Advertising on Amazon for Today, the Holidays and the Future: What You Need to Do

One of the big stories of the moment is the buzz around Amazon’s intense push into broader advertising endeavors. The online retail giant isn’t content to simply host ads on its own site: It has also set its sights on competing with Google for video placements, in an effort to take on Google’s YouTube advertising.

Related: The Impact Amazon Has (or Soon Will Have) on Your Brand: Do You Have a Plan?

Between this, the increasing usage of Amazon Marketing Services (with even stronger usage predicted for 2018) and the mention of the Extended Amazon Ad Network within Seller Central, Amazon seems to be making a new foray into advertising that’s poised to make a very big splash, possibly even breaking up the Google-Facebook duopoly.

Given that this Amazon disruption is not a matter of if but when, I recommend that brands educate themselves and prepare for the opportunities that Amazon’s new advertising offerings will bring. Below are several steps your should already be taking to make the most of what’s available to you, and to be ready to spring into action as new opportunities arise.

Be aware that Q4 has already commenced. But know that you’re too late only if you don’t start right away or don’t make adjustments to your existing advertising strategy. Here are those steps:

Optimize your listings.

This is basically free advertising, whereby you’re marketing to the Amazon search algorithm so that it ranks your products higher than those of your competitors.

So, put the time into your listings. Make them speak to the Amazon A9 search algorithm as well as to shoppers, and you will reap the benefits of your efforts. Now is the time to fine-tune titles, bullet points, keywords, and images. For some great ideas about how to power up your listings, check out Creating Killer Amazon Product Listings for Better Conversions. If you can make the time, also try an Enhanced…