Why is mobile optimization important for Amazon sellers? The Pew Research Center discovered that 76% of American adults under 50 buy things online with their smartphones – 92% of respondents were 30-49 years old. Sure, people still use their desktops or laptops to purchase things, but statistics show that there’s an evident shift towards mobile optimized shopping.
Gone are the days when you could optimize your Amazon listing prettily with graphics and SEO and call it a day; now, it’s so important to make sure your A+, infographics, and copywriting are optimized for mobile and desktop all at the same time.
Let’s take a look at the best practices for mobile friendliness for your Amazon listing, and see how you can enhance your customer experience all over the world.
Interested in learning more about the marketing strategies that drive success on Amazon? Read all about organic marketing vs. paid marketing!
1. The Importance of Mobile Optimization for Amazon Sellers
Let’s think about this for a second. According to Statista, in 2022, mobile commerce sales made up more than half of total e-commerce spend in the APAC region. In 2023, sales through smartphones amounted to nearly 281 billion US dollars in Western Europe, and the estimate is that this number will rise to 358 billion US dollars by 2027 (Statista). Shopify reported that retail m-commerce in the US hit 491 billion US dollars, and is expected to make up 44.6% of total sales in 2024. Amazon itself reported that 69% of all Brand Store visits in 2021 came from a mobile device.
There’s no two ways about it; a large chunk of your traffic comes from people using mobile devices. So it’s definitely within your best interests to ensure the best mobile experience for your customers. It’s crucial to adapt your listing to be mobile responsive.
But what exactly is mobile optimization? And how can it impact your product listing?
To put it simply, a mobile optimized listing is designed with mobile users in mind. It takes into account the behaviors, needs, and limitations of mobile users.
We’ll get deeper into mobile optimization tactics for your product listing a little later in this blog, but tailoring your listing to mobile users may look like a truncated title, placing more importance on product descriptions and the A+ (since these appear first on mobile), and optimizing any interactive elements to make it easier for mobile users.
You see, optimizing your site for mobile goes beyond simple adjustments for smaller screens. It tailors the shopping experience to align with mobile user behavior. Things like clear visuals and re-organizing your content will help in capturing attention and retaining users longer. This can lead to greater visibility in search results, a more seamless shopping experience, and ultimately, higher conversion rates as customers are more likely to engage and purchase.
Scale Insights suggests that Amazon’s algorithm rewards listings that are optimized for mobile shopping. Providing a smooth experience for both desktop and mobile can improve your rank, therefore reaching a wider audience. Through mobile optimization, you can enhance both search rankings and customer retention, building a loyal base that contributes to sustained growth and sales. In other words, if people enjoy shopping with you, they’ll keep coming back. Oftentimes, that means accommodating the smaller screen size they’re likely using to check out your listing.
2. Desktop vs. Mobile Optimization for Amazon Listings
Folks, mobile optimization isn’t a case for desktop or mobile; it’s a case for both. It’s a matter of making sure the user experience is just as delightful on a smartphone or tablet, as it may be on a laptop or desktop.
There was a time when your product would dictate how deep your mobile optimization needed to get. For example, if you were selling basic necessities, there was a large chance that people were checking out your listing on their smartphones. On the other hand, if you were behind a luxury brand, people were probably making their purchases on desktop or mobile.
That simply isn’t the case anymore. According to Statista, around 65.5 percent of affluent buyers aged 18 to 39 favored using mobile phones for online luxury purchases, compared to 44.8 percent of those aged 40 and above.
So, mobile optimization is important regardless of product type or category.
On mobile, certain elements in Amazon product listings are prioritized differently compared to desktop. For example, the title is shortened to fit the smaller screen, so key information needs to be front-loaded (like in the first 80 characters). A+ Content and product descriptions appear above bullet points, making it essential to highlight benefits early. Images become the focal point, as they occupy a larger portion of the screen, while bullet points are condensed, with only the first few being visible without scrolling.
Furthermore, mobile users tend to scroll quickly, seeking visually appealing content that can grab attention immediately. The call-to-action (CTA) placement is crucial here, as it needs to be clear, accessible, and easy to tap. Images that tell a story or provide immediate value, along with concise, high-impact text, keep users engaged and encourage conversion on smaller screens. Hence the importance of good Amazon infographics.
Frankly, the numbers don’t lie. Mobile-friendly layouts, which mirror the user experience and information on desktop, significantly out-perform non-optimized listings. In markets like Asia and Europe, where consumers rely heavily on smartphones to do their shopping, mobile optimization is a non-negotiable. In short, mobile optimization is a really effective solution for reaching a global audience effectively.
3. Mobile Optimization Tips for Amazon Listings: a Step by Step Guide
Are you ready? Here’s how to make sure your product listing site is optimized for mobile.
Title Optimization
You’ll want to get creative with the Amazon SEO best practices when optimizing your title for mobile use. On mobile phones, only 80 characters of your title can be seen, so it’s important to front-load the information for easy readability and impact. Ensure primary keywords and unique selling points are placed upfront, quickly conveying what makes your product stand out.
Image Optimization
You know how it is; people on their mobile phones are looking for the quickest way between points A and B. So, it stands to reason that your images are your hero. Use infographics to communicate key features, tell a visual story, and employ lifestyle shots of your product in use, so your customers can connect with your product’s use and benefits instantly. Also, make sure the desktop version of your images is zoomable for mobile use!
Bullet Points & Description Optimization
Folks, only the top 3 bullet points are visible on mobile. That means it’s vital to include the most important information, that converts your customers, in the top 3 bullet points. Also, keep in mind that the product description appears first on mobile, so keep these concise, full of information, and persuasive. Place CTAs strategically throughout your content, and make sure the text is readable to create a smooth mobile experience. Use HTML to provide line breaks between paragraphs in your product description, because a full wall of text isn’t fun for anyone to read.
A+ Optimization
A+ content – whether premium or basic – with infographics and video can greatly enhance mobile engagement, providing a rich and interactive experience. Avoid excessive white space. Tailor content specifically for mobile screens to ensure information is clear, visually appealing, and easy to navigate. In other words, keep those graphics clean and professional-looking.
4. The Role of SEO and Backend Keywords in Mobile Optimization
Naturally, SEO plays a big role in a mobile-optimized listing. The same rules apply for mobile responsiveness; make sure your keywords are relevant, not just to your product, but to the market you’re localizing to.
For now, the keywords for desktop and mobile are the same, so you shouldn’t have any trouble there.
Here are the Do’s and Don’ts for SEO and backend keyword optimization, for both desktop and mobile usage:
| Do’s | Don’ts |
|---|---|
| Use High-Impact, Relevant Keywords | Don’t Keyword Stuff |
| Focus on high-impact keywords that relate to your product and customer search intent. | Avoid excessive or irrelevant keywords, as this can lower listing quality and result in penalties. |
| Prioritize Region-Specific Keywords | Don’t Duplicate Front-End Keywords in Backend |
| Include terms that resonate with local shoppers in each target region. | Avoid repeating keywords in the title or bullet points; backend fields should complement visible content. |
| Place Primary Keywords in Titles and Bullet Points | Don’t Use Irrelevant or Misleading Keywords |
| Ensure essential keywords are visible in title and bullet points to capture customer attention on mobile. | Only include keywords that accurately describe your product to maintain trust and listing integrity. |
| Include Long-Tail Keywords in Backend | Don’t Ignore Mobile-Specific Search Behavior |
| Add specific long-tail keywords to backend fields to capture targeted customer queries without cluttering main listing. | Avoid keywords that only make sense for desktop users; consider mobile search behavior when selecting terms. |
| Keep Backend Keywords Concise | Don’t Use Competitor Brand Names as Keywords |
| Stick to precise, relevant terms to maximize search visibility without overloading the backend field. | Avoid competitor brand names, as this is against Amazon’s policies and could result in listing flags. |
Here’s more about backend keywords for your Amazon listing.
5. Testing and Analyzing Mobile-Optimized Content
For mobile optimization, always review your listing on an actual mobile device since A+ content or images may display differently on mobile screens. You can also use browser extensions like Mobile View Switcher for a quick preview, though it’s best to verify directly on a mobile device to catch any display issues accurately.
Key Metrics to Track
For mobile optimization, monitor these essential performance metrics:
- Conversion Rate: Measures the percentage of mobile visitors who make a purchase, indicating the effectiveness of your mobile design.
- Click-Through Rate (CTR): Tracks how often customers click on specific elements, like product links or CTAs, helping you understand engagement levels.
- Mobile vs. Desktop Performance: Compare these metrics between mobile and desktop to identify any discrepancies that may highlight mobile-specific improvement areas.
Keep in mind that Seller Central doesn’t split conversion data for mobile vs. desktop sessions. You can, however, view mobile and browser sessions.
To view mobile sessions and session percentages in Amazon Seller Central, go to Reports > Business Reports > Detail Page Sales and Traffic by Child Item. Use the “Show/Hide Columns” feature on the right to add Sessions – Mobile App and Page Views – Mobile App. This setup will display metrics for both browser and mobile app traffic, helping identify where most traffic comes from (typically the mobile app).
6. Why is Mobile Optimization Important for Global Expansion?
As you all know, customers all over the world want and need content that resonates with their unique cultural preferences, language, and shopping behaviors. So, you might get away with downplaying mobile optimization in the USA, where there are still a lot of desktop shoppers, but probably not as much in Asia, where mobile commerce is a way of life. So, it’s so important to localize your listings for both desktop and mobile devices, no matter where you’re selling.
YLT Translations specializes in adapting Amazon listings to different languages and cultural contexts, ensuring a smooth, engaging experience for users worldwide. When the customer experience is that flawless, across both desktop and mobile, there’s a high chance your customers will keep coming back. YLT Translations offers precise translations and region-specific keywords to help sellers connect with customers. Listings feel personalized and accessible, improving overall engagement and fostering customer loyalty.
So, by using localized keywords that match native search habits, and localizing your infographic test to suit things like character count, idiomatic expressions, and more, your customers find your listing, and enjoy shopping on your page. You do better in local search, making your listing more discoverable. Furthermore, customer-centered translations that capture cultural nuances make product information easy to understand and relatable, enhancing the likelihood of conversion and building strong brand affinity in all markets.
Conclusion: Staying Competitive with a Mobile-First Mindset
In the world of digital marketing, it’s so important to make sure all content is optimized for both mobile and desktop. So much traffic comes from mobile now, that mobile optimization is a necessity for Amazon sellers. Having content customized to their device of choice really makes an impact with customers. Whether it’s the search engine optimization, the bullets and copywriting, the A+, or the images, it’s wise to make sure they’re all optimized for prime use across different devices.
Check the mobile optimization for your listings in every single region you sell in. The eCommerce marketing world is moving very quickly towards mobile use, and many listings are opened on mobile all over the world, so this is a really necessary step in your listing creation.
Don’t forget, front-load the pertinent information and relevant keywords in the first 80 characters of your title. Optimize high-quality, zoomable images for smaller screens. Make the top 3 bullet points contain the most important information, and use HTML to break up walls of text in your product description. When laying out your A+, make sure to check the mobile-friendly version as well to make sure it holds up. And be sure to incorporate localized keywords for each target region!
So, are you ready to optimize your Amazon listings for a global mobile audience? Contact YLT Translations for expert localization support to make sure the customer experience delights and amazes your customers, regardless of the device they’re using!
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