It is simply not enough that you have managed to get into the Merch By Amazon (MBA), a leading t-shirt selling platform. You have to maximize this golden opportunity by fully utilizing the keywords used in your t-shirts product page. By doing this, you will be achieving a higher ranking in search queries and which would allow you to obtain bigger sales for your t-shirts.
How do you research optimized keywords in Merch By Amazon (MBA) to gain a higher ranking? You will have to research online as to what are the hottest keywords and see if there is a possible niche design you can create for it. Pay serious attention to the rankings for these same keywords. You will have to optimize the chosen keywords using tools to enable your t-shirts to rank higher.
Through this article, I will be discussing in more detail this keyword research. I will also add related information about keywords here that will make you appreciate how vital they are towards your success in Merch. My goal here is to complete the keyword optimization so that your items can be ranked higher when searched.
Before I start with this article, I want to fully emphasize here that having an idea for your keyword research is crucial.
Chances are that this same idea is something that you are familiar or well-versed in. There is also a possibility though that you will end up not using this idea in your keywords.
I just would like to say that you can still begin keyword research even without an idea in mind. It will just make the keyword research process longer.
I will like to start this article by first discussing where are the possible places you would start your keyword search.
SpyAMZ
This site claims to have the ultimate solution for any MBA related research tool.
They provide advanced filters, hourly updates, and ranked data.
Should you decide to go for the paid subscription access, you will get full access to over 14 million MBA t-shirts at your fingertips. You will also have a keyword tool that you can utilize to track Amazon’s own Best Sellers Rank list or simply (BSR).
With this software and for this purpose, I will show you how to use their Keyword Research tool.
After signing into this application, you need to click on the Keywords tab. It will show you what are the hottest keywords right now that are appearing at Amazon. They are further broken down into one word, two words, and three-word length keywords shown with their respective counts.
You want to get the best-ranked items and note the keywords that these t-shirts are using. From there, you will arrive at ideas and niches which you would like to pursue.
You can return to the last 15 to 30 days ranking data if you have a need to check the history of these particular items chosen. You do this by selecting the Product Tab and then choosing the Best Ranking items and then the period you want to backtrack on.
Another way of going about with this keyword search is through by clicking on the Trends tab. This tab will give you back information such as the keywords with the most potential, the fastest rising, and the most trending at this time.
Google Keyword Planner
If you are planning to use this keyword tool, I suggest that you do so only if you have an idea as to what direction your search is set to. You can’t start with blanks here.
This keyword tool, however, is free to use so that is a good reason to do so. Plus, it can furnish you with your budget details for a possible Adwords campaign.
Using that keyword you are thinking of, Google Keyword Planner will give you additional keywords to consider. It will also list relevant items and further suggestions to refine this same keyword.
When you start using this tool, it will allow you to further refine your keyword search by asking you for these parameters: locations, languages, negative keywords, and Google. The tool will also ask for your landing page and product category.
Consider using multiple landing pages to allow you to get as many effective keywords to use as you can.
It can also perform keyword tool filters on your behalf such as what keyword to include.
You will get the following information after the search is accomplished by this tool:
- Average Monthly Search
- Suggested bid for your plans
- Organic Average
You can further check on a detailed chart for this by letting your cursor hover over the Average Monthly Search.
Check out the Keyword Planner option to get a further lead on other keywords to consider using.
Since Google would also like to derive income out of this keyword search of yours, it will likewise suggest ad group ideas where you would like to target after this search is complete. It will give you the amount needed to start with these campaigns.
Another keyword tool coming from the Google family is Google Trends. It is always updated and shows what is trending right now. You will also get ideas here.
MozBar
This is the same as with Google Keyword Planner in the sense that you need a keyword idea before you begin.
You will first need to install the Google Chrome extension MozBar on your computer.
Afterward, you search for your keyword in Amazon within the target category. You will then activate MozBar and then select Page Analysis. Go on and scroll for H2 tags and then copy them all.
Take these items that you have copied and go and paste it to Wordcounter.Net site.
You will be interested in the keyword densities that will be given for these items that you have searched for.
Also, through this result, you will be seeing sub keywords that are not relevant to what you are searching for. But since they are there and part of the search’s first page, you should consider them for use. They are being searched for by people plenty of times and you should remember that always.
I would suggest that you consider these irrelevant sub keywords for possible integration to your original keyword.
Through this, you will have greater Search Engine Optimization or (SEO) ranking as your keyword pool is rightfully being expanded.
Keywordtool.io
This is another tool that you can consider using if you have a keyword in mind already.
The steps here are almost similar to the Google Keyword Planner and MozBar. You will be getting almost the same kind of data in return.
The thing about this app is that some of the tasks that you managed to do above such as keyword densities and competitive rate can only be used if you get the premium app version.
Amazon
Simply type in t-shirt into Amazon and you will see all the t-shirts available here. This will be a massive list so you just concentrate at the ones near the top of the list.
Look closer at the product descriptions used by the top items and see how they are wording the information such as brand name, product title, and features. You will get an idea as to where to start especially if you have a particular keyword in mind already.
You can also perform the same search on MBA.
If you use the keywords “bottom hem, double-knit sleeve, classic fit, and lightweight,” there is a good chance that these items are Merch ones. Do the same kind of review as what you did with your Amazon search results.
Social Media And Buzzfeed
When you get into your social media own accounts, go immediately to the part of the app that shows what is trending.
YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook all have these categories. Pay close attention to Facebook ads for the products usually promoted here are what is currently hot in the market. See out the viral videos in YouTube which has garnered plenty of views within a limited time.
Buzzfeed is a good site to go to for it generates a lot of quirky and catchy terms that can be utilized for keywords.
Its popularity with its viewers immediately guarantees you a market if you will use something from this site.
Consider niche websites especially with the ones that you are very familiar with. There could be ideas for keywords that is out there where you can immediately decide on to pursue or not.
TV, Newspapers, and Radio
These media outlets are not as commonly accessed as before but they can still be a good indicator for what is trending in the market. Look closely at the news and current events section.
Also, pay attention also to the songs that are being played regularly at the airwaves.
I suggest that you check out the sports section or shows for athletic competitions have always a big number of fans. There is no lack of athletic events happening during the entire year.
Retail Stores And Supermarkets
When you go to these places, pay serious attention to the items that they are selling near the area of the checkout counters.
These items are the ones the stores are promoting hence there will be a buzz about them or they are simply just what’s popular out there in the market.
Other Keyword Research Sites
Consider these sites also for your research.
- Merch Informer
- Merch Buddy
- Merch Titans
- Pretty Merch
Most of them are on a paid subscription basis in case you want to maximize all the tools that they carry. Ultimately, this is your own decision if you want to proceed and use them.
Knowing More About MBA Keywords
Side by side with keyword research and product optimized descriptions, a good keyword will enable your item to be ranked high in organic searches. These are the searches done freely within Amazon.
Keywords direct Amazon as to where you want your product to be included. It is also what the customer types in the product search box when trying to search for an item to buy.
If you can really understand the logic as to why the customer is searching for a product, then you are one step ahead already.
This will play into the keywords that you will be crafting and therefore, it will lead more searches for your item.
You are well served to check other information relating to this keyword such as its competition, how well products in the niche market you are targeting are doing, and the number of valid searches per month done for this item.
In the end, use a niche that has low competition but comes with very high demand.
Keyword Trademark Check
Just a gentle reminder to run any keywords that you may have been thinking of or may ultimately choose with the Trademark check or any other similar application.
This is crucial if you have keywords and sub keywords. Check them all with these trademark checking software and remove the ones that have clear signs of violations.
This will save you the trouble of starting all over again should the keywords you have chosen failed this trademark check. You will pay the price if Amazon chooses to suspend you or ultimately kick you off of the Merch platform.
Ranking Your Keywords Higher During Searches
At this time, you should have in your possession the keywords and sub-keywords you would like to use for your next t-shirt design. You will need to incorporate these same keywords in your product descriptions later.
Use as many as possible keywords to get your items ranked higher.
But, there are still things to learn before going through with this step. It will make you more knowledgeable and enable your t-shirts to be more visible for Amazon customers to see.
For one thing, these keywords will have to be relevant or else it will be considered as spam and it is against MBA’s policy.
I will discuss first how Amazon performs its search functions when a query is posed by a customer first through the algorithm that it is using.
Amazon’s A9 Product Search Algorithm
You have to always remember here that what’s important is to rank your items when searched for Amazon, not for Google.
Google, when queried, will give you answers; while, Amazon will give products for the same query. It is a crucial distinction to always consider.
Amazon’s algorithm is what you can consider very proactive. This is so because they have always been meticulous in diligently analyzing all data available, noting past traffic patterns, and indexing the text which are describing every product available in their catalog.
Once you have typed in the very first character of your search, Amazon will immediately bring back instant suggestions and a comprehensive search of results.
With this, you can see why the keyword search work you have done earlier is for.
These same keywords would have to work for it to be indexed for and considered as part of the niches you would like to target. I would assume here that these same niches are profitable ones that you have also targeted.
Amazon’s P9 algorithm considers the following metrics for a product in order for it to be ranked higher.
Conversion Rate
Your product’s actual conversion rate to sales is the most important thing for Amazon.
It is obvious that they want your products to sell well for they are making more money out of this transaction.
A higher conversion rate for your product will lead to a higher ranking. And higher conversion rate means opportunities for achieving greater sales for your products.
Relevancy
Your product will be placed in various niches through the primary keywords and the different variations of these keywords that you have indicated.
Your designs will have to be relevant with these keywords utilized or you will be considered guilty of doing keyword stuffing or having spammy keywords.
Consider this the next time you are writing the keywords for your items.
Customer Satisfaction And Retention
I have mentioned in my other articles that Amazon prioritizes its customers over anything.
This makes sense for they have become the biggest e-commerce platform because of the loyalty of these same customers. They value the feedback that they are getting from these people very seriously.
You, as a Merch seller, need to give Amazon’s customers a happy experience with what they have purchased from your store.
Note that their customers pay attention more on the price and quality of the product which should be an added tip for you here.
Good reviews, especially 5-star ones, would lead to your products being ranked higher.
I would also like to add here factors that are being used by Merch or MBA in ranking products. They are very similar to Amazon and they are:
- Sales Rank or BSR: This is where the eyes are always trained on in the entire Amazon landscape.
- Click Through Rate or (CTR): An eye-catching design will be clicked upon more than one that isn’t.
- Customer Reviews: Same as with Amazon.
- Design and Keyword Relevance: Same as with Amazon.
- Product Listing Optimization and Completeness: You will need to take time to fill all of this required information. There are tools out there that can simplify this repetitive task for you through the smart use of hotkeys. Include your keywords in all fields as mentioned earlier.
- Price: If your selling price is lower than what their market average is, your product can get more sales and be ranked higher.
With these things explained, I would like to proceed with how to use the keywords that you have researched for and obtained in your product descriptions.
Product Descriptions And Keyword Optimizations
The first rule that you have to remember here is to locate your primary keywords in each of the fields available on the MBA Product Details page. Therefore, these same keywords would have to be in these fields:
- Brand name
- Title of product
- Bullet #1
- Bullet #2
- Product description
Bullets 1 and 2 are for the Key Product Features. Together with the Product description field, these are optional entries for you to make.
I would recommend strongly that you ignore the optional choice for these fields and key in relevant information instead.
Include synonyms or related words and variations of the same item since customers use different words in searching for products. Words that are used in the US vary somewhat for words used in the UK and Commonwealth countries.
But don’t just plaster these words in the fields above. You need to have a natural and free-flowing way of incorporating them, if possible in sentence form, especially in the bullets and description fields.
You don’t want to sound crude and in a rush with these texts so please make sure that you have proper grammar and correct spelling and right punctuation. Run these same texts with a grammar check software before you finish these tasks to be sure.
Let me break this down further by each field.
Brand Name
This is the name you would want for your brand.
You have a choice whether to have multiple brands for each niche or just simply have one brand for all.
This decision will affect as to where you will stash all of your designs under one name or have separate brands for each type of design.
It would be wise to have a separate brand for each niche that you have targeted for easier management.
If you only have one brand, a customer who sees one of your design will just have to click on the hyperlink to see all your designs in one place. However, a competitor can easily come in and capture these same designs because they are just in one place.
Having a separate brand name per niche would make it quite easy for your customers to just see the designs in this particular brand.
They need not see your other brands for they are probably not interested in it anyway. You don’t need to oversell here or deluge your customers with too many different designs that he or she will feel overwhelmed.
Title Of Product
I will include the niche, keyword for this design, the target audience of this item, and other fillers here.
These fillers will make the description friendly and easy. Words like smile, funny, and similar ones should be used here.
You can also have holidays, events, and relations in this field.
If there is still space available, try to have your other keywords be part of it. Don’t use duplicate words.
Always remember the rule about spammy keywords here and in all the other fields.
Key Product Features
You need a big dose of creativity is required to do your entries here.
It is totally similar to writing a story for you have to take care of answering important plot points. They are such as who is this t-shirt for, what do target buyers like to do, and where and when will they wear this t-shirt.
You aren’t running out of space here for there two bullet fields available. You can fill them up also with rich keywords.
You can open a thesaurus and a dictionary that will further improve your wording here.
I know that this is a pain to write but it is worth it. The good thing about this is that you will get better as you do this all over again for your new items. You can also consider automating these entries with the available online tools.
Create a separate spreadsheet file to track the information you have indicated here. This will save you time later for you can always go back to it. You can even include a remarks column in this file that will show the success or failure you have achieved with these words.
Product Description
Even though Merch experts are saying that Amazon is not doing anything with this field, I will still continue to put appropriate information here.
You just don’t know when Amazon will change its mind and make use of this field. If they do and you have filled up this field already with nice information, then you need not worry come the time a change is made.
I also don’t like to leave blank information for my customers for it doesn’t project confidence to them. I know that it will affect these sales targets that I want to achieve.
I am sure that after going through with all the steps recommended in this article that you will find what works best for you. You will have your own way of developing ideas for your target niche and audience. And you will manage to perform your keyword research and handle your product descriptions entries well so that your listings will rank high in Amazon.
