Amazon FBA first leg: detailed explanation from preparation to transportation methods

Preparations before the first trip

Before starting the first step of Amazon FBA, sellers need to make a series of detailed preparations. The first step is to conduct an in-depth analysis of the target market categories, understand the current status and development trends of competing products, and formulate a detailed product selection report. This process usually takes a week. In order to improve efficiency, product selection tasks can be assigned according to the number of team members, and a selection strategy is recommended.

After confirming the target product, the next step is to look for opportunities for differentiation and determine whether the product needs to be fine-tuned in design. After the design plan is finalized, tools such as PICKFU can be used to test and collect creative plans. This stage is also expected to take a week. After completing these preparations, the seller can contact the factory to place an order for production. The time from order to shipment for a new product is approximately three to five weeks, depending on the product’s complexity.

Create FBA plan

When the stock preparation phase is over, the next step is to create an FBA shipping plan. At this link, it is very important to ensure that the information on FBA products is accurate, especially for sellers with large volumes, as any errors may complicate subsequent processing. For new products for initial testing, it is recommended that the shipment quantity of each SKU be controlled between 150 and 200 pieces. If shipped by air, it usually takes three weeks for the goods to arrive in warehouse; if shipped by sea, it may take five weeks.

Keyword library and EBC optimization

When optimizing Listing, the choice of keywords is crucial. It is recommended that sellers create and maintain a keyword library specifically for FBA products, and use WOLAI documents or Excel tables for unified management. This not only helps with the setting of CPC ads, but is also the basis for increasing product exposure.

In addition, the optimization of EBC (Enhanced Brand Content), the brand story page, cannot be ignored. Including main image shooting, brand video production and flagship store construction, etc., all should be focused on strengthening the brand image. Although the QA Q&A section is not as important as the title and evaluation in terms of weight, it can still significantly improve the user experience, so it is also recommended to prepare some high-quality Q&A content.

Amazon FBA first-leg shipping method

The first leg of Amazon FBA involves logistics arrangements from China to Amazon’s overseas warehouses. During this period, you may encounter problems such as customs clearance and tariff payment, so you usually need to use a professional freight forwarding service provider to assist. However, the service types, charging standards and delivery speeds provided by different service providers are different. Sellers should make reasonable choices based on their own circumstances.

• Commercial Express: International express companies such as DHL, UPS and FedEx are favored for their efficient services and fast delivery times (3-5 days), but the costs are relatively high. Suitable for situations where replenishment is urgent or there are strict requirements on transportation time.
• Air freight plus delivery: The goods are transported to the destination country by air freight, and then the local express company completes the last mile delivery. Slightly slower than commercial express delivery (about 7 days), it is suitable for smaller and lighter products. Cost effective.
• Sea freight plus delivery: This is an affordable option, divided into fast ship (about 25 days) and slow ship (about 45 days). Suitable for the transportation of large quantities of goods, usually orders above 100 kilograms are accepted.
• Rail transportation: For sellers with European sites, rail transportation may be a more cost-effective option if they are located in central and western regions such as Wuhan or Chengdu.

Through the above steps and choosing the appropriate logistics method, sellers can more smoothly complete the preparations for the first leg of Amazon FBA and lay a solid foundation for subsequent operations.