Are Amazon Strategic Account Services Worth It?
Amazon Consultancy Vs Hands-On Management
An agency can offer a better value proposition
Is Strategic Account Services (SAS) the way to achieve growth on Amazon? Before committing to a contract with an agency, explore all options that can help bring your business goals within reach.
- How Strategic Account Services Works
- Pros and Cons of Strategic Account Services
- Should You Hire an Agency Instead of SAS?
- Amazon Strategic Account Services Program Restrictions
- Risk Factors And Challenges of Strategic Account Services
- 4 Ways to Tell if your Amazon Account Being Managed Properly
- Critical Considerations Before Signing Up for Amazon Strategic Account Services
- Is Amazon’s Strategic Account Services Worth It?
- In Conclusion
Grow your sales on Amazon
How Strategic Account Services Works
What to expect when you sign up
Agencies with strategic account services will provide support in these key aspects:
- Dedicated account manager/trusted Amazon advisor
- Business guidance
- Holiday and sales event preparation
- Identification of new opportunities
- Merchandising and promotional assistance
- Operational support
- Ongoing support
How much does SAS cost?
The maximum monthly cap fee is $5,000 in any given month. SAS cost is (base fee) $1,600/month plus 0.3% of your business’ total sales from previous month, plus tax. Hence, the exact amount will vary depending on your monthly sales revenue.
Who is SAS for?
The ideal users of Amazon SAS are brand owners and resellers who have Professional Selling Account and are actively sell products on Amazon.com (U.S.).
As described by Amazon, eligible businesses are those that have good standing on the Amazon marketplace, implying that this program is not for beginners and amateurs
Pros and Cons of Strategic Account Services
Get a balanced overview of strategic account services.
Pros of Amazon Strategic Account Services
- Personalized Insights
Receive tailored recommendations for areas like fulfillment, account health, conversion growth, merchandising, and global expansion. - Operational Support
Access tactical assistance for time-consuming tasks such as listing creation, catalog optimization, and A+ content recommendations, facilitating scalability. - Programs and Deals
Stay updated on the latest seller offerings, including beta programs and deal opportunities, with guidance on selecting the most beneficial options. - Issue Assistance
Efficiently manage issues to prevent business interruption, supported by a dedicated team of specialists offering insights and guidance.
Cons of Amazon Strategic Account Services
- Eligibility Criteria
Restricted to sellers with an active Professional Selling Account in good standing on Amazon.com. - Brand Owner Requirement
While designed for both brand owners and resellers in Amazon’s US store, the program may not be suitable for those outside this scope. - Multiple Seller Accounts
Each seller account must be enrolled separately, and working with a single account manager across multiple accounts depends on capacity. - Equal Treatment in Policies
Enrolling in SAS doesn’t grant preferential treatment regarding Amazon’s policies, which are applied uniformly to all sellers. - New Seller Consideration
SAS is ideal for established sellers; aspiring sellers need to first establish a presence on Amazon’s US stores.
Should You Hire an Agency Instead of SAS?
Considering the cost of Strategic Account Services, some sellers may hesitate to sign up. An alternative is opting for Full-Service Management from My Amazon Guy, providing a robust alternative to SAS.
For the same price, businesses will get the following with Full Service Management:
- You will have eight team members including a Brand Director, Brand Manager, Project Manager, Amazon Specialist, Advertising Specialist, and Graphic Designer to manage your account for you.
- You will receive not just advice or insights on how you can make your business on Amazon succeed.
- You have a complete team to do SEO, PPC, Design, Catalog Merchandising, and Catalog Troubleshooting tasks for you.
The Difference that My Amazon Guy Brings
With over 400 employees and generating over $1B in sales for 430+ clients.
- Inclusive Seller Support: Welcoming sellers of all levels, whether beginners or experienced, from any location.
- Personalized Expertise: Providing tailored insights on account health, fulfillment, conversion growth, expansion, and more.
- Actionable Solutions with Manpower: Beyond advice, we offer hands-on assistance for tasks like listing creation, optimization, A+ content design, brand registry, and more.
- Deal Hunting for Your Benefit: Actively seeking new deals and promotions to enhance your business.
- Proactive Issue Management: Vigilantly handling and managing issues related to your account.
- Policy Compliance Assurance: Ensuring your listings align with Amazon policies.
- Multi-Brand Capability: Capable of handling multiple brands (terms and conditions apply).
- Diverse Service Offerings: Tailoring services to your needs, including PPC Only, CTR Main Image Upgrade, Listing Reinstatement, and One-on-One Coaching Sessions.
- Transparent Communication: Maintaining an open line of communication, including bi-weekly meetings, for continuous updates on your business status.
- Detailed Reporting: Providing weekly and monthly reports, including sales and ads performance.
- Goal-Oriented Approach: Accomplishing tasks aligned with your goals, offering expert insights for optimal outcomes.
- Founder’s Experience: Leveraging the extensive experience of our founder, Steven Pope, for reliable services and products.
We deliver services and products grounded in years of Amazon platform expertise.
Navigate the choice between hiring an agency or opting for SAS with confidence. And below are additional information to empower you in making the right choice.
Amazon Strategic Account Services Program Restrictions
Before joining SAS, it’s important to understand eligibility requirements, account setup limitations, communication structure, and program expectations.
Eligibility and New Sellers
SAS is designed for both brand owners and resellers operating in Amazon’s U.S. stores. However, it is not suitable for those who are not yet selling on Amazon’s U.S. stores.
One Seller Account Per Enrollment
Each seller account must be enrolled separately in SAS. Depending on account manager capacity, working with a single account manager across all accounts may or may not be possible. Amazon works closely with sellers to determine the best management approach.
No Special Treatment, Amazon Policy-Wise
Sellers enrolled in SAS should not expect different or preferential treatment regarding Amazon’s policies. Policies are consistent and applied equally to all sellers, whether enrolled in the program or not.
Communication with Account Manager
Engagement with your account manager is primarily through phone and email. Monthly check-in calls are scheduled to review your business plan and goals.
Program Suitability for New Sellers
SAS is recommended for sellers who have been operating Professional Selling Accounts for more than 12 months. While new sellers can apply, the program is likely more beneficial for experienced Amazon sellers.
Account Manager Allocation
Amazon limits the number of sellers each account manager handles, ensuring focused optimization of accounts and personalized assistance in achieving business goals.
Merchandising Assistance
Your account manager can advise on various Amazon deal types, but fees may still apply. They can also assist in developing a deals strategy based on your business objectives.
Program Fees and Customization
The cost of SAS is customized for each seller individually. It is currently offered as a bundled package of services, and sellers cannot pay less for access to fewer services.
Risk Factors and Challenges of Strategic Account Services
Financial risks of SAS:
- High Cost
SAS fees depend on how big your business is, usually starting at a few thousand dollars per month. This might be a lot of money, especially for smaller businesses. Before deciding, think about whether the expected benefits are worth more than the cost. - Limited Availability
SAS is not open to all sellers, with minimum performance requirements and limited spots. If you don’t qualify or can’t secure a spot, the investment in researching and preparing for SAS might be wasted. - Long-Term Commitment
Enrolling in SAS means committing to a minimum 3-month contract. This might be risky if you’re not sure how well the program will work for your business.
Operational risks of SAS:
- Internal Capability
SAS is most effective when combined with your team’s dedicated effort and strategic planning. Make sure your team has the resources and expertise to implement the insights and recommendations from SAS. - No Magic Bullet
SAS is a tool, not a guaranteed path to success. Increased sales and growth depend on your commitment to implementing the suggested strategies and adapting them to your specific market and product. - Potential ROI Fluctuation
ROI can vary based on your business, product niche, and market competition. Be ready for the program not meeting your expectations.
Relationship-Based Risks of SAS:
- Varying Account Manager Effectiveness
Reviews indicate varying support quality from account managers. There’s a chance of getting a less responsive or effective manager, which could affect your experience. - Overreliance on SAS
While SAS provides useful guidance, depending entirely on their recommendations without independent analysis and critical thinking may impede your long-term growth and market understanding.
Additional Considerations:
- Complexity of Implementation
Applying SAS recommendations may be intricate, involving changes to your current operations, marketing strategies, and product listings. Be ready to invest time and resources in this process. - Data Sharing and Privacy
SAS requires access to your Amazon seller data. Ensure you understand how your data is used and protected before agreeing to the program’s terms.
4 Ways to Tell if your Amazon Account Being Managed Properly
This video outlines four things you should keep an eye on as indicators of whether or not your Amazon account is being properly managed:
- Is anything out of stock?
- Go to the inventory page, hit edit on a top seller, and check the search term field. If commas, or unoptimized, or not 250 bytes, show him the 250 bytes trick
- Check Advertising, a. Anything out of budget? b. Top spend auto campaign for negations. c. Search term report and point out wasted ad spend by sorting by spend and pointing out high ACOS
- Go to a business report, 1 year, sort by month, look for up down
Timestamps:
- 00:00 – Is your account being run properly on Amazon?
- 00:26 – Has anything gone out of stock?
- 00:48 – If you see a blank blue line disappear all of a sudden, that means you went out of stocks or have a severe catalog issue
- 01:02 – Bonus Tip #1: If you don’t see a yellow line, that means you haven’t set a list price
- 01:08 – Bonus Tip #2: Have they set up a shipping alert on inventory?
- 01:30 – Check SEO and make sure the search term field is set to 250 bytes.
- 02:29 – Use a byte counter tool like Rakko to check the number of bytes
- 03:32 – Check the Advertising and check if there is anything out of budget
- 04:01 – Advertising tip is to go to the top spending auto campaign
- 04:11 – If you don’t see negative keywords, there’s an ad dollar that’s being wasted on an auto campaign.
- 04:23 – If there are no negations on an auto campaign, that is a sign of mis advertising management.
- 04:33 – Negative keywords can be added at a campaign level
- 04:55 – Advertising tip is to dive into the search term report
- 05:41 – Go to a business report and look at the sales and traffic, sort by month, and take a year view and check for trend lines and data issues
- 07:40 – Visit My Amazon Guy website
Critical Considerations Before Signing Up for Amazon Strategic Account Services
Before enrolling in Amazon Strategic Account Services, sellers should evaluate whether the program aligns with their goals, budget, and growth strategy.
Business Experience
Evaluate your level of experience as an Amazon seller. While SAS is open to various sellers, it’s recommended for those who have solid standing on the platform.
Monthly Sales Revenue
Consider your monthly sales revenue. Considering the price of the program, one can assume that this is designed for businesses doing multiple six or seven figures per year. Assess whether the potential benefits align with your sales volume.
Cost Analysis
Understand the pricing structure of SAS, including the base fee, percentage of total sales, and the monthly cap. Ensure that the costs are justifiable and align with your budget.
Business Goals
Clearly define your business goals. SAS provides services such as product listing optimization, holiday preparation, and exclusive support. Ensure that these align with your specific objectives.
Eligibility Criteria
Confirm that you meet the eligibility criteria, including having a Professional Selling Account in good standing on Amazon.com (U.S.). Assess whether your business model fits within the framework set by Amazon.
Level of Amazon Involvement
Consider your comfort level with Amazon’s involvement in your account management. SAS provides a dedicated account manager from Amazon. Ensure that this level of collaboration aligns with your preferences.
Long-Term Strategy
Evaluate whether SAS aligns with your long-term business strategy on Amazon. Assess the scalability and adaptability of the services to accommodate your future growth.
Return on Investment (ROI)
Estimate the potential return on investment. Assess how the services provided by SAS can contribute to increased sales and overall business growth.
Program Limitations
Understand the limitations of the program, as explained above. Ensure that these align with your operational preferences.
Alternative Solutions
Explore alternative account management solutions and services available in the market. Compare the features, benefits, and costs to ensure that SAS is the best fit for your business needs.
Is Amazon’s Strategic Account Services Worth It?
Whether Amazon’s Strategic Account Services are worth it depends on your specific business needs and budget. Here’s a quick breakdown to help you decide.
Consider it a good fit if:
- You’re a larger seller with substantial revenue, as fees are tailored to size. Smaller businesses might find it challenging to justify the cost.
- You prioritize personalized support and expert guidance, as SAS provides a dedicated account manager and strategic insights.
- Your goal is to enhance sales through optimized listings, targeted promotions, and increased market awareness, with SAS offering valuable resources and exclusive opportunities.
- You have internal resources available to implement SAS recommendations; it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution and requires effort on your part.
Not recommended if:
- You operate a small business with a limited budget, as the high fees could outweigh potential benefits.
- You already possess a strong understanding of the Amazon marketplace and effective strategies, potentially making additional guidance unnecessary.
- You prefer a hands-off approach and are unwilling to commit to a long-term contract, given the minimum 3-month commitment might be daunting.
In Conclusion
Whether Amazon’s Strategic Account Services are worth it depends on your specific business needs and budget. Here’s a quick breakdown to help you decide.
Consider it a good fit if:
- You’re a larger seller with substantial revenue, as fees are tailored to size. Smaller businesses might find it challenging to justify the cost.
- You prioritize personalized support and expert guidance, as SAS provides a dedicated account manager and strategic insights.
- Your goal is to enhance sales through optimized listings, targeted promotions, and increased market awareness, with SAS offering valuable resources and exclusive opportunities.
- You have internal resources available to implement SAS recommendations; it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution and requires effort on your part.
Not recommended if:
- You operate a small business with a limited budget, as the high fees could outweigh potential benefits.
- You already possess a strong understanding of the Amazon marketplace and effective strategies, potentially making additional guidance unnecessary.
- You prefer a hands-off approach and are unwilling to commit to a long-term contract, given the minimum 3-month commitment might be daunting.
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Our Services
The support you need to succeed on Amazon.
Full Service Management
As a full service amazon agency, we manage all the pillars of Amazon – SEO, PPC, catalog, design, and others – to have them work in sync with each other for a better chance at getting success.
Search Engine Optimization
Our Amazon SEO experts identify the best keywords to use and optimize listings for improved organic ranking to make it easier for shoppers to find your products.
Amazon Account Audit
Get a thorough analysis of your you seller central account to identify areas of improvement and avoid costly mistakes.
Account Suspensions
Has your seller listing or account been suspended or deactivated? We can help get things back up and running with our expert Amazon specialists.
Listing Reinstatement
Has Amazon deactivated your top-selling ASIN? Need help reinstating the yanked listing? We can assist quickly and efficiently with various types of listing take-downs.
Design
Engage and inform shoppers with captivating imagery. Showcase your products with professional design to help boost conversion rates and attract more shoppers.
Troubleshooting
Everything from UPC issues, page updates, catalog problems, brand changes, we’ve helped get things right and identify areas of improvement to help avoid potential troubles in the future.
Trademark Registration
We file your trademark for your brand and sign you up for Amazon Brand Registry – This protects your products from infringement, and provides access to better and more Seller Central features.
SEO for Websites
Effective website search engine optimization (SEO) is the key to getting your products seen online.
FBA Returns
Amazon owes 99% of sellers money for lost/damaged units, refunds and mishandled returns, or lost shipments. We make the process of getting your money back from Amazon quick and easy.
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