Rock Your Brand Podcast

What’s the latest sticking point in your Amazon or eCommerce business moving forward? Are you having trouble with product selection? Are there questions about using the Amazon dashboard or backend? Maybe it has to do with list-building or sales funnels. This is the Friday episode of The Amazing Seller podcast where you can ask your questions about eCommerce and private label sales on Amazon - and Scott Voelker is the guy who will answer your questions on the episode.

Is it helpful to include a product video on my Amazon listing?

One of the newest things the Amazon platform offers to private label sellers is the opportunity to create an enhanced product listing. You have to brand register your products to have the option but it allows you to adjust and improve your listing in lots of ways. One of those way is the inclusion of a product video to show more of the benefits and features of your products. But is it always a good idea? And if it is beneficial, what improvements in ranking and sales should you expect to see as a result? On this episode Scott walks through some of the initial things you can expect from adding a video to your product listing, so be sure you take the time to learn about this new feature.

How important is a unique design for my new product?

A listener called in to ask a question about the benefits of having a unique product design. He’s a graphic designer and as he looks through the Amazon catalogue many of the products seem to be pretty generic to him. He feels that he could create a better design for a product and quickly be THE go-to brand in the niche simply because his product is different. But is that true? On this Ask Scott episode, Scott Voelker walks through the pros and cons of creating a unique design for your products and when you should consider it in the product launch stages. If you’re curious about how to go about differentiating your products you need to hear this episode.

How can I go about tracking my product inventory. Amazon’s numbers don’t look right?

One of the listeners to The Amazing Seller Podcast called in to ask a question about the stats and inventory numbers that Amazon provides in the backend of the seller accounts. He doesn’t feel that his numbers look accurate because his total sales, returns, and remaining inventory numbers don’t add up. He’s curious if Scott has a better way to keep track of numbers instead of relying on Amazon’s numbers, and whether or not he should contact Amazon’s seller help to find out why their numbers are different. You can hear Scott’s answer on this episode.



Is retail arbitrage still an option? How can it be combined with private label sales?

Many Amazon sellers get their start by selling products through retail arbitrage on Amazon. That simply means they find discounted products under existing brands and sell them on Amazon as a wholesaler. But most people move from there into private label sales, which means they source their own product, brand it themselves, and have exclusive rights to the sale of that product. But it’s possible to do both at the same time and to continue doing both to add more cash flow to the business. In response to a couple of questions about retail arbitrage, Scott Voelker shares how some sellers are doing exactly that, so be sure you listen.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:03] Scott’s introduction to this episode of the podcast!
  • [1:28] A concept to consider for the new year: Setting your target.
  • [6:59] QUESTION ONE: How important is a film/video about your product?
  • [12:51] QUESTION TWO: How important is design for a new product? Costs?
  • [18:45] QUESTION THREE: How do you go about tracking product inventory?
  • [23:50] QUESTION FOUR: How can I become the top seller in retail arbitrage?

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Direct download: TAS301.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:30am EDT

It’s episode 300 of the Amazing Seller podcast and it’s been an amazing ride! To commemorate the journey Scott has asked his good friend Chris Shaffer to come on as the HOST of this episode to help Scott walk through his own journey so that you can see that there’s nothing special about how Scott has gotten to where he is except for one thing - and it’s the thing that you hear Scott say episode after episode of this podcast - he’s TAKEN ACTION!

How Scott Voelker learned that he didn’t want to work a 9 to 5 job.

Scott Voelker has had his share of 9 to 5 jobs, “working for the man.” Right out of school he worked for a local cable company, connecting and disconnecting cable TV, climbing poles, etc. He’s worked as a supervisor or foreman in his Dad’s construction business, and he’s also run his own photography business. Scott decided through that journey that he didn’t like putting in a load of hard work to advance someone else’s business when he wasn’t being compensated for the amount of quality work he was putting in. You can hear how he made the transition from full-time employee to full-time entrepreneur, on this 300th episode of The Amazing Seller.

Why you can overcome any obstacle if you are determined to do it.

One of the overriding principles you’ll hear on this episode that recounts Scott’s journey from 9 to 5 employee to full-time entrepreneur is that he was willing to do the work needed to overcome the obstacles that blocked the path to success. Scott is convinced that if you set a goal and are determined to reach it, nothing can stop you. You may have to stop for a bit to learn a new skill or to find someone to help you, but you won’t be stopped for good if you think in terms of possibilities instead of obstacles. Scott’s journey is an inspiring example of how it works so be sure you take the time to listen!

An important question for any endeavor: What’s the worst that could happen?

As Scott has worked toward building his own online sales and training business he’s discovered that one of his greatest assets has been his wife. At many points along the road he’s been hesitant to step into something new, including the start of the Amazing Seller Podcast. But his wife was always there behind the scenes encouraging him to give it a try. One of the things she said to him repeatedly which you can take as a great tool for your progress is this: What’s the worst that can happen? When you can answer that question you’ll see that it’s usually not as bad as you think and not as difficult to press ahead as you imagined.

I knew if I could help enough people - eventually, I’d be compensated for it.

In this episode of The Amazing Seller, Scott was asked by his friend Chris what his plan was for the monetization of his podcast when he first began. Scott said that he didn’t worry about that at first because he knew that the old Zig Ziglar quote was true - if he helped enough people get what they wanted, he would eventually get what he wanted - which did include a certain amount of compensation. It’s proven exactly true and Scott says to this day that it’s his greatest joy to see people apply what he teaches them and then go out to rock their own Amazon or eCommerce business. You can hear Scott’s story on this amazing episode of The Amazing Seller.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:14] Chris’ introduction to Scott’s show!
  • [1:33] The things Scott did before Amazon - cable to construction to photography.
  • [9:44] How Scott gets past the fear of starting something new.
  • [17:51] Learning to deal with people and problems along the way.
  • [26:00] The first experiences selling products online and the path to Amazon.
  • [39:56] Should you choose to go all-in or part-time? Don’t let the fear stop you.
  • [44:08] Where the idea for a podcast came from and how it has progressed.
  • [51:03] Where Scott sees the TAS movement going.
  • [1:01:58] Why Scott continues to help people when he could only do his thing.
  • [1:04:16] The importance of relationships you build on the journey.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Direct download: TAS300.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:30am EDT

Anyone who is busy selling eCommerce products, either on Amazon or other places, knows that the eCommerce space is always changing for various reasons. With those changes come both challenges and incredible opportunities for those who are willing to put in the work to learn what the changes mean and how to get their products rocking in light of them. This episode of The Amazing Seller, Scott and his buddy Chris are chatting about the changes that have happened over the last year, what it has meant for building online eCommerce businesses, and what can be done better moving forward to make 2017 a rocking and powerful year for you.

Why changes over the last year on Amazon have shifted the launch mindset.

For a very long time, everyone who‘s been building a business on Amazon private label products has been able to motivate people to leave reviews by offering them a discount in exchange for that review. But that’s an advantage that has gone away due to changes on Amazon. The change has forced Amazon sellers to shift their mindset about how to promote products and how to build a more successful business. You’ve got to do new things to make sales happen now, that's the long and short of it. On this episode, Scott and Chris cover some of the mindset shifts that have been forced by Amazon changes and suggest ways you can make your business fly even higher by using the advantages that come BECAUSE OF the changes.

The changes Amazon has made lately make it BETTER for serious sellers. Here’s why.

The changes that have happened on the Amazon sales platform this year in relation to reviews have made one thing very clear. Many people were building a business solely on the back of being able to offer a discount in exchange for reviews. What that has done is make an opportunity for those who are serious about building a business on Amazon and independent of it. The learning curve is high but it’s actually a BETTER opportunity for those who are serious business people who want to build a long lasting eCommerce business. Find out how you can be one of those long-lasting brands, on this episode.

The winning way to choose private label products in light of recent changes on Amazon.

As things have changed on the Amazon platform over the last year it’s become apparent that the old way of doing product selection doesn’t work anymore. Why? Because reviews are now harder to come by so if you’re going to use reviews as a way to establish social proof you’re going to have a harder road getting there. That means you’ve got to target product niches where the most successful products have fewer reviews. If you’d like to hear more about how Chris and Scott go about selecting great products to launch on Amazon you can listen to this episode and get all of their insights.

Here’s how you can leverage lightning deals to promote your products and get more sales.

The Amazon platform has always allowed you to use the “Lightning Deal” feature, but the way to use it and exactly WHO can use it has changed a lot over the years. But now, it’s much more available to everyone than in the past and it’s a way you can utilize to get more product sales in spurts through Amazon’s promotion of your products. On this episode of The Amazing Seller podcast, you’re going to hear how Scott and Chris suggest anyone can use the Lightning Deal feature to boost sales and sales rank so to get your products rolling and build momentum.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:03] Scott’s introduction to this podcast about 2017 strategies!
  • [4:53] The things that have changed in the last year.
  • [10:12] Mindset shifts due to Amazon changes this past year.
  • [15:00] Why it’s now BETTER for serious eCommerce sellers.
  • [32:03] What to consider as you launch a new product in the future.
  • [34:14] Advice for those just starting on Amazon in 2017.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Direct download: TAS299.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:30am EDT

It’s time for another of the Friday “Ask Scott” episodes where you get to hear Scott’s answers to the real-life questions of other Amazon sellers. And what’s even better than that is that YOU can ask your own specific questions for Scott to answer. You’ll be able to learn all kinds of great things about product listings, marketing funnels, sales issues, and much more. If you want to hear Scott’s answers and even learn how to ask your own questions you should make sure you listen to this “Ask Scott” episode.

How much detail should you include in your product listing? Will other people copy it if you do?

A listener asks today whether he should include the kinds of things that set his product apart when it comes to product materials, densities, etc. He has two different thoughts about it. #1 - it IS the type of product that those things really matter so he sees it as a possible way to show that his product is high quality. #2 - He’s concerned that others in the market may use his detailed descriptions to copy what he’s doing and bring more competition to his market. Scott’s got a great way of looking at this issue so be sure you listen to get this episode.

Selling an electronic product? Do you need to be compliant with FCC regulations and such?

One of the things Scott has often advised AGAINST is the sale of electronic products. His main reasons have been that there are too many products in the space and that the likelihood of product returns due to product defects is much higher. But there are other issues having to do with government regulations, etc. that you need to be concerned about. On this episode, Scott dives into that issue and the various things you want to keep in mind so you don’t get yourself into trouble. It’s an amazing amount of detail for a short response so be sure you listen, take notes, and take action!

When you launch a second product and want to offer a discount to your list, how do you do it wisely?

A caller to the show named April is about to launch her second product. AND, she’s been building an email list for her first product and is eager to send a discount to her list for the new product. Way to go April! Her question on this episode has to do with the best way to provide a discount to the people on her list. Should she give a discount code that anyone can use? Should she create a single-use code and reply to each person who wants to use it? Or is there a better way? Scott’s got some great ideas about how to do this in a powerful, simple, and search-boosting way, so be sure you listen.

When it comes to the time you have available, here’s a caution to help you budget it well.

One of the things Scott has been learning (again) is that time is a very precious thing. Every minute that passes is a minute that you can never get back. Here we are approaching the holidays and most of us will be spending a lot of time with family. But we’re also eagerly building Amazon and eCommerce businesses. How do you effectively make sure that the time you’re spending with your family is time WELL SPENT with your family, with your mind engaged in the moments you have with them? You can hear why this is becoming more important to Scott and what he suggests you do to keep yourself on track when it comes to the wise use of your time, on this episode of The Amazing Seller.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:03] Scott’s introduction to this Q&A episode of the podcast!
  • [1:00] The importance of remembering that TIME is a precious thing.
  • [5:17] The phrase of the week: Consume then do.
  • [6:52] QUESTION ONE: How specific should my product details be in terms of materials and other parameters in light of potential copycat products?
  • [15:22] QUESTION TWO: On electronic products is the FCC label required on the product someplace?
  • [22:00] QUESTION THREE: I’m about to launch a second product and want to send a discount to my list for the second product. Can you advise me how to do this in the best way?

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Direct download: TAS298.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:30am EDT

Today’s topic on The Amazing Seller is not all that appealing at first glance. It’s the issue of figuring out exactly who your target market is - your ideal customer - and how to speak the language they actually use in real life so that you can relate better to them and increase your conversions. For this episode, Scott has asked Josh Bauer to come on the show because he’s got tons of experience in this area and has been working to hone his skills in customer messaging to amplify his impact and sales. You won’t want to miss this because the results that can come from a few small tweaks can be powerful for sales conversions. Be sure to listen!

The #1 way you are wasting your marketing money.

Everybody who is selling products online - whether private label products or some other channel - understands that marketing is what keeps the wheels of the machine rolling. But you can’t just shoot out marketing messages and expect people to buy your products. You’ve got to produce marketing messages that connect with real people in real life. When you do that well you are showing a real person on the other end of your message that you care about them and that you can provide the perfect solution to their problem or need. Josh Bauer has learned how to craft his marketing messages to truly connect with the person on the other side of the message - and he shares his top 5 tips on this episode.

Why you’ve got to use the features of your product to highlight the benefits.

When you’re setting up a product listing inside the Amazon dashboard you have the opportunity to set up bullet points to highlight the features of your product. It’s important to list the features because they are a finer point of the things that make your product unique. But you’ve got to learn not to major on the features but instead focus on the benefits the end user will receive from using the features. The people who are purchasing your product need to understand what they are going to get from using your product and each feature needs to be tied into that basic human need to benefit personally. Find out more about how to do this like a pro, on this episode.

Here’s why you have to understand your customer’s journey to increase sales.

There’s more to marketing your products than simply putting out your message and receiving the sale. You’ve got to understand that your customers are on a journey of sorts, a progression from recognition of their need all the way beyond making a purchase to meet that need - into a relationship with the person who helps them meet it (you). On this episode Scott and his guest Josh are chatting about how important it is for you to understand your customer’s buying journey and how you can create marketing messages that not only take it into account but go beyond that to utilize it to help them see the benefits your products will provide and lead them along on that buying journey into relationship with you.

How to use the knowledge that extroverts are led by excitement and introverts are led by security.

There are two types of people in the world in terms of how they relate to others - introverts and extroverts. At risk of being too simplistic, you can use those two personality types to your advantage when it comes to selling your products. Extroverts are led toward a decision, many times, by excitement. Introverts, on the other hand, are led to a decision oftentimes through their desire for safety. Listen to this episode to better understand how your use of those motivations can help you position your products and marketing messages to tap into those underlying needs and gain more sales and customer relationships as a result.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:03] Scott’s introduction to this podcast for connecting better with your customer, and Scott’s guest Joel Bauer.
  • [2:25] Josh’s start in real estate and how he got into online sales.
  • [6:48] How Scott has learned from Josh and the rest of the people on his team.
  • [8:05] The power of creating copy (writing) that connects to real people.
  • [13:33] The difference between features and benefits and why it’s important to understand.
  • [19:10] The vital nature of understanding your customer’s journey toward a purchase.
  • [33:00] Understanding personality profiling: extrovert VS introvert.
  • [42:50] Adding personality to your product through your emails - it’s powerful!
Direct download: TAS297.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:30am EDT

There are lots of ways to start selling products on Amazon. But there are some approaches that restrict you more than others in terms of the categories you are able to sell within and the variety of products you can offer. On this episode, Scott talks with his friend Dom Sugar about what it means to build an open brand, why it is a faster way to find and launch products, and how you can approach this style of selling, on this episode.

Are you married to your product brand? What would happen if you weren’t?

The idea of selling products under an “open brand” is foreign to a lot of sellers who are trying to build a brand in a certain niche. An open brand enables you to sell products in all sorts of niches, testing as you go, learning what products are popular and which are not. This approach enables you to get products started faster and cull the ones that aren’t working while still building a business. You can even have multiple niched brands within your open brand. If it doesn’t make sense to you now, that’s OK. Listen to this episode to hear Scott and his friend Dom Sugar explain what the open brand strategy is.

How retail arbitrage can connect to an open brand sales model.

Dom Sugar has been selling products online for years. Most recently he’s been selling private label products and is doing so very successfully. But he’s not exclusively selling private label products, he still sells products under a retail arbitrage model through his open brand. He finds the opportunities, puts them on Amazon to see what will happen, and lets them sell at whatever rate they will. It’s a way that he has low-volume sales going on all the time to support his other business endeavors. It’s a great model that you can learn more about on this episode.

An open brand enables you to build brands within your brand.

As Scott and Dom talked about the concept of building an open brand on this episode, it became clear that it’s possible to build a handful of individual brands within a larger “open” brand. The open brand may be the name on the seller account - “ABC Products” for example. Then underneath that main brand may be a home brand, a pet brand, a sporting goods brand, and more. It enables you to try all kinds of products in any niche, regardless of whether you’re already doing that type of product or not. Find out how to make it happen in your business, on this episode.

The power of an open brand is that you’re able to test for beneficial, larger brand possibilities.

When you keep your brand broad and open you are able to try a variety of products without having to remain within a certain niche. When you find one that begins to sell at a rapid pace then you have the opportunity to think through the possibility of selling related products and actually building a brand from it. This is one of the tips that Dom Sugar shares with Scott on this episode. Dom’s been selling products online for years and has lots of perspective on how you can go about finding and selling products profitably.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:03] Scott’s introduction to the podcast with Dom Sugar!
  • [1:20] Dom’s experience in online sales and why he’s such a great resource.
  • [4:00] What is the “open brand” concept.
  • [9:10] The importance of keeping email lists segmented according to interest.
  • [15:57] Should you have multiple seller account to create different brands?
  • [18:26] Tips for choosing brand names.
  • [26:48] Strategies Dom uses to sell more products.
  • [37:14] The power of brands within a brand.
  • [41:00] The kind of products Dom looks for to start another item in his product line.
  • [49:20] Don’t let the barriers stop you from getting started.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Direct download: TAS296.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:30am EDT

Whenever you start something new there’s a ton of things that can stand in the way of you getting started - and much of it has to do with ignorance. When you don’t know everything involved with starting it all seems pretty large, pretty overwhelming. That’s why it’s helpful for someone who’s been down the road ahead of you to come alongside to help you navigate the questions and pitfalls. That’s what these Friday “Ask Scott” episodes are all about. It’s your opportunity to get your questions answered about private label sales on Amazon and eCommerce business in general. Find out how you can ask your questions on this episode.

I can’t get Amazon to approve me for a seller account. What’s the problem?

A listener to the podcast called in today and has a very unusual problem. She’s applied to have a seller account on Amazon and has been denied. And no matter how much she follows up, trying to get an answer to why she’s being denied, she’s not getting anywhere. So she called in to ask Scott what he would recommend. Should she give up? Should she just go to Etsy or eBay and forget about Amazon altogether? Scott’s got some great insights for this person - and you can hear it on this episode.

My wife has always dreamt of starting a clothing boutique. How can we get started on Amazon?

A listener from Ireland called Scott to ask about the different issues he might face trying to sell clothing on Amazon. The clothing category is a very crowded space and it’s difficult to get started. But there are some things that you need to keep in mind that could help you set yourself apart from the rest of the products you’ll find listed on Amazon. What sort of things could you do to stand out? You can hear the kind of things Scott recommends on this episode.

I somehow missed the deadline to get my products listed before the holidays. What should I do?

A while back Amazon made an announcement that new FBA sellers would not be able to send in products until after December 19th. That’s because the Amazon warehouses are packed with products that will be sold through the holiday season. What should new sellers do if they have missed that cutoff deadline? Scott’s got some great insights into things you can do to maximize your impact when you are able to send products to the warehouse AND he’s got some suggestions for other places you might be able to sell your products over the holidays. Find out more on this episode.

If you want to start selling eCommerce products online, join the FREE private label workshop.

One of the things that Scott Voelker has provided free of charge for a long time is the private label workshop. He’ll walk you through the 5 phases involved in researching, buying, and launching a product on Amazon and to top it all off, he’ll stick around for questions after the workshop is over. You can find out more about the private label workshop and how you can get registered for the next one by listening to this episode.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:03] Scott’s introduction to this Q&A episode of the podcast!
  • [1:23] The phrase of the week: Adapting to Change.
  • [5:50] QUESTION ONE: I can’t even setup a seller account. Can you help?
  • [14:42] QUESTION TWO: My wife and I want to start selling in the clothing category. Can you recommend how we should start?
  • [22:40] QUESTION THREE: I somehow missed the cutoff for getting my product to Amazon before the holidays. What should I do?

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Direct download: TAS295.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:30am EDT

One of the frustrations about selling products on Amazon is that the platform is changing all the time. But one of the GREAT things about it is that things are changing all the time, too! Every now and then a change is made to the terms of service or tools that make it much BETTER for those selling their private label products on Amazon. On this episode Scott is walking through some of the most recent changes, helping you understand what they mean for you, and showing you how to use them effectively on your products to ramp up sales.

If your products are not brand registered you are now SERIOUSLY missing out on new features!

For a while now Amazon has been allowing private label sellers to apply for brand registration - a way to register yourself as the only owner of your brand. So far there have only been a few benefits to being brand registered but as of the last week, there’s a HUGE reason to get your products brand registered - you can get new formatting tools to make your product listing stand out in some special ways. Images, text enhancements and formatting, additional bullets, and more are now yours - but only if you’re brand registered. Find out how you can take advantage of it, on this episode.

What if you could build a long form sales page for your private label products?

Leadpages and ClickFunnels are two of the popular landing page software services that enable you to build sales pages on your own website. Statistics prove that landing pages of this sort are much more effective in making sales. Now Amazon has created some template-based features for all brand registered products that make your product listing much more like a long-form sales page. You can find out the details and learn how to start building your own product listing sales pages on the Amazon platform - on this episode of The Amazing Seller.

Do you have access to the new Enhanced Content on your Amazon listings?

Amazon has been rolling out a new feature - enhanced content - to all brand registered sellers over the past few weeks. But not everyone is seeing it yet. If you’re not seeing this new option in the advertising tab of your seller account then you need to reach out to Amazon to see how you can get it. Chris and Scott walk through what they suggest you do if Amazon has not given you the enhanced content yet, on this episode.

Now you can get rid of hijackers forever - by getting brand registered.

For quite a while now it’s been possible for someone to list products under your product listing and eventually take it over, leaving you with no control over your own product listing. But Amazon has now created a way for you to prevent that from happening, but you’ve got to be brand registered first. But not everyone gets approved for brand registry the first time. How do you keep working to get your products registered if you’ve been rejected? You can find out by hearing what Scott and Chris have to say, on this episode.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:03] Scott’s introduction to this episode of the podcast!
  • [1:05] How you can get in on the next live workshop.
  • [1:54] Enrollment for the private label course is closing!
  • [3:54] What is enhanced content and where can you check it out?
  • [7:20] The templates and layouts that can be used for the enhanced content.
  • [13:35] How this new change is like a long-form sales page.
  • [15:00] Be sure NOT to include testimonials in these new fields.
  • [24:24] Why it’s vital that you get brand registered immediately.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Direct download: TAS294.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:30am EDT

One of the things Amazon sellers can easily overlook is the issue of liability. Is your product safe? Should it include a choking warning? Is there a risk that you could be sued or that your product could be held liable for harm done to a person or their property? These are not things we like to think about but they are a necessary consideration when you’re building a business. On this episode, Scott is chatting with Michelle Love about the issue of liability insurance, both for your business and to cover your products. You’ll want to hear this one.

Do you know when you need to purchase product liability insurance for your Amazon biz?

Many Amazon sellers who are just getting started have small supplies of their products and very low investment in the business. The thought of purchasing business and product insurance could serve as another reason to quit or not get started at all. But you don’t need to worry about that hurdle yet because Amazon has sales thresholds that you have to meet in order for them to require you to purchase insurance. Do you know what it is? On this episode, you’ll find out and get a lot more advice about insurance for your business from Insurance Agent Michelle Love.

How much can Amazon sellers expect to pay for product liability insurance?

When you are trying to budget for the expense of product and business insurance you really need to have some figures you can start with to ensure you’re going to be able to pay for it when the time comes. But it’s hard to know exactly what you’re going to need to pay because the premiums depend on the specifics of the products you are selling. How risky are they? What dangers might be involved? It’s not an easy issue to unravel without professional help. On this episode, you’re going to be shown exactly how to know when and what insurance you need in order to cover yourself from lawsuits and liability.

How do you know if you’ve got the right kind and enough insurance for your Amazon business?

Insurance is not the most exciting thing to talk about but if you’re going to run a business you’ve got to make sure you do everything needed to protect yourself and handle any legal claims that may come against you. On this episode Scott is chatting with Michelle Love, an Insurance Professional who is also selling products through Amazon FBA, so she knows the particular issues that Amazon sellers face and can help you navigate the confusion. Find out how you can know the right insurance and the right amounts of it to purchase, on this episode.

Did you know that the Amazon Terms of Service you signed require you to purchase insurance?

The habit we all have when it comes to terms of service is to quickly scroll through and hit “accept.” But that’s a practice that can come back to bite you eventually, especially if you are agreeing to do something in the arrangement - which most terms of service do require. In Amazon’s terms of service, there are requirements on you as an Amazon FBA seller that you buy product liability insurance when you reach a certain sales threshold. Did you know that? More importantly, do you need insurance now? Find out the answer for your situation on this episode of The Amazing Seller.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:03] Scott’s introduction to this product liability episode of the podcast!
  • [0:30] Introduction to Scott’s guest, Michelle Love.
  • [5:00] The need and importance of insurance for your business and products.
  • [8:03] Product liability insurance: the price depends on the risk.
  • [10:47] When and what do you need to do to prove your insurance to Amazon?
  • [15:30] Additional issues that can impact Insurance premiums.
  • [18:00] How can you know that you’ve got the right insurance for your needs?
  • [22:40] Do you need coverage for products that are waiting to be shipped?
  • [24:00] Guidelines for what business and product liability insurance could cost.
  • [26:20] Is insurance needed for each and every product or just the brand as a whole?
  • [29:56] Don’t forget that you might need worldwide coverage for your products.
  • [32:00] Knowing the difference between “claims” and “occurrences.”
  • [42:21] The Amazon crack-downs on sellers who are not purchasing insurance.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Direct download: TAS293.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:30am EDT

What’s the deal with this year? It’s just flown by! Here we are in the 4th quarter, the first part of December 2016 and we’re looking at Christmas coming up. But there is lots to be concerned about that’s much more important than product sales. Yep, you heard that right. You’ve got family at home and kids around and the holidays are almost here. So make sure you take a breath, look around you, and enjoy the moment. That’s the first thing Scott has to say as he starts this “Ask Scott” episode of the podcast and he’s learning it himself as he goes. If you’d like to hear this episode and ask your own question, you can ask Scott yourself. Listen to this Q&A episode to find out how!

I’m doing well with my first private label product but am still on page 8. How can I improve that?

A listener called in to ask how he can improve his product ranking. At this point, he’s consistently on page 8 or page 9 and his niche is a very competitive sub-niche of the sporting goods category. Even though he’s getting a decent amount of sales he’s curious if he’s ranking so low because his seller account is new. He’s also curious what he can do to improve his product rank. Scott’s got one main thought about why his product is ranking so low. Can you guess what it is? You can find out on this episode of The Amazing Seller.

No more discounts in exchange for product reviews. What should you do now?

In case you haven’t heard, Amazon has now changed its policies to forbid private label sellers from offering discounts in exchange for a review. That doesn’t mean you can’t give discounts. It doesn’t mean that you can’t ask for reviews. But it DOES mean that you can't offer the discount only if the purchaser agrees to leave you a product review. The practice of discounts in exchange for reviews used to be one of the most powerful ways to drive product reviews, which in turn helps with social proof, which in turn drives sales. So… since it’s not allowed now, what should you do to get a product going? Scott’s going to tell you how he’s modified his strategy, on this episode.

Can you tell me what the best way is to research great keywords for my products?

A listener called in on this episode and he's a Jr. in college and has already launched 4 products and has two more on order. He’s rocking the Amazon private label sales world already and is eager to find out how he can find the best keywords that his products can best rank for. He knows that getting his products found for the keywords people are actually searching for is what is going to help him get in front of the people who are wanting exactly what he has to offer. If you’d like to hear how Scott recommends all sellers go about finding their best product keywords - including the tools he’d use to find them.

If private label sales are proving to be a challenge, here’s how you can get your questions answered.

The Friday episodes of The Amazing Seller podcast are aimed entirely at answering YOUR Amazon, business, marketing, and private label sales questions. If you are struggling to get your private label questions answered, Scott is the guy. If you want to know how to do better list building and online marketing, Scott’s here to help. Don’t miss these Friday episodes. Not only can you find out how to ask your own questions, you can also hear answers to other sellers’ questions - and that will help you as well!

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:03] Scott’s introduction to this Q&A episode of the podcast!
  • [4:32] QUESTION ONE: Just launched my first PL product and I’m curious if my products isn’t rising in the rankings due to being a new seller?
  • [17:30] QUESTION TWO: Since there are no longer discounts in exchange for reviews what do we do to get reviews from now on?
  • [26:39] QUESTION THREE: What is the best way to research the best keywords for my products?

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Direct download: TAS292.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:30am EDT

It’s almost every week that somebody says Amazon is too crowded for anyone to build a successful business selling private label products. But this episode should prove to you that those are entirely false beliefs. This episode features a couple who started out selling products via retail arbitrage but soon transitioned into wholesale products from China that turned into a successful business. It wasn’t overnight and it took a lot of hard work and smart product research but this couple has done it. You can hear every step of their process and the things they’ve done to keep the ball rolling on this episode.

How to get past the discouragement to become successful selling on Amazon.

In any business, you’ve got to understand that discouragements are going to come. So what can you do to prepare yourself for the discouraging times? How can you set your mind in such a way that you’re more likely to press forward than give up? One of the most important things you can do is to find yourself an encouragement partner. That could be a person who is committed to cheering you on during the difficult times, or it could be an actual business partner like the couple featured on this episode. They have found that when one of them is down the other is able to encourage so they keep moving forward together. What’s your strategy for staying encouraged? Find out how it works for this couple, on this episode.

Did you know that you can be rid of Amazon product hijackers once and for all?

One of the best things that has happened on the Amazon platform in a very long time is that the powers that be at the Big A have added a new perk to the benefits of brand registering your products. Once you have a brand approved on Amazon it is now impossible for anyone else to begin listing products under your product listings unless they first ask your approval to do so. That is an incredible benefit to private label sellers, virtually eliminating the possibility of hijackers taking over your listing. On this episode Scott and his guests talk about the safety and power of this new ruling, so be sure you listen.

Product research criteria #1: Less than 100 product reviews in all of the top 10 listings.

When Scott asked this amazing couple what they were looking for when it came to product ideas one of the things they said is a non-negotiable for them is that every one of the top 10 products in any niche they consider must have less than 100 reviews. If you’ve been researching product ideas on Amazon for any length of time that may sound impossible to you but this couple says they find products that fall within that criteria almost every week. You can hear how they are finding them and the tools that make their search easy, on this episode of The Amazing Seller.

How poorly optimized Amazon product listing are something you can use to your advantage.

When you’re checking out the listings of the competition in a niche where you are considering a possible product launch one of the things you need to look at carefully is how well the competitor’s product listings are optimized. If you find low-resolution pictures or a small number of pictures that’s a sign that you might be able to quickly capture the sales in that category by optimizing your own listing much better than theirs. That’s just one of the product research tips given on this episode by a couple who’s become very successful at selling private label products without resorting to PPC or giveaways. Find out more by listening.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:03] Scott’s introduction to this great interview edition of the podcast!
  • [1:45] The importance of having support in your business journey.
  • [6:20] The backstory behind this amazing success.
  • [12:40] Pressing forward in spite of the discouragement.
  • [17:31] The idea that sparked interest and the product research process that followed.
  • [22:40] Hijacker problems and how they dealt with the threat.
  • [26:59] The new benefits of brand registry some are experiencing.
  • [31:53] Future product ideas the path ahead.
  • [33:29] The product research criteria this couple is using and how they apply it.
  • [40:24] How the product listings are being optimized.
  • [53:50] The price point these products hit.
  • [47:55] Moving from non-branded to branded products.
  • [50:58] Tips to those who are skeptical about whether Amazon will work these days.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Direct download: TAS291.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:30am EDT

So many things having to do with Amazon private label sales change from week to week. With changes happening that rapidly it’s hard to keep abreast of everything and to actually KNOW how to apply the changes effectively for your brand and products. That’s why these TAS Power Hour episodes are so helpful. Three experienced Amazon sellers unpack the current happenings in the Amazon ecosphere on the spot, as they are announced so you can get some perspective on what’s happening and what it means to you. Be sure to listen - this is a great episode that covers a handful of very important topics that have happened lately.

Are you using the enhanced listings for your Amazon products? Why not?!!!

If you aren’t aware of it, you need to know, Amazon has now rolled out an amazing feature for anyone who has brand registered their products. You can now use the Amazon enhanced listing feature to build out your product listings very much like a long form sales landing page. The drag and drop format and enhanced formatting options like bold, underlining, and more make it possible for you to make your product listing incredibly attractive and powerfully effective as a sales tool. You’ve got to hear the details from the TAS Power Hour guys, on this episode.

No more “dollar off” discount codes on Amazon products. It’s true.

It used to be the case that you could create discount codes for your Amazon products in two different formats - dollars-off and percentage-off. But it’s not that way anymore. Amazon has now restricted the options to only allow percentage-off discounts. Why is this a big deal? Because the percentage option allows those who receive it to game the system - sort of - and cost you some extra cash as a seller. The guys unpack the issue on this TAS Power Hour episode so be sure you listen so you can know the best ways to use your offer codes.

Does Amazon allow you to send discount codes to your email list?

With all of the changes going on surrounding review policies on Amazon and the use of discounts in exchange for a review (which isn’t allowed anymore), many people are confused as to what is legal and what is not. One question that comes up over and over is whether or not you as a seller are allowed to send out discount codes for your products via your email list. On this episode of the TAS Power Hour the guys discuss that strategy - tell why it’s so powerful - and what Amazon really thinks about it. You’ve got to hear this one.

It’s now possible to lock down your Amazon products to prevent hijackers.

For a long time now, Scott and his buddies have been recommending that every person who is selling products on Amazon go through the process of brand registering their products so they can get in on the many benefits it brings. Now there’s another benefit that’s been added to the brand registry perks - and it's amazing! You can now essentially lock down your products so that anyone who wants to list a product under that listing has to ask YOUR permission to do so. It’s incredible. Find out how to take advantage of this new perk on this episode of The Amazing Seller.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:03] Scott’s introduction to this Power Hour episode of the podcast!
  • [1:04] How you can get involved in the next LIVE workshop.
  • [6:23] What is this about enhanced content for Amazon product listings?
  • [18:49] Amazon changes the discount code options.
  • [28:46] Are you allowed to send promo codes to your email list?
  • [41:00] A giveaway experiment that is exploding in email opt-ins.
  • [43:40] It’s now possible to lock down your products to prevent hijackers.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Direct download: TAS290.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:30am EDT

It’s one thing to learn the hard way. It’s an even BETTER thing to learn from the hard mistakes that OTHER PEOPLE have made. You can be one of the smart people who learns from that second option by listening to this episode of The Amazing Seller. It’s one of the Friday, “Ask Scott” episodes where you are able to ask your questions, share your mistakes, and find out how to an experienced Amazon seller would handle your situation or circumstance. It’s a great way to learn from the experiences of others to shorten your learning curve and make your business more profitable, faster.

What happens on Amazon when you change your product packaging?

One of the listeners to The Amazing Seller podcast called in to ask Scott about the impact of changing his product packaging. He’s making improvements to the quality and appearance of his product, which is always a great thing to do for the sake of customer perception of your brand and products. But does a change in packaging change the way Amazon handles his products? Does it affect his product listings in any way? Is he going to run into trouble because his products are not exactly the same as they have been in the past? Scott Voelker has a great answer about this issue and even gives some advice about how to go about deciding on the better packaging options for your products - it's all on this episode.

Use existing products and reviews to magnify sales of product variations.

When you’ve got an existing product for sale on Amazon and the reviews have already been coming in, you’ve got a great asset that you need to capitalize on. But how do you do that? Scott’s got some suggestions for how you can use the reviews and the ratings on your current Amazon product SKUs to help you build brand awareness, cross-selling possibilities, and more for your related or variation products. He’s sharing those ideas on this “can’t miss” episode of the podcast, so be sure you make the time to listen.

How to create a brand name or brand identity for your eCommerce products.

We all know the brands that have dominated the retail industry. Nike. Apple. Harley Davidson. These companies are known for their brand identity as much as they are for the products or services they provide. How do you create a brand that is THAT powerful? Is there a simple but effective way to begin the process? Scott Voelker is a proponent of what he calls “Open Branding” and on this episode of The Amazing Seller Podcast, in response to a listener question, he walks through what it takes to build an open brand, what it means for you as a person growing a brand from nothing into prominence, and how you can get started today.

What is your biggest eCommerce or Private Label struggle? Get a solution here.

There’s nothing like an experienced voice of reason to come alongside you when you’re struggling to find an answer to a pain point or problem you have. In business, that can be extra helpful because every delay or misstep can cost you money. This is an “Ask Scott” episode of The Amazing Seller Podcast where Scott Voelker answers your eCommerce, business, and Amazon sales questions. You don’t have to learn all the lessons yourself by making mistakes. You can learn from someone who’s been down the road ahead of you and is happy to help you learn to navigate your journey using his mistakes and lessons learned. If you’re at all interested in eCommerce, this episode is a great introduction to what it takes to build a successful business.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER

  • [0:03] Scott’s introduction to this Q& A session of the podcast!
  • [5:07] An upcoming TAS unofficial meetup in San Diego!
  • [6:20] QUESTION ONE: Upgrading my packaging… does Amazon care? Does it change anything?
  • [14:10] QUESTION TWO: When my product has variations and I stop selling the original SKU, will I lose the reviews I have accumulated?
  • [20:28] QUESTION THREE: What is your process of coming up with an actual brand name?

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Direct download: TAS289.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:30am EDT

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