Did you know that more than 80% of sales takes place on Amazon’s first page? That means to thrive on Amazon, you’ve to be there.
But, Amazon is a highly competitive arena. Regardless of your product category, you are competing with thousands of sellers for the same coveted spot (first rank) on Amazon’s search results. So how will you secure the number one position in Amazon sales rank?
This write-up will help you understand Amazon’s ranking system and the A9 algorithm that determines listing rankings in search results, unravel the top ten secrets that can help you rank on Amazon’s first page, boost your visibility, and ultimately sell more products.
Understanding Amazon’s Ranking System
⇒ Become Acquainted With A9
Amazon uses a proprietary A9 Algorithm to rank products in search results. Once you get familiar with the Amazon A9 algorithm and what factors it considers to rank products, making changes necessary to get good product rankings will be less complicated.
Note: Amazon’s algorithm is ever-changing, and so are your rankings. Thus, It is imperative to keep a track of updates to A9 and alter your product page repeatedly according to the latest updates.
⇒ There Is A Difference Between Amazon SEO And Other Search Engines
Both Amazon and Google are considered the biggest search engines at present. And yet, their ranking algorithms are different.
The best search engine optimization practices for Google might not work for Amazon. That’s because Amazon’s target objective is to sell products, whereas Google aims to provide readers with the most relevant and updated information. So, thoroughly study the Amazon ranking algorithm and its best practices for effective outcomes.
⇒ Keyword Research Is Pivotal For Amazon Rankings
Shoppers can only find your product when their search queries match the keywords you have in your Amazon product listing. According to Amazon, product relevance determines its ranking, so the more relevant the product, the higher its ranking will be.
To ensure your product listing appears on the first page, use keywords your customers are searching for.
⇒ Consider Factors That Can Help You Rank On Amazon’s First Page
Amazon’s search engine prioritizes listings that answer customers’ queries most precisely. In other words, Amazon gives preferences to the listings that show exactly what customers seek. Therefore, optimizing your Amazon product listing accordingly- including product title, descriptions, bullets, and backend keyword section is imperative.
Also, there are some additional ranking factors that you must consider. It includes-
- Sales Ranking On Amazon
- CTR
- Conversion Rate
- Prices of Products
- Fulfillment By Amazon
How To Rank On The First Page of Amazon- 10 Secrets Unraveled
Is your Amazon sales graph sloping downwards, even when you are trying hard? One potential reason is that your products aren’t appearing in the searches.
Here are ten secret tips to rank your listing on the first Amazon page.
Analyze Market & Competition
Study the market and assess your competitors’ core strengths and weaknesses. Then, armed with this valuable information, think of new ideas and strategies to improve your business processes.
Undeniably the process is cumbersome. To make it simpler, hire Amazon Virtual Assistants (VAs). They will help you find your immediate competitors, know what keywords they are targeting in their Amazon product detail page, and analyze the latest industry practices.
Add Relevant Keywords In Product Title, Descriptions, Bullets, And Backend Keyword Section
No factor individually ensures better rankings of Amazon product listings. Instead, the Amazon A9 algorithm analyzes the entire listing and considers numerous factors to rank listings on SERPs. One of these factors includes keywords (search phrases) used in the product listing.
Thus, adding relevant keywords is imperative for better rankings. There are three ways to go about it-
- First: Conduct thorough research and identify keywords that best suit your products.
- Second: Gather keywords your competitors are using and rank for the same.
- Third: Check the final compiled list and strategically place keywords in your listings without any redundancy, stuffing, or grammatical errors.
If done right, this practice can help you rank on the first page of Amazon.
Avoid Keywords Stuffing
Once you have got a list of relevant search terms, you need to add them to your listing judiciously. The practice of keyword stuffing is counterproductive. Amazon’s algorithm is smart enough to detect unnecessary use of keywords. Consequently, it ranks your listing lower and, in the worst case, can even suppress your listings.
So, avoid keyword stuffing and consult an Amazon SEO expert to get a good keyword insertion strategy if you find this challenging.
Use High-Quality, Captivating Product Images & Videos
The Amazon algorithm also considers listing’s digital assets (images and videos) for ranking purposes. Plus, the marketplace has specific guidelines for uploading images that you must follow to get better rankings.
If you are eligible for A+ content on Amazon, capitalize on this opportunity by adding premium product images and videos. But before anything else, hire a professional product photo editing expert to make your listing enticing. The reason is that visuals are potent in persuading customers to make a purchase.
Competitively Price Your Products
The best way to set the right product price is to check the top-sellers pricing list. If you are a beginner and want to establish your name in the marketplace, retain your product prices slightly lower than top sellers to attract customers. Plus, always check the prices set by your closest competitors as it will give you a better idea of creating an appropriate pricing strategy.
For the research part, numerous online tools are available to help you find the best prices. Also, if you don’t wish to dedicate much time or effort to this task, you can hire an Amazon virtual assistant for the same.
Provide Best-In-Class Customer Support Services
Excellent customer support motivates buyers to purchase from the same store and be loyal to the brand. It also leads to better business for Amazon by bringing in repeat users. For this reason, the marketplace considers customer support one of the biggest ranking factors for seller accounts (which benefits the listings in turn).
If you are not focusing on after-sales services, your existing customers may not buy from you again. They might also leave negative reviews and you may lose many potential customers. Therefore, aim to provide best-in-class customer support services.
Ask Customers For Reviews & Ratings And Deal With Negative Comments Politely
Amazon’s A9 algorithm considers customer reviews and ratings on your product listings to assign ranks. So, it’s imperative to have positive ones. If you have just started as a seller on Amazon, you can join the Vine program, where reviewers provide genuine feedback about their product experiences. Many times, you’ll get negative comments too. In all such cases, handle comments proficiently and amicably. Try to get the negative comments converted into positive ones through proper customer support and prompt resolutions.
Use Amazon PPC Services For Marketing Your Products
There is no better way to get more sales than advertising and marketing. Amazon gives sellers numerous options to promote their products. However, Amazon PPC ensures the best and most effective results. It exposes that your product is showcased in front of millions of shoppers and leads them to your listing. The chances of conversion increase through PPC and that improved sales figures (plus more positive feedback) can reflect in your listing’s ranking.
In this Pay-Per-Click marketing tool, you have to decide on a budget for the advertisements. Plus, you must choose the right ad campaign (according to your product range and target audience) to make your products visible to shoppers. Undeniably, this requires experience and PPC knowledge, so hiring Amazon PPC experts is best rather than doing it yourself and getting no results.
Offer Discount Coupons & Free Shipping
Both Amazon A9 algorithm and shoppers give preferences to stores that offer free shipping and discounts. Thus, to ensure better rankings, performance, and profitability, provide free shipping and discounts to shoppers. But for this, keep a tab on your profit margin; you should not offer discounts for the sake of rankings if they cost your business a fortune.
Sign Up For Amazon FBA
Use Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)- outsource inventory management to Amazon and only focus on core business activities that ensure improved listing rankings, visibility, traffic, and sales.
Being an Amazon FBA seller has numerous benefits- the marketplace takes care of product shipment, handles customer concerns & product returns/refunds/exchanges, and ensures faster shipping. The best part is that it allows you to put your efforts into core business activities without worrying about product shipment and logistics and also improves your account health, giving your listings a chance at better higher rankings.
Conclusion
Ranking on Amazon’s first page requires strategic planning and patience. It can’t happen overnight. So, strategize, implement, and measure performance regularly. Here is a recap on what you need to do to get better listing rankings and retain them.
- Conduct market research to analyze competitors’ best practices.
- Optimize your Amazon listing using the most relevant search terms without overstuffing
- Upload premium-quality product photos and videos.
- Competitively price your products.
- Ensure quick shipment/delivery.
- Provide exceptional customer support service.
- Ask customers for genuine product feedback and encourage positive reviews
- Handle negative comments professionally and politely,
- Offer free shipping and other perks like discounts or gifts
- Utilize Amazon’s seller-specific programs, like Amazon PPC and FBA.
Following these tips, you can rank on Amazon’s First Page, get more sales, and increase your eStore ROI while securing long-term success.
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Author Bio- Mike Wilsonn is a content strategist at SunTec India with a specialization in eCommerce and Amazon product description writing. He has 5+ years of experience as a B2B content creator and has written numerous informative pieces to help sellers make sense of the continuously evolving eCommerce landscape.
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