We came across an article that says freedom ‘from’ choice could be the best thing you can offer to customers to sell more. It does make sense, because no one wants to be pressured into choosing from so many options, right?
Anyway, just thought we’d share that with you to give you an idea for a new sales strategy. Of course, we’re sharing some hot drops too.
- Sold by Amazon or by review scammers? 👎
- A sales-boosting tool this 2025 🚀
- Paid marketing tactics this year 💲
BLACK MARKET
Reviews are one of the buyers’ deciding factors when making purchases. But if you don’t use them properly, they can tilt shoppers to choose your competitors.
That’s precisely why many have tried manipulating reviews in their favor. For instance, a recent report by the International Business Times exposed the suspected review manipulation by vendors under the "Sold by Amazon" label.
🪞 A pretty ugly practice
The allegations state that vendors were “dangling gift cards and cash” so buyers would give them glowing reviews. And guess which category these bad actors sell in? The beauty sector!
- This sector is a prime hunting ground for review scammers to reel customers because it’s subjective and easy to sneak into. Also, the “sheer flood of beauty products” makes it hard for Amazon to monitor every listing even with automation. 🕵️
- Unlike 3P sellers, 1P vendors of beauty products sell directly to Amazon. They’re often linked to major brands and operate under different rules.
- The beauty industry generates $100 billion and has no problem with ad budgets. In 2022, approximately $7.7 billion were spent on advertising.
With fake review brokers being active for a while and generative AI making it easier to churn fraudulent content, bad actors have no problem deceiving buyers and sellers.
🛡️ Get fighting
Amazon has been cracking down on fake reviews, even suspending Amazon-native brands like Mpow and Aukey because of them. In 2023, Amazon filed 150 lawsuits against review scammers.
But despite the efforts, there are gaps Amazon can’t seem to fill. It’s a good thing that you can also help defeat such unethical practices. By reporting suspicious reviews on your listing as soon as you spot them, you can greatly contribute to the fight against fake reviews.
AMAZON NEWS
Want to boost your sales? Amazon’s Climate Pledge Friendly program is the answer
Over the past years, sustainable shopping has become a prominent ecommerce trend. Around 55% of shoppers are willing to support eco-friendly brands.
It’s no surprise that Amazon capitalizes on this behavior—and is allegedly succeeding. Ecommerce News Europe shared how the retail giant boasts the sales-boosting effect of its Climate Pledge Friendly (CPF) program.
💸 Going green to make greens
Amazon conducted a study that included 45,000 products in the U.S. and 45,000 products from sellers in Europe. The study found that sellers who joined the CPF program:
- Saw a 12.5% increase in sales;
- Had a 13.3% increase in gross merchandise sales;
- Experienced a 4.4%increase in shipped units in just 12 weeks in the program; and
- And enjoyed a sales boost for products with lower viewership before the program.
This means shoppers are more likely to buy products from brands that joined the program.
🍃 Leaf ‘em
Products on Amazon that meet sustainability standards feature the leaf icon, which works like a charm to attract more shoppers. If you’re already certified, just apply for the CPF badge from Seller Central. If not, you can apply for certification from any of the listed certifying bodies.
BITES OF THE WEEK
- Maturing in 2025: Rapid developments in AI technology show we're moving past the testing phase.
- Streamline Your Payment: Try Amazon Seller Wallet for a centralized solution to simplify payment operations.
- From 360 to 0: ICYMI, the 360-degree image experience on product detail pages is no longer supported.
TACTIC TALKS
Top 3 paid marketing changes you should make this year
2024 has been a whirlwind for marketers, with new tools, privacy updates, and tech improvements sprouting left and right. Getting left behind is easy, especially if you’re stuck on safe marketing paths.
⛔ This year, staying still isn’t an option, as emphasized by Search Engine Journal. Here’s how to keep your campaigns ahead of the game:
- Shift to conversational AI to create ads. Start small with AI-generated ad copy tests in 3 easy steps:
- Prepare a standard copy.
- Then, use the AI tools available to your advertising platform to generate new ad variations. 🤖
- Test these versions in several campaigns to check their performance.
- Refine ad targeting while protecting data privacy: Third-party cookies are unreliable. It’s time to develop your first-party data strategy by:
- Auditing your first-party data;
- Using customer relationship management (CRM) tools and website data collection; and
- Gathering data responsibly with consent-based tracking strategies.
- Optimize for AI-driven search ad placements: Make sure your PPC ads are optimized for AI-generated search summaries.
- Track the CTR rates of ads appearing in AI-generated results versus traditional SERPs.
- Create specialized assets for AI overviews (and keep them clear and concise 📌).
- Review ad performance insight to refine ads for other campaigns.
💡 Other tricks
Aside from the above, advertising for your business would be easier if you:
- Embrace multi-channel and omnichannel campaign integrations;
- Leverage AI-powered image editing when customizing creatives;
- Use tools for better attribution tracking and adjust accordingly; and
- Collaborate with influencers who can elevate your brand’s value.
We’re open to other tips from you, so don’t hesitate to share your proven ad tricks by replying to this email!
