August 8th, 2023

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It’s crucial to prepare your inventory and ensure your account is in top-performing condition to reap the benefits of Q4.

Prepare for Amazon Q4

In 2023, ecommerce shopping has changed.  Customers expect better deals, prices, and exceptional customer service. With 2.4 million sellers on Amazon, it takes time and dedication to remain competitive and stand out from the wide range of choices available to buyers. 

To get ready for the surge, let’s review some Q4 sales tips that will help you make the most of this lucrative time of year.

1. Get Creative

You can’t develop great Q4 strategies without a great product. Review last year's trends and sales on Amazon to determine where to concentrate your efforts. Take into account the products that sold well last year and consider seasonally relevant items that make great gifts or enhance holiday celebrations.

You don’t necessarily have to sell gift boxes or ornaments to stand out in Q4. Anything from gaming chairs to apparel and snacks can be marketed to the holiday shopper. 

Look for creative ways to promote your products to shoppers, hosts, and party-goers. This time of year consumers deviate from their weekly shopping lists, so show them how your product can benefit their lives during the holidays and year-round.

2. Optimize Your Amazon Product Listings

Your Amazon product detail pages give you the opportunity to speak directly to consumers. Optimizing your product listing is a great way to draw in interested shoppers and convert them into buyers. Use this prime real estate to answer common questions, address concerns, and get down to the nitty-gritty of what you sell and why it matters to them. 

With the help of an Amazon Account Management Agency, your visibility, click-through rate (CTR), and conversion rate (CR) can be increased. Every brand has unique needs, and with the help of an Amazon specialist, you can tailor your Q4 strategies to highlight your product's best features.

Not sure if you need listing optimization to prepare for Amazon Q4? Let’s review the main benefits for Amazon sellers. 

1. Increased product exposure
2. Fewer product returns
3. Higher sales volume
4. Improved customer experience
5. Appear higher in search results, more search volume, and better rankings
6. Improved listing quality
7. Stronger brand identity

And the list goes on! Keep in mind that your optimization strategy may require keyword research, copy updates, image creation, and more. Don't delay reaching out to your Amazon consultant for Q4 sales tips.

3. Focus on Inventory Management

Staying organized and keeping track of your inventory is a crucial part of Amazon Q4 for sellers. Be strategic and make sure you’re prepared for skyrocketing sales. With countless competitors only a click away, if your product is not available, you will miss out on customers and sales.

Review inventory limits

When using Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), it is important to review your inventory limits. Sign in to your account and navigate to Inventory > Inventory Planning > Restock Inventory to determine the amount you can send to the Amazon warehouse.

Devise a backup plan

As a backup to your FBA program, consider having Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM) set up and ready to go. If your inventory runs out in an Amazon warehouse or they haven’t received the new inventory you sent in, you can still maintain and fulfill orders using FBM.

Review sales data

Knowing how much inventory you should have requires careful planning. Analyze your sales data to determine which products performed well during Q4 in the past. This will help you estimate the amount of stock needed.

Inventory delays give your competitors an unnecessary advantage. To prepare for Amazon Q4, it is crucial to understand what you currently have in stock, what you may need, and what you can expect based on previous years.

4. Consider Your Fulfillment Options 

Fulfillment isn’t just about getting your product from point A to point B. Selecting the appropriate fulfillment option guarantees that your products will arrive quickly and affordably. During Q4, you will probably be shipping more products than usual, so finding a fast and cost-effective fulfillment option is extremely important.

• Fulfillment by Amazon
  If you're aiming to acquire the coveted Amazon Prime badge, consider Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). Many consumers browse and filter their search results to only display items that offer Amazon Prime shipping.
  
  The Prime badge serves as a trusted mark to many customers, signifying hassle-free returns, speedy shipping, and outstanding customer service. Opting for this fulfillment and shipping option can give you a significant edge and help you gain exposure to a wide range of potential buyers.
  
  

• Fulfillment by Merchant
  

  Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM) is another popular fulfillment option for Amazon sellers. It can be used on its own or paired with FBA. With Amazon FBM, the seller takes responsibility for fulfilling orders. This option can be managed directly by the seller or through a third-party logistics provider.
  
  

• Seller Fulfilled Prime
  

  With Seller Fulfilled Prime (SFP), it’s your responsibility to deliver orders directly to customers from your warehouse. You pledge to complete orders within a two-day timeframe at no extra cost for Prime members. If you choose this option, Amazon grants you access to transportation solutions that aid in order fulfillment and you may even be eligible to obtain the highly sought-after Amazon Prime badge. 

It's not always easy shipping out of your own warehouse. Shoppers have come to expect fast shipping times and Amazon FBA gives them that peace of mind. So, when this industry leader in Kona coffee came to us looking for a strategy to increase sales we identified shipping FBA being a priority for growth. Within the first month of switching from FBM to FBA the client saw sales soar 200%! Read more.

5. Sell More With PPC Advertising 

In 2023, PPC ads are a must for Amazon sellers. While you may be able to establish a presence without them, they have proven to be a surefire way to increase product and brand awareness. 

Some of the benefits of PPC advertising include:

1. Increased sales
2. Greater brand visibility
3. Lower Advertising Cost of Sales (ACoS) over time
4. Greater brand loyalty
5. Higher brand awareness 

With advertising, it’s crucial to plan ahead, start your campaign early, and consistently manage your campaign. Enlist the help of professionals to maximize results and reduce your workload. By doing so, you’ll be able to quickly identify trends and track new or underutilized keywords to gain a better understanding of your target audience and customize your campaign for optimal results.

A great advantage to utilizing Amazon PPC (Pay-Per-Click) advertising is that you’ll only be paying for the clicks you actually get on your ads. There are three primary ad types that are available during Amazon Q4 for sellers:

Sponsored Product Ads
Target specific keywords to increase your product sales and visibility. 

Sponsored Brand Ads
Drive awareness by featuring your brand logo alongside three of your products.

Sponsored Display Ads
Target shoppers who searched for similar products or visited your product listing without making a purchase. 

Sponsored Brand Video Ads 
Found on Amazon's websites, mobile apps, Fire tablet wake screen, and across the web, these ads give you the opportunity to reach a wider audience.

6. Give Shoppers a Great Deal

Deals and promotions are a great way to generate interest in your products and provide an incentive for customers to make a purchase. They cultivate appreciative and loyal customers and demonstrate to potential buyers that they can rely on you for a great deal. 

When preparing for Q4, there are three Amazon promotion options to consider:

• Lightning Deals
  Black Friday and Cyber Monday are known for Lightning Deals.  Sellers need to submit their deals before the deadline set by Amazon. Be aware, this does not automatically mean it will be displayed. Deals with the lowest price, highest quantity, and fully stocked inventory are given preference in terms of timing and placement on the Amazon Deals page.
  
  
• Promotions
  If you want to increase sales, a promotion is a great option. They are typically used to offer a multi-unit or tiered discount on your products. This choice is also perfect to use in conjunction with external marketing and advertising campaigns.
  
  
• Coupons
  Coupons can be seen in the search results and are great for attracting consumers to your page. There is a seller fee associated with each coupon that is clipped and used.