Getting into the Amazon carousel is only half the battle. Once you are there, you need to actually get clicks against your competition. Rob from Oink for Influencers breaks down the four C’s: competing for clicks in the carousels against the competition. He shares two specific things every influencer should focus on at the point of upload to maximize their chances of getting that all-important click.
Table of Contents
- Understanding the Buyer’s Intent
- Thing 1: Your Thumbnail Must Feature the Product
- Practical Thumbnail Tips
- Thing 2: Create Unique and Enticing Titles
- Breaking Down Real Title Examples
- Using a Title Competition Analyzer
- Watch the Full Video
Understanding the Buyer’s Intent
Before diving into the tactics, it is essential to understand why buyers watch influencer videos in the first place. They are not watching because the creator is funny or entertaining. They are watching because they have a gap in their knowledge about a product. They are standing on the edge of a purchase decision and need something answered or need to feel more confident before buying. Every decision you make about your thumbnail and title should be filtered through this understanding of buyer intent.
Thing 1: Your Thumbnail Must Feature the Product
The thumbnail is the first thing a potential buyer sees in the carousel. Rob walks through a real carousel example showing how different thumbnails perform. The best thumbnails have the product front and center, clearly visible, and obviously about the item on the page. Some creators use thumbnails that do not clearly show the product, which puts them at an immediate disadvantage. Even if someone made a great video, a poor thumbnail means buyers will scroll right past it because it does not fulfill their intention of learning about that specific product.
Practical Thumbnail Tips
Keep your product centered in the thumbnail. You do not need to add text, but if you do, keep it out of the way and not covering the product. The product should always be the focal point. Stop letting Amazon auto-select your thumbnail because it rarely does you any favors. If you want to make your thumbnails look more professional, tools like the Oink for Influencers extension offer pre-made templates that keep the product centered while adding a polished look. You can also upload your own custom templates.
Thing 2: Create Unique and Enticing Titles
The second thing buyers look at before clicking is the title. Your title needs to do two things: be unique compared to other videos in the carousel, and fulfill the buyer’s intent. A title that simply describes the product name is not as enticing as one that speaks to what the buyer wants to know. Titles like “Everything You Need to Know Before You Buy” or “Questions Answered” directly address why someone is watching in the first place.
Breaking Down Real Title Examples
Rob analyzes several titles from a real carousel to illustrate the difference. A title that just lists the product name is essentially regurgitating information already on the page. Compare that to titles like “Questions Answered” which speaks directly to buyer intent, or “Realistic Review: The Taste” which addresses a specific concern buyers might have. The best titles make the buyer feel like clicking will answer their specific question or concern about the product.
Using a Title Competition Analyzer
To ensure your titles stand out, Rob recommends checking what titles already exist on a product before creating your own. The Oink for Influencers extension includes a title competition analyzer that shows you all existing video titles on a product’s carousel. It also identifies commonly used words that you might want to avoid so your title stands out. The goal is to create something unique that still fulfills buyer intent. Remember the four C’s: you are competing for clicks in the carousel against your competition. Do not squander the opportunity of getting placed by having a weak thumbnail or generic title.
Watch the Full Video
Watch the original video from Oink for Influencers on YouTube:
