Rock Your Brand Podcast

Welcome to another Friday “Ask Scott” version of The Amazing Seller Podcast. These episodes are entirely about you: Your questions, Your confusion, Your products and sales, and Your success. Each Ask Scott episode features questions sent in my people like you, new, established, and even successful Amazon sellers who would like to get Scott’s feedback on your ideas, problems, issues, and questions. Scott’s proven himself to be a great help to those who ask, so why don’t you ask? He’s ready to take your question and feature it on a future episode. You can leave your question by going to www.TheAmazingSeller.com/ask. Now, on with today’s episode!

 

You recently released a product without doing much market depth research. What are you doing to increase the sales on that product?

 

The past few episodes Scott has mentioned and even focused on the importance of researching the market depth of a potential product you want to sell on Amazon. It’s a big deal and Scott knows how big because he neglected to do market depth research on his 2nd product. He’s been very open about that fact and this listener asked Scott what he’s doing with that product since it was launched without the necessary research. Is he doing things to ramp up the sales? Is he making modifications to the product or thinking of taking it off Amazon altogether? You’ll get to hear Scott’s detailed answer to this question on this episode of the Amazing Seller.

 

What do you mean when you say that you want to diversify your product line?

 

One of the biggest things Scott has stressed over the past episodes is that you want to do more with your Amazon Private Label efforts than just sell a product. You want to build a business. That means that you want to have a product line rather than just one product. Why is it important to do that? Because a product line gives you more opportunity for sales within a niche, which enables each product to feed the same customers toward the other products within your product line. You’re building a user base that will begin to know, like, and trust your entire business rather than just one product. That equals more cash for you and more satisfaction and happy customers to spread the news about your products. A listener is asking Scott what he’s doing to diversify his product line and in this episode, Scott gives a detailed answer.

 

I’m starting out on Amazon PPC and wondering which match type I should use?

 

Amazon PPC (Pay per click) can be a very confusing monster to a newbie. Scott remembers the task it was to figure it out for himself. This listener is just getting started using Amazon Pay Per Click and is curious which “match type” he should use. There are three different options and each of them has a very specific function, so it’s a very good question. When Scott responds to this listener on this episode he gives a clear description of what each match type means and how he goes about determining which will work best for his specific products. A quick hint: It involves testing.

 

I have someone who’s approached me about setting up their products on Amazon. What do you think? Should I do it?

 

This listener has stumbled upon a potential source of great additional income. A company in his area has a very unique and distinct line of health supplements and has asked him to help them get their products onto the Amazon sales platform. In fact, they’ve offered him a position doing it for their company. He’s listened to all of Scott’s teaching on the 5 step launch formula and feels that he’s ready to give it a try, but he’s never actually done it himself for his own products. He’s curious what Scott thinks. Should he give it a try? Hear Scott’s response plus some additional thoughts about taking this kind of approach to building your own business through helping others build theirs. It’s a great thought.

 

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • [0:03] Scott’s welcome and introduction of this episode.
  • [2:02] A listener voicemail about Stitcher and Scott’s response.
  • [3:50] Today’s episode and the first question.
    • [4:16] QUESTION ONE: How have you worked to increase sales on your second product, the one you didn’t research depth of market on? AND What do you mean by diversifying your product line?
    • [15:46] QUESTION TWO: Which match type are you using on Amazon PPC? How do you use it and structure the campaign?
    • [20:59] QUESTION THREE: I’ve not set up my own product on Amazon yet, but a local company has offered me a position putting their products on Amazon. Since I’m so new, do you think I should take up their offer?
  • [28:37] How you can ask your questions.
  • [29:08] Your invitation to the TAS Facebook community.
  • [29:42] Register for Scott’s next Free live workshop.

 

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

 

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

 

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

 

www.TheAmazingSeller.com/ask - Get your Amazon Private Label questions answered

Direct download: TAS118.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

One of the most difficult and time consuming parts of setting up a private label Amazon sales business is product selection. What are things you should do when picking a product to private label? More importantly, what are the things you should NOT do? On this episode of the Amazing Seller Scott’s going to walk you through 3 of the most commonly made mistakes when it comes to product selection. With each of those points he’s going to give you the details of what the mistake is, why it’s a mistake, and how to avoid it. Can you see how valuable this episode is going to be? Make sure you set aside some time to listen.

 

Depth of a product market is huge. What is it and how do you figure it?

 

If you are considering a product in a certain area you need to assess what Scott calls the “depth of market.” What is that? It’s a way of gauging the demand for a product to see if there is enough room for you to insert another variation of that product into the mix and have a chance of making enough profit. Figuring the depth of market has to do with analyzing the top 10 selling versions of that product and getting the average sales volume of each, from 1 to 10. Then you want to assess if the volume being sold is enough to leave room for your product. Sound confusing? It’s not that hard, but Scott explains it a lot better on this episode, so be sure to listen.

 

You also need to look at the volume and placement of reviews for the product you’re considering.

 

Why are reviews important? Because the amount of reviews a product gets, throughout all the variations and sellers, is going to tell you which of those products is a better seller and which are not doing so well. If you have 10 sellers of the same product and the top two have a ton of reviews, but none of the others have many at all, you might want to reconsider selling a similar product. Why? Because you’ll be fighting an uphill battle to make any headway in that niche - the top sellers already have the market on that product kind of buttoned down. Hear Scott’s explanation and tips on this issue by listening.

 

Considering price when you select a new product.

 

If you aren’t careful to look at the issue of pricing when you select a new product to private label, you could get yourself into a world of hurt. Let’s take an example. If you see 6 different products for sale in the niche you’re considering and one of them is priced at $14.99 but all the others are much lower, you’re going to have a hard time introducing a new product into that market. Why? Because it’s pretty clear that the main competition for that product is based on price, so it’s always going to come down to which seller is willing to make the smallest margin, which means you have to sell tons more products in order to really make a profit that’s worth all the effort. So be careful when it comes to price. Make sure you’re getting into a product niche that has plenty of room for you to fit in and take some of the sales. Hear more of Scott’s explanation of pricing and how it impacts product selection on this episode of The Amazing Seller.

 

Would you like a discounted copy of Jungle Scout?


What is Jungle Scout? The Jungle Scout Web App allows you to find more products, faster. Once you find the hundreds of profitable product opportunities, all you have to do from there is apply Scott's strategies for growth and scale and become a private label megastar. It’s an easy way to assess your competition, understand sales numbers on a product niche, and do product research that is based on the facts, not just speculation. If you want a discounted version of Jungle Scout, use the link below to get the discount offered to The Amazing Seller community.  

Direct download: TAS117.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

This interview episode of The Amazing Seller is bringing you information that you’ve probably never heard before. That’s because Scott’s gone out of his way to track down and schedule this conversation with Kizzy Rucker, an Amazon Top 500 reviewer. Why would Scott do that? Because understanding the weight and significance  Amazon gives to reviewers, and especially those it deems prominent reviewers, could greatly impact the way you solicit reviews, get people to leave them, and even approach top reviewers to ask them to check out and review your product. This is an amazing conversation you’re going to love!

 

Why would a person try to become an Amazon Top reviewer?

 

Kizzy Rucker, who is a Top 500 Reviewer on Amazon, says that there are a wide variety of reasons people might work to become a top reviewer on Amazon. For some it’s as simple as getting free or reduced price products. For others it’s the prestige of getting the little badge on the side of their profile that shows them as a top reviewer. For others, there are black hat, unethical practices they engage in to use their top reviewer status for personal gain. But for Amazon sellers, the Top Reviewer badge is a sign that a review by that person could mean a lot for your product in terms of sales and in terms of credibility. Find out more form Kizzy as she shares the inside world of an Amazon Top reviewer on this episode.

 

Do Top Reviewers actually lend clout to your product if they decide to review it?

 

Think about it from a buyer’s perspective. If you are considering a product and notice a Top Reviewer has reviewed the product, you would likely pay close attention to what they had to say simply because Amazon sees them as an important source of feedback. Now imagine if that reviewer left a glowing review or a video review that sang the praises of the product. You’d be much more likely to consider that product above others because a somewhat reputable source said it was worth buying. On top of all that, Amazon likely bumps products higher in search results simply because they have reviews by those recognized top reviewers. Find out how to take advantage of the top reviewers for your products, on this episode of The Amazing Seller.

 

Did you know there is software that can help you contact the top reviewers in your niche?

 

It’s true. A product Scott has mentioned numerous times on The Amazing Seller podcast, Amisuite, has functionality that enables you to find those top reviewers, research the actual products and reviews they’ve left on other products within your niche, and give you the proper way to contact them. But you want to make sure that if you do contact those top reviewers to ask them to review your product that you do it in a personal, considerate way? What’s that look like? You’ll have to hear this episode of the podcast to hear what a top reviewer herself said about that issue. You’ll be surprised at the kind of things that happen behind the scenes of a top Amazon reviewer.

 

What is the best way to go about asking an Amazon Top Reviewer to review your product?

 

Kizzy Rucker is a top 500 reviewer for Amazon and has her own particular ways of dealing with and responding to review requests. She says that the top reviewers all get many, many emails a day asking for a review on products. Her recommendations are simple: Keep it short and get to the point. Be real (an obvious form letter will get you deleted right away). Show that you’ve done your homework and know something about the reviewers’ likes and past reviews. Make a connection on a personal level. Don’t pester the reviewer after the product has been sent. Trust them to do their job. Hear more of how Kizzy sees review requests from Amazon sellers on this episode.

 

 

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • [0:03] Scott’s introduction of this episode and why he thought it was important to do this interview.
  • [3:04] The benefits of sellers and reviewers being able to communicate in an open platform.
  • [3:48] How did Kizzy get started as an Amazon reviewer and how did she make it to the top 500 in Amazon’s eyes.
  • [7:41] When did Kizzy think she could become a top reviewer on Amazon?
  • [8:37] What is an Amazon top reviewer? What is the payoff for the reviewer?
  • [10:19] Why reviewers focus on staying within a certain rank as a reviewer.
  • [12:18] What does being a highly ranked reviewer accomplish for Kizzy?
  • [18:18] What’s a good email a seller should say to a reviewer?
  • [20:25] How does Kizzy get most of her contacts asking for reviews?
  • [21:25] Scott’s insights into how many reviewers are contacted.
  • [25:45] The types of things top reviewers like to review: something different.
  • [29:03] What you have to do to become a top reviewer.
  • [30:06] How Amazon reviewers are rated and ranked.
  • [37:00] Kizzy’s biggest desire when receiving an email from a seller.
  • [40:05] What Kizzy says about follow up emails.
  • [42:23] Things that make reviewers take a step back from a seller.
  • [46:39] Scott’s review of the conversation.      

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

 

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

 

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

 

www.TheAmazingSeller.com/resources - check out Amisuite

 

Direct download: TAS116.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

Welcome to this Friday episode of The Amazing Seller podcast, and as you probably know by know, this is the weekly “Ask Scott” version of the show where you and other Amazon sellers like you, get to ask questions about your problems, curiosities, and issues with Amazon and Amazon Private Label sales. Today’s show is full of information that will apply to newbies and seasoned Amazon vets alike. It features a question about product reviews and feedback, barcodes and SKUs, and how to scale your product sales from 10 a day to an even higher number. There’s so much practical stuff in this episode you need to make sure to carve out the time to listen.

 

Product Reviews are being left in my Seller Feedback section. What’s the best thing to do?

 

This seems to be a common problem that many Amazon Private Label sellers find happening now and again: A customer leaves a great product reviews, but they do it in the seller feedback section. Wouldn’t it be great to flip a switch and just move it over to the product where it belongs? But sad to say, that’s not possible. You really only have 3 choices: #1 - Leave it where it is. At least that way you’ve got some positive vibes about yourself and your products for all the world to see. #2 - Ask Amazon Seller Support to remove it. They will if you ask them, but ask yourself, “Why would I want to remove it?” #3 - Contact the person who left the feedback and ask them to leave a similar posting under the product reviews section. Hear how Scott advises you go about doing all 3 of those steps, in this episode.

 

What’s the difference between a barcode and a product SKU?

 

As today’s questioner said, this is a basic question but it’s one that needs answered because there are many, many new Amazon sellers who are listening to the show each week. The barcode is something you need for each individual product and each variation of a product. It’s the identifier to which the price is attached, and you have to have a barcode to set up a listing on the Amazon sales platform. A SKU is a different matter. It’s a product identifier unique to your product that Amazon assigns to each of your products. Scott’s going to tell you how to find your SKU for each product and if you need to have it printed on your packaging or not. It’s all in this episode.

 

My first product averages 10 sales per day already. What are the steps I can take to scale up my sales even more?

 

That’s a great problem to have, wouldn’t you say? 10 sales a day is great but as this listener implies, it’s going to be even better if that number can increase. So what can be done? Scott’s answer to this question is a bit more complicated than a 1-2-3 formula. There are a handful of variables like sales depth of your particular product that you need to consider. So take the time to hit the play button on this episode so you can hear Scott’s advice and know how to apply it to your specific market niche. You’ll be glad you did when you see your product sales starting to increase.

 

You need a supportive community around you. Scott’s created one you can join for free.

 

In his time as an Amazon seller Scott has learned that the encouragement, advice, and support he receives from a community of Amazon sellers is one of the most important things in his business success and positive “take action” mindset. He created the TAS Facebook Community to serve as a place that you can build those relationships and it works in that way wonderfully. You can join the TAS Facebook group by going to www.TheAmazingSeller.com/FB and asking to join. You’ll be approved within a few hours and will be able to read the past posts, leave your questions, make comments and suggestions, and get the encouragement and motivation you need. What are you waiting for? Get over there now!

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • [0:03] Welcome to this episode of Ask Scott!
  • [0:26] How you can ask your own question on one of these episodes.
  • [1:27] A victory milestone of a TAS facebook community member: Michael
    • [4:22] QUESTION ONE: There’s great product feedback is being left in my seller feedback section. Any ideas of what I can do so I can get those in the product review section without losing them?
    • [11:21] QUESTION TWO: Could you recommend a barcode company?
    • [13:34] QUESTION THREE: I’d like to know a bit more about product SKUs. What are they and where do they come from?
    • [19:35] QUESTION FOUR: What are the tips and tricks for scaling my sales up from 10 sales per day to more?
  • [26:20] Your invitation to Scotts’ free, live workshop where he covers the 5 phases of product launching, including live Q&A.

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

 

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

 

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

 

Find a barcode company: www.TheAmazingSeller.com/resources

Direct download: TAS115.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

In today’s episode of the podcast you’re going to hear a very detailed, step by step account of how a brand new Amazon Private Label seller went from zero to $10K per month in roughly 30 days… and he did all of it AT THE SAME TIME he was working a full time job. How is it possible? It takes dedication, attention to detail, and lots of hard work. Scott is happy to highlight Jaime’s success story here today because it’s proof not only that an Amazon Private Label business can work, but that anyone can do it… even people who are busy or working full time already. So grab a pencil and paper (you’re going to need it) and take some good notes because Jaime drops a couple of mind bombs on us in this episode.

 

The value of “Just in Time” learning… and how Jaime did it in his business.

 

In the process of building any business there are so many details, so many ins and outs to pay attention to that it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Very easy. Building an Amazon Private Label business is exactly the same. That’s why Scott advocates and practices what he calls “just in time” learning, which is the process Jaime followed in establishing his business and products on Amazon. What is JITL? It’s doing enough research and study of the process to do the next step only. That way you are able to focus, do one thing at a time, and move ahead only when you’re ready. You’re not looking at 20 steps in the whole process, you’re just focusing on one. Hear how Jaime applied the JITL approach to his product research, samples, launch, and sales in this episode of The Amazing Seller.

 

Pay attention when you start interacting with potential product suppliers. You can learn a lot.

 

This is one of the biggest info bombs Jaime drops in this episode of the podcast. He contacted many suppliers to potentially source his products and then he started watching their interactions with him. Did they respond promptly? Did they respond professionally? Were they easy to communicate with? Did they send things to him in the appropriate time frame and in packaging that was right for the product? All of these things added up to show him whether the company he was talking with was trustworthy, concerned about quality, and reliable to do what they said they would do. Jaime explains it so much better from his real life experience, so you’ll want to listen to this interview.



Logos and branding issues for Amazon Private Label Products can be a pain.

 

Many people find a designer on Fiverr or someplace similar to create their logos, take their product photos, etc. And that’s a fine way to go about it, but both Jaime and Scott have found that finding someone local to where they lived was a wonderful thing. Why? The communication and time frames were much better, the quality was great, and the ability to be a part of the process was so much easier. Jaime even went to his product photo shoot and got to give input on how he wanted the products displayed and photographed. It’s another tip Jaime shares from his success that you can take from this amazing episode.

 

30 minutes a day to keep his Amazon product updates and rolling.

 

No kidding. Now keep in mind, we’re not talking about the product research and launch phase. This is after all that work has been done and the product is live on Amazon for the first time. Watching the stats and sales, keeping products supplied, tweaking PPC campaigns, responding to customer issues - all of it takes 30 minutes a day or less. How it that possible? Because Amazon does the heavy lifting by handling all your marketing, shipping, and sales. It’s an amazing business to get into. Now don’t hear that to mean that it’s easy. The product identification and launch process is anything but… but it’s a rewarding way to build a business, not just an income stream. Hear how Jaime and Scott are doing that on this episode.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • [0:03] Welcome and introduction: Another case study from a new seller who is doing over $10K in revenue with his first product.
  • [1:00] Congrats to one of our TAS community members: Nancy Ramirez.
  • [3:14] Get to know Scott’s new friend, Jaime - a new Amazon Private Label seller.
  • [4:13] How did Jaime get started selling on Amazon?
  • [6:12] Why Scott began this podcast.
  • [7:14] What pushed Jaime over the edge to give Amazon sales a try?
  • [10:03] Did Jaime follow Scott’s course step by step?
  • [11:32] The importance of “just in time” learning.
  • [12:05] How Jaime got his initial product ideas and how he switched products after discovering some interesting data.
  • [17:42] The next step: Product samples from many suppliers and the lessons Jaime learned through email, packaging, and interactions.
  • [19:59] How Jaime paid for his products and how he had them shipped.
  • [20:30] Jaime’s response when he got his first product samples.
  • [22:08] Branding decisions about logo and design.
  • [23:02] Packaging choices and how Jaime handled that issue.
  • [23:20] Ordering the first bulk set of products in a variety of colors.
  • [24:40] What was the time frame for product production?
  • [25:12] Why Jaime had the first batch of products shipped to him and not to  Amazon or any processing company?
  • [28:11] In the pre-launch phase: pictures, logos, listings, etc.
  • [31:20] Keyword research: What Jaime did to find the right ones.
  • [34:10] The first order came in… shipping the product in, and a hiccup in his first shipment going in to Amazon.
  • [37:12] When the product went live! - reviews, PPC, etc.
  • [38:20] How long before sales began?
  • [39:24] Jaime’s plan for doing reviews - 80 giveaways.
  • [41:25] Cost of his PPC campaign and how sales have progressed.
  • [44:46] Jaime’s experience with an auto PPC campaign.
  • [46:29] Jaime’s goal for the product: 10 sales a day, and he’s hit much more.
  • [48:48] Jaime’s future: scaling up his sales, preparing for 4th quarter, adding products.
  • [50:23] How much time is Jaime spending each day now that his products are selling.
  • [53:54] Scott’s recap of Jaime’s story and process.

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

 

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

 

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

 

Pat Flynn’s episode featuring Ryan Moran

 

www.JungleScout.com

Direct download: TAS114.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

There have been some changes to Amazon’s terms of service focusing around the issues of giveaways and reviews… but much of the “panic” you hear out there as a result is way overblown. In this episode of The Amazing Seller, Scott’s going to go over what he considers to the 5 myths about giveaways and reviews. He’ll take the time to explain the panic, correct the myth, and tell you want he believes is appropriate to do in the scenario mentioned. You’ll get some practical advice about this vital part of your product launch strategy if you’ll take the time to listen, so why not click over and hit the play button right now?

 

MYTH 1: Amazon doesn’t allow you to do product giveaways anymore.

 

Scott’s not quite sure where this one came from but it’s clear from reading Amazon’s own terms of service for seller accounts that even Amazon believes that the giveaways and reviews are an integral part of how their platform works. Scott believes giveaways and reviews are something you not only should be doing, but that you HAVE to be doing. In this episode you can find out why he says that and also hear the important WAYS you go about soliciting reviews and making the most of giveaways. This episode could be instrumental in helping you get your product launch off the ground in a big way.

 

MYTH 3: You can’t ask family or friends to leave a review anymore.

 

Scott’s take on this is kind of unique. He believes that especially at the front end of your product launch you SHOULD ask family and friends to do reviews of your products, even if they are “unverified” reviews. Why? Because Amazon doesn’t know who all your family or friends are… neither do they know whether they bought your product someplace besides Amazon or not. Even if the powers that be at Amazon are able to determine that someone who left a review is a family member, the worst that will happen is that they will remove that review. But between the time it is left and the time Amazon removes it, it may have helped you get 2 or 3 or more sales because it was there. Scott’s got some actionable advice on this subject, so be sure you listen.

 

MYTH 5: I shouldn’t use a review service to get reviews.

 

There’s been a TON of panic around this topic, some people saying that the reviews left by review service participants will flag your account and get you banned, others saying it’s no big deal to use a review service at all. Which is true? As usual, Scott has his own take on this and it’s somewhere in the middle of those two extremes. Are you eager to hear what he has to say? Go ahead and listen to this episode (it’s only 26 minutes long)!

 

Are you just getting started with Amazon Private Label Sales?

 

If so, Scott’s got a great gift for you - and it’s ENTIRELY FREE! Every now and then Scott does a free, private label workshop that you can be a part of. He spends 45 to 50 minutes walking through his own explanation of the process from start to finish. That includes product identification and assessment, getting your products, shipping, customs, setting it up on Amazon, promotions, reviews, and a lot more. Then, Scott will spend however long it takes answering questions from the participants. You’ll love connecting with other community members and hearing Scott’s seasoned advice. You can be a part by signing up for the next workshop at www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop.

 

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • [0:03] Welcome and introduction to this episode: Should we use giveaways and reviews?
  • [1:20] A shout out to the TAS Facebook Group and a member: Matt Pierson!
  • [3:59] How do reviews play into a product launch to help you get the ball rolling?
  • [5:35] MYTH 1: Amazon doesn’t allow you to give away products for reviews.
  • [11:35] MYTH 2: Giveaways and reviews don’t work anymore.
  • [13:20] MYTH 3: You can’t ask family and friends to leave a review anymore.
  • [15:36] MYTH 4: Your account will be banned if someone does not give the proper disclaimer in a review.
  • [16:34] MYTH 5: I shouldn’t use a review service to get reviews.
  • [21:14] The importance of playing by the rules and using moderation in your tactics.
  • [21:54] The importance of reviews!
  • [25:10] Your invitation to Scott’s free workshop!

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

 

www.ILoveToReview.com

 

www.TheAmazingSeller.com/Resources

 

www.SalesBacker.com

 

www.FeedbackGenius.com

 

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

 

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

Direct download: TAS113.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

If you’re doing Amazon Private Label sales and are just getting started, you’ve just stumbled onto the best resource you could have found… Scott Voelker’s “Ask Scott” episode! Every Friday Scott answers questions from listeners who have submitted them through his website at www.TheAmazingSeller.com/ask . You’ll hear all kinds of questions from brand new sellers and veterans, all seeking advice on how to do their Amazon business wisely. So grab a pen and paper to take some great notes because you’re going to hear some real-world scenarios with Scott’s real-world advice to go along with it. Enjoy!

Customs fees and tariffs: What should I plan on for my product?

Scott often gets questions about customs, which makes total sense, since most people have never ordered a product from overseas before. Most of the time customs are not concerned with one or two products at a time, like the samples you should order to check out potential products. It’s when you start buying in larger quantities that customs will become an issue. So what are the customs fees and what should you expect? Honestly, it depends. It depends on the exact product you are shipping, what niche it is in, it’s weight and quantity, and many other variables. Most of the time Scott lets his shipper (DHL) handle his customs issues but not always. There’s really too much detail to type out right here, so be sure to listen to this episode to hear Scott’s detailed answer.

Amazon just lost my products! How often does that happen and what can I do about it?

It’s not really common, but it does happen that Amazon itself will lose or damage one of your product shipments. But thankfully, the Amazon representatives are usually very helpful in resolving these issues and Amazon policies themselves are in your favor. If Amazon loses a product or damages a product that you’ve sent in, they will pay you for the listed sales price of your product, minus all the Amazon fees, naturally. But they won’t do so unless you ask them to do it. So pick up the phone and call a seller support representative to get the ball rolling. They will be able to verify that the product is lost and issue the money for the products to your accounts. Find out how Scott goes about doing this himself, on this episode.

I’ve only got $700 to get started on Amazon. What should I do first?

This is a common question that Scott fields from newbie sellers and it’s very understandable. It’s wise to mitigate your risks as much as possible, so asking is part of how you learn to do that. What would Scott do if he had $700 and was starting all over? The first thing he’d do would be to prepare for his monthly Seller Account fee. It’s part of what you’ll need to pay in order to have the privilege of selling on Amazon. Next, he’d either do retail arbitrage to turn that $700 into $2000 over the holiday season, or he’d follow the steps a TAS community member did in his “TAS $500 challenge.” You can hear all of Scott’s advice about starting from scratch by listening to this episode.

I have 3 great products according to the numbers, but would like to get some advice from an expert without having my ideas ripped off.

This listener has done his product research and feels he has 2 or 3 products within a niche from which he can build a brand. Way to go! But before he moves ahead he’d like to run the numbers by someone who’s experienced in the Amazon world to make sure he’s looking at everything correctly. His main concern is that the person who looks at his numbers might steal the idea and begin offering those products themselves. How can he find a trusted advisor? As you might imagine, Scott’s got some thoughts about that conundrum and you’ll hear his answer if you listen to this episode.

OUTLINE OF THIS Q&A EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:03] Welcome and introduction to this Q&A episode and how to submit your questions!
  • [1:00] A shout out to a TAS Facebook Community member: Yassar Mack
    • [3:52] QUESTION ONE: What kind of figures should I plan on regarding tariffs or customs fees when sourcing products from China?
    • [10:49] QUESTION TWO: Lost products: How common is that?
    • [15:07] QUESTION THREE: What should be my first step in getting started on  Amazon with only $700 to start?
    • [22:13] QUESTION FOUR: How could I get expert advice about potential products without fear that the expert would take my product idea?
  • [27:46] Scott’s wrap up of this episode.

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

The TAS $500 challenge - www.TheAmazingSeller.com/68

Shark Tank TV show

Scott’s launch process: www.TheAmazingSeller.com/launch

www.TheAmazingSeller.com/100 - the episode with a conversation about the launch process

Ask your question: www.TheAmazingSeller.com/ask

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

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

Direct download: TAS112.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

You’ve heard of house flipping. And possibly you’ve heard of website flipping. Well in this episode we’re talking about at potentially new way to flip Amazon businesses, or just sell one you already own. Today Scott is chatting with a previous guest, Ty Rooney about an idea Ty has come up with to create a website interface to allow buyers and sellers of Amazon businesses to come together, exchange information, and consummate a sale of an already existing, profitable private label business on  Amazon. It’s an amazing idea… very appropriately featured on this episode of The Amazing Seller!

Ty Rooney’s built his own private label business and is helping others build theirs.

Ty was featured back on episode 33 of The Amazing Seller as an up and coming private label business owner and his business has taken off since then, just as he expected. But as he was building out his business he had another idea: help companies with existing products get their products on Amazon. He’s discovered a great niche and his expertise with the Amazon Seller Central interface has enabled him to work up to 20 clients whose accounts he manages. It’s that expertise that’s led him to consider this another new idea: helping Amazon sellers sell their businesses to interested buyers. It’s a great idea… one you’ll hear about in detail on this episode.

Why would you want to sell a profitable Amazon business?

The steady cash flow of most profitable Amazon businesses makes them a very desirable type of business to have. So why would you want to sell one? There are many reasons. Though you can streamline an Amazon business like no other, there’s still some work involved in reordering products, etc. It may be that an Amazon seller simply gets burned out and wants to try something different. Selling their business could be a great option… and there are plenty of business people out there who are eager to invest in businesses with a proven track record of profits. Ty Rooney and Scott Voelker have assembled a team of people who are working toward an Amazon Business brokerage that would help buyers and sellers make those deals happen. You can hear all the details by listening to this episode.

What is my Amazon business worth if I wanted to sell it?

Naturally, there are many variables to determining how much any business is worth. And the Amazon model is still new enough that there’s no established track record of business sales to go by. But Ty Rooney has been doing his homework to work toward an Amazon business broker site and believes that the average Amazon business that is profitable could likely sell for at least 20 times its monthly net. So an Amazon private label sales business that is bringing in $2,000 a month could potentially sell for $40,000 or more. Do you see the possibilities? Ty has lots to share on this episode so be sure to listen.

Buy an already profitable Amazon business that is fully vetted by experts.

That’s one aspect of the idea Ty Rooney has for his Amazon business brokerage. Since he and his team are experts on how the Amazon Seller Central platform works, they would investigate the numbers on every business that is submitted for sale through their site. That way every claim made by a business owner about the profitability and track record of their Amazon business would be verified by an independent 3rd party. Buyers would be assured that the numbers they are hearing about their potential business purchase are accurate. Can you imagine the potential for this idea? Find out more on this episode of The Amazing Seller.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:03] Welcome and introduction to this episode… selling and buying profitable Amazon businesses, with Ty Roney.
  • [1:08] Shout out to the TAS Facebook Community member Christina Koontz Antsworth!
  • [4:28] Welcome to Ty, and Ty’s thanks to Scott for his help.
  • [5:52] An update on Ty’s story as an Amazon seller and running of an agency to help others sell on Amazon.
  • [13:19] Ty’s new idea of selling Amazon businesses to those not wanting to find products and set up the interface.
  • [16:40] Scott’s comparison of house flipping and how it applies to reselling an Amazon business.
  • [17:44] What could you expect a person to pay for an Amazon business? 20X your monthly net.
  • [19:15] How this model might compare to selling other types of businesses.
  • [29:56] The announcement of a new website for the sales of Amazon businesses.
  • [22:55] How people who can build out authority websites to attach to their Amazon business could use the platform.
  • [24:09] Who might want to use this service?
  • [26:45] Why Ty is excited about this type of business and the advantages he sees for those wanting to buy an Amazon business.
  • [29:06] An example of what a business purchase might look like.
  • [32:06] The one big piece the Jungle Flippers site would provide. Vetting the sellers.
  • [34:19] How the site would work for people interested in shopping businesses.
  • [39:00] Scott’s summary of the episode.

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

The previous episode Ty Rooney was on www.TheAmazingSeller.com/33

The prototype Amazon business website: www.JungleFlippers.com

Get information about this ideas: www.JungleFlippers.com/info

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


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

Direct download: TAS111.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

Are you convinced that building an Amazon Private Label business could work for you but you’re a bit hesitant to take the plunge? Today’s episode of The Amazing Seller features someone who was in your shoes not long ago. Tyson Starling got into private label sales through retail arbitrage and became convinced early on that Amazon’s platform could be a powerful way for him to build his income. He did the product research, built his listing, then ordered his first sample of products. He took action, which is exactly what YOU have got to do if you’re going to make a go of it on Amazon. Hear Tyson’s story on this episode.

 

Retail arbitrage is a great stepping stone into private label sales.

 

Tyson Starling was doing retail arbitrage on Amazon way before he got into selling private label products. He feels that the experience he had working with the Amazon system and learning about the way things work was instrumental in him being able to move into sales of his own products without too much of a learning curve. He admits that retail arbitrage sales is tougher and time intensive, but he suggests it for anyone who’s a bit unsure about whether Amazon is right for them. Find out how Tyson made the transition from retail arbitrage to private label products on this episode of The Amazing Seller.

 

Your first time dealing with a foreign supplier is very nerve wracking.

 

It’s hard enough doing all the product research and settling on a product without knowing 100% that it’s going to be a winner for you. To take that additional step to find the product you want and to send a big chunk of money… THAT is stress! Tyson Starling felt that and more when he ordered his first set of products and to make matters worse the email server at his supplier’s office got hacked and he wound up having to jump through some extra hoops to make sure things were done properly. Hear Tyson’s tips about dealing with suppliers by tuning in to this episode.

 

Why Scott always recommends your first order of private label products be shipped directly to you.

 

Yes, you can save money by having your supplier send your products directly to Amazon, and many sellers do that without any problems. But Scott is convinced that in order to make sure your business and brand are represented by quality products, you’ve got to take the additional (and sometimes more expensive) step of receiving your first batch of products so you can check out everything about them yourself. Tyson Starling, today’s guest, was so glad he received the first set of products he ordered because the packaging on all 500 products was all wrong. Because he knew about it he was able to get some new packaging ordered, communicate with his seller to correct the problem for future orders, and make sure his products were received in a a quality state by his customers.

 

Should you try to sell a product when there’s a big name competitor in the niche?

 

Many Amazon Sellers turn away immediately when they see a big name brand company selling the same product they are considering. But Tyson Starling suggests you take a second look. In his thinking, the big brands are mostly selling through retail outlets throughout the world and Amazon is not their main area of focus. He believes (and is proving) that his products can compete with the big name simply because there’s enough room within the Amazon marketplace for both to sell decently well. He’s content to make the cash he’s making, assuming that his small amount of sales is not going to threaten the big company enough to cause them to ramp up their efforts on Amazon. Hear more of what Tyson’s got going on, on this episode of The Amazing Seller.

 

OUTLINE OF THIS Q&A EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • [0:03] Welcome to episode 110: Interview with Tyson Starling
  • [1:17] Shout out to the TAS Community member Vin Thomas!
  • [2:56] Tyson’s a listener who’s made his Amazon business successful: His story.
  • [5:56] How Tyson proved the Amazon model to himself.
  • [6:48] Taking his sales experience into his Amazon business.
  • [8:23] Beginning to research private label product selection.
  • [9:57] The nervous feelings of dealing with foreign suppliers.
  • [11:50] How Tyson arranged payment with his suppliers via Paypal.
  • [13:57] Learning how to effectively communicate with foreign suppliers.
  • [15:23] Tyson’s first order of 500 units and how he underestimated the cost.
  • [18:55] Having the order sent directly to Tyson and the discovery of a shoddy packing job.
  • [21:26] 3 sales the first day at full price - using Tomoson to get some reviews.
  • [23:24] Experimenting with Amazon PPC.
  • [27:16] Consistent sales and sales growth after 10 to 12 reviews.
  • [30:08] Additional orders of his products from the supplier.
  • [31:57] What new products is Tyson planning?
  • [33:19] Selling against a major brand: Why Tyson did it and what his thinking is.
  • [35:50] Why Tyson set up a website independent of Amazon.
  • [36:51] Tyson’s average sales at this point.
  • [37:50] A comparison of reviews between Tyson’s product and those of his competitors.
  • [38:29] Tyson’s parting advice to Amazon sellers.
  • [41:50] Dealing with negative reviews and remarks.
  • [42:47] What to do when you get those discouraging, doubtful feelings.
  • [45:14] Scott’s encouragement to TAS members to create meet-up groups and masterminds.

 

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

 

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

 

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

Direct download: TAS110.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:30am EDT

This is a special bonus episode, highlighting Scott’s personal Amazon sales numbers and income for September of 2015. It was a slower month than previous months, and Scott has 4 reasons why he thinks that was the case. But he’s very optimistic about the 4th quarter because he’s seeing his October sales rise a bit already. If you want to hear what’s really possible in an Amazon Private Label business, you should listen in to this episode to hear what Scott has been able to achieve in just under 1 year. That’s right, he’s only been doing this business for less than a year.

 

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.
  • [0:47] What Scott was thinking when he started his Amazon business last year.
  • [2:05] Dealing with the ups and downs of the numbers in your business.
  • [2:46] 4 reasons numbers have been down.
  • [5:21] The importance of diversifying your product line.
  • [5:50] Revenue numbers and costs for September 2015.
  • [8:09] October number are already going up a bit.
  • [8:20] Lessons learned from the past month.
  • [9:44] Plans for the 4th quarter.
    • A promotion for product #1
    • Tweaking his PPC campaigns
    • Adding new products
    • Launching an external site for his brand and products
    • Waiting for 4th quarter traffic.
  • [12:05] The challenge of dealing with inventory.
  • [12:34] Scott’s total figures for year #1 in Amazon Sales.
  • [16:00] Why Scott does his Income Figure episodes.

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

 

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

 

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

research

Direct download: BONUS_September202015.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

Would you like to have your questions about Amazon FBA answered by someone who’s been successful on the platform?

 

This is your chance. Every Friday Scott Voelker answers questions that have been left on the voicemail app on the website. They could be about product selection, dealing with negative reviews, pricing, sourcing products from China, or anything else that has to do with selling your private label products on Amazon. You can ask your question by going to www.TheAmazingSeller.com/ask - and Scott just might provide an answer on a future episode of Ask Scott!

 

I’ve got a handful of negative seller feedbacks and want to get my seller ranking to improve. How can I do it?

 

If you’ve had issues where the people who have bought your products were not happy for some reason, there are some things you can do to deal with the negative feedback they may have left on your seller profile. First, contact them and offer to rectify the situation. You may need to simply refund their money and allow them to keep the product regardless. But either way, you’re building good will about you and your brand, which could result in those people adjusting their seller feedback. You want your customers to be happy so do whatever it takes. But what can you do about the impact those reviews have had on your seller feedback? Find out by listening to Scott’s response on this episode of The Amazing Seller.

 

I have a competitor who is slamming my products on their own product listings, saying that I don’t have the right to sell the products myself. What can I do about this?

 

It is frustrating when your competitors seem bent on sullying your brand or products in order to try and get a leg up on you in the Amazon marketplace. Is there anything you can do about it? Yes, you can contact that seller and ask them to show you proof of the claims they’re making or even send them a cease and desist letter to add a bit of pressure. You can also contact Amazon seller support to ask them to force the competitor to stop. But Scott recommends something else that you may not expect. Listen to this episode to hear his answer.

 

All of my products use the same basic keywords. How can I use Amazon PPC to target each product when the keywords are all the same?

 

Amazon PPC is pretty confusing to use as it is. But when your products are similar, perhaps different variants of the same basic product, how can you differentiate within the PPC interface to drive traffic to a specific product? Scott’s got some suggestions for this sort of situation on this episode that you’ll want to hear. It’s not only helpful for driving the actual traffic to the place you want it to go, but his response will also enable you to use PPC to do some research on what people are actually searching for in your niche. Interested? Listen in to hear more!

 

At what point should I consider using freight forwarders or shipping agents?

 

Obviously, you want to keep your Amazon business as streamlined and simple as possible. That way you maintain control of timelines and other things that impact the availability and sales of your products. But as your business grows you may need to find other solutions to help you expedite the sheer volume of products you’re dealing with. Those solutions may include freight forwarding services or private shipping agents. At what point are these needed and how do you know if you’re at that point? Scott gives some tips about those decisions and offers some other helpful suggestions about shipping in general in answer to this question.

 

OUTLINE OF THIS Q&A EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • [0:03] Welcome to Session #28 of Ask Scott!
  • [0:18] How you can ask your own question: www.TheAmazingSeller.com/ask
  • [0:56] What to expect on this episode.
  • [1:14] A shout out to the TAS community on Facebook: www.TheAmazingSeller.com/FB
  • [2:08] Scott’s shout out to community member Thomas!
    • [4:10] QUESTION ONE: How can I improve my seller ranking and how should I handle negative reviews?
    • [10:04] QUESTION TWO: What should be done if a competitor is slamming my product in their own listings by saying my products are not the legitimate original product?
    • [14:07] QUESTION THREE: I have many products that all use the same basic keywords. How should I use Amazon PPC to help target people to see my various products?
    • [18:44] QUESTION FOUR: How do you coordinate your shipping for products? There are many options, how do you know what to do in each situation? And what labeling and inserts are your suppliers willing to do?

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

 

Scott’s follow up email sequence: www.TheAmazingSeller.com/email

 

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

 

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

 

The Greg Mercer episode about using Jungle Scout - www.TheAmazingSeller.com/56

 

Podcast 32 -.Scott’s $1000 mistake: www.TheAmazingSeller.com/32

Direct download: TAS109.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

Welcome to this episode, the 27th “Ask Scott” session! Your questions are what make these Friday episodes the valuable resource that they are, so keep them coming. If you’ve never asked a question but would like to, you can submit your question very simply. Just go to www.TheAmazingSeller.com/ask and click the button to leave your own voicemail question. Who knows? You might be the next listener whose question is featured. Scott loves to field these questions. Not only does it help you, it also helps everyone listening, so go leave your question for Scott now!

 

I made a mistake, how can I increase my seller rating now?

 

A listener accidentally missed some customer emails (they landed in the SPAM folder on his email), so he didn’t respond to them in a timely way. Naturally, that dinged his seller ranking on Amazon and he’s struggling to get it boosted again. In this episode of Ask Scott, Scott gives this seller some tips on how he can go about increasing his seller rank after some negatives have occurred. There are some very logical, simple steps to take that over time, can increase that seller rank. Find out how on this episode.

 

I’m spending lots of money on a PPC campaign and can’t rank for my keyword!

 

Amazon PPC is a vital part of the Amazon business model and a listener asks Scott what he’s doing wrong. He’s got a campaign set up to rank for certain keywords, but he can’t even get one impression for his main keyword. He’s spent up to $50 per impression to try to get his product to rank, but no luck. What’s he doing wrong? In this episode Scott Voelker answers the question by giving some tips regarding PPC and he even suggests the seller call Amazon’s catalogue department to get some first-hand help. Hear the entire response by listening to this episode.

 

I’ve just launched my 2nd product but I can’t get it to rank higher than the 2nd page. Help!

 

An Amazon seller who’s already had some success with one product has just followed Scott’s product launch steps to put her second product in the Amazon catalogue. But try as she might, she can’t get her product to rise any higher than the second page of the Amazon search results. Is she doing something wrong? Does it have to do with how long the competing sellers have had their products listed on Amazon? Scott’s got some ideas of what might be going on, so be sure you listen to hear all the details.

 

I want to add variations (color, size) to an existing Amazon product listing. Can I do that?

 

Say you’ve got a T-shirt listed on Amazon. The first listing for the black shirt is selling well so now you want to include additional colors. What do you have to do in order to list your new shirts? Can you add them to the first listing as a variation? Do you have to create an entirely new product listing? What do you do with the old listing if you decide to create a new one with variations included? These are important questions and Scott dives into it on this episode, including some talk about using parent/child functions in the product dashboard to connect products to each other. It’s a great response that everyone can learn from.

 

OUTLINE OF THIS INTERVIEW EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • [0:10] Welcome to this “Ask Scott” episode!
  • [0:55] Shout out to Laura Tenns Gallagher from the TAS Facebook community!
  • [2:34] Scott’s live workshops are free and available for you! Join the next one - www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop
  • [3:00] Scott’s new 10-day Private Label Course is now available - www.FreePrivateLabelCoruse.com
  • [3:38] QUESTION 1: Is there any way I can improve my seller rating after accidentally not replying to customer emails?
  • [9:38] QUESTION 2: Why can’t I get impressions on keywords I’m bidding on?
  • [15:24] QUESTION 3: I cannot get my second product to rank higher than the second page. Does it have to do with how long other products have been on Amazon?
  • [21:22] QUESTION 4: Can current listings be modified to include modifications or do I need to set up new listings?
  • Would you like to ask your question? www.TheAmazingSeller.com/ask

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

 

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

 

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

 

The new 10-day Private Label Course - www.FreePrivateLabelCourse.com

 

Scott’s email/feedback system - www.TheAmazingSeller.com/email

 

Direct download: TAS106.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:37pm EDT

It’s not always easy for potential Amazon sellers to choose the right products to sell. That’s because there are so many products possible and so many people already selling those products. How do you know which might be profitable? How do you know if there’s enough room in the market for your product ideas? How do you know if you should take the chance? In this episode of The Amazing Seller Scott’s going to walk you through the 5 steps he uses every time he’s trying to figure out if a product idea is worth pursuing. And as a bonus, he’s going to tell you why you should be thinking of building a brand, not just selling a product or two. It’s an amazing episode you’ll want to hear!

 

There is a lot of value of doing a brain dump.

 

Before you even start the 5 steps Scott covers in this episode he suggests you first do what he calls a “brain dump.” You want to get out a sheet of paper and a pencil and write down every single idea you have about what products you might be able to sell or be interested in selling. As you do this you need to think about your passions, your pains and problems, your hobbies, and even the things that fall into those categories that were true of you in the past. These are great ways to tease ideas out of your head and onto paper so that you can look at all the options that appeal to you. From there, you’ll have a direction to go. Hear the details of Scott’s 5 steps by listening in to this episode.

 

You’ve got to find the market that your products can serve.

 

The market your products will be sold to is simply the people who are interested in or desirous of your particular type of product. Are they baseball fans? Are they watchers of a particular television show? Are they moms who have a particular hobby on the side? You have to be able to answer what your target market is because knowing those people’s interests is what’s going to show you the wide variety of products they might be interested in, products which you could add to your product line.

 

So you have a product on Amazon… your next step is to begin thinking about a product line.

 

What’s the difference? A product is a one-time shot. You only have one opportunity to make a sale to people in your target market. But a product line is like having lots of hooks in the water. You have many more chances of getting a bite! A product line that is focused on one particular market is called a brand, and what you need to be doing is building a brand, which translates into having a legitimate business. Scott’s going to cover the specifics of what it takes to build a reputable and viable brand on this episode of The Amazing Seller.

 

There are at least 8 reasons you need to be thinking about building a brand rather than just a product line.

 

A product line is just that… a line of generic, random products that fit within the same niche market. But a brand takes on a life of its own. A brand becomes something that consumers look for, by name, and can become loyal to over time. Imagine that, people who want exactly what you’re offering who are looking for you and only you. There’s amazing power and profit in being able to position your business in that sort of a relationship with your clients. It enables your business to soar to levels you never thought possible. Take some time and listen to Scott’s 8 reasons you should focus on building a brand, on this episode of The Amazing Seller.

 

OUTLINE OF THIS INTERVIEW EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • [0:05] Welcome to this episode: 5 steps for finding profitable products and building a successful brand!
  • [1:09] The TAS community is growing - www.TheAmazingSeller.com/FB and a shout out to Dale Thomas!
  • [3:07] Your invite to one of Scott’s life workshops - www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop
  • [3:55] The place to start: Learn to be aware and to brainstorm by doing a brain dump. Think about your passions and your pains and problems and hobbies.
  • [6:27] The benefit of going back in time to discover what was a passion for you then.
  • [8:30] Understand the difference between having a product and having a product line.
  • [10:15] Step one: Make sure there is a market for what you consider selling that is willing to buy things.
  • [15:44] Step two: Find the needs of the market by reading and listening to what the market is talking about.
  • [17:35] Step three: Go to Amazon and find the category where your potential product/market is.
  • [18:27] Step Four: Find your competitors on Amazon and elsewhere
  • [23:19] Step Five: Drill down to assess what they are selling.
  • [25:04] 8 reasons why there is power in building a brand rather than only selling individual products.
  • [31:40] Scott’s summary of these steps and advice on how to go from there.

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

 

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

 

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

 

The Greg Mercer episode about using Jungle Scout - www.TheAmazingSeller.com/56

Direct download: TAS108.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

Spencer Haws is well known in the online entrepreneurial world. His site www.NichePursuits.com chronicles his experiments creating multiple niche based sites to generate varied streams of income to replace his J-O-B. He did it and has expanded to learn about SEO, website development, keyword research, and eventually to create his own software to do keyword research, www.LongTailPro.com. But when he heard about the possibilities of Amazon Private Label sales, Spencer just had to try it for himself. In this episode of The Amazing Seller you’re going to hear Spencer’s entire journey as an Amazon seller.

 

Why would a successful software developer give Amazon Private Label sales a try?

 

Spencer Haws is not your average software developer. In fact, he’s much more. Spencer’s interest in Amazon Sales comes from the fact that he’s naturally curious about the many ways that it’s possible to make money online. He’s always looking for recurring income, with as little administrative busywork and cost as possible. When he first heard about Amazon Private Label selling, it sounded too good to be true. He expected that there would be a huge time commitment, and there was at the beginning. But he soon realized that the potential of Amazon product sales far outweighs the drawbacks. Spencer shares his story and what he’s learned so far on this episode.

 

Generating product ideas from the needs you have in our own life.

 

Discovering a real felt need in the marketplace can be a difficult thing to do. But Spencer Haws doesn’t believe it really has to be all that difficult. His successful software, www.LongTailPro.com was developed for his own use simply because he had a need that none of the available software solutions could meet. It went on from there to become one of the most effective and widely-used SaaS products in the online business and blogging world. Spencer took that same belief into his Amazon Private Label sales efforts, believing that if he was experiencing a clear need that the marketplace was not providing a solution for, he couldn’t be the only one. Hear how Spencer went about the product selection process in this great conversation.



Spencer Haws knows something about keyword research and he’s applying it to his Amazon product listings.

 

Keyword research is often spoken of only in the blogging, SEO, and online marketing communities. But Spencer’s expertise and experience as the head of a keyword research software company has shown him that every search algorithm, from Google to Amazon, uses keywords in one way or another. That belief has led him to do extensive keyword research relating to each of his Amazon Private Label products and the results have been amazing. The research has enabled him to rank for keywords his actual customers are using, but most of his competitors are not. The creative way he’s been able to apply that skill is making all the difference. Find out more about Spencer’s approach and beliefs regarding keyword research and your Amazon product listings, on this episode.

 

Don’t expect a lot of personal profit in your first six months as a Private Label seller.

 

But isn’t that why we’re doing this? To make money? Yes, it is, but you’ve got to understand that you’re building a business, not just a one-time source of income. That requires money to be invested back into the business so it can expand and solidify, building a base from which all your future income will flow. Most successful Amazon Sellers who make a living through their Amazon products spend the first 6 months (at least) putting their profits back into the business, and today’s guest -  Spencer Haws - is one of them. Learn how Spencer used the success of his first product to finance additional products in his niche by listening to this great episode.

 

OUTLINE OF THIS INTERVIEW EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • [0:05] Welcome to this episode, a discussion with Spencer Haws, creator of www.NichePursuits.com
  • [1:16] Sign up for Scott’s live workshop! It’s FREE - www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop
  • [2:23] Introduction of Spencer Haws. How did he get into Amazon Private Label sales?
  • [4:18] Spencer’s back story of his online businesses and how he made the transition to Amazon sales.
  • [9:37] Makin sure you learn from failures (that’s what turns them into success).
  • [11:16] Why Spencer began looking into the Private Label options.
  • [13:38] Where did Spencer get his product idea? From a need he had.
  • [15:04] How quick was the process of validating the product idea?
  • [16:01] Finding his product from a China source.
  • [17:03] Ordering the products to test the market.
  • [19:25] How Spencer paid for his first Amazon products.
  • [21:01] Spencer’s admission that he was flying by the seat of his pants… and what came of it.
  • [23:43] The first steps Spencer took when he got his product listing up on Amazon.
  • [25:30] Spencer’s product was a higher price point… how it worked out for him.
  • [26:17] Expanding into related products in the same niche - in a more aggressive way.
  • [28:20] Spencer’s launch process for his new products.
  • [29:00] One of the products didn’t sell very well right away, so he moved to Amazon PPC.
  • [31:00] The importance of “seasoned” products and seller accounts.
  • [32:09] Why Spencer stopped asking family and friends to do product reviews.
  • [34:46] What is Spencer doing to maintain his Amazon Private Label business.
  • [38:33] The one thing Spencer has done to help his listings: Keyword research and great product titles, especially terms competitors were not using.
  • [39:45] The stats that show Spencer’s products could outpace his software business soon.
  • [42:26] Why the first 6 months of Amazon Private Label sales is not a “personal profit” making venture.
  • [44:46] Spencer’s parting advice, and how to get in touch with him.

 

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

 

Spencer’s website: www.NichePursuits.com

 

www.Longtailpro.com - Spencer’s keyword research tool.

 

www.AMZTracker.com - the review service Spencer uses.

 

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

 

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

Direct download: TAS107.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

1