Amazon Consulting: Is It The Shortcut to Success?
Selling products on the Amazon platform can be a real boost to ambitious brands, but with so much competition on the platform, it can also be incredibly challenging to stand out and drive sales.
If this struggle sounds similar, then Amazon Seller Consulting may be a good next step – but not always.
In this post, we’ll explore what Amazon Seller Consulting is, how it can benefit your business, as well as the top five factors to consider when choosing an Amazon consulting expert, and what to expect when working with an Amazon consultant. We’ll also talk about when hiring a consultant is just not worth it.
Table of Contents
What Are Amazon Consultants?
Amazon FBA seller consulting is basically paid mentorship by subject matter experts who have experience in successfully selling products on the Amazon platform. An Amazon FBA consultant can provide guidance and advice on a wide array of Amazon FBA -specific topics to help sellers improve their results on Amazon.com.
The well-rounded consultant has years of experience in varied areas such as:
Amazon launches
Amazon listing optimization
Improving search ranking
Increasing sales conversions
Driving Organic Attraction for free traffic
Moving brands to the front of the line with Paid Traffic
Review and reputation management
As well as strategic brand management
A consultant within an agency may also offer you a range of services to meet your goals such as copywriting, marketing, and managing paid advertising.
The bottom-line goal of consulting is to help you rapidly improve the visibility and appeal of products, ultimately driving sales and increasing revenue.
Why Partner with an Amazon Marketplace Consultant?
Working with an Amazon Seller Consultant can provide expert guidance and support in navigating the complexities of Amazon, including:
Expertise: Amazon Marketplace consultants have extensive knowledge and experience in managing businesses on the platform. They understand the intricacies of the platform and can offer valuable insights into how to optimize your product listings, improve your search ranking, and increase your sales.
Time-Savings: Partnering with an Amazon Marketplace consultant can help save you time and effort of doing it yourself (or learning it yourself). They can help you with various tasks, such as setting up your account, creating product listings, managing your inventory, and handling customer service. This allows you to focus on other aspects of your business.
Cost-Savings: While hiring an Amazon Marketplace consultant may be an additional cost, it should ultimately be a net-positive solution. With the right expertise, they can help you increase your sales and revenue, which would most probably offset the cost of their services.
Competitive Edge: The biggest promise of any consulting would be the ability to quickly gain a competitive edge over your competitors. They can help you optimize your presence and advertising to improve your product visibility, attract more potential buyers and ultimately drive more sales.
5 Things You Should Look For In An Amazon Consulting Expert
1: Knowledge of Amazon Policies (Official & Defacto)
Amazon has strict official policies in place to protect its platform from scammers and maintain a level playing field for all sellers. They also have a long list of unspoken, defacto rules that often frustrate first-time sellers. It’s crucial to choose an Amazon expert who is knowledgeable about these policies from experience and has a defined strategy for staying compliant. The truth is, Amazon policies change frequently – and often changes are unannounced. This means that the only way to know when policies shift is by being in the trenches. Your consultant should be fresh from the battlefield and up to date on any changes to avoid risking marketing momentum, or selling privileges.
2: Expertise With Amazon SEO
Amazon is not just an e-commerce platform; it’s also a search engine for products. In fact, 55% of product searches start on Amazon (Amazon is the #3 search engine). This, makes it crucial for your product listings to rank high in search results. That’s why finding an Amazon expert who knows Amazon SEO is so critical. Your consultant should be able to do the necessary research and offer granular guidance for you to optimize your product listings to outperform the competition.
3: Tons Of Experience With Amazon Paid Ads
Amazon Paid Ads are a great way to get your products in front of your potential customers. But, without experience it can be difficult to yield good results. That’s where years of getting bruised by the day-to-day managment of Amazon ads is critical.
Your consultant should be an experienced professional who can help you maximize your ad performance and ensure that you’re getting the most out of every dollar spent on advertising.
Experienced Amazon PPC managers understand the nuances of launching successful campaigns as well as how different Paid Ads strategies work best for certain product categories and audiences. With their expertise, they can often identify opportunities for growth and develop strategies that others just don’t notice. These strategies will drive leads and sales while keeping costs low – giving you a genuine shortcut to success.
4: Ability To Strategically Use Amazon Enhanced Marketing Options
Amazon allows brands registered with Brand Registry to create product listings with enhanced marketing such as Premium A+ Content, Brand Stores, Brand Stories, and more.
Amazon’s enhanced marketing tools are designed to help you stand out from the competition. Utilizing these features allows for a more interactive customer experience.
Premium A+ Content provides an opportunity to showcase products in greater detail through visuals such as hero images and videos. Brands have the option of creating their own virtual storefronts in the form of Brand Stores, allowing customers to easily access all Brand products in one organized location. Additionally, brands have access to Brand Stories which offer customers an even deeper dive into what makes a your brand special or unique – this is great for catching customers’ attention and potentially increasing sales conversions. If you want your business to take full advantage of all that Amazon has to offer, choosing an experienced consultant can provide valuable insight on how best to leverage these enhanced marketing options.
5: Years Of Successfully Marketing Across Multiple Categories
Any Amazon consulting expert worth their salt should have proven Amazon marketing agency experience that crosses many categories and products. This broad experience can help you leverage their Amazon experience to grab shoppers’ attention and then take them down a desired path to buying your products.
Additionally, broad experience across multiple categories offers a 30,000-foot view that can provide unique insight into Amazon policy trends, as well as upcoming A10 Algorithm changes that may affect your marketing (and, of course, what to do about it).
When Hiring A Consultant Is Not Worth The Money Or Hassle
There are certain situations where the money and effort of hiring a consultant may not be worth it.
Consulting services can become pricey in some cases, particularly if the project requires an expert with specialized knowledge or experience. Furthermore, consultants can actually create more work for you and your team than planned for. This may mean more of your involvement than simply outsourcing account management to a Full Service Amazon Account Management Agency
This is especially true when tasks expand requiring additional management by you to keep track of deadlines and communicate frequently. Additionally, depending on how complex or specific your project is, finding a qualified consultant might take longer than expected. Before making any decisions regarding consultants for your business needs, carefully consider whether it’s worth investing time and money into such a venture.
What Should I Expect When Working with an Amazon Seller Consultant?
When working with an Amazon Seller Consultant, you can expect a few steps:
Assessment: The consultant will assess your current Amazon marketing (or marketing plan) and identify areas for improvement.
Optimization: The consultant will work with you to optimize your Amazon marketing, making your offerings more compelling to the A10 algorithm and to credit-card-carrying human shoppers.
Support: You’ll receive ongoing support from the consultant, helping you to make adjustments and improvements as needed to continue driving sales.
How Can Amazon FBA Seller Consulting Help with Marketing?
Marketing on Amazon FBA involves more than just listing a product. An experienced consultant can provide guidance on product listing optimization, keyword strategy, messaging, positioning, paid ads, review management, and other amazon account management strategies to increase product visibility and sales.
Do You Really Need An Amazon FBA Consultant?
While there are many resources available for new Amazon sellers to learn how to succeed on Amazon FBA, most fail to provide a whole (aka holistic) plan for success. Learning from Youtube videos, and courses can be a time-consuming and expensive undertaking, but silly mistakes from a lack of big-picture experience can be very costly.
By working with an experienced consultant, you can benefit from years knowledge and experience (and mistakes) to avoid costly mistakes and improve your results.
How Can I Find the Right Amazon FBA Seller Consultant?
To find the right Amazon FBA seller consultant, look for someone with a proven track record of success on the platform. They should have experience in your niche or industry and be able to provide references from satisfied clients. You should also look for someone who is transparent about their fees and Amazon consulting services and is willing to work with you to develop a customized plan that fits your needs and budget.
OR…
How We Might Be Able To Help (For Free)
Are you a seller on Amazon looking for expert guidance to grow your business?
Why not let me help you?
Ecom Optimization is an Amazon account management agency with over a decade of e-commerce experience
Who is Ecom Optimization?
Ecom Optimization is founded by Sean Farrington specializing in unlocking the power of Amazon for CMOs, Founders, Product Managers and Brand Executives.
Their team of Amazon experts has been working in the trenches since 2015, and they offer a wide range of services for Amazon to help sellers of all sizes succeed.
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Conclusion:
If you’re serious about maximizing your sales potential on Amazon, working with an Amazon Seller Consultant can be an excellent investment. By crafting a bespoke plan for improving your visibility, optimizing paid ads, and dealing with Amazon hiccups, you’ll be able to move your business toward success on Amazon.com.
FAQ:
Q: How much does Amazon Seller Consulting cost?
A: The cost of Amazon Consulting varies depending on their Amazon consulting expertise and the services provided. Contact a consultant directly for pricing information. Some agencies may charge a flat fee or an hourly rate, while others may work on a commission or performance-based model.
Q: How long does it take to see results from Amazon Seller Consulting?
A: Results will vary depending on the current state of your Amazon account, and your Amazon marketing, along with the level of optimization needed. However, many sellers see improvements in sales and visibility within a few weeks of working with a consultant.
Q: Can I still manage my own Amazon account while working with a consultant?
A: In most cases, Yes. Often you can still manage your own Amazon account. Amazon seller central consultants will provide guidance and support, but you will still have command over any day-to-day operations you wish to control.
Q: What is an Amazon consulting expert?
A: An Amazon consulting expert is a professional who provides guidance and assistance to businesses looking to improve their presence on Amazon and increase their sales.
Q: Why is Amazon SEO important?
A: Amazon SEO is critical because it determines how high your product listings rank in search results for free organic traffic, which can significantly impact your sales and revenue.
Q: Are incentivized reviews allowed on Amazon?
A: No, incentivized reviews are strictly against Amazon policies and can result in a banned account.
Q: What is A+ content?
A: A+ content is a feature on Amazon that allows registered brands to create product listings with advanced text options, images, and even videos to highlight their brand and improve their product rankings.
Q: Why is Amazon-specific marketing important for Amazon businesses?
A: Amazon marketing is crucial because Amazon is simply different (as in, sometimes weird). Knowing how Amazon-marketing work helps attract and convert shoppers into customers, increasing sales and revenue.
Q: What types of businesses benefit from Amazon consulting services?
A: Any business that sells products on Amazon can benefit from working with an agency, including individual sellers, small businesses, and large brands.
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