Next Step: Preparing to Launch a Product on Amazon
After weeks of preparation, sourcing materials, and getting our hooded baby towels ready for production, the next big step is launching the product on Amazon. Launching a product on Amazon might sound straightforward, but there are many strategies and approaches that sellers can take. If you’ve ever searched for advice online, you’ve likely come across countless “Amazon gurus” on YouTube offering tips, strategies, and courses on how to successfully launch. Whether you choose to follow these experts, learn on your own, or buy courses, the approach is entirely up to you.
However, no matter which strategy you choose, there are a few essential steps that every Amazon seller needs to take before they can go live with a product. Here’s an overview of what we’ve been working on as we prepare to launch our hooded baby towels.
1. Getting a UPC Code
First things first, before we can list our product on Amazon, we need a UPC (Universal Product Code). This is a unique identifier for our product that allows Amazon to track and manage inventory and sales. Each color variation of our hooded baby towels will need its own UPC code. We’ve already started the process of acquiring these codes to ensure that our products are fully compliant with Amazon’s requirements.
2. Registering a Trademark
When it comes to building a successful brand on Amazon, one of the most important steps you can take is registering a trademark. This process not only protects your brand legally but also opens the door to Amazon’s Brand Registry, which offers a range of benefits that are crucial for growing your business.
In this blog post, I’ll dive deeper into why registering a trademark is essential, how it helps protect your brand, and the process involved. If you're thinking about launching or expanding your brand on Amazon, this is a step you won’t want to overlook.
Why Registering a Trademark Is Crucial
Brand Protection
The primary reason to register a trademark is to protect your brand from copycats and counterfeiters. On a platform as large as Amazon, it’s all too common for sellers to steal product listings, copy product designs, or even sell knockoff versions under your brand name. With a registered trademark, you can take legal action to protect your brand identity and stop these bad actors from hijacking your success.
Access to Amazon’s Brand Registry
Once you have a registered trademark, you can enroll in Amazon’s Brand Registry, which offers a range of valuable tools and protections, such as:
A+ Content: You’ll have access to enhanced product descriptions, including more detailed images, videos, and comparison charts. This allows you to showcase your products more effectively, resulting in a better customer experience and higher conversion rates.
Proactive Brand Protection: Brand Registry provides tools to help you protect your brand by automatically removing counterfeit or unauthorized listings. This helps ensure that only authorized sellers can sell your products, safeguarding the integrity of your brand.
Amazon Stores: You can create your own Amazon Brand Store, a custom storefront where you can display your full product range and tell your brand’s story in a way that enhances customer engagement.
Access to Sponsored Brand Ads: With a registered trademark, you can run Sponsored Brand Ads that appear at the top of search results, helping boost your product visibility.
Legal Protection and Exclusivity
A registered trademark gives you exclusive rights to your brand name, logo, or any other symbol associated with your brand. This means you have legal grounds to prevent others from using the same or similar marks in ways that could confuse customers. It’s a key step in building long-term credibility and security for your business.
Increased Customer Trust
Customers are more likely to trust brands that are protected by a trademark. When they see that you’ve gone through the formal process of registering your brand, it adds a layer of professionalism and legitimacy to your business. It shows that you’re serious about your brand and its quality, and this trust can translate into higher sales.
How to Register a Trademark
Registering a trademark is a process that can take some time, but it’s a critical investment for the future of your brand. Here’s a basic outline of how the process works:
Choose Your Brand Name: Make sure your brand name or logo is unique and not already in use by another company. You can use trademark databases to check for availability, such as the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) for European registrations.
File Your Trademark Application: Once you’ve chosen your brand name or logo, the next step is to file an application with the relevant government agency. For businesses in Europe, you can register your trademark with the EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office). The process is relatively straightforward, and you can do it online at https://www.euipo.europa.eu/en.
Review and Approval: After filing your application, the trademark office will review it to ensure it doesn’t conflict with any existing trademarks. This process can take several months, but once approved, you’ll receive your official trademark registration.
Enrolling in Amazon Brand Registry: Once your trademark is registered, you can enroll in Amazon’s Brand Registry. You’ll need to provide your trademark registration number, as well as some basic information about your brand and products.
Where to Register Your Trademark
If you’re based in Europe or looking to sell your products within the European market, I recommend registering your trademark with the EUIPO. The EUIPO is the official body responsible for managing trademarks in the European Union, and their online system is easy to use. You can start your registration process here: https://www.euipo.europa.eu/en.
For those based in other regions, such as the U.S., you would file your application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Be sure to follow the guidelines and processes for your specific country or region.
The Cost of Registering a Trademark
The cost of registering a trademark can vary depending on the region and the complexity of your brand’s mark (name, logo, or slogan). In Europe, for example, basic registration through the EUIPO starts at around €850 for one class of goods or services. It’s important to note that if your brand covers multiple product categories (classes), the costs may increase.
While this may seem like an upfront expense, the long-term benefits of securing your brand’s identity and accessing Amazon’s Brand Registry far outweigh the cost.
Final Thoughts: Invest in Your Brand’s Future
Registering a trademark is an investment in the long-term success of your Amazon business. It gives you legal protection, opens the door to powerful tools like Amazon Brand Registry, and establishes your brand as credible and trustworthy. If you’re serious about building a lasting brand on Amazon, don’t skip this step.
While the process may take time, it’s a crucial move for protecting your brand and ensuring that you have the tools and resources needed to grow. If you’re ready to start the process, I highly recommend visiting EUIPO to register your trademark: https://www.euipo.europa.eu/en.
Stay tuned as I continue to share more insights from my Amazon journey and the steps I’m taking to grow my brand!
3. Keyword Research
Once the logistical steps are in place, it’s time to start focusing on the actual product listing. One of the most critical aspects of an Amazon launch is keyword research. Before we can write compelling product titles and bullet points, we need to understand the search terms our potential customers are using. Effective keyword research helps ensure that our listing shows up in relevant search results, making it easier for people to find our product.
There are several tools available for Amazon keyword research, and I’ll dive into this process in more detail in future posts. But for now, we’re in the midst of gathering relevant keywords that will help optimize our listings for maximum visibility.
4. Creating High-Quality Product Photos
A product’s photos are one of the most influential factors in driving conversions on Amazon. Customers rely on images to understand the product’s quality, size, and features. That’s why we’re working closely with our designer to create high-quality product images that showcase the softness and design of our hooded baby towels. We want to make sure that our product stands out visually among the competition.
5. Listing the Products
Once we have the UPC codes, trademark registration, keyword research, and photos ready, the next step is listing the product on Amazon. This involves entering all the essential details, such as the product title, bullet points, description, and keywords, as well as uploading the images. The goal is to create a listing that’s optimized for both Amazon SEO and customer engagement.
6. Planning the Launch Strategy
There are many different strategies for launching a product on Amazon, and choosing the right one depends on your goals and budget. Some sellers opt for aggressive advertising campaigns, while others focus on organic traffic and slow growth. Some rely on influencer marketing or giveaway strategies to get the ball rolling.
Our approach will involve a mix of strategies, and I’ll go into more detail about our launch plan in future posts. For now, we’re focusing on building a solid foundation by making sure all the essentials are in place.
And i will write more in details about each of this topic litle bit later