It is an interesting time to helm an online store, especially due to the current events that have rocked the world. With coronavirus here to stay, most people have become accustomed to going through day-to-day responsibilities while cooped up at home, which means most of the purchases for groceries and the like involve purchasing items online. Even basic necessities that are typically purchased in physical establishments have experienced a dive due to many people preferring to buy what they need online. For popular online marketplaces such as Amazon, it is a golden opportunity. Many online shoppers are looking toward search engine optimization (SEO) to give their products an edge, making use of Amazon SEO Services to take advantage of current opportunities.
That said, SEO can be somewhat complicated for those who might not be entirely familiar. In a nutshell, it is a series of marketing strategies to help business owners provide more visibility and general brand exposure to their companies. With Amazon being a particularly popular platform – especially with the holiday season coming up – it is only natural to want to use every potential tool available. Here is just a simple step-by-step Amazon SEO Services guide for sellers.
Learning all about Amazon’s A9 algorithm
To fully understand how Amazon ranks products within the marketplace, the first order of business would be to learn all about Amazon’s algorithm, known as A9. It does not just choose what to show potential buyers, but it will also set the rankings within the search results based on criteria such as:
- The metrics regarding previous purchases
- The relevance to the keywords and search queries
- Customer preferences based on previous actions within the marketplace
While most algorithms work with a similar set of criteria, it is crucial to note that no-one outside of the company knows exactly how the algorithm works. Much of the data provided regarding A9’s actions are based on previous metrics, and experts can only assume that A9 acts based on the above preferences. Fortunately, there is no need to lift the veil and look at the inner workings of the algorithm, as an understanding of its behavior is all that is needed to get an edge.
Other factors that could potentially influence a seller’s ranking
Aside from the criteria shown above, there are quite a few more things to consider when it comes to optimizing products with Amazon SEO Services. For example, competitive pricing is crucial, as a large price difference between some of the most popular products could turn out to be a disadvantage. It would also be prudent to keep an eye on the number of items the seller has on stock (especially with the holidays), as having the item go out of stock during a busy period will likely push it farther down the rankings if it is not caught quickly enough.
There is also the relevance of the product when it comes to the title as well as the description. Search engine optimization is all about ensuring that every little bit is optimized — text included. Lastly, there is also the sales velocity to consider, as the quicker an item sells, the more likely it is for the algorithm to recommend the product, which is exactly the reason why popular items should always have enough stock.
On the topic of product titles and keywords with Amazon SEO Services
When it comes to just about any search engine algorithm, keywords will be one of the most critical factors, and A9 is no exception. It means that the product title is one of the most important parts of optimizing products for Amazon.
Fortunately, Amazon has an easy-to-understand guide when it comes to what a product title needs, including the brand, product, material, quantity, and color. It is also crucial not to overstuff any product with a bunch of keywords, as not only will the algorithm ignore it, but any potential buyer reading the product information will likely be put off by the mish-mash of keywords. Place in only what is important, amount to about two or three keywords that can sufficiently explain the product.
While it can be quite easy to get a little overwhelmed when it comes to taking advantage of Amazon SEO Services, most sellers can get the hang of it with a bit of practice. It does not take too much effort to ensure that the title and keywords are relevant without necessarily being overstuffed. With a bit of hard work, most online sellers will be able to utilize the full extent of search engine optimization in the Amazon marketplace.