2025 Marketplace Growth Playbook (India): Amazon, Flipkart, Blinkit, Zepto & BigBasket
Days 0–30: Build a rock-solid foundation
Think of this as making your “shop window” irresistible.
Fix your product pages
Clear titles: what it is, who it’s for, size/variant.
Five short bullet points that spell out benefits, not just features.
Great images: a clean main photo, a lifestyle shot, and one “explainer” image.
Be easy to find
Add the words customers actually type (common spellings, nicknames).
Put your products in the right category so they appear in the right searches.
Set the right price
Know your cost and your minimum acceptable margin.
Keep prices consistent across marketplaces and your website to avoid confusion.
Choose how you’ll deliver
Marketplace fulfilment (like Amazon FBA) = faster shipping, less work, extra fees.
Self-ship = more control, but you must meet delivery promises.
Many brands do both: FBA for fast movers, self-ship for the rest.
Pick your quick-commerce SKUs
Start with 10–20 fast, everyday items or smaller packs.
Make sure packaging is “shelf-ready” and survives quick delivery.
Days 31–60: Get seen and start growing
Now that your “shop window” looks great, invite people in.
Run simple, smart ads (not big budgets)
Promote your best sellers and proven keywords.
Every week, stop ads that waste money and boost the ones that work.
Gather social proof
After delivery, ask politely for a review (within platform rules).
Answer product questions publicly—it builds trust for everyone.
Create your Brand Store
Make a clean storefront with collections (bestsellers, gifts, new arrivals).
Update a simple promo calendar (festivals, long weekends, payday).
Tidy up operations
Keep stock close to where your customers are (regional warehouses or dark stores).
Refill regularly so you don’t run out during promotions.
Days 61–90: Automate the boring stuff
Free your team to focus on growth, not manual tasks.
Low-stock alerts: Get a message when an item is running low.
Auto invoices: Send a GST invoice by email or WhatsApp after every order.
Return reasons: Track why items come back and fix the top issues.
Price watch: Get notified if competitors undercut you so you can respond.
Daily scorecard: One simple sheet with yesterday’s sales, returns and ad spend.
You don’t need to be technical—these can be set up with simple no-code tools and templates. We help brands do this every week.
Quick tips by platform
Amazon India
Strong product pages and A+ content (extra images and comparison tables) help you rank and convert.
Fast shipping (FBA) improves visibility and reviews.
Flipkart
Price-sensitive shoppers respond well to bundles and event deals.
Keep an eye on Big Billion Days and seasonal events; plan stock early.
Blinkit & Zepto
Treat them like local mini-stores.
Lead with smaller, fast-moving SKUs and clear benefits on the first image.
BigBasket
Great for weekly “basket” buying (think family needs).
Consider subscriptions and combo packs that make sense together.
Common mistakes (and how to avoid them)
Too many SKUs at once. Start with your winners; add the rest later.
Weak images. If one change could lift sales quickly, it’s better photos.
Random discounts. Plan promotions around festivals and paydays, not guesses.
No stock near customers. Long delivery times kill conversion and reviews.
Ignoring reviews. Respond politely—future buyers are reading.
What a good weekly rhythm looks like
Monday: Check what sold last week; refill stock if needed.
Tuesday: Improve one product page (title, bullets, new image).
Wednesday: Review ads—pause waste, boost winners.
Thursday: Reply to reviews and questions; spot patterns.
Friday: Prepare the weekend promo or a small bundle offer.
Saturday: Quick dashboard check (sales, returns, ad spend).
Sunday: Rest (and let your automations work).