1. Introduction
Listing a product on Amazon is one of the most important steps in building your online business. The process can vary depending on your situation: whether your product already exists in Amazon’s catalog or you are introducing something entirely new. Below you’ll find:
| • Preparation steps before listing
| • Scenario A: Listing a product that already exists on Amazon
| • Scenario B: Listing a new, unique product
| • Scenario C: Listing multiple SKUs or variations in bulk
| • Common mistakes and best practices
2. Preparation Before Listing
Before adding your product, make sure you have the essentials ready:
| • A verified Amazon Seller Central account. You can create one here.
| • Product identifiers such as UPC, EAN, or GTIN. If your product has no barcode, you can apply for a GTIN exemption following Amazon’s guidelines.
| • High-quality product images, accurate titles, and detailed descriptions. See Printify’s listing guide.
| • Correct brand and manufacturer information, and an appropriate product category as explained in LitCommerce’s article.
| • Decide whether you will use FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) or FBM (Fulfillment by Merchant).
Having all of this ready helps you avoid listing rejections and delays.
3. Scenario A: Listing a Product That Already Exists
If your product already exists in Amazon’s catalog, you can simply add your offer to the existing listing.
Steps:
| 1. Log into your Seller Central account and go to Inventory → Add Products. Printify explains this step here.
| 2. Search for the product by name, UPC, EAN, or ASIN. LitCommerce provides examples here.
| 3. Match your product with the correct existing listing (ensure it’s the same brand, model, and variant).
| 4. Enter your offer details including price, condition, shipping method, and fulfillment choice (FBA or FBM).
| 5. Submit and wait for approval. Your offer will appear alongside other sellers on the same product page.
Things to Note:
| • You are joining an existing listing, not creating a new one. Amazon prohibits duplicate listings for the same product (AMZScout guide).
| • Ensure your product condition is accurate and matches the variation (color, size, etc.).
| • If the category is restricted, you might need approval as explained in LitCommerce’s category guide.
4. Scenario B: Listing a Brand New Product
If your product is new or unique and does not exist on Amazon, you’ll need to create a new product detail page.
Steps:
| 1. In Seller Central, click Add Products → I’m adding a product not sold on Amazon. See Printify’s walkthrough.
| 2. Choose the appropriate category carefully to improve visibility. LitCommerce explains category setup here.
| 3. Fill in product identity details: brand name, manufacturer, SKU, UPC/EAN/GTIN. Apply for GTIN exemption if needed through Shopkeeper’s instructions.
| 4. Write an optimized title, bullet points, and description. Use keywords naturally as recommended by AMZScout’s listing guide.
| 5. Upload high-quality images showing your product clearly. Guidelines are covered in Shopkeeper’s listing tutorial.
| 6. Enter your price, stock quantity, shipping details, and product condition.
| 7. Save and submit the listing. Once approved and inventory is in stock, your product will go live.
Additional Considerations:
| • If you own the brand, consider enrolling in Amazon Brand Registry for more control over listings (LitCommerce explains how here).
| • Some categories are “gated” and require prior approval. Check Shopkeeper’s category requirements.
| • Optimize backend keywords and search terms to improve visibility. Sellbery’s complete listing guide covers this in detail.
| • Use parent-child listings for different colors or sizes under one main product.
5. Scenario C: Bulk Listing Multiple Products or Variations
If you are managing multiple SKUs, Amazon provides bulk upload tools.
Steps:
| • Use Inventory File Templates (CSV spreadsheets) through Seller Central or integrated software. Details available in LitCommerce’s tutorial.
| • For variations like color or size, create a parent ASIN with several child ASINs to display all variations on one page.
| • For bundles (for example, a two-pack or gift set), create a new listing with its own unique UPC and description.
| • Track inventory carefully. If using FBA, ensure your products are checked in at Amazon fulfillment centers before activating listings.
| • Maintain quality even in bulk listings. Consistent titles, images, and accurate attributes improve conversions.
| • Avoid duplicates. Amazon’s system may suppress or deactivate duplicate entries (Seller Assistant App guide).
6. Common Mistakes and Best Practices
Mistakes to Avoid:
| • Using titles that are vague or lack keywords.
| • Uploading poor quality images that violate Amazon’s image policy.
| • Incorrectly categorizing products or creating duplicate listings.
| • Ignoring gated category requirements and facing listing rejections.
| • Providing misleading product information.
Best Practices:
| • Study top sellers’ listings to learn how they structure titles and bullet points.
| • Write a clear title that includes brand, product name, and one strong keyword.
| • Use 4–6 bullet points that highlight benefits, not just features.
| • Upload multiple high resolution images including scale and usage photos.
| • Enroll in Brand Registry for private label products to secure brand authority.
| • Monitor performance through Seller Central (conversion rate, keyword ranking).
| • Use backend search terms to capture more customer queries.
| • Choose a reliable fulfillment method. FBA offers fast shipping and Prime eligibility.
| • Stay compliant with Amazon’s product rules and avoid exaggerated claims.
7. Conclusion
Listing products on Amazon is straightforward once you understand your scenario.
| • If your item already exists, simply add your offer to the existing ASIN.
| • If it is new, create a fresh product page with optimized content and images.
| • If you manage many SKUs, use bulk tools for efficiency.
By following proper listing guidelines and optimizing for search and conversion, you can increase visibility and sales while avoiding common pitfalls.
For further reference, you can explore:
| • Jungle Scout’s Seller Success Resources
| • Amazon’s official Add a Product Help Page
| • Titan Network’s Amazon Growth Guides