Overview

New Amazon FBA sellers often overlook how critical keyword selection is for getting their products in front of the right shoppers. A weak keyword plan can keep even a high‑quality item hidden from buyers, slowing early sales momentum. Getting the research right from day one sets the stage for sustainable growth.

Key Points

• Overreliance on Broad Terms — Using only high‑traffic generic phrases like “water bottle” limits visibility to buyers searching for a specific style, such as a “double‑wall insulated bottle.”
• Ignoring Search Intent — Choosing keywords without checking whether shoppers want to purchase, compare options, or just read reviews can drive clicks that never convert, inflating click‑through rates while sales stay flat.
• Skipping Long‑Tail Phrases — Missing detailed phrases such as “stainless steel insulated water bottle 32 oz” forfeits low‑competition slots that usually generate higher conversion percentages.
• Underestimating Competition — Failing to gauge how many rival listings rank for a term leads sellers to chase keywords that require massive ad spend to win.
• Neglecting Backend Search Terms — Leaving the hidden “search terms” fields empty or duplicating visible keywords wastes valuable indexing space and prevents Amazon from linking the product to related queries.
• Relying on a Single Tool — Pulling keyword ideas from only one generator ignores seasonal spikes, regional language differences, and emerging synonyms that competitors may already be exploiting.
• Keyword Stuffing — Cramming too many keywords into the title or bullet points makes the copy unreadable and can trigger Amazon’s relevance filters, reducing organic rank.
• Overlooking Mobile‑First Queries — Not accounting for the shorter, conversational phrases people use on mobile devices (e.g., “best travel water bottle”) can leave a listing invisible to a growing segment of shoppers.

How Keyword Research Works for New FBA Sellers

1. Identify Core Descriptors — Begin with the product’s main attributes, such as material, use case, and key benefit; for a “organic bamboo cutting board,” seed terms might include “bamboo,” “cutting board,” and “eco‑friendly.”