The beginner's guide to selling on Amazon Egypt
A few things to consider before you start selling
Prefer some takeaway reading?
Introduction
Welcome to selling on Amazon
It’s no secret: At Amazon, we obsess over customers. And our customers want a trusted destination where they can purchase a wide variety of goods—which is what makes sellers like you so important. We are always looking for ways to add value for our customers and be Earth’s most customer-centric company. As an Amazon seller, you take part in offering those customers better selection, better prices, and a top-notch customer experience.
300 million active customers in more than 180 countries
Millions of monthly unique visitors (in Middle East & North Africa alone)
$1.5 billion reported sales by third-party businesses during Prime Day 2018
The Amazon edge
When you start selling on Amazon, you become part of a retail destination that’s home to sellers of all kinds, from Fortune 500 organizations to artisan vendors who make handcrafted goods. They all sell here for a reason: to reach the hundreds of millions of customers who visit Amazon to shop.
- Since third-party sellers joined Amazon in 1999, they have grown to account for 58% of Amazon sales
- Third-party sales on Amazon are growing at 52% a year (compared to 25% for first-party sales by Amazon)
FAQ:
Is Amazon right for my business?
The short answer is: yes. The largest household brands sell on Amazon. So do emerging brands that will pop on your radar soon. Small and medium-sized businesses thrive here, and they account for more than half the units sold in our stores worldwide. Whether you are brand owner, re-seller or an entrepreneur – whatever your business is – and whatever size it is – you have opportunity to grow with Amazon. Find your fit and start selling today.
Don't have an Amazon seller account yet?
For a limited time only, Professional accounts are now available with no monthly subscription fee
Before you start selling
How to register
For limited time only, Amazon is offering you Professional account with no monthly subscription fee. All you have to do is register today. You can change plans at any time. Also keep in mind that, additional selling fees apply.
Find out difference between Professional & Individual accounts – make this link to a different page which has all the information.
Find out difference between Professional & Individual accounts – make this link to a different page which has all the information.
Plans
Individual
Professional
This plan might be right for you if...
- You sell fewer than 40 items a month
- You don't need advanced selling tools or programs
- You are still deciding what to sell
- You sell more than 40 items a month
- You want access to APIs and more selling reports
Find out more
Selling plan features
Cost
For a limited time only, Professional accounts are now available with no monthly subscription fee
Add new products to the Amazon catalog
Grow your business with Fulfillment by Amazon
Apply to sell in additional categories
Save time creating listings in bulk
Manage inventory with feeds, spreadsheets, and reports
Qualify for top placement on product detail pages
Increase selling efficiency with API integration
Set your own shipping fees for non-media products *
Attract shoppers with on-site advertising tools
Run promotions including free shipping
Add multiple users to your account
Did you know:
Tools for brand owners
If you own a brand, Amazon offers tools to help you build, grow, and protect it. Enrolling in Brand Registry can help you personalize your brand and product pages, protect your trademarks and intellectual property, and improve the brand experience for customers—along with unlocking additional advertising options and recommendations on improving traffic and conversion.
What you will need to get started
In order to complete your registration, make sure you have access to:
- Valid email address or Amazon customer account
- A bank account where Amazon can send you proceeds from your sales
- Mobile number where you are reachable
- National Egyptian ID (identity verification protects sellers and customers)
- For Individuals – Either of recent bank account statement, credit card statement or utility bill
- For Businesses – Commercial Registration if you are owner and a Power of Attorney if you are a legal representative or an account manager
How much does it cost to sell on Amazon?
There are a few different types of selling fees you might pay, depending on your selling plan and the types of products you sell.
Selling fees
These fees are charged per item sold, and they include referral fees (which are a percentage of the selling price and vary depending on the product’s category), and variable closing fees.
Shipping fees
When you fulfill orders using Amazon Easy Ship, Amazon shipping rates apply. We charge these shipping rates based on size of the shipment.
FBA fees
For products that are stored in Amazon fulfillment center for you (known as Fulfillment by Amazon, or FBA). There are fees for order fulfillment, storage, and optional services.
Review the fees that may be associated with your account.
Get to know Seller Central
What is Seller Central?
Once you register as an Amazon seller and your identity is verified by Amazon, you will have access to your Seller Central account. Think of Seller Central as your go-to resource for selling on Amazon. It’s a portal to your Amazon business and a one-stop shop for managing your selling account, adding product information, making inventory updates, managing payments, and finding helpful content to help you navigate your Amazon business. It’s also where you list all your products.
Below are a just few of the things you can do from Seller Central.
- Keep track of your inventory and update your listings from the Inventory tab
- Download custom business reports and bookmark templates you use often
- Use customer metrics tools to monitor your seller performance
- Contact Selling Partner Support and open help tickets using the Case Log
- Keep track of your daily sales for all the products you sell on Amazon
- Create a new listing on Amazon or add an offer to an existing product on Amazon
- Price your products and set up your own rules to be always competitively priced
How to list products
Listing your first product
To sell a product on Amazon, you must first create a product listing. Either match an existing listing (if somebody else is already selling the same product on Amazon), or create a new listing (if you are the first or only seller).
You have multiple options to list your products on Amazon. You can list in large batches using bulk uploading or list products one at a time.
Click here to see step by step product listing guide to help you create your first listing on Amazon
You have multiple options to list your products on Amazon. You can list in large batches using bulk uploading or list products one at a time.
Click here to see step by step product listing guide to help you create your first listing on Amazon
What you need to start listing products
In most cases, products must have a Global Trade Item Number (GTIN), such as a UPC, an ISBN, or an EAN. Amazon uses these product IDs to identify the exact item you are selling. If you match a listing, you won’t need to provide a product ID since it already exists. If you’re adding a product that’s new to Amazon, you may need to purchase a UPC code or request an exemption.
In addition to a product ID, here is some of the important information that goes into each product listing:
- SKU - Stock Keeping Unit. It is an identification code which is used to track a product for inventory purposes.
- Product title
- Product description and bullet points
- Product images
- Search terms and relevant keywords
FAQ:
What are restricted product categories?
It’s important that customers are able to shop with confidence on Amazon, which is why some product categories (like certain grocery or automotive products) are known as “restricted product categories.” Amazon might require performance checks, additional fees, and other qualifications in order for you to sell certain brands or list items within restricted categories. You will be able to request approval from within Seller Central.
Successful listing = successful launch
Following best practices for adding listings can have a big impact on their success. Make it easy for shoppers to find your offers by adding descriptive titles, clear images, and concise feature bullets to your items. Avoid these things that could negatively impact your launch:
Variation issues
Products that vary only by color, scent, or size might be a good candidate for listing as variations. Ask yourself if the customer would expect to find the products together on the same page. If not, list them separately.
Image compliance
Your images must be at least 500 x 500 pixels (increase the size to 1,000 x 1,000 for high-quality listings) and set against a plain white background. The product should fill at least 80% of the image area.
Product IDs
Make sure you’re meeting the requirements for product UPCs and GTINs (Global Trade Item Number). Consistency in these codes helps promote confidence in the range of products shown in the Amazon catalog.
Don't have an Amazon seller account yet?
For a limited time only, Professional accounts are now available with no monthly subscription fee
The product detail page
A product detail page is where customers view a product sold on Amazon. If you have shopped on Amazon, you will probably recognize the product detail page. It’s where customers can find all the relevant information about a particular item.
When multiple sellers offer the same product, Amazon combines data from all the offers into one product detail page (so we can present customers with the best experience). You can propose product information on a product detail page, along with other sellers and manufacturers, and request detail page reviews if you think the information is not correct.
As you are building your product detail pages, try to think about what will best help customers find your products, discover answers to their questions, and make a purchasing decision. Aim for the ultimate customer experience by making your listings concise, accurate, and easy to understand.
When multiple sellers offer the same product, Amazon combines data from all the offers into one product detail page (so we can present customers with the best experience). You can propose product information on a product detail page, along with other sellers and manufacturers, and request detail page reviews if you think the information is not correct.
As you are building your product detail pages, try to think about what will best help customers find your products, discover answers to their questions, and make a purchasing decision. Aim for the ultimate customer experience by making your listings concise, accurate, and easy to understand.
1.
Title
200 characters max, capitalize the first letter of every word
2.
Images
500 x 500 or 1,000 x 1,000 pixels to increase listing quality
3.
Variations
Such as different colors, scents, or sizes
4.
Bullet points
Short, descriptive sentences highlighting key features and benefits
5.
Featured offer
The featured offer on a detail page. Customers can add to their cart
6.
Other offers
The same product sold by multiple sellers offering a different price, shipping options, etc.
7.
Description
Keywords improve the chances that people will find your listing
How to deliver products
Selecting the right fulfillment option
When an Amazon.eg customer buys your product, there are 3 ways that you can fulfill your customer orders.
Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)
If you choose Fulfillment by Amazon, Amazon will store, pack, and deliver your products to the customers
Easy Ship (ES)
If you choose Easy Ship, you will store and pack your products and Amazon will deliver it to your customers
Self-Ship
If you choose Self Ship, you will store, pack, and deliver your products to your customers
The benefits of Fulfillment by Amazon
Around the world, Amazon has more than 175 fulfillment centers which contain more than 150 million square feet of storage space. With FBA, you get to store your stuff on those shelves. You also get Amazon’s world-class customer service and returns, along with other advantages that help you scale your business—fast.
Did you know:
There are two types of FBA fees
There are two types of FBA fees: fulfillment fees (which are charged per unit sold and include picking and packing your orders, shipping and handling, customer service, and product returns), and inventory storage fees (which are charged monthly, and are based on the volume of inventory being held in an Amazon fulfillment center).
How Fulfillment by Amazon works
Step 1
Create your shipment plan and book your appointment at our FC.
Step 2
Ship your inventory to Amazon. It will be scanned and made available for sale.
Step 3
With each order, Amazon packages and ships the product directly to the customer.
Step 4
Amazon collects payment from the customer and pays you available funds every two weeks.
Step 5
Amazon’s customer service team handles questions, returns, and refunds.
You have made your first sale. What’s next?
Managing your Amazon business
Your first sale is a big milestone—but it’s just the beginning of your growth opportunities selling on Amazon. Once your store is up and running, there are a few important things to keep in mind.
Performance metrics (and why they matter)
Amazon sellers operate at a high standard so we can provide a seamless, delightful shopping experience, with a handling time of 1 day. We call it being customer-obsessed, and as an Amazon seller it means keeping an eye on these key metrics:
- Order defect rate (a measure of a seller’s customer service standards): < 1%
- Pre-fulfillment cancel rate (initiated by the seller before shipment): < 2.5%
- Late shipment rate (orders that ship after the expected date): < 4%
You can keep tabs on your performance and make sure you are meeting your targets in Seller Central.
Customer reviews
Customer product reviews are an integral part of the shopping experience on Amazon, and they benefit both customers and sellers. Make sure you are familiar with the right way and wrong way to get more product reviews and avoid policy violations.
Amazon jargon:
Seller University
Seller University is an online resource from Amazon, with videos featuring step-by-step guides, tutorials, and training to help entrepreneurs start (and grow) their Amazon business.
Opportunities for business growth
This is only the beginning
The moment you are selling on Amazon is the moment you can start growing your Amazon business. Once you have launched your business, Amazon has tools in place to help you take your business to the next level (or the next couple of levels).
Advertising
Amazon’s advertising solutions create new ways for you to reach and engage shoppers, regardless of whether they are just starting to compare products, or ready to make a purchase. Ads show up right where customers will see them (like the first page of search results or product detail pages).
Amazon offers three advertising solutions, and all of them are accessible through Seller Central.
Amazon offers three advertising solutions, and all of them are accessible through Seller Central.
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1. Sponsored Products
Sponsored Products are ads for individual product listings on Amazon, so they help drive product visibility (and product sales). They appear on search results pages and product detail pages.
2. Sponsored Brands
Sponsored Brands showcase your brand and product portfolio. They are search-result ads that feature your brand logo, a custom headline, and up to three of your products.
3. Amazon Stores
Stores are custom multipage shopping destinations for individual brands that let you share your brand story and product offerings. (And you don’t need any website experience to use them.)
Promotions and coupons
Customers want to save, and promotions are an incentive to make a purchase now. There are three types of promotions: money off, free shipping, and buy one get one free. You can also offer percentage or money-off discounts with digital coupons.
What makes a great seller?
A checklist for growth
Opportunities for growth are all around you—but here are a few things to try in your first 90 days as an Amazon seller.
Keep an eye on your account health in Seller Central
Use Fulfillment by Amazon
Advertise your listings or offer deals and coupons
Enroll in Brand Registry and create enhanced brand content
Expand your selection by listing more products
Use the Automate Pricing Tool in Seller Central
List your entire catalog for best customer experience and more traffic to your store
Your first 90 days
The first three months after you launch your Amazon business are an important time for establishing practices that will boost your performance from there on out.
Start selling today
Put your products in front of the millions of customers who search Amazon every day.
For a limited time only, Professional accounts are now available with no monthly subscription fee
