Rock Your Brand Podcast

Every one of us has a legacy that has bred us, the things that have made us into the people that we are. Sometimes those are negative influences, sometimes they are not so good. On this episode of the show Scott shares a conversation with his Dad that he recorded recently to share some of the legacy of his own life. In Scott’s eyes his Dad is a great example of someone who was always willing to work hard and earn the money needed to care for his family and take care of his obligations. He’s also the one who taught Scott to hustle and figure out ways to build his own businesses. You’re going to enjoy the homespun wisdom and insights Papa V. has to share, on this episode.

From egg sales to a chicken farm to a draft notice.

Scott’s father was an entrepreneur from an early age simply because he had to be. He wanted extra money to buy his own lunch at school and his father didn’t have the money to give him. So his dad arranged for him to get some chickens and begin selling eggs. That business grew into a chicken farm and in time he was doing quite well. When he was 22 years old he was drafted, but signed up for the Navy instead. Even in the Navy his Dad found an entrepreneurial opportunity sewing patches on uniforms, stocking up on cigarettes and reselling them to fellow soldiers at a higher price, and even making loans at interest. You can hear this powerful example of old fashioned entrepreneurial hustle on this episode.

There’s always a way you can find to get the money you need.

On today’s episode of The Amazing Seller Scott shares a conversation with his Dad who was his example of hard work and determination. He showed by his actions that he could always figure out a way to make the income needed to meet his obligations and take care of his family. As you listen to this episode, keep in mind the obstacles you face and think about the opportunities you may have every day to increase your income and make a way to build your income. There is a way. Find it.

Partnership woes and things you should watch out for.

Neither Scott nor his Dad believe that partnerships are always terrible or to be avoided. But they both have seen the negative side of partnerships and have lots to say about the various cautions that you need to be aware of when considering a partnership. On this episode you’ll hear the story of their partnership woes and how you can avoid making the same mistakes. It’s a great story of persistence, learning from mistakes, and building a successful business on the coattails of a business mess.

Hard work and persistence will ALWAYS pay off for you, if you take action.

The main purpose of this episode of The Amazing Seller podcast is not to teach you tricks and strategies for doing private label sales better. It’s a deeper and more general lesson than that. This one brings you an old school example of how determination and drive to succeed will enable you to be successful in the end. Scott’s Dad (Papa V.) has lots of stories to share and a great deal of wisdom to impart so you’d be wise to listen and get some ideas about the kind of work and dedication it takes to build a business you can be proud of.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:02] Scott’s introduction to the podcast, and this conversation with his Dad (Papa V)!
  • [1:23] Scott’s introduction to his Dad.
  • [3:25] Where Papa V. grew up and what his family life was like.
  • [4:00] Why Papa V. wanted to earn money as a kid - he wanted to buy his own lunch.
  • [5:40] His first job: an egg route, learning sales, and starting his business.
  • [8:00] Scaling the egg business into a chicken farm.
  • [17:10] Beliefs about working for retirement or not.
  • [24:15] Landing a job and starting another business.
  • [31:00] Scott’s “why” to work alongside his Dad and build a company together.
  • [32:45] Thoughts and cautions about partnership opportunities.
  • [41:23] The only things Papa V. would change if he could go back.
  • [45:10] The lessons Scott learned from his Dad.
  • [53:33] A final story about the crazy experiences working as an entrepreneur.
Direct download: TAS209.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

Whenever you’re starting something new it requires that you do a lot of learning at the front end. You should never just jump in and figure it out on your own because there are so many people who have traveled the path ahead of you that you can learn from. That’s why Scott does these Ask Scott episodes - to be that trusted and experienced resource to anyone who wants to get started with Amazon private label sales. You can ask your own questions and have them answered on the podcast, so be sure you listen to find out how to do that!

What’s the best way I can order from a foreign supplier and protect my financial investment?

There are many ways you could arrange to make payments to your suppliers. Paypal - Western Union - Credit Card - Escrow - which should you choose? On this episode a listener asks Scott what his options are now that he’s figured out the supplier he wants to work with and Scott has some great advice about the best and safest ways to exchange funds with suppliers from China and other places.

When I complete the product listing fields, which of those fields are not needed?

When you go into the backend of your Amazon product listing you’re going to be faced with many tabs, options, and fields that can be completed. It’s very confusing for a first time person. You may wonder, like the caller today, which of those fields really apply to your product and which of them don’t. Scott’s main advice on that issue is covered on this episode and it all comes down to doing this: Be sure to complete the search terms and keywords and fill out anything that honestly pertains to your product. Be sure you listen to get all the details.

What are the risks of dealing with a supplier without using Alibaba?

When you find a supplier from China that you believe is the one you want to use to source your product, there are many risks to you as the buyer. You want to make sure that your supplier is trustworthy and that you have a way to hold their feet to the fire in case there are issues with your product delivery or quality. In order to do that Scott recommends that you always stay within a sourcing website like Alibaba and that you ensure that the supplier works with you on an escrow basis. If all of that is confusing, be sure to listen to get clarity.

Is there a way to know the overall costs I’m going to need to pay before taking the plunge?

There are many ways to make mistakes as you get started selling private label products and most of them come from not understanding the fees and costs associated with selling your products on Amazon, including shipping, Amazon fees, customs costs, and more. On this episode Scott goes into the details of assessing costs before you purchase your first set of trial products and gives some recommendations about pricing and margins as well.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:04] Scott’s introduction to the podcast!
  • [2:52] QUESTION ONE: Is there a good way to cover myself with suppliers?
  • [10:50] QUESTION TWO: The listing fields are a bit confusing. Which fields do I need to complete and which are not helpful?
  • [17:20] QUESTION THREE: Do you always place orders through Alibaba or just the first one?
  • [23:26] QUESTION FOUR: Is there a way to calculate general expenses before getting started?

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Direct download: TAS208.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

Every single one of us is on our own journey, but much of where we wind up depends on the choices we make. Scott recently had the opportunity to speak at the Rocky Mountain Resellers conference and was able to share his story and inspire many people to take action and move forward with their business ideas.This episode is the audio version of Scott’s keynote presentation from that event and you’re going to hear his story of moving into the Amazon sales platform and all the experiences that built his determination muscles to get there. You’ll find a lot of great information to help you get going (or keep going) on your journey, so be sure to listen.

Figure out your Why, What, and How.

There are three key components of any business success. Without these three you’re going to fail at some point along the line, so be sure you pay close attention to what Scott has to share here. The “why” has to do with the reasons behind building a business. If your “why” is not strong enough you’ll give up when things get tough. Your “what” is the clear end-goal you have in mind, the thing(s) you want to accomplish. The “how” is the plan you come up with to make the “what” happen. If you don’t get all three of these clear, you won’t make it in business.

Get your WHY clear and nothing will stop you.

Simon Senek is well known now for his insightful book, “Start With Why.” It enables leaders - and those building their own business - to understand the importance of the reasons their business/organization is in existence. Scott believes in the power of understanding your why to keep you moving in your business building journey. What is your reason for building a business? It’s about more than simply making money… that’s not specific enough. Figure out your “why” and you’ll figure out the thing that will keep you going when the difficulties come (and they WILL come).

After your WHY is in place, you can move on to the WHAT.

Getting clear on WHAT you are going to do enables you to remain focused. It’s your end goal, the thing you’re trying to accomplish overall so that your WHY becomes a reality. When you work on your WHAT you need to do your homework. There’s nothing about this part that comes easy, nothing about it that will magically happen. The information is out there, you simply have to go out and find it so you can make informed decisions and smart choices. Don’t go by hunches or feelings, research it and find the WHAT that will fit you and enable your WHY to come to pass.

Take action to make it a reality.

Once you get your WHY clear and your WHAT figured out, you’re going to have to do something with it. You’ve got to have a plan that you’re going to follow to make them happen. That’s where the HOW comes in. It’s about taking action, putting in the work that makes success happen. Nobody got to any pinnacle of success by accident. There’s lots of hard work in the back story and you are going to have to pay your own dues as well. Take action. It’s one of Scott’s main mantras that you hear over and over. And there’s a reason for that. It’s vitally important.

 

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • [0:03] Scott’s introduction to the episode!
  • [2:09] Scott’s story: no college education but lots of business experience.
  • [5:15] Scott’s experience selling door to door as a kid.
  • [6:23] The danger of inaction from overwhelm.
  • [9:35] It all starts with taking the first step into something different.
  • [11:00] The importance of “just in time learning” from Pat Flynn.
  • [12:35] When you choose one thing and focus, amazing things happen.
  • [14:09] The power of “WHY - WHAT - HOW?”
  • [15:00] WHY: Getting clear and specific brings focus.
  • [23:10] WHAT: You have to know where you’re going.
  • [25:10] HOW: Making a plan is essential.
  • [28:11] Case study: Bob - and how it can help you build your dreams.
  • [30:30] Scott’s 10-10-1 strategy as an example of simplifying the process.
  • [35:00] Put yourself on track with 90 day sprints.
  • [41:27] Get it done, then repeat it again and again.
  • [44:43] Why “little by little, little becomes a lot.”
  • [50:12] Taking action is the main consistent ingredient in any success.
  • [51:54] Q & A from the session.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Direct download: TAS207.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

Over the years Scott has gotten tons of great encouragement about the efforts he’s making to help others learn from his mistakes and the path he’s taken to build a successful private label sales business. He loves the positive feedback and would never stop doing what he does. But sometimes there are people who urge Scott to STOP giving away so much free information. They believe that he’s doing a disservice to those who are already selling on Amazon. Scott disagrees wholeheartedly and on this episode he tells you why.

Why Amazon is the best place you can validate and test product ideas.

If you think you have a great idea for a product, there’s no better way to test that product than to put it onto the Amazon sales platform. It doesn’t even need to be finished, tweaked exactly like you want it, or the final version… it just has to be some variety of what you have in mind. The reason Amazon is such a great place to do this is because you’re putting that product in front of people who are actual buyers - they are only ON Amazon to buy something or research a future purchase. On this episode Scott is going to tell you how you can use Amazon to validate your product idea and how you can move past Amazon when the time is right.

When people push back against generosity, it’s usually because they are scared.

Scott Voelker's been sharing his insights into the Amazon private label sales platform for many months now. He doesn't absolutely free and expecting nothing in return. Why does he do it? Because he believes he is supposed to help people get ahead in life. It's what he would want someone to do for him if he were in that place. But there are many people who don't agree with Scott's approach. They believe that his generosity is hurting everyone it was already successfully selling on Amazon. On this episode of the podcast you were going to hear why Scott doesn't agree with that and why he believes that those who are telling him to stop giving away so much free content are actually scared.

There is still PLENTY of opportunity to build a successful business on Amazon.

Scott hears it all the time: Amazon is getting too crowded, there isn't enough room left in the platform to be successful a private label sales. But Scott doesn't believe it. Yes, it is harder to be successful than it was at the beginning, but that's the way it is in every Market at every stage of its history. Those were going to be ultra successful are those who are willing to put in the hard work to figure out the best ways to be successful in that niche. Are you one of those? Or are you one of those lazy ones who won't put in the effort and will only complain that it's getting too crowded? On this episode you were going to get a great challenge from Scott about the work you're going to have to put in if you were going to be successful in private label sales.

You are the average of the 5 people you hang around with most.

If you pay attention to those who are complaining and hating on others who are doing great things, you will notice something. They typically hang out with other people who think small like they do. There's an old saying that you are the average of the 5 people you hang around with most. It is true almost every time. If you were going to be successful, you have got to put yourself around people who are successful. You've got to learn from them, you've got to grow from their interaction, you've got to ask their advice and put it into action. On this episode Scott is going to talk about what it takes to be successful in Amazon sales  and in life.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:05] Scott’s introduction to the podcast!
  • [2:25] Why there are always opportunities to build a business.
  • [4:15] Why Amazon is the best place to test and validate product ideas.
  • [6:49] The power of hanging out with people who bring you down (or lift you up).
  • [8:37] People are afraid of competition and how it creates “haters” out there.
  • [10:23] Why there is still a ton of opportunity to build an Amazon private label business.
  • [16:46] Why Amazon is better to get started than most places.
  • [17:22] Scott’s plans to move his business into other areas.
  • [23:00] Email list building game changers that Scott will be sharing soon.
  • [24:18] Why Scott is not sorry for sharing the content he does and how it will even make the haters better.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Direct download: TAS206.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

Many people ask why Scott’s invested so much time and energy into putting out this podcast and doing his free workshops. Is it to sell his course? No, it’s not. Scott recently ran into a woman who reminded him why he’s doing all the work he is for the TAS brand. Her husband had just quit his job because their private label business, built according to Scott’s instructions and tips, had finally made it possible for him to quit and work the FBA business full time. That’s what Scott is about - helping real people get some freedom and a sense of personal control over their destiny. You can find out how Scott could help you with that, on this episode.

Different product categories have different fee structures. What fees do I pay if my product is in two categories?

If you didn’t know, you need to know that Amazon has different fee structures for products in different categories. For example, products in home and garden may have one fee and products in kitchen may have different fees. If your product is in multiple categories it can get a bit confusing as to how Amazon is going to charge you. On this episode, Scott reveals how to go about determining the fees you will pay for products in multiple categories, so be sure you listen to get his answer.

I’ve researched my product and sent them into Amazon, but I’m not getting sales? What can I do?

A listener feels that he did a pretty good job of researching his product. He got samples, tried them out on  Amazon, and felt that he’s got a good product. But now that he’s shipped his products to Amazon, it’s been a few weeks and he’s not gotten one sale. Is his product simply a bust? Should he give up and move on to something else? What would you do? Scott’s got quite a few suggestions for this seller, including an explanation of how PPC works and why it’s important to use pay per click to begin generating sales. You can hear it all on this episode of the podcast.

My product is selling well but is on page 3. What can I do to move it up?

On this episode of the podcast a listener calls in to describe her dilemma. She’s got a product that’s been on Amazon for 3 weeks and it’s already selling 10 to 15 units a day. But she ranks on page 3 and would like to get to page 1. What’s wrong to cause such great sales but such a low search ranking? Scott doesn’t think there’s necessarily anything wrong with her listing or product. In fact, he thinks she’s got some great things to celebrate and suggests a very few minor tweaks that could push her onto page 1. Do you want to hear his answer? You can, on this episode of the podcast.

Would you like to ask your private label questions?

If you are curious about private label sales on Amazon, or if you’re new to the Amazon sales platform and would like to know more about how it works, you can do that by listening to this “Ask Scott” session of the Amazing Seller Podcast. But even more, you can ask your own questions and have Scott Voelker answer them on the podcast. It’s a great opportunity for you to get your newbie questions answered by a pro and learn how to build a successful private label business at the same time. Be sure to listen to find out how you can submit your questions.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:05] Scott’s introduction to the podcast!
  • [0:20] How you can get your questions answered.
  • [1:33] A story from Scott’s experience at Rocky Mountain Resellers.
  • [4:04] Shout out to the TAS community on Facebook.
  • [5:14] QUESTION ONE: How does Amazon charge its fees when a product is in multiple categories?
  • [10:27] QUESTION TWO: My products have been sent into Amazon but I’ve not started PPC yet, and am seeing no sales. What’s up?
  • [17:00] QUESTION THREE: My products are selling well but my product is only on page 3. What can I do?

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Direct download: TAS205.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

It’s always helpful to hear from someone who’s launched a private label product on Amazon from scratch - and has done so recently. Well, even though Scott Voelker has been doing private label sales on Amazon for some time, he’s still starting new products and ideas now and then to experiment and to expand his business model. On today’s episode Scott walks you through his latest product launch and hones in on the things he did differently this time. The results he’s gotten have been spectacular, including ranking his product on page 1 of Amazon’s search rankings in short order. You’ll want to be sure to listen to this one.

Why Scott aimed at a product with low reviews but good sales.

One of the ways that Scott searched for his latest private label product was to filter in Jungle Scout for products that were selling a decent amount, say 5 to 10 sales per day, but had low numbers of reviews. Why did he aim at products like that? The sales show that the product is in demand to a certain degree, but that the people selling the products are not spending a ton of time promoting their products. So Scott feels that if he’s able to sell the same product but add PPC promotions to his launch, he should be able to get higher in the rankings almost immediately - and his strategy worked. Find out exactly how Scott did it, on this episode.

A keyword optimization trick for the backend of your private label product listings.

A student in the private label workshop was having trouble getting her product to show as relevant for many keywords, even though she’d filled the keyword area of her listing with relevant keywords. Scott was curious why she wasn’t getting better results so he asked her to show him the way she’d input her keywords. She had placed a comma between every keyword and Scott suggested that she remove all the commas. Within an hour her product began ranking for those keywords and something important was discovered: commas are not only unnecessary in your keyword fields, they actually hurt your listing. Find out more tips like this on this episode of The Amazing Seller.

Why Scott launched with only 25 product giveaways.

On this product launch Scott decided to try something a bit different than he’d done before. He determined that he’d only give away 25 products to launch and that he’d drip those out at the rate of 5 per day for the first 5 days. This enabled him to monitor his organic sales a bit more easily, determining how many of his sales were organic and therefore gauging better whether he actually needed to continue giveaways in order to get his product ranked as high as he wanted. The result this time was a good amount of organic sales apart from the PPC, which is very good news. You’ll find out more about how Scott did his launch on a new product on this episode of The Amazing Seller.

If you’re new to the private label sales world, you need Scott’s free workshop.

At least once per month Scott holds a free private label workshop for anyone who is interested in private label sales. It’s an opportunity for you to learn the 5 phases of a successful product launch and to ask questions from Scott and many other experienced Amazon sellers who are hanging out during the course. You can get your free spot in the next workshop by listening to the announcement at the end of this episode, so be sure you do!

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:03] Scott’s introduction to the podcast!
  • [0:30] The way to approach rumors and concerns you hear about techniques on Amazon.
  • [4:17] 4 things that make this product launch successful.
  • [10:17] Scott’s step by step process for launching this product.
  • [11:10] The best way to optimize keywords on the backend of your listings.
  • [13:15] 25 units given away, 5 per day and PPC from day one.
  • [14:30] Options for setting up your pay per click campaigns.
  • [18:14] Creating a promo with no keywords.
  • [22:10] How to use variations of products to create your own brand once you’ve tried a product.
  • [24:48] Why Amazon is a great place to test and verify a product before investing a lot of cash.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

www.AliExpress.com - China sourcing in small quantities.

Direct download: TAS204.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

 

 

Part of the equation in business is that you’re going to hit roadblocks and frustrations. It’s simply going to happen. Today’s episode highlights a real Amazon seller’s disappointments with his product sales and Scott has a lot to say about it. There are more bright spots in this listener’s situation than he recognizes and some things he could still do to improve the listing itself and possibly drive sales higher. Listen in to Scott’s response to this frustrating story so you can hear ideas for optimizing your own listings and addressing your own frustrations.

Don’t move on until you do the most you can with what you’ve got!

Alex is an Amazon seller who is feeling a bit frustrated with his first Amazon product. It’s taking alot longer to increase in sales than he expected it would. He’s just about ready to find a second product and let this one languish, but Scott’s not so sure that’s the right thing to do. The situation doesn’t sound as hopeless as it seems. Listen in to hear what Scott thinks can be done in order to make this product rank higher and get more sales, on this episode.

The only thing you can do to rank for your main keywords.

The main thing you need to focus on in order to hit your main keywords, you’ve got to optimize your listing for that keyword and push sales toward that keyword using PPC. But your main keyword isn’t the only thing you should be trying to rank for. You need to be aiming at other long tail keywords, things people could be searching for related to your main keywords. The cool thing is that PPC is what enables you to know what those keywords are. You can find out the details of how to use pay per click to your advantage on this episode.

The duds may be your cash cows!

Alex feels that his product is a “dud” simply because it’s only selling at a rate of $1,000 per month. But the key to a prosperous Amazon private label business is not to find the “perfect product” that brings in millions every month. The key is to get a handful of moderately successful products that together build the income and success that you need. It’s an amazing thing to watch when the collective sales begin to creep up over time and each one is an integral part of the whole. Don’t be afraid of the duds, they may be the pieces to your overall success.

The power of being part of a great community of like minded people.

Today’s episode was spawned from a post and its responses within the TAS Facebook Community. It’s the place where many private label sellers get together regularly to share triumphs, struggles, obstacles, and to receive the help and encouragement they need to keep their business going strong. Be sure you get over the TAS community to get the support and camaraderie that you need.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:03] Scott’s introduction to the podcast!
  • [0:23] A Dud product that turned into a success - today’s topic!
  • [2:50] How you can get show notes and transcripts for any episode.
  • [3:57] How Alex described his product problems and frustrations.
  • [6:03] Why impatience can be the biggest problem.
  • [8:40] TAS community responses to the product problems.
  • [28:58] The lessons that can be learned from these “dud” products.
  • [30:40] How you can be part of Scott’s live workshop (it’s free).

RESOURCES ON THIS EPISODE

Direct download: TAS203.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

 

It’s time to crank up the volume and get your own personal coaching for your Amazon FBA private label business. You’re going to hear real life questions from real life private label sellers who have hit a roadblock in their business. Scott Voelker is going to answer those questions from his own experience and from the things he’s learned helping Amazon sellers get their problems addressed. If you want to ask your own question, you can do that just like the listeners on this episode by going to www.TheAmazingSeller.com/ask - state your name, and ask your question!

Once I start ordering my products, how do I get my logo and branding on the packaging?

A listener today is about ready to order his first bulk shipment of products from a supplier. He’s curious how to go about putting branding of various kinds, UPC codes, and other identifying markings on his packaging. Does the supplier do that? Does he have to do it himself? On this episode Scott’s going to answer this question by walking through the variety of ways these issues can be addressed and the pros and cons to each one. Be sure you listen so you can know the options for packaging and branding on your products.

My product lends itself to variations and individual listings. How do I choose which to do?

There are many kinds of products that could possibly be listed as a “variation” of the original product. A great example is a garlic press that can come in different colors, or styles, or materials. They are all garlic presses, but have varying qualities that make them slightly different. When you have variations in a product you can list those variations on one product listing But even in that situation, it’s possible to list those products individually in their own listings. What are the benefits of each approach? Scott’s got the answer for you on this episode.

A listener has a few negative reviews about his products. What should he do?

No matter how good the quality of your products are, you’re eventually going to run into a situation where someone leaves a negative review. Maybe something broke during shipping, or there was a cosmetic issue with that individual product that was shipped to the customer. Is there a way that you can deal with negative reviews to mitigate their effect on your sales and brand? On this episode Scott fills you in on what he does when negative reviews come in and how he uses a software solution to make it happen. You can even get a discounted version of the software by using Scott’s affiliate link - available on this episode.

Free Private Label workshop! Do you want in?

If you’d like to know the 5 step process that Scott Voelker uses every time he introduces a new product to the Amazon marketplace, you’ll want to get in on his next free private label workshop. There’s nothing for sale, just a lot of great information to share to help you get your first private label product off the ground. Scott will walk you through those 5 steps and answer your questions live during the workshop, so head to the links on this show notes page and get yourself registered for the next private label workshop!

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:03] Scott’s introduction to the episode!
  • [0:54] How you can submit one of your questions.
  • [3:36] QUESTION ONE: When I first start working with a sourcing company, what happens next? How do my UPC codes get on the packaging?
  • [10:21] QUESTION TWO: I’m trying to understand the pros and cons of using variations VS using individual listings for each.
  • [17:03] QUESTION THREE: How do you deal with negative product reviews?

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Direct download: TAS202.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

One of the most frustrating issues sellers run into on the Amazon platform is when they get some success under their belts with a great product and then wake up one morning to find that someone has hijacked the Amazon listing where they sold their product. It’s a black hat way that people without morals try to take over your listing with an inferior product while claiming that they are selling the identical product. It hurts your sales and could ruin your entire brand if you don’t safeguard your products. On this episode Jon Haver shares what’s happened to his listings and how he went about securing his products so that others cannot hijack a listing effectively.

It’s important to do what you can to avoid Amazon listing hijackers in the first place

There are steps you can take to remove a hijacker from your product listing on Amazon once they’ve begun tampering with your brand. But there are steps that can be taken to prevent it from happening in the first place. On this episode Jon Haver tells the story of how his products were hijacked and what he’s discovered about the things you can do to keep them from having a desire to target your product as a hijacking prospect. Be sure you listen to this episode where Scott asks Jon all the details.

The role Amazon’s Brand Registry plays in preventing product hijackers.

If you’ve not registered your private label products with Amazon’s Brand Registry you need to do it today. It’s one of the ways that Amazon has created for you to give yourself some security when it comes to the ownership of your brand. You do some specific things to prove to Amazon that your products are indeed your very own branded products and Amazon places you in its database as the “owner” of that product. This helps with the eventuality of hijackers trying to take over your episode so that you can maintain control of your brand, product, and sales. Discover the steps to protecting your listing with Brand Registry on this episode.

A security system for your Amazon product listings.

If you lived in a high crime area in your city you would likely have a home security system installed to monitor your home. A security system doesn’t keep criminals from breaking into your home, but it gives you a warning immediately when it happens and might even notify the police. Jon Haver has developed a “security system” of sorts for Amazon listings to give you notification when a potential hijacker has jumped on your product listing. This enables you to take immediate action to protect your listing and your product brand. Find out how you can use Jon’s service to protect your product listings.

Would you like a discount on your own “watch dog” for your private label listing?

One of the most important things you need to do when a hijacker begins tampering with your product listing is to take action immediately. But you can’t do that if you don’t know that a hijacker has begun making changes on your product listing. What can you do to find out sooner? You can get your very own watchdog that will “bark” to let you know that a potential hijacker is on your site. Jon Haver has created a great software solution to enable you to take immediate action when a hijacker shows up and he’s giving a special discount to everyone in the TAS community. Find out how to get your discount on his Listing Eagle service, on this episode of The Amazing Seller.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:03] Scott’s introduction to this episode about hijacking!
  • [3:52] The previous episode with Jon Haver and how he’s come to address hijackers.
  • [5:55] How Jon came to the point of selling his Amazon business.
  • [9:00] Scott’s experience with hijackers.
  • [9:31] How can you prevent hijackers in the first place.
  • [10:50] How Amazon’s Brand Registry helps prevent hijacking.
  • [12:55] What is needed on a website to help with the Brand Registry process.
  • [14:03] The first steps when your listing gets hijacked.
  • [20:25] Why you might want to lower your price to fight off a hijacker.
  • [23:04] Scott’s quick summary of how to attack hijackers quickly.
  • [25:25] How Jon has created a software solution to help with hijackings.
  • [30:39] A special offer for TAS listeners.
  • [35:13] Peace of mind for your brand and product listings.
  • [37:36] Is there still a great opportunity on Amazon? Jon’s take on the question.
  • [40:37] Scott’s summary of the issue.

RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE

www.ListingEagle.com/TAS - (affiliate link) get your discount on Jon’s notification service.

Direct download: TAS201.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

This episode of the podcast ispretty special because it’s only been a bit longer than a year thatScott has been publishing the show and he’s already reached 200episodes - and for this episode he wanted to do something special.That’s why he’s doing something a bit different - a solo show -that covers the information he spoke at the Rocky MountainResellers conference in Denver, Colorado at the end of April, 2016.It’s a motivational, inspirational, get started talk that will giveyou practical ways to get started making money online.

You’ve got to be clear on why you want to build abusiness.

Everybody has dreams of doingsomething of their own, making a product, running a shop of somekind, making a business work on their own. But very few of them whoget started actually keep going long term. Why is that? Becausethey don’t have a strong enough sense of WHY they are doing whatthey are doing. It has to be about more than the money, more thanthe success, more than the creative outlet it might be. You’ve gotto have a “why” that will motivate you to keep going when you hitobstacles and difficulties. On this episode Scott goes deep intothe issue of “why” and gives you practical ways to develop your own“why” that will fuel you long term.

A key element in your success is keeping short termgoals in mind.

When Scott was a young man heworked with his father in his construction business. He did well,worked hard, and loved the work, but he knew in a short amount oftime that he didn’t want to do that kind of work long term. That’swhen Scott and his wife started figuring out how much cash it wouldtake for him to step out of that role in his father’s company andwork full time in his own business. That’s an example of a shortterm goal that gives you something to aim at and move toward. Youneed to know where you’re going if you are going to getthere.

You don’t need to have everything figured out - justenough to get you started.

Many people never start abusiness because they think they have to have all the detailsfigured out before they can get started. The problem is that theynever will get everything figured out because life and businessdon’t work that way. On this episode of the podcast Scott is goingto walk you through how to figure out the basics of how to simplyget started and then pivot and make adjustments as you are going.It’s the best way to build a business because it takes advantage ofmomentum and enables you to learn in the crucible of actually doingit. You’re going to learn a lot from Scott’s experience andinsights on this episode, so be sure you listen.

There’s lots of power in focusing on the stage you’reat instead of moving ahead.

Nobody can deny that there arethousands of things to learn as you build a business of your own.It’s true. But you don’t have to learn all of them at once. That’sthe beauty of the things Scott has to share on this episode. Scotttalks about real life examples of how he’s learned only the thingshe’s needed for the project he’s working on at the time. Thatenables you to specialize in what’s most important at the momentand to make adjustments to your learning and processes as you go.You’re able to keep moving without getting sidetracked and make themost of the time you’re dedicating to the business. On this episodeScott shares his insights about how anyone can get started on theirown business dream.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZINGSELLER

 

  • [0:03] Scott’s introduction to thepodcast!
  • [0:41] Scott’s ideas for episode 200 and how hegot to this episode.
  • [4:10] The presentation Scott gave for hisspeech at the Rocky Mountain Retailers conference.
  • [5:29] Have you ever felt overwhelmed? Everyonehas!
  • [6:15] How to simplify the process and takeaction.
  • [7:17] Why we get excited and then stop and howyou can be different.
  • [8:20] Pick a platform and start.
  • [9:32] Why do you want to start a business?Your “why” will keep you going.
  • [25:10] Figure out the exact a month of moneyyou need each month to go full time.
  • [28:39] Outline your perfect day(realistically).
  • [30:08] Create a plan and timeline to achieveyour goals.
  • [30:42] Get started and pivot as you hitobstacles.
  • [31:00] Surround yourself with likemindedpeople who can support you.
  • [33:20] Remove the excuses.
  • [36:00] Put your superpower to work foryou.
  • [37:40] An exercise of how this couldwork.
  • [43:00] Setting your commitment level andestablishing some tangible goals.
  • [47:20] The power of learning concepts as youneed them.
  • [52:10] Learn and grow every day (by consumingand by doing).
  • [53:13] Advice Scott has learned from people headmires.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Direct download: TAS200.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

You’ve found the show notes pagefor this episode of “Ask Scott” - the place where you can ask your own real-life private label questions and receiveanswers. But there’s more benefit than just asking your questions -you get to hear the answers Scott Voelker gives to other people’squestions. It’s like learning from the problems and mistakes othersare making so that you don’t have to experience them yourself. Somake sure you take the time to listen to this episode to get aneducation from the experience of thousands of Amazon sellers, inone episode.

How can I add my product to different subcategoriesinside the Amazon interface.

When you set up your productlisting on Amazon you’ll be able to choose the individualcategories that you feel best represent the niche your product isin. However, you won’t always be able to select all of thesubcategories that you see when searching for items on Amazon.Where can you find those mysterious subcategories and how do youget your products listed there? On this episode of The AmazingSeller Scott is going to walk you through the steps he’s taken overthe years to get his products into subcategories, and so farthey’ve worked every time.

I’m getting overwhelmed by the Alibaba listings. Isthere a way to filter the results?

When you are doing productresearch for private label products to sell on Amazon there are alot of options. One of the common sources of good products isAlibaba. But when you search for something on Alibaba you’ll oftensee the same company multiple times in the listings. It’s enough tomake your head spin! How can you narrow the search results to get asimpler view of the product offerings that are available? On thisepisode Scott gives some tips about how to do product research inthe simplest ways so that you can avoid overwhelm.

I’ve never done Amazon FBA but want to get started. Atwhat point should I invest in software?

There are lots of software toolsout there to help with almost every aspect of running a privatelabel sales business on Amazon. For somebody starting out it couldseem like the costs of subscribing to all of the tools will mountup pretty quickly. On this episode of The Amazing Seller, Scottwalks a newbie through the steps he would personally take if hewere starting all over, and he includes his opinions about ahandful of software tools and tells when he’d look into purchasingthem for us in his business. If you’re new to the private labelgame you’ll get a lot out of this answer.

 

Amazon private label sales is not the only viableonline business.

 

As you listen to the AmazingSeller you naturally are going to get lots of tips and tricks forapproaching the private label sales world. But Scott takes a fewmoments near the end of this episode to point out that much of whathe talks about are simple business principles that apply across theboard in any online business enterprise. If you want to start yourown online business but don’t want to be limited to private labelsales on Amazon, you might want to hear what Scott’s got to sayabout how to transfer many of the concepts he teaches into yourother online businesses.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZINGSELLER

  • [0:03] Scott’s introduction to thepodcast!
  • [0:45] How to get your questionsanswered.
  • [1:10] How to get Scott’s free private labelcourse.
  • [2:55] QUESTION ONE: How can I addsubcategories to my product listing?
  • [10:55] QUESTION TWO: Is there any way tofilter by company in Alibaba?
  • [15:28] QUESTION THREE: Should a person useAmisuite as a person who hasn’t begun?
  • [24:15] Using what you learn as an Amazonseller to build any kind of business online.

RESOURCES SHARED ON THIS EPISODE

Direct download: TAS199.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

 

This one is no joke. Scott was able to get money from Amazon that was rightfully his, without selling a product. It has to do with product refunds and damaged products that Amazon has processed in the past, and he owes it all to Jacob, today’s guest. The cool thing about it is that today Jacob is going to give you the step by step process for getting the money that is due to your seller account and he’s going to show you how you can use his automated service to get those refunds credited to your account without you having to lift a finger. It sounds too good to be true but it’s not. You can find out the details on this episode of The Amazing Seller.

Stumbling across a cash cow in his Amazon seller account.

Jacob sort of accidentally came across a situation in his refund reports that tipped him off to the fact that Amazon was holding some money that was due him in a suspension account. It was money that came as a result of customer refunds that were reconciled but Amazon had never given back to him. All it took was a simple inquiry to  Amazon’s seller support and Jacob was able to recover that money on the spot. The more he dug into his reports, the more money he discovered that Amazon had not credited to him properly. On this episode Jacob will show you how he discovered his “cash cow” and how you can use the same tactics to get money that is rightfully yours.

Have you checked out your Amazon Seller Refund Report?

Inside your seller account you can run all kinds of reports that show you the status of your sales, damaged products, refunds, and other variables that have to do with your products on Amazon. One of those is the “refund report.” It has to do with refunds that have been issued to your customers and the credits and debits to your account that correspond to those refunds. It may sound odd, but quite often you are credited money through the refund process and Amazon lists that money on your refund reports. By comparing that number with actual money you’ve been credited, you can find money that Amazon owes you but you’ve never received. Check out this episode to find out how you can get that money back immediately.

Inventory damage is another area where you might be owed some money by Amazon.

With any massive warehouse operation like Amazon you are going to eventually have some of your products damaged during handling. It’s part of how the business works. Amazon is usually very good about noting damage and giving you credit for it so that you don’t lose money because of their mistakes. But you don’t always actually receive that money, even though Amazon has noted the damage. On this episode Scott’s guest is going to show you how to investigate damaged products to discover if you’re owed money from Amazon. You’ll want to listen so you can get the cash you’re owed.

A software product that retrieves the cash from your Amazon Seller account automatically.

As Jacob’s Amazon business became larger and his sales grew, he was having more and more situations where his refunds from Amazon were not being processed in a way that credited his account. The time it was taking to stay on top of those important issues was mounting - so he decided to work out an automated system to search his refunds for him. Now he’s taken that system into a commercial software application that you can use to get back your own refunds from Amazon - and it will only cost you pennies on the dollar. Listen to Scott’s chat with Jacob today to find out how you can use this great software to get your cash from Amazon, and be sure to use the special TAS coupon code to get your discount.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:03] Scott’s introduction to this podcast episode!
  • [2:13] How Jacob and Scott got connected and what Jacob has discovered.
  • [3:20] How is it that Amazon keeps some of your money without you knowing it.
  • [4:34] The average scenario where Amazon may have some of your money.
  • [5:54] The first step to getting your money back - the refund report.
  • [7:53] How to find the reports you need in order to check for money due you.
  • [9:33] Issues regarding inventory damage.
  • [12:48] How Jacob came up with a software solution to researching these issues.
  • [15:31] The slow and steady process of recovering money you are due.
  • [17:32] Some of the features of the software that Scott appreciates.
  • [18:55] How Jacob’s tool literally costs you nothing.
  • [20:54] What is the feedback sentry and how does it work?
  • [23:29] How you can get Jacob’s software product.
  • [25:51] Scott’s summary of the episode and how it’s worked for him to date.

 

RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE

www.TheAmazingSeller.com/recover (affiliate link) - use code “TAS” for 10% off.

Direct download: TAS198.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

Todays’ episode of The Amazing Seller is one of the “Hot Seat” editions where Scott joins forces with his friend Chris Schaeffer to analyze a product that has been submitted for appraisal in hopes that Scott and Chris can give some advice to increase sales and success. Today’s product is one that is in a very competitive space and the seller is curious if he’s reached his limit and should simply give up on the product and move on. Chris and Scott both say, “No way” and give plenty of tips as to how this seller can crank up his sales once again. You’ll learn tons from this episode so make sure you listen.

 

When you choose a private label product make sure you’re comparing apples to apples.

 

Lots of people see a niche of products that have tons of great sales numbers but don’t know how to analyze those numbers and products to make sure they are comparing the exact same type of product to what they have in mind, or that the great numbers they are seeing are “real” numbers. Making that mistake can make the road to sales success very difficult. On this episode Scott and Chris address how to go about the right kind of product research before you jump into a promising market. You won’t want to miss this one, especially if you’re going to be choosing a new product soon.

 

Get your product on page 1 using Pay Per Click.

 

If your product is languishing on a page way back in the search results there’s a lot you can do to get more exposure for your items so that people see them, buy them, and organically push your product higher in the rankings. The main way to do it is by using Amazon PPC to ensure that your product is being shown when your buyer’s keywords are being searched. On this episode Scott and Chris chat about how to use PPC to make that happen and how it can fuel a surge in  your product’s sales and popularity.

 

Are you doing good follow up with your prior customers?

 

It’s true that Amazon will not give you the contact information of people who purchase your private label products. But that doesn’t mean you can’t follow up with them. Amazon will allow you to contact them through the Amazon system to offer product support, ask for reviews, troubleshoot product issues, and much more. On this episode of The Amazing Seller Scott and Chris give some options about how to follow up effectively so that you can increase reviews, seller ratings, and increase repeat sales of your private label products and related products.

 

Did you get in on Scott and Chris’ live event?

 

There were only 30 spots for the live event in Denver on May 1st. Were you able to get involved? If not, don’t worry. Scott and Chris plan to do some more live events in different parts of the country in the future. If you want to have the opportunity to attend and take part in a live hot seat event, you can get your name on the notification list at www.TheAmazingSeller.com/live. Be sure you do, maybe you could even be one of the people who are on the hot seat and get some first hand advice on your product or brand!

 

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

 

  • [0:03] Scott’s introduction to the podcast!
  • [2:14] Hot seat session begins right here!
  • [4:41] The numbers on the product Scott and Chris are examining.
  • [6:06] Comparing apples to apples when it comes to product comparisons.
  • [8:05] Considering promotions when comparing your possible product to existing products.
  • [11:09] The benefits of variation listings VS separate listings.
  • [13:05] The need for a possible relaunch for this product (or possibly yours).
  • [20:29] Using Pay per Click to get your product to page 1.
  • [22:09] How to take advantage of the expanded keywords section in Amazon’s backend.
  • [24:54] The strategy Chris is using to fill out his expanded keywords.
  • [28:30] Why Scott would not abandon this product.
  • [32:09] Using promos with bloggers in your niche to drive traffic and build a mailing list.
  • [34:49] Making the most of follow up on customers.
  • [35:10] The key to making it happen is often time.
  • [38:00] The upcoming live events - get on the notification list.

 

RESOURCES MENTIONED

 




Direct download: TAS197.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

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