking will increase if you have many reviews on your product. If other reasons do not make the program worth a trial for you, this should.

Cons

• The Program doesn’t guarantee reviews, especially positive ones

Vine reviewers do leave genuine feedback about products. But there is no guarantee of getting only positive reviews, and in some cases, you may not get any reviews. You also cannot influence the kind of reviews you get, or who reviews your product. In addition, sellers cannot contact vine voices. So if you do not get any reviews on your product, you have to let it go, and that’s one free product gone to waste.

• Only brand-registered sellers can take part in the program.

The program is not open to every seller. Hence, only a limited number of sellers can take part.  If you are enrolled in the Amazon brand registry in a niche where the majority of sellers aren’t, you can take advantage of this. If you fall on the other side of the spectrum, you will be unable to sign up for the program.

• Entry Cost

The program used to be free for third-party sellers, but it is no longer so. Now, there is a $200 enrollment fee. New sellers may consider this to be too expensive. So, if you’re trying to come to a conclusion, be sure you do not mind risking this fee (just in case you do not get a review).

Regardless of the cons involved, the Vine program does have countless benefits. So if you can afford to go for it, you should.

If the cons outweigh the pros for you, then look out for other ways to get reviews on AMZ. The Amazon vine program is not the only review strategy available to sellers. You can still get reviews for your listings even if you do not get vine reviews. Here are a few other ways to get reviews on AMZ.

3 Other Easy Ways to Get Reviews on Amazon

Use the ‘Request a Review’ Button

AMZN understands the value of ratings and feedback. As a result, they offer a “request a review” button. Buyers don’t always remember to leave feedback, so with this button, you can remind them to. But, reviews can only be requested within 4 to 30 days after the sale.

There is no dramatic increase in ratings due to this feature. So you should not expect your reviews to skyrocket. The feature can however help you increase your review count. You should use it if you want to increase your ratings.

Also, the message you send when you use the request a review button cannot be customized. But the button can be accessed on your seller dashboard. All you have to do is click ‘manage orders’ on your dashboard.

Contact Buyers Who Left A Seller Feedback

In some cases, buyers leave feedback instead of reviews. Most people don’t realize the difference. Still, you can convert this feedback into reviews. All you have to do is send an email to customers who have left positive feedback. Then ask them to leave product reviews. You should explain in your email how they can leave a review. This is to increase their chances of doing so.

Use Automatic Email Responders

AMZN has its own automated response system. Although sellers can also use third-party responders, AMZ has imposed restrictions on the types of messages that can be sent. You can only send a limited number of messages.

It is only permissible for sellers to send proactive messages to resolve issues. For example, if the buyer requests more information to complete an order, verification of customer designs and appointments for home services also fall under this.

Use An Email List

AMZN’s messaging system is limited, so you should consider communicating with customers via other platforms. You are at AMZ’s mercy if you limit your communication with customers on the platform. Maintain a line of communication with your customers. Consider building a solid brand reputation outside of AMZ.

In this way, you can still sell your products off the platform. A mailing list is a great way to reach your customers without restriction. You can build a list in several ways.

Create a blog and ask people to subscribe via social media. Or you can put a request on social media asking people to join your email list. Another option is to include product inserts with the products you already sell.

Create an email list. Then send personalized emails to existing customers, asking them to leave you reviews. You can also include direct links to your listings. This way, it will be easier for them to leave you reviews.

Conclusion

In 2024, you can easily get reviews on Amazon if you follow AMZN’s guidelines. If you have struggled with this, it should no longer be an issue. The Vine program is worth a trial, and now that we have answered the “what is Amazon vine?” question, we hope you’re able to get the most out of the program. If it doesn’t work for you, don’t hesitate to try other methods.

Good luck on your journey.

Ways To Sell Online

Everything can be done online these days, including online shopping. So, if you have thought of starting a business, then you have probably thought of selling online. Setting up your business on the internet is easy, and the possibilities and options are limitless. There are many ways to start an online or e-commerce business. Here are a few of them:

• Use an e-commerce website or store builder e.g Shopify
• Sell on social media
• Set up your own e-commerce website
• Join an online marketplace

E-Commerce Store Builders

E-commerce store builders are digital platforms that provide apps for online selling. Sellers can merge their online stores and social media platforms with these apps. This way, a seller’s social media audience can access the products listed in their online stores.

Also, when you put up a product on your online store, it’ll be automatically uploaded to your social media page. If you like the idea of being able to manage your online store in one place, then this option is ideal for you. Also, an e-commerce store builder affords you the opportunity to start your business without having to bear the cost of launching your own website.

Sell on Social Media

Social media is no longer just a way to pass the time, it now doubles as a way to earn passively. Thousands of people are already earning from selling on social media. You, too, can join this category of people, and it’s even better if you already have a large following on social media and a good knowledge of social media marketing.

Besides, almost everyone is on social media these days, so you most likely have an account already. If you do, then you’re halfway through. All you need to do now is upload product images and prices. Then watch orders roll in.

Most social media platforms allow you to create business accounts, and this is a great way to help customers discover your products. This feature enables you to run ads and reach your target market better. It’s easy to run an e-commerce business successfully on social media. Here are a few tips:

• Post entertaining content:

People don’t just want you to be in their faces. So ensure you try to post content to distract people from your products once in a while. It is also important to post regularly. So, make sure to use Hootsuite or Hootsuite alternative to schedule your social media posts and post content ahead of time.

• Run promotional ads:

Facebook and Instagram allow you to run ads. So if you want to reach more people and make more sales, consider running ads.

• Upload high-quality product images:

Posting pictures of your products is the catch if you want to sell on social media. What you shouldn’t do is post low-quality product images. Only upload professional product photos, but avoid overdoing it. You don’t have to post too many times a day; just find the times when your followers are most responsive.

With social media, you will have to respond to potential customers manually and on time. So if you don’t have much time on your hands, it may be a bit of a struggle.

Join A Marketplace

Online marketplaces are the easiest way to sell online and reach a global audience. And there are tons of marketplaces that you can join online. They include Amazon. eBay, Etsy, and Walmart. But in this post, we will talk about Amazon.

With online platforms like Amazon, you can sell as many products as possible. And your location is not a barrier. But there are many processes involved; product research, keyword research, and listing optimization are at the core.

There are Amazon software tools to help you execute these tasks, so you won’t have to worry about them. However, the competition on most online marketplaces is stiff. Hence, you will also have to run PPC and google ads if you want to make sales.

And the good thing is that once you decide to sell online, you can use as many sales channels as possible. Social media and major online marketplaces give you access to a large audience. But, managing an online store across several e-commerce platforms can be difficult. Thankfully, e-Commerce store builders can help you save time.

Related: Amazon vs eBay

Set up Your E-commerce Website

If you would love to be an independent seller, this option is for you. Setting up your own website or online storefront allows you to play by your own rules. You will not be subject to an unfavorable algorithm or site updates. You can remove or add any feature you want.

Although this idea looks easy on paper, it may be difficult to pull off. This is because it is expensive, especially for beginners. If you are on a budget, it may not be your best bet to start your own online store. If you cannot set up your own online store, you should consider selling on Amazon. Statistics show that:

• Amazon is the largest online marketplace in the world.
• The platform boasts over 300 million customers
• There are over 2 million active sellers
• Of the above figure, 83% are profitable

This means that it is almost impossible to sideline Amz if you intend to start an online store. You can earn a significant amount of money every month if you learn the ropes of this platform.

How to Sell Products Online

Trying to figure out how to be successful online can be tiring. But you can end the struggle now. In this guide, we have provided a step-by-step process to walk you through the process of selling online. 

Decide How To Sell Online

If you want to start selling products online, you will first have to decide what e-commerce platform you want to sell on. AMZN is the best choice for you, especially because of the various fulfillment options that the platform offers. AMZN also allows you to sell across many channels or marketplaces. If you do this, you can still use their fulfillment options. In this guide, we will focus more on selling on Amazon.

Selling on Amazon

Selling on Amazon is very easy, it’s as simple as this:

• Create an account and choose a selling plan
• Create product listings (descriptions, images, and prices)
• Choose a fulfillment method
• Make sales and accept payment
• Fulfill orders

It is that simple.

The AMZN marketplace is quite versatile; you can buy almost anything on the platform, and the same goes for selling. But if you want to start selling online through AMZN, then you should make sure you are choosing profitable products with relatively high demand because this online marketplace is highly competitive and you’ll be competing with some of the world’s biggest retailers.

If you use Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon), you will have to pay a bit extra, but Amazon will store and deliver your goods on your behalf. If you don’t, you will have to use Amazon FBM (Fulfillment by Merchant), and that will require you to bear the shipping costs and fulfill orders yourself. These seller options make Amazon a remarkably attractive one-stop e-commerce platform.

Before starting, make sure to check Amazon’s fees to see what you’ll have to pay. Many new sellers rush into starting online businesses without having a clear idea of the costs involved. Don’t make this mistake.

Once you have decided to start selling online through Amazon, you should also decide how you want to go about it. What business model do you want to use? Do you want to sell a private-label product online or be a drop-shipper? Would you rather be a wholesaler or use retail arbitrage? You can use whichever method works for you.

Choose what products to sell

When sourcing products for your Amazon store, try not to pick random products that you think will be good. Instead, choose products that people want to buy. It is more about your audience than it is about you. You may have the slickest online store and the best customer service around. But if you don’t have good products, you will struggle.

Success on Amazon is dependent on your ability to find the best-selling products. If you are a beginner, you may struggle with product research. You can do away with blind guesses and not risk losing your money if you use AMZ software.

ZonBase Amazon Product Research tool

1. ZonResearch 

This product research tool will help you find the best-selling products on Amazon. It will also give you the latest product ratings and descriptions in seconds.

2. Zon Amazon FBA Chrome Extension

Isn’t it great if you could find out all the details about a product before you settle for it? To help you do this, you will need an Amazon Chrome extension. Zon Chrome extension will give you quick access to all the product information that you need.

3. Reverse ASIN 

Research the right keywords. Especially your competitors’ keywords. This will come in handy when trying to create the perfect product listing. The ZonBase Reverse ASIN tool lets you determine what keywords your competitors are using. And you can then use this insight to overtake them and increase your sales.

4. ZonBase Hot Products

It is one of the few AMZ seller tools that use important sales trends and company reviews. It also sources other valuable information. It then creates a reliable, up-to-date, and solid database. The tool makes product research easy by handpicking your first, and then the next set of products for you.

5. Product Validator

Are you considering a product but unsure of its demand? Confirm your product options with the ZonBase Product Validator. It helps you keep your risk as low as possible when you are selling on AMZ.

Create and Optimize Your Product Listings

Your product listings are the easiest way to make sales, so they need to be optimized for conversions. To do this, you will need to write great product descriptions. Then use clear, high-quality product images.

ZonBase comes with an effective photo enhancer tool. The tool will help improve your product images and captivate the attention of buyers.
It also houses many listing optimization tools. So you can create and optimize your listings for conversions.

Create an Online Sales Strategy

You must now consider your business strategy. If you want to build a successful business online, the last thing you should do is start out clueless and without a plan. From first-hand experience, we are aware of the challenges of selling products on AMZN. When you have found products for your store, it can seem like it takes a long time to find a buyer. As a first step, you should work out a business plan for your online store.

What is your online sales goal? What will your profit margin be? Who are your competitors? How will your store gain visibility so you can make sales?

Another way to make sure you close more sales is to get more reviews. And offer excellent customer service. Make sure you include some form of contact information. This way, customers can reach you, and reply to emails and phone calls promptly.

Amazon FBA Fees

If you read to this point, you are a beginner. Hence you need to take note of the fees involved. After learning about selling on Amazon, you must be ready to bear the cost.

Amazon offers two fulfillment options:

• Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)
• Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM)

FBA implies that Amazon takes care of business processes on your behalf. So you won’t have to bother about storing, packing, and shipping your orders. They will also provide excellent customer service for your online store.

In contrast, with FBM, you will be fully responsible for these processes. You’ll have to manage inventory and ship orders promptly. As a beginner, managing these processes can be tough. So, FBA is the best option. But if you end up choosing Amazon, you need to factor in the costs.

Amazon fees are as follows:

• Selling plan fees: If you choose the individual selling plan, you pay $0.99 for every sale. On the professional plan, you pay a flat-rate fee of $39.99.

• Referral fees: This is a commission that Amazon deducts from every sale you make. It is quite similar to transaction fees, is charged by percentage, and usually ranges from about 8-15%.

• Variable closing fee: Charged on items in the media category.

• Fulfillment fees: Under FBA, Amazon handles storage, packing, and shipping for you. This is the cost you will have to pay for fulfillment.

• Inventory storage fee: If you use FBA, your items will be stored in Amz fulfillment centers. Hence, you have to pay for storage. This fee varies based on how much space your inventory takes.

There are other seller fees, but they mostly apply to FBA sellers. If you use FBM, you’ll have to pay only the first three fees above.

Related: Amazon Outlet Store Program for Sellers

Things to do before selling products online

Thanks to digitization, selling online has become one of the most profitable ventures in the world. Selling online offers lots of benefits from the opportunity to reach more customers to the convenience it offers customers. For this reason, lots of business owners and brands are experiencing a shift from selling their products offline to establishing their presence online.

While selling online is very profitable, it’s not something you can achieve in a day, there are certain things you need to do before you start selling products online. Let’s take a look at some of them:

Figure out what products you want to sell

The first thing to do before selling online is to figure out what to sell online. What products are there high demands for and how can you provide those products? Start from here. 

Pick a proper business model

A business model guides the way your online shop will be operated. There are various factors that you need to consider when choosing a business model.

• What type of products do you want to sell online
• What capital do you want to invest to get your business up and running 
• How do you want to manage product storage and delivery?

Create a product pricing strategy

When a customer wants to buy a product the first thing they consider is their budget, and how much will it cost the to purchase such a product. Customers are more likely to go for sellers that provide good quality at affordable prices. Of course, while you as a seller want to provide affordable prices to attract customers, you also want to make a profit, this is why before you start selling online you need to devise a suitable pricing method.

Choose your preferred niche

How do you intend to enter the online market? In what way can you position your business to ensure that you reach the right customers and make sales? These are questions you need to figure out when choosing a preferred niche. Other steps you can take when researching your preferred niche are:

Analyze your business idea and draft out a business roadmap

Let’s assume you already have a product and you’ve picked an appropriate niche for your product, how do you sell these products? You know you want to sell online but do you also want to have an offline shop, is your online shop going to be open every day of the week? How do you want to reach your customers online? All these questions come into play when analyzing your business idea. 

After you’ve analyzed your idea you now have to write these ideas down and break them into a business roadmap. This is also known as your business plan. Your business roadmap consists of 

• your business goals,
• an analysis of your potential competition and competitive advantage, 
• A business mission statement,
• your marketing strategy and
• method of record keeping.

Investigate and analyze your potential competitors.

If you do not know your business competitors you can not figure out your competitive advantage. So one thing to do before selling online is to investigate who competitors are, what are their marketing strategies, what unique offers they use to attract customers, analyze their social media presence, what kind of conversions are they involved in, and how they carry out product pricing. By investigating these, you will be armed with the required information to move forward.

Set up your online shop

Setting up your online store is the first step in executing your business roadmap. You need to establish your online presence. There are numerous platforms you can utilize to set up your online shop and Amazon is one of the best platforms you can use. Setting up your online store on Amazon is free, really simple, and requires little time.

Research your target customer

Customer research is a must. You need to be able to figure out what problems your target customers face and how your products can help them solve these problems. The best way to analyze your target customer is to create a customer persona. This is a representation of your target customer’s age, hobbies, location, interests, educational level, and job. The goal is to figure out how your customers think and walk through the sales funnel.

Asides from this researching your competitor customers will also aid you in analyzing your target customer and coming up with a competitive advantage.

You can also reach out to your target customers through surveys, polls, and questionnaires.

Select an appropriate sales channel 

Another major thing to do before selling online is to figure out your sales channel. Yes, you want to sell online but what platform do you want to use to sell online?

• Do you want to open an online store that you control yourself without involving a middleman?
• Do you want to list your product on an online marketplace?
• Do you want to make social media your primary sales point?
• Do you want to sell as a wholesaler to other online Sellers?

You need to consider the pros and cons of all these sales channels and decide which works best for you.

Choose a suitable and effective payment processing method 

As an online seller, one of the things to do before selling online is to set up a payment processor to handle all the payment operations involved in your business. There are different payment processing methods available for online sellers.

• Digital wallet
• Offering installment 
• Card payment options

Select an appropriate product delivery method

Ensuring effective product delivery is very important in achieving customer satisfaction. Customers want fast and safe product delivery. It is your job to ensure that products get to the customers in the right condition and on time. This is why selecting the appropriate delivery method is important. Thankfully as a seller on Amazon when you opt for the FBA program, Amazon handles product packing, delivery, and storage. That’s one less thing for you to worry about.

Carry out product marketing 

Your account has been set up and your inventory is stocked, it’s time for each of your target customers and the way to do this is through effective product marketing. There are various strategies you can employ to market your products, from social media marketing, SEO, and paid advertising on Amazon to partnering with influencers. You can even decide to reach out to your target customer through email marketing.

Conclusion

Selling on Amazon is not as tough as it sounds if you do it the right way. And learning how to sell online is not the end of the journey, you must also learn how to manage your time. This is even more important if you’ll be juggling many priorities. One of the best ways to do this is to automate your online store.

You can use Amz Automation and Amazon seller tools for this. This way, you get a chance to make more money. But, you also have more time to have fun.

Now that you know how to sell products online, don’t waste any more time, you can go ahead and start selling on Amazon!

If you think you’re ready to take the leap and start selling products on Amazon, you must stop and think first. Figuring out what to sell can be quite difficult, especially if you are just starting out. So, in this article, we’ll try to solve this dilemma by sharing the easiest ways to discover what to sell on Amazon.

By going through different Amazon suggestions, we’ll answer the question, “what can I sell on Amazon as a new seller”. We’ll also check out some of the best Amazon seller tools that can help you accomplish this feat. But first, let’s take a look at what you should be aiming for when researching winning products.

Things to Look Out For When Choosing a Profitable Product

“What should I sell on Amazon?” or “what can I sell on Amazon FBA as a new seller” are two of the most common newbie questions that we are asked. And if you are trying Amazon to sell your stuff, following Amazon suggestions from other sellers isn’t always the best thing.

Not every product sold on Amazon is a winner. Finding the best things to sell on Amazon Marketplace to make money requires a deep understanding of profitability. This will require some time and experience, as well as help from different software tools.

Remember, the goal of any e-commerce store is to sell online products that will earn you a lot of profit. It doesn’t matter what kind of product it is. You should be offering it in your store as long as it can generate sales. But what does a profitable product look like? And what is the best way to sell on Amazon? How would you know if a product has the potential to sell well? Is there an easy way to find a popular product to sell? Here, we check out a few elements that you should look out for.

Demand: Are people buying the product?

A profitable product should be popular and in demand. If you sell products that people are not interested in, you’re not going to make many sales. Products purchased by customers are products that satisfy a need or solve a problem. So, when researching product opportunities, look for useful products that are always in demand.

After finding products that fit the bill, look for gaps you can fill with your private-label products. With a private label, you can source already existing products from a manufacturer, and improve on them, then sell them under your brand.

A good place to start is by reading negative reviews on product detail pages to identify customers’ problems. This gives you an idea of possible modifications that can serve as a unique selling point for your product. It may not even be a product feature. Sometimes, it’s as simple as finding ways to manufacture the product at a lower cost and offer it at a lower price. Knowing what to sell becomes easier if you can find out what their problems are.

Seasonality: Can the product can be sold all year long?

When asking the question “what should I sell on Amazon”, one of the most important factors is that the product isn’t seasonal. A product that can be sold throughout the year will always make you more money in the long run. Avoid going for seasonal products that are only trending in a few months.

For example, selling Santa hats and decorative socks can be awesome during Christmas. But what will you do after the season is done? You’ll have to wait another year to make some good sales again, which is not great. Aside from that, unsold products will also garner additional storage fees. This is something you want to avoid.

Competition: How many people are selling the product?

If you sell popular products that your competitors are selling, you’ll be in a saturated market. You will have to compete with them to get a portion of those sales. And the hard truth is you’re not likely to get many sales as a newcomer unless you can put a spin on your product. Even if you have better product listings, it’s not always guaranteed that your product will sell better.

You need something that differentiates you from competitors. You should look for product market niches that are not saturated with many similar products from competing third-party sellers. Deciding which items to sell becomes a lot easier if you can avoid stiff competition and try to find low-competition products. There is a way you can do this by looking at average reviews, which can be found in the Chrome extension.

When assessing your competition, another factor to look out for is the number of reviews. If you see a product with over 50 reviews, the seller has an established sales history and would be difficult to compete with. So if you’re looking for a quick way to land on page one, you should look for products with fewer than 50 reviews. With a good product and an efficient launch strategy, you will likely generate many sales and reviews quickly, surpassing competing sellers. 

Price range: Is the product is priced between $20-$100?

If you sell a product below $20, you’re not likely to make much profit. Once you factor in seller fees and other costs as well as other expenses, your profits will be minimal. You’ll need to generate many sales to turn a decent profit, meaning hundreds of thousands of units sold. This could be difficult in a competitive marketplace like AMZN.

In our experience, the $20-$100 range is that sweet spot where you can leverage people’s impulsiveness. Because of the fair selling price, people will not likely think too hard before making a purchase. You’re likely to generate many sales in this price range, which means you will get more customer reviews. Getting good reviews can boost your product’s ranking on AMZN. Sometimes, you have to read through customer reviews to get an idea of popular products.

But if you sell above $100, you cannot leverage people’s impulsiveness. You’re already veering into expensive territory where people have to do a lot of thinking and research. However, if your product is great and you know you can create demand, then go for it. There is no hard-and-fast rule when choosing a product, so always experiment.

If you keep these factors in mind, you should be able to find a winning product in no time. So, let’s get into the crux of this post: how to find products to sell on Amazon.

How to Find Products to Sell on Amazon

Now that you know what to look out for in a profitable product, how do you find products to sell? Here are 5 simple ways to find the most profitable products on Amazon. 

Use Product Research Tools

Product research is one of the most important things you should do before you start selling on AMZN. Since your success on AMZN is largely dependent on the products you sell, product research must be taken seriously. However, this process is not as easy as it seems. 

Thankfully, you can use efficient product research tools like ZonBase to uncover the best-selling items on Amazon. With ZonBase’s ZonResearch and Hot Products tools, you can access product suggestions in any category. Here are five simple steps to help you take your product research to the next level using the ZonResearch tool.

• Open the ZonResearch tool from your ZonBase dashboard

• Choose your marketplace, select your preferred categories, and set the filters based on your specifications.

• Click the “Search” button 

Once you click the search button, ZonResearch sifts through millions of products to generate a comprehensive list of profitable product suggestions. 

Not convinced about the validity of the product options you get? Run them through a chrome extension. The ZonBase Chrome extension is a web app that allows you to run customized searches and validate your product options. Using this tool, you can scour AMZN’s database to uncover relevant product options for your eCommerce store. 

You can also use the Hot products tool for product research. The ZonBase’s Hot products tool also doubles as a supplier research tool. The tool gives you access to a list of reliable suppliers to source your products. Plus, it is easy to use and you can gain access to tons of product and supplier options. To access the tool, follow the same steps we outlined for the ZonResearch tool. 

Check the Amazon Bestsellers List

There are so many products listed on AMZN and choosing a product to sell can be difficult. To make it less stressful, AMZN has curated the Amazon Bestsellers list. The Bestsellers list is a list of the top 100 products on Amazon. These products are ranked based on sales volume.

This method is one of the easiest and most reliable ways to find bestselling items on Amazon. Plus, the Bestsellers list can be accessed just by following four simple steps:

• First, open the bestsellers page
• Next, select the categories that interest you.
• Then, streamline your search by picking specific subcategories.
• Create a list of the products you think will do well based on the seller rank. 

The Bestsellers list is updated every hour, so nothing stays the same for too long. So, before selecting products from the list, be sure to check out previous yearly sales trends. 

Use the Amazon Trend Report

Another effective way to find products on Amazon is to check what the trending products are. Product trends are a great way to get into the market. But the downside to running with trends is that the demand for the products may reduce after a while.

Check the trend report to see what products customers are raving about. You can follow these steps to find product options from the report:

• Open the Amazon Trend Report page.
• Then scroll to the bottom of the page to see the trending products on AMZN
• Click on ‘Learn more’ to access more trending product options
• Make a list of the products you’re interested in. 

Sellers often mistake the trends report for the bestsellers list, but they are not the same. So, you can use both resources simultaneously when searching for product suggestions. Note that the trends report is also updated frequently. 

Use Google Trends

Almost everything can be found on Google and ideas are no exception. Want to find the best-selling products online in different categories across various marketplaces? Google trends analytics is a great resource. 

Google searches are an effective way to select the best product options amid a plethora of choices. You can see the trending products in your target market over time by looking at the Google Trends data. The search tab’s comparison also provides you with useful information about the products you’re considering.

Check Out Other Marketplaces

AMZN is the largest online marketplace, but it is not the only marketplace. Usually, customers have similar interests across different marketplaces. So, if you want to find items to sell online; on Amazon to be precise, you should check out other marketplaces. Here is all you have to do:

• Go to other marketplaces like Alibaba, eBay, Aliexpress, and even Walmart. 
• Look for the most popular products on these platforms. You can check the “What’s Trending Now” section on Alibaba or click on “Explore Popular Categories” on eBay.
• Make a list of the most popular items.
• Lastly, check the bestsellers list to see how the products are ranked based on performance. This will help you decide whether to sell the product on AMZN or not. 

You’re likely to come across some products at cheaper prices on marketplaces like Alibaba and Aliexpress. If you decide to sell those products, you can source them from there and resell them on AMZN through retail arbitrage. 

Use an Amazon Keyword Research Tool

One of the best ways to uncover profitable product options is to observe what people are searching for. If a product has a high search volume, then there is high demand for it and it’s likely to do well on AMZN. 

Keyword research tools are the easiest ways to discover which keywords customers are using frequently. ZonBase offers keyword tools to help you find popular keywords and see how many searches each of them gets monthly. 

Using the keywords tool, you can discover high-performing keywords that do not have high competition. In addition to product ideas, keywords can also help you optimize your listings and improve your PPC campaigns. The ZonBase keyword tool also provides advanced filters to help you narrow down your search based on your preferred specifications. 

Follow these simple steps to find top-performing keywords using the ZonBase keyword tool:

• Open the Keywords tool in your ZonBase dashboard.

• Enter the product or keyword you want to search for in the search bar and choose your marketplace. 

• Click ‘Search’. The tool will generate a list of relevant keywords with high search volume. It will also come up with a smart score that indicates the relevance of the keyword. The tool also provides a seasonality indicator that shows the popularity of the product. You will find this metric useful if you’re considering selling a seasonal product. 

You’ll also gain access to a word cloud that contains a list of other terms that are related to your target keyword. 

If you scroll to the bottom of the page, you will see other keywords that are related to your target keyword. You’ll also be able to see the estimated monthly search volume for each keyword.

• Come up with product ideas based on the keyword search volume. Then create a list of potential products based on the search results. 

Top Amazon Bestselling product Categories

Now that you know what to sell on Amazon and what fulfillment method to use, what’s next? Figuring out the bestselling categories to focus on should be a priority on your list. To help you out, we have listed below some of the top-selling product categories on AMZN. (Not in particular order)

1. Clothing/Shoes/Jewelry
2. Beauty & Personal Care
3. Home & Kitchen
4. Cell Phones and Accessories
5. Books
6. AMZN Handmade

Clothing, Shoes, and Jewelry

It’s not a secret that everyone needs to dress up. Be it for a formal occasion or just casual wear for hanging out, we all need something to wear. One of the top-selling categories on the website is the clothing, shoes, and jewelry section. They are also one of the easiest products to fulfill, so it is a win-win scenario for sellers to choose this section. Most jewelry, clothes, and shoes are small and light. You will not have problems fulfilling and shipping them. You need to know what to sell on Amazon FBA to make money that can compete in this niche market.

Beauty and Personal Care

Aside from dressing up, most online shoppers also pay huge attention to their looks. It’s not a secret that many women love to buy beauty and skincare products. But did you know that men are also starting to catch up on this trend? The number of men starting to buy self-care and hygiene products has steadily climbed through the years too. With that in mind, providing the needs of these people could be a great way to make money for your store. However, be wary of the potential competition you’ll bump into. Big brands have always dominated this category, so it is always a good thing to be cautious before jumping in. Make sure that you are offering something different from what the big players have.

Home and Kitchen

This is probably one of the most popular categories on the website. So many people are always on the lookout for new home furniture and kitchen tools. And you should take advantage of this by selling them what they need. Sub-categories like baking, for example, have gone big and popular during the time of the pandemic. Because more people love staying at home and cooking food for their families, categories such as kitchen tools got big. The same goes for home improvement too. Don’t lose the opportunity to make big money in this market.

Cell Phones and Accessories

Everyone owns a smartphone these days, so you definitely cannot go wrong with selling cell phones and their accessories. This isn’t anything complex as there are many product options in this category and the demand is equally large. Plus, most cell phones and gadget accessories are lightweight, so you get to save money on fulfillment costs.

Books

Books are also one of the best things to sell on Amazon because they are easy to store, ship, and manage. Besides, Amazon started out as a bookstore so Amazon has a large customer base of people who are looking for books to purchase. Plus, books are always in demand. Selling books on Amazon can be a great way to make money, as there is always a wide variety of books to choose from and prices are often competitive.

Conclusion

What products you decide to sell can make or break your business. A winning product can sustain your product for years. At the same time, the wrong product can cost you precious time and money. Hopefully, you can find ideas on how to choose yours with the information we shared above.

Finding the winning product is not difficult or daunting. With powerful AMZN product research tools such as Zonbase, it is easy to make data-driven decisions. You can surely find profitable products that will make you lots of sales if you start on the right path.

According to Statista, 57% of the sales on the online marketplace are by third-party sellers. Anyone can start selling on this marketplace, regardless of their business size.

This means you, too, can start an Amazon business and earn passive income, as long as you have a laptop and a good Internet connection.

In this guide, we’ll explore how to make money on Amazon through various selling models. And if selling isn’t your cup of tea, we’ll also show you how to make money on Amazon without selling.

Why is Amazon the Best Place to Sell?

Amazon is one of the best places to sell online. Many people browse and shop on the platform, and their trust in the brand is high. AMZ has been in the e-commerce business since the 1990s, making a lot of money. The website’s annual revenue was $386.06 billion in 2021. This puts them above other online marketplace competitors such as eBay, Etsy, and Walmart.

A large portion of AMZ’s revenue is derived from the e-commerce sales on its platform. And they make a lot of money from the fees collected from third-party sellers. Yeah, third-party sellers are making a lot of money on the platform. Thousands of small businesses experienced a noticeable increase in their sales and revenue when they started using the platform as a sales channel. Tons of regular individuals have diversified their income stream by selling here, too.

According to ZipRecruiter, an average third-party seller can make as much as $45,000 a year (Source: Zip Recruiter). This is just the median range, which means you can still push these numbers higher if you can optimize your sales and revenues. You, too, can have a slice of the pie once you learn to profit on the platform. This is why we’ve written this article to explain how to make money on Amazon through selling products. And if you read until the end, you will discover the software that we recommend to help increase your revenues.

How To Make Money on Amazon: Selling

You can earn on AMZ with or without selling. However, selling is by far the most profitable way to take advantage of the platform’s dominance and wide reach. 

When it comes to selling on AMZ, two options are widely available to interested parties. The first is selling directly to AMZ. The second one is selling to customers. To understand how to profit better from this platform, let’s take a look at these two options below.

Sell To Amazon Directly (Amazon Vendor)

Are you familiar with this saying, “if you can’t beat them, join them”? Well, the same concept applies here too. Amazon is a force to be reckoned with when making money in the e-commerce space. And if you have read the book Art of War by Sun Tzu, you should realize it’s not wise to compete against a behemoth.

Since you’re better off not competing against them, then the opposite rings true. This means that you should partner up with AMZ instead. If you are a large manufacturer or distributor, your best bet to increase your profits is simple. You can sell wholesale as a direct Vendor.

To do this, you must be a direct supplier or manufacturer and sell wholesale goods to AMZ. It will then resell your goods to customers but under its name brand. There are many advantages to this selling model, such as the following:

Advantages of Direct Selling

1. You won’t have to worry about shipping, delivery, and fulfillment. All you have to do is send your goods to AMZ’s warehouse and collect your payment.

2. No need to worry about customer service too. All the refunds and returns will be handled by AMZ, so you can just sit and relax.

3. AMZ’s trust badge is going to make selling easier. If you sell your goods under your name brand, and you are relatively new to the selling space, it will be hard. You need to build a strong customer base and loyal buyers. By becoming a direct seller, you don’t have to worry about all of this.

This business model is easier, and you are guaranteed more sales because consumers trust AMZ. They are more likely to buy goods sold by AMZ rather than a random, unknown third-party seller.

However, selling to customers would be better if you want control over your pricing. This is especially true if you prefer to build brand awareness and your customer list. If you want to create your own brand identity and name as a seller, selling directly to AMZ may not be the best option. Besides, you can only be a direct AMZ Vendor upon invitation too. This leads us to the second option, selling directly to customers.

Selling directly to customers on Amazon

Alternatively, you can sell directly to customers on the marketplace as a third-party seller. This option is your best bet if you want to build a distinct brand identity. People who already run small businesses but want to reach a larger audience can join the marketplace.

The AMZ platform is open to anyone who wants to be a third-party seller. You must complete your registration and choose between an Individual and a Professional seller account. Here are the differences between the two:

Individual Seller Account

With an Individual Amazon seller account, you don’t have to pay monthly subscription fees. However, you have limited access to the advanced selling tools offered by the Seller Central platform. Also, selling on restricted categories is not available to you. Aside from that, you are also required to pay $0.99 for every sale you make and other selling fees. If you are testing the waters and not looking to stock up a huge inventory, this could be a good option.

Professional Seller Account

With the Professional Amazon seller account, you have to pay $39.99 every month. However, you are no longer required to pay $0.99 for every product sold. Furthermore, advanced APIs, third-party tools, and AMZ features are open to a professional seller. You can now use Seller Central for all your e-commerce needs. You can also apply to sell items in restricted categories.

Whatever model you decide to use is completely up to you. All you have to do is create an Amazon Seller account, which can be done in just a few minutes. Besides, you can always modify your selling plan at any time.

While you may have to compete against AMZ in some product categories, third-party selling still has greater profit potential. As a seller, you can control your pricing and offer new products. You can also start building your brand name. However, you’ll have to pay AMZ a commission to sell on its platform. And if you decide to use AMZ’s fulfillment service, also known as the FBA, it may incur other additional costs on your end.

Third-party sellers account for more than half of the sales on the website, so this selling strategy is worth looking into. As the more feasible option, let’s discuss how to profit using different third-party business models.

How to Make Money on Amazon: Third-Party Selling Models

Private Label

Are you a seller with your brand, wondering how to make money on Amazon the best way possible? Then you should sell your own private label products. Independent small businesses with an offline presence can also offer products through the private label selling model.

Private labeling essentially offers a generic product under your brand. You can choose to upgrade or improve on existing products. However, the point of doing private labeling is to have your unique brand name, logo, and packaging. 

Private label is easily the most profitable way to succeed on AMZ. Because you can control costs during the manufacturing and distribution process, you can also control your profits. Control over costs allows you to set competitive prices that will give you a good profit margin. You can adjust prices as you wish, and you also have control over your inventory. In addition, you can differentiate from competitors since you are the exclusive seller of your private-label products. 

Selling wholesale

Do you want to profit as a seller without building a brand or manufacturing your private-label products? Then you should be a wholesale seller on AMZ. Wholesale sellers buy branded products in bulk at a discounted rate and resell them to customers at a markup, to gain a profit.

Selling wholesale allows you to take advantage of the reputation of the established brands you are selling. That way, you don’t have to spend much on marketing and promoting your products since the brands already handle that aspect.

However, selling wholesale means, you’re going to face competition from other sellers offering the same branded products as you. And because you have no control over the brand, you may find it difficult to differentiate yourself other than by lowering your prices. This is an issue which could cut your profits.

Retail arbitrage

Both private labeling and selling wholesale require huge startup capital for product sourcing and shipping. And some prospective sellers may not be able to afford it. This is where retail arbitrage serves as a perfect middle-ground solution.

If you are thinking about how to make money on Amazon without a big upfront capital, retail arbitrage is the way to go. You must buy items at a discount during a sale or clearance in your local retail stores. Examples of these retail stores are popular discount spots like Walmart or Costco.

After purchasing the items at a discount, you can start listing the items for sale at a higher price. This is how to make money on Amazon via retail arbitrage. Because this method is cheap and easy to start, many third-party sellers without their products use this model. However, be prepared to deal with low-profit margins and stiff competition since you don’t have a monopoly on your items.

Online arbitrage

Online arbitrage works similarly to retail arbitrage in that you buy discounted products to resell on Amazon at a markup. The difference, however, is that you buy the cheap or discounted products from another online marketplace, rather than a brick-and-mortar retail store. You can source low-cost items from eCommerce sites like Etsy, Walmart, Target, and so on.

Online arbitrage is one of the easiest ways to earn money because you can do it from the comfort of your home. You don’t have to hop from one retail store to another, looking for deals and bargains. And you also don’t have to invest a lot of upfront capital to get inventory.

Handmade

If you are an artisan, you can sell handmade products through the Amazon Handmade program. Handmade sellers can sell handmade items in 14 categories, including Accessories, Shoes and Handbags, Clothing, Jewelry & Watches, Toys & Games. 

However, Amazon Handmade is an invitation-only program so you’ll have to apply and get approved. To be approved as a Handmade seller, the items have to be designed and produced by you or a small group of family members and friends. This means you can’t outsource design and production to third parties or resell handmade items made by someone else.

Branded merch

If you are a creator, you can sell branded merchandise through Amazon’s print-on-demand service, Merch by Amazon. These designs can be printed on products like T-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, throw pillows, and more.

With the Amazon Merch business model, you don’t have to procure or maintain inventory. All you need to do is upload original designs on the platform. When a customer places an order, Amazon will print the design on their preferred product and ship the item to them. 

How to make money selling on Amazon FBA

FBA refers to Fulfillment by Amazon. FBA is more of a fulfillment model than a selling model. However, it’s a great way to profit on Amazon, whatever selling model you opt for. 

With Amazon FBA, AMZ handles inventory storage, order fulfillment, and customer service for you. You send your products to a designated Amazon fulfillment center. Then, when a buyer places an order, they pack and ship the product to the buyer, handling customer support and returns.

With Amazon FBA, you can leverage AMZN’s reputation, advanced logistics infrastructure, and top-notch customer service. And even though you pay FBA fees for their services, it is a more cost-effective option than handling fulfillment yourself. Since your inventory is stored in an Amazon warehouse, you don’t have to spend money on storage space or support staff. FBA is best suited for private label and wholesale sellers because of the large inventory involved.

How to Make Money on Amazon Without Selling

While selling on Amazon is the most lucrative way to leverage the platform, not everyone has the time, budget, or skills to start an Amazon FBA business. But that doesn’t mean they can’t generate income from the platform too.

Below, we list a few ways to make money on AMZN if you don’t want to sell products.

Become an Amazon Affiliate

Interested in affiliate marketing? You can join the Amazon affiliate program, Amazon Associates. As an Amazon affiliate, you will recommend products to your audience using any content form of your choice. When someone buys a product through your affiliate link, you earn a commission. If you are a blogger or content creator, then the Amazon Associates program is the perfect opportunity for you to monetize your traffic.

Become an Amazon Influencer

If you have a large following on social media, you can join the Amazon Influencer program, an extension of the Associate’s program. As an Amazon Influencer, you will recommend products to your audience on social media channels like Facebook, Instagram, or Tiktok. Just like the Associate’s program, you earn a commission when someone clicks on your storefront URL or affiliate link.

Self-publish your book

Are you a writer finding it difficult to land a book publishing deal? You can publish your book for free through the Kindle Direct Publishing platform. When your book is uploaded, it becomes instantly available as an eBook on the Kindle Store. And if a buyer wants the paperback version, Amazon prints the book and ships it to them.

Authors who use Kindle Direct Publishing earn royalties on every book sale. Ebook royalties range from 35% to 70%, while paperback royalties are pegged at 60%.

Related: Amazon KDP Guide for Beginners

Trade in used items

Do you have used books or old gadgets gathering dust in your house? You can trade them in through Amazon’s Trade-In program and get a gift card in exchange. The value of your Amazon gift cards depends on the model and condition of the item you traded in.

Become a Flex Driver

Amazon has a delivery service and they recruit drivers every now and then, so this can also be a great way to earn money from Amazon. You can apply through the Flex program, all you need to do is to complete a brief interview, download their app, and, if accepted, you may begin earning money.

Join Amazon Mechanical Turk

The Mechanical Turk project can be ideal for you if all you want is to earn a little additional cash without having to launch a significant endeavor, find an audience, or sell anything. This is one of the few ways to make money from Amazon without making large, upfront investments.

With the help of this program, anyone can join Amazon’s massive workforce of remote workers. Participating in surveys, as well as editing and validating content, are a few of the small tasks you may have to undertake. Unlike other tips we have provided, this program pays relatively low.

Conclusion

If you seriously want to profit on this platform as a seller, then you need to invest in Amazon seller tools. Using software tools for processes such as product research, listing optimization, and keyword research can give you an edge over your competition.

Regardless of the selling model, you choose to adopt, finding winning products will always be your first step. A low-demand product that is very hard to sell will stunt your dreams of making money. However, finding a high-demand product with low competition will shoot your profits through the roof.

Software tools such as Zonbase can provide accurate data that you can use to make informed decisions. Zonbase has over 13+ features and services designed to assist you in finding that home-run product. If you want to learn how to make money on Amazon through data-driven decisions.

Sign up for a 7-day free trial.

The best Amazon FBA courses are the ones that provide a practical approach to starting and scaling a profitable business. The majority of the Amazon FBA courses online dwell on the basics of selling online, leaving sellers to navigate the complexities of the marketplace on their own. In this post, we’ll talk about one of the best Amazon FBA courses available at the moment and how it can help you build a profitable business from scratch.

Ready? Let’s dive in.

Why do you need an Amazon FBA course?

The growth of e-commerce websites has been phenomenal, and in 2021, AMZN recorded over 300 million registered users. Obviously, the competition in the marketplace is fierce, and not all sellers have what it takes to beat the competition. Some sellers do not even get past the first year before quitting and losing their investments. But if e-commerce is booming, why are stores closing? Have you ever wondered why?

Just like everything else in life, there is no guarantee of success with eCommerce. You can work hard, but if you invest your time and energy working on the wrong things, there’s a huge chance of your business crashing. However, by following the advice of experts in the best Amazon FBA courses, you can always mitigate the risks you take. An Amazon FBA course for beginners will come in handy if you want to learn how to start an AMZN business from scratch with zero experience and technical skills.

An Amazon FBA training course is very important when it comes to navigating the Amazon marketplace and reducing the risks of making losses. With a good course, you can learn from the mistakes of others and do better. Having a great course at your disposal is a great way to ensure the success of your business.

Aside from signing up for the best Amazon FBA courses, you’ll also need access to powerful tools and software to get ahead. Yes, you don’t need them to start selling on the platform. But they will make your life so much easier. Think of it as putting a nail on the hardwood. Yes, you can just use a large, heavy stone to strike down your nail. But having a steel hammer makes your job so much easier, right? That’s what a course that shows you the best tools and strategies to scale your business can do for you.

First Things First: What is FBA?

For some people who aren’t familiar with it yet, this business model can be quite confusing. However, in reality, it is not difficult to understand.

When selling products on AMZN, you have two choices when it comes to how you want to fulfill your customers’ orders. You can either fulfill it by yourself (FBM), which is usually how merchants and vendors do it or automate it using Fulfillment by Amazon, which is by far the most convenient solution.

Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM)

Under the FBM method, you will have to do the fulfillment of customers’ orders on your own. You will be the one to pick, pack, wrap, and ship the products to your customers. In a way, you could say that this is the “default” way of fulfilling orders. Whether you are selling on AMZN, eBay, Etsy, or your own Shopify website, self-fulfillment is usually how it’s done.

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)

This is a unique service offered by the website to its third-party vendors. Under this model, the vendors send their inventory to one of AMZN’s warehouses. Once an order is placed by the customer, AMZ ships the order on your behalf. In other words, under this service, AMZN stores, packs, and ships orders on your behalf, so you only have to worry about the technical aspect of your business.

The advantages of using the service are listed below:

Less Work For Sellers. Sellers can benefit from this model because they will lessen their load. Instead of spending time packing orders for customers, sellers can now focus on marketing their products. This means more sales in the long run when done right.

Bulk Shipping Costs Less. Because AMZ already has a network and connection with large shipping companies, bulk shipping will cost less. If you fulfill lots of orders by yourself, you might find that shipping eats some of your profits. If you let AMZ deal with the shipping, you won’t have to worry about striking a deal with couriers.

Shopping Holidays Are Easy To Handle. One of the biggest nightmares of third-party sellers is the logistics of handling shopping holidays. Yes, Black Friday and Prime Day can bring in lots of sales to your store. But imagine having to fulfill hundreds or thousands of orders on your own? Without your team, you won’t be able to handle it. But with the help of this service, you can just let AMZ handle the fulfillment while you relax and make sales.

Customer Service Is A Breeze. Don’t you hate it when you have to deal with complaints, returns, and refunds as a seller? Well, not anymore. With FBA, you can just leverage AMZN’s top-notch customer service team, who’s got years of experience handling customers.

Now don’t get it wrong, the service isn’t free. If it were, then all of the third-party sellers would be using it to fulfill their products. There are different AMZN fees that you need to pay whenever you use this service. There are also very strict requirements involved in using the service that you have to follow. For example, you need to pack your products according to AMZ requirements before sending them to the warehouse.

Using FBA to fulfill products that have lithium batteries or are fragile can also cost a lot more. In a way, you have to be very knowledgeable and careful before even using the service. This is the reason why having access to the best Amazon FBA courses online is important before jumping into selling. Moreover, not having the required knowledge can get your seller account banned. This is something you don’t want to happen, especially if you have a large upfront investment to think about.

For third-party sellers who know how to leverage it well, FBA is a sales booster. Shoppers are more likely to purchase products that are sold under FBA, so you can expect many more sales after getting used to it.

This is the best solution for online sellers that are interested in starting their own online business. You can scale your business fast, take advantage of multi-channel fulfillment, and provide global access to your business. Using the service is not free, so you should not invest in the service if you do not fully understand how it works. This is where the best Amazon courses come in.

Now you’re probably wondering, “Are Amazon FBA courses free?” Well, the answer is no. But if your question is, “Are Amazon FBA courses worth it? The answer is yes. But if you want to get value for your money, you have to sign up for the best Amazon FBA course online at the moment.

So, what is the best Amazon FBA course online at the moment? The Kevin David Amazon course is unarguably one of the best Amazon FBA courses ever. We’ll tell you all about this course soon, but first, what should you look out for when choosing an FBA training course?

Characteristics of the best Amazon FBA courses

After everything is said and done, it all comes down to this question: how can you make more sales? There are thousands of “gurus”, “experts”, and “specialists” out there who claim that they know what to do. But at the end of the day, it’s your store and capital that’s on the line. This is why you need to know what to look out for before choosing an Amazon FBA training course. Here are some of the important factors you should consider before choosing a course:

It provides up-to-date information.

You must choose a course that is up-to-date with the current AMZN trends as well as the most recent sales strategies. AMZ is a fast-evolving company, and its terms and conditions change at least once a year. You need a guide that knows all the rules you need to follow as well as what not to do. You cannot sell on AMZ without knowing their rules. And not knowing the rules can easily get your account permanently banned. This is something you don’t want to happen, which is why you need guidance from experts.

Affordable and easily accessible

Every coach is doing his best to sell his course, and it’s perfectly normal. But you don’t have to hurt your bank balance in the name of expertise. There are cheap courses out there that offer valuable information. Sometimes, they will even give you a free trial to check the course and see if it contains all the information you need. Save the money to start funding your business instead of buying an overpriced “guru” course.

Don’t hide behind a paywall

Paywalls are one of the most annoying things about “guru” courses. Imagine having to pay a hundred dollars just to access one course. Then, after finishing that course, you need to pay an extra hundred bucks to “unlock” the next course. It’s an unending paywall of upsells to the next product, which can be quite annoying. The best Amazon FBA courses do not hide behind a paywall. Instead, they will let you have the best information for your money, which is a bang for your buck.

Uses Real-life examples with a proven track record

The best FBA courses often use real-life examples over lectures. Go for the course that shows a practical demonstration and applicable examples. It’s easy to “lecture” about something even if we don’t know much about it. However, it’s also easy to distinguish between who has real experience and who has none. With that in mind, always look for the one that has a proven, verifiable track record.

Community support

A great and active community is one of the reliable indicators of the best Amazon FBA courses. Unfortunately, there are not many passionate course builders that can spare their time to build one. Lots of sellers quickly discuss the matters of selling online but don’t have an active community to back them up.

But some courses can effectively teach you how to sell on AMZ and provide round-the-clock support personally as well as through a build-in community. ZonBase AMZ FBA ninjas are one such community on Facebook that can help you with new product ideas, solve common problems and offer moral support to new sellers.

What is the Best Amazon FBA Course for Beginners?

There are many Amazon FBA courses online. As a result, choosing the best one may be difficult. Kevin David’s course is one of the top Amazon FBA courses online at the moment. The course uses a practical approach with demonstrations and video walk-throughs to help you create your business empire in the shortest possible time. It consists of 6 in-depth modules and 3 bonuses covering the complete, proven system for selling online.

This course by Kevin David is the best course for you with a solid game plan to win the e-commerce game. The ultimate aim of this course is to focus on how you can gain financial freedom on AMZN using effective sales strategies. It is a solution to all your queries related to being successful in the selling business. And once all your queries are solved, you can sell on the AMZ platform with ease of mind.

Starting a business is cumbersome, and going through your first sales and the initial phase is more intimidating. However, if you are in the safe hands of an entrepreneur who has had hands-on experience selling for over ten years, earning eight figures in revenue, you have nothing to worry about. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what you get when you sign up for the Kevin David Amazon FBA course.

Module 1: Product Research

In-depth explanations of Kevin David’s methods for locating lucrative products on AMZN are provided in this section. Thousands of sellers have increased their sales on AMZN thanks to the ideas in this module.

Module 2: Shipping and Supplier Research

Due to a poor profit margin, some sellers frequently find themselves unable to expand their enterprises. Finding suppliers to purchase your products from at fair pricing is the best method to grow an AMZN business. In this module, Kevin explains the best strategies for finding suppliers and sourcing products at favorable prices.

Module 3: Product Listing Optimization

Your business depends on optimizing your product listing and Kevin David knows this. This course will show you how to improve your conversion rates and increase your sales.

Module 4: Product Launch Strategies

Kevin demonstrates how discounts and freebies may be incorporated into a product launch strategy in this module. He also outlines the process of a product introduction.

Module 5: Amazon PPC, Facebook, ClickFunnels, and Instagram

This section focuses on developing a Pay-per-Click (PPC) campaign for AMZN and using ClickFunnels to gather consumer data and boost sales.

Module 6: Amazon Seller Central Hacks

Kevin David shows how to compete with top sellers in the final lesson of this series.

Related: How To Start Selling Like A Pro

Are Amazon FBA Courses Worth It?

Yes, absolutely! Amazon FBA training courses are a great way to start your business on the right foot. And if you sign up for the Kevin David Amazon FBA course, you can be sure you’re in safe hands. However, building a successful business does not start and end with taking a course. You must be intentional about practicing everything you learn in the course.

One of the best ways to maximize your knowledge and get better results from your business is to use software alongside your course. With software, you can use all the strategies you learn to find profitable products, generate relevant keywords, optimize your listings, and run PPC campaigns that convert into sales. Nothing beats being armed with sufficient knowledge and a tool that gets the job done.

What is the Best Amazon FBA Software?

ZonBase is an AMZN software that offers 14+ tools to help sellers automate their business processes. The software offers effective product research, keyword research, PPC automation, and listing optimization tools. It also offers a sales estimator and a profit tool. In addition to this, ZonBase offers done-for-you services that allow sellers to outsource crucial business tasks to a team of experts.

ZonBase has two paid plans that cost $37/month and $67/month, but you can explore the features of the software when you sign up for a free trial.

Access a 7-day free trial