Q4 is one of the most significant times of the year for Amazon sellers. Holidays and events like Halloween, Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas, and New Year, all of them are fall in Q4 and we can see a significant spike in sales this time.
Due to the biggest holiday sales seasons, Q4 brings you more rush than other times. And—most Amazon sellers might go on vacation after all the effort they put into Q4.
But if you want to succeed in a competitive marketplace like Amazon, then there is no time to get complacent. Because Smart Brands always prepare a plan for the beginning of the year Q1 to keep connected with their customers.
So, After Q4 you need to prepare a strategy to get success for Q1. Most importantly, Q1 requires as much planning as Q4 to keep the momentum going in Q1.
In this comprehensive guide, we will discuss some proven strategies and recommendations for Q1 that boost your sales at the beginning of the year 2024.
So let’s get started with the events and dates that fall in Q1, 2024.
Events and Dates in Q1 of 2024:
| Event Name | Date | Quarter |
| Tax Refunds | 9th February | Q1 |
| Super Bowl | 11th February | Q1 |
| Valentine’s Day | 14th February | Q1 |
| President’s Day | 19th February | Q1 |
| Chinese New Year | 20th February | Q1 |
| St. Patrick’s Day | 17th March | Q1 |
| Ester | 31st March | Q1 |
Now, let’s dive deep into the strategies that help you to do well in Q1 of 2024.
Cleanup Your Inventory to Make Room for Q1 Inventory
Clearing out your inventory is a crucial task for optimizing efficiency and decluttering because it creates room for Q1. Strategic inventory management helps you run your business smoothly and balance your business finances.
Let’s say, in Q4 you are selling holiday gift items and you have currently 2000 items in the Amazon warehouse. At the end of the holiday season, you sold 1500 items, which means still have 500 items in the Amazon warehouse. When Q1 hits, those items’ sales will slow down.
In this case, you will still pay the storage fees for the remaining inventory. So, start planning up your inventory cleanup and being prepared for upcoming Q1 events.
Tips for Cleanup Inventory
Optimizing your inventory involves strategic steps, such as hosting clearance sales during events like Amazon Prime Day and Freedom sales, and offering discounted prices to efficiently clear out surplus stock.
Alternatively, consider initiating removal orders to efficiently reduce excess inventory stored in Amazon warehouses, effectively minimizing hefty storage fees.
Choosing the right approach ensures a streamlined inventory management process tailored to your business needs.
Assess the Q4 Strengths and Weaknesses and Use Those Insights in Your Q1 Strategy
One of the best ways you can prepare for Q1 is by tracking sales of Q1 sales in 2023 and reviewing the executions and outcomes of your Q4 strategy like what worked, and what didn’t.
To analyze the Q1 sales of 2023, Go to the Business Report and select the date from 1st January to 31st March. Have a look at the Sessions, Page Views, and Units Ordered.
Which items have the most sales and traffic, consider them as a priority for Q1.
For Example,
This item Drainage Tarp (5′ x 5′) has 712 sessions total, 1,025 total page views, and 96 total orders in Q1 2023.
And, this item Heavy Duty Canvas Tarp has 2,871 sessions total, 3,520 total page views, and 42 total orders in Q1, 2023.
Example of a Business Report of Q1
Now, which item will we consider for Q1, 2024?
We should consider both items for next Q1. Because the 1st product Drain Tarp was the best-selling item in Q1, 2023. So can say that – this item would have a good demand in Q1, 2024.
For the 2nd item – Canvas Tarps, the number of units sold is less compared to the Drain Tarp, but the total Sessions and Page Views are much better. This means this item has a good demand in Q1.
Now, come back to the Q4 of 2024 from October 1st to December 25 and find out which product had the lowest conversion rate, what months had low sales, and what factors influenced those numbers.
Example of a Business Report of Q4
Based on your findings, make some business decisions and plan your Q1 strategy.
Next, analyze Customer Reviews and Delivery of Q1 and Q4. You can check them from the Feedback Manager, and Voice of the Customers section for the Seller Central.
Example of Feedback Manager
Example of Voice of the Customers
For Example,
you are selling Waterproof Tarps but the customer claims that –
“It is not waterproof. I can see the sky through the mesh hole. The canvas is wet in the morning on the inside part and my frame has water drops. Shadow is ok from sunshine but not waterproof.”
Example of Customer Review
But you need to find out why he is claiming this.
Probably, your product is not waterproof or you sent the wrong product, or the product you sent has a quality issue.
However, this analysis helps you to make a proper strategy.
Another thing is to take a close look at your advertising approach. Avoid allocating substantial funds to PPC if the ads are not efficiently generating traffic and visibility.
Examine the Q1 2023 PPC plan, analyze the data meticulously, and formulate a strategy for the upcoming quarter. Recognize that data is paramount to your success in the next Q1, shaping a more effective and targeted advertising strategy.
Re-Optimize your Product Listings for Q1
As Q1 unfolds, the holiday season concludes, and customer priorities shift away from holiday-related purchases. Align your Amazon product listings with these changing behaviors.
Focus on optimizing your listings for upcoming Q1 2024 events such as Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Super Bowl, and others. Conduct thorough keyword research tailored to these events, identifying high-performing keywords that can enhance sales and give you a competitive edge.
For this, have a look at the keywords of Q1 in 2023 from the Search Query Performance on Seller Central. From there, Amazon will give you a lot of insights that help you to understand which keywords will perform well.
Have a look at the following image – according to my selected Quarter, amazon is showing keywords and their search query score, search volume, click rate, cart rate, etc.
For example:
canvas tarp, whose search query score is 1, the search volume is 38,452, the click rate is 46.2%, and the cart rate is 4.21%.
On the other hand, fire retardant tarp, whose search query score is 8, the search volume is 1,256, the click rate is 46.18%, and the cart add rate is 5.1%
Compared to “canvas tarp”, “fire retardant tarps” have low search query and search volume. But the click rate and cart add rate, both are better than “canvas tarp”.
So, consider those insights and prepare a strategy for keywords to do better in Q1. Also, you can get help from other paid keyword research tools like Helium 10, JungleScout, etc.
Helium10 for Keyword and Market Research
Jungle Scrount for Keyword and Market Research
In addition to utilizing keywords, consider incorporating videos tailored for specific Q1 events. Notably, on Amazon, 73% of audiences show a preference for watching videos rather than reading about a product. Amazon’s data reveals that adding a video to a store resulted in an average 44% increase in shopper dwell time over the subsequent two months.
Given Amazon’s affinity for video content, which is evident in the continuous introduction of new video placement options, incorporating videos—whether for ad campaigns, store branding, posts, or premium A+ content—can elevate your product presentation, bringing it to life with a compelling visual appeal.
Running Promotions to Keep the Momentum in Q1
Sustain the momentum and engage with your customers at the start of the year by providing incentives such as strike-through prices, coupons, discounts, and promotional messages.
Example of Strike-Through Prices
Example of Coupons Prices
Example of Promotional Messages
Think outside the box, in the way you present deals for your items.
Interestingly, even after the festive excitement of the Christmas season shopping spree, customers take some time to return to their normal routines. Whether it’s due to having gift cards or cash to spend, or perhaps it’s the extended cold nights spent browsing the internet, people actively seek opportunities for good deals.
Continue the promotions that were implemented in December throughout January to maintain the momentum, and consider introducing a few new ones to offer a variety of options.
Transform Seasonal Holiday Items into Cold-Weather Essentials
The winter season transcends Christmas festivities for many buyers. Repurposing Christmas items as essential winter items can significantly boost your Amazon sales in Q1.
For instance, products like skis/snowboards, sweaters, jackets, gloves, scarves, boots, car accessories, and outdoor gear are commonly bought as Christmas gifts but maintain relevance through January and February (and even into March and April, depending on the climate).
Example of a Holiday Item that can Transform for Q1
Shift the marketing focus from holiday themes to the practicality of these products for the upcoming months. Target buyers in colder climates more assertively to maximize your outreach.
Dedicate a Segment of Your Q4 Earnings to Reinvest in Q1
If you navigated Q4 successfully, it likely marked a highly prosperous quarter for your business. While Q4 traditionally yields increased profits for many Amazon sellers, there are still opportunities to capitalize on in Q1. If you experienced significant earnings in Q4, considering reinvesting those profits can help sustain the momentum.
It’s common for some sellers to decelerate in Q1 after a successful Q4, often due to financial caution. While allocating funds to a savings account is prudent, it’s equally important to reinvest a portion back into your business.
To ensure a robust start to the new year, it’s advisable to reinvest a portion of the Q4 profits into Q1. This not only bolsters financial stability but also lays the groundwork for sustained productivity and growth. Smart reinvestment in projects and ventures with long-term benefits is a strategic way to maximize the impact of Q4 gains throughout Q1 and beyond.
By seamlessly transitioning and making judicious reinvestments, organizations can fortify their financial foundation and position themselves for continued prosperity in the coming year.
Final Thoughts:
Following a successful sales streak in Q4, it’s time to celebrate cautiously. As we dive into Q1, sellers need to be careful and prioritize financial stability. Q1 demands our attention—it’s not a phase to overlook. Amazon’s Q1 is just as pivotal, if not more crucial than Q4; it lays the groundwork for the entire year. This isn’t the time to coast or ease up on refining your offerings or expanding your Amazon business.
Maintain the momentum and focus on enhancing your sales throughout every quarter. Extract insights from your Q4 sales data, identifying elements to incorporate and areas for improvement in Q1. While sales might ease after intense events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas, strategic planning can give your Amazon store a boost in Q1 and beyond.
If you need any help with Amazon’s Q1 Strategy, feel free to let us know in the comment box or email us at the following email address: info@ecomclips.com
To know more about Amazon, please check out our other blog. Also, you can check our YouTube videos as well related to Amazon.
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