Selling on Amazon

Is selling on Amazon right for your products?

Amazon is where a large share of American online shopping starts. For the right product that means access to buyers you'd never reach with your own website alone. For the wrong product it means fees, price competition and a lot of work for little profit. Before setting anything up, I check three things with you.

First, demand: are people searching for this kind of product on Amazon, and what do the top listings look like? Second, margin: after Amazon's referral fee, fulfillment, storage and returns, is there enough left to advertise and still earn? Third, competition: can a new listing realistically stand out, or is the category dominated by big brands and rock-bottom prices? If the answer to the second question is no, I'll tell you and suggest your own store or Google Shopping instead.

How I deliver it

Getting started on Amazon I deliver with a trusted partner who sets up and runs seller accounts every day. The contract, deadlines and communication stay with me. The seller account, trademark and every listing are registered in your company's name. You get one plan, one point of contact and progress updates from me.

Listings that get found and chosen

Amazon's search ranks listings largely on relevance and sales. Relevance comes from the title, bullets, description and backend search terms. Sales come from shoppers choosing your listing over the others. For both, the listing has to be built for how Americans search and decide:

• a title that starts with what the product is, then the key attributes (size, material, count), not a slogan,
• a main image on pure white, product filling the frame, plus lifestyle and detail images showing scale and use,
• bullets that answer the questions shoppers actually ask, with honest claims,
• pricing that holds up against similar products, including shipping.

Good product photography and clear copywriting pay back on Amazon more than almost anywhere.

The first reviews, done properly

New listings without reviews convert poorly, which tempts many sellers into shortcuts. Don't. Buying reviews, offering refunds or gifts in exchange for positive ones, or asking only happy customers to review all break Amazon's rules, and the FTC's rule on fake reviews, in force since late 2024, adds legal risk. The legitimate routes are Amazon's own programs where you're eligible (such as Vine for brand-registered products), the standard "request a review" option and simply good products with good packaging. It's slower and safer.

Compliance before shipping

Some categories need extra steps: supplements, cosmetics, children's products, electronics and anything regulated by the FDA or the CPSC. "Made in USA" claims must meet the FTC's standard. Products may need specific labeling or test reports. I flag these early in the fit check, because discovering them after inventory arrives at the warehouse is expensive. For legal questions, please talk to your attorney.

After launch

Once listings are live and the first units are in stock, advertising usually takes over the growth work. Sponsored Products campaigns help new listings get their first clicks and sales, and the data shows which search terms really sell. That's covered on my Amazon ads management page. Later, a second marketplace such as Walmart Marketplace can spread the risk of relying on one platform.

What it costs

Getting started on Amazon is quoted individually after a short call. Amazon's fees are separate and paid to Amazon. The first 30-minute call is free, and I'll show you the expected fees per product before you commit. Calls happen on Zoom at a time that suits your time zone, usually in the US morning, and I reply to messages within one business day.