5 simple ways to identify profitable items to sell on Amazon

When you are selling on Amazon it’s hard to stand out from the crowd. It seems like everyone is selling on the marketplace these days. While you may be content with what you’re already selling online it never hurts to do some research and see what else is available in case you can find an opportunity that seems like it may be a good fit for you. 

When it comes to finding out what items are going to be profitable to sell there are quite a few things you can do, including checking with some of the Amazon fee calculators. With their formulas, it should be easy to tell quickly whether or not the profits will be enough right out of the gate.

Before you change your inventory over to something new be sure to do thorough research so you don’t end up regretting a change. If you don’t know where to begin, take a look at these 5 ideas to get you started in growing your business and finding new profitable items to sell on Amazon. 

1. Think About What You Like

What better items for you to sell than things you actually like or would use? Of course, there are thousands of profitable items so you need to narrow the field. There isn’t going to be one perfect product, everything has a reason and season for selling well so some flexibility is key. 

But if you figure out a category of items that appeal to you first and foremost you can then whittle away at a list to determine which may be the most profitable for you to be selling. Where better to look at what items are popular on Amazon than the best selling list? Every category on Amazon has a “Top 100 Best Selling” items list that is updated hourly. 

With minimal effort, you can keep track of which items tend to be on top of that list most often in the category that actually interests you. Whether you are looking to sell books or games you are going to have an easier time writing listings and staying invested if you’re selling items you would use yourself. 

2. Consider All the Variables

So you have found a product that you like. That’s awesome. But ask yourself whether other people will love it too. Does it solve a problem in their life? Is it a collectible? People only want to spend money if it fulfills a need in their life or it can solve a problem for them. Sometimes that problem is I need a present for my daughter so don’t overthink this question too much.

Just be sure that you’ve considered not only your own personal preferences before you commit to an item. Also, take into consideration how heavy something is. Heavier items cost more to ship and will eat into your profits. 

Is the item durable or fragile? Will it require extra care to ship? Amazon’s return policy is generous so consider whether you want to replace items that may be damaged during shipping. It’s one thing if a rogue package has a mishap but glass vases may be a recipe for disaster. 
3. Do Your Homework

Once you have narrowed down your possibilities to a few specific items you’re considering it is a good idea to figure out as much about these items as possible. Check out the listing fees to see how they may affect profitability. Go ahead and use Synccentrics FBA Amazon fee calculator while you’re researching, it’s a great honest way to figure everything out before you spend a dime. 

Check and see if Amazon themselves are selling the item. If they are, there’s a good chance you aren’t going to outsell them so maybe move down your list. When you find an item from the best selling list that Amazon themselves aren’t selling, it is a fairly safe indicator you could turn a profit if you sold it as well. 

Also, check to see how many sellers are currently offering the item for sale. If it’s less than 5 that’s great. Aim for under 10 sellers for the best chances your listing won’t get passed over for a competitor’s. 

Look to see how many listings are currently Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA). Because customers have such trust for the Amazon brand if there are more than 5 current FBA listings for an item you are considering you can take that as a sign the market is fairly saturated at the moment and you should look for other options. 

4. Track It Down

Once you think you’ve got a few items you feel pretty confident about its time to open up communication with the suppliers to discover whether or not you will actually be able to get the items you want to sell. You don’t want to get your heart set on something and realize that it’s just not available.

When you have the brand name you can track down the manufacturer. On the manufacturer's website check to see whether they have a wholesale department. This information is typically found on the website’s footer but if you are having a hard time finding it don’t worry just yet. 

Occasionally you may need to call to get in contact with the right department if you’re striking out on the internet. Let the person you speak to know that you are a buyer and are interested in selling their product. They want to get their goods into the hands of people so it benefits both of you to make these connections. 

If it’s a particularly small business you are working with, consider whether reaching out via email is the better way to go. Due to their busy working hours, it may simply be more convenient for them to respond on their terms rather than to try to work in a phone call. Make your connection personal to separate you from other people who are interested. 

5. Sell Away

Once you have your items on hand, there really is no better way to find out if your research is correct than to get your listings online and see what happens. Give each new item approximately 60-70 days before you decide whether it is working out or not. Just because you’re excited about the product doesn’t mean you’ll sell out in the first five hours. 

If you begin to lose heart as you approach the 60 days it is important to be sure your listing is optimized to sell. Check your keywords and item description. You are the expert of your item so make sure that potential customers can find what you’re selling. Make certain you are using your search terms effectively. 

Trust yourself and the research you have done, keep your listing optimized and consider running a promotion in the meantime. Since everyone loves to get a deal on something a promotion is a quick and easy way to set your listing ahead of the others like it. 

Also, bear in mind that the more sales a seller has the higher up their listings will be, so a promotion could be a great way to increase your visibility and let people find your items over other sellers who are out there. If after 70 days you aren’t seeing the sales you’d like, discontinue stocking the item and remove the product listing from Amazon. 

If it turns out your research is correct and your sales are meeting, and hopefully exceeding, your goals be sure to order more stock so your inventory doesn’t run low and you can stay on top of the orders that will come it.

Conclusion: 

So when you are looking to sell an item that will bring you long term results, don’t jump onto the first bandwagon you see. When you take time to do the research on a product you will avoid selling things that are temporarily popular so you can focus on selling items that will bring you long term profit. 

While there’s no guarantee you will find success selling on Amazon, these tips can serve as some insight for you to decide what may work out for your business and how to identify products that will turn a profit.