Rock Your Brand Podcast

It wasn’t too long ago that Scott received a bad news email from Amazon. One of his products, a bundle of items, was suspended by Amazon and he was being required to rectify the situation that caused the product to be suspended. On this episode Scott is going to walk you through the exact steps he took to address the situation with Amazon and give you a ton of things to think about when it comes to dealing with Amazon directives like this. If you haven’t had this issue yet, you will, so be sure you listen to the episode so you can be ahead of the game!

 

The importance of some kind of product inspection.

 

When Scott received a notice from Amazon that one of his products had been suspended, it was because his return rate was at 13%. Why was it so high? Some of his products were missing pieces and the customers were returning them. Scott learned that his practice of having his items shipped directly from his supplier to Amazon was not working. He was going to have to figure out a way to ensure that every product was inspected before it was shipped. On this episode Scott’s going to tell you how he addressed the issue and give you some resources to check out to set up your own product inspections.

 

You need to set up variations on every product.

 

When Scott received a notice from Amazon that one of his products was suspended he had a few options he could pursue. One of those was to set up a variation of the same product and then ship in some products he had in hand to replace the ones that were being suspended. That would enable him to get a listing for that product back up in a rather quick fashion. Scott suggests that every time you set up a product listing on Amazon you create it with the option for variations, even if you don't think that product will ever have a variation. This enables you to address issues like he faced if it should come up.

 

The tax implications of products you can’t use.

 

One of the things Scott was concerned about when he got a notice from Amazon that a product was being returned by customers because it was missing parts, was the loss he would have to take on those products. It amounted to $7,000 worth of products and he didn't want to take a hit that large. He called his tax accountant and discovered that he would be able to write those off as a loss and benefit himself on his taxes to some degree. On this episode Scott covers what that sort of loss would look like and how you would go about it if it happens to you.

 

Why Scott changed his product to Merchant Fulfilled.

 

The first thing Scott did when he discovered that one of his products have been suspended by Amazon list to switch that product to a merchant fulfilled status. That enabled his product to remain live on the Amazon catalogue and potentially get some sales while he investigated the problems that had caused his products to be suspended in the first place. On this episode Scott is going to walk you through every step he took to get his product back on the Amazon catalog in record time and address the issues with his products that were causing the high return rate that got it suspended in the first place.

 

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • [0:25] Scott’s introduction to the podcast!
  • [1:31] The problem of putting all your eggs in one basket.
  • [2:01] How you can join Scott on Periscope.
  • [3:02] The one question that comes up over and over: What makes a good product?
  • [6:40] The initial message Scott received about a suspended product.
  • [8:11] The role a high number of refunds played on Amazon’s decision.
  • [11:10] Why it was good that Scott had variations of this product on Amazon.
  • [12:20] The decision to do merchant fulfilled instead of FBA on the problem product.
  • [15:54] Determining the problem: Was it with Amazon or with the supplier?
  • [18:22] The tax issues involved.
  • [20:48] Sending in new inventory to replace the problem products.
  • [21:34] The lesson Scott learned: go with a 3rd party inspection service.
  • [22:53] Another option Scott had and why he didn’t go that route.
  • [24:30] Why you need to create your product listing with variations, every time.
  • [26:30] The benefits of building an external channel for your products.

 

Direct download: TAS183.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

New product ideas can come from anywhere. Really, you might be surprised where you discover the next great thing. On this episode Scott’s going to share with you exactly how he discovered his latest product idea quite by accident and how it’s proving to be a pretty good product from the first go ‘round. Listening to this episode will inspire you to think a little more outside the box about your next product idea. So be sure to listen and start dreaming about your next product!

There are some things in life Scott said he would never do…

 

And He’s finally wising up and learning not to say those kinds of categorical things. Why? Because there are so many of those “nevers” that He’s wound up doing. That’s instrumental to this episode of the podcast because He’s entering into one of those areas with his newest product. It’s in the supplement niche, which he said he’d never do and he wants you to hear the story of why he’s going in that direction, how it came about, and how you can learn from his story to find your own new product ideas.

 

The journey you are on has opportunities at every turn.

 

You never know what a day may bring. You really don’t. There could be a huge challenge or a massive opportunity, and Scott’s learned that the opportunities will pass you by if you don’t have your eyes open and your brain engaged to see them when they show up. On this episode of The Amazing Seller Scott’s walking you through an example of that - how he came across some situations that have offered up his latest product - and how his situation is an illustration of what you can do to find some great product ideas as well.

 

The people you meet might be your next source of inspiration.

 

There are people you meet everyday who have areas of expertise and experience that you will never have. Those people may have something of tremendous value to add to the world but you’ll never know if you don’t get out there and meet them or talk to them. Scott has recently discovered the Dad of his daughter’s friend is a fount of knowledge about things Scott never knew he’d be interested in, and has a lot to offer by way of information and products. So Scott’s investigating the possibility of going in on a product line with him, in the supplement niche. Hear the entire story on this episode of The Amazing Seller.

 

8 things Scott has learned about tapping into a new market.

 

When you get a new product idea and it’s in a new market that you’ve never worked in, you need to get some specific things right at the beginning. Tacked on to the end of this episode of The Amazing Seller are Scott’s 8 tips for what you need to do when you’re setting up a product in a new niche. This section is so jam packed with information you will be glad you listened for that brief list alone. So be sure you tune in and grab these 8 great steps to getting set up in a new market.

 

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • [0:04] Scott’s introduction to the podcast episode!
  • [0:37] How you can follow Scott on Periscope.
  • [1:00] The danger of saying “never.”
  • [5:30] How my personal experience led me to the supplement niche.
  • [7:08] A personal trainer I met and the possibilities that relationship has produced.
  • [10:28] How a variety of people have influenced my journey.
  • [22:51] I have no idea how this idea is going to work, but I’m excited.
  • [25:19] The journey you take is filled with opportunities you need to recognize.
  • [26:42] Pay attention to people and possible opportunities.
  • [26:53] Scott’s assignment for you.
  • [28:32] 8 things I’ve learned about tapping into a new market.
  • [33:20] Why I’m beginning to move away from speaking on Amazon only.
  • [34:00] How you can get my free 10 day course.



Direct download: TAS182.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

One of the scariest parts of building an Amazon private label business is the fact that at some point you have to send off a big chunk of money to a supplier you have never met, in a factory or warehouse that you cannot inspect in most cases, and trust that you are products are going to arrive at your location or the Amazon warehouse as promised and in good shape. Today's episode deals with that exact subject in the experiences of one Amazon Seller who had trouble getting his product payments refunded after he decided the products were not up to his quality standards. You are going to learn a lot of lessons from his hard learned experience.

 

How do you know the products your supplier gives you are the quality you want?

 

The first thing you should do when you find a product that might be a potentially good fit for your business to feature on Amazon is to have a sample sent to you. That's a very needed and necessary first step, but it may not be the total solution. The process of sending a sample can be manipulated by the supplier sending you the very best one that they have, giving you the impression that all of the products they produce are the same quality. Today's guest decided to have an inspection company check out his products prior to them being shipped from the supplier and that one step saved him a thousand headaches. You can hear his entire story on this episode.

 

What is Trade Assurance and why you should only use suppliers who are verified through it.

 

When you are seeking a supplier for the products you want to sell through Amazon private label you will come across many options on the Alibaba website. You need to make sure that you were only looking for products among sellers who are certified by Trade Assurance. Trade Assurance is Alibaba's way of verifying suppliers and is a way that you can have peace of mind that you're dealing with reputable companies. On this episode Scott's guest is going to share his experience with Trade Assurance and why it was an invaluable part of the process when seeking a refund from one of his suppliers.

 

If you have to ask for your deposit back, expect a long process.

 

It doesn't really matter how you pay the deposit for your first round of products, whether by wire transfer, escrow, or PayPal, if you need to request a refund you will have a long time to wait. Refunds come through a multi-stage the process of verification and investigation about what was actually done by the company and by you. It's very important that in that entire process you document every communication and every step along the way. Today's guest is going to share with you how he did that and the results that came of it.

 

How to effectively use an escrow account.

 

One of the tools you can use when paying a supplier from China through Alibaba is called an escrow account. Escrow accounts basically hold the funds that you have sent for your deposit until you indicate that you are satisfied with the product you have been supplied. It's a way to ensure that your money is going to be returned to you if the product you receive are not up to the quality standards that you were led to believe. On this episode Scott shares why he values the escrow functionality so much, and how you can be sure to use it in your interactions with suppliers.

 

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • [0:04] Scott’s introduction to the podcast!
  • [0:50] An introduction to the voicemail Blair sent to Scott.
  • [1:43] How you can get started with Amazon FBA and join the free live workshop.
  • [3:30] The voicemail itself.
  • [6:21] Blair’s conversation with Scott.
  • [7:59] How Blair began his Amazon private label business.
  • [9:53] Blair’s process for discovering his first products.
  • [12:20] The plan behind Blair’s variety of product offerings.
  • [13:59] The situations with suppliers.
  • [15:15] The situations Blair experienced that caused issues with his payments.
  • [17:10] The Trade Assurance dispute process.
  • [18:40] The difficulties of not being able to get a deposit returned.
  • [20:27] Blair’s process working from New Zealand.
  • [21:53] What it took for Blair to set up a U.S. bank account.
  • [23:35] The hassles experienced shipping by boat.
  • [24:26] Recommendations about payments, based on his experience.
  • [31:12] Why you have to go into FBA knowing there is risk involved.
  • [32:45] The power of using an escrow account through Alibaba.
  • [35:13] The refund process is multi-stepped, be prepared if you get into it.
  • [41:50] Scott’s summary of the conversation.
  • [42:50] Your invitation to the free, live workshop.



Direct download: TAS18020.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

This is one of the Ask Scott sessions where Scott Voelker answers your questions about Amazon private label sales. If you’d like to get your question answered on one of these podcast episodes, you can do it by going to www.TheAmazingSeller.com/ask. Scott would be happy to address your issues to the best of his ability so be sure to take advantage of this powerful resource.

 

Should international sellers try to start in their local Amazon market on or the U.S. market?

 

A listener of the show does not live in the United States and wants to get started with private label sales on Amazon. He’s not sure if he should start selling in his local Amazon market or try to get his products set up on the U.S. Amazon market. Scott’s answer is an “it depends” kind of answer but you’ll want to know what it is that it depends on. ;) There’s lots to consider in a situation like this so be sure you take the time to listen.

 

I have a customer who has contacted me through Amazon’s system and wants to buy large quantities of my product. How can I handle that?

 

It’s an amazing opportunity - or it appears to be. This listener and active Amazon private label seller has been contacted by one of his customers through the Amazon system. The customer claims to want to purchase large quantities of his products in bulk. The listener is not sure if there is a way he can connect with the seller legally within Amazon’s terms of service to work out that deal. Scott’s answer is very helpful and you’ll hear it on this episode.

 

I’m an international seller but I sell on the U.S. Market. How can I get my products shipped to the U.S.?

 

Scott has often recommended that international sellers get access to a U.S. based address to have their products sent to before sending to the Amazon warehouse so that products can be inspected before being stocked in the warehouse. It’s a great idea, but today’s listener doesn’t have access to a U.S based address and is curious if there are other options. There are indeed and today Scott is going to walk through them. It’s all on this episode of The Amazing Seller.

 

 

Would you like to get in on a free 10-day private label course?

 

One of the things Scott has done to create a helpful training resource for brand new Amazon private label sellers is to put together a 10 day course walking through every single step Scott has taken to get his private label products, get them onto  Amazon, and make sales with them. If you’d like to get that 10 day course sent to you via email, you can get it by going to www.FreePrivateLabelCourse.com - and Scott will send it right to you!

 

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • [0:04] Scott’s introduction to the podcast!
  • [1:08] How you can get your questions answered on the show.
  • [2:05] A TAS member who’s taking action!
  • [5:31] Why the process is the best way to learn.
  • [6:28] QUESTION ONE: What is your take on international sellers getting started - should we start on the U.S. Amazon market?
  • [12:42] QUESTION TWO: How can I handle someone who wants to purchase my products on a large volume basis? Can it be done?
  • [20:21] QUESTION THREE: I want to follow your advice about getting a price of products being shipped to me via air, but I’m not located in the U.S. How can I do that?
  • [25:04] How you can get Scott’s free 10-day course.



www.FreePrivateLabelCourse.com - get the 10 day private label course.

Direct download: TAS181.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

Welcome back to the show notes page of The Amazing Seller Podcast. Scott Voelker is here to lead you in understanding and building an Amazon Private Label business that can build the life you want to live. On this episode Scott’s got a great list of 10 things learned in the first 3 months in the FBA world, and it was contributed by a listener to the podcast. You’ll get some great insights from this list, from a person who is fresh into the industry and knows the realities of starting from square one. Even if you’re experienced at private label sales, you’ll be encouraged by what this listener has to share.

Hard work cannot be replaced. There is no easy way forward.

If you want to build a business through Amazon Private Label sales you are going to have to do exactly that, build it. Building things takes a lot of hard work. It takes determination. It takes a commitment to seeing things through. One of the biggest lessons shared on this top 10 list is that hard work cannot be replaced. There Is no easy way forward if you want it business that will provide the lifestyle and the income that you are seeking. Listen to this episode of the podcast to be encouraged in ways that will enable you to stick with it when things get hard. Take action.

If you let yourself get overwhelmed, you’re going to give up.

When you first get started building a business on Amazon through private label sales, you will discover that there are so many variables and so many things to consider, it seems like you might never figure it out. You can easily get overwhelmed, but you have to fight the over whelmed by systematically doing one thing at a time that will take you a simple step forward. It's that kind of single-minded determination that will enable you to do what you want to do in building your business. Be sure to listen to this episode to hear more of Scott's tips about how to fight overwhelm.

Amazon private label is a long term endeavor.

The stories you hear about someone putting a private label product onto the Amazon platform and hitting $10,000 in sales during their first month are the exceptions not the rule. It's very common that sellers never hit $10,000 a month in sales. It's also common that those who do take a month and possibly even years to get there. You have to think of your Amazon business as a long-term Endeavor. It's going to take time, especially if he do it the right way. Make sure you listen to this episode to hear Scott's encouragement about what it takes to build your business with a long view.

Learn from others, but make up your own mind in the end.

When you're first starting out in your Amazon private label business it is vital that you learn all that you can. You want to listen to people who have gone down the path you are traveling ahead of you. But there comes a point where you have to make your own decisions, where the advice you receive is weighed against the circumstances that you are actually in. It's at that point you need to have the confidence to make up your own mind about the direction you were going to take. On this episode Scott gives some great advice about how to get to that place, and how to make the right decisions when you do.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:25] Scott’s introduction to the podcast!
  • [1:08] What this episode is about - an email from a listener.
  • [5:00] April’s email about her first year on Amazon private label.
  • [8:31] Why hard work is the first thing you need.
  • [9:20] Why you can’t allow yourself to get overwhelmed.
  • [10:50] The power of thinking long term.
  • [13:20] Community with great people is essential.
  • [15:36] A positive attitude is key!
  • [17:22] Daily action to move your company forward is powerful.
  • [20:38] Don’t rush important decisions (but don’t allow more time just for the sake of it).
  • [22:41] Listen to advice from others but make up your own mind based on your situation.
  • [24:50] Why it’s important to give back.
  • [28:32] Fear and doubt can paralyze you. You can’t let it.
  • [34:45] How to get in on the next live workshop.

 

Direct download: TAS179.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

Welcome to this question and answer episode of The Amazing Seller podcast. Scott Voelker  is here to answer your questions about Amazon private label sales, everything from researching and buying your first product to collecting your paycheck from Amazon. On this episode Scott gets some great questions about pay-per-click campaign, freight forwarders, maximizing sales even if it means you run out of stock, and others. If you are at all interested in getting involved with Amazon private label sales, you need to listen to these Q&A episodes of The Amazing Seller.

 

When I do multiple PPC campaigns, and I charged for clicks on a keyword that are in both campaigns?

 

Pay-per-click can be one of the most confusing parts of a successful Amazon private label business. There are so many variables it is hard to keep track of everything and know that you are actually spending your money wisely. On this episode a listener asks a question about using multiple campaigns and whether or not he is charged for using the same key word in different campaigns. Scott's answer is yes, but there's a lot more to it than that. Make sure that you listen to ensure that you are not spending any money on your pay-per-click campaigns.

What are the benefits and the difficulties of working with freight forwarders?

 

Getting your product shipped from China to the United States can be quite an ordeal. Sometimes it is beneficial to use a company called a freight forwarder. these are companies that receive your order from your China supplier, and forward it on to Amazon following various criteria that you have set up. On this episode a seller from outside the United States asks Scott a question about setting up a freight forwarding service. If this sounds like something you might need in the future, be sure to listen to Scott’s informative answer.

 

Do I want to maximize sales first even if it means I run out of stock?

 

On today's episode of the podcast a listener asks if it is wise to maximize his sales right off the bat with his newest product even if it means he will run out of stock quickly. There are different viewpoints on this type of question but Scott, as always, has his own opinion which makes a lot of sense. But he doesn't only share his opinion, he also tells some of the pros and cons of the other approaches. If you want a good comparison of the approaches to getting your product onto the first page of the search rankings, be sure to listen to this podcast episode.

Would you like to get in on Scott’s next free, live workshop?

 

One of the things Scott does to enable new Amazon sellers to get up to speed quickly is to put on his free private label workshops. If you have never been a part of one of these amazing webinars, you will be amazed at the value Scott puts out for free. He's going to walk you through his 5 step process for finding launching and selling products through Amazon private label sales, and will also do a live Q&A session at the end of the webinar. This is one of the best resources on the internet for learning how to sell your products on Amazon. Listen to this episode to find out how you can be a part of the next free live workshop

 

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • [0:25] Scott’s introduction to the podcast!
  • [2:00] Why Scott loves creating the life that he wants.
  • [8:26] QUESTION ONE: If I use the keyword in two PPC campaigns, do I pay for clicks on that keyword on BOTH campaigns?
  • [14:27] QUESTION TWO: Can you talk to me about the benefits and difficulties of working with freight forwarders?
  • [19:30] QUESTION THREE: Improving products: should I keep it on the same listing? [24:00] QUESTION FOUR: Should I shoot for a higher bestseller rank right out of the gate even if it means I run out of products?
  • [30:20] How you can record your own question.
  • [30:59] How you can register for Scott’s next live workshop.



www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop - get into the next live workshop.

Direct download: TAS178.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

If you’ve not heard the name of Chris Ducker, you are going to be glad you have by the time this interview episode of The Amazing Seller podcast is over. Chris is an online business guy who’s made it big in many different areas, and on this episode he’s joining Scott to chat about how he would go about building a business independently of Amazon after successful sales on Amazon. Scott’s been interested in this possibility for a long time and Chris has the business experience to help him think through the issues involved.

 

Why Chris Ducker doesn’t like the Amazon platform for building your business.

 

Scott Voelker has long encouraged everyday people like you to build their own real business on the Amazon platform. It’s an unprecedented opportunity. But his guest today, Chris Ducker, doesn’t like the model for a very specific reason. It’s something you’ll hear from him over and over and it has to do with building on your own platform instead of a platform someone else owns. You can hear all the details of what Chris things, and why, on this episode of The Amazing Seller.

 

The power of Customer Service for your Business.

 

One of the biggest mistakes that business owners (including Amazon sellers) make time and time again is to get a customer and then forget about them. But if you think it through, you’ll realize that it’s much easier to serve an existing customer well so that they become a repeat customer, than it is to get a new customer. On this episode Chris Ducker shares a couple of powerful stories about what customer service can do for your business, both in terms of customer retention and increased revenue.

 

When is it time for you to outsource some of your business workload?

 

Scott’s guest on this episode of the podcast is Chris Ducker, a pro at outsourcing And business building. Chris knows what it takes to get the Right outsourced team working on a business and you also know the great big mistakes that can be made. On this episode Scott asks Chris about his recommendations for figuring out the timing of adding a virtual team to your business. This section alone is worth you listening too, so make sure you set aside the time to do it.

 

The vital question for you to ask about hiring a virtual assistant or team member.

 

If you've been considering adding a virtual assistant do you business workflow, this episode is one you really need to listen to and take some notes on. Chris Ducker shares his insights about when it is time to add team members to your business and why you would want to do it. For him, it comes down to one final question that you need to ask yourself. It's a question that provides incredible amounts of clarity and direction for you and your business moving forward. Be sure you take the time to listen, it's a powerful lesson in outsourcing and hiring.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • [0:04] Scott’s introduction to the podcast with Chris Ducker!
  • [2:40] How the episode is going to flow (a backwards Hot Seat).
  • [3:25] What would Chris do to move a product from Amazon into an independent site.
  • [4:30] Why it’s a good thing to sell on Amazon, but what about it scares Chris.
  • [7:21] Scott’s perspective on that difficulty and what Chris would do to build his own brand outside of Amazon.
  • [11:45] What to do if you don’t want to be the “face” of the business.
  • [15:24] How Chris would advise a new person about determining a market to enter.
  • [22:30] What are the ways businesses need to improve in order to stand out?
  • [25:33] The power of customer service for building your existing business.
  • [33:52] How Chris has specialized in outsourcing and when you should consider adding help to your team.
  • [40:35] How Chris’ business - virtual staff finder - works.
  • [43:52] Chris’ last nugget of advice for business owners in 2016.

 

Chris’ website: www.ChrisDucker.com

Direct download: TAS176.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

There are so many people who are eager to get into Amazon Private Label sales, and they should because it’s a great platform to build a viable business that can support and even transform your lifestyle. But there are a handful of common mistakes that newbies to Amazon FBA make again and again. On this episode of the podcast Scott Voelker covers the top 5 rookie mistakes that trip up new sellers.

Product research can be frustrating, but don’t give up.

Perhaps the most difficult part of selling products on Amazon is finding the product in the first place. The product research phase is very difficult because there are so many variables and so many possibilities. What most rookies do when doing product research is work at it for a couple of days and then give up because it is so frustrating but that is the worst thing you could do. On this episode Scott’s going to teach you how to push through the product research base to make sure that you find that product that is going to set you up for Amazon selling success.

You can’t forget about the depth of your potential market.

It's great to find a product that seems like it's going to be a winner on Amazon FBA. But if you don't take into consideration the depth of the market you're trying to enter, you could be setting yourself up for a terrible loss. On this episode Scott once again covers the issue of depth of market, and give you some tips to help you understand what you need to look for, why you need to watch out for those things, and how to maximize your chances of setting up a product that will be successful.

If you misunderstand your profit margins on Amazon FBA, you’ll be sorry.

It's easy to hear all the success stories about Amazon FBA sales and think that you can do that too. And you can. The problem is that many people don't recognize that the figures they hear from success stories don't typically reveal the costs involved in the research, packaging, shipping, and fees related with feeling that product on Amazon. The end result is you may have an unrealistic idea of what the actual profit margins for a product are. On this episode of the podcast, Scott is going to point out some of the things you need to consider when calculating profit margins so that you can know and accurate estimate of what your profits will be.

Don’t be fooled by seasonal products.

You may find a product to sell on Amazon that appears to be a wonderful opportunity. But always take into consideration whether or not that product and its related products are seasonal in nature. Seasonal products are great for a very short time but throughout the year don't provide the consistent income that you really want to achieve an Amazon private label sales. On this episode Scott is going to give you some things to watch out for when considering the possibility of selling products that are seasonal in nature.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:25] Scott’s introduction to the podcast!
  • [1:34] A shout-out to a TAS community member.
  • [3:11] How you can get in on one of Scott’s live workshops.
  • [4:04] Why giving up during product research is a huge mistake.
  • [14:30] If you forget about the depth of your market, you’re going to blow it.
  • [18:30] The pain of misunderstanding profit margins.
  • [24:26] Be sure to pay attention to issue of seasonal gifts.
  • [29:17] There’s a strong tendency to overthink and over complicate.

 

 

Direct download: TAS177.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

Isn’t it great when you’re able to ask an experienced person how to do what you need to do? You get all kinds of insights and tips that you wouldn’t even think about asking for. The Friday episode of The Amazing Seller (this one) is where Scott answers your questions about Amazon Private Label sales and shares them with the entire TAS community. You’re able to ask your own questions by going to www.TheAmazingSeller.com/ask - as well as learn from the many other questions that are asked and answered on these Ask Scott episodes. Be sure you subscribe so you don’t miss any of his answers.

I need to makeover my listing page. How should I go about it?

 

As you get going with your Amazon Private Label sales, you’ll realize down the road that some of the steps you’ve already taken need to be refreshed or updated. A listener today says that he’s ready to go back and makeover his product listing page and asks Scott how he should go about doing that. Scott’s got some great insights on that issue as well as some past conversations with podcast guests to point you to. Do you need to update your product listings? You won’t want to miss this episode for all the tips and tricks you need to know.

 

I was wondering what I need to change if I’m selling a generically labeled product on Amazon?

 

Is it possible to take a product from Aliexpress or Alibaba that is already generically labeled, and sell it as your own? That’s a common situation you might run into as you’re getting trial products and trying out different possibilities and you need to know what’s ethically right and what’s even possible if you’re going to do it right. On this episode Scott’s going to walk you through that issue and tell you what he would do in those shoes. It’s a great, practical issue that you can learn from, on this episode.

 

I have a unique product that fits within a broader niche. How do I research whether it’s as good an opportunity as I think?

 

Today's episode of the podcast, one of our Friday editions were you can ask your own questions, a listener ask Scott about a specific variation of a broader product, and whether it is possible to find out the viability of the product selling well on Amazon. It's a very busy broad niche but the unique qualities of this particular product are what makes the listener believe it will really be a big seller. Scott's got some good insights on the issue, and you can hear the mall on this episode.

 

Have you attended one of Scott’s live workshops? They’re free!

 

One of the amazing things about what Scott does through The Amazing Seller podcast, is that every month  he provides and absolutely free workshop to walk new Amazon private label sellers through the 5 steps he takes to research purchase and launch a brand new product on Amazon. If you have never been a part of one of these workshops, you are missing out. The end with live question and answer sessions where you can get clarity on anything that you didn't quite catch the first time. Listen to this episode to find out how you can register to be a part of the next free workshop.

 

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • [0:04] Scott’s introduction to the podcast!
  • [0:30] How you can get your questions answered on these “Ask Scott” episodes.
  • [2:00] Dealing with disappointments in business and life.
  • [8:00] A TAS Facebook Community Member Scott wants to highlight.
  • [11:37] QUESTION ONE: Doing a makeover of my listing. How should I go about doing that?
  • [17:25] QUESTION TWO: What all needs to be included on customized product packaging when the item is already generically branded?
  • [22:35] QUESTION THREE: How should I think about a uniquely niched product opportunity that is in already crowded “general” market?

 

Direct download: TAS175.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

A few episodes back Scott invited his friend, Chris Schaeffer onto the podcast to do a “hot seat” evaluation of an Amazon business to give advice on tweaks, changes, and adjustments to the existing product listings to ramp up sales. You’ve got a great opportunity today to hear another of those Hot Seat sessions - this time relating to an existing retail business that is trying to get onto the Amazon platform. There are some tweaks and tips you may have never heard before taken from Scott and Chris’ experience so be sure you listen.

 

Would you like to be a part of a “Hot Seat” event coming to a town near you?

 

Scott and Chris are already doing a hot seat event in Denver Colorado in May of 2016. But that event is already booked solid. They plan to do future events in cities across the United States. If you would like to be a part of 1 of those events, you can get your name on the notification list so that you will be among the first to know where and when those events are going to happen. Listen to this episode to find out where you can go to put your name on that list and being part of an event just like the evaluation and suggestions you were going to here on this episode of the podcast.

 

Optimizing product listings is huge.

 

On this episode of the podcast, Scott and Chris are taking a look at some existing listings of a retail business that is moving its products on to the Amazon platform. One of the first things I notice is that the product listings are not optimized as well as they could be. There is only one picture, very little in the description, and they suspect that the back in the keywords are not optimized very well. Looking at the company website, they see a beautiful presentation of the products that are offered and suggest using some of the same principles from the website on the Amazon listing. You can hear the specifics of what they suggest on this episode of the podcast.

 

Images are powerful in presenting a profession product on Amazon.

 

And Scott and Chris evaluate a product listing on this episode of the podcast, but they notice that the seller is not making the best use of the images on their listing. Their website for the products display all kinds of beautiful images, but very few of those are included on the Amazon listing. As well, the website includes many testimonials and logos from industry platforms where the products have been featured, and Scott suggest the seller create images from those and include them on the Amazon listing as well. You can hear more great suggestions like this for how to optimize your Amazon listing, on this episode of the podcast.

 

How to figure out the keywords you should go after.

 

On this episode of the podcast, Christie has asked Scott and Chris to evaluate her product listings. One of the questions she asks has to do with how to determine which keywords she should be trying to rank for. Scott and Chris suggest some great tools for her to use, and also how to use her existing website for the products to find even more possible keywords. Chris also makes a good point about utilizing the many variations she has of her product to find even more relevant keywords. It's too complex to describe here, but if you listen to this episode you won't have any trouble figuring it out.

 

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • [0:04] Scott’s introduction to another “Hot seat” session regarding a real Amazon business.
  • [1:30] The upcoming TAS Breakthrough Live event.
  • [2:15] How you can get transcripts or all the episodes.
  • [3:04] Introduction to the Hot Seat for today.
  • [4:10] A retail company that wants to get going on Amazon.
  • [11:30] Chris’ first thoughts about the situation.
  • [12:40] Why optimizing product listings is one of the most powerful things you can do.
  • [17:33] Scott’s suggestion about including testimonials and additional images in your description.
  • [24:10] How to figure out the keywords you should go after.
  • [27:00] How to approach PPC in a situation like this.
  • [31:40] Using perception of value to display your pricing.
  • [39:27] Optimizing the variations and keywords to match.
  • [40:48] A good amount of inventory to begin on Amazon with.
  • [42:48] Answers to questions about “sponsored ads.”

 

Direct download: TAS174.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

There are lots of people who hear of what’s going on with Amazon private label sales and think that they can’t get into it without a huge investment. But that’s not true, and this interview episode is proof. Today, Scott is chatting with Travis, a normal guy who calls himself an “average Joe.” Travis heard about private label sales on Amazon and decided he was going to make it work even though he didn’t have software to research his product ideas or a huge budget to do it. You’re going to be blown away by the success Travis has had simply by following some common sense steps.

Getting the product idea first.

Travis’ first private label product idea was a product that is a popular trend right now, so he wasn’t sure if he should go with it or not. But getting a good price on the product and the possibility of a good sized margin prompted him to take the leap. So with $1500 spent in products and fees Travis was able to get his first product onto Amazon. His story is an amazing one because his approach was truly a “bare bones” attempt and his hard work and risk taking has paid off. You can hear the exact steps Travis went through on this episode of The Amazing Seller.

Playing with the price to get his product off the ground.

When Travis first got his bare bones product onto the Amazon selling platform, his competition was pricing their products are around $15 each. He decided to go below that at  $9.99 each. He wasn't sure what kind of effect that would have but went to sleep after posting his product consoling himself that he shouldn't expect much the first few days. He woke up to 5 sales of his product and he didn't even have any reviews on it yet. You can hear Travis’ amazing story as he shares it with Scott on this episode of The Amazing Seller.

Pay per click right away and no reviews.

One of the things Scott recommends to new sellers is to get their product onto the Amazon platform and then do a couple of giveaways to prompt reviews for the product.  But Travis wanted to see what would happen if he didn't have any reviews but started with PPC right away. That's what he did, just using a broad search PPC campaign, and his sales began almost immediately. In his first month he sold over a thousand products and still has not secured any reviews for his product. He's hoping that organic reviews will happen soon, but  also knows that he eventually needs to get a giveaway going to get his review started. Travis's gutsy approach is one you'll enjoy hearing about it, on this episode.

Proof that private label sales can be done with a small budget and low amount of experience.

Today's guest has never done Amazon private label sales before. He did not have a large bank row and had absolutely no experience sourcing or selling products online. The only education he had was listening to the episodes of this podcast. the results he's gotten are amazing. Within his first month Travis has well over $1,000 worth of sales and is already ordering more products to replenish the ones that have been sold. He expects to expand this product into multiple products, possibly variations of the same product, and even adding accessories to his product line. It's proof that Amazon private label sales is the real deal and anyone can do it.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:05] Scott’s introduction to the podcast!
  • [2:52] Get in on Scott’s free live workshop.
  • [3:21] Travis’ background and how he got into Amazon private label sales.
  • [7:00] The small start Travis had getting into Amazon.
  • [8:21] How Travis got his product ideas.
  • [9:52] Finding the right manufacturer for his product.
  • [12:00] How Travis first developed his packaging ideas.
  • [14:00] Travis’ price point and why he priced his items lower than the rest of the market.
  • [16:14] Getting into the brand registry.
  • [18:34] Travis turned on PPC from day 1 and got some good results.
  • [22:00] 20 sales per day with no reviews to date.
  • [23:18] Price adjustments and what Travis plans to do next.
  • [27:15] Are variations possible for Travis’ product? Yep.
  • [28:30] Capitalizing on a trend and making a profit as a result.
  • [30:20] Just making it happen without as much training as normal.
  • [31:48] Reordering and getting his products replenished on Amazon.
  • [33:00] What Scott loves about Travis’ story the most.
  • [35:36] Ways to reduce costs are still ahead.
  • [37:46] Step by step from the ground floor and the incredible results.
  • [38:38] Travis’ advice: don’t get hung up on the product research phase.
  • [40:00] Scott’s summary and encouragement to you.

 

Direct download: TAS173.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

It’s time for another episode of The Amazing Seller podcast and this session in particular is an “Ask Scott” episode where Scott Voelker answers your questions week after week. It’s an opportunity for you to get your specific problems addressed by a guy who’s been studying and doing Amazon private label sales for quite a while, now. If you want to have your question answered on one of these episodes, you need to listen so you can find out how to do it!

You’ve mentioned not trying to sell supplements as a first product. But I currently have a business selling supplements online and want to get onto Amazon. What should I do?

Scott has addressed the sale of vitamin or health supplements before and he’s never recommended that a person who’s never done private labeling start out with supplements. Why? Because it’s one of the most crowded markets on Amazon and will cost you tons of money to get yourself recognized and ranking for keywords. But this listener already has a supplement business, so Scott takes a bit of a different approach to that. Listen in to this episode to see how Scott would go about it.

What are the different “levels” or “types” of private labeling?

One of Scott’s listeners is curious how to think about private labeling in terms of the different “levels” of involvement that private label sellers may be involved at. There appears to be a “full blown” level that includes branding your own products, getting custom packaging, etc. but there’s also the level that buys products from a site like www.Aliexpress.com and resells them without doing any kind of branding at all. Scott gives a great overview of the different ways it’s possible to do a private label business, so be sure you listen.

Amazon support advised me to delete my listing. I’m a bit hesitant. What should I do?

A listener has his product listed on Amazon’s brand registry but due to a little bit of missing information he’s being advised by Amazon seller support that he should delete his listing, create another one for the same product, and include the missing information on that listing. He’s hesitant to delete a long-standing product listing and asks Scott’s advice. Scott has plenty to say about this one and is NOT sure the guy should do what he’s been told. Do you know why? You can hear Scott’s reasons on this episode.

I’m trying to dial-in my PPC campaigns and am not sure I’m doing it correctly. Can you help?

One of Scott’s listeners is doing a great job analyzing and optimizing her PPC campaigns week to week, but she doesn’t feel she’s getting everything out of it. In order to respond to this question, Scott asks his buddy Chris Schaeffer to come on the show to give his insight because Chris is an expert at PPC. He’s got a few incredibly insightful tips regarding how she should go about getting her PPC to work better, on this episode of The Amazing Seller.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:25] Scott’s introduction to the podcast!
  • [0:37] How you can ask your question for Scott to answer.
  • [1:16] An action-taker inside the TAS Facebook group!
  • [3:23] QUESTION 1: How can a person who’s already selling supplements online get onto Amazon since it’s so crowded.
  • [9:06] QUESTION 2: Can you address the “levels” of private labeling and how it might impact the end results?
  • [14:07] QUESTION 3: I have a question about protection from hijacking for my trademarked product.
  • [19:12] QUESTION 4: How can I do a better job of choosing PPC keywords?

 

 

Direct download: TAS172.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

Welcome back to this edition of The Amazing Seller, on this episode of the podcast Scott is going to cover the issue of product images. This episode has been a long time coming, especially since Scott is a photographer in his own his own portrait studio in the past. He's going to talk to you about all things having to do with your product images, how to make them the best they can be, how to optimize them to get better conversions on your product sales, and how to deal with things like lighting, white background, and all the other things that go into an Amazon legal product image.

What a good product image does on your Amazon listing.

Your private label products need the attention of those who are seeking to buy it. But how do you get that attention? Keywords get your products found, but your image is what gets it the attention it deserves. Think about what you do when you shop Amazon. You punch in your keywords and find the products you are interested in, then you scroll through the results looking at images, don't you? That's what everyone does and it’s what you need to keep in mind when you create your product images. They need to be stunning, eye-catching, they need to pop! On this episode Scott is going to tell you everything you need to know about optimizing your Amazon product images.

What impact does a great image have on your Amazon PPC?

If you're utilizing Amazon's pay-per-click platform to drive traffic to your products, you need to keep in mind that the primary Image you upload to your product page is the same image that PPC will display when your dad comes up on a search results page. That image needs to be the very best image you can make it. It needs to highlight your product’s strengths and features in a way that draws people to move from prospective buyer, to actual buyer. On this episode of the podcast you are going to learn 7 product Image tips that should bring you higher conversions.

When you’re taking pictures of your product, lighting is everything.

In years past Scott built up a six figure photography business in his local community, so he knows a thing or two about good photography. One of the key things you need to understand is that good photography requires good lighting. You can't expect to get good images if your environment is dim or without adequate lighting. On this episode Scott is going to tell you the very best things you can do to get great lighting for your product images, so that your photos will pop off the page and get the attention you want them to get.

Play by the rules when creating your product images.

There are many Amazon sellers who play fast and loose with the Amazon guidelines regarding images. You will see product images with text on them, without white backgrounds, and many other things. The plain and simple truth is that these things are illegal when it comes to Amazon Terms of Service. Scott recommends that you always stick with the guidelines because Amazon will find you out sooner or later in your listing will be shut down. On this episode Scott reviews the Amazon image guidelines and gives you tips to maximize your images within those guidelines to optimize your sales conversions.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:05] Scott’s introduction to the podcast!
  • [1:15] How you can get your free transcripts to these episodes.
  • [2:07] The importance of keywords and how they relate to images.
  • [3:31] What the image does on your listing.
  • [5:40] The impact of images on Amazon PPC.
  • [6:30] How you can tweak your images to track effectiveness over 7 to 10 days.
  • [8:04] Best practices for images and things you can and can’t include.
  • [9:15] Amazon’s guidelines.
  • [12:20] Main images are different than additional images.
  • [16:20] 7 tips for creating the best images.
  • [17:29] Lighting is everything.
  • [19:44] Use natural light (sunlight).
  • [20:58] You have to use a great camera.
  • [23:42] Pay attention to details (scratches, smudges, camera angles, etc.)
  • [26:03] Clean it up with editing software.
  • [28:42] Play by the rules, don’t try to cheat.
  • [30:41] Highlight the product’s strengths in the images.
  • [32:42] Things to consider for your “additional” images - use at least 8.
  • [33:27] How you can test images over the course of 7 to 10 days.
  • [36:30] Scott’s summary of these tips.
  • [36:40] Where you can find some great image sources.



Direct download: TAS171.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

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