Introduction to Product Research

Amazon Virtual Assistant Course – Part 1 (30,000-Word Comprehensive Version)
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Welcome to the very first lecture of our Amazon Virtual Assistant training series. If you’re here, you’re probably interested in EARNING  from Amazon—either as a seller, a VA, or a freelancer. No matter your goal, your success begins with understanding one of the most vital skills in e-commerce: Product Research.

This course is 100% free. It's specially designed for:

·       Students

·       Freelancers

·       Stay-at-home parents

·       Individuals without upfront investment

·       Those from countries like Pakistan where documents like credit cards or bank statements may not be easily available

This is your gateway to launching a career in Amazon—whether you plan to work with clients or launch your own store.

 

Why Start with Product Research?

Before any product is ever sold on Amazon, before listings are written or ads are run—one important decision must be made:

What product should I sell?

Choosing the right product is what decides the success or failure of your business. This is why big Amazon brands pay thousands of dollars to freelancers and Virtual Assistants (like you) who can research and find winning products.

As a beginner, don’t jump into sourcing or advertising until you master this step.

 

Goals of This Lecture

By the end of this lecture, you will:

·       Understand what product research really is

·       Learn how keywords shape your entire research process

·       Discover what makes a product successful

·       Get introduced to the top tools used by professionals

·       Learn to identify the “main keyword” of any product

·       Prepare yourself for more advanced sessions

 

Part 1: What Is Product Research?

Product research means finding items that can be profitably sold on Amazon. our responsibility as a VA is to assist clients with tasks that save them time and help their business run smoothly."

Discover demand

·       Avoid competition

·       Estimate profits

·       Check restrictions (gated categories, brand approvals)

·       Recommend safe and scalable options

Why Product Research Is Critical

·       If the product has no demand, it won’t sell.

·       If the product has too much competition, it will be hard to rank.

·       If the product has low profit margin, it may not be sustainable.

·       If the product is in a restricted category, you may not be allowed to sell it.

Success on Amazon starts with data, not guesses.

 

Part 2: The Three Pillars of Product Research

To get started, you need three things:

1. Product Research Tools

These tools give you real market data: keyword search volume, average price, estimated monthly sales, competitor listings, and more.

2. Keywords

Every product search begins with a keyword. If you search “laptop stand,” Amazon will show you thousands of listings. Knowing how to find the right keyword is the first and most important step in research.

3. A Winning Mindset

Product research is not guesswork. It’s analysis, patience, and data reading. It may take you hours or even days to find the right product, but every successful Amazon seller starts this way.

 

Part 3: Product Research Tools Overview

Here are the main tools you’ll learn to use in this course:

1. Helium 10

·       Most popular among Amazon sellers and VAs

·       Offers product research, keyword tracking, listing optimization, and profitability calculators

·       Includes tools like Black Box, Cerebro, and Magnet

2. Jungle Scout

·       Browser extension for analyzing sales, reviews, and rankings

·       Great for quickly scanning competitor performance

3. MerchantWords

·       Focuses on keyword search data

·       Tells you what people are actually typing on Amazon to find products

4. Viral Launch

·       A paid tool used for niche validation

·       Helps with product tracking, competition analysis, and keyword ranking

We’ll explore each of these tools in detail in upcoming parts.

 

Part 4: Understanding Keywords – The Foundation of Research

What Is a Keyword?

"A keyword is the word or phrase shoppers enter on Amazon to search for a product. Every time someone searches, they’re typing a keyword—even if it’s just one word like "mouse."

You don’t research a product — you research its keyword first.

 

Part 5: Broad vs. Specific Keywords

Broad Keywords

These are general terms that show a wide range of results.

Examples:

·       The term 'set' can refer to a group of related items, such as a cookware set, a bedding set, or a brush set."

·        

·       Desk' may describe a range of options including office desks, corner designs, or adjustable standing desks."

·        

Why avoid them?

·       Hard to determine actual intent

·       Too many different products in the search results

Specific Keywords

More targeted and accurate. Better for Amazon product research.

Examples:

·       “Wooden Jewelry Organizer”

·       “Stainless Steel Garlic Crusher”

·       They’re simpler to evaluate in terms of sales performance, competitor activity, and profit potential."

 

Part 6: Short-Tail vs. Long-Tail Keywords

Short-Tail

·       1 to 3 words

·       Broad, but usually high in search volume

·       Best for identifying a product niche

·       Easier to rank ads on

Examples:

·       “Spoon Set”

·       “Laptop Stand”

Long-Tail

·       4+ words

·       More specific, but lower in search volume

·       Great for detailed customer targeting

Examples:

·       “Adjustable Wooden Laptop Stand for Desk”

For product hunting, you should start with short-tail keywords. After launching, use long-tail keywords for ad campaigns.

 

Part 7: How to Find the Main Keyword

Let’s say you found a product idea. Now you want to know what the main keyword is.

Step-by-Step Method:

1.     Visit Amazon Best Sellers

2.     Choose a category (e.g., Home & Kitchen)

3.     Open any product

4.     Observe its title

5.     Think about what keyword describes it best

6.     Type that keyword in the Amazon search bar

7.     Check the search results

8.     If most of the products are similar to yours, you’ve found the main keyword

Example:

·       Product: Jewelry Set for Girls

·       Type “Jewelry Set” → Most results match

·       That’s your main keyword

Don’t confuse brand names or features with the main keyword. Think like a customer: what would you type to find this product?

 

Part 8: What Makes a Keyword Profitable?

Once you identify a keyword, analyze:

·       Search Volume: Are people actually searching for this term?

·       Competition Level: Are there too many sellers?

·       Price Range: Is there enough profit margin?

·       Seasonality: Is it trending year-round or only at specific times?

·       Review Count: Are top sellers getting thousands of reviews?

You can get this data using tools like Helium 10 and Jungle Scout.

 

Part 9: Keywords to Avoid

Don’t waste time on keywords that:

·       Are brand names (e.g., Nike Shoes)

·       Are banned or restricted (e.g., CBD oil)

·       Are seasonal if your budget is low (e.g., Christmas lights)

·       Have too many high-review competitors

·       Return unrelated products

Always validate with real data before moving forward.

 

Part 10: Preparing for Product Hunting (Part 2)

In the next part of this module, we’ll explore:

·       Criteria for selecting a winning product

·       How to validate using search volume and review count

·       Ideal price range for new sellers

·       Which categories are gated vs. open

 

Final Thoughts

If you’ve learned even one new thing from this lecture, you’ve taken the first successful step toward your Amazon VA journey. Understanding keywords and product research is the foundation of every major Amazon business. Take your time with this. Review, practice, and rewatch if needed.