Excited to unleash your amazing product on Amazon? Hold on just a sec! Before you hit that button, there’s one key step: having a strong Amazon product launch checklist.
Launching a new product on Amazon can be thrilling, but without a strategic plan in place, it can also lead to disappointing results. Like any successful business venture, a launch checklist is crucial for maximizing your chances of success.
But where do you begin? This ultimate checklist from our Amazon agency will guide you through every stage of your product launch: pre-launch, launch, and post-launch.
So, read on and get the knowledge you need to confidently launch your product and dominate the Amazon platform!
Pre-Launch: Amazon Product Launch Checklist
A strong foundation and strategic planning are essential to ensure your new product makes a lasting impact. Here’s what you need to do before you launch a product on Amazon:
Amazon A9 Algorithm: The Key to a Successful Product Launch
Before anything else, sellers need to familiarize themselves with a key player: the Amazon A9 algorithm.
The A9 algorithm is the brain behind Amazon’s search engine. It determines which products appear when someone searches for something.
Understanding how it works can be a huge advantage when crafting your strategy. Here’s a breakdown of what the A9 algorithm prioritizes:
Relevance
The A9 algorithm aims to show customers products that are highly relevant to their searches. So, keyword research and incorporating those keywords throughout your product listing on Amazon is crucial.
Performance
The algorithm also considers how well a product performs. This includes factors like product sales history, conversion rate, and customer reviews.
A product with a strong sales history and positive reviews has a better chance of ranking on Amazon search results.
Positive Customer Experience
The A9 algorithm factors in metrics that indicate a positive customer experience. This can include things like low return rates and prompt responses to customer inquiries.
By prioritizing customer satisfaction, you can indirectly signal to the algorithm that your product is a good fit for Amazon shoppers.
Lay the Foundation for Your New Product
It’s crucial to lay the groundwork for a successful launch. This is like building a solid foundation for your house – you wouldn’t skimp on that step, would you?
Now, for your foundation to be steady do thorough product research and create an effective Amazon listing.
Conducting market research makes it easy for you to identify a high-demand product that solves customer problems. So, research what people are searching for and what gaps exist in the market.
You can also try to analyze other Amazon sellers to see what’s working and where you can shine brighter.
Your listing is your shop window, so crafting compelling product listing is a must. A successful product listing has a clear and descriptive product title, high-quality photos, and A+ content.
Focus on in-depth research for a winning product and a listing that showcases its value.
Optimize Amazon Listing for Visibility
Ever searched for something online and couldn’t find it? Yikes! That’s what happens to hidden Amazon products.
People search for stuff on Amazon using words and phrases. Find these keywords and include them in your product listing title, product description, and backend keywords.
Doing this will help Amazon to show your product to potential buyers.
But, if you are still not confident in optimizing your product visibility check this: 6 Affirmative Steps To Optimize An Amazon Listing & Increase Your Revenue.
Gear Up to Launch Your Product
You now know how to optimize a listing, the next step is to prepare for your launch by focusing on three key areas:
Pricing Strategy
Even if your newly launched product is a necessity for some, if its price is not within the buyers’ budget, they might not buy it. So, it’s necessary to develop a pricing strategy that considers target audience, brand value, competitor pricing, and desired profit margins.
By considering these factors, you can land on a price that’s attractive to both you and your customers.
Inventory Management
Imagine the disappointment of seeing “Out of Stock” during your launch. This is why inventory management is crucial.
It can be tricky, especially for new sellers with no previous experience. But don’t worry, there are many demand forecast tools available to help you figure out how much stock to keep on hand.
This ensures you have enough product to meet that early demand and keep your sales engine running smoothly.
Pre-Launch Buzz
You cannot have a successful Amazon product launch without a pre-launch wave of excitement. Generate pre-launch buzz with targeted social media campaigns and influencer outreach, or you can also consider Amazon early access deals.
Set the Date to Launch a Product on Amazon
Don’t just hit “publish” whenever. Plan your launch in advance to ensure everything is ready.
By setting a strategic date and coordinating it with your other efforts, you can increase your chances of a successful product launch.
Here are some things to consider when planning your launch date:
- Pick a date that aligns with your marketing plans.
Are you running any social media campaigns or influencer outreach? Coordinate your launch date to maximize the impact of these efforts. - Consider seasonality.
Is your product relevant to a particular season? For example, if you’re selling beach towels, launching in the summer might be more effective than in winter. - Avoid busy shopping days.
Major holidays or other sales events might drown out your D-day. - Be realistic about your inventory.
If you don’t have a lot of stock on hand, you might want to choose a launch date that allows you to secure more inventory beforehand.
Prepare Your New Product Listing
Your Amazon product listing is what grabs customers’ attention and convinces them to check your products out. So, to ensure your product listing is launch-ready, here’s a checklist within a checklist:
- UPC Code: Every product needs a unique identifier like a UPC code. This helps track your stock and assures buyers they’re getting the real deal. Ensure you have a valid UPC for your product.
- Brand Registry: Enrolling your products in the Amazon Brand Registry gives you more control over your listing and helps prevent counterfeiters from muddying the waters.
- Keyword Research: As previously mentioned, keyword research is key in optimizing your product listing. So remember to conduct detailed research to enhance your product listing page. You can use Amazon seller tools like Helium 10 to help you with this.
- Compelling Listing Copy: Craft clear, informative text that highlights your product features and benefits. Convince potential customers why this product is the perfect solution to their problem.
- PPC Campaigns: Create targeted Amazon PPC campaigns to drive traffic to your listing and boost visibility. Our Amazon agency offers PPC management services if you need a helping hand.
- Image Optimization: People are drawn to visuals, so high-quality product images are a must. Include multiple photos from different angles to give potential buyers a 360-degree view of your product. You can even consider incorporating relevant keywords into the main image description.
- A+ Content: Ensure your A+ Content is live and engaging, providing additional product information and visuals to gain more shoppers on Amazon.
- Brand Story: Publish your brand story to connect with potential customers and showcase your brand’s values.
Launch Day: Amazon Product Launch Checklist
It’s D-day! Here are some final steps to ensure a smooth product launch phase.
Double-Check Everything
- Listing: Take a final look at your product listing. Make sure all information is accurate, including title, description, images, and pricing. Double-check for any typos or errors.
- Ads: If you’re running any Amazon advertising campaigns, verify they’re live and functioning correctly. You don’t want to miss out on potential customers searching for relevant keywords.
- Customer Service: Ensure your customer service team is prepared for launch day. They should be familiar with your product and ready to answer any questions from potential buyers.
By following these simple checks, you can avoid any last-minute hiccups and ensure your product listing is ready to shine.
Post-Launch: Amazon Product Launch Checklist
The launch is a major milestone, but your work isn’t finished yet! The post-launch phase is crucial for understanding how your product is performing and making adjustments to optimize your success.
The Power of Customer Reviews
Positive Reviews are Gold
Customer reviews are like virtual word-of-mouth recommendations. Positive reviews can significantly boost trust and influence future buying decisions.
Develop a post product launch strategy to encourage satisfied customers to leave product reviews. You can send polite follow-up emails after a purchase or include a review request within your order confirmation.
Address Concerns Promptly
Even with a great product, you might receive negative reviews. The key is to respond promptly and professionally.
Acknowledge the customer’s frustration and offer solutions or explanations. Addressing negative reviews head-on demonstrates that you are a seller who values customer feedback and is committed to resolving issues.
Tip: Learn how Amazon customers feel about your product using Amazon seller tools like Feedback Whiz.
Analyzing Launch Performance
Track Your Progress
Monitor key metrics throughout your post-launch phase. These metrics can include things like total sales, conversion rate (the percentage of visitors who buy your product), and customer feedback.
Identify Areas for Improvement
By analyzing your metrics, you can identify areas where your Amazon product launch strategy might need improvement. For example, if your conversion rate is low, it might indicate you need to optimize your Amazon store listing or refine your marketing strategies.
Refine for Success
Use your post-launch data as a springboard for future success. Analyze what worked well during your initial product release and what areas need improvement.
This will help you refine your strategies for even better results on your next product launch.
Amazon Product Launch Strategy: Honeymoon Period
The honeymoon period on Amazon is a short window of time (around 4 weeks) right after you launch a new product.
It’s essentially Amazon’s way of testing your product and seeing how well it performs. During this time, Amazon pays more attention to your product and is more likely to show it in search results.
Here’s the key thing to remember: the more sales you make during this honeymoon period, the better your product will rank on Amazon in the long run. This is why it’s crucial to have a launch strategy in place to maximize sales during this time.
Follow this Ultimate Checklist before Launching a New Product on Amazon
This comprehensive checklist equips you for every stage of your launch journey, from pre-launch planning to post-launch optimization. By following this roadmap, you’ll be well-positioned to capitalize on the crucial honeymoon period and establish your product as a top contender on Amazon.
Want to maximize your launch success? Partner with Amazon experts to execute this launch plan and dominate from day one!
