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3 Deadly (and Common) Mistakes Sellers Make With Their Amazon Listings

By Karon Thackston

You only have to write so many product listings before you start to see a pattern. That’s how it has been at Marketing Words over the last few years. I thought it would be helpful to outline some of the most common (and crippling) mistakes we’ve seen when it comes to writing your listing and using keywords.

Mistake #1: Not Using Keywords Correctly

Amazon isn’t like Google. With Google, there is a certain amount of repetition of keywords and phrases. On Amazon, however, you do not need to repeat keywords. Use it once and Amazon’s got it! Because many sellers don’t understand this, they are ruining the way their copy sounds as they try to rank higher on Amazon (without success).

That includes your Search Terms fields. If the keyword is in the title, brand, manufacturer and UPC, you do not need to include it in your search terms.

Last, we see countless folks inserting keyPHRASES into the search terms fields instead of keyWORDS. Amazon doesn’t work with phrases. They use literal keywords and each word is searchable on its own.

Putting something like:

natural dog treats

100% wholesome dog treats

beef dog treats

dog treats made in the usa

nutritious dog treats

… leaves lots of wasted room that could accommodate other keywords. Because we don’t need to repeat keywords and we do need to use individual keywords (not whole phrases), this should be reworked to this:

natural dog treats 100% wholesome beef made in the usa nutritious

Any and all combinations of those terms are searchable.

Mistake #2: Not Differentiating Your Products From The Competition

Think about your own shopping experience on Amazon. You show up on the site to search for olive oil and vinegar sets. I just did a search for that term and here’s what came up…

When I was scrolling down the page, it didn’t take me long to figure out that they all appearpretty much the same. What if they gave some additional information or used words that were more enticing?

Here are some examples of how just a minor tweak can make a big difference. As a shopper, I would be more likely to click these search results:

The simple words “ribbed,” “Italian collection” and “lead free” made my eyes perk up. I wanted to know more.

Mistake #3: Not Answering The Question “So What?”

With so many duplicate products on Amazon (especially when dealing with private labeling), you simply must fall back on a long-standing rule of copywriting: Answer the question “So what?”

When customers scroll down a page of search results looking at your title, or they click to your product page to learn more, you have to set yourself apart from all the other options. Maybe this means having more positive reviews. Perhaps it is the lowest (or highest) price. But, more often than not, that task depends on the bullets and product description.

Here are 30 ways to differentiate your products from the pack so you stand out and get more sales.

By correcting these 3 common mistakes, you eliminate the wasted space in your search term fields, bullets, and product description while setting yourself apart from the competition. And that always leads to more sales! 

Wimpy product listings don’t make sales! Watch Karon develop product descriptions that drive traffic and get more sales LIVE during her Amazon Product Description Boot Camp.

She’ll reveal (in deep detail) her best-kept secrets for doing keyword research and creating product copy that earns you more money. Early birds can save when you register now! Use code   boot37 (lower case, no spaces)   to reserve your space.This LIVE 4-week training begins September 15, 2016.  (YES! Replays will be available.)

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- Make sure you're not making these mistakes on your Amazon listings!