Tim Jordan and Norm Farrar are here to tell you about the biggest mistakes they
see other Walmart sellers make and, best of all, how to avoid common pitfalls.
Everyone makes mistakes … including Walmart sellers.
We’ve noticed a few common pitfalls that new sellers make on Walmart.com and we don’t want you to repeat them. So let’s get into the top three BIGGEST mistakes we’ve seen other sellers make (and we’re dishing out pro tips along the way).
1. Thinking that Walmart and Amazon are the same
2. Ignoring SEO
3. Breaking Walmart’s seller guidelines
4. More FREE Marketplace Resources!
5. About Tim & Norm
Mistake #1: Thinking that Walmart and Amazon are the same
The MOST common mistake we see is when sellers assume Amazon and Walmart are identical. They think “what works on Amazon will work on Walmart” and trust us, we get it.
We WISH we could just copy everything from Amazon over to Walmart and call it day (or vice versa). Work smarter, not harder, right?
The thing is though … they’re entirely different marketplaces. Walmart likes things done a little differently than Amazon (and that’s ok). So, what we recommend instead of copying over your Amazon listings, is to do this:
- Avoid keyword stuffing
- Follow Walmart’s image requirements to a T
- Use our recommended title formula
Learn more about how to craft the perfect Walmart product listing and remember that every extra minute you invest in your listings matters.
Mistake #2: Ignoring SEO
Just because Walmart.com doesn’t like keyword stuffing doesn’t mean you get to throw SEO out the window entirely.
You see, Walmart uses an algorithm to rank products on the search page — just like every other e-commerce marketplace. So you still have to optimize your listings in order to rank higher, but there’s a slightly different set of rules. Here’s what gets you closer to the top of Walmart’s search results:
Write a unique title for your product
If you sell the same product on Amazon, write a different title for Walmart using this formula:
Brand + Item Name + Model Name* + Style* + Key Attribute + Pack Count* + Size*
*If applicable
Use keywords in the description (but don’t overdo it)
Here’s the deal. You SHOULD use keywords in each product description. Walmart’s algorithm just doesn’t like it when you overstuff or include a bunch of “fluff.”
Instead, write a clear description that’s at least 150 words and leave out all the stuff you don’t need.
Check your work in Growth Opportunities
What’s special about Walmart is that they provide an ultra-special tool called Growth Opportunities and it looks like this:
You can find this tool from your Walmart Seller Central account. What it does is it TELLS YOU how to optimize your listings.
Yes. You read that correctly.
Walmart doesn’t make you guess. Walmart shows you how to make your listings better. So after you upload a new listing, or you update an old one, check Growth Opportunities!
Mistake #3: Incorrect product category mapping
Honestly, this one is a little tricky. That’s because Walmart has tons of product categories and (sometimes) it’s genuinely difficult to figure out which one your product belongs to.
When you upload your product catalog to Walmart, or manually add products one at a time, you have to assign categories for every product.
This can get tricky if you sell the same products across ecommerce platforms. For example, if a product is Category X in Shopify, it has to match up to whatever the equivalent of Category X is for Walmart (which could be called something else).
If you don’t correctly define the product category, your listing won’t be properly promoted.
This means your listing won’t show up in search results, or it will be harder to find in search results. In short, incorrect categories make it harder for shoppers to find your product.
Pro Tip: Do competitor research! Unless you’re targeting a niche category, make sure you target the same category as your competitors.
Quick Guide!
To sum up, here are the most common mistakes sellers make on Walmart.com and how to fix them:
Mistake #1: Thinking Amazon and Walmart work the same way
They don’t! So don’t copy over any listings from Amazon (or any other ecomm marketplaces, for that matter). Instead, write your titles and descriptions from scratch and upload images according to Walmart’s image guidelines.
Mistake #2: Not paying attention to SEO
Use keywords and be descriptive! Just don’t overdo it. Walmart likes listings that are buyer-friendly. So invest in quality listings and check your work with the Growth Opportunities tool from your Seller Central dashboard.
Mistake #3: Incorrect category mapping
Make sure every product you upload or enter has a product category! Even if you aren’t sure which one to use, Walmart sweeps the site to find category mistakes.
More FREE Marketplace Resources!
Read through our reservoir of Walmart Marketplace blogs to get the full picture on why YOU should sell on Walmart.com. Here are some of our favorites so far:
Selling On Walmart In 2022 | The Epic Step-By-Step Guide You HAVE To Check Out
About Tim and Norm
Norm Farrar has been selling e-commerce since the late 90’s and has created both seven-figure and eight-figure marketplace brands. He later found his introduction to the Amazon marketplace through Amazing.com.
Tim Jordan has been selling e-commerce since 2015. He started out with reselling then quickly moved into private label and has since created multiple seven-figure marketplace brands.
Tim and Norm now travel the world speaking about e-commerce and sourcing private label products to sell on online marketplaces. Together they’ve coached and consulted both new brands and some of the largest in the world.