One of the most amazing aspects of the internet is that it gives people the ability to make money while they work from home. The ever changing technology means that currently a lot of people are more attracted to the idea of running an online business as profitable side hustle or full time job. However, a lot of people still think that in order to make money online you need to know how to build websites, how to code, be a social media influencer, blogger etc. But this pre-conceived notion isn’t true because Amazon FBA Business challenges all these notions. Amazon’s Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) business program is the best place to start from especially if you want to explore the e-commerce and online marketing field.

The Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) Business Model

Amazon FBA business model uses the same basic principles such as eBay and Craigslist i.e. you have something that you want to sell and you have to find the buyer. However, the unique feature that makes FBA to stand out is because there are already millions of buyers at your disposal. The problem with other e-commerce sites is that the seller is usually left to do most of the work e.g. selecting the product to be sold, sourcing the supplier, placing orders, packing and then shipping. The difference is that Amazon normally handles all the products that are housed in its various Fulfillment Centers as well as taking care of the shipping and customer support for you. How the FBA Business Model Works To make money using this program is very simple:

•First, you’ll need to find the product to sell from different sources such as thrift shops, retail stores or from other e-commerce outlets.

•List the product that you have chosen on Amazon using your seller account. Most commonly sold products have pictures on Amazon already so all you need to do is to set up your own price.

•Ensure that you ship all the products that you want to sell to Amazon at one time.

•Leave Amazon to find you the buyers, package and ship all the ordered items.

•Collect your payment for the items sold then deduct the Amazon fees. You can withdraw your payments twice a month. From the details above, you can see that starting the FBA business as a newbie is very straightforward task. But in order to run a successful business, below are some of the essential tips that you need to follow.

1 Pick Your First Product Carefully

One of the most difficult, time consuming and challenging task when you are just starting out your FBA business is choosing the first product because this is what will determine the difference between success and failure. If you choose an item that has little or no demand then it may be difficult to sell it. Pick an item that is in demand but with minimal competition from well established brands. Take you time to explore multiple supplier options and carry out detailed and adequate market research.

2. Sourcing of Your Product

After identifying what are the best products to start your Amazon FBA business with, the next important step is where you are going to get these products from. Some of the most popular sources for retail-arbitrage include Walgreens, Walmart, CVS, Big Lots and thrift shops such as the Goodwill. You can also find great products at auctions, garage sales and international sources such as Alibaba.

3. Focus on Marketing Your Product

After you have chosen the right product and you have figured out where you will get a reliable supplier, you need to now market your product on Amazon. Even though the mere fact that your product is already listed on Amazon will give you a high amount of traffic, you still need to concentrate on marketing your product in order to drive fast sales. Carefully craft your product description and provide appropriate high quality images. The product title should incorporate the specific product name, a private label name (in case you have any) and commonly searched keywords. You can even hire a professional photographer to take perfect shots of your product.

But before you begin your Amazon FBA business journey, you will need to come up with rules and strategies that will govern your business. Set up your minimum profit margins as well as category rankings and ensure that you don’t waiver from them because this is what will make the payout more predictable and the business easy to manage.

Author's Bio: 

My name is Elaine and I'm a self proclaimed "do it yourself addict". I am the mother of the best 11 year old boy ever and my husband's not too shabby either