Everybody is getting excited about selling their products on Walmart. And they’re not wrong, as Walmart.com is the fastest-growing marketplace right now and presents a massive set of opportunities for experienced eCommerce sellers and more.
However, Walmart is obviously a platform on its own and has many factors that differentiate it from other marketplaces like Amazon or eBay. They don’t work the same. Here are the top three most common mistakes sellers make when starting on Walmart.com
Mistake 1: Copy and paste listings
Many sellers who start on Walmart come directly from Amazon. What happens is that product listings on both platforms are very similar. Upon seeing this, these new sellers decide to copy and paste their listing from Amazon onto Walmart and save a load of work, but their mistake is not noting the key differences between the two.
A big one is keyword optimization. While Amazon lowers listings stuffed with keywords, they’re much more permissive on how many of them you can add to your listings, specifically your title.
Here’s a high-ranking product listing optimized for Amazon. See how many keywords are included?
Walmart, on the other hand, is very clear on the fact that they value simple titles with one or two keywords. Keyword stuffing can significantly harm your ranking, and you’ll miss the opportunity to be seen by many buyers. Here’s a high-ranking listing of a similar product, but optimized to the Walmart Marketplace:
Regarding product descriptions, Walmart allows up to 4,000 characters in length; however, it’s advisable to cap your descriptions at around 1,500 characters, as excessively long descriptions will devalue your listing.
Walmart suggests an alternative, too: Instead of including a description, replace it with a list of 10 to 30 features or benefits of your product.
All of this relates to another key factor to consider: Walmart wants the descriptions to offer buyers a clear understanding of the products’ defining technical features. So descriptions that would otherwise work on Amazon (those that appeal to customers and tell a story) won’t work well on Walmart.
For visibility, it’s crucial to understand the basics of Walmart Advertising, too.
Mistake 2: Poor-quality Product Images
Experienced Walmart sellers often warn beginners that inconsistent image quality, missing GTINs, or ignoring Walmart’s content standards kill conversions. And all of it is true.
But there’s a fact that you need to consider: Walmart allows customers to skip a crucial step of the buying process. How? Well, some listings have an “Add to cart” button available in search results. Here it is:
When buyers tap that button, they skip a big step of the process entirely. They don’t even look at the product’s listing: With its main image and title is enough for them to be convinced to purchase.
This simple button changes things entirely and makes the main image much more important than before, as not only does it have to be of high quality, but it also has to be appealing enough to convince buyers to click on your product over other competitors that have a significant advantage over the rest.
And if you have this Add to Cart button on search results, then your main image is even more crucial! Customers nowadays buy with their eyes, and this feature is a testament to that. So get creative and crush it with your main image. Here are the requirements:
- White Background
- The image must only show the product and exclude any accessories unless they are part of the purchase.
- Aim for a resolution of at least 1500 x 1500 pixels.
- Don’t include text, watermarks, or logos.
- You must display a single product per image, unless the product is naturally a set.
- Variations like different colors must be shown in alternate images, not the main one.
- The product should occupy at least 85% of the image frame.
- Main image must show the product on its own, not being used or worn.
- Accepted formats: JPEG (.jpg), PNG (.png).
Note: Learn more about Walmart Listing Optimization and how to fix common mistakes
Mistake 3: Wrong Category
If you place your product in the wrong category, it won’t appear in the search results you want. Simple, right? But why is this such a big deal, then? Walmart’s system isn’t always intuitive, and sellers often rush through the setup process or rely too heavily on habits from other platforms like Amazon. And then, sellers placing their products in the wrong category becomes a common mistake.
Walmart expects sellers to manually select the most accurate and specific category, unlike Amazon. And sometimes the category names are vague or don’t match exactly to their meaning on other platforms. So even if they are called the same, they may refer to different products on Walmart.
Sellers are used to focusing more on product titles, images, or pricing because those elements will drive traffic, while viewing categorization as a “technicality.” In reality, categories play a major role in Walmart’s search and filtering system. But that’s not obvious until the listing underperforms, and by then, many sellers don’t even know categorization was the problem.
The solution? Look at the competition. Unless your product is part of an ultra-specific niche, studying where the competition list their products similar to yours will be an easy enough process, and will save you a lot of headaches along the way.
FAQ: Selling on Walmart Marketplace
1. Can I just copy my Amazon listings to Walmart?
No, and doing so can hurt your performance. While both platforms may look similar, Walmart has very different rules, especially when it comes to titles, keyword use, and product descriptions.
2. Why is the main product image so important on Walmart?
Walmart often displays an “Add to Cart” button directly in search results. The reason that’s important is that people won’t see your entire listing. They’ll see the main image, your price, and your title. Aim to create a main image that leads to immediate purchase decisions.
3. How do I know which is the best category for my product?
The easiest and most reliable method is to check your competition. Research similar products and examine how they’re categorized.
4. Can I include lifestyle photos?
Yes, but only in the secondary images. The main image must be on a pure white background and show only the product. Lifestyle images or infographics highlighting benefits and features are only allowed in the additional gallery slots.
5. What happens after I choose the wrong category?
Your listing may not show up in search filters, leading to low or zero traffic. In some cases, Walmart may suppress or unpublish the listing. Even if it stays live, being in the wrong category can result in poor performance.
Conclusion
If you’re struggling to adapt your strategy or want expert help optimizing your listings for maximum exposure, the BellaVix Team can help. We specialize in enhancing visibility, optimizing product performance, and scaling success on platforms such as Amazon and Walmart. Don’t hesitate to contact us!
Ready to Win on Walmart Marketplace?
Walmart is exploding in growth right now, but the truth is most sellers entering the marketplace are leaving money on the table. Copy-paste Amazon listings, weak images, and poor categorization are the kind of mistakes that stall sales before they even start.
You’ve already seen the top pitfalls—now imagine what happens when you avoid them and launch with a strategy built for Walmart’s unique rules. Better visibility. More clicks. Higher conversions. And the confidence that your products are set up to succeed.
That’s exactly what our team at BellaVix helps sellers do every day. We know the differences that make or break performance, and we’ll guide you step by step to optimize your listings, master Walmart’s algorithm, and unlock growth opportunities most sellers overlook.
Fill out the form below, tell us about your brand, and one of our marketplace experts will reach out with insights you can apply right away. No pressure—just clear strategies that will give you a competitive edge.