Understanding Amazon Best Seller Rank: A Comprehensive Guide

Amazon is a vast marketplace where millions of products compete for customers’ attention every day.

To succeed as a seller on Amazon, you need to solve a common customer problem: How to stand out in a sea of options and capture the attention of potential customers. 

The answer to this challenge lies in understanding Amazon’s Best Seller Rank (BSR).

Amazon BSR acts like a map, shows the way to get noticed, and stands out in the highly competitive Amazon marketplace. 

In this guide, we’ll discover the basics of Amazon BSR and six tips to improve your Amazon’s BSR in 2023.

So, let’s jump in.

A quick peek into the article:

1. What is Amazon’s Best Seller Rank?
2. Why is Amazon’s Best Seller Rank Important & Does It Affect Sales?
3. How is Amazon’s Best Seller’s Rank Calculated?
4. How To Find Best Sellers Rank on Amazon?
5. What Is A Good BSR?
6. What Is The Difference Between BSR and Search Ranking
7. Six Tips To Improve Your Amazon BSR
8. Conclusion

What is Amazon’s Best Seller Rank?

Amazon’s Best Seller Rank (BSR) is a metric that tells you how well a product is performing compared to others in the same category. It’s updated hourly and can fluctuate considering various factors like 

• Sales Volume
• Sales History
• Category Popularity
• Seasonality, etc.

To find a product’s BSR, head to the product detail page, and you’ll see it under the Product Information section, listed according to the category it belongs to.

Based on the sales, your BSR can vary. A lower BSR score indicates a better sales rank. For example, an American Soft Linen Towel ranked #100 has higher sales than a product ranked #2500 in the same category.

Amazon’s Best Sellers list highlights the top-performing products in real-time based on their BSR scores. This list can be helpful for customers who look for popular and well-reviewed products.

Sellers, on the other hand, can use BSR to keep track of their product’s performance and to identify areas for improvement.  For example, if a product has a high BSR, it’s a sign that the product might not be selling well, prompting the seller to work to increase its visibility and sales.

Why is Amazon’s Best Seller Rank Important & Does It Affect Sales?

Amazon’s Best Seller Rank (BSR) holds significant value for various reasons:

Increased visibility

Lower BSR not only increases visibility by making products appear higher in Amazon search results and category pages but also tends to boost sales, resulting in higher profits for sellers.

Brand awareness 

A lower BSR can help to increase brand awareness for sellers and their products. When a customer sees your product that has a Best Seller Rank, they are more likely to remember the brand and consider buying from you again in the future.

Customer loyalty

Customers are more likely to be loyal to brands that offer popular and best-selling products. A high BSR can help to build customer loyalty and encourage repeat purchases.

Competitive Advantage

A lower BSR gives a product a competitive edge. It stands out among similar products in the category, making it more likely to be chosen by customers. In a marketplace with countless options, having a lower BSR can lead to increased sales and market share.

Pricing and Inventory Management

BSR can also influence pricing and inventory decisions. Sellers may adjust their pricing strategies and stock levels based on their product’s BSR. A high BSR might indicate a need for price adjustments or more aggressive marketing to boost sales.

How is Amazon’s Best Seller’s Rank Calculated?

Amazon’s Best Seller Rank (BSR) is a frequently updated metric.  While the exact algorithm used to calculate BSR is still a secret. However, several key factors influence it:

Sales Volume:

The most significant factor in determining BSR is the number of units sold for a specific product within a given time frame, typically the past 24 hours. Products that sell more units in a short period tend to have a lower BSR.

Sales History:

Amazon also considers historical sales data to calculate BSR. It evaluates a product’s sales performance over time, giving more weight to recent sales. This means that a product’s BSR can change as the sales patterns change.

Category Popularity:

The popularity of a particular category on Amazon can affect BSR. Products in categories with higher overall sales activity may require more sales to achieve a lower BSR compared to products in less popular categories.

Competitive Products:

BSR is calculated relative to other products in the same category. If other products in the category are selling more units, it can be more challenging for a product to achieve a lower BSR.

Price and Product Variants:

Pricing strategies and the number of product variants can also influence BSR. Competitive pricing and offering various product options can affect sales volume and, consequently, BSR.

Promotions and Advertising:

Special promotions and advertising campaigns can boost a product’s visibility and sales as well, which may lead to a lower BSR during the promotional period.

It’s important to note that BSR is specific to each category on Amazon, and a low BSR in one category doesn’t necessarily convert to a low BSR in another category.

Since Amazon regularly updates BSR to reflect the latest sales data, a product’s rank can fluctuate frequently. This dynamic nature makes BSR a valuable tool for sellers and customers to understand a product’s current popularity and performance on the platform. 

How To Find Best Sellers Rank on Amazon?

To find your Best Sellers Rank (BSR) on Amazon, you have a couple of options. You can do this directly from your product page on Amazon:

• Visit your product page on Amazon.
• Scroll down to the “Product Information” section.
• Look for “Best Sellers Rank” in the displayed table.

Alternatively, you can check the rankings for your categories by

• Clicking on “Best Sellers” from the main menu on Amazon.

• Choose the relevant category and/or sub-categories.
• Review the list of Best Sellers.

This Best Sellers list can also be a valuable resource for researching and selecting the best categories for your products on Amazon.

Also, you can find the Best Sellers Rank with the SellerApp Chrome Extension. 

• Once you download the SellerApp’s Chrome Extension
• Go to your Amazon Product Page
• Under each product, you can find the BSR and other metrics, like ASIN, est. orders, brands, variations, etc. 

Unfortunately, Amazon does not provide historical product data beyond 90 days. Therefore, tracking BSR and long term product viability across larger time frames can become challenging. This is why depending on third party APIs like SellerApp’s Amazon Best Seller APIs is key to conducting accurate and effective product research.

What Is A Good BSR?

A “good” Amazon Best Seller Rank (BSR) varies depending on the category a product belongs to. 

What’s considered a good BSR in one category might not be the same in another. For example, if a product ranks #12,365 in the “Tools and Improvement” category, might rank #66 in the Ceiling Fans category.

Therefore, a “good” BSR is subjective and contextual. It’s important to understand which category the product fits the most to get the BSR lower for the product in that category. 

What Is The Difference Between BSR and Search Ranking

New sellers on Amazon often get confused about one thing when they first start selling –the difference between Amazon’s Best Seller Rank and Search Ranking. 

Amazon’s Best Seller Rank (BSR) and search ranking are two distinct metrics used on Amazon to evaluate a product’s performance and visibility, and they serve different purposes:

Aspect	BSR (Best Seller Rank)	Search Ranking
Purpose	Reflects a product's sales within its Amazon category, giving sellers an idea of how well it performs within that category.	Determines where a product appears in Amazon search results, ensuring products are found by potential customers.
Calculation	Calculated based on sales performance within a specific category, updated hourly.	Determined by various factors, including keyword relevance, reviews, and listing optimization.
Visibility	Does not directly impact where a product appears in search results; it reflects popularity within a category.	Directly impacts a product's position in search results, affecting its visibility to customers.
Buyer Trust	Indicates popularity and sales performance within a category but may not directly influence a buyer's choice in search results.	Influences a buyer's perception of a product's relevance and trustworthiness in search results.
Optimization	Can be enhanced by pricing, marketing, and customer service strategies within the product's category.	Can be improved through SEO, keyword optimization, and advertising to boost visibility in search results.

Six Tips To Improve Your Amazon BSR

Here are six tips to improve your Amazon BSR.

Use PPC Advertising to Boost Organic Ranking

Amazon Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising allows you to create targeted ads for your products. When customers click on these ads and make purchases, it positively impacts their sales velocity and improves organic ranking. And since BSR also depends on these factors, once sales velocity improves, it improves the BSR ranking for the product for the category. 

Use Competitive Pricing

Competitive pricing can make your products more appealing and increase your chances of making sales. When customers discover your product is priced lower than the competitors, they are more likely to choose your offering over alternatives. This preference can lead to increased sales and ultimately result in a lower BSR.

Optimize Your Listings

Optimizing your product listings is essential for improving your Amazon Best Seller Rank (BSR). Include relevant keywords in your titles and descriptions. Use the SellerApp’s Keyword Research tool to find high-converting, high-volume keywords and add them throughout your product listing. 

In addition to keywords, ensure your listings feature high-quality images, clear product descriptions, and appealing A+ content. Well-optimized listings not only rank higher in Amazon’s search results but also attract more potential buyers, leading to increased sales and ultimately contributing to a lower BSR.

To know more about optimizing your listing, check out this article. 

Get More Positive Reviews

Encourage customers to give positive reviews, which is a fundamental aspect to build trust and credibility for your products on Amazon. More positive reviews can significantly impact your product’s reputation, making it more appealing to potential customers and ultimately driving higher sales, which, in turn, improves your Best Seller Rank (BSR).

To accumulate more positive reviews, consider the following strategies:

Ask For Reviews Politely:

Reach out to your customers in a courteous and friendly manner, requesting their feedback. You can use Amazon’s automated email system to send review requests or craft personalized messages for your buyers. It’s crucial to adhere to Amazon’s guidelines and avoid any attempts to incentivize or pressure customers into leaving reviews. A polite request can go a long way in encouraging satisfied customers to share their thoughts.

Provide Excellent Customer Service:

Timely and professional responses to customer inquiries and complaints are essential. Ensure you address issues promptly and effectively, striving to satisfy your customers. If necessary, be prepared to offer refunds or replacements. Customers are more likely to leave positive reviews when they have a positive experience with your service.

Join the Amazon Early Reviewer Program:

This program offers an incentive for customers to provide honest reviews for new products. By enrolling your products, you can kickstart the review process, particularly for recently launched items.

By implementing these practices, you can increase the number of positive reviews for your products, enhancing their reputation and appeal to customers. This can boost your product’s reputation, making it more attractive to customers and driving higher sales, which in turn improves your BSR.

List Your Product In Relevant Categories

Properly categorizing your product is crucial. Ensure that your product is listed in the most suitable and specific categories, as this improves its visibility to potential buyers searching in those categories. For example, candles may rank poorly in Home & Kitchen but excellently under Jar Candles. Make sure you explore all the relevant categories and check category competition when listing your products. 

Focus on Customer Engagement

Respond promptly to customer inquiries, address concerns, and resolve issues professionally. Positive interactions with customers can lead to increased trust and satisfaction, potentially resulting in more repeat sales and better reviews. This customer loyalty can positively impact your BSR.

By implementing these six tips, you can work to improve your Amazon Best Seller Rank over time. Remember that BSR is influenced by various factors, and a holistic approach that combines these strategies can help boost your product’s performance on the platform.

Conclusion

Amazon’s Best Seller Rank (BSR) is crucial to the success of both sellers and customers. Through BSR, sellers can monitor their products, optimize their strategies, and enhance their visibility, ultimately increasing sales and brand recognition.

For sellers seeking to thrive and for customers seeking the best products, staying informed about BSR and adapting strategies accordingly is essential. It is important to understand and harness the power of Amazon BSR in order to achieve success in this dynamic and highly competitive marketplace. 

Moreover, BSR ranks are extremely important to enterprise level sellers as tracking their competitors BSR can give them the necessary edge to boost their profitability. However, to effectively collect the required insights, it’s best to use an Amazon Sales Data API.

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