How to Sell on Amazon Handmade: Tips and Tricks

Handmade items are quickly growing in popularity, so if you’re an artisan that creates unique goods you should definitely consider selling online. Etsy and eBay were initially the go-to platforms for these types of products, but Amazon Handmade is quickly overtaking them.

If you’re not already selling on Amazon Handmade you should definitely consider it. The site has the largest customer base and a number of programs to help you boost your sales. We’ve included everything you need to know about selling on the platform, plus some tips and tricks to make sure you find success.

Keep reading for our step-by-step guide to how to sell on Amazon Handmade.

About Amazon Handmade

Amazon Handmade was launched in 2015 to give artisans a place to sell handmade goods on the website. It’s essentially just another category within Amazon’s site, but it has some different rules than the other more traditional categories.

This section focuses on things like art, soap, wood carvings, jewelry, bath and beauty products, merch, and other craft stuff. All products sold in this category must be made by hand, either by the artisan or one of their employees. No mass-produced items are allowed and sellers have to get approved for the platform before they can begin selling on it. It’s important to note that the global handmade & crafts market is estimated to reach US $1.2 trillion by the end of 2025, reflecting a strong growth trend for artisan goods.

A big advantage for people who sell handmade on Amazon is that their products can show up in regular search results. For example, if you sell soap your items could potentially appear in search results for soap, even if the person isn’t specifically looking for a homemade product.

This gives artisans access to Amazon’s massive customer base, with the potential for new people to discover their products. In fact, last year more than 55,000 independent makers on Amazon Handmade each generated over $1 million in sales. Furthermore, according to seller-income surveys, many Handmade sellers achieve at least $1,000 per month in sales, with around 45 % of sellers earning between $1,000 and $25,000 per month. Exceptional sellers can exceed $100,000 per month.

How to Start Selling on Amazon Handmade

Are you an artisan who’s looking to get started selling on Amazon Handmade? Here’s the process to follow to give yourself the best chance at success:

Analyze Your Market and the Competition

To find out which products are popular and frequently searched on Amazon, let's use the Keyword Search tool.

1. Either sign in to your existing AMZScout account or create a new account  if you don’t already have one. Once you are logged in, navigate to the Keyword Search feature.

2. Enter your seed phrase into the search box. This can be the product idea that you want to check, or something from the Amazon Handmade Bestsellers for example.

3. Select your criteria. You can filter your results by word count or monthly search volume. 

   

   

   

   

   

4. Click "Find Keywords".

5. Evaluate the list of keywords. Look at the number of requests per month for the product you’re checking, and this will give you an idea of ​​how often people search for that product.

   

   

   

   

   

6. Check the search history. You can review the search volume history to see how the demand for that product changes over time.

   

   

   

   

   

After you determine whether that niche is in-demand, you need to perform a deeper analysis. This is where a tool like the AMZScout PRO Extension (available for a free trial, either on its own or as part of a toolset) comes in handy. 

1. Install the AMZScout PRO Chrome Extension.

2. Access Amazon and launch the extension.

• Look up a specific product or category to analyze. 

For example, if you would like to sell handmade candles, then you can go to the Handmade Candles & Holders category, or find a similar candle on Amazon and analyze it.

• Once the search results are displayed, select the AMZScout icon located in the left corner.

• Look up the data on those products. If you are uncertain about which metrics to examine, we have compiled a set of suggestions below to help you get started.

Examine sales trends: Click "Product History" or “Niche History”. These sections provide insights into the sales performance of the item over the last few years. It’s crucial to make sure that this item or niche does not have seasonal trends or fluctuating sales throughout the year.

Calculate your sales margins: Select "Profit Calculator". Input all relevant costs associated with the item such as purchase price, shipping expenses, etc. This will give you your profit margins. The Extension will automatically factor in Amazon fees and provide you with the total amount you can earn from each sale.

Examine niche potential: Click on the "Niche Score" located at the top right corner of the extension. The Niche Score will show you comprehensive details regarding the profitability, demand, and competition within that specific niche. You should aim for a score of 7 or higher.

Examine the Market Potential for Certain Products: Click on the "Product Score" associated with a particular item to evaluate its demand, sales figures, and level of competition. This score is calculated for both resale and white-label sourcing.

By reviewing handmade products with the AMZScout PRO Extension, and determining what’s selling and what’s not, you’ll be able to come up with a solid plan for your business.

Sign Up to Amazon

To sell on Amazon Handmade you’ll need to sign up to Amazon. Individual sellers aren’t allowed to sell in the handmade category, so you’ll need to register a professional seller account which is $39.99 per month.

How Do I Get Approved to Sell on Amazon Handmade?

1. In order to become an Amazon Handmade seller, you need to apply here. During the application process, you’ll need to provide your name, email, and the type of business you operate (do you work alone or do you have employees?).

2. Next, you’ll need to describe your products (are they handmade, hand-altered, etc.), production process, and how much work you do compared to your employees.

3. Finally, you’ll have to submit photos of your products so Amazon can judge whether they meet their quality standards.

4. Keep in mind that you may need to wait a few weeks before your application is approved.

List Your Products

Once you have a product that’s ready to sell it’s time to create your listing. The process for this is the same as creating a listing for a regular Amazon product:

• Go to your Seller Central account and under “Inventory” select “Add a Product.”

• Select “Create a New Product Listing.”

• Choose a product category (In this case it will be Handmade).

• Fill in the product title and descriptions, and add images.

Make sure to add as much information as possible and don’t leave anything blank. Amazon search favors listings that are complete.

Promoting Your Products

Amazon allows you to expose your products to a massive audience. But there are millions of sellers on the platform competing for customers so if you want to succeed you’ll need to promote your handmade products.

Luckily, Amazon makes it easy by offering two advertising options:

• Sponsored Products: With this campaign, you’ll be able to choose keyword searches you want your products to show up for. Your items will then be displayed in those search results in the sponsored listings section at the bottom. You can also choose headline ads to appear at the top of searches.

• Display Ads: These ads allow you to advertise your products on other areas of Amazon’s website, including competitors’ product pages. Simply select an audience demographic, or product pages you want to advertise your products on, to launch your campaign.

Taking advantage of advertising is the best way to launch your business and give your sales a boost right out of the gate.

Here’s another tip if you want to help your listings show up in more organic searches on Amazon. Use the Amazon Super URL Tool to create links that send people to search results that only include your products. Then promote these links on your blog and social media pages. When people click on these links and buy one of your products it will improve your organic search rankings.

If you use both Amazon ads and super URLs together you should be able to drive traffic to your listings fairly quickly.

Tips and Tricks

The above information will get you started on the platform, but in order to give yourself an edge you need to be utilizing the best strategies and tactics. Consider the tips below to help you outdo your competitors:

Differentiate Your Product

To stay ahead of your competitors, it’s crucial to make your product stand out. By examining competitors’ reviews, you can pinpoint what customers love and where their frustrations lie. Addressing these gaps in your product’s functionality or design will not only help you meet customer needs but also boost your sales. However, analyzing numerous reviews manually can be overwhelming, especially when dealing with products that already have a lot of feedback.

To streamline this process, try using the AI Review Analyzer. Simply enter your competitor’s ASIN, and the tool will provide a comprehensive peek into what customers like and dislike, saving you time and effort. With these insights, you can refine your offering and create a product that truly resonates with your target audience.

Include Creative Descriptions

Be creative with your product descriptions to help you stand out from your competitors. Focus on the benefits of your product and what makes it special. 

When it comes to handmade items people also love to hear the story behind it. How did you come up with the idea? What was your inspiration? These are the types of things that will really sell your product.

Finally, try to keep your descriptions relatively short. Get to the point and focus on the most important details.

Use Keywords

Incorporating the right keywords into your product title and description can have a massive impact on your sales. In order to find the best keywords, we recommend using the AMZScout Keyword Search and the Reverse ASIN Lookup tools.

With these tools, you can search for keywords using the name of your product or the ASIN number of your competitors’ products. They’ll allow you to see important information, like average monthly searches and search volume history for each keyword, where products rank for terms, how many sales you’ll get if you rank for certain keywords, and how relevant terms are to the product you’re selling.

Once you have your keywords, work them into your product description naturally. Don’t overuse them, but make sure you include them wherever it makes sense. You can also use your keywords as part of your PPC campaigns to boost your results.

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Optimize Your Listings Effortlessly

To ensure that you don't miss important keywords and check your listing against Amazon requirements, use the Listing Builder.

1. Login to your AMZScout account and open the Listing Builder.

2. Add any keywords you found with the keyword tools, or extract your competitors' keywords by clicking the "Get from ASIN" button and entering their ASIN.

3. Enter your listing data such as the title, bullet points, description, and backend keywords. If you're uncertain about how to assemble all of the required text components for your listing, you can utilize the built-in AI tool, which will create everything for you, using the keywords you entered in the previous step.

Note: Tap into the product advantages spotlighted by the AI Review Analyzer. Simply click "Create Optimized Listing" on the Analyzer’s page, and it’ll bring you right to the AI Listing Builder. This tool Builder compiles insights like standout features and buyer reasons from the Analyzer, and blends them into your description and bullet points to shape a listing that hooks potential customers.

4. Check if your listing meets the criteria and make any necessary adjustments manually.

If you manage numerous listings, this tool is very useful in helping you keep track of all of these in one place while also ensuring that they stay relevant based on the search volume data of keywords.

Use High-Quality Images

When people buy online they have to use images to visualize what an item looks like. If your pictures aren’t clear, or they don’t show all the features of the product, people aren’t going to feel comfortable buying from you. Make sure your images are very high quality and include multiple angles to show all the different aspects of your product.

Use Amazon FBA

Are you unsure how you’re going to fulfill all of your orders? With Amazon’s FBA program you can ship your entire inventory to them to be stored in one of their warehouses. Then every time you make a sale Amazon’s staff will pick, pack, and ship your product. You pay a premium for this service, but the convenience is more than worth it. In fact, about 82% of active Amazon sellers use FBA as their primary fulfillment method in 2025. Moreover, sellers using FBA typically report sales that are 20-25% higher than those who fulfill orders themselves (FBM).

Other Platforms to Consider Besides Amazon Handmade

While Amazon Handmade offers vast reach and credibility, several other platforms also cater to artisans and small creative businesses. Each has unique strengths depending on your niche, pricing, and desired customer base.

Etsy: The most established handmade marketplace, Etsy hosts over 7.5 million active sellers and 100 million buyers as of 2025. It’s easy to join, has strong search visibility for crafts and vintage items, but can be saturated and competitive. Fees include listing costs and transaction percentages.

eBay: Known mainly for resale and collectibles, eBay still attracts handmade sellers who want a global audience and flexible pricing models. It’s less curated than Amazon Handmade or Etsy, but offers a broader range of categories and auction options.

Aftcra: A smaller, U.S.–based marketplace dedicated exclusively to American artisans. With lower fees and a focus on authenticity, it appeals to creators who want a “shop local” feel. However, its traffic volume is much lower than Amazon or Etsy.

Bonanza: A growing platform that integrates easily with Amazon, eBay, and Etsy. Bonanza takes smaller commissions (around 3.5%) and lets sellers import listings from other sites, making it ideal for multichannel sellers wanting simplicity without high fees.

Conclusion

Is it worth selling on Amazon Handmade? Absolutely. With so many customers and Prime members shopping on the site there’s no better way to increase your exposure and sales. By using the advice above, and AMZScout’s suite of innovative tools, you’ll be running a successful handmade business in no time.

So what are you waiting for? Get your supplies and start crafting!

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FAQs About Amazon Handmade

How is Amazon Handmade different from Etsy?

Amazon Handmade requires an application and approval process, while anyone can sell on Etsy. This means less competition on Amazon. All products must be truly handmade by you or your small team, whereas Etsy allows more flexibility in production. Amazon also has a far larger customer base (about 10 times bigger than Etsy’s) offering greater growth potential.

Do I Need a Business License?

No, you don’t need to have a business license to sell products in any Amazon category, including handmade. That being said, there are several tax benefits to starting an LLC or business, including the ability to write off your expenses. So, it’s worth considering if you’re serious about making this your full-time income.

How Much Does it Cost?

Amazon doesn’t charge listing fees like Etsy does, but there are other charges you’ll need to be aware of. You’ll need to sign up for a professional seller account which is $39.99 per month. There’s also a referral fee of 15% on every sale you make, so make sure to price your items accordingly.