Amazon Selling • Guides

How to Start a Listing on Amazon: Step-by-Step Guide for 2026

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Published by VEONIB • Updated July 4, 2026 • 12 minute read
Quick answer: To start a listing on Amazon, create a Seller Central account, navigate to Catalog > Add a Product, select "I'm adding a product not sold on Amazon yet," enter your product details (title, brand, GTIN/UPC, images, description, keywords), set your price and quantity, then submit. Most listings go live within 24 hours. To make your listing stand out and boost conversions, add a product video — VEONIB generates professional Amazon product videos from any product URL in under 60 seconds, no editing skills needed. This guide walks through every step in detail.
In this article
[Why Amazon in 2026] [What you need before listing] [Step-by-step listing process] [Listing optimization & SEO] [A+ Content explained] [Pricing & FBA vs FBM] [Adding product video to your listing] [Common mistakes to avoid] [Tools to automate the process] [FAQ]

1. Why Amazon in 2026

Amazon remains the largest ecommerce marketplace in the United States, capturing roughly 38% of all online retail spending. In 2026, the platform hosts over 2.5 million active sellers and serves more than 310 million active customer accounts. For brands and entrepreneurs, having a well-optimized Amazon listing is no longer optional — it is table stakes for ecommerce success.

What has changed in 2026: Amazon's algorithm increasingly favors complete, high-quality listings with A+ Content, multiple image angles, video, and strong keyword relevance. Bare-minimum listings that worked in 2022 now struggle to rank. The top 10% of listings capture over 70% of sales in their categories.

For a broader strategy overview, see our guide to AI ecommerce content.

2. What you need before you start

Before you create your first Amazon listing, gather these essentials:

Item Details
Seller Central account Register at sell.amazon.com. Choose Professional ($39.99/month) or Individual ($0.99 per sale). You will need identity verification and tax information.
GTIN / UPC A product identifier from GS1 (or an approved brand registry exemption).
Brand name Your brand must be registered or you list as "Generic." Brand Registry unlocks A+ Content and Sponsored Brands.
Product images At least one 1000x1000 px image (required for Amazon zoom). Ideally 6+ including lifestyle, infographic, and comparison shots.
Product video Highly recommended — listings with video see 15-25% higher conversion rates. VEONIB generates product videos from any URL in under 60 seconds.
Compelling copy Title (max 200 chars), 5 bullet points, and a product description.
Keywords Relevant search terms for your backend search terms field.
Pro tip: Apply for Amazon Brand Registry before creating your first listing. It unlocks A+ Content, more control over your detail page, and protection against hijackers. The process takes 1-2 weeks, so start early.

3. Step-by-step: How to create an Amazon listing

Step 1: Log into Seller Central

Go to sellercentral.amazon.com and sign in. Complete identity verification and banking details if you haven't already.

Step 2: Navigate to "Add a Product"

From the main menu, go to Catalog > Add a Product. You can either search for an existing listing (for resellers) or create a new listing (for brand owners).

Step 3: Select "I'm adding a product not sold on Amazon yet"

Step 4: Fill in the Vital Info tab

Step 5: Write your bullet points

Five bullet points, up to 500 characters each. Focus on benefits, include keywords naturally, and lead with the strongest differentiator.

Simple way to think about it: Your bullet points are your elevator pitch — the 5 reasons a shopper scanning on mobile should buy your product instead of the competition.

Step 6: Upload images

Main image must have a pure white background (RGB 255,255,255) with no text or logos. Secondary images can show lifestyle scenes, infographics, and size charts.

Step 7: Add a product video

Products with video convert 15-25% better. If you don't have footage, VEONIB generates professional product videos from any product URL — just paste your link, choose a style, and download in under 60 seconds. See section 7 for more.

Step 8: Add description and backend keywords

The Product Description supports up to 2,000 characters. Use it to tell a fuller story. Backend Search Terms are invisible to shoppers but indexed by Amazon's algorithm — include synonyms and related terms.

Step 9: Set price, quantity, and fulfillment

Choose FBA (Amazon handles storage and shipping) or FBM (you handle fulfillment). See the pricing section for a full breakdown.

Step 10: Review and submit

Double-check all fields. Click Save and Finish. Amazon typically publishes within 15 minutes to 24 hours.

4. Listing optimization & Amazon SEO

Amazon's ranking algorithm (A9 / Cosmo) considers these factors:

Factor Impact How to optimize
Keyword relevance High Include target keywords in title, bullets, and backend terms.
Click-through rate High Strong main image, compelling title, competitive price.
Conversion rate Very High A+ Content, product video, positive reviews.
Sales velocity Very High PPC ads, promotions, consistent sales history.
Reviews Medium 15+ reviews with 4.0+ stars before aggressive PPC.

5. A+ Content explained

A+ Content (formerly EBC) lets brand-registered sellers replace the plain description with rich multimedia modules. It increases conversion by 5-15% and reduces returns.

Navigate to Advertising > A+ Content Manager in Seller Central to create modules including comparison charts, lifestyle images, and video.

A+ Content best practices

6. Pricing & FBA vs FBM

Amazon's fees breakdown

FBA vs FBM

Factor FBA FBM
Prime Automatic Only with SFP
Buy Box Higher odds Lower (unless price-low)
Shipping Amazon handles You handle
Best for Small-medium, high volume Large, low volume, high-margin

7. Adding product video to your Amazon listing

Video is one of the most underutilized competitive advantages on Amazon. Products with video see 15-25% higher conversion rates compared to image-only listings. Video helps shoppers understand product usage, size, and features more effectively than static images.

How to get product video for Amazon

Video best practices for Amazon

8. Common mistakes to avoid

9. Tools to automate and optimize your Amazon listings

Create professional Amazon product videos with VEONIB

VEONIB turns any product URL into a cinematic ecommerce video in under 60 seconds — no editing skills needed. Choose from 6 video styles and export in Amazon-compatible format. Perfect for boosting conversion rates on every listing.

Generate your Amazon product video

For more AI tools across ecommerce, read our AI ecommerce content guide.

10. Frequently asked questions

How do I start a listing on Amazon as a beginner?

Create a Seller Central account, go to Catalog > Add a Product, choose "I'm adding a product not sold on Amazon yet," fill in your product details, set your price, and submit. Amazon typically publishes within 24 hours.

What information do I need?

A seller account, GTIN/UPC, product images (1000x1000 px minimum), title, bullet points, description, category, keywords, price, and quantity.

How long does it take to go live?

15 minutes to 24 hours for most standard listings. Restricted categories may take 2-5 business days.

Can I create a listing without a UPC?

Yes, if you have a Brand Registry UPC exemption. Use brand name + part number as the product identifier.

How do I add a product video?

Through Seller Central or A+ Content modules. VEONIB generates product videos from any URL in under 60 seconds.

How much does it cost?

No per-listing fee. $39.99/month (Professional) or $0.99/sale (Individual), plus referral fees (8-20%) and optional FBA fees.


This article references:  [VEONIB]  [Amazon A+ Content Guidelines]  [Amazon Advertising Blog]  [GS1 UPC Standards]  [VEONIB Content Guide]