How to Choose a Consultant for Amazon | 12 Questions to Ask
Amazon is the world's largest company. They control the market in cloud computing and e-commerce, and they're one of the most recognizable brands in the world. It's no wonder that so many businesses are looking to Amazon to help them succeed. But with such a massive company, it can be difficult to know where to start. As a business owner, you may find yourself at a point where you need to bring in outside expertise to help your company grow.
That's why choosing the right consultant is so important.
Choosing a consultant may not seem like a big deal, but think about this: this person will be your guide through one of the most powerful companies in the world. They'll advise you on how to leverage their tools for success and help you navigate their complex ecosystem. You need someone who knows what they're doing, who can help you make the most of your time with them, and avoid costly mistakes along the way.
Things to consider when choosing a consultant
Amazon is the world's biggest online marketplace. If your company is hoping to make a profit by selling on Amazon, you'll need expert guidance to navigate the marketplace and ensure you're getting the most for your buck. Here are five things to consider when choosing a consultant for Amazon:
- Experience: You want someone that has seen what works and what doesn't work.
- Specialization: What's their specialty? Do they work with companies in your niche?
- Communication Style: Some consultants will be happy to do all of the work themselves, while others will prefer to help you learn how to use Amazon functionality and sell effectively yourself. Choose one that fits your learning style and business model.
- Credentials: Does the consultant have any certifications or accolades that set them apart? This could include letters after their name, like PE (professional engineer) or PMP (project management professional).
- Reviews: Do a Google search for reviews on this consultant or firm.
Questions to be asked
After considering these factors, now it is time to ask questions about their amazon consulting services
What do you have in your bag to offer?
When choosing a consultant for Amazon, it is important to look at what services they offer. There are many options available and some companies may not be suited to your size or needs, so looking into the services available is key.
For example, if you are planning to sell on Amazon, but are concerned about how to leverage customer reviews, you would want to look for a consultant who has a history of managing successful review campaigns.
Moreover, if you are looking to advertise on Amazon, it is important to find someone who has experience with Amazon's advertising technology and knows how to set up successful campaigns.
Some of the services they can offer are:
- Content and copywriting
- Search engine optimization (SEO)
- Video/photography
- Product photography
- Virtual assistant services
- Graphic design
- Manufacturing consulting
Do they have knowledge about SEO for Amazon?
When you're looking for an Amazon consultant, it's important to make sure they understand the way SEO works. There's a huge difference between doing SEO for Google and doing it for Amazon, and you don't want to waste your time with someone who only has Google experience.
The goal of SEO is to get your product as close to the top of a search engine's results as possible. If your product is more visible, more people will see it and click on it. If a consultant doesn't know how to use SEO for Amazon, then they won't be able to get the most out of their efforts.
Do they know ways to win a Buy Box?
The next question you should ask any consultant is if they know how to win the Amazon Buy Box. The Buy Box is where all of a product's sales are made. When you're looking at an Amazon product page, this is where customers go if they want to buy that product right now.
This is the first thing shoppers see when they come to a product page, and winning it means better conversion rates. Rush Data Systems, for example, was able to increase their sales by 20% by taking over the Buy Box on one of their top-selling products.
Do they offer a money-back guarantee?
Top consultants will be confident enough in their ability to deliver the results you want that they won't hesitate offering some form of money-back guarantee. Some firms even offer flat pricing where it's the same cost per month regardless of how many hours it takes them to complete your project!
What kind of tools should they be using?
When you're choosing a consultant to help you with your Amazon business, it's important that you find someone who uses the right tools for the job.
You might be tempted to think that all consultants are created equal and that you can just choose the cheapest one, but keep in mind: you get what you pay for. A lower price may mean that the consultant doesn't have access to software or tools that you need in order to optimize your Amazon sales.
The tools you might want are:
- AMZScout
- Jungle Scout
- MerchantWords etc
Do they have a good client retention rate?
It is imperative that you select an Amazon sales consultant with a proven track record of success. This means choosing a consultant who has a good retention rate, meaning clients that stay with the consultant for a long time. The best consultants provide the support and guidance their clients need to succeed on Amazon. However, some consultants aren't very good at communicating with their clients and providing the support needed to succeed. If you're not getting a response from your consultant, or you feel like they are uninterested in helping you grow your business, that's a bad sign. You should consider switching consultants if this is happening.
Do They Have Experience in Your Niche?
It’s important to remember that experience is everything when it comes to working with consultants for Amazon. You don’t want someone who doesn’t know the ins and outs of your niche trying to help you sell your product. You need someone who has a lot of experience in your industry and knows how to market your product on Amazon.
Do they offer amazon account management services?
If you're interested in working with a consultant for Amazon, it's important to first make sure you're working with someone who offers Amazon account management services.
Your consultant should be able to handle all of your advertising, product listings, and more—and then some! After all, if you're not getting the full benefits from Amazon, why bother at all?
Are they following good Amazon optimization practices?
When choosing a consultant for Amazon, it’s important to ensure that the consultant is following best practices for Amazon optimization. This entails using the services of an expert who is well-versed in how to optimize your listings and other aspects of your Amazon presence.
Therefore, you should look for an Amazon optimization expert whether or not they are familiar with all of the top-tier Amazon tools. This includes tools like Merchant Words and Sonar, which allow you to get a better sense of what search terms customers are using and where your products rank on those search terms. If a consultant works with these tools, they will be able to help you determine what keywords are most relevant for your product, as well as how many competitors there are for those keywords within your category.
How many clients do they work with at a time?
If your consultant is working with too many clients, it's likely that you won't get the attention your brand deserves. A good consultant should be helping only 20 or so brands at a time, in order to ensure that each company gets the focus it needs.
Are your services compliant with Amazon's guidelines and policies?
Amazon has strict policies about what services are and are not allowed on its platform. Even if you’re an experienced seller, it can be difficult to keep up with all of these rules. That’s why you need to make sure that any potential consultants you hire are familiar with the guidelines and are able to operate in a compliant way so that you don’t get into trouble with Amazon.
How much do they charge?
It's really important to get an idea of how much each consultant you're considering charging. While price is often one of the most important parts of deciding which consultant to hire, it's also important to keep in mind that lower costs can sometimes mean that quality is sacrificed somewhere along the way.
Conclusion
When consulting with a professional to expand your Amazon business, it's important to take the time to discuss the above stated questions and fully communicate your needs before signing a contract. Doing so will help ensure that you both have a solid understanding of what assistance you'll be receiving and that you stay on track to meeting your goals.