I've failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.

- Michael Jordan

Amazon hosts an enormous catalog, with over 12 million products available on its platform. In the U.S. alone, 95 million people hold Amazon Prime memberships, offering sellers a vast audience.

But how do you ensure that your product gets in front of the right eyes?

How do you make sure you're effectively targeting your customers?

The key to success starts with one thing: mobile optimization.

When creating and optimizing your product listing, the default setup is typically desktop-based. However, the way your customer interacts with media and shops online is increasingly centered around mobile devices. Consider how people browse, share, and engage with content today—most of it happens on smartphones. In fact, mobile phones are often the device people keep closest to them, constantly within reach, and the go-to for everything from browsing to purchasing products.

Therefore, keeping the customer at the forefront of your strategy means adapting your listings to where they’re spending their time—on mobile.

In this article, we’re going to dive into why focusing on mobile optimization for your Amazon product listing is critical, and how it can give you a competitive edge in reaching your customers.

Smartphone Usage Is Soaring

The way people consume digital media is evolving rapidly.

In 2023, the trend became even more pronounced as more individuals turned to their smartphones not just to watch video content or engage with online communities, but also to shop for products. Smartphones have become the go-to device for getting things done—whether it’s making purchases, sharing recommendations, or simply browsing new items.

So, what does this shift mean for Amazon sellers?

It’s simple: you need to adapt. Mobile optimization isn’t just an option; it’s a necessity. To stay competitive, your product listings must be tailored to the platform where your customers spend the bulk of their time—on their phones. This shift offers a significant opportunity: by prioritizing mobile optimization, you gain an edge over sellers who are still focusing primarily on desktop.

Embrace this advantage and leverage the power of mobile.

Smartphone Shopping Is on the Rise

Shopping on smartphones is more popular than ever, giving rise to a new term—mobile commerce or m-commerce.

According to Outerbox Design, a staggering 79% of smartphone users have made a purchase online using their mobile devices within the last six months. That’s an enormous amount of mobile shopping activity!

In fact, internal data reveals that in 2021, 69% of visits to Amazon’s branded stores came from mobile devices. This significant percentage highlights the importance of creating a mobile-friendly shopping experience, which is why Amazon allows sellers to build custom storefronts optimized for mobile users. You can read more about the advantages of having your own store in our Ultimate Guide.

Leading brands are fully embracing this shift by developing dedicated apps that deliver a seamless, on-the-go shopping experience right in their customers’ hands.

Optimizing your product listings for mobile first will give you a competitive edge. That’s why Amazon has introduced tools like the mobile-first store builder, empowering sellers to create a fluid shopping experience for today’s smartphone-savvy customers.

Products Display Differently in Amazon Mobile Search

Optimizing for mobile means understanding how products appear in mobile search results, which are quite different from desktop. On a desktop, four products show up per row, but on mobile devices (and in the app), customers see just one product per line.

This change can be great news if you’re ranked at the top of search results because it gives your product maximum visibility. But if you’re lower down in the rankings, you’ve got a tough challenge ahead.

Imagine your product is ranked 13th for a search term. On desktop, the 13th position isn’t too bad—it means the customer only has to scroll down to the fourth row. However, on mobile, the customer has to scroll through 13 lines of single products to reach yours, with sponsored ads and Amazon’s collections of recommended or highly-rated products taking up even more screen space.

This makes it crucial to ensure that your product’s image and title are compelling enough to grab attention and stop the customer from scrolling past. With limited space, first impressions matter even more in mobile search results!

Your Product Title Carries More Weight

When it comes to securing a click instead of being passed over, your product title is the deciding factor. On mobile, you only have around 80 characters to make an impact, so it’s crucial to get your message across quickly and effectively.

The product title is the first bit of information customers see, and it needs to stand out. At a glance, they’re subconsciously looking for signs that your product addresses their needs—this is where the right primary and secondary keywords come into play.

To capture their attention, prioritize the most important details in your title, but make sure it sounds natural. Overloading your title with too many keywords (a practice known as keyword stuffing) can hurt readability and drive customers away.

Even if shoppers are initially browsing on mobile and later switching to desktop for the final purchase, what matters most is that your product stands out from the start because it clearly offers the solution they’re seeking. Make sure your title is clear, concise, and compelling, so they choose your product over the competition.

Optimize Your Images for Mobile – The Key to Your Product Page Success

When it comes to mobile shopping, your product listing looks completely different from its desktop version. On mobile, the compact screen size limits how much information a customer can view at once. Instead of having all the details in front of them, customers must scroll to learn more, making mobile optimization crucial.

In this mobile-first environment, your product image becomes the main focus. While the product title plays a vital role at the top, the image takes center stage due to its larger size, commanding the majority of your customer’s attention.

The image essentially acts as the gateway to your listing. By optimizing it to not only highlight your product but also tell your brand’s story and demonstrate how it solves the customer’s problem, you increase your chances of converting that attention into a purchase.

Remember, it’s not just about optimizing your copy for mobile—your visuals need to be just as compelling!

If You Don’t Optimize for Mobile, Your Competitors Will

In most product categories, competition is fierce, unless you’re offering something extremely niche. To stay ahead, you need to consider mobile optimization for your Amazon listings.

The smaller screen size on mobile devices presents a challenge, as customers only see one product per line. This means that if your product appears lower in search results, the chances of a shopper scrolling down far enough to see it are slim.

On top of that, your competitors are likely placing strategic ads on product pages similar to yours, attempting to lure customers away. To combat this, your listing needs to directly address your customer’s pain points and offer a clear solution. If you don’t optimize for mobile, your competitors certainly will, and they’ll be the ones capturing your audience.

Key Insights:

Technological advancements are evolving rapidly, and keeping pace is essential for business growth. By staying aware of emerging trends and leveraging them, you can put yourself in a better position to succeed.

Here are a few important reminders:

• Smartphone Use is Soaring: More people own smartphones than ever before, and a growing number of them are using these devices to shop online. As a result, optimizing your product listings for mobile users is no longer optional—it’s essential.

• Small Screens, Big Challenge: The vertical nature of mobile screens means customers see less information at once compared to desktop views. This presents a new challenge when optimizing listings, as you have to capture attention with less screen space.

• Less Is More on Mobile: When it comes to mobile, simplicity is key. Make sure your text is clear, concise, and easy to read, while using high-quality, compelling images to captivate your customers and entice them to learn more about your product.

• Follow Your Customers’ Habits: Pay close attention to how your customers are interacting with digital platforms. If they're spending more time on mobile, make sure your product listings are tailored to their browsing behavior.

By adapting your strategies to reflect the way your customers shop, you’ll be able to stay ahead in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

Final Thoughts

With the rapid evolution of technology, keeping up with trends is crucial for your Amazon business.

At AMZ Shifu, we help sellers stay ahead by optimizing product listings for mobile devices, ensuring that your listings capture attention on smaller screens with clear, concise text and high-quality images.

Book a Call with us today!

Need expert guidance? Book a call with us today, and let’s discuss how we can tailor your strategy for mobile success!