Tips on growing your Amazon Business – part one

By Sharon Fussell, May 19, 2016

Make sure you send out orders within the two business day window Amazon allows

Over the past ten years or so I have been selling on Amazon, there have been many changes, some small some quite big. In business it’s always best to be prepared for change and to meet challenges head on.

I admit that even today I am often still amazed at the way sales can vary on a day-to-day basis. In fact, it is quite head spinning when you think of the variables that can affect sales.

They can include…

• Seasonality
• Prices
• The economy
• Holiday periods
• Range and depth of inventory

However, while one or all of the above might influence sales (or lack of them), you do have to look to your own efforts to ensure you make as many sales as possible by following good practice that is within your control.

Over the next few eletters we will look at factors that might affect sales and look at ways that can assist you grow your venture in a productive way.

This week let’s look at three practices you can make to improve your business, sales and most importantly increase income.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Look to your seller performance – Amazon always claim that the customer is king. They do expect all sellers to buy into this mantra and provide a high customer service performance.

These expectations include:

– Ensuring that stock is updated so you can fulfil orders
– Describing your products factually and accurately
– Keeping refund rates low

READ NOTICE ALERTS

Resolve listing errors as swiftly as possible.

if you go to your seller page you may have noted a little triangle flag that lights up when Amazon note an error in your listing. They will remove from sale any item they deem have an error.

You are supposed to read all notes in regards to the notice.

Don’t forget to actually click on the button at the end of the alert, this is the only way that the light will extinguish.

It shows Amazon you have read and taken notice of the alert. If you ignore this warning, Amazon might take steps to sanction your account.

DISPATCH ORDERS ON TIME

Make sure you send out orders within the two business day window Amazon allow.

It is often best to go to your account to check if any orders are waiting for you, rather than waiting for emails alerts from Amazon.

Sometimes emails do go AWOL in cyberspace and you might think you don’t have any order to process when in you do and miss your dispatch deadline.

This has actually happened to me. I was puzzled as to why I hadn’t received any orders for quite a few hours.

When I went to my seller account the orders had stacked up. Luckily I noticed in time to process them before the deadline, but I can see why it’s an easy trap to fall into.

There will be further tips on growing your Amazon business in next week’s eletter. I’ll see you then!