Rock Your Brand Podcast

It’s time once again for the Friday edition of the Amazing Seller podcast. Why is that special? Because these Friday editions are the “Ask Scott” version of the show where Scott Voelker answers your questions questions from real life Amazon sellers who have run into a snag, hurdle, or issue of confusion in their Amazon Private Label business. Scott’s got over a year of experience doing his own private label business and has also had the opportunity to learn from numbers of experienced guests as he’s interviewed them on his podcast. You’ll find Scott’s answers revealing, helpful, and timely, so be sure you take the time to listen.

 

Is there a way to dominate ALL the PPC ad spots for a product?

 

A listener to the podcast wants to know if there is a way he can structure his PPC campaigns so that his ads show up in all of the ad boxes available for his product keywords. Why would he want to do that?  If he could do so, he would have his product shown on the page more than any other products. That translates into a higher percentage chance that he will get the purchase rather than some of his competition. Although Scott is not entirely sure if this can be done, he does give some good advice on how to go about trying on this episode of the podcast.

 

How should I go about determining the colors for my product?

 

When you sell a product that can come in a variety of colors, how should you go  about determining which colors are the best ones to offer? Today a listener asked that very question and Scott has some very practical advice on how to go about choosing the colors that you were going to sell. You shouldn't guess, and you shouldn't do what feels right to you. You should do what the facts tell you. On this episode Scott is going to tell you how to find out the facts and how to apply them to your own color choices when it comes to variations on your products.

 

I have closely related products. Should I create variations or individual listings for them?

 

It's a great idea to have products on the Amazon selling platform that are closely related to each other. This enables you to get cross sales from one product to another, which increases your profitability. But at some point you're going to need to decide if those products are so closely related that they are actually variations of each other, or if each one is unique enough that it deserves and should have its own listing. On this episode of the podcast Scott answers a question about that issue and gives some very practical advice.

 

You can get a free private label course in your inbox for the next 10 days.

 

If you are new to the world of private label sales on Amazon you can get a free 10-day course from Scott that walks you through all the steps you need to take to find your product, research whether it is worth investing in, get it established on the Amazon platform, start to drive sales through promotions, and follow up with your customers, as well as much, much more. You can get that free 10 day course about private label sales by listening to this episode of the podcast.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • [0:03] Scott’s introduction to this Ask Scott episode of the podcast!
  • [0:55] How you can ask your own questions.
  • [1:15] Scott’s daughter is now engaged!
  • [3:40] 2 victories posted inside the TAS community on Facebook.
  • [5:30] QUESTION ONE: All of my products are closely related, how can I use PPC effectively to dominate ALL of the advertising squares available?
  • [14:10] QUESTION TWO: My product can be in a variety of colors… how should I go about deciding on what colors to offer?
  • [19:15] QUESTION THREE: Should I create listings as variations or as individual products?
  • [28:10] Want to get a free Private Label Course in your email for the next 10 days?

 

RESOURCES MENTIONED

 

 

Direct download: TAS196.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

Many people get hung up, never giving an online business or private label sales a go simply because they think they don’t have enough money. Today’s story should dispel all the myths floating around that say that you have to have a lot of cash to get started online. Ken is a regular guy who found a way to leverage $65 into $1,100 in profit in just 90 days and now has begun his own private label business that is doing very well. Even more incredible is a new service he’s begun to help Amazon sellers get their products handled for them. It’s an amazing story of ingenuity and drive that anyone can do, and you’re going to hear all the details on this episode of The Amazing Seller.

Retail arbitrage as a foot in the door.

 

Ken is a normal guy just like many of the TAS listeners. He spent a good deal of time listening to podcasts (including this one), learning about online business opportunities, and deciding to start generating a little bit of income by selling books through retail arbitrage on Amazon. Those steps enabled him to get some cash coming in to begin looking toward his own private label products. What happened for Ken can happen for anyone who is willing to do the work to make it happen. It’s a great example of hard work and action taking, so be sure you listen to Ken’s exciting story.

 

He found an amazing opportunity on Craigslist.

 

Ken was scrolling through the online classified site Craigslist one day and found a lot of discontinued or closeout stickers that he thought sounded interesting. He took a chance and bought all 1000 sticker packets for $65. It was that $65 investment that he was able to sell on Amazon for a profit of $1,100. It’s an example of how there are opportunities everywhere, you just have to know how to look for them and take advantage of them. It happens by taking action. Ken tells his story and gives some excellent tips on this episode.

 

Have you heard of Ken’s new venture - www.MyFBAPartner.com ?

 

As Ken has built his Amazon private label business he’s seen requests for good shippers, agents, repackaging services, and much more repeatedly in the private label communities he frequents. And having never seen good answers to some of those questions he decided to create his own company to meet those needs. It’s a company that provides receipt and shipping inspection, inventory and measurements, quality inspection, FBA preparation, Vendor materials, repackaging and shipment services, and a whole lot more. Ken’s offering a special discount to TAS listeners so be sure you pay attention to the end of the show to hear how you can get some free services from his company.

 

Is all this exciting talk about Amazon private label sales got you eager to give it a try?

 

Scott’s got an amazing live workshop that he does where he walks you through the 5 main steps to getting your own business and product up and running so that you can start making sales on Amazon. It’s incredible and absolutely free to you. You can find out more about that free workshop by listening to this episode so be sure you take action today. Your future and your business can be a reality, but it takes more than dreaming, it takes getting started. You can do it, What are you waiting for?



OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • [0:03] Scott’s introduction to this episode of the podcast!
  • [2:03] Your invitation to Scott’s free, live workshop.
  • [3:30] Who Ken is and how he got into selling on Amazon.
  • [11:07] How Ken went about verifying that books were good to sell on retail arbitrage.
  • [14:39] Stepping out of retail arbitrage and into private label sales on Amazon.
  • [20:17] How Ken started his Pay Per Click (PPC) campaigns.
  • [22:16] Bundling costs and options and how his profits worked out.
  • [27:37] Choosing his first private label product: how he researched and differentiated.
  • [31:23] The transition from air shipping to sea shipping.
  • [32:56] Launching, numbers, price point, giveaways and first reviews.
  • [39:00] Suppliers, building relationships, multiple products, increasing pricing.
  • [44:20] What is www.MyFBAPartner.com ?
  • [53:40] Ken’s giveaway for the TAS community.
  • [57:38] Ken’s last piece of advice to FBA sellers.

 

RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE

 



Direct download: TAS195.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

It is so easy to hear all the stories about business online and success that others are having and to think that the journey toward that success is easy. But that is the furthest thing from the truth. On this episode Scott he's going to give you an inside look into his income figures for the first quarter of 2016. He's doing this to show you that even those who seem to be successful have their down turns in both profit and success. He wants you to go into your private label business with your eyes wide open so that you can prepare yourself for the obstacles you will inevitably face. So grab a drink and sit back and listen to this great episode where Scott bares all.

Business profits on my private label business are down.

The personal revenue Scott is receiving from his private label sales are down from what he desires and expected. But it's not something he’s letting himself get down about. Instead, he’s taking it as an opportunity to up his game. What happened is pretty simple. When he started this podcast a little over a year ago he began to focus on many things besides his private label business. His time was divided and he began to coast when it came to paying attention to the business. This downturn is showing him that he needs to pay more attention and that he has to be more diligent. On this episode Scott is going to share his plans with you about how he is going to turn around his profit figures.

Differentiating your products is key.

When Scott first started selling as a private label seller on Amazon he chose a product and got it on to the Amazon platform quickly. As he went along he discovered that products are more successful when they are differentiated within the niche. His first product wasn't standing out enough and consequently his profit figures have begun to drop. On this episode you will hear the steps Scott is going to take to address that issue and make his product a one-of-a-kind item within his niche. It's a lesson all of us learn sooner or later and you can walk right along with Scott as he makes improvements.

Building a brand means more than one product.

In the big picture the health of the business is more important than the health of one particular product. That doesn't mean you want your product sales to get any of your individual items, but when one does dip it isn't the end of the world if you have other products to back it up and pick up the loss. On this episode Scott emphasizes the importance of building a brand that includes multiple SKUs within your product line. You're going to learn a great deal by listening to the hard lessons Scott has endured over the past quarter.

Pretend you’re in danger of going out of business every day.

One of the pieces of advice that Scott has received from Gary V. is to pretend that your business is in danger of going under every single day. That mindset will force you to up your game, increase your effort, and be smarter about the way you run your business overall. You can learn a lot from Scott's example and the illustrations he gives of how he is going to implement that advice if you listen to this episode. So take the time, set aside the time, make the time, and listen to this episode of the Amazing Seller.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:05] Scott’s introduction to this episode!
  • [0:30] How you can learn from today’s personal story from Scott.
  • [1:22] A shout out to Scott’s Periscope followers!
  • [2:32] You can get transcripts of every episode!
  • [3:07] Why Scott’s Amazon business has slipped a bit in the past year.
  • [7:52] Scott’s latest numbers - for the first part of 2016.
  • [11:40] Lessons learned and what Scott is going to do about his slipping numbers.
  • [12:01] The importance of differentiating a product line.
  • [13:07] Adding more SKUs can help to build your brand.
  • [16:31] Steps Scott is taking to build an outside sales funnel.
  • [18:46] Scott’s summary of the ups and downs of running a private label business.
  • [20:26] A tip from Gary V. - pretend you are going out of business every single day.
  • [24:55] How this downturn is forcing Scott to up his game.

 

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Direct download: TAS194.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

You have just landed on another episode of The Amazing seller where Scott is answering your questions about private label sales on Amazon. You can get your questions asked and answered on this special Friday episodes. Today's episode features 3 questions, one about product quality issues, another about a first product that is barely breaking even, and the final question about keeping procedures for Amazon private label sales. There's a ton to learn and lots of fun ahead so be sure you listen to this episode.

My first product is not the greatest quality. What should I do to address that?

A listener to the podcast called in with a question about product quality. He is making about 20 sales a day, which is great, but is getting a decent amount of product returns due to a quality issue. He wants to know if he should abandon the product all together, make some modifications, or something else. Scott's main concerns center around the returns and his advice aims toward improving the product to get past the return issues. You can hear how Scott advises going about it on this episode.

What should you do when your private label product barely breaks even?

Many first time private label sellers don't calculate in the various costs associated with selling their product on Amazon. Today's episode features a question by a listener about a product they are currently selling on Amazon but it is barely breaking even. Their questions centers around what they can do to increase their profit margin and salvage this product since it is making around 10 sales per day. What would you do? On this episode you get to hear the various areas that Scott what address if this were his product, so be sure to listen.

Keeping good financial records is a must. How is the best way to do it?

One of the biggest headaches for most private label sellers is the issue of keeping accurate records. Finances are important, including taxes and various fees and costs associated with running a successful business. On this episode a listener ask Scott for his advice about the various software packages that are available to help private label sellers keep track of their financial obligations. Scott recommends one that he uses regularly and mentions many others that he has heard good reports about. You can get all the information on this episode.

Would you like to have your private label questions answered?

These Friday sessions where Scott answers the questions of real life Amazon sellers are some ofe his favorites. If you have a question or an obstacle in your private label business that you seem unable to get past, why not ask Scott to help you think through the issue? You can get your questions answered by going to www.TheAmazingSeller.com/ask and leaving a voicemail with your question. Be sure to include your name so Scott can recognize you on the show!

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:05] Scott’s introduction to this Ask Scott episode.
  • [1:05] How you can get in on some of Scott’s live events.
  • [2:40] How to ask your own questions.
  • [2:55] How to connect with Scott on Periscope.
  • [5:15] QUESTION ONE: How can I best address product quality problems?
  • [11:16] QUESTION TWO: Our first product is barely breaking even. How should we view that in terms of moving forward?
  • [22:39] QUESTION THREE: What bookkeeping apps are there that  integrate with Amazon?

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Direct download: TAS193.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

If you have been on the internet for any length of time you already know that the social media room can be one of the most overwhelming but effective ways of getting your content and products out there for people to see. On this episode of the podcast Scott is talking with an expert at social media about how to use it effectively to increase traffic to your website and product listings. Laura Roeder joins us today to share about her experience with social media and to give some great tips on how to advance your business using her tool for social media management.

The importance of having content to share.

Many people try to use social media as a bullhorn to blast out promotions and offers about their products. Well that can work to a small degree it is not the way social media actually works when done right. Social media is meant to be social, that means people building relationships with people. In order to do that in a way that is adding value to those natural conversations you need to have content to share that is both promotional and helpful at the same time. On this episode Scott's guest shares some great tips about how to create that topic surrounding a product or niche that you want to promote.

How to promote physical products on social media.

Every Amazon Seller wants to get their product in front of people who love that type of product or niche. But doing so is the tricky part. You don't want to blast your product in front of people repeatedly, they will turn you off if you do. But you also don't want to be shy about telling people about your great product when the timing is right. That balance can be very difficult to attain.  Scott decided to go out and find a social media expert who could help clear the air on this important subject and help you develop a game plan to promote your product the right way on social media. That's what this episode of the show is all about.

Build relationships with thought leaders in your niche if you want to gain traction.

By taking the social aspect of social media seriously, you can do a lot to promote and build your brand over time. And notice, it does take time. That's because relationships that are valuable and trusted take time to build, you can't just share your product with an influencer in your niche and expect them to share it right away. There needs to be a relationship that is foundational to that conversation. On this episode of the podcast Laura Roeder shares her insights into building those kinds of relationships with key people in your product in it so that you can build your business on the backs of those important personalities, and do it the right way.

A warning to those new to the private label arena.

If you are just getting started with private label sales on Amazon Scott has a very wise caution for you. The contents of this episode are likely not something you need to focus on right now. Your first step is to get a product onto the Amazon platform and use the tools that Amazon provides to get your sales going. That is the best way to verify whether the product you're selling is a good choice, and to start your business rolling in the right direction. Once you've done all of that, the social media tips on this episode may be relevant to what you are doing. So don't get overwhelmed thinking that you need to do everything on this episode. At this point, it may not apply to you at all.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:04] Scott’s introduction to the podcast!
  • [0:50] Introduction of today’s topic and today’s guest: Laura Roeder.
  • [2:44] iTunes reviews and love to share. How you can leave your review.
  • [4:54] Laura’s background in social media and online business.
  • [8:19] Overcoming the challenges of connecting with Amazon customers via social media.
  • [10:34] How should a seller go about building content around their products/niche?
  • [13:18] Why Pinterest is a great channel to use for physical product promotion.
  • [14:04] Instagram use for promoting physical products.
  • [16:41] How images impact Facebook and Twitter.
  • [17:06] Facebook fan pages: are they a good idea?
  • [20:27] Facebook videos and live feeds… how to use them.
  • [22:43] What should a brand new ecommerce seller on Amazon do regarding social media?
  • [26:31] How to find thought leaders in your niche on Twitter?
  • [28:21] How to manage your content and Laura’s software platform: Edgar.
  • [31:25] How the categories in Edgar work.
  • [33:40] How often should people be posting on social media?
  • [36:10] Tips about using the various social media platforms.
  • [38:07] How social media can be used to build an email list.
  • [40:10] Laura’s advice about getting started: just dive in.
  • [41:10] How to connect with Laura.
  • [42:16] Scott’s summary of the conversation.
  • [42:55] Scott’s warning to those just starting out on Amazon.
  • [44:20] Choosing social platforms where your customers hang out.
  • [45:30] How to get your free 10 day private label course.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Direct download: TAS192.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

If you’re entirely new to the idea of private label sales, this is the perfect episode for you to hear. Today’s guest is a regular guy from Australia who began his private label journey from square one. David had no prior business experience, no understanding of how private label sales on Amazon work, and very little in terms of resources. When he found this podcast he was turned on to the idea right away and began making plans. In this conversation you were going to hear that David took it from square one all the way to 6 figures per month in less than a year. It's a testimony of how doable this business model is and how realistically a person with zero experience can create a very good living for themselves.

Can you do private label sales if you have no online business experience?

This episode answers the question with a resounding, “YES!” David story is one inexperienced moving toward experience through the process of learning. David read and listen to everything he could about private label sales on Amazon and started taking action. It was those actions that brought clarity and understanding which is now translated into a very healthy monthly income. Take the time to listen to this episode, you will discover so many nuggets of gold for your private label business, whether you are a newbie or have been doing Amazon private label sales for a very long time.

Keyword research tips you may never have considered.

As today's guests began his own journey into Amazon private label sales he began to learn a lot on his own about keyword research. Yes, he had read and listen to many tutorials and instructionals on the subject but I learned a lot simply by doing. On this episode David shares some of the insights and tips he has learned about doing effective keyword research and not all of them are things you commonly here. You'll get a lot of value from this episode so be sure you take the time to listen.

Do you know the “cash in/ cash out” equation?

If you're considering private label sales on the Amazon platform you need to be aware of the many things that will bite into your profit margin over time. David learn the hard way that there is much more that comes out of the gross income figures than he expected. Now he operates according to what he calls the “cash in / cash out” equation. it is a simple way that he calculates the amount of profit he is going to receive from any potential product as he sells it on Amazon. Sticking to the results of the equation helps David to stay in a place of maximum profit while avoiding the pitfall of overestimating his success. If that sounds a bit confusing, it won't have to listen to this episode so be sure you take the time.

Everyone wants to take the easy road, but it seldom leads to success.

You don't have to spend much time online in the various business communities before you realize there are many, many people who are trying to take the easy way to significant income.  today's guest, David, has made the observation that the easy road may look best at first, but it seldom leads to genuine success. Hard work is involved, even in private label sales on Amazon. David's philosophy is that if you can be the expert, you should be. Yes, it takes a lot of time and hard work, but it is entirely worth it. Find out how David has a apply this attitude to his own private label business on this episode.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:02] Scott’s introduction to the episode!
  • [1:20] An email from a TAS listener - 0 to $100K in less than a year.
  • [2:21] Could you share the podcast with someone?
  • [4:27] The interview with David begins.
  • [6:08] David had ZERO business or ecommerce experience prior to FBA.
  • [7:10] Why David became interested in Amazon private label sales.
  • [11:44] David’s path to multiple products.
  • [12:20] The addicting nature of doing well on Amazon.
  • [13:30] How David did his product research (Jungle Scout).
  • [15:12] The changes David made to his product to differentiate.
  • [16:15] Using the reviews of his competition to create the idea product.
  • [17:10] David’s initial sales goals and how he surpassed them.
  • [20:51] How David sources his products on Alibaba.
  • [21:49] Did David’s second product help the sales of the first product?
  • [23:00] David’s launch process: pricing, reviews, keywords, etc.
  • [27:03] How many units David gave away initially.
  • [28:33] David’s process for using Keyword Inspector to choose keywords.
  • [33:48] The “cash in / cash out” equation: what kind of margin do you need?
  • [38:15] Exploring opportunities as they present themselves.
  • [38:39] David’s crazy income goal for the future.
  • [39:51] The one piece of advice David gives to new sellers.
  • [46:14] Scott’s summary of the conversation.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Direct download: TAS191.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

What are your current struggles in building your Amazon private label business? Do you have the resources you need in order to deal with those hurdles effectively? If you don’t, this is the episode for you. This is a Friday edition of the Amazing Seller, which means that it’s an “Ask Scott” episode. These are episodes where Scott fields question from Amazon sellers about the confusion and issues they are dealing with in their own Amazon business. This is a ‘real life’ episode where you will receive clear, thoughtful, powerful answers to help you with your Amazon business.

Amazon allows me to create “money off” offers on my products. Can I mention those in my product listing?

The Amazon promotions platform allows you to create all kinds of promotional offers on your private label products to motivate and drive sales. A listener today asks if there are any rules in the Amazon terms of service that say you cannot mention or point to those discount offers in within your product listing itself. Scott’s as honest as he can be in response to this question and gives his own guidelines in light of the fact that Amazon’s TOS are not all that clear on this issue. You can hear the voice of experience about this important issue on this episode.

When should I form a LLC for my business?

Amazon sellers need to learn to think of their activity on Amazon AS a business, not a hobby. Part of that means organizing yourself as a business entity. A listener today asks Scott how he can know when he’s reached the point to organize his company as a LLC. Do you know when is the right time? Today Scott is going to answer the question with a lot of options and a ton of resources that can help you make the best decision for your situation. Hear it all on this episode.

When my competition is all sourcing from the same China supplier. Should I differentiate my product or just use the same one?

Almost anyone can determine a profitable niche for their first private label product and get the product from a China supplier. In fact, that’s how most sellers on Amazon get their start. But what should you consider if all of the competition in a niche you’re considering are all doing that and obviously have the very same product from the same Chinese supplier? Scott’s got concerns about jumping into the fray with little to differentiate your product from the competition and he shares those concerns on this episode. If you’re considering a new product launch on Amazon, this response could save you lots of headaches in the future.

Would you like your own, 10-day private label action course for free?

If you would like to learn how to find a profitable private label products, research it for sales potential, find  a supplier for it, get your first order made, and get those products onto the Amazon sales platform, you’re in the right place. Scott’s got a free private label course that you can walk through at your own pace. For 10 days he’ll send you an email, each one containing a different step in the private label track to success. Listen to this episode of the podcast to find out how you can get your own free private label course, sent directly to your inbox.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:03] Scott’s introduction to the podcast!
  • [1:00] How you can connect with Scott on Periscope and Snapchat
  • [2:20] QUESTION ONE: I just set a “money off” offer - how much can I promote that within my listing?
  • [10:57] QUESTION TWO: When should I think about forming an LLC?
  • [15:39] QUESTION THREE: Most of my competition gets the product from the same supplier on Alibaba. Should I differentiate?
  • [26:03] How you can get your own free private label course.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Direct download: TAS190.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

How helpful would it be to you if you were able to have a step-by-step instructional walkthrough of the best way to research and validate potential products for Amazon private label business? Would that be something you'll be able to use? In today's episode Scott is doing exactly that. He takes you through every tiny step he goes through to research a potential product and ensure that it is the best chance he has of launching a great, profitable product. There are no guarantees, but this is the best way Scott has found to make sure he's not stepping into a difficult niche or product align. Be sure to listen so you get all the details.

What if the initial numbers look good for a potential private label product?

Imagine that you have found a private label product that is potentially a good seller. It has low reviews and high sales numbers. Is that all that you need to look at? On this episode Scott will tell you why that approach can be deceptive if you don't go a little bit deeper into your product research. He's going to show you what you should do next to ensure that you were looking at numbers that realistically represent the actual sales of that product. That's a step you won't want to miss and one that can make the difference between a failing product and a very successful one.

The pricing history of a potential private label product is important for you to know.

As you investigate the possibility of adding a product to Amazon, you need to understand the pricing history of other products that are similar.  Has the pricing been fairly consistent? Has it increased? Has the price dropped from the time the product was initially introduced to the Amazon platform? All of these questions are ones that need to be answered before you take the leap into sourcing that product for yourself. On this episode Scott is going to explain to you why you need the answers to those questions and how you can get them.

How you can determine the sales trends a specific product has experienced.

Okay, say that you have found a great product, the reviews and sales seem to be legitimate, and you are getting excited about sourcing that product for yourself to get into an Amazon private label business. But there is one more thing you should consider. Have the sales trends of the product demonstrated that it is a niche that is actually growing? Or is it declining? If you don't know the answer to those questions you could be stepping into a market that is not going to be sustainable long-term. On this episode Scott will walk you through how you can discover if a product is one that you can count on looking into the future. That is something you really need to know.

Has your competition gotten organic sales or promotion based sales?

Why is it important for you to know if products that compete with your potential product have gotten their sales through organic search results or through promotions? It's because cells that have been supported solely by promotions are not the kind of sales you want to count on. That would mean that if you enter that niche you would be spending money on promotions consistently rather than building a product base from organic searches. Be sure that you take the time to listen to this episode, Scott is showing you exactly how to determine the reality of the sales you see for the products within the niche you're considering.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:03] Scott’s introduction to the podcast!
  • [0:33] How you can get a cheat sheet and see a video walk-through of this episode.
  • [1:44] How to connect with Scott and Snapchat.
  • [3:08] Why just looking at the numbers of low reviews and high sales is deceptive.
  • [6:20] Getting started with the evaluation of a potential product.
  • [10:42] How to verify that the numbers you’re seeing in Jungle Scout are true.
  • [14:00] How to verify a product’s pricing history.
  • [15:50] Using Google Trends to assess the product sales throughout the year.
  • [18:34] Checking out the reviews - are they from review groups?
  • [21:20] Summary and recap of the process.
  • [25:16] A special BONUS tip.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Direct download: TAS189.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

Being on the “Hot Seat” doesn’t necessarily sound like a pleasant thing. But in this case it could be a powerful helpful place to be. Today's episode of the podcast is a “hot seat” edition where Scott and his friend Chris look over an existing Amazon product listing to supply tweaks and suggestions on how to maximize sales. Today's hot seat participant has a product that has begun to sell much less than it once did and he's curious if he should even put in the effort to maximize its potential, or to just give up and choose different product. Many Amazon sellers ask that same question, so you can learn a lot from this episode.

What if I picked a trendy product?

We've all seen those trendy products that sell like hot cakes for a short time and then fall off the face of the Earth. Selfie sticks are one example that are mentioned in today's episode. What do you do if your product is one of those trendy items that may not be popular a year from now? Are there ways to leverage it differently so that you can continue to get sales? Are there ways to couple it with other things to create bundles? On this episode Scott and Chris are going to deal with those exact issues relating to the product on the hot seat today. Make sure you listen to get some tips about what you can do with your products, where they are trendy or not.

The main image of your product is critically important.

The product listing on today's hot seat edition of the podcast is a great example to teach you the importance of the primary image on your listing. This product is unique in some of its design characteristics, but the main image does not clearly show what it is. When Scott and Chris each went to the product listing page neither of them recognized the product for what it really is. They feel that switching the main image to one that is similar to those of the competitors would be a great step in increase in sales. It's a simple step that could make all the difference. Find out more of the tweaks Scott and Chris suggest on this episode.

Your product category matters - a lot.

When setting up your product listing on Amazon you need to be careful about the category you select for your product to be listed under. Today's hot see participant has chosen a category that is related to the product and both Scott and Chris can see why he chose that category, but most of his competition is in a different category that is more clearly related to the product. They feel that in order to be competitive he should be in the same category as his competition. On this episode will get to hear how they suggest he makes that transition and what effect they think it will have.

PPC is not always the answer.

The listener who is on today's hot seat edition has spent more and more money on pay per click and is seeing very little results. Scott and Chris both feel that part of the reason his pay per click campaigns are not being effective is because his listing is not fully optimized. On this episode Scott & Chris walkthrough the listing and give quite a few tweaks that can be done to maximize effectiveness of the natural key words and images in the listing to make the PPC campaigns as effective as they should be. If you struggled with spending too much on PPC you may find some answers to your problems on this episode.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:03] Scott’s introduction to the podcast!
  • [0:18] Who is Chris Schaeffer?
  • [2:50] How you can get involved in future live events.
  • [5:41] The scenario addressed today: Is my product still worth selling?
  • [9:50] Chris’ thoughts about the situation: It’s a trendy product… that’s a problem - AND the price point is very low.
  • [12:39] Scott’s thoughts: Is his niche the right one?
  • [14:13] A tweak to the main image that could make a big difference.
  • [18:00] Clarifying your target market and optimizing your listing and price point.
  • [20:18] Should the seller scrap this product or are there changes he can make?
  • [21:15] The importance of optimizing the listing before doing PPC campaigns.
  • [23:00] What can be done to improve the sales.
  • [23:34] Options for additional and related products.
  • [24:11] The first steps Chris would take to optimize this product.
  • [28:00] One other thing Scott would do - a reverse search on the top 3 competitors.
  • [29:20] The power of using these things as learning experiences.
  • [31:01] The importance of depth of market research and planning.


LINKS MENTIONED

 

Direct download: TAS188.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

Wouldn’t it be great to have experienced advice every step of the way as you launch your business? What if that “mentor” was willing to answer your questions every single week to help you on your business journey? That’s exactly what every Friday’s episode of The Amazing Seller is - it’s Scott Voelker’s Q&A with listeners where you get to ask your questions about private label sales and Scott gives his answers.Today’s episode has great questions and Scott’s seasoned answers - and you’re sure to get lots of value from what you hear, so be sure to listen!

Is a $5 profit per unit worth pursuing?

A listener from Australia is just getting into the Amazon Private Label sales world and has been using Jungle Scout (affiliate) to research his first product. He’s found one that meets all of the criteria that Scott typically recommends but isn’t sure if the pricing is viable. Every seller at this point is only selling at $10 which would only allow him $5 profit per unit. He’s curious if that is enough profit and if Scott would take the leap. You might be surprised by Scott’s response on this one, so be sure you listen to get the insights he shares.

Which is more important - seller feedback or product feedback?

A listener asks whether or not he should be asking his customers to leave feedback on his seller account or to leave reviews on his actual products. It can be a confusing thing because you need both in order to convince the Amazon search algorithm that you are both a reputable seller who is selling valuable products. On this episode Scott’s going to answer the question by giving a few different approaches that he’s seen work to garner both seller feedback and product reviews. You’ll get lots of good ideas from Scott’s response to this great question.

I see two types of Pay per Click ads (at the top and at the side). Is there a way for me to choose which I want to use?

 

Amazon has created an ingenious service in their promotional to all. Using pay-per-click you can run ads for your product to place them with in plain sight of people searching for the keywords you were trying to rank for. For new sellers this is one of the best ways to begin getting sales, which in turn will help you rank organically for the keywords you are pursuing. On this episode Scott talks about the placement of those pay-per-click ads and gives you some strategies you can use to maximize the use of PPC. You'll want to hear his insights on this difficult part of the Amazon private label process.

The best way to rank for a specific keyword.

If you are not able to get your private label products to rank for your preferred keywords, you will not make any sales. But the best way to rank for your targeted keywords is by selling your products. How do you get out of that catch-22? You do it by promotions and giveaways that enable you to make sales in spite of the lack of organic ranking. That is the best way to start ranking for the keywords you're targeting. On this episode Scott is going to cover this issue in depth and give you some strategies to approach your promotions and giveaways successfully. You won't want to miss this one.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:03] Scott’s introduction to the podcast!
  • [1:14] How you can connect with Scott’s Periscope sessions
  • [2:15] Scott’s experience with SnapChat
  • [4:44] How you can get involved in the TAS Facebook group.
  • [7:02] QUESTION ONE: Is a $5 profit per unit worth pursuing?
  • [15:40] QUESTION TWO: Which should I ask for, seller feedback or product feedback?
  • [21:36] QUESTION THREE: I see two types of sponsored ads (top and side). Is there a way to choose which I want to pay for?
  • [31:27] Get your Free Private Label Course to learn how to find and launch a product over the next 10 days.

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

 

Direct download: TAS187.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

There are many, many ways you can make mistakes when selling your private label products on the Amazon platform. One of those has to do with three legal areas: patents, trademarks, and copyrights. Today’s episode is not meant to scare you but to make you aware of the issues involved in those three areas and equip you to protect yourself and protect your own rights when it comes to the use of your product and brand names, images, and unique characteristics. You’ll want to listen carefully to this episode to learn what you need to know.

What’s the big deal with patents, copyrights, and trademarks?

The reason you need to be aware of these three important legal terms is because you have the possibility of either being in violation of another company’s trademark, patent, or copyright, or will be violated in regards to your own products or brand. If you’re not aware of the differences between these 3 things you could be in danger on either side of the issue. Today’s guest, Ted Luymes is an attorney who knows these issues backwards and forward and can help you understand the places you may be vulnerable. You’re going to learn a ton from this conversation.

How can you know if a product is patented?

Patents are difficult to research to ensure that the product you’re wanting to sell is not already patented by someone else. Today’s guest, Ted Luymes is an attorney who deals with these issues and says that even patent attorneys can have a hard time discovering whether a specific type of product is patented or not. You have to do your own research to make sure that your potential product is not shaped like other products and avoid any possible patent violations. You should also deal with your supplier about this issue to ensure that you’re aware of their experience and knowledge of patent issues relating to the product. You’ll learn a lot on this episode so be sure to listen.

What IS a product trademark and how is it used?

A trademark is something a company registers with the U.S. trademark office to affirm that their company and products are certified as belonging to them. It can include the name, logo, label design, and fonts used in those things. There is legal protection for you if you don’t have the official trademark registration but the registration enables you to establish your claim as of a particular date to ensure that your rights are not being violated. Today’s guest, Ted Luymes is going to walk us through the dos and don’ts of trademarks.

What IS a copyright?

A copyright is a legal title used to delineate ownership of a particular item or photo to an individual or company. Copyright is important for Amazon sellers in terms of photos. Ideally you should be taking your own photos or ensuring that the photographer who takes your photos knows that you want the rights to the photos. The © mark can be used liberally on your product listings and your photos to ensure that you are the owner of those images and items. You’ll learn some very helpful things from today’s guest, attorney Ted Luymes about trademarks, copyrights, and patents.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:03] Scott’s introduction to the podcast!
  • [2:44] Introduction of today’s guest Ted Luymes, attorney.
  • [3:38] What Ted has been up to since being on the last episode - #152.
  • [5:44] The current status with product hijacking issues & what Ted’s seeing lately.
  • [9:33] Ted’s understanding of patents, trademarks, and copyrights.
  • [17:32] Why research alone may not be enough.
  • [19:45] What is a trademark?
  • [23:00] The proper way to use a trademark on your packaging and products.
  • [24:40] Things to avoid that relate to trademark issues.
  • [27:37] Trademark issues relating to “cut and paste” sellers.
  • [31:00] Ways to enlist Amazon’s seller support to help with trademark violations.
  • [31:44] What is a copyright?
  • [37:45] Common sense things relating to these issues.
  • [40:20] What you need to do if someone violates your rights.
  • [41:15] What you should do if you are told that you are violating a copyright, trademark, or patent.

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Direct download: TAS186.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

 

For very long time Scott has recommended a specific approach to launching new products on the Amazon platform. But he's making some adjustments based on the feedback and input he's received from some of his friends who are selling products on Amazon as well. On this episode of the podcast Scott is outlining the specifics of these tweaks and telling you why they work as well as they do. On future product launches he's going to be trying the suggestions and will report back to you in the future about the success he's he's on his personal products.

 

Have you gone through Scott’s free 10 day course?

 

If you are brand new to the world of Amazon private label sales, you don't have to reinvent the wheel or start from square one. Scott has put together a tremendous resource for you to help you understand and apply the principles behind everything from finding a great private label products to getting it listed on Amazon and making sales. You can find out how to get Scott's free 10-day course by listen to this episode of the podcast. Be sure you do so that you don't have to learn all of the hard learned lessons the hard way.

 

An adjustment to using promotions to launch a product.

 

So far when Scott has launched a new private label product he has done a very large promotion at the beginning to get quite a few reviews on the product listing so that the social proof for the product will be higher and therefore spawn more sales. But he's taking a new approach now based on the feedback from some friends. He's going to be doing a smaller promotion at first to get the ball rolling and wait for a bit to see if it prompts organic sales. If it does he will wait before he does any further promotions if it doesn't then is when he will put together his larger promotional strategy. You can hear all the details of this new approach on this episode of the podcast.

 

Do you understand WHY product reviews are so important?

 

One of the key components to a good product launch strategy on Amazon is facilitating a way for your buyers to give you reviews on the product. Reviews are vitally important, not because they cause your products to rank higher in the Amazon search results, but because when people do search on Amazon and find your product there is more social proof behind your product that will prompt him to become a purchaser. It is those purchases that rank your product higher in organic search. On this episode of the podcast Scott walks you through the new approach he is taking to his product launch so that you can understand the benefits of the adjustments.

 

The Amazing Seller Facebook Community is ready to welcome you!

 

If you have not joined The Amazing Seller Facebook Community you are missing out. It is filled with Amazon private label sellers who are there to share their successes, failures, and encouragement for those who are just getting started. It's a great place to hang around like-minded people and get the boost you need to keep going in your private label sales business. You can find out how to become a part of that community, and it’s FREE, on this episode of the podcast.

 

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • [0:04] Scott’s introduction to the podcast!
  • [1:23] How you can get involved with Scott on Periscope.
  • [2:24] Scott’s 10 day free course.
  • [2:55] A shout out to Nathan, a TAS community member.
  • [5:00] What is a product launch?
  • [6:40] Why reviews are so important to a product launch.
  • [12:17] Rich Kimball’s “test” to see if he’s found a good product.
  • [13:00] Small product promos followed by larger promos.
  • [16:36] The role Pay Per Click (PPC) plays in this strategy.
  • [18:20] The use of a small but powerful email list.
  • [21:41] The results of these tweaks.



 

Direct download: TAS18520.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

Welcome to this episode of The Amazing Seller Podcast. You’ve landed on the Friday version which an “Ask Scott” episode. This is where Scott Voelker fields your questions relating to Amazon private label sales and answers them for you. On this episode Scott is addressing questions about keywords and product rankings (and gives tons of resources on that one), whether potentially great products should be pursued if the competition for sales is high, how to do market research effectively, and the best margins for an Amazon private label product.

 

Why you need to focus your efforts on a more specific niche of products.

 

You may find a product that looks like a great possibility for sales but the general category is filled with competition and lots of product reviews. But you’ll find that the competition will thin out when you’re able to provide a product within that area that is more specific and specialized. A differentiated product will always enable you to have a better opportunity for good sales on Amazon and will make it more difficult for others to copy the exact thing you are doing. Find out more on this episode.  

 

The best approach for choosing keywords to rank your private label products.

 

Keywords are one of the most important parts of private label sales on Amazon. If you don't choose the right keywords you will have a very hard time making sales. So how do you go about finding those keywords? Scott was asked that very question on this episode of the podcast and goes into great detail about the resources you can use and the websites that are available to help you discover the best keywords for your specific product. If you don't listen to any other part of this episode you will want to hear of this one. It is worth gold.

 

The best margins for private label sales.

 

When considering a product to sell on Amazon you want to make sure that you're going to have an adequate margin of profit to make the selection, purchase, shipping, and sales of the product actually worthwhile for you. Naturally, you want the margin to be as high as it can be, but what is an acceptable margin given all the fees and shipping costs that are involved in selling a private label product on Amazon? On this episode of a podcast Scott walks through his thoughts regarding the margins that are acceptable for him and what he shooting for with every product that he sells.

 

There are lots of different keyword fields in the Amazon backend. Which ones do I use?

 

When you begin to fill out all of the fields on the back end of a product listing in Amazon, you'll discover there are many of them that you may not understand or do not know what they are for. On this episode a listener ask Scott about the various keyword fields and how they should be completed. Scott gives a very good answer regarding the use of those fields and make some suggestions on how you can find keywords to place in them that will be effective for the search functions on Amazon. You won't want to miss this one.

 

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • [0:03] Scott’s introduction to the podcast!
  • [0:29] How to submit your questions!
  • [1:20] A shout out to one of the TAS members on Facebook
  • [4:50] QUESTION ONE: What is the best approach for choosing the best keywords for the back end of my products?
  • [15:34] QUESTION TWO: What if I find a great product with high demand, but the competition is very high?
  • [24:53] QUESTION THREE: What are ideal margins for a private label product?
  • [28:58] QUESTION FOUR: I’m a bit confused about the different keyword fields on my Amazon account. Can you help me?




 

Direct download: TAS184.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

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