"I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been given a no, only to find that a better, brighter, bigger yes was right around the corner.” —Arlan Hamilton

You've done the hard work—researching suppliers, ordering samples, and placing a bulk order. Congratulations on reaching this milestone in your Amazon seller journey!

But now that your product is on the way, what should you do next?

Don’t just sit back and wait. Staying active in the Amazon community, keeping up with industry knowledge, and preparing your account for launch are all key steps to success.

During this waiting period, focus on things like optimizing your product listing, getting familiar with Seller Central, conducting keyword research, tracking rankings, and exploring other Amazon business models. Make the most of this time, and you'll be better prepared when your products arrive.

Let’s take a look at what you can do while waiting for your private label product and how staying ahead will benefit you in the long run.

Actions to take while waiting for Amazon inventory

Shipping products from overseas can be a lengthy process, especially by sea, but staying active during this time is key to ensuring success when your product goes live on Amazon. Here are some steps you can take:

Conduct keyword research and monitor rankings 

Even if you’ve already done keyword research when selecting your product, it's a good idea to revisit this regularly. Ensure your keyword strategy is still relevant, and track how your competitors rank for those same keywords.

Effective keyword usage is vital to your listing’s success. Without optimizing your listings and PPC campaigns with the right keywords, customers won’t be able to find your product.

In the 2-3 months it may take for your product to arrive, a lot can change. New keywords could emerge, search volumes may shift, and competitor rankings could fluctuate. Reassessing your keyword strategy before launch will give you a competitive edge.

Optimize Your Listing

Many new sellers tend to delay writing and optimizing their product listings, but it’s important to start early, well before your products reach the warehouse. This gives you ample time to craft a high-quality listing that includes relevant keywords and incorporates clear, compelling content in your images, infographics, and A+ content (if you're enrolled in Brand Registry).

Waiting until the last minute can lead to missed opportunities. Without the right keywords, customers won’t find your product easily, and even if they do, a poorly optimized listing lacking vital information or appealing visuals could prevent them from making a purchase. Taking the time now ensures your listing is fully prepared to perform at its best when your product goes live.

Tips for Optimizing Your Listing:

• Use all available image slots on Amazon, allowing you to upload up to 9 images. Ensure the images highlight your product's features and appeal to customers.

• Hire a professional photographer to take high-quality pictures of your product. Avoid using stock images or low-quality phone pictures.

• Work with a graphic designer to create eye-catching infographics that showcase your product’s unique features.

• Include your top 3-5 keywords in the product title to boost search rankings and improve click-through rates.

• Write compelling bullet points that clearly explain your product's benefits and features, convincing customers why they should choose your product.

• Enroll in Amazon Brand Registry to unlock access to A+ content and enhance your listing with premium visuals and details.

Product Photography

If you’re not skilled with a camera or photography, it’s wise to hire a professional for your product images. With so much competition on Amazon, having high-quality images is essential to stand out.

Though professional product photography can cost between $200 to $300, it’s a worthwhile investment. You've put in the effort to get this far, so don't skimp on this crucial step.

Take time to review your competitors’ images.

Are they missing key angles?

Is the image quality lacking?

Do they have enough images?

Use these insights to make your product images even better.

Also, be sure to familiarize yourself with Amazon’s image guidelines before creating photos for your listing.

Product Image Tips:

• The main image must have a pure white background—no added borders, logos, text, or other elements are allowed.

• Use lifestyle images to show your product in action, helping customers imagine how they’d use it.

• Include informative text and graphics on additional images to highlight key features.

• Show the product from multiple angles, so customers can fully visualize it before purchasing.

• If your product solves a problem, showcase before-and-after images to illustrate the difference it can make.

What tools can you integrate with Seller Central?

• Listing Builder: Create and optimize your Amazon listings effortlessly. Listing Builder provides a listing optimization score, helping you gauge its potential performance. Once optimized, you can push updates directly to Seller Central, eliminating manual data entry.

• Review Automation: Streamline your review collection with Review Automation, which automatically sends review requests to customers. This hands-free tool helps increase your review count without any extra effort on your part.

• Inventory Manager: Plan your inventory efficiently with this tool, which predicts how much stock you’ll need based on past sales data. It ensures you avoid running out of stock or overstocking, keeping your inventory balanced.

• Sales Analytics: Get a comprehensive view of your financial health by tracking every sale and expense. Sales Analytics goes beyond Seller Central’s reports, giving you clear insight into your profitability after accounting for fees, product costs, PPC expenses, and more.

• Alerts: Stay informed of crucial changes to your business, such as price adjustments, new reviews, or potential listing hijackers. Alerts send daily performance reports directly to your email, allowing you to react quickly.

Set Up Your PPC Campaigns

Take advantage of the time you have to establish your PPC advertising campaigns in preparation for your product launch. Avoid rushing this process; instead, focus on carefully crafting each campaign, as it will play a crucial role in driving initial sales and visibility for your product once it goes live.

Gaining those first impressions and sales can be challenging for a new product, especially if you lack an established brand or audience to promote it to.

We recommend launching both automatic and manual Sponsored Product ad campaigns. This approach will maximize your product’s visibility and provide valuable data for optimizing each campaign moving forward.

Engage with Online Seller Communities

Joining online seller communities is an excellent way to stay informed about the latest trends and developments in the Amazon seller ecosystem. These communities can be found across various platforms, including forums, Facebook groups, Instagram pages, and Discord channels.

Participating in these communities not only keeps you updated on Amazon-related topics but also connects you with fellow sellers who share similar interests and goals. You can ask questions, seek advice, and gain insights from more experienced sellers, helping you grow as an entrepreneur.

To get started, try searching for “Amazon seller groups” on Facebook or similar platforms to find a variety of groups to explore. One standout option is the AMZ Shifu Amazon FBA Million Dollars Brand Builder 101 group! This vibrant and supportive community is a great place to ask questions and learn from the experiences of others. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the level of assistance some members are willing to offer.

Keep Advancing Your Seller Education

Becoming an Amazon seller opens the door to a wealth of knowledge and experimentation. From conducting product research to mastering Seller Central, there’s an endless array of subjects to explore and understand more deeply.

To achieve success, it’s crucial to keep this knowledge fresh. While you wait for your product to arrive, consider this tip from our AMZ Shifu seller community: set a small daily learning goal for yourself. This could involve watching a YouTube video about Amazon advertising or reading one of AMZ Shifu’s informative blog posts.

By completing at least one small educational task each day, you’ll be well on your way to becoming an expert by the time your launch arrives!

What else can you do?

Experiment with a different business model on Amazon. Learn about listing creation and shipping products to FBA through retail arbitrage or wholesale. Navigating Seller Central can be challenging, so this is a great opportunity to practice. These two business models offer low-cost ways to sell on Amazon, allowing you to diversify beyond just private label products.

Anticipate Possible Shipping Delays

As an Amazon seller, it’s essential to prepare for potential worst-case scenarios. 

While planning for such disruptions can be challenging, as your business expands, consider ordering extra inventory to mitigate the risks of supply chain interruptions. The holiday season is particularly prone to shipping delays, so it’s wise to order inventory at least 2-3 months in advance.

Building a solid relationship with your supplier can also help alleviate some unexpected delays. If you demonstrate loyalty, respect, and maintain a good working rapport, they may prioritize your orders over others.

If you do face shipping delays, consider placing a smaller order that can be shipped via air express instead of a slower sea freight option. Although air shipping may be more costly, it can help alleviate any inventory shortages you might encounter.

Stay informed about the situation in China or wherever you source your products, so you can stay ahead of potential challenges.

Why Proactivity Matters in Your Amazon Business

Selling on Amazon is far from a “set it and forget it” endeavor. The e-commerce landscape is constantly evolving, and so are customer expectations. To truly outpace your competitors and achieve sustained success, it’s essential to adopt a proactive mindset.

Being proactive allows you to think ahead, whether it’s optimizing your product listings, managing inventory effectively, or planning marketing campaigns. When your products arrive, you’ll be ready to launch with confidence, maximizing your visibility and sales potential right from the start.

Want personalized guidance to enhance your Amazon strategy?

Book a Call with us today!

Let’s work together to elevate your business!

Our expertise can help you navigate the complexities of selling on Amazon, ensuring you’re always a step ahead.