Rock Your Brand Podcast

There is a lot more to making your Amazon business successful than sourcing a product and throwing it onto Amazon. You’ve got to figure out ways to get many, many people not only seeing your products, but opting in to your email list and eventually, purchasing your products. When your items first show up on Amazon, they’ll be way down the list, so organic sales will be very few. That’s where “outside” traffic comes in. In this episode of The Amazing Seller Scott’s going to highlight some of the “dos” and “don’ts” of outside traffic to help you get the right kind of traffic, the right way.

 

The right social media platform for the right audience.

 

What does that mean? It means that when you’re considering promotions or list-building ads on a social media platform, you need to think through why people are on that social media platform in the first place. For example: People tend to go onto Facebook to see what’s going on with their friends or family, or to be entertained by funny memes or videos. Very seldom are they there to buy a product. So ads directing people to a sales page are not as effective. But if you were to apply that same evaluation to Pinterest, you may find an entirely different story. In this episode Scott covers the difference in various social media platforms and gives his advice on how to use each of them to drive traffic to the right offer or page.

 

Do you know the biggest “outside traffic” mistake Amazon sellers make?

 

It’s driving people directly to a sales page instead of trying to use social media platforms for a more long term goal - building an email list. Because many people are on social media for “social” reasons (go figure), they aren’t open to buying something while they’re on that channel. So trying to make them do it is not only frustrating, it’s dumb. Instead, appeal to the reason they are there in the first place by offering them something that is entertaining or socially oriented that is connected to your product. And how do they get it? By signing up for your email list. It’s a great way to build a list that can help you launch products, get reviews, and lots more. Find out how Scott would go about doing it, on this episode of The Amazing Seller.

 

Are there smart ways to drive traffic using Pinterest?

 

You bet there are. Many people use Pinterest to spark their creativity or to find ideas about home decor, crafts, haircuts, and a million other things. They are there in a “consumer” mood already. If they see your product-related pin and it sparks their interest or scratches an itch they already have, you may wind up having a very warm lead or potential customer. And one of the good things… if they wind up pinning your image to their board, it’s there forever, for all their friends and followers to see. Find out more about how Scott’s learning to use Pinterest on this episode.

 

To build your list you need to offer something that is truly of value to people.

 

Too many internet marketers throw together something shoddy or unfulfilling to lure people into subscribing for their email list. But if you do that you destroy the trust level because once they download your offer and discover it’s junk, they will unsubscribe or worse yet, form a negative opinion of you and your products. That’s why it’s critical that the “offer” you make in exchange for an email address is something of great value to your ideal customers. By doing that you’ll ensure that they are the type of person who will not only buy your product, but also be more likely to help you promote it and spread the word. Hear Scott’s tactics and ideas for building your list through great offers, on this episode of The Amazing Seller.

 

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • [0:05] Welcome and introduction - and why Scott’s so excited!

  • [1:20] Your invitation to Scott’s live workshop - www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop

  • [2:24] The first mistake in driving “outside” traffic to your products - trying to sell directly through social media.

  • [5:08] The difference between people seeing your product and them being potentially interested in your product.

  • [7:19] The second biggest mistake in driving traffic to your products - not capturing email addresses.

  • [14:04] The variety of social platforms - their strengths and ways to use them.

  • [15:41] How outside traffic can impact your email list.

  • [17:12] A focus on Pinterest - how you can use it drive sales.

  • [19:00] The changing Amazon climate regarding “blast” services.

  • [20:00] The importance of keeping your email list “warm” and various ways you can do that.

  • [22:00] Why the main goal is to build an email list.

  • [22:48] How do you know where to start?

  • [24:16] Things you can use as a “lead magnet” to get people to join your list.

  • [26:15] The right way to get your customers to join your “customer” list.

  • [27:16] The importance of creating valuable stuff to build a solid list.

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

 

Scott’s free workshop  - http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop

 

www.Pinterest.com

 

www.TheAmazingSeller.com/resources - check out Amisuite


www.TheAmazingSeller.com/start - Scott’s “getting started” resources

Direct download: TAS092.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

 

One of the most powerful ways for you to learn about anything is to have the opportunity to ask a “nothing off limits” question from somebody who’s already doing what you are trying to do for the first time. That’s what this episode of The Amazing Seller is for - it’s an “Ask Scott” episode where you get to Ask Scott Voelker your own question about selling on Amazon, either through Retail Arbitrage, Wholesaling, or Private Label sales. In this episode you’ll hear questions about tax issues, private websites, and sending email to customers. Pull up a chair and get ready to learn as you hear from an experienced Amazon seller about the practical parts of building and running a successful FBA business.

What percentage of sales profits should an Amazon seller set aside each month?

 

That’s a very important question, and it’s one asked by a listener on today’s episode of “Ask Scott.” Naturally, there are variables to consider for each situation including your state of residence and personal tax bracket. But most importantly, you want to base your decision off professional advice from a qualified accountant or tax attorney. Having said that, Scott tells what he does, including how he reinvests profits into his Amazon business so he can get additional tax write offs. It’s practical stuff you won’t want to miss… and you’ll only hear it on this episode of The Amazing Seller.

Should you set up a website for your Amazon products?

 

Many Amazon sellers do set up a website for the products they sell on Amazon to give a greater sense of legitimacy to their business. But Scott’s not sure that the investment in a website is really all that important, especially as you first get your business rolling. He’d rather invest that time and money in things that will get his product more reviews and greater exposure in the Amazon system. Find out why he recommends that and how he goes about doing it on this episode of The Amazing Seller.

Getting reviews on your products is vital. How can you do it most effectively?

 

There are many 3rd party software programs that enable you to track your Amazon sales and solicit feedback from your customers. But is there a way to use those programs to solicit feedback on particular products rather than on your seller account in general? Yes, there is, and in this episode of “Ask Scott,” Scott Voelker walks you through how to do so in a couple of different software programs so that you can make the most out of those Amazon sales reviews and get your product ranking higher in the Amazon search algorithm.

Every State in the U.S. has its own sales tax rate? How can Amazon sellers make sure they’re paying the tax that is due?

Even experienced Amazon sellers will tell you that sales tax is one of the most confusing, frustrating parts of running a successful Amazon Business. A listener asks Scott a question about collecting and paying State sales tax in this episode, and as always, Scott gives practical, common sense advice about how to play by the rules when it comes to sales tax, and how to make sure you’re not taking those payments from your profits. Listen in to find out how you can ensure that your business is dealing with this important issue wisely.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:05] Welcome to this “Ask Scott” episode!

  • [0:47] Scott’s having fun on www.Persicope.tv - join him - @ScottVoelker - or recorded at www.TheAmazingSeller.com/scope

  • [3:07] How you can ask Scott a question - www.TheAmazingSeller.com/ask

  • [3:50] QUESTION #1: A tax question - what is the percentage you set aside for income tax each month?

  • [11:12] QUESTION #2: What is the value of having a private website for my products? Do you have one? If so, when did you decide to make that part of your business?

  • [16:30] QUESTION #3: Is there any way to filter out who gets emails through Feedback Genius so I can focus on particular products within my brand?

  • [23:06] QUESTION #4: How do you go about collecting sales tax for the various states?

  • [28:35] Figure out your inventory for the upcoming holiday rush!

  • [30:35] Your invite to one of Scott’s live workshops.

 

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Scott’s recorded Periscopes - www.TheAmazingSeller.com/scope

www.TaxJar.com - One of Scott’s recommended resources for dealing with sales tax.

Scott’s free workshop  - http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop

 

Direct download: TAS091.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

Scott recently attended Podcast Movement, an incredible event for podcasters that powerfully equipped many people to take their podcast to the next level. But the highlight of Scott’s time at PM was not the main sessions or the inspiring talks… it was the time he was able to spend informally with people from The Amazing Seller community. This episode is a one-of-a-kind conversation with a handful of TASers who were at the Podcast Movement TAS meetup. They discuss getting started, overcoming fear, busting through roadblocks, and a whole lot more.

 

Roadblocks come to every business.

 

It may be when you discover that the product you planned to sell on Amazon isn’t going to be as profitable as you thought. It could be when you come to the place of ordering your product and fear of writing that big check comes to the surface. It could be when you need to start a PPC campaign and realize you know nothing about how to get started. No matter what the roadblock is, you’ve got to learn how to overcome it. In this episode of The Amazing Seller, Scott leads a discussion between Amazon Sellers who have faced every one of those roadblocks. You’ll hear how real sellers got past the things that often stop business owners in their tracks. It’s an inspiring conversation to encourage you to keep taking action.

 

Fear is a sign that you’re making progress.

 

Think about it… you don’t feel fear when you’re sitting on the couch watching TV. Why? Because you’re comfortable. You’re within your comfort zone. There’s nothing to fear. So when you feel fear as you take the next step in your Amazon business, it’s a good sign… it means you’re moving. It means you’re growing. It means you’re doing the things needed to make your business grow. Listen in as Scott and some of the TAS community discuss their individual fears and roadblocks and how they overcome them.

 

Answering the “what ifs” in your own head.



Fear often takes the form of “what if” statements that surface in your own thinking. “What if I make a mistake on my product research and start with a bad product?” “What if nobody gives me product reviews?” “What if it’s a bust and I make no money?” Those what if questions are a sign that you’re coming up against a roadblock and that it’s time to grit your teeth and push through it. In this episode you’ll hear how real people have pushed through their own “what if” questions to create an Amazon business that is successfully providing the lifestyle they imagined.

 

You can’t make it alone. You need a community behind you.

 

The discussion you’ll hear on today’s show is proof of that fact. It was recorded at a recent meetup of TAS community members and almost to a person they attest to the power of having the TAS Facebook community as a support and resource. They needed the encouragement and support of others in the same business, and you will too. Listen to this episode to hear how you can connect with others who are doing an Amazon business like yours, and how you can contribute and learn as you build a business to support your family and lifestyle.

 

OUTLINE OF THIS INTERVIEW EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • [0:05] Introduction of this special episode - a conversation with Amazon sellers.

  • [1:00] Busting through the roadblocks, examples of doubts Scott had to overcome.

  • [2:37] Your invite to Scott’s upcoming free workshop.

  • [3:02] Scott’s new efforts on Periscope and your invite to hangout with him via live video.

  • [5:09] The roundtable discussion about busting through roadblocks.

  • [7:45] How Pat Flynn’s talk at Podcast Movement prompted this discussion.

  • [8:59] One man’s story about how he’s worked through his own roadblocks.

  • [12:00] Dealing with fears and the possibility of failure.

  • [16:30] The power of “just in time learning” for keeping yourself on track without being overwhelmed.

  • [18:15] A story of crippling fear and how it was overcome.

  • [22:15] Answering the “what ifs” in your own head.

  • [25:00] The power of picking a product and moving forward.

  • [27:00] The importance of support from others who are doing the same business.

  • [29:02] Why fear is a good sign that you’re making progress.

  • [32:30] The power of surrounding yourself with motivating people who support you.

  • [34:00] One Amazon seller’s journey - choosing a product, changing products, but continuing to press forward.

  • [37:44] What it does when you see others you know making their first sale.

  • [39:49] Taking action produces great results - and how it will work for you.

  • [42:30] The power of learning from other people.

 

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

 

Scott’s free workshop  - http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop

 

www.Periscope.tv - search for @ScottVoelker to find Scott

 

www.TheAmazingSeller.com/FB - the TAS Facebook Community

Direct download: TAS090.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

You’ve heard Scott talk about a variety of strategies surrounding the use of Facebook groups and fan pages. But in this episode it’s going to move to whole new Facebook level. Scott’s got Rick Mulready on the show. Rick is known as “THE Facebook Ad guy” and after listening to this conversation, you’ll understand why. Rick’s taken the time to truly understand the tools Facebook has created in its advertising platform and he’s unloading a ton of information in this episode about how you can make the most of Facebook ads to build an email list, drive up your product reviews, and ultimately sell more products.

 

Did you know you can use Facebook ads to drive traffic to discounted products - and get more true purchase reviews on Amazon?

 

With Facebook Ads you can drill WAY down into the demographics to choose exactly the right people to present your promotions to, and since people are usually on Facebook to share with family and friends, you want to make sure your “ads” are not sales-y. One of the best ways to do that is to present people with a fun opportunity or deal - a 99 cent product, etc. in exchange for an honest review on Amazon. Can you image targeting your product to the exact people who have already expressed interest in it or similar products, then asking if they want an almost-free copy of your product? Your email list opt-in will likely go through the rough. Hear how “The Facebook Ad Guy,” Rick Mulready suggests you go about doing exactly that, on this episode of The Amazing Seller.

 

What is granular targeting, and how does Facebook make it easy?

 

Granular targeting is a term used lately to refer to the ability to dig deeply into the statistics about your target market so that you can get your ads in front of people who are more likely to like what you’re promoting, with pin-point accuracy. Facebook has almost written the book on granular targeting by utilizing the voluntary stats of its users to let you create ads that dig into the interests, buying patterns, discussion patterns, and self-disclosed interests available in their profiles and usage habits. Facebook ads allows you to use all that data to specify who you want to see your ads and who you don’t. Rick Mulready unpacks how to do it on this episode of the podcast, so make sure you listen to get those great tips.

 

Why you should keep track of your numbers to make Facebook ads work best.

 

Here’s the scenario: You create a Facebook ad to highlight a free giveaway of your product. Within a few days you have 15 more people than normal who have taken you up on your offer. That’s an increase, and you’re really happy! The Facebook Ad must be working. But what might happen if you tweak your audience or change your settings just a bit? Would it turn that 15 conversions into 20, or 30, or 50? You won’t know unless you watch the stats (numbers) on how your Facebook ads are doing. In this episode Rick Mulready covers that topic and what seems like hundreds more, unpacking his head full of knowledge about Facebook and Facebook ads.

 

Retargeting, Facebook pixels, and how to catch the ones that got away.

 

It’s amazing, but true. You can use some of the tools Facebook has created to virtually stalk those who have come to your website through a Facebook ad, but never took the action step you wanted them to take. You’re able to follow them to another website and re-present your offer to them in a gentle reminder that they were interested and might be missing out if they don’t take action. People who use retargeting see their sales conversions go up by leaps and bounds. Rick Mulready covers Facebook pixels and how you can use them to retarget your ideal customers on this episode of The Amazing Seller.

OUTLINE OF THIS INTERVIEW EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • [0:05] Introduction of the topic of Facebook Ads and the introduction of Rick Mulready, the Facebook Ads guy.

  • [1:46] Rick’s background and how he got into Facebook advertising.

  • [5:30] What Rick sees his business focus being about - teaching people how to leverage Facebook to advance their business.

  • [6:50] The first steps to building a list from Facebook - setting a clear goal and taking advantage of Facebook’s granular targeting.

  • [10:34] Scott’s typical Facebook strategy deconstructed by Rick, and Rick’s additional advice.

  • [13:14] The importance of keeping track of numbers to maximize your Facebook conversions.

  • [16:36] The difficulties of dealing with email in Facebook and how to do it right.

  • [18:23] Using Facebook ads to drive traffic to a discounted product to increase reviews quickly.

  • [20:11] The services out there that you can pay to get good reviews of your products, and why Facebook ads do a better job for less cost.

  • [22:30] The power of having a targeted audience when creating Facebook ads.

  • [25:17] How you can do “interest targeting” using Facebook ads - an amazing benefit of using Facebook to drive traffic.

  • [28:22] How “interest targeting” benefits - in real terms.

  • [30:02] Using Facebook pixels - what they are and how you can use them to drive traffic to your products.

  • [34:43] Understanding retargeting and how you can do it through Facebook.

  • [37:10] The best practices for using images and videos on Facebook ads.

  • [40:28] How video is working on Facebook for starting a relationship.

  • [42:15] What are the best lengths for Facebook videos?

  • [43:16] Using Facebook’s video metrics to improve your videos for better conversions.

  • [44:09] Tips for writing better headlines for Facebook ads.

  • [46:40] How to get in touch with Rick.

  • [49:15] Scott’s recap of the conversation.

 

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

 

Art of Paid Traffic Podcast - Rick’s podcast show

 

Rick’s upcoming live training - August 25, 2015 - www.RickMulready.com/Scott  

 

Scott’s free workshop  - http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop

 

Interview with Greg Mercer - http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/35

 

www.TheAmazingSeller.com/FB - the TAS Facebook Community

Direct download: TAS089.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

This is another of Scott Voelker’s Friday “Ask Scott” sessions where he answers your questions about Amazon FBA Sales. In this episode Scott answers 4 questions from listeners just like you who are in the trenches, building their own Amazon sales business. You can be one of the voices you hear on these Q&A episodes by submitting your question for Scott to answer. Head on over to www.TheAmazingSeller.com/ask to submit your question via voicemail and listen to hear your own voice on an upcoming episode of The Amazing Seller.

 

Is there any benefit to placing 2 UPC codes on the same product?

 

This may sound like an odd question but there’s really some sophisticated thinking behind it. The idea is simple: If you have a potato peeler as one of your products, should you also create a second listing for the identical product and list it as a “CARROT peeler” instead? You’d have two products with two listings and two unique UPC codes. Scott’s not convinced it’s the best way to start but does think it could be advantageous after looking into the numbers a bit more. Find out the details of why Scott thinks this could be a good strategy as he answers the question on this episode.

 

Business accounting can be a nightmare, but it doesn’t have to be.

 

A listener asks Scott how he handles the accounting in his Amazon Private Label business. There are product costs, customs expenses, shipping, Amazon fees - it’s enough to make your head spin. But Scott’s convinced that keeping good records doesn’t have to be that hard. In fact, he started with everything in one spreadsheet and thinks that system could still work if he was inclined to use it. But he goes a bit deeper into the question to reveal what accounting software he’s using now as well as providing a few other options, both software packages you can buy and online free versions. Learn how to get your accounting headaches under control on this episode of The Amazing Seller.

 

What do you do day to day once your product is launched?

 

Product research, product sourcing, product listings, PPC, Facebook Ads - there’s a TON that goes into the process of getting a private label product to market on Amazon. But once all that hard work is done and your product is live on Amazon, what do you do day to day from there? A listener asks Scott what his daily, weekly, and monthly routines are now that he’s an established Amazon seller and Scott gives a transparent and simple answer, breaking it down into even the small tasks that he does every day. You won’t want to miss this practical answer as Scott responds to the listener’s question.

 

Is it possible for my multiple PPC campaigns to compete with each other?

 

PPC (pay per click advertising) is a very confusing and mysterious thing at times. It’s hard to know all the ins and outs of setting up campaigns correctly. In today’s episode of The Amazing Seller a listener asks a question that stems from some changes he made in his Amazon PPC account, and a change in results he observed. He wants to know: “If I use the same keywords in different Amazon PPC campaigns, will I wind up competing with myself for those keywords, thus decreasing the effectiveness of my investment in PPC?” It’s a great question and Scott has a great answer. Find out what he thinks about that issue on this episode.



OUTLINE OF THIS INTERVIEW EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • [0:05] Welcome to “Ask Scott!”

  • [0:39] How you can ask your own question for an “Ask Scott” episode.

  • [0:45] Scott’s recent business happenings, and some encouragement for you.

  • [2:36] Your invitation to one of Scott’s live workshops (free).

  • [3:23] A shout out to someone in the TAS Facebook group - Frankie, way to do!

  • [5:38] Is it a good idea to put 2 UPC codes on the same product?

  • [9:32] How do you handle your accounting?

  • [15:24] What things do you work on daily, weekly, monthly, etc. to improve your Amazon business once a product is launched?

  • [22:40] A quick question about PPC - Should I have my target keyword in multiple campaigns?

  • [29:20] Your invite to the TAS Facebook Community.

  • [30:00] How to subscribe on iTunes.

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE



Scott’s free workshop  - http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop

 

Interview with Greg Mercer - http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/35

 

Quickbooks - an accounting option. - http://quickbooks.intuit.com/

 

www.Freshbooks.com - an online accounting software option.

 

www.waveapps.com - the online accounting software Scott has been using.


www.TheAmazingSeller.com/FB - the TAS Facebook Community

Direct download: TAS088.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

An email list is an asset that is yours forever.

 

It’s a tool you can use to make your products known to people who are perfectly matched for them, and no company or person can keep you from using that list to increase your sales, reviews, and success. If you aren’t building an email list right now, you’ve got to start. You can use the tips Scott shares in this episode to get a jump on the process, using mostly free tools. And in the end, even if you do need to invest a small amount of money in building your list, you’ll recoup that cash quickly once those you target through your email campaigns begin responding to your products. Find out how to do it on this episode.

Amazon won’t give you the email address of people who buy your products. But that doesn’t mean you can’t build an email list of your own.

 

How can you do it? It’s really not that difficult to figure out, and once you do it, you’ve got a “launch list” to market to for every new product in your niche that you develop and place on Amazon. Imagine the impact of being able to target your new products directly to people who have already expressed interest in your products. You’ll have a jumpstart on Amazon reviews, sales, and ultimately, success. In this episode of The Amazing Seller Scott is going to give you his top 6 tips for building your own email list.

 

How you can use a Facebook fan page to capture emails and build a community.

 

Anyone can create a Facebook fan page… it’s really pretty simple. But how do you get people into the group? Even more importantly, how do you get people into the group who are truly interested in what you have to sell? That’s where Facebook ads come in. For a very small amount you can specifically target people who have already indicated that they are interested in the types of things you sell. You can set daily limits on what you spend, tweak your ad campaign at any time, and cancel when you feel it’s done all you need it to do. This is one of Scott’s favorite ways to build a fan page, which you can then use to build your email list. Find out the details on this episode.

 

Tomoson is another way you can build an email list of people who want what you have to sell.

 

Tomoson is a website dedicated to connecting review bloggers and the people who have products needing reviews. That sounds like you, doesn’t it? Using their platform you can locate bloggers who are interested in reviewing the kinds of products you sell, make contact with them offering to send them your product in exchange for a review, and increase your exposure through their review and through the things they say about your product on their blog. It’s a great way to increase interest in your products with the potential of building your email list with the addresses of those who respond. Find out how Scott uses Tomoson on this episode of The Amazing Seller.

 

You can also use Amasuite to find and filter reviewers who are interested in the type of products you sell.

 

Amasuite is Chris Guthrie’s amazing tool that helps you research and filter through the Amazon listings to find the exact products that might be big sellers. But there’s tons more to Amasuite than just product research. You can use the filter functionality in the program to find people likely to review a product like yours so you can reach out to them for a review. It’s another amazing way you can get your products into the hands of interested reviewers, which in turn can increase your product’s profile in Amazon. Find out how Scott uses Amasuite to gain more subscribers to his email list, and how you can get $100 off the software - in this episode.

 

OUTLINE OF THIS INTERVIEW EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • [0:05] Introduction to building your “launch list.”

  • [1:58] Your invitation to one of Scott’s live workshops.

  • [2:41] A shout out to “Geekerson” - one of the TAS iTunes listeners.

  • [4:39] An asset that is YOURS, forever - your own “launch list.”

  • [5:26] Create a Facebook fan page and post to it daily.

  • [9:45] Run ads to funnel people to your Facebook fan page.

  • [11:40] Build your own email list using Facebook ads & an autoresponder, or using Tomoson.

  • [15:26] Contact the top Amazon reviewers asking for reviews on your product.

  • [16:51] Scott’s invite to talks to a “Top Amazon Reviewer” - any takers?

  • [18:32] Use Amasuite to find and filter the reviewers that apply to your product (get $100 off using Scott’s code - www.TheAmazingSeller.com/ams - affiliate link)

  • [21:16] Build an email list using the reviewers of your competitor’s products, or people interested in your niche (again, using Amasuite)..

  • [26:19] Why building an email list is vital to your future sales and success.

  • [27:28] Recap of the 6 tips to build your own email list.

 

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

 

www.TheAmazingSeller.com/AMS -

 

Scott’s free workshop  - http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop

 

www.Tomoson.com - an additional way to promote your products.


Amazon’s Top Reviewers

Direct download: TAS087.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

Every seller wants more sales on their Amazon products.

 

And one of the simplest ways to get more sales is to optimize the sales copy for your products. What’s sales copy? It’s the text you type into your product listing to tell potential buyers about your product. It may seem pretty straightforward to you, but know this: people like Karon Thackston have built a professional career on learning how to write powerful copy that sells products, and Karon has niched in on Amazon product descriptions as one of the main areas she makes her living. It’s easy to niche because Amazon is so unique in the way its algorithms work. Find out how Karon got started as a copywriter and how she coaches Amazon Sellers to optimize their listings, on this episode of the Amazing Seller.

 

Do you know the biggest mistakes Amazon Sellers make on their product listings?

 

It’s wasting their keyword opportunities. Amazon is very, very different than Google or any of the other search engines. Search engines are optimized to find key phrases, but Amazon isn’t, it uses key WORDS. That difference alone could help you increase sales when you tweak your product listings appropriately. So for example, you don’t want to repeat keywords: “Garlic Press, Stainless Steel Garlic Press, Garlic Press Kit”, etc. Once you’ve written a word in your title or keyword areas, that’s all the benefit you’ll get from it, so use different words, vary it up; that way you’ll get the most out of your product listings. That’s just one of the often missed things Karon shares on this episode of The Amazing Seller, so listen to the entire show.

 

Did you know that your product title serves as keywords too?

 

That makes a huge difference when it comes to completing your keyword fields. If you’ve already used a targeted keyword in your product title, never, never use it again in your keyword field. You’re wasting valuable real estate that Amazon will search when people are trying to find products. Vary your keywords, get creative, and make sure you’re not duplicating efforts to no avail. Karon is an expert at this stuff and shares a ton of valuable tips in this episode.

 

What makes one Amazon product title better than another?

 

Originality. If your competitors all have the words “Teflon, plastic, 6 oz.” in their product title, you should work hard to differentiate yourself from them. It’s not that you don’t have those same qualities for your product, but you want to stand out. When people are scanning the Amazon product listings they begin to scan faster when all the titles appear the same. Your original wording and title could be the thing that makes them stop, look a little deeper, and eventually buy your product instead of your competitor’s. Find out more about making your Amazon Product Title “pop” in this episode.

 

The best way to use bullets in your product description.

 

Should your bullets be a listing of features, or benefits? If it’s both, which should come first? How long should an average bullet point be in your product listing? How do the recent changes to Amazon’s product listing format impact your choices regarding bullet points? Does Amazon search your bullet points for keywords? You didn’t know there was so much to consider about something simple like a bullet point within your product description, did you? In this episode of the Amazing Seller you get to learn from a woman who has studied the Amazon algorithms and know the best practices for using bullets effectively. Be sure to listen in to get all her insights.

 

OUTLINE OF THIS INTERVIEW EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • [0:05] Welcome to this episode and introduction.

  • [0:30] Introduction to copywriting and today’s guest - Karon Thackston

  • [2:04] Chit chat with Karon, introduction to optimization of a product listing.

  • [2:55] How Karon got into copywriting and moved into Amazon listings specialization.

  • [4:58] How writing with Amazon is a puzzle and how Karon has navigated that maze.

  • [6:29] What are the main, big mistakes Amazon sellers are making.

  • [8:32] How Amazon operates very differently than Google.

  • [9:40] The difference between “keywords” and “key phrases” and why it matters in Amazon.

  • [11:23] Scott’s experience in making the biggest mistake - don’t repeat keywords.

  • [12:30] A vital tip on how to use your product title as a keyword term.

  • [13:49] Do bullets in your description impact keywords?

  • [17:20] What makes one title better than another - originality and positioning.

  • [20:56] The power of bundling to differentiate your product.

  • [23:03] How should you structure the bullets in your product description.

  • [27:18] Why placing benefits before features could maximize your listing.

  • [29:40] The place of the product description, what matters and what doesn’t.

  • [33:42] You can ask the “Seller Central” folks to allow you to use HTML code - and sometimes it will work.

  • [37:22] Should you ever report violations in other seller’s listings? How to do it wisely.

  • [39:00] Should you take risks when it comes to pushing the limits on Amazon terms of service?

  • [41:28] Karon’s books and other resources - and how to contact her.

  • [45:35] Scott’s wrap-up and take-aways from Karon’s advice.          

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

 

Amazon Advantage: Product Listing Strategies - Karon’s book (Use the code “Scott20” to get 20% off)

 

www.MarketingWords.com - Karon’s company website focused on Amazon copywriting

 

Scott’s free workshop  - http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop

 

Direct download: TAS086.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

This is a rapid-fire episode highlighting Scott’s personal Amazon sales numbers and income for June of 2015. Scott’s private label products are doing very well and he’s excited to share his real numbers with you for two reasons: #1 - It shows you that this Amazon Private Label model is real and can work for you, and #2 - it encourages you to go out and take action for yourself.

 

Scott’s not sharing his numbers to impress, but to impress upon you that your Amazon business can work if you take the right action. Thanks for listening!

 

OUTLINE OF THIS Q & A EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • [0:05] Intro to this bonus episode.

  • [0:35] Your invitation to one of Scott’s live workshops.

  • [1:08] The typical July and August is a slow time.

  • [2:27] The impact of “Prime Day” on Scott’s sales.

  • [3:21] Scott’s July numbers - $35,644.36 | 1995 units | 1833 customers.

  • [4:31] Product costs - $10,080.00.

  • [5:01] FBA fees & Pay Per Click (PPC) fees.

  • [5:58] The impact PPC had on organic sales.

  • [6:58] Scott’s keyword rankings.

  • [7:14] Miscellaneous charges.

  • [9:04] Scott’s take-aways from this month’s numbers.

  • [10:27] Why it’s important to keep an eye on your inventory, and how to keep an eye on your competitor’s inventory.

  • [12:00] Working with your supplier to better manage inventory.

  • [13:01] Understanding that any sales business will have upward and downward trends, and why you should pay attention to those.

  • [13:44] Scott’s third product is starting to gain some traction, and what he’s thinking as a result for the rest of the year.

  • [15:10] Plans for new products in the future and the importance of preplanning.

  • [15:53] The TAS Facebook community ROCKS! Find out how YOU can be a part!

  • [16:50] The TAS T-shirt - get yours and support cancer research!

 

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

 

Scott’s free workshop  - http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop

 

www.TheAmazingSeller.com/PPC - Scott’s system for doing PPC campaigns

 

www.TheAmazingSeller.com/Facebook - The TAS Facebook Community

 

www.TheAmazingSeller.com/shirt - The TAS T-shirt which supports cancer research

Direct download: TAS-BONUS-7-15-income-report.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:30am EDT

Do you know how to evaluate the results of your Amazon PPC campaign?

 

One of the listeners to TAS didn’t know… so he asked Scott what HE does to analyze the results of an Amazon PPC campaign. Scott’s answer is very enlightening, focusing on the value of PPC in the beginning to crank up your product’s ranking for its target keywords, which helps drive organic sales. It’s not about profit at the beginning, it’s about exposure. Once the organic sales start happening, there’s more than enough profit to be made. Scott goes into the details of how he goes about it in his response to this question, on this episode of the Amazing Seller podcast.

 

How does BSR related to possible sales?

 

A listener has heard Scott mention the BSR of a product (Best Seller Rank) and wonders how Scott knows that certain numbers in the BSR category will translate into a certain amount of sales. Scott’s answer focuses on the reality of each niche having a different set of BSR values and how those variables will impact the numbers on your particular target product. But at the heart of Scott’s recommendations is a piece of software that he’s found invaluable in doing the kind of product research needed to get numbers that give you confidence in introducing new products. That software? Jungle Scout. You can get a discount on JS by using Scott’s affiliate link - www.TheAmazingSeller.com/JS

 

What if your product is part of a “kit” or grouping that doesn’t seem to have one particular keyword to target?

 

It may be a bit frustrating at first to hone in on the right keywords to target when your product is part of a larger body of products or a “set” or “kit” that people may use. But in the end, it’s a good thing, and here’s why: Your product has the unique ability to target multiple keywords that may seem unrelated to the casual observer, and do so in a very relevant way. And the advantage to having your product as part of a kit (bundling products) is that people are often more prone to buy products that are part of a kit because it seems like a better value. And a bonus to you is that you are likely able to charge more for the kit than you would for the individual product. Hear Scott’s full explanation on this episode of The Amazing Seller.

 

Amazon may be encouraging you to sign up to be an international seller, but should you?

 

It’s a flattering feeling to have Amazon approach you via email about becoming an international seller. And it feels good to think of having a world-wide presence in your niche market. But doing so could be the worst thing you could do. Unless you’re already killing it in the U.S. marketplace, which is the largest Amazon Marketplace that exists, you’ll probably wind up distracting yourself from maximizing your sales in the U.S. Marketplace by becoming an international seller. Hear Scott’s reasoning for why you should carefully consider the step into international Amazon sales, in this episode.

 

Live workshops on Private Label Amazon Sales, complete with Live Q & A

 

One of Scott’s favorite things to do is host live workshops to help up and coming Amazon business people learn the ropes of Amazon Private Label sales. He holds these workshops once a week (most of the time) and would love for you to come be a part. You can reserve your spot on the next live workshop by going to www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop - and get ready to ramp up your knowledge and confidence for doing Amazon sales.

 

OUTLINE OF THIS Q & A EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • [0:05] Welcome to this episode.

  • [0:30] Update on Podcast Movement and the TAS meetup there.

  • [3:20] Scott’s live workshop invite

  • [4:11] QUESTION 1: How do you evaluate the results of a PPC campaign?

  • [11:45] QUESTION 2: How do you know that a certain BSR will result in a certain amount of sales?

  • [16:58] QUESTION 3: What is the best way to do keyword research on products that have many variations?

  • [24:26] QUESTION 4: When is a good time to sign up for international selling through Amazon?

  • [27:22] A short interview Danny Brewer did with a TAS listener who did a $500 start up on his private label business.

  • [35:30] How to ask your question for possible inclusion in an Ask Scott episode.

 

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

 

Scott’s free workshop  - http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop

 

www.TheAmazingSeller.com/PPC - Scott’s system for doing PPC campaigns

 

www.JungleScout.com - The Jungle Scout app - Get a discount at www.TheAmazingSeller.com/JS

 

Interview with Greg Mercer, creator of Jungle Scout - www.TheAmazingSeller.com/56

 

Ask your own question - www.TheAmazingSeller.com/Ask

Direct download: TAS085.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

A success story to inspire and motivate you in your FBA business

 

Today’s episode is part 2 of the story of Tim Holterman, a regular guy who decided to work his way out of his regular job and gradually build an Amazon FBA business on the side. In this conversation, Scott asks Tim in-depth questions about what he did, how he did it, and what the results were from every step he took. You won’t find a more transparent, encouraging account of how a normal person (not a guru) took his private label Amazon business from $0 to over $6000 in just 30 days. Listen to this episode to hear all the details of Tim’s amazing story.

 

Once your product is on Amazon, what then?

 

Tim knew his products needed to get reviews for his private label product pretty quickly. He asked people with Amazon Prime accounts to make a purchase of his product (that he would reimburse - essentially giving away free products), and he also began using AMZ Tracker, which has a review system. He began building up reviews, which in turn moved his product up in Amazon’s natural search results to get him some natural sales on Amazon also. So his product was slowly creeping up in the search results, getting a few sales organically, and enabling him to get things headed toward a bigger volume of sales. Find out what Tim did next on this episode.

 

When Tim turned on Amazon PPC things began to catch fire...

 

… but not immediately. That’s because the Amazon analytics take about a week to refresh once you’ve set on PPC. So the first week or so Tim’s results looked terrible and he was a bit discouraged. But he knew he should hang on before making any changes because he’d been listening to The Amazing Seller and knew that it would take a while for his stats to be correct. Once they started showing, his PPC became clear and he could see what campaigns to keep, which to turn off, and which to refine. This enabled Tim to continue cranking up his sales and getting his pricing and product inventory dialed-in. Listen to hear how Tim’s strategies could apply to your FBA products.

 

The impact of inventory: What happens when you run out?

 

Tim’s initial purchase of his product was not thousands of units, but only hundreds. That means that once his sales began jumping, he quickly ran out of his products. Once he realized he was going to run out, he scrambled to get more products produced, shipped, and into his Amazon account, which took a couple of weeks. When he ran out of products in his Amazon inventory and didn’t have more to replenish it yet, he did see his sales drop (naturally). But he also noticed that once he had products resupplied, it took him a while to get the product ranking and sales back to what it was before the inventory was depleted. It was a great lesson, and one Tim knows is difficult for all sellers to handle because not everyone has the capital to keep a full supply of products when they first start. Find out what Tim recommends in this episode.

 

The issue is not whether FBA sales works. It’s about finding the right products.

 

Tim’s story shows that the FBA systems you learn on The Amazing Seller podcast and other places really does work. You can build an Amazon sales business that can supplement or replace your current income. But you may not do it on your very first product. The right product is the key to building a business that will last, and reinvesting the profits into the business will enable you to grow the business more quickly. If your first efforts don’t turn out like you anticipated, don’t conclude that Amazon sales doesn’t work. Just start the process of finding another product and try again. You can’t give up. Once you hit on the right product or niche, the sales will begin to take off and you’ll have the opportunity to truly build a long term business. Listen to Tim’s advice on this issue in this episode.

 

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • Welcome to this episode - part 2 of an amazing Success story (Find part 1 here - http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/83)!

  • Introduction of Tim Holterman, a member of The Amazing Seller Facebook community.

  • Your invite to Scott’s free workshops!

  • The first steps Tim took after his product began selling.

  • Reviews: How Tim went about getting his first ones.

  • PPC: What did Tim do and when did he do it?

  • Tim’s lessons learned about running out of product inventory.

  • Advice about finding products and working on more than one niche or brand.

  • Tim’s thoughts on feedback, reviews, and reaching out to customers.

  • Plans for the future - what Tim is going to be doing.

  • Tim’s relationship with his sourcing agent and how he’s developed personal relationships that are feeding his future endeavors.

  • Tim’s ideas for obtaining graphics and packaging.

 

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

 

Part 1 of this interview - http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/84

 

The Amazing Seller Facebook Community -  http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/FB

 

Scott’s free workshop  - http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop

 

Tim’s resource for graphcis - http://www.Dribbble.com

 

Tim’s resource for product packaging ideas - http://www.TheDieLine.com

 

Direct download: TAS084.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:30am EDT

This episode proof that you can relatively quickly build a successful Amazon FBA business!

 

Tim Holterman is a regular guy. He worked for years in a good job, working to take care of his responsibilities and life. He came to a point where he wanted to change his life so that he could spend more time with his family. He heard of the possibility of making a change through beginning an Amazon sales business from Chris Guthrie (a previous guest on The Amazing Seller podcast). So he decided to take the leap and get started building his own business. He asked lots of questions to know that what others were doing was possible for him. Once he was convinced, Tim began building his business - and he did all of it without ever signing up for a paid course of any kind. He invested a portion of his salary each month to building his business. Listen to this episode - part 1 of a lengthy conversation where Tim tells his story and how he got over $6,000 in sales within the first 30 days of beginning his FBA Business.

 

Tim’s product research process for his Amazon business began with the purchase of one piece of software.

 

Amasuite was the software Tim began with, simply because he trusted it’s creator, Chris Guthrie. He started researching the top 100 sellers in lots of categories. He drilled down into those products by setting up filters to weed out products he didn’t think were good options. Some of those products were not an option because the niche was too saturated. Others he simply didn’t think were good. Through that process Tim found a product he felt good about. He wasn’t concerned at that point with building a brand, though he does feel that is the best way to begin. He just found products that might sell well and made a decision. The next step was sourcing the product. Find out how he went about his product sourcing in this episode.

 

Tim’s smart way of getting a sample of the product he was interested in.

 

When Tim researched his product on Alibaba (An online Chinese directory of product providers), he found one of the exact products that were listed on Amazon. He felt there was room in the market for him to offer the exact same product, so he simply ordered one of his competitor’s products from Amazon.  He accomplished two things at once by doing this. He got to see the actual product - it’s quality, packaging, etc. AND he got to see how his competitor was presenting the product, including a misspelling on their packaging that hasn’t been corrected to this day! Find out more about the quality control process and getting samples of your potential product in this edition of The Amazing Seller.

 

Shipping a private label product to Amazon - directly from the product supplier!

 

The supplier Tim was able to find had experience shipping products directly to Amazon so he thought it was worth trying. He bought his own UPC to put on the products, printed out his own labels to brand the product as his, and the supplier put the labels on the products, printed out shipping labels, and sent the products directly to Amazon for Tim’s account. It was a tremendous time saving step that enabled Tim to keep one more piece of the process off his table so that he could fulfill the goal of spending more time with his family. Hear exactly how Tim went about working out this deal on this episode.

 

Getting reviews for a new product - Tim’s unique strategy.

 

Getting reviews for your Amazon product is essential to begin moving your product up in Amazon’s search results, and giving your product a sense of legitimacy. Tim knew that and wanted to boost his product through getting some quick reviews. The first step he took is common sense, but one not many people do. He enlisted people he knew who had Amazon Prime accounts (so they could get free shipping) and asked them to purchase and review the product, and he would pay them back the purchase price. Essentially, he’s giving away the products for free but through Amazon it registers as a full-blow purchase. It was an ingenious strategy that got him some great initial reviews and had a dramatic impact on his product’s ranking. From there, he did a few product giveaways through Tomoson… and you can hear the rest of how Tim got reviews by listening to the show!

 

 

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • Welcome to this episode - a victory story from a regular guy… you’ll love it!

  • Introduction from Tim Holterman, a member of The Amazing Seller Facebook community.

  • Tim’s story - where he came from and how he got into Amazon FBA sales.

  • How Tim began researching his first product.

  • Sourcing the product came next, and Tim shares exactly how he did it.

  • How Tim got samples of his product to see if he wanted to purchase larger quantities - it’s a smart idea that killed two birds with one stone.

  • Getting his product to Amazon - a partnership of sorts Tim worked out with his supplier.

  • What Tim did while his supplier was producing the products (a 2 week turnaround).

  • What Tim did to promote reviews of his product.

  • Get part 2 of this interview at http://TheAmazingSeller.com/84

 

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

 

The Amazing Seller Facebook Community -  http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/FB

 

Scott’s free workshop  - http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop

Direct download: TAS083.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:30am EDT

Questions about setting up or running an FBA Amazon sales business?

 

You’ve come to the right place! The Amazing Seller podcast, and these Friday episodes in particular, are one of the best ways for you to get your situation-specific questions answered. Each Friday Scott Voelker, a successful Amazon seller himself, answers your questions, submitted by you and played on the podcast in your own voice. He hopes to equip and educate you to make your Amazon FBA business your ticket out of the 9 to 5 rat race. You can ask your question anytime at http://TheAmazingSeller.com/ask

 

Should you sell electronic items or things “with a switch” in your Amazon business?

 

A listener asks Scott how hard-and-fast his “rule” is that Amazon sellers should not sell any items that have a switch. When Scott says, “has a switch” he means something with electronics or too many moving parts. Scott does see this as a rule but as a wise suggestion, mainly because offering products that have electronics involved puts you in a position that your products are more likely to be returned because of manufacturing defects, damage that happens during shipping, etc. That will cost you time and money, which you really don’t want to spend. Listen in to hear what Scott suggests to sellers who are considering electronic products.

 

Do you think it’s a good idea for me to sell apparel on Amazon before setting up my own website or Shopify store?

 

A listener asks that question and even though Scott doesn’t sell apparel on Amazon, he’s got plenty to say! Apparel sales on Amazon requires special approval due to the wear and tear that can happen to clothing. Amazon tries to safeguard the apparel category by making it more difficult to sell. But if you want to sell clothing and feel it’s a very good niche for you to be in, Scott’s got some suggestions for how you might go about it. Find out more in this episode of The Amazing Seller podcast.

 

One of the most time intensive parts of selling private label products on Amazon is the product research phase.

 

Thankfully there are many great software packages available that can help you get through that phase more quickly and with better results. On this episode a listener asks Scott for some tips in using one of those software solutions: Jungle Scout. Scott’s got some great suggestions for how the listener can find the best products and get started selling on Amazon sooner rather than later. Listen in to find out more about how you could do the same thing!

 

Feedback Genius, MailChimp, Awebber, and other email solutions. Which is best?

 

A listener says he’s a bit “fuzzy” on why Scott recommends using different software solutions for different parts of an Amazon FBA sales business. Scott does a great job clearing up the fuzz in this episode. Feedback Genius is used only to connect with Amazon’s systems and automate follow up with customers who have purchased your products. It does so without you ever seeing the customer’s email information, because Amazon does not allow sellers to have that information. But it still provides a powerful way for you to increase your feedback and reviews, thus lifting your product’s visibility and legitimacy. Software solutions like MailChimp and Abweber are for building your own private email list of previous customers? How can you do that if Amazon doesn’t allow you to see their email information? Find out how Scott does it on this episode of The Amazing Seller!

 

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • Welcome to this episode - an Ask Scott session!

  • You can ask your question for Scott to answer on a future show - http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/ask

  • The new TAS T-shirt (all proceeds go to charity) is available - http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/shirt

  • Today’s questions:

    • How hard and fast is your “rule” about not selling products that have switches or electronics involved?

    • Is there a way I could get started on Amazon selling apparel products before trying to set up my own website to sell them?

    • Can you provide me some tips for using Jungle Scout to research products more effectively.

    • What are the reasons you use Feedback Genius for follow up systems regarding reviews, but you use something different (MailChimp or Aweber) to secure email lists for product registration, etc.?

  • Your invite to one of Scott’s free workshops!

 

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/FB

 

Scott’s free workshop  - http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop

 

Get your own Amazing Seller shirt - all proceeds go to charity - http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/shirt

 

The Amazing Seller Episode featuring Greg Mercer, the creator of Jungle Scout - http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/56

 

The Amazing Seller Episode covering SalesBacker - http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/77


Scott’s live workshops - http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop

Direct download: TAS082.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

Have you been monitoring your Amazon account? Particularly the product reviews?

 

You should be. Monitoring your account is the only way you can keep tabs on what is going on with your products sales. You want to do that you can make adjustments and tweaks to your products, prices, and listings to maximize your Amazon FBA sales. If you’ve been monitoring your account, you may have noticed that some of your product reviews have been removed by Amazon. What’s up with that? Amazon has been cracking down on people who are getting reviews in illegitimate ways, and even removing some that seem questionable. In this episode of The Amazing Seller, Scott is going to walk you through what’s going on, why it’s happening, and what you can do to safeguard yourself and your reviews as best as you can.

 

Here’s how you should think about those “base reviews” you get during your product launch phase.

 

The reviews you push to get by giving away free or discounted products have one purpose only - to give your product some social proof or legitimacy so when sellers see your product, they feel good that it’s legitimate and good quality. That way they’re more prone to buy it. Once they do, you should be following up with them to encourage reviews from them, the purchasers of your product who paid full price. At that point you’ll be building on top of your base reviews with organic reviews. When you do this right, it won’t matter if Amazon comes in and removes some of those initial base reviews you got. Why? Because you’re replacing them with organic ones - which is exactly what Amazon wants you to have most of all. Listen to this episode to find out what Scott recommends when it comes to your base Amazon product reviews.

 

Here’s the biggest reason Amazon is removing product reviews

 

It’s not because you gave the products away for free in exchange for a review. It’s not because you discounted a product in exchange for a review. It’s because the person who reviewed your product did not disclose that they received the product for free in exchange for an honest review. That’s it. So when you give those products away or discount them, make sure you’re stressing to the recipients that they MUST include a disclaimer similar to that when they leave a review for the product on Amazon. If they don’t, it may not only wind up not helping you, it could actually hurt you by the loss of that review. It would also turn out to be a waste of their time, so generously given. Listen to this episode to learn exactly how Scott recommends you stress this issue with your potential reviewers.

 

There’s also a theory about an additional reason product reviews are being removed by Amazon.

 

It has to do with what have come to be known as “review groups.” You know what they are, groups on Facebook, or some forum where people agree to exchange reviews on products. It’s a simple idea and it’s worked for a while, but many people who have a lot of experience on Amazon believe that Amazon is starting to target those groups somehow and are removing reviews that they believe may have come from those kinds of groups. It makes sense, and it’s a review tactic that could become more and more risky as months pass. Scott’s going to cover this issue in depth and give you his recommendation about review groups, so give this episode a listen.

 

What are the top 5 things you should do to ensure your product reviews on Amazon stick?

 

That question is at the heart of what Scott covers on this episode. He wants you to know how to make the most of your efforts to get reviews, so he’s holding nothing back. Here they are: (1) Understand the purpose of initial launch reviews. (2) Have reviewers include proper disclaimers. (3) Don’t rely on review groups. (4) Focus on organic sales (Pay Per Click / Pricing Strategies) (5) Use a good follow-up sequence to encourage organic reviews. Listen to this episode of The Amazing Seller to hear Scott’s explanations of each of these 5 things so you know how to maximize the “stickiness” of your product reviews on Amazon.

 

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • Welcome to this episode - Why Amazon is removing product reviews and what to do about it.

  • Get your own Amazing Seller shirt! - all proceeds go to charity - http:www.TheAmazingSeller.com/shirt

  • Thanks to everyone coming to the live workshops - http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop

  • Amazon has been removing reviews - why is it happening?

  • Getting reviews during your launch phase - how to think about it if they vanish in months ahead.

  • The 10 X 10 X 1 formula reviewed.

  • Scott’s answer to an Amazing Seller Facebook Member comments about reviews Amazon is removing.

  • The biggest reason reviews are disappearing - the disclaimers if the product was offered at a discount in exchange for a review.

  • How reviews flow into the use of Pay Per Click (PPC) to drive traffic and get more reviews.

  • In the end, do things by the book (Amazon’s book) and you’ll be OK.

  • A possible connection between missing reviews and Facebook review groups.

  • 5 Tips to move forward in regard to reviews.

    • Understand the purpose of initial launch reviews.

    • Have reviewers include proper disclaimers.

    • Don’t rely on review groups.

    • Focus on organic sales (Pay Per Click / Pricing Strategies).

    • Use a good follow-up sequence to encourage organic reviews.

  • Summarizing the issue and wrapping up.

  • Shout out to iTunes reviewers!

 

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

 

http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/FB

 

Scott’s free workshop  - http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop

 

Get your own Amazing Seller shirt - all proceeds go to charity - http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/shirt

 

http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/Reviees - Get your discount on Chris Guthrie’s tool “Sales Backer.” (affiliate link). If you want to go directly to Chris’ site - http://www.SalesBacker.com

 

http://www.FeedbackGenius.com - another sequence delivery tool

 

Scott’s TAS episode on getting more feedback and reviews - http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/77

 

Scott’s live workshops - http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop

Direct download: TAS081.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

A real life story of beginning an Amazon business

 

Today’s guest on the Amazing Seller podcast is Sean Coyne, an ultra-successful Amazon Private Label seller who has, with his partner, built a company from scratch by focusing on a private label product line. Scott asks Sean about how he and Ryan got their start, what their first product was and how it sold, and most importantly, the lessons they learned about how to source, purchase, ship, list, and sell private label products on Amazon. You won’t want to skip this episode, it’s full of insights for those who are brand new to Amazon sales as well as veterans. Sean’s story shows that you can do it!

Discovering the right product to private label is not a simple task

 

It takes lots of patience and research, and you have to curb your own enthusiasm so that the excitement of the hunt doesn’t push you to move ahead with a product that won’t actually sell successfully. In this episode Sean talks about his first retail arbitrage product and why it didn’t sell as well as he believed it would, and how he and his partner, Ryan, decided to move to a private label model. You’ll hear how they researched their first product, how they questioned the exact niche that would be likely to purchase it, and how they set up the manufacture, shipping, packaging, and delivery to Amazon. It’s a lesson in real life product sourcing, right here on today’s episode.

Sean’s steps for testing a niche product’s likelihood of selling well

 

When Sean Coyne and his partner Ryan found a product they thought might be a good seller (yoga mats), they reached out to the existing communities surrounding yoga to find out exactly what the best yoga mat possible might look like. They asked questions about what yoga practitioners preferred in a yoga mat, everything from size, to thickness, to color and location of a logo. The feedback they received was generally enthusiastic and honest - and it helped them design the exact product that people doing yoga would be most likely to buy. You can do the same thing as you research your products. Find out more about how to do that kind of niche research in this episode of The Amazing Seller.

 

Would you like to hear from an experienced Amazon seller regarding the use of Pay per Click (PPC) and other marketing possibilities?

 

That’s exactly what you’ll hear in this episode of The Amazing Seller podcast. Sean Coyne and his partner Ryan have developed a very effective system for driving traffic to their products through PPC and other means, and have many worthwhile strategies to recommend to Amazon sellers. On this episode of the podcast you’ll hear those recommendations and exactly how Sean and Ryan implemented them in their business, so make sure you check it out!

 

Selling private label products on Amazon is never free of mistakes, but if you can avoid the common ones, you should!

 

That’s why Scott asks Sean about the mistakes he’s made in getting his private label Amazon business going, and what he’s learned from those mistakes that has changed the way he does business now. Sean shares those mistakes today in a “don’t do this” format, warning you of the pitfalls so you can avoid them altogether. Don’t miss this episode of The Amazing Seller - it could save you lots of headaches down the road!

 

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • Welcome to this episode!

  • Introducing Sean Coyne, today’s guest who’s rocking it on Amazon!

  • A shout out to a TAS Facebook member - Chris Nowak!

  • Your invite to Scott’s free workshops.

  • How Sean decided to get started with an Amazon FBA business.

  • Sean’s first selling attempt - movie screens - and how it worked.

  • How Sean and his partner decided to go in on a private label product together.

  • The methods Sean used to determine if their first private label product was a good product to start with.

  • The first steps that went into setting up their first product and the importance of testing the product idea with the niche audience that would purchase it.

  • Sean’s first experiences with shipping his products from overseas.

  • The cost of the first product and how they determined that amount.

  • Timeline of the first products, from order, to shipping, to packaging, to Amazon.

  • First steps once the product was live on Amazon.

  • How Sean uses pay per click and other promotional options.

  • The automated follow-up sequence Sean follows with customers.

  • The point at which reviews matter and when they stop being such a big deal.

  • How Sean and his partner decided to sell their company.

  • Sean’s advice about mistakes to avoid when starting an Amazon business.

  • What Sean and his partner Ryan are doing now relating to Amazon.

  • Get your own Amazing Seller shirt! - all proceeds go to charity - http:www.TheAmazingSeller.com/shirt



LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

 

http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/FB

 

Scott’s free workshop  - http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop

 

www.CoachingJungle.com - Sean’s library of Amazon-related help tutorials

 

Get your own Amazing Seller shirt - all proceeds go to charity - http://www.TheAmazingSeller.com/shirt

Direct download: TAS080.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

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