How to Use Amazon’s Best Sellers Rank (BSR) for Product Research
Amazon’s Best Sellers Rank (BSR) is a crucial metric for product research, helping sellers identify high-demand products, gauge competition, and make data-driven decisions. By understanding how BSR works and analyzing trends, sellers can find profitable niches, predict sales potential, and optimize product listings.
1. Understanding Amazon’s Best Sellers Rank (BSR)
BSR is a ranking system that Amazon assigns to every product within a category based on recent sales volume. The lower the BSR number, the higher the sales in that category.
Key Facts About BSR:
•It is updated hourly based on recent and historical sales data.
•Each product can have multiple BSRs in different subcategories.
•BSR does not include advertising or listing quality factors—it is purely sales-driven.
✅ Example: A laptop stand ranked #1 in the “Laptop Stands” category means it has the most sales in that category at that moment.
2. Using BSR to Identify High-Demand Products
Products with a low BSR (e.g., #1–#5,000) in a major category are selling well, making them strong candidates for launching your own product.
How to Assess Demand Using BSR:
•Look at Best Sellers Pages: Check Amazon’s Best Sellers list for trending products in your target category.
•Analyze Multiple Listings: Products ranking in the top 5,000 in their main category typically sell hundreds of units per month.
•Compare Across Categories: Some categories have lower sales volume than others, so a BSR of 10,000 in “Electronics” may sell more units than a BSR of 1,000 in “Handmade Products”.
✅ Example: If “collapsible water bottles” consistently rank under #1,500 in Sports & Outdoors, it signals strong demand for the product.
3. Evaluating Competition with BSR Data
A good niche should have a balance between demand and competition. If too many products have a low BSR, the niche may be oversaturated.
How to Check Competition Using BSR:
•Find a Healthy BSR Range: A niche where the top 10 sellers have BSRs ranging from 1,000 to 50,000 may indicate moderate competition.
•Avoid Extremely Low BSR Niches: If most products in a category have BSRs below 1,000, it might be dominated by big brands.
•Look for Gaps: If a niche has only a few high-ranking sellers, but many with high BSRs (e.g., 100,000+), there may be room for a new, improved product.
✅ Example: If the top 10 “portable blenders” all have BSRs below 2,000, entering the niche may be difficult due to high competition.
4. Estimating Sales Potential with BSR Trends
BSR can fluctuate daily, so tracking trends over time helps determine whether demand is stable or seasonal.
How to Track BSR Trends:
•Use BSR Tracking Tools: Websites like Keepa and CamelCamelCamel provide historical BSR trends.
•Check for Seasonal Spikes: Products with large BSR swings (e.g., Christmas decorations) may only sell well during specific months.
•Compare Against Competitors: See how similar products maintain their BSR over weeks or months to gauge consistency.
✅ Example: A “beach tent” may have a BSR of 2,000 in summer but drop to 100,000 in winter, indicating a seasonal product.
5. Finding Product Opportunities with BSR Insights
By analyzing BSR data, sellers can spot gaps in the market where they can introduce better products.
Strategies to Find Opportunities:
•Identify Weak Products in High-BSR Niches: If a product sells well (low BSR) but has bad reviews, there’s an opportunity to create a better version.
•Target Mid-Level BSR Products: Products ranked 5,000–50,000 may be easier to compete in than top 1,000 niches.
•Explore Niche Subcategories: A product ranking #500 in a subcategory but not the main category may have untapped potential.
✅ Example: If “waterproof picnic blankets” with a BSR under 5,000 have poor reviews for durability, launching a better version could be profitable.
6. Using BSR to Optimize Existing Listings
BSR can also help sellers improve existing product listings by identifying factors that impact sales.
Ways to Use BSR for Optimization:
•Monitor Your Product’s BSR: If BSR is declining, check for issues like pricing, stock availability, or negative reviews.
•Compare Against Competitors: See how competitors’ BSRs change after running discounts or ads, and adjust your strategy accordingly.
•Use BSR as a Benchmark: If competitors with similar products maintain lower BSRs, analyze their pricing, images, keywords, and ad strategy.
✅ Example: If a seller’s “pet grooming gloves” drop from a BSR of 3,000 to 15,000 after a price increase, they might need to reconsider their pricing strategy.
Final Thoughts
Amazon’s Best Sellers Rank (BSR) is a powerful tool for product research, competition analysis, and sales estimation. By leveraging BSR data, sellers can find high-demand, low-competition niches, track trends, and optimize listings for better performance.