Welcome to Basilio Inc. Launching Your Brand in Amazon. If you’re thinking about starting up your own business as an Amazon seller, stick around, because you’ve come to the right place.
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn a clear path to navigate the initial stages and guides you through the intricate workings of the Amazon’s marketplace. Strategic selection for success is crucial for established brands, with the advantage of choosing products based on past performance. Some opt to add top-selling and evergreen items to ensure a strong start, while others diversify with end-of-season products, exclusive online bundles, or unique variations. Whether you’re pioneering the Amazon channel or expanding your brand’s reach, this guide equips you with the strategies to ensure a successful launch.
Chapter 9 – Product Launch Checklist
Nothing is more satisfying than ticking off completed tasks on a checklist. To help you achieve that sense of accomplishment, we’ve organized a comprehensive action plan for your Product Launchpad Marketing Journey.
Select Your Catalog
- If your brand is established off Amazon and you’re launching on the platform, choose your top-selling products or evergreen items.
- If you’re a manufacturer creating a dedicated Amazon catalog, curate an assortment that addresses market needs and aligns with the channel’s requirements.
- Develop a Profit and Loss (P&L) statement, considering Amazon FBA fees based on your category and Cost of Goods Sold (COGS).
File and Collect Necessary Paperwork
- Trademark your brand through the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Consider Amazon’s IP Accelerator program for a faster process.
- Secure patents if applicable.
- Obtain UPC codes for all products from GS1.
- Conduct safety and product testing, including Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS/SDS) and Children’s Product Certificates (CPC) based on category requirements.
Choose Your Selling Approach
- Decide whether you’ll sell directly on the platform, hire an agency for assistance, or work with an exclusive Amazon reseller.
Determine Inventory Logistics
- Establish communication with manufacturers to understand lead times and material availability.
- Arrange a warehouse solution capable of storing products and handling returns.
- Ensure you have four weeks’ worth of inventory coverage ready to send to Amazon FBA.
- Communicate with distributors about unauthorized Amazon sales and consider new distribution agreements with appropriate MSRP rules.
Create an Amazon Account
- Gather required documents for your Amazon account, including legal business information, chargeable credit card, government ID, bank account, tax ID, and state tax ID.
- Familiarize yourself with Amazon’s Terms of Service and Seller rights.
- Open your Seller Central account and start creating ASINs if you’re not working with a reseller.
Prepare a Marketing Strategy
- Conduct competitor research on 5-15 competitors.
- Perform a SWOT analysis to establish your strategy’s foundation.
- Compile a portfolio of assets, including Amazon-compliant images, videos, copy, and keywords.
- Build or enhance your branded social media presence to expand your reach.
- Allocate a marketing budget for Amazon and social media advertising, with a recommended minimum of $2,500/month to $5,000/month per sku.
Manage Expectations
- Understand that building Amazon relevancy across SEO and advertising will take at least three months.
- Like many businesses, it’s highly probable that you won’t achieve profitability within your first year. Conducting numerous split tests and gathering data from your campaigns will be essential. Persistence is key, so don’t give up on your journey.
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