Tips for Selling on Seller Central

Amazon Marketplace, which was renamed Seller Central, is the portal where you sell your books directly to the consumer. It was initially set up as a portal for selling used books but quickly became an opportunity to sell used and new books at a discount while earning similar or sometimes more commission than through normal channels. It provides authors with another avenue to reach more customers and sell more books. Before you sign up for this program, make sure it fits into your overall book marketing strategy. Several procedures need to be followed, ensuring that customers are treated well.

Tips for Selling on Seller Central

• Decide which of the two programs for Seller Central makes sense for you. (Professional or Individual Seller) The professional selling program unlocks more features but it’s for those sellers who plan to list a lot of products. If you’re looking to offer your book, you should consider the Individual seller program. Either way, calculate the fees, royalties, and requirements before signing up.
• Beyond your books, you can sell any book or most products listed on Amazon by looking for the ‘Sell on Amazon’ button on each book product page. You can also sell items not listed on Amazon with some restrictions. Be accurate when setting up your book, especially with the condition. If the book is brand new, promote that. If you’re not sure of the condition, it’s better to list it as used.
• Evaluate the list price by researching what other sellers have it priced at. You want to be competitive without devaluing the book. If your ranking is high, you can charge a little more. Customers will spend more money to work with a reliable company.
• Decide if you want to be responsible for shipping the book or have Amazon do it for you. If you’re going to be responsible for shipping and supporting customers, be prepared to confirm and ship your orders immediately. You can also sign up for the Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) program, where they handle billing, shipping, and support once you send them books in bulk.
• You can avoid most issues by addressing them immediately. The quicker you respond, the happier a customer will be. Since customers have the opportunity to review your service, your success is at stake. A ranking under 100% satisfaction will hurt your business and impact sales, but it’s not hard to get there.
• When you first begin selling, ask customers for reviews. Ask every customer as only a certain percentage of them will respond.
• Compliment your other selling programs by Selling on Seller Central and take advantage of reaching new customers while earning additional revenue.

In the Seller Central portal, you might be competing against your book in other Amazon programs and with other sellers. These booksellers buy your book from a distributor and then resell it on Seller Central to get customers through their portal, or they have used copies they purchased from other sellers. Seeing a book heavily discounted upsets some authors, but know that you are being paid the agreed royalties from your publisher or print on demand company. Contact us if you have any questions or would like help setting up and optimizing this or any of your Amazon Programs.

Rick Lite of Stress Free Book Marketing, stands at the forefront of the ever-changing book industry. He is a seasoned book marketing professional with over 16 years of experience in the industry. Rick’s expertise comes from tirelessly working on new and innovative ways to market his own books and digital media with his company and parent company, Stress Free Kids. Embracing the core values of integrity, innovation, and growth, Rick works closely with authors to create custom, robust book marketing programs. His easy-going manner provides “stress-free” support and comfort to authors going through the book marketing process for the first time. Rick is quick to share his knowledge and “insider tips” for a successful marketing campaign that will lead to increased exposure, awareness and most importantly, sales.