Podcasts about resources mentioned on this episode

  On this episode of Theology Gals Coleen talks with her brother-in-law Ted Rosenbladt, President of 1517 The Legacy Project.  You may be familiar with his father Rod Rosenbladt from the White Horse Inn radio program. Coleen and Ted talk about 1517 The Legacy Project, the anniversary of the Reformation and a variety of other things. Ashley is gone, but will return next week. Resources Mentioned On This Episode: 1517legacy.com 1517 Freebies Here We Still Stand Conference The Thinking Fellows Podcast THE REFORMATION THEN AND NOW: 25 YEARS OF MODERN REFORMATION ARTICLES CELEBRATING 500 YEARS OF THE REFORMATION Women can join our Facebook Group Theology Gals-Ladies Theology Discussion and Encouragement Follow us: On Facebook On Twitter @TheologyGals On Instagram theologygals Email us at theologygals@gmail.com If you'd like to ask Theology Gals a question which may be answered on a future episode, you can text or leave us a voicemail at 951-364-0221. You may also send an email. Consider supporting Theology Gals with just a few dollars a month

TODAY'S GUEST: Ellen Kunz After finishing school Ellen Kunz went on to study pottery. In 1978 she went to the South of France to learn from a potter named Pierre Duterte. Later she had an amazing chance to learn from the most famous potter in Germany, named Wendelin Stahl. He was one of the first potters to build a bridge from handcrafted to artisan. Ellen says that he was a perfectionist and that he taught her to use her eyes and her passion, and that she was lucky to learn all she knows from him. The next chapter of her life began in 1984 when she gave birth to her daughter, Paula. Ellen stopped pottery at this point but went into 3-year professional training to become a retail salesperson. She opened an interior design shop called SOULEIADO, which sold handmade curtains, bedding, tablecloths and living decor made with special very colorful material from the South of France. In 1995 Ellen gave birth to her son Johann, and in 2001 she decided to close her shop to begin a study in homeopathy. She did a 3-year training with Dr. Christian Heimes and shortly after starting that, decided to go to Italy to do a master study with Dr. Massimo Mangialavori, which she did for more than 5 years. She also did a 2-year study with master homeopath Professor George Vithoulkas. Ellen went on to do many additional studies in homeopathy via seminars, webinars and short course studies that were taught by world-renowned homeopaths such as Henny Heudens, Jan Scholten, Rajan Sankaran, Dr. Farokh, Master, & Divya Chahbra. In 2003 Ellen received the shocking news that she had breast cancer. She declined western treatment & aggressively researched her alternatives which included of course homeopathy. In 2004-2006 Ellen did a 3-year training to become a Non-medical practitioner so she could legally open her own homeopathic practice. And then in Feb 2007, she opened her own homeopathic practice, which she still has today. Ellen received her second breast cancer diagnosis in 2008, which led her to further investigate life changes, including diet and so many other alternative treatments that she credits for her cure. And finally, just last year, after 33 years Ellen felt inspired to re-start her pottery. She now does pottery alongside her homeopathic practice. She is in the process of building her new pottery website & is excited to have this creative outlet to pour her passion into. She says it is a great balance for her to do both. There is some real magic to this because it shows her constantly how she is doing; when she creates a pot that is well done then she can tell she is in a very healthy place. Ellen loves the beauty of and in things. She likes to care for people. She says when you are healthy you are free and then all your inner beauty can flower out! IN THIS EPISODE: Ellen Kunz, potter, homeopath, breast cancer survivor, and my soul-sister talks with me about her experiences with finding alternatives to chemo for healing her cancer. It was a long and challenging journey for her. If you have received a cancer diagnosis or you want to know how to avoid cancer, you'll love listening to this conversation about Ellen's experience alternative treatments. Although her mammograms had been clear, the doctor who was doing Ellen Kunz' breast implant surgery discovered that she did, indeed, have cancer. In this interview, Ellen Kunz talks about what it was like to wake up to that diagnosis, to process it, and make tough decisions about what path to take toward healing as she explored alternatives to chemo. She is an amazing person. You will be inspired by her courageous journey! Ellen Kunz experienced a ton of pressure, even shaming, from her medical doctors who wanted her to immediately go through chemo and radiation, even though she did not believe that was her best course of treatment. Listen to this episode to find out how she responded to that pressure and what factors gave her the courage to continue pursuing the alternatives to chemo and radiation that eventually brought health to her body. Cancer does not happen overnight. Where does it start? What factors influence its growth? What does it take to bring peace and balance back to our bodies? Can we actually heal ourselves? Find answers to these questions and more in this compelling interview with Ellen Kunz, who shares the wealth of knowledge she has gathered on her personal journey with breast cancer, as we discuss different ways that nature can help heal us. You don't want to miss our inspiring conversation about her courageous journey to finding healing for cancer without chemo and radiation. If you want to heal your cancer through alternatives to chemo and radiation, you will need to begin with changes to your diet and your stressful lifestyle. What kinds of changes will make the most difference? Listen to this interview with Ellen Kunz to learn from her experience as a homeopath and as a breast cancer survivor who went to great lengths to discover the lifestyle changes that would help her the most as she sought to heal her cancer. Outline Of This Great Episode [2:00] Vidal introduces her podcast. [4:45] How Vidal met her guest, Ellen Kunz. [9:10] Introduction of Ellen Kunz, potter, homeopath, and breast cancer survivor. [14:30] How Ellen's breast implant surgery led to the discovery of her breast cancer. [20:55] How Ellen went against the pressure to do chemotherapy and radiation. [26:50] Ellen's process of finding the therapy the would work for her. [28:45] What life issues contribute to the development of cancer? [31:00] Ellen's transition to a vegan diet. [33:45] Break - Contest info - How to enter to win. Reminder about water and minerals. [35:35] How Ellen learned to cook vegetables and love them. [39:05] What is the process of cancer development? What role does adrenaline play? [46:00] Life changes that get rid of stress and heal your adrenals. [54:40] What Ellen would do if she had cancer again [56:58] Why is detox so important, and how do you do it? [1:00:00] How to stay strong in your choices when others don't support you. [1:02:15] What Ellen would do differently if she could make her cancer treatment choices over again. [1:06:00] Tips for those who have received a cancer diagnosis or who want to avoid cancer. [1:09:30] Postscript - the other alternative therapies Ellen used. Resources Mentioned On This Episode http://provence.souleiado.com/ http://www.witzhelden.info/stahl.htm Movie: Forks Over Knives Vidal's product page Gerson Therapy Vidal Speaks Website

TODAY'S GUEST: Dr. Michael Klaper, is a gifted clinician, internationally recognized teacher, and sought-after speaker on diet and health. He has practiced medicine for more than 40 years and is a leading educator in applied plant-based nutrition and integrative medicine. Dr. Klaper is also the author of a successful book on cholesterol-free nutrition and an upcoming title (to be announced in 2016), as well as numerous health videos. He is truly a source of inspiration advocating plant-based diets and the end of animal cruelty worldwide, Dr. Klaper contributed to the making of two PBS television programs Food for Thought and the award-winning Diet for a New America movie based on the book of the same name by author and former heir to the Baskin-Robbins fortune, John Robbins. He teaches his students and patients that “health comes from healthy living,” and is dedicated to the healing and flourishing of all living beings and of th e planet itself. Dr. Michael Klaper graduated in 1972 from University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago. He served his medical internship at Vancouver General Hospital in British Columbia, Canada and undertook additional training in surgery, anesthesiology, and orthopedics at the University of British Columbia Hospitals in Vancouver, and obstetrics at the University of California Hospitals in San Francisco. As Dr. Klaper's medical career progressed, he began to realize (true to what science is bearing out today) that many of the diseases his patients presented with – clogged arteries (atherosclerosis), high blood pressure (hypertension), obesity, adult onset diabetes, and even some forms of arthritis, asthma, and other significant illnesses – were made worse or actually caused by the high-fat, high sugar, overly processed Standard American Diet (S.A.D.). Accordingly, Dr. Klaper resolutely believes that proper nutrition and a balanced lifestyle are essential for health and, in many cases, can make the difference between healing an illness or merely treating its symptoms. As a passionate and devoted educator of physicians and other healthcare professionals about the importance of nutrition in clinical practice, Dr. Michael Klaper served as the Director of the non-profit Institute of Nutrition Education and Research. He was also a member of the Nutrition Task Force of the American Medical Student Association, and served as an advisor to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) project on nutrition for long-term space colonists on the moon and Mars. For over ten years, he hosted the popular medical information radio program Sounds of Healing on WPFW in Washington, DC and KAOI 1110 AM on Maui, Hawaii. Dr. Michael Klaper practiced acute care medicine in New Zealand for three years and currently serves on the staff of the TrueNorth Health Center in Santa Rosa, California, a nutritionally-based medical clinic specializing in therapeutic fasting and health improvement through a whole-foods, plant-based diet. Dr. Michael Klaper is licensed to practice medicine in California and Hawaii. Connect With Today's guest: Dr. Michael Klaper Website: www.DoctorKlaper.com On Twitter On Facebook On LinkedIn IN THIS EPISODE: On this episode, I'm talking again with Dr. Michael Klaper. He's such a generous guy and knows a ton about the medical practice of water fasting. Many people are afraid of fasting. They think it's unsafe and bad for your body. But the truth is that it's only been in the most modern era that humanity has had the luxury of eating as much as we do now. Our ancestors HAD to fast and it was actually good for them. And look what's happened as a result of our modern ways: we've gotten fat, lazy, and sick. Fasting is clearly not harmful. Water fasting is an amazing way to cleanse the body of toxins and reset its ability to regulate good health. More and more research is coming out every day about the benefits that come from a prolonged state of fasting. Dr. Michael Klaper is my guest today because I wanted to know more about the benefits of water fasting - and you know that I wanted to share it with you, too, right? Did you know that water fasting can be used to cure many of the maladies that beset our culture these days? Diabetes, high blood pressure, bowel issues, even some depressive conditions can be cured - yes, entirely cured - using a carefully supervised regimen that includes water fasting. Dr. Klaper's clinic in southern California specializes in helping people get the help they need through fasting, at very affordable rates. If you find yourself in a state of ill health without making much progress in the hands of conventional medicine, you need to reach out to Dr. Klaper to find out if water fasting under his care would be a way you could address your issues. On this episode I asked Dr. Klaper to share how people could get in touch with him or become a patient in his clinic, so be sure you listen to get all the details. Can fasting be used for weight loss? Yes - but no. You will likely lose weight when doing a water fast but the purpose of fasting is not for weight loss, it's for better health. If you approach fasting just to lose weight you're not addressing the real issue - the dietary habits you practice every day. On this episode, Dr. Klaper makes that distinction very clear and advises you how to think about weight loss as it related to fasting so that you can not only get healthy by fasting but also think about it in a healthy way, too. Outline Of This Great Episode [2:00] My introduction to this episode about detoxing from fasting, with Dr. Klaper. [4:23] The historical benefits of fasting. [6:38] The REAL definition of fasting. [7:48] The use of fasting in medical ways throughout history. [10:58] Where and what is True North Health Center? [14:50] Is fasting really healthy? Should we all be doing it? [19:25] A good formula for relatively healthy people to fast. [23:08] Should a person try to stay in a state of ketosis all the time? [26:35] The carbohydrate myths going around in our culture. [29:30] The truth about beans. [31:10] Who is and who is not a good candidate for water fasting? [42:14] Should distilled water be used in fasting? [47:54] Can fasting remove heavy metals from the body? [49:25] How brain chemistry changes during a fast (for the better). [51:57] How to break a fast of any length. [55:40] How should people without extra body fat approach fasting? [58:18] Dr. Klaper's best tips for you. [1:00:19] How you can make use of the True North Facilities and care. Resources Mentioned On This Episode www.DoctorKlaper.com www.HealthPromoting.com - the True North website True North: 707-586-5555 The Fast Mimicking Diet BOOK: The Blue Zones (affiliate) Forks Over Knives movie www.PCRM.org

TODAY'S GUEST: Rev. Olivia Bareham, founder of Sacred Crossings is a certified Death Midwife, Home Funeral Guide and Celebrant. She holds bachelor's degrees in Education and Natural Theology and Sacred Healing and is an ordained Inter-faith Minister. Olivia's experience as an auxiliary nurse, hospice volunteer and her mother's end-of-life caregiver, inspired her to investigate more meaningful and personal alternatives to traditional funeral practices. “At the event of death and for a few days following, there is a window of opportunity for great healing to occur. When the funeral home took my mother's body away just hours after her death, I felt this window close. We were left feeling helpless, unsure and wishing that we had had a little more time.” In an effort to provide a way to keep this window open and facilitate the healing process, Olivia immersed herself in the study of death and dying culminating in certification as a Death Midwife and Home Funeral Guide. She subsequently created Sacred Crossings with the mission of empowering and guiding families to reclaim the ‘Lost art and healing ritual of a Home Funeral'. Over the next ten years the demand for information about conscious dying, after-death care and home funerals increased: “When I was called bedside to help an individual make their transition, they were often remorseful about unresolved relationships, or fearful of what was going to happen, or stressed about their suffering. It seemed that transitioning would be a gentler, less stressful process if people learned how to prepare ahead of time. Also, when a loved-one died, families were often completely unprepared. They were unaware of their options for after-death care and the complex funeral industry made them feel helpless, vulnerable and afraid. It became clear there was a huge need for death education so I began teaching classes and workshops on The Art of Dying, After-death Care and Home Funerals.” Olivia is a writer, producer and public speaker. She is an active member of the National Home Funeral Alliance,and past President of the board for The Los Angeles Hospice at Anam Cara in Topanga Canyon. Sacred Crossings is a Los Angeles-based company offering education, support and guidance for conscious dying and home funerals. Sacred Crossing Guides assist families with end-of-life planning; death midwifery; creating a vigil and funeral at home and cremation or burial arrangements. Their education institute offers workshops and classes and a certificate program in The Art of Death Midwifery. Students are both professional and non-professional end-of-life caregivers and those wishing to delve deeper into the dying process to further their spiritual growth. Graduates of the death midwifery program are eligible to serve as Sacred Crossing Guides. The Sacred Crossings Funeral Home is coming soon & will offer a full range of services including cremation, burial, funerals and memorials. Sacred Crossings is a non-denominational service without cultural or religious discrimination. While it is best to begin funeral planning in advance, we can help a family at any time. Connect With Today's guest: Rev. Olivia Bareham Website: www.SacredCrossings.com Olivia(at)sacredcrossings.com On Facebook IN THIS EPISODE: It may sound strange to you to think about having a death midwife, but it really makes sense when you think about it. We hire a midwife to come in at the birth of a child - the entrance into this life. Why wouldn't it be appropriate to hire a midwife for death, the departure from this life? My guest today IS a death midwife and is training others with the skills to fill this important role in helping those who are dying and their families deal with the fact of death in a more healthy and positive way. Death is one of those transitions in life that is so strange and uncomfortable that people don't like to talk about it. But that's only because we've been taught to be uncomfortable about it. In many cultures, there are family rituals centered around the death of a loved one that actually help with closure and healing over the 3 days following the death. A death midwife's role is to come into a family situation and help those struggling with the death process to learn, grow, and come to accept the inevitable fact of death for all of us. It's a healthy process of listening, asking questions, and learning as everyone learns how to say goodbye in a healthy way that benefits the one dying as well as those who survive them. What is YOUR biggest fear about dying? Is it the pain? In this conversation Olivia and I chat about how the pain is not such a fearful thing and why it's not the best thing for people to be over medicated to the point that they can't interact with their family or friends during the last days of their lives. It robs everyone of a very important part of the death transition that could make the experience more positive for everyone. If you are curious about end of life issues and the role that a death midwife might be able to play in your family or future, I encourage you to listen to this conversation. I learned a lot myself about the positive role a death midwife can play in an otherwise uncomfortable and difficult situation. I hope you find something in Olivia's stories and experiences that will bring you hope and help as you deal with death in your own life.   Outline Of This Great Episode [1:59] My welcome and introduction to this episode. [8:28] Who is Rev. Olivia Bareham? [12:00] What IS a death midwife and why did Olivia get into this kind of work? [15:00] Things that should take place over the 3 days following a death. [17:55] Why a slower transition with a death midwife is better for the family. [19:22] Why does American culture deny the dying process. [21:51] What happens after the 3 day period. [25:27] The importance of telling loved ones what you want done at your death. [27:20] The vital nature of establishing your own health care directive. [30:42] The benefits and good work of hospice care. [33:50] The importance of having conversations about death and dying. [36:50] My call to action and thanks to you - the listeners! [38:05] How should a person reach out to the death midwife if they wind up in a hospital? [41:35] Do religious people have an easier transition? [46:12] The training program for death midwifery that Olivia has created. [43:38] Questions and thoughts about drugs at the time near death. [53:00] How self administered lethal dose laws impact this process. [57:04] The 3 best things you can do to prepare for your death. Resources Mentioned On This Episode www.MyDirectives.com BOOK: The Art of Living and Dying (affiliate link) BOOK: Die Wise (affiliate link)   Check List of Documents to Include in your DEATH FILE Advanced Health Care Directive - signed & notarized. (See caringinfo.org to download directive for your state) Will Trust & Certificate of Trust Durable Power of Attorney for Finances Life Insurance Policy Bank Account Information Real Estate Documents & Deeds Funeral Pre-need docs & Funeral Insurance if any Debtor Information Copy of Drivers License / Social Security Card / Marriage & Divorce Certificate Passwords for phone, computer, email, Facebook & other social media sites Advanced Death Care Directive - Your plan for funeral & final disposition - (see deathcaredirective.com) Letters to loved ones - (These can be distributed to your loved ones upon death)

TODAY'S GUEST: Dr. Andy Cutler has a PhD in chemistry from Princeton, a BS in physics from the University of California. He is a registered patent agent and a licensed professional chemical engineer. He knows firsthand what can happen when you get mercury poisoning. He's experienced the devastating ‘mystery syndrome' and had doctor after doctor scratch their head in puzzlement and send him away. After finding out that the mercury in his amalgam fillings was the source of his terrible illness he was able to read the medical literature and determine a chemically sensible procedure to get well. This pioneered the rational use of chelators for heavy metal toxicity. The results of his experience and research culminated in writing the book Amalgam Illness on how to cure mercury poisoning, and the Hair Test Interpretation book on how to use a painless and inexpensive test to check for the toxic effects of a wide variety of elements. He currently works as a detox consultant and continues writing books. Connect With Today's guest: ANDY CUTLER, PhD., PE. Website: www.NoAmalgam.com and www.NoAmalgam.com/hairtestbook IN THIS EPISODE: After last week's great episode (which was a great hit with listeners) I am so glad we have more time to hear from Dr. Andy Cutler about the issue of mercury poisoning. His expertise in this area is invaluable to anyone who is struggling with any kind of mystery illness. On this episode, we get into the symptoms of mercury poisoning, how you can remove it from your system through mercury chelation, and what to watch out for when it comes to treatment methods. Do you suffer from a mystery illness? Are fatigue and disorientation a common experience for you? Dr. Andy Cutler has identified that many of those types of symptoms are in fact mercury poisoning. Where does mercury come from? Fillings are a huge culprit, but also many vaccinations. There are ways to tell if your symptoms are caused by mercury and Dr. Cutler walks us through those steps on this episode. What can you do to get mercury out of your body? The main way is through detoxification, and chelation is one of the best methods for doing that. But you've got to do it according to the strict protocols Dr. Cutler has devised, and ONLY after all the mercury that you know about (like in your dental work) is removed completely. Find out how to do this important mercury removal through mercury chelation, on this episode. Nobody who suffers from a chronic mystery condition should allow themselves to be satisfied with the guesses traditional physicians make about their symptoms. Dr. Cutler says that 9 out of 10 people who have a mystery illness likely have mercury poisoning as the root issue. You've got to listen to this episode to get the help you need. It could be the answer to your many years of questions and searching. If you'd like to find out all the details about mercury chelation Dr. Cutler's book is the best resource available. It gives clear, easy to follow steps to the chelation process and you can do it yourself with supplements you can purchase over the counter. Why not give it a try? The only thing you have to lose is your mystery illness. Find his book in the resources section of this podcast episode. Outline Of This Great Episode [2:00] My introduction to this episode and welcome to you - my listener! [8:42] The symptoms of mercury poisoning. [13:30] Dr. Cutler's protocol for treating mercury poisoning. [23:55] Could this protocol be used to treat neuropathy? [28:19] How to detect if you have mercury in your dental work. [34:49] Testing to detect mercury toxicity. [41:00] Tests to avoid. [44:33] Recommendations for Alpha Lipoic Acid and Vitamin C supplementation. [52:57] 3 steps listeners should pay attention to. [55:11] How to learn more from Dr. Cutler. Resources Mentioned On This Episode contact(AT)VidalSpeaks.com - Contact me! FACEBOOK group: Dr. Cutler's Chelation Think Tank Analytical Research Lab Testing Rocky Mountain Analytical Testing BOOK: Amalgam Illness: Diagnosis and Treatment BOOK: Hair Test Interpretation See Mercury vapors and then to see the vapors in a carpet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpZF88fqrl8 See Mercury vapors coming out of a 25 year old tooth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ylnQ-T7oiA Trace Amounts movie to watch for free https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEL7TojuEno&feature=youtu.be How we get mercury from trees! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cs3Q3fFg-SQ    Cutler Success Stories http://cutlersuccessstories.weebly.com/what-not-to-do.html List of symptoms of Mercury Poisoning http://www.mercurypoisoned.com/symptoms.html

Here it is! The “Ask Scott” session of the Amazing Seller podcast. This is where we talk about all kinds of things relating to online business, private label sales on Amazon, and anything having to do with making a better life for yourself and making a difference in the world. On this episode, you’re going to get straight, helpful answers to real life questions. And the person answering your questions is Scott Voelker, an experienced online businessman, and Amazon seller. You can also hear how to ask your own questions, so be sure to listen and learn! The power of surrounding yourself with like-minded people. Scott has recently moved from upstate New York to South Carolina and he’s noticed the difference his surroundings are making on his own mindset. In particular, he’s aware of the people in his neighborhood. Their focus on fitness and healthy eating are impacting Scott and his family, encouraging them toward their own version of fitness and health. It’s an example of why the people you surround yourself with are hugely important for your life - and Scott's got some encouragement for YOU along that line, on this episode. What are the pros and cons of listing a new product as a variation VS a stand alone product? Many people are discovering opportunities to create multiple products based on their first product. Sometimes it’s as simple as creating a variation of the product (color, size, etc.) and other times it’s a new product that is different in a unique or significant way. On this episode, Scott covers the advantages of variations VS new product listings and encourages Amazon sellers to think about who they are targeting with their product as one way to decide whether there are advantages to one approach over the other. Be sure you listen if you’re interested in creating multiple products as a spin-off from your original product. How does my product rating relate to my number and quality of reviews? There isn’t any way to know for sure how your product rating relates to your reviews simply because Amazon doesn’t reveal how its algorithm works when it comes to product ratings. But there are some things you can focus on to help you improve your product rating. On this episode of The Amazing Seller, Scott gives a couple of very practical things you can focus on to improve your product rating overall. Both are simple but do take some time. So make sure you listen and commit yourself to doing the work to improve your business and products. I’m creating product packs from a bulk quantity but I’m having trouble scaling. A listener called in to ask for help from Scott concerning scaling his sales to a higher level. He’s purchasing bulk size orders of various products and breaking the bulk packaging apart to place the individual products into smaller quantity packages. The problem is that the labor of doing so is slowing down his ability to scale his sales. It’s a very creative and intriguing idea that’s getting good sales traffic but he wants to have more opportunity. Scott’s got some great ideas about how he can leverage others to help him scale the business. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER [0:03] Scott’s introduction to the podcast! [2:20] The TAS power hour - a Facebook/Periscope broadcast - Fridays 1PM Eastern. [4:01] The power of surrounding yourself with like-minded people. [9:12] QUESTION ONE: What are the pros and cons of listing variations VS stand alone products. [16:08] QUESTION TWO: My product rating is at 3.9 out of 5. To me it doesn’t make sense when I look at my reviews? Can you shed some light? [25:15] QUESTION THREE: I’m having trouble scaling my sales due to some logistical issues. Can you help me think it through? [34:30] The TAS Power Hour broadcast - and how you can get involved. RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE www.TheAmazingSeller.com/ask - Ask your own questions! www.TheAmazingSeller.com/246 - episode about getting real reviews. www.TheAmazingSeller.com/HOUR - you can join the TAS live broadcasts.

One of the most common sticking points Scott hears from people who are looking into the possibility of placing products on Amazon is the product discovery phase. Many people experience brain-lock when it comes to figuring out what to offer for sale. On this episode, Scott’s got a couple of great stories of how he figured out some product and business ideas that should help you see the kinds of real life things that can help you discover product ideas. You won’t want to miss this one. It covers some of the most practical ways you can discover unique products to serve a particular market. What are you good at? There are many people in the world who are also engaged with the exact areas where you have skill and expertise. They need resources to help them become even more accomplished in that niche. What knowledge, skills, or expertise do you have that can be turned into a product that you could sell to those people on Amazon or other online platforms? You have a leg up on the competition because you already know the market and need. That’s just one way that you can create a product that you can be fairly certain is going to be a success. Listen to this episode to hear the whole story of how you can discover product ideas. What do you want to learn more about? Every one of us has our interest in a new topic piqued from time to time. When that happens there are many things you have to learn or resources you need to purchase in order to get started in that area. Right there are a handful of product ideas that you could possibly begin selling through private label on Amazon. What are you interested in right now? Are there any new hobbies or areas you’re about to step into? Listen to Scott’s ideas on this episode to help you sort out the many opportunities that exist around you right now. What are your kids or friends’ kids into right now? Scott’s daughter has just begun to get involved in two new activities - playing the piano and volleyball. In each of those areas, she’s got to gather the resources she needs in order to be equipped for the activity. For piano lessons and practice she may need a metronome or staff paper. For volleyball, she may need specialized shoes or knee pads. Those pieces of equipment are some of the things that many people need when they are interested in the same activity. On this episode, you’re going to learn how you can observe the things you’re already doing or just getting started with so that you can generate product ideas to sell on Amazon. Do you have friends or neighbors who have a skill that could help you launch a product? Scott just moved to a new home in South Carolina. As a result, he’s meeting lots of new people and getting to know his neighbors. In almost every conversation he’s noticing skills, interests, or knowledge that his new friends have that could be leveraged into a product idea to sell on Amazon. On this episode, he’s not only going to tell you a handful of stories about those encounters but also give you some ideas about how you can begin to pay attention to the relationships you have that could be tapped into for the sake of product ideas. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER [0:03] Scott’s introduction to the podcast! [1:08] The upcoming LIVE event in Phoenix, AZ in October 2016. [3:52] Scott’s story about how he got started online. [21:23] 4 questions to ask yourself. [30:39] Why you should be a good listener who understands other people’s lives. [36:12] Do an internal “audit” of your interests and connections to discover product ideas. RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE www.TheAmazingSeller.com/LIVE - find out more about the LIVE event. GarageBand www.TheAmazingSeller.com/125 - Scott’s journey episode www.Ebay.com www.TheAmazingSeller.com/56 OR www.TheAmazingSeller.com/151 - for product research episodes www.TheAmazingSeller.com/js - Scott’s affiliate link to Jungle Scout

One of the most unaddressed and confusing issues when it comes to selling any kind of products online is the collection of sales tax. One of the reasons it can be so confusing is because every State has its own set of regulations surrounding sales tax as well as its own process business owners need to go through in order to register and pay their taxes. That description alone should show you how difficult it is to remain in compliance. State sales tax issues are one of the most frequently asked questions Scott receives so he decided it was time to get someone on the show who could answer the basic questions about sales tax. That someone is Mark Faggiano of Taxjar. You can hear their conversation on this episode. I have to collect State sales tax? Really? Sometimes the fact that the internet is worldwide makes it seem like State and National jurisdictions don’t apply to what goes on, on the World Wide Web. But the fact is that when a product is purchased that transaction is taking place in a particular place. In other words, the purchaser is sitting at a computer or other device within a specific jurisdiction. It makes sense that States would want to collect sales tax when that happens. So yes, as a seller of products you really do need to be collecting sales tax with each product you sell. But how do you do it? That’s what this episode of The Amazing Seller is all about, so be sure you listen. As an Amazon seller, what States do you need to collect sales tax for? When it comes to knowing what States you should collect sales tax for it comes down to a couple of issues. First is the issue of “nexus.” Nexus refers to the place where you as a business are actually doing business. The most obvious qualification for where your business nexus is located, is the State in which you reside and do your work. But what if you have employees in a different state, or a warehouse in yet another State? And what if Amazon is warehousing your products in a number of States? As you can see, it gets very complicated. But Mark Faggiano from Taxjar is on the show to help us sort it all out. He’s Scott’s guest on this episode. Do I really need to register with a state to pay a very small amount of sales tax? What if you discover that you’ve sold enough products in a particular state - let’s say Maine - to owe $15 in tax to the State of Maine. Does that mean that you should register with the State of Maine so you can fork over that $15? Technically, probably so. But there’s another way to look at it that most people who do product sales for a living feel is safe and ethical. You can hear abou the varying approaches to the issue on this episode as well as hear all of them explained in detail. What are you waiting for? You should listen to this one. What if I had lots of sales in the past and never collected sales tax at all? It’s entirely possible that many people who sell products on Amazon - either private lable or retail arbitrage - are just now hearing about the possibility that they may owe sales tax to various States. If that’s you, here’s something important you should consider. What kind of sales volume have you done in various states in the past? That may impact whether you should be concerned about the issue or not. But at the very least it’s an issue you should look into because of the possibility that a given State may decide to audit you to come after their Sales tax money - and that could be even more costly than paying the tax of your own accord. Find out how you should think through the issues on this episode. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER [0:03] Scott’s introduction to this episode and his guest, Mark Faggiano of TaxJar! [1:14] How Scott came to do this episode in the first place. [3:29] How Mark got into the business of dealing with sales taxes. [6:03] What is meant by “nexus?” [10:37] How do product sales impact the States I collect tax in? [12:44] Can you limit where Amazon moves your product inventory? [15:00] The 2 camps sellers tend to fall into when it comes to State sales tax compliance. [19:30] Does Amazon send State sales tax on my behalf as a seller? [21:57] How many States does Amazon have warehouses in? [23:42] How Taxjar helps sellers keep track of their tax liabilities. [25:41] Stories of Amazon sellers who are being audited for sales tax issues. [28:10] What’s the easiest way to register in various States? [30:44] The first steps for brand new Amazon sellers. [32:32] How you can get your tax data for free from Taxjar. [33:25] How to deal with past sales on which you may owe tax. RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE: www.TheAmazingSeller.com/TaxJar (affiliate link) TaxJar blog Support (at) taxjar (dot) com

It’s time for that cup of coffee and a conversation across the virtual table as you and Scott get to chat about the Amazon private label questions that are on your mind. If you’ve got a sticking point, a lesson learned, a piece of information you need to know… this is your chance to ask Scott about those questions. If you are eager to get answers to your Amazon questions this is the episode for you. Find out how to ask your questions directly to Scott by listening to this episode. I’m not quite sure why Pay Per Click is important? It seems like a huge expense? A listener to this episode of The Amazing Seller asks why it’s important that private label sellers use Amazon Pay Per Click. It’s quite an expense over the long haul and she’s not quite sure why it’s beneficial. On this episode Scott answers her question, telling her why PPC is vital to getting your product started generating sales from the beginning, which in turn will drive your organic sales higher in the Amazon search rankings. What is BSR ranking and why is it important? The BSR ranking on any product in Amazon tells how often and well the product is selling. There are ways you can track the sales ranks of your products and your competitor’s products manually, but it is tedious and requires a good deal of discipline. On this episode Scott describes how he did this using a spreadsheet when he first began selling products on Amazon. He also tells how you can use software to do it much quicker - and offers an affiliate link for you to get the software to try for yourself. I’m about to launch a clothing product. When should I use variations and when should I create a new listing? A listener called in for this episode of the podcast to ask about her product launch. She’s going to be selling items that belong in the clothing category and is curious when she should create a parent product with variations underneath it for size, color, etc. - and when she should start an entirely new listing for products. It can be a bit confusing so Scott tells her what he’d do if he were in her shoes, and more importantly, why. You can hear his answer on this “Ask Scott” episode of The Amazing Seller. The next TAS LIVE event is on the calendar. Want to join Scott, Chris, and other Amazon sellers? October of 2016 is going to see the beginning of Scott’s next TAS LIVE event. This time, it will be held in Phoenix, AZ. It’s a two-day event that allows 10 Amazon sellers to go on the hot seat. The entire group will analyze their business, products, listings, and make recommendations as to what can be done to increase their product sales and improve their brand. The last event was sold out quickly so if you want to be part of this one head over to the show notes page for this episode and find the link to TAS LIVE. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER [0:03] Scott’s introduction to the episode! [2:13] Scott’s next live event is going on in Phoenix Arizona! [5:03] You can also join the TAS Power Hour on Fridays! [7:28] QUESTION ONE: I don’t quite understand the benefits and use of PPC. [18:47] QUESTION TWO: I’m trying to understand BSR rankings. Can you give me some illumination? [25:05] QUESTION THREE: I’m about to list some products in the clothing category and need some help understanding variations. RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE: www.TheAmazingSeller.com/ask www.TheAmazingSeller.com/LIVE www.TheAmazingSeller.com/HOUR www.TheAmazingSeller.com/Start www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop www.TheAmazingSeller.com/56 and www.TheAmazingSeller.com/151 - episodes on choosing products. www.TheAmazingSeller.com/JS - Jungle Scout affliate link

TODAY'S GUEST: Greg Caton worked extensively in "designer foods," as well as alternative medicine and nutrition products since 1981. He graduated from L.A. Valley College ('75); am a U.S. Navy veteran ('75-'78), and is the author of 4 books, Lumen: Food for a New Age (1986, an interdisciplinary work on vegetarianism and the role of  meat analogs, with over 45,000 copies in print); MLM Fraud (1991, on corruption in the multi-level marketing industry and the tools to identify the work of its perpetrators -- since banned in the U.S.); Meditopia® (2004-2012: an ongoing project and free online read); and The Gospel of 2012 According to Ayahuasca (another free online read). In 1984 he founded Consumer Express, which later became Nutrition for Life International (briefly traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange as "NFLI"). Later I founded Lumen Foods (1986), and its internet site (soybean.com, 1995), which currently manufactures the best-selling vegetarian "meat" snack on the North American continent, Stonewall's Jerquee. In 1995 he created Alpha Omega Labs (herbhealers.com / altcancer.com), which became a provider of over 300 alternative health products with 14 distributors around the world, before its closure by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration in September, 2003. It successfully re-opened in Ecuador in June, 2008. Alpha Omega Labs is best known for Cansema® -- an effective cure for skin cancer, based on suppressed formulary information dating back to the 1850's. Over a 20-year period, Alpha Omega Labs has been responsible for curing thousands of cancer cases. The corruption surrounding the circumstances of its closure (from 2003 to 2008) is one of the topics in the free book called Meditopia®. Connect With Today's guest: GREG CATON Website:  www.Meditopia.org  OR http://www.altcancer.com IN THIS EPISODE: If you took the time to listen to last week's episode - and if you didn't you can always go back and do that - you heard the amazing story of how Greg Caton was pursued and finally imprisoned by the American government because of the threat his herbal remedies became to the prescription drug industry. For many types of cancer, Greg has already found the cure and he's got story after story to prove it. You can hear a handful of those stories on this episode of the show. Once Greg was able to get out of prison he moved his family to South America and learned more about the herbal remedies and medicines that could cure cancer - and he learned how to make them available without interference or disruption from the U.S. government. Greg shares many of the things he's learned, on this episode, including particular remedies for specific types of cancer. A cure for cancer is truly within our grasp, at least for certain types of cancer. Greg Caton has found great success treating many skin cancers, prostate, and ovarian cancer, and others using the herbal medicines he has been taught about while living in South America. During our conversation, Greg and I talk about the use of one of his remedies, “Dragon's Blood,” at length. I was excited to discover all the conditions it could be used to treat. On this episode, Greg Caton and I also discuss the importance of cleansing routines and the benefits they can bring. He discusses many of the ways he's gone about cleansing and the herbal tonics he uses to get the greatest effect. If you are in need of detoxification or a bowel cleanse of any kind, this conversation should provide some additional options for you to consider. Before any of you listeners find yourself in a place where you need a cure for cancer it would be a good idea to do some preventative treatments. Greg Caton shares some of the detox routines he has prescribed for the prevention of cancer, on this episode, and finishes up the conversation with 3 of the most important things that anybody can do to improve their quality of life. I encourage you to listen to this episode, take notes, and get in touch with Greg to get some of his remedies. Outline Of This Great Episode [2:00] Deborah's introduction of this part 2 episode of the Greg Caton interview. [3:28] Why you should visit Greg's websites (in the resources below). [4:34] The important thing to understand about anti-cancer herbs. [6:23] The use of “Dragon's Blood.” [10:22] A handful of other amazing products. [18:50] A favorite book to learn about herbs. [19:55] Any experience healing neuropathies? [23:00] Detoxification and bowel cleanses. [29:40] What Greg would do if he were diagnosed with cancer. [34:28] Detox routines for cancer prevention. [44:19] 3 things Greg says you can do to improve your quality of life. Resources Mentioned On This Episode www.AlphaOmegaLabs.com www.AltCancer.net www.HerbHealers.com BOOK: Medicinal Plants of Latin America BOOK: The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs BOOK: Dirty Electricity Support (at) herbhealers (dot) com - free consultations

Occasionally Scott likes to have roundtable type discussions with people who he’s come to know through his experience selling private label products on Amazon. On this episode, he’s recorded their conversation which was originally published to Facebook Live and Periscope. You’ll hear Scott, Chris Shaeffer, and Don Sugar chat about some of the things happening around the Amazon private label space and how the issues impact private label sellers and retail arbitrage accounts. Stick around for this one, there’s a lot of insightful thoughts to learn from and some cautions that could save you some real headaches.   We’re hearing that changes are happening in the Amazon terms of service. Much of what’s going around in the online communities that surround Amazon private label is not verified by Amazon yet, but nevertheless, there does appear to be some changes happening. What is the stink about? Most of it surrounds the issue of brand registry and the conditions Amazon is requiring. There are also many brand products that Amazon is bringing into the issue, requiring that sellers prove their right to sell the product. It could be a mess, or it could be a blessing. Find out why on this roundtable episode. How to the recent Brand Registry changes impact private label sellers? Many private Label sellers are concerned about the brand registry requirements Amazon appears to be enacting but Chris Shaeffer says that it’s a blessing more than a curse. Why? Because it is going to make it more difficult for hijackers to take over the listings of private label products. In fact, that could very well be the issue Amazon is trying to address with the new actions they are taking regarding brand registry. You can hear Chris’ argument on this episode and find out other things going on in the Amazon universe, on this episode. Why is it vital to capture email addresses of potential customers? Part of the discussion on this episode of the podcast surrounds the tactic of building an email list of potential or previous customers. Email list building is a proven online sales strategy that many private label sellers have not tapped into. On this episode, the guys chat about why email lists are so important, how to go about building one, and how you can use them to generate sales and build your brand. How many potential sellers are using these issues as an excuse not to start. One of Scott’s concerns when things in the Amazon community begin to get stirred is that people who might be considering private label sales might use the confusion as an excuse not to get started. If you’ve listened to this podcast for any length of time you won’t be surprised to hear Scott addressing that issue. After all, he’s the guy who’s coined the term, “Take Action.” No matter what’s going on in the Amazon space there are always going to be hurdles. But don’t let them scare you away. Everything is going to take some hard work, diligent research, and learning. But the benefits are much larger than the difficulties it takes to get started. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER [0:03] Scott’s introduction to this roundtable discussion. [3:50] What are the changes Amazon has been doing? [11:45] Why the changes are good news to private label folks. [15:25] How can you deal with “gray market” products? [17:39] Why brand registry is now more important than ever. [23:00] Be careful about the words you use in your keyword or search term fields. [34:33] The things needed to get brand registered. [39:06] The best ways to capture emails of potential customers. [45:06] The consensus about what’s going to come of the changes. [48:40] The excuse not to get started. [1:01:00] When and how you can hear the TAS power hour on Facebook or Periscope. RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE www.TheAmazingSeller.com/FB www.TheAmazingSeller.com/hour 1000 True Fans post The Amazon Terms of Service TAS Canada on Facebook

If you are curious how an experienced Amazon seller would go about optimizing a product listing that isn’t performing very well, this episode is for you. On this one, Scott chats with his friend Chris Schaeffer about a product one of their listeners is selling. The listener feels that she might want to liquidate the products to get rid of them so she can start over with an entirely new product. Scott and Chris talk about that approach but also give her some ideas about what she might be able to do that could increase her sales. Just because you launch a product on Amazon doesn’t mean it’s going to be a winner Many people who try to sell products through Amazon Private Label if you don’t take the time to do the research required. You’re going to need to know what products are selling well and how much room there is for you to introduce another of those products. Just because you don’t launch a product on Amazon doesn’t mean it’s going to be a winner. On this episode, Scott and Chris talk about what can be done if you didn’t do your product research properly to make something out of the loser products you have listed. OR - you may want to liquidate the product altogether. Scott and Chris talk about both options on this episode. How can you formulate an exit strategy for loser products? Sometimes in spite of your best efforts and product research, you’ll get a product listed on Amazon that isn’t selling well - and won’t - no matter what you do. That’s when you want to create an “exit strategy” to get rid of those products. On this episode of The Amazing Seller, you’re going to hear how Scott and Chris would go about selling off unsuccessful products in order to get as much out of the failed effort as possible. That way you can begin to invest your time and resources in another product that might be able to do better for you. Is it better to continue PPC or to do a new promotion? There are two ways you can drive people to your products on Amazon using the Amazon tools provided in your seller account. The first is PPC (pay per click). That’s an ad platform that enables you to place your products on the top or side of the search page when people search for the keywords you want. PPC is great - but it can be expensive. The other option is doing promotions - which can cost you much less. When should you do PPC and when should you do promotions? On this episode,  Scott and Chris answer the question. What is this thing I keep hearing about called a “sales funnel?” When you begin selling products through your own website you’ll want to take advantage of every opportunity you have to sell products to the people who join there. One of those opportunities revolves around your creation of a sales funnel. It’s a simple but powerful tool you can create to capture email addresses and market to people in a way that is appealing and helpful to them. Scott and Chris walk through a real-life scenario, telling a listener what they would do to create a sales funnel for her products, on this episode. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER [0:03] Scott’s introduction to the podcast! [1:07] The upcoming LIVE event you can get involved in. [5:20] How can you get out of a product that is a loser? [13:53] Is it better to continue PPC or do a new promotion? [17:12] A plan to improve an existing product. [23:54] Building a sales funnel: What is it? [38:20] Using Facebook retargeting pixels. [42:24] Follow up email sequences on sales funnels. RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE www.TheAmazingSeller.com/LIVE - the live event info. Amazon Lightning Deals www.TheAmazingSeller.com/230 - sales funnel episode www.TheAmazingSeller.com/219 - episode with Mike Jackness 1000 True Fans post (and another 1000 True Fans post by Seth Godin) BOOK: Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook

Today’s conversation is one that should give anyone considering Amazon private label sales hope that they can be successful. Jarret Colton is a guy who went to Scott’s LIVE event in 2016 with his head spinning. He’d listened to almost every TAS podcast episode and knew a lot of information, but it was all a grable in his head. Once he was able to talk with other sellers who had seen success and glean a lot of tips from the speakers at the event, he took action - and that action translated into incredible sales. You can hear how Jarret did it, on this episode. We sometimes overthink these things and need to go back to basics. Jarret is an example of a person who got his head crammed full of information and began to overthink things. There are too many things you CAN do to attempt to make your private label products sell, but there are not a lot of things you SHOULD do at first. So the back to basics mindset that Scott talks about on this episode is the prescription for many people. Be sure to listen to Jarret’s story so you can be inspired by what’s happened in his business - and get some ideas about what you can do to move your sales forward. What is YOUR next move? Every person who has placed a product on the Amazon sales platform has a next move that they need to take. It doesn’t matter if you’re selling lots of products or very few. You have something you can do to move your product sales forward. On this episode you’ll hear how Jarret made the decision to shut off all the noise and information that was clogging up his mind and simplified his process so he could simply do the next thing. You may be in the same place Jarret was - so be sure to hear how he got himself taking action on the right things. The power of professional product photos. One of the most important things that Jarret and his wife decided to invest in was professional photos for their product. He knew that once a person searches for his products he had to have some way to catch their eye and get them to click on his listing instead of the listing from his competition. The photos were exactly what did it for him. You can hear how Jarret found his photographer, the difference the professional photos made, and how he uses them within his listing, on this episode. 4 of his main products appear on page 1. Wow. After applying the tips and strategies that he learned at the TAS LIVE Breakthrough event, Jarret was able to increase the search ranking of his product listings. In fact, he was so successful at optimizing his listing that he’s now got 4 out of 6 of his main “parent” products showing on page 1 for their primary keyword. You should take the time to hear Jarret’s story. It’s inspiring and instructional for anyone who’s looking to rank their listing higher and get more product sales. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER [0:03] Scott’s introduction to his next guest, Jarret Colton. [3:12] Jarret’s experience before jumping into Scott’s live event. [8:14] Why Jarret attended Scott’s live event in Denver in 2015. [11:35] The mess Jarret was facing with all the products his wife ordered. [14:12] Where Jarret found the photographer for his product images. [15:30] Jarret’s game plan and what actually happened. [17:11] Spending time figuring how to solve people’s problems. [19:57] Jarret’s beginning goals and the competition he was facing. [25:23] Jarret did not conduct any giveaways. [34:10] The next steps for Jarret and his wife in the business. [37:40] Why Jarret wants everyone interested in private label to take action. RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE: www.TheAmazingSeller.com/LIVE - register for info about the next live event.  www.Ebay.com

Running a business is complicated in and of itself. There are all kinds of things you have to keep track of including taxes. There are many common mistakes made when it comes to taxes and on this episode of the podcast, Scott is talking with his friend Josh about the common questions that come to him when it comes to business text questions. Being a CPA, Josh has the actual answers you need in order to do things legally and ethically. You can hear all of these common questions and their answers on this episode of the podcast. Are you calculating your product inventory the RIGHT way for tax purposes? Many people think that in order to calculate their taxes correctly when it comes to inventory they simply need to add up how much they have spent on products during the calendar year. Scott's guess today is a certified public accountant and he says that is actually not the right way to do it. You will find up providing wrong figures to the IRS if you do so, and you could be liable for a much larger payment, plus penalties by doing it. On this episode, you were going to learn the right way to calculate inventory for tax purposes. Is an IRS audit something you should be afraid of? When you hear the phrase, “tax audit” it may cause you to break out in a cold sweat. But do you really need to be so concerned? What is the likelihood that you were really going to be audited? And if you are, which kind of audit is it that you should be concerned about? And this great conversation with a certified public accountant you were going to hear about the different kinds of audits, what each of them really is about, and what you should do if you are audited. It's a great episode to dispel a lot of the myths that are floating around in the business community, so make sure you take the time to listen. What meals and entertainment are deductible? Many people who run a business have been told that they can deduct meals and entertainment that have to do with their business with no problem. But is that entirely true? When this episode of the podcast a certified public accountant is going to tell us that you actually only get to deduct 50% of your meals and entertainment, and you can only do that if those are directly related to a business activity of some kind. If you want to hear the full story on this important issue, make sure that you listen. It could save you a lot of money in the end. What business entity is best for your business? There's a good deal of confusion about which business entity you should choose for your business activity. Should you be a sole proprietor? What about an LLC? Or maybe an S corporation or C corporation? If you're confused by all of these possibilities you are not alone. On this episode of the podcast, you will hear the definitions of each of these, what their advantages are, and how you should go about choosing the one that is right for you and your business. This section of the podcast alone is worth the time it will take you to listen. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER [0:09] Scott’s introduction to this episode! [3:19] How to deal with inventory as a business expense - the RIGHT way. [11:29] Turning common personal expenses into business deductions. [13:15] Home office space - how do you deduct it as a business expense? [16:14] When the IRS contacts you for an audit - how does it happen? [19:10] What meals and entertainment are deductible? [21:06] Bookkeeping issues: How should you keep your records? [25:41] A good rule of thumb for withholding federal taxes. [27:20] The various business entities you can do business as. [34:20] Can an S-corp be backdated to the beginning of your LLC creation? [38:40] The issue of sales tax: How should you handle it? RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE www.TheAmazingSeller.com/ask www.TheAmazingSeller.com/143 - Previous episode with Josh www.CPAonFire.com - Josh’s business website Xero accounting software www.Quickbooks.com www.WaveApps.com www.Freshbooks.com Bench Bookkeeping Service www.MyWifeQuitHerJob.com www.TaxJar.com

When was the last time you sat down to pick the brain of someone who is experienced at what you’re learning? It’s always a great experience where you get to learn what you don’t know. That’s the flavor of what happens on these Friday episodes of the Amazing Seller podcast. Scott answers questions that are submitted via voicemail to give you an idea of how he thinks about the challenges and obstacles that you come across when selling private label products on Amazon. Today’s episode includes questions about saturated markets, international sales, keyword usage, and more. Be sure you take some time to listen to this one. You’ll get lots of great insights from Scott’s responses. I know a certain market very well, but it’s extremely saturated. Should I jump in? Here’s a very interesting question about choosing a market: A listener has been working in a particular market outside of Amazon for some time and feels that he knows a lot about it already. But the market on Amazon is incredibly crowded and he’s not sure if he should take the risk of putting a product onto Amazon in that market. Scott’s got some ideas about how he could do it that may not be typical. It’s likely that you’re going to get your wheels turning about your own products after hearing the answers Scott gives to this great question - so be sure you listen. My product sales are going quite well. I’m curious if I should expand my product to Canada or the UK. On today's episode, a listener asked about expanding her product line into sales platforms outside of the United States. She is getting an average of 20 sales per day and thinks that expanding into Canada or the UK may be a good step for her at this time. Scott has some great insights into what it would take to become successful in other countries and gives her some tips on what to look for as indications that she could be successful doing so. If you've never sold your products in countries other than the United States you will want to hear what God has to say to this listener. How should I best use the keywords and search terms in the Amazon backend? One of the many confusing things about the Amazon platform has to do with the use of keywords and Search terms in the back-end of the Amazon seller account. There have been quite a few theories and opinions shared about how to best use those fields for the best results. On this episode, a listener asks about how those fields should be used and Scott gives an answer that covers all the bases. If you've ever been confused about the search term fields in your Amazon seller account, this is a response you will want to hear. Scott got to appear on Pat Flynn’s show, Smart Passive Income! It's not often that your success is noticed by people who are further along the path than you are. But that happened just this past month when Pat Flynn reached out to Scott to ask him to submit a response for one of his podcast episodes. It was a great honor and Scott was excited to condense some of his hard-learned business lessons into a short sound byte for Pat’s podcast. You can find out how to hear Scott's responses to Pat’s question by listening to this episode of The Amazing Seller. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER [0:03] Scott’s introduction to the podcast! [1:31] How you can ask your own question. [2:42] Scott’s appearance on Smart Passive Income with Pat Flynn. [5:00] QUESTION ONE: I’m looking at a very saturated market that I know well - when should I jump in and when should I run? [12:20] QUESTION TWO: I’m curious as to when I should expand my products into other countries (Canada and the UK). [18:55] QUESTION THREE: I’d love to get an overview from you about how to use the keywords and search terms in the Amazon backend. [24:57] QUESTION FOUR: I’ve got a lot of questions from inconsistent sales to reordering products. Can you help? RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE www.TheAmazingSeller.com/ask Scott on Smart Passive Income www.TheAmazingSeller.com/email 

IN THIS EPISODE: Natural remedies are not as complicated as you think and on this episode - I'm calling it a “MeSpeak” episode because it's just me - I'm going to be sharing some homeopathic remedies with you for shock and injury. I usually like to address issues individually but shock and injury are so frequently dealt with together I thought that it was appropriate and would be more helpful to address them at the same time. If you apply the natural remedies I give you in this episode in cases where someone has experienced a significant shock or an injury, you'll be doing them a favor and learning how powerful homeopathic remedies can be for these situations. I want you to be empowered to take charge of your health and to be a help to others when situations like this arise. If you are, everyone will benefit. When you're dealing with a situation that involves shock, there are three main homeopathic remedies that I would recommend. They are aconite, opium, and gelsemium. All three are very helpful in the treatment of a wide variety of shock conditions and in this episode I'm walking you through each of them so that you can be equipped to deal with emergency situations involving shock. But you also need to understand how situations involving shock are often related to the pain or trauma of an injury. That's why I'm also including in this episode some of the natural ways you can address injury and the pain that often comes with it. Toward that end, you'll hear about Arnica, Hypericum, and Nat-Sulph. With each of the remedies I describe on this episode I give you situations and stories where I have seen each work - and I describe the kinds of situations where each one of these natural approaches can be used. You will end the episode with a greater knowledge of how you can bring about significant healing in yourself and others by using entirely natural means. I hope you enjoy and apply what you learn. Outline Of This Great Episode [1:59] Deborah's introduction to what's going on in her life and what this episode is about. [4:15] Why Deborah is doing a “me speak” episode today (all by herself). [7:18] How you can contact Deborah or ask your own question. [7:46] The importance of treatment protocols for shock and injury. [9:52] Introducing you to the repertory book and rubrics. [11:22] What is aconite and how is it used? [14:42] The use of opium in homeopathy. [17:05] What you need to know about gelsemium. [20:06] And introduction to traumas or injuries. [23:10] Arnica is one of the most well known homeopathic remedies in the world. [28:50] Hypericum is a great remedy for injuries. [30:58] The last remedy for injuries is Nat-Sulph. [34:40] Deborah's summary of the episode and why you need this information. Resources Mentioned On This Episode https://www.healios.org.uk/ Natural Health Pharmacy in New Mexico  

If you’re going to build a business you really need to think long-term. One product can’t sell on a sustained basis - you need related and sibling products that can fill in the gaps of what people who use that product need on a regular basis. On this episode, Scott wants to walk you through 7 steps that he suggests for building a brand from the ground up. It’s a step by step process from product and market research all the way to ongoing sales and customer retention. You’ll get a lot out of this episode of the podcast - in fact, you should be sure to grab the transcript so you don’t miss anything. Do you understand the difference between a product and a market? Scott talks about this a lot on the podcast because it is vital: are you building a business based on a product or aimed toward a market? It is entirely possible to build a business around one product. But in Scott’s view, that is not a long-term solution that you can count on. The reason is that one product can lose its appeal over time but if you have multiple products within the same product in it or Market you will be able to maintain consistent sales in spite of downturns in the sales of one product line.  On this episode of the podcast, Scott wants to help you understand the difference between a single product and a product line that can take over a product market so that you can be even more successful in your online ventures. You need to know who your ideal customer is. Once you have done the research to know the product line and Market that you want to reach with your products, you need to discover who is buying those products. That doesn't mean you need to know names and email addresses but it does mean you need to know the common characteristics of the people who are regularly buying those items. Are they men or women? How old are they? What other types of things are they interested in? As you are able to answer those questions you will find yourself getting a clearer picture of who your ideal customer is. When you know the characteristics of those people you will be much better equipped to position your product in the market in ways that are attractive to them. Make sure you listen to this episode so you can hear Scott's explanation of how to discover your ideal customer. Content marketing can set your brand up for success. If you are not familiar with the term “content marketing” you need to make sure that you understand it and know how to use it to advance your brand. The concept behind content marketing is that you are providing value to people through your resources and tools that help them understand the product market better and begin to view you as a valuable authority or resource within that market. When you can effectively do that you will gain the trust of the exact people you were trying to sell your products to and they will become more prone to purchase your product as a result. Content marketing is one of the most effective ways of building a loyal following of customers who believe in your product line. Listen to Scott’s explanation of how to use content marketing to advance your business and brand, on this episode. Implement these 7 steps to build a brand that lasts. Selling products online is not that difficult if you're willing to put in the work to build the foundation's necessary to support the success of the business over the Long Haul. On this episode is Scott is walking you through 7 steps that you can use to build an online brand that will weather the ups and downs of Market swings. None of the steps can be successful on their own, and none of them are easy. But if you break them down into bite-sized chunks you will be able to accomplish one at a time with the end result being an established brand and a somewhat automated system by which your products are promoted and sold. This episode has so much content you should grab a transcript so that you don't miss any of the details. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER [0:03] Scott’s introduction to the podcast! [1:06] How trends relate to brands and which is best long term. [5:16] Scott’s overview of the 7 steps he’s going to cover and why they are important. [5:46] How to discover the niche customer for the products you’re interested in selling and ask yourself, Can you create a product line in this market? [14:47] What is an avatar and why is it important? ]15:12] How to use Google keyword planner and Google trends. [17:41] Starting to create helpful content around your product. [21:28] Find out where your ideal customer hangs out online. [23:17] Use your research to to gain followers and customers. [27:26] Create the basic sales funnel for your products. [31:15] An example of how a free contest could work to promote your products. [37:44] Consider the possibility of a digital product as well. [39:03] Why these are good long term approaches to building a business. RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE: www.NichePursuits.com Google Keyword Planner Google Trends www.Ebay.com Merchant Words Upwork  

There is no argument with the statement that we’d all love to see more revenue coming into our business. But there are tremendous disagreements about the best ways to create that revenue. Scott is convinced that the “how” is not important as long as you are increasing your revenue and he wants to see everyone who listens to his podcast do so as soon as possible. On this episode, Scott walks through 5 ways to generate more revenue that you may not have considered, and many of them are able to be attached to your existing brand by going for a market, not just a product. You can hear it on this episode. The importance of multiple streams of income for everyone. Think this through for a moment. If you put all your eggs in the “selling products on Amazon” basket, and Amazon changes things in a way that impacts your success, you’ve just lost all of your eggs. That means the money you were once making dries up overnight. Scott’s a great advocate of creating multiple streams of income to support your business and personal life. The more you have your income spread out the less vulnerable you are to the changes in any one platform. Today’s episode is filled with Scott’s insights into the ways you could launch some additional streams of income and support your life and business even more successfully. Is there a book opportunity you could build off of your current products? You probably haven’t thought of it this way but no matter what your product niche is, there are people who need to know more about that niche. There is probably an opportunity for you to create a digital book that you could sell on Amazon that covers some of the most important elements of the niche. You’d be providing a great service to would-be customers and creating an additional stream of income for yourself. Listen to Scott’s ideas about how to understand your market so that you can come up with ideas for additional streams of income. If you have physical products is there a way to create a digital version of it? It might require some creative thinking but many physical products can be pivoted into a digital version or a related product that is digital. There are so many ways you can create helpful things for people who are using your existing products and offer those items for sale. Creating additional streams of income is not as difficult as it might sound. You can do it - and this episode is full of ideas for how you can rethink what you do to increase your revenue. You probably have a video course inside you. Yep. It’s true. You may not be a technically oriented person. You may not know a thing about video. But you can be assured that there’s something you know well that others would pay money to learn. And more importantly, they would pay money to learn it in the WAY that you teach it. Scott’s got lots of ideas to give you about how you can create additional streams of income, and one of those is a video course that you can offer online or via DVD. You don’t have to be the expert on video, you can still create the course. Scott’s going to tell you how, on this episode. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER [0:03] Scott’s introduction to the podcast! [0:53] Scott’s invitation to you: Subscribe to the podcast and share it! [1:55] The international TAS connections. [4:39] The importance of multiple revenue streams for everyone. [6:53] Have you considered a digital product version of your physical product? [16:31] What about a video course? Do you have something to offer? [21:48] Special downloads that relate to your product. [24:27] Content creation that can be repurposed for additional revenue. [29:46] A story from Scott’s experience: GarageBand and music loops. [33:40] Scott’s tips to wrap up the episode - and a bit of homework. RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE: www.TheAmazingSeller.com/FB - Facebook group Entrepreneur On Fire Podcast www.ejunkie.com www.Etsy.com www.NichePursuits.com ww.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop

  Welcome to this Friday Q & A episode of the Amazing Seller Podcast. We call these the “Ask Scott” sessions because it’s exactly that - your opportunity to ask Scott Voelker anything you want about selling on the Amazon platform. From product research and selection to shipping issues, to Amazon seller accounts and terms of service, to packaging, promotion, reviews, seller feedback - you name it and Scott is willing to address it on these Friday episodes. Be sure you ask your question. Who knows? Maybe it will be featured on a future Ask Scott episode. Why results bring confidence in business and in life. Everyone knows this but it’s true nonetheless. When you get results in any area of life you begin to gain confidence in that area. But you’ll never get the results if you never start. That’s why one of Scott’s biggest mantras is #takeAction. So if you’re struggling with confidence when it comes to your Amazon sales simply because it’s so new to you, you may need to simply take a step into the unknown so that you can gain the results you need to build that confidence. You can hear Scott’s thoughts on how he’s experienced this dynamic in business and in life, on this episode.   How can I best use Pay per Click to get myself to page 1 of the Amazon rankings? Amazon’s pay per click tool is an amazing way to quickly make your product visible in the Amazon search rankings. But it’s not a normal listing that your potential customers see, it’s a promoted listing. But it’s what you’ve got to do in order to get your first sales. The first part of the launch is not about ranking, it’s about getting initial sales and reviews. That is where  Amazon PPC comes in as a powerful way to drive those sales. The next part of a launch is about ranking higher and that doesn’t happen through promotions, it happens through organic sales. And those organic sales are fueled partly by the existence of good reviews. Reviews serve as proof that your product is quality and actually something others want as well. When I have variations on my products will my Best Seller Rank (BSR) apply to all variations or does each have it’s own BSR? Every product in the Amazon catalog, including yours, has a seller rank. Every seller wants their product to achieve a best seller rank that shows potential customers that their product is worth buying. A listener asks about how variations of a product impact BSR. Do the variations each  have their own BSR or is the overall “parent product” the only one that has a BSR to be concerned about? It’s a great question and Scott has one of his “it depends” answers for you on this episode. Should I have my products shipped first to my home address or directly to Amazon? It may seem like a sensible shortcut to have the products from your supplier sent directly to the Amazon warehouse. After all, why would you want to keep inventory in your own home? Isn’t that what we’re trying to avoid through FBA? But the issue is that when you send products directly to the Amazon warehouse you have no quality control process in place to ensure that your products are free of defects. The only way you know is that customers begin leaving negative reviews on your products - which is never a good thing. On this episode of The Amazing Seller Scott outlines some of the options for shipping that make sense for international sellers and domestic sellers. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER [0:03] Scott’s introduction to the podcast! [2:28] Random thoughts from Scott: results build confidence. [5:28] QUESTION ONE: How do I get to page 1 using PPC and how l can I track it? [12:18] QUESTION TWO: Questions about product variations and shipping. [19:16] QUESTION THREE: My products are large and heavy but sell well. What can you tell me about freight forwarding services? [26:50] QUESTION FOUR: Can you recommend a good copywriting service for me since I don’t speak English as my first language? RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE: www.TheAmazingSeller.com/Ask www.TheAmazingSeller.com/Resources - find Keyword Inspector (affiliate link) www.TopWinInspections.com - inspection service www.TheAmazingSeller.com/131 - with Derick Miller FlexPort Karon Thackston episodes: www.TheAmazingSeller.com/86, www.TheAmazingSeller.com/155, www.TheAmazingSeller.com/245  

One of the most important parts of running a successful Amazon private label business is making sure you are establishing your brand and products as high quality and reputable. A HUGE part of doing that is getting honest reviews from your customers. If you don’t know how to effectively get those reviews you’re going to have a very hard time building a successful sales channel. On this episode, Scott and his friend Chris Guthrie are here to walk you through the ins and outs of reviews - what makes a good one, why you need them, and how to get them. Be sure you take the time to listen. It could increase your sales tremendously. Amazon is cracking down on reviews. Here’s how to keep your product reviews safe. There’s a lot of talk lately about Amazon’s attitude when it comes to product reviews - and it’s actually more than JUST talk. Amazon has adjusted its terms of service and is cracking down on reviews that it considers being fake or in some way manipulated. There’s only one way to ensure that your product reviews are safe from the Amazon crackdown and that’s to get real, legitimate reviews in the first place. This episode of the podcast is dedicated to making sure you understand the right and wrong ways to go about that - including some thoughts about the use of review groups, so be sure you listen. What makes a real review and what makes a fake review? You hear the terms “real” and “fake” applied to product reviews on Amazon all the time. But do you know what constitutes a real or fake review? On this episode of The Amazing Seller podcast, Scott has asked his buddy, Chris Guthrie to come on the show and unpack the details of what makes a good review and what contributes to the kind of reviews that Amazon has been removing from product pages. It’s their hope that using the information you hear on this episode you’ll be able to not only safeguard your product reviews from being removed but also get better quality reviews in the first place. Why you need to follow up with your customers via Amazon’s integrated email. You may not even have known but Amazon provides an email contact option within your seller account that you can use to directly contact your customers. Using that email tool is the best and most effective way to follow up with your customers once they’ve purchased your product - and part of that follow-up strategy can and should include a reminder to your customers to leave an honest review for your product. We all need reminders now and then, right? Your customers are the same way. Find out how you can use the email solution Amazon has provided on this episode - and learn how you can automate it so you don’t have to worry about it ever again! Keep seller feedback in mind - not just reviews. This episode of The Amazing Seller podcast is all about product reviews - OK, well not ALL about reviews - there’s a section right toward the end of the conversation where Scott and his buddy Chris Guthrie chat a bit about seller feedback and its role in making sure your account and products stay in Amazon’s good graces. Sometimes in the rush to get good reviews we forget about seller feedback, which can be a mistake. Be sure you hear this part of the conversation. It could keep your account from being banned for shut down temporarily. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER [0:03] Scott’s introduction to the podcast! [0:30] A LIVE review workshop coming up that you can attend for free! [4:10] Review clubs: should you be using them? [5:58] Does Amazon respect reviews that come from product promotions? [7:37] The purpose and reason behind getting legitimate reviews (social proof). [11:25] Why follow up email to customers is crucial - and how to do it! [14:58] Gifts you can expect from the upcoming free webinar. [25:30] Things to be careful of when asking customers for reviews. [28:50] Chris’ advice to get your first initial batch of reviews. [34:25] How does seller feedback relate to reviews and why is it important? [41:14] The importance of looking at your business and sales from a long term perspective. RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE: www.TheAmazingSeller.com/ReviewWorkshop www.TheAmazingSeller.com/77 www.SalesBacker.com www.TheAmazingSeller.com/245 - Episode with Karon Thackston

When dealing with a huge platform like Amazon you've got to expect that there will be places where confusion sets in. This episode is an example of that very thing. Karon Thackston is with us today to help us understand the new items within the Amazon terms of service. Not everything is coordinated and not everything makes sense but if you learn how to operate within the Amazon guidelines your products were ranked better and your sales will increase. Karon Is here to help us navigate the changes and make sense out of all of it. Amazon says you should make sure your title is less than 200 characters. Period. The rules have changed many times over the years but now Amazon has a new guideline when it comes to the length of your product title. 200 words is the new limit and you have to be careful because the back end will not stop you from putting in more characters. But if you do you could be subject to a suppressed listing or even worse, Amazon could change the title for you and not allow you to change it back to something of your choosing. You've got to hear this one to believe it, and you can hear it on this episode of The Amazing seller. Be sure to watch the Amazon style guide for what is allowed. Nothing else. You can take a few minutes to click around the Amazon website and find conflicting guidelines for how you should list your products on their platform. But today's guest, Karen Paxton believes that you should only pay attention to the Amazon style guide when you are trying to conform your listing to the Amazon standards. The things Karon shares on this episode are from the Amazon style guide and as you will see, are not all that simple. But Karon is a pro and can help you navigate it more simply, so be sure you listen. Why you should contact seller support over and over when you have issues. If you run into issues with any of your product listings and need to contact Seller Support it is likely that you will run into a support agent who doesn't know the facts of how Amazon runs. Why would we say that? Because it's absolutely true. You can call Seller Support and talked to two or three different agents and get two or three different answers to your questions. That's why our guest today, Karon Thackston,  recommend that you continue to call Seller Support until you get help with the things that you need. Eventually you will be able to talk to supervisor and get things straightened out. You should be careful with those search term fields from now on.   It wasn't too long ago that Amazon increased the number of Search terms you could enter in the search type fields in your product back end feels. But now they have come out saying that the search term fields don't really need to be used at all as long as your keywords are included in your description and bullet points. But Karon Thackston doesn't believe you will be penalized if you leave words in the search term fields, and is not recommending that any more experienced sellers go through their listings to remove them. You can hear the entire fiasco on this episode of The Amazing Seller. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER [0:03] Scott’s introduction to this episode with Karon. [5:00] Karon’s summary of what she’s covering for you today. [8:15] Another reason to build a platform of your own off Amazon. [9:56] The issue of title suppression (titles over 200 characters). [13:45] Why you should contact seller support if your backend doesn’t reflect the 200 character limit. [20:40] The new guidelines for search terms to optimize your listings. [25:40] Is any aspect of the product listing weighted more than anything else? [27:33] Scott’s recent keyword test. [29:04] Amazon’s latest guidelines for keywords (to kill keyword spam?). [34:34] And Amazon still says you should not use commas in keyword fields. [38:02] What Karon recommends to sellers who have been around a while. [41:14] The importance of split testing to ensure what’s truly working. [44:05] Do not use competitive product names in your listing anywhere. [50:08] Overly long content in the description, etc. is not advised either. [51:02] Taking account of common abbreviations and plurals in descriptors. RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE www.TheAmazingSeller.com/86 and www.TheAmazingSeller.com/155 - Karon’s previous epsiodes The Amazon Style Guide www.Splitly.com www.TheAmazingSeller.com/optimize

Nobody knows it all. Not even those who have been doing something for a very long time. We all need to ask for help from time to time and these Friday episodes of the Amazing Seller Podcast are an opportunity for you to ask your questions about Amazon sales and private label products. Scott LOVES these episodes where he gets to sit down and deal with the real life situations that you and many other sellers like you are facing each day in your business. You can listen to the questions people have already asked and even ask your own questions, right here on the Friday episodes. When should I start PPC (pay per click) on my new products? On today's episode a listen to the podcast asked whether he should wait to start his pay per click campaigns until he has a significant number of reviews, or whether he should begin PPC immediately once his product is live on the Amazon platform. What would your answer be? Today, Scott has an answer for this listener and has advice for you if you are trying to determine when and how to start your PPC campaigns. You can hear it all on this episode of the podcast. If I rank for a long tail keyword will I also rank for shorter keywords within it? Do you know what a long tail keyword is? A long tail keyword is a keyword phrase that uses a primary key word with other qualifying words added to the beginning or end. For example, garlic press maybe the base keyword. But long tail keywords would be, “stainless steel garlic press,” OR “long handled garlic press.” On today's episode a listener asks if he will rank for all of the keywords within a long-tail keyword phrase, or only the long tail keyword phrase itself. It's a great question and Scott has a great answer. Be sure you listen to find out what it is. Do I have to set up multiple seller accounts if I want to sell more than one brand? The first thing you need to do in order to sell products on Amazon is to create a seller account. Today a listener asks if he should set up multiple seller account if he is going to be selling products under multiple brand names. It's a great question and one that can have many answers depending on what your and goals are for your business. On this episode, Scott answers the question with a good deal of insight and foresight, so be sure you take the time to listen. Is it a good idea to enter a market when there are 3 to 4 pages worth of sellers in the niche? What if I did a bundle? A listener today has found a product possibility in a niche where there are many, many sellers of the product. But he's curious if it is a good opportunity anyway since there is only one seller who is providing the product in question in a different color, while all the rest offer the exact same product. He is curious if he could create a bundle that includes both colors, or even add additional colors to make a bundle that is more attractive. You can hear Scott's answer to this interesting question on this episode of The Amazing seller. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER   [0:03] Scott’s introduction to this “Ask Scott” episode of the podcast. [2:30] Why you need to schedule and plan things if you’re going to be successful. [6:03] QUESTION ONE: How long do you wait to start your Pay Per Click campaigns after getting reviews? [10:15] QUESTION TWO: I’m trying to rank for a long tail keyword… If I rank for a long tail keyword will I also rank for the shorter words within the long tail keyword? [15:50] QUESTION THREE: I’ve been told I can only create one store within Amazon. Is that true? [20:43] QUESTION FOUR: The product I’m considering has 3 pages of sellers but only one is selling a different color and he’s doing well. Is this a good bundle opportunity? RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE www.TheAmazingSeller.com/ask - You can ask your own questions. www.TheAmazingSeller.com/resources - Scott’s resources (some are affiliate links) www.TheAmazingSeller.com/161 - episode on depth, demand, and market research.

When you start anything new in your life you’re going to feel nervous or scared. That’s OK. Nerves and fear are natural in any new endeavor but they aren’t the thing that determines success. What determines your success is your own mindset. On this episode Scott chats with a successful Amazon seller, Bobby Jacques and the two of them agree that mindset is crucial. You can hear how both of these guys approach their business in light of mindset, on this episode. Why you have to just do it and simply take action. When people talk about mindset they’re addressing the issue of belief. If you are going to attempt a business on Amazon or any other platform you’ve got to first believe in your ability to learn, to grow, and to pivot through the disappointments and obstacles until you reach success. It’s a “never give up” attitude that you have to develop - and today’s episode is one that can help you do that. You’re going to hear from a very determined Amazon seller who made it his goal to replace his full time income in a very short period of time. He did it, and is a testimony to the fact that you can do it too, if you’re willing to work hard, learn, grow, and keep going. The importance of mindset to believe that you can accomplish things. When it comes to building an online business, whether through private label sales on Amazon or some other approach, you’ve got to believe that you can do it. The person who doesn’t believe in their ability is the one who will give up quickly after they hit the first obstacle. And you WILL hit obstacles if you take the entrepreneurial route. Bobby Jacques shares his story on this episode and tells how he went from nothing to $50K per month in sales on this episode. Dialing in your pay per click (PPC) is important for product visibility and profits. One of the tools that makes private label sales on Amazon such a successful thing is Amazon pay per click. PPC is one of the tools Amazon provides to help you get people's eyes on your products when they are searching for exactly what you have. Make awesome money and takes time to figure out, but one You can be the pot at the end of the rainbow. On this episode Scott's guest is going to tell us how he manages his pay per click campaigns and what you can do to organize your campaigns properly from the start. If you’re going to start, you’ve got to determine that you will start and succeed. Determination in any business is huge. You can't be the type who will give up at the first sign of trouble or difficulty. No difficulty can stop you if you are convinced that you can learn and grow for the sake of overcoming any obstacle. Your job as an entrepreneur is to make yourself successful so that you are able to bring great value to the world.  On this episode of the podcast you're going to here a great story of success from a guy who started with no money in the bank and is now bringing in $50,000 per month in sales revenue. Bobby Jacques is Scott’s guest on this episode of the podcast. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER [0:03] Scott’s introduction to the podcast! [1:30] Join the next live workshop. [2:20] Shout out to an iTunes listener who left a review. [4:04] Why Scott wanted to chat with Bobby for today’s show. [6:45] How Bobby got into business after a long road of other stuff. [12:50] The motivation of engagement to build toward a business. [15:01] How Bobby decided to fund and start his online sales business. [17:30] The timeline and goals Bobby set for himself. [24:00] PPC strategies Bobby uses. [32:29] Things Bobby wishes he’d done differently from the start. [33:50] How Bobby manages his PPC campaigns and keeps them straight. [35:42] Up to 50K in revenue every month. [37:46] Liquidating products that aren’t doing so well. [41:11] What people starting from scratch should do to start on the right foot. [43:26] Is Amazon still a viable platform for new sellers? [44:30] How to connect with Bobby. RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE www.MillionDollarDrive.com www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop www.TheAmazingSeller.com/125 -  Scott’s journey www.TheAmazingSeller.com/FB - The TAS Facebook group Ryan Moran Interview on Smart Passive Income Ryan Moran 10 day challenge Startup Bros Google Trends www.eBay.com Amazon Lightning Deals Facebook Ads Youtube Ads

One of the things Scott and his friend Chris Schaeffer love to do to help private label sellers boost their sales is to do these “hot seat” episodes. It’s a real life Amazon product that is already selling that is submitted for review and suggestions to increase sales. Scott and Chris are looking at a product today that is in a tight niche and is very low priced - both of which are problems from the get go. But there are some things that can be done to improve the sales of this product regardless. You can hear Scott and Chris’ suggestions on this episode. A bad thing will happen when you’re product price is low to begin with. If you get into a market where the sales price for the product is $7 or so, you’re going to run into a problem. Even if your product only costs you $1, you’re going to pay a lot in Amazon fees and not have much product margin to play with. That’s why Scott recommends that you look for products that will sell for $15 or more most of the time. You can hear more insights into the way the product cost impacts your profits and success, on this episode The first thing your potential customers see is the photo. Make sure it’s a good one. When you’re putting together your Amazon listing one of the most important things that can’t be underestimated is the photo you use to highlight your product. Amazon requires that your product photo is the product alone on a white background - and Scott and Chris both feel that it’s vital that the photo be high quality and positioned in a way that shows it as large a possible. Today’s hot seat product needs a better photo and Scott and Chris will tell you exactly what they’d do to make the listing photo better. Providing a bonus item for freer is a great idea - but this seller didn’t use it well. The product that’s on the “hot seat” on this episode of The Amazing Seller also includes a free ebook to help the user learn how to use the product. It’s a great idea and is a powerful way to increase the perceived value of the product. However, this seller hasn’t taken advantage of the bonus. How did they miss the opportunity? The bonus item is not mentioned in the title of the product OR shown in the product image. Both of those are great opportunities to stand out from the competition. Find out how you can use this example to improve your product listing on this episode. Bundling may be the key to increasing your private label product sales. Often, once a private label product is introduced into the market others begin to jump on board and offer the same product. Before long that niche is flooded and the price begins to race to the bottom. It’s not a good situation for anyone but there are ways to become the dominant seller in the market, and the main way is by bundling your product with accessories or related products that purchasers might need in order to use your product. You can hear some great ideas for how you can think in terms of bundling for your product on this episode. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER [0:03] Scott’s introduction to this hotseat episode with Chris Schaeffer! [3:00] Introduction to this hotseat scenario. [6:19] The market today’s product is in: good or bad? [9:21] The market looks saturated and the price point is low. [14:22] An interesting market that should allow for increased sales. [15:55] Why the product photo is important: and this one needs to be improved. [20:25] Looking at the listing for issues that could use improvement. [29:02] Looking at related products to come up with bundle ideas. [39:12] The more you look into the bundles, the more opportunities you see. RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE www.TheAmazingSeller.com/live - get on the waiting list for the next event. www.JungleScout.com www.CamelCamelCamel.com www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop - get into the live workshop for free  

Here is the regular Friday version of The Amazing Seller Podcast - the “Ask Scott” session! This is where you’re able to ask your very own questions about Amazon Private Label sales, online sales in general, and how to do your pay per click, promotions, and more. If you’ve got your own questions about selling on Amazon you can ask Scott directly and possibly be featured on an episode just like this one. You can find out how to ask your question by listening to this episode! I have an online following and want to promote a private label product through it. Is that a good idea? One of the listeners to the Amazing Seller is a guy who does his own podcast and has his own online following established already. He wanted to know if there is a way that he could effectively begin selling physical products that he lists on Amazon through his other brand. Scott’s answer to his question was a big, fat, enthusiastic, “YES!” and you can hear why Scott’s so excited about this kind of opportunity by listening to his response. Can I get a Chinese supplier to customize a product for me in unique ways? Ordering products from China is one of the most affordable and easy ways to get a private label product brand started. But are you limited to the products the suppliers have on hand? Nope. You can take any product idea - even one you haven’t seen on their platforms - and send them sketches, schematics, etc. and ask if they can build it for you. You’ll go back and forth with the supplier for a while getting the details right, then you’ll have to front some cash to get a prototype made. You can find out what comes next by listening to Scott’s answer to this great question - on this episode. Is it OK for me to copy the URL of my Amazon product and ask people to go there to buy? It’s the most natural thing in the world to ask people to buy your product. It’s also natural to make it easy for them to purchase by sending them the direct link to your product on Amazon. But the way Amazon’s algorithm works that’s not always the best idea. Why? It’s because Amazon continually calculates how many purchases of your product happen based on the number of views it receives. So if you send someone directly to the product and they don’t purchase, you could be hurting your product rankings. Find out how it all works out on this episode. Is it OK for me to try to sell a product where the competition has more than 100 reviews? A listener has been doing his product research and wants to know if he would be safe to try to enter a product into a market where the competition has over 100 reviews. Scott says it’s OK but more important than the reviews the competition has is what he calls the “depth of market.” What is that and why does it matter? You can find out all the details by listening to this episode of the podcast. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER [0:03] Scott’s introduction to the podcast! [0:34] Scott’s recording on his birthday to spend time with his family later! [5:09] A question to ask yourself right now. [7:42] QUESTION ONE: I have an online presence and brand already. I want to combine that with private labeling. Will product suppliers customize products for me? [16:05] QUESTION TWO: What links should I use to drive outside traffic to my listing? [22:19] QUESTION THREE: I’m having trouble finding a product to start out with that has competition with lower numbers of reviews. Is that OK? [27:20] An audio from a listener about the success she is experiencing. RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE: www.TheAmazingSeller.com/ask - ask your questions www.TheAmazingSeller.com/FB - get into the Amazing Seller Facebook group www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop www.TheAmazingSeller.com/189 - Scott’s video of product validation.

Today’s guest is Spencer Haws, he’s a long time web entrepreneur who has built his experience and knowledge creating niche based websites. You can see more of what he’s done in that realm at his site www.NichePursuits.com. But today Spencer is with us to help us understand how you can build your own website that sells your own products - independent of Amazon. Interested? Be sure you listen to this great episode. Why you need to move your success to your own platform. Spencer strongly believes that you need to take your success to a different platform once you’ve gotten your feet wet on Amazon. Why? Because you want to build something that you have entire control over, no matter what. On Amazon you have to follow the constantly changing rules and make sure you’re not making any mistakes. On your own site you are the king of the castle and you make up the rules. And maybe just as important, you’ll be cutting out the Amazon middleman that bites into your profit margin. Hear how Spencer and Scott suggest you take that step, on this episode. When is the right time to build your own website store? Let’s say you’ve had a private label product on Amazon for a while and you’re selling a decent amount of products every day. Should you take the step of creating your own website and trying to sell your products independent of Amazon? Spencer Haws says that once your products are selling well on Amazon you’ve got a great test case that shows that your products could sell independent of Amazon as well. Find out exactly how Spencer says you can know if you should take the step to build your own sales platform, on this episode. Using long tail keywords you can get lots of traffic. You may not even know what a long tail keyword is, but Spencer Haws believes that you’ve got to become skilled at identifying and using them if you’re going to have success building a sales site for your products that operates independently of Amazon. Spencer has proven on his own sites that going for the lesser known long tail keywords can be very successful in the long run. You can find out how Spencer does it, step by step, and the software tool he uses to do his research on this episode of The Amazing Seller. How you can get specific training to build your own niche website. If all of this website building talk sounds a bit scary to you, relax. Spencer Haws has created two ways you can learn everything you need to know to build a website the right way and start selling your products independent of Amazon. First is an internship where over the course of 4 weeks you’ll learn how to do everything you need to make your site stellar. Second, if you can do an internship there’s an 8 week course that covers the same content. Before you know it you’ll be rocking your own sales platform that cuts out the Amazon middleman! OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER [0:03] Scott’s introduction to this episode with Spencer Haws! [1:51] Details about stuff you’ll want to know for this episode. [3:49] Why Spencer believes you need to move your success onto your own platform. [5:45] When is the right time to build your own website property? [7:59] The main goal for building your own website. [9:35] Why keyword research is important and how to go for long tail keywords effectively. [16:20] What should you look for when it comes to long tail keywords. [20:37] Using top list posts to get backlinks and build your network. [23:11] How to use Google’s Keyword Planner to find keywords. [24:55] How Spencer would use the data inside Amazon. [29:00] What you can do if you’re not a good writer. [30:34] How to format the content you produce. [34:10] Getting your content published: posting and scheduling. [35:40] How to build backlinks effectively. [40:41] Spencer’s new internship program to train people to scale websites. [44:56] Spencer’s course to teach you how to build out your own website. [47:12] Do these strategies still work today? RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE www.TheAmazingSeller.com/authority www.NichePursuits.com www.TheAmazingSeller.com/107 Long Tail Pro Google Keyword Planner Ubbersuggest www.TextBroker.com www.Upwork.com WikiCommons Flickr Pinterest www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop  

A big part of launching any business is the fear you have to conquer because of the risk that’s inherent in starting a business. While the fear may be an obstacle, it doesn’t have to be such a big one. You can reduce the chances of failure (what you’re really afraid of) by checking out what’s already working in your product niche and duplicating those things for your product. On this episode Scott goes way outside his normal topics to show you how he looks at products and marketing approaches so that you can learn how to use other people’s hard work to make your own business less risky and more profitable. How to use Amazon and eBay as incredible marketing research tools. Most of the time Scott is talking about Amazon as a sales platform - and that it is. But you may not have considered that Amazon’s setup is also designed in a way that you can use it to research product ideas and market trends. On this episode Scott talks about how you can use reviews, data, and the “also bought” section of Amazon, eBay, and other platforms to make smarter decisions about your products and business. Pay attention to the customer experience you have relating to products you buy. When you buy any product - from Amazon or even your local Walmart - you should pay attention to the way the company has positioned your buying and follow up experience. Is the packaging appealing and cool? Does the verbiage on the package give you clear instructions? Does it encourage you to submit contact information so you can receive more from them? Does it offer you other ways you can benefit from your product or receive more information? Scott has begun observing these kinds of things and it’s given him all kinds of ideas for his own business and products. What about you? Learn more on this episode. Why you should intentionally buy your competition’s product. One of the best things you can do for your business is to know your competition. Not just who they are or what they sell, but also HOW they sell it and WHAT they do to follow up with their customers. The best way to do that is to become a customer. When you purchase one of your competitor’s products you’ll get to see exactly what they do to connect with their customers, follow up with them, offer them related products, and more. Then you can reverse engineer it to include those things in your process OR you can improve on it and blow your competitors out of the water. Find out more about tweaking your competition on this episode. Don’t forget about print magazines and TV. They are great at marketing. While you may never consider advertising your Amazon private label products on TV or in a magazine you would do well to pay attention to what advertisers on TV and in magazines are doing to sell their products. Advertisers have been using print and video for years and they really know what works. You can borrow their ideas and apply them to your promotions and advertisements to up your game. Scott goes through a ton of ideas for promoting and presenting your products better, on this episode. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER [0:03] Scott’s introduction to the podcast! [2:07] This episode was sparked by questions from listeners. [5:36] The importance of using Amazon.com and eBaby.com for data and insight. [9:21] Using product reviews to refine products and build new ones. [11:00] Buy a similar product and go through their customer experience. [12:33] Search Google to find a product similar to yours and buy it through their website. [15:32] Click a Facebook Ad for a similar product to yours and go through the process. [24:16] Why you should pay attention to magazine advertisements. [28:16] Opt in to somebody’s email list and observe their follow up process. RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE: www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop Shark Tank www.Ebay.com www.GoDaddy.com www.VistaPrint.com www.TheAmazingSeller.com/189 www.Google.com www.Bing.com www.Facebook.com www.TheAmazingSeller.com/236

Amazon private label sales is one of the best ways to get started with online business. You don’t have to have any experience because there are many good hearted people like Scott Voelker who are eager to walk you through the ways you can get started with even a small amount of cash. This episode is one of Scott’s weekly “Ask Scott” episodes where anybody who has a question about sales on Amazon is able to ask their questions. This episode highlights listener questions about product categories, shipping costs VS storage fees, responding to bad product reviews, and using the keyword fields in the Amazon product backend wisely. I’m not sure which categories I should choose for my private label product. A listener asks a very good question today about product categories. It’s often the case that one product could legitimately belong in more than one category. When that’s the case, how do you go about choosing which category you should designate as your “primary” category. On this episode Scott answers the question and encourages the listener who ask it to focus on keywords and optimized listings more than the category - though he does give some tips on how to choose the most effective category as well. Should I pay increased shipping or storage fees to house my products? A TAS community member called in to ask Scott about his situation - he’s got a great product but in order to get his best price he’d have to order 2000 of them! He’d be saving enough money that it seems like a wise thing to do, but he doesn’t want to keep them at his home and doesn’t believe that Amazon would allow him to send in that many at once. He’s asking Scott’s advice on whether storing those products at some warehouse would make sense. Scott’s got his typical common sense answer to this one and you can hear it on this episode. Can I leave comments or replies to negative reviews I get on my products? A listener asks Scott if he is able to respond to the comments that are made to his products, and if so how? The tool you need to know about in order to do that is called Sales Backer (find it in this episode’s resource links) and it’s a great way to be active in the space surrounding your product and to do great customer service that can not only fix problems your customers are having but also get some of those negative reviews removed or changed. You can find out about Sales Backer and how you can use it on this episode. I heard you talking about keyword duplication on product listings? Can you tell me about that? There has been a lot of confusion about keywords and how they are used in the Amazon product listings, and for good reason. It appears from trials that various Amazon sellers have done that some of the conventional wisdom surrounding keywords may have been incorrect. On this episode you’ll hear Scott dig into the topic a bit in response to a listener’s question about how to use keywords. It’s a very helpful response so make sure you take the time to listen. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER   [0:25] Scott’s introduction to the podcast! [1:29] Shout out to the TAS Facebook community. [4:10] QUESTION ONE: I’m doing a new product launch and I’m not sure how to choose the right category in light of competition, etc. [11:11] QUESTION TWO: I’m having trouble figuring out if I should pay high shipping or buy more products and store them economically in the U.S. with arrangements to ship to Amazon monthly? [18:14] QUESTION THREE: How can I leave comments on reviews left on my products using Sales Backer? [24:04] QUESTION FOUR: I’m curious about keyword duplication in the Amazon backend. You and Chris discussed using Keyword Inspector to weed out duplicates. Can you expound on that a bit? RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE www.TheAmazingSeller.com/ask - ask your own questions www.TheAmazingSeller.com/FB - join the Facebook community www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop www.FreePrivateLabelCourse.com - get your own 10 day course. www.ShipWire.com www.TheAmazingSeller.com/202 www.TheAmazingSeller.com/resources (affiliate link) www.TheAmazibngSeller.com/keywords (affiliate link) www.Tools.SEOBook.com/keyword-list-cleaner

  Part of the difficulty in launching a private label product on Amazon is always the task of getting interested eyes on your product. You’ve got to be able to find out how to get your product in front of the people who are most likely to buy it. This episode is a chat with a TAS community member who took it on himself to find his own ways of doing that and he had some pretty significant successes. So sit back and relax, grab a cup of coffee and a pen and paper because you’ll want to take some notes about what Kent did to get attention for his products which in turn ramped up his sales and built an interested email list of customers right from the start. Are you selling a product or the story behind the product? One of the things today’s guest did masterfully to build enthusiasm for his product was to create a story (a true story) around the product and even the process of how it came to be. He highlighted the story of his own family and the need they felt for a particular type of product that didn’t exist - and followed up with a description of how they decided to create the product themselves. It’s a beautiful demonstration of what’s being called “story selling” and you get to hear the inside scoop on how Kent pulled it off, on this episode of the podcast. Using Facebook to enlist the help of friends, family, and associates. When Kent finally got his products ordered he wanted to start a pre-promotion phase to encourage interest in the product before he actually launched. He coupled the story behind the product’s creation with requests to friends and family (and others) to help him get a good start with ratings and reviews. He invited those interested in helping to join the mailing list to learn more about the product and get a discount when the product launched. He was able to build a list of 130 subscribers before he even had product in stock at Amazon. You can hear his creative solutions to product promotion on this episode. The up and down of a product launch’s initial stages. As Kent finally got his products listed on Amazon and began his launch he had an initial spurt of good sales and 25 reviews within the first week. But his sales began to slump fairly quickly once the first week launch was over. He was discouraged for a bit and quickly realized that the momentum of the launch was not something he could count on long term. But the fact that he’d already built a list of interested customers - and that his product was one that needed to be replenished over time - enabled him to stay encouraged and keep moving forward. That’s when he got the idea to do a different form of promotion that worked big time. You can hear him tell his entire story on this episode. Don’t forget to try promotions through traditional media outlets. After Kent’s initial launch week was over he started thinking outside the box to find additional ways to promote his products. One approach he thought of was to offer a “feature” story to the local newspaper. He sent a very simple email that briefly outlined the story in an appealing way and got a great response from the paper. His product and family’s story was featured in the Saturday edition and Kent got over 150 sales the day of publication. He’s excited to see where his product will - and you can hear all the details of the journey so far on this episode! OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER [0:25] Scott’s introduction to this episode of the podcast! [1:02] The power of building an email launch list. [1:49] A shout out to a member of the TAS Facebook Community! [5:50] How Scott noticed what Kent was doing. [7:20] Kent’s story of going from retail arbitrage to private label. [10:50] How Kent chose his first product for private label. [12:43] Kent’s process for collecting email addresses. [16:40] The 6 part email sequence Kent used. [18:30] Getting purchases and reviews. [21:10] Asking people to purchase in the smartest way. [22:50] How Kent did this the smart way by building relationships. [24:25] Using his personal Facebook profile to publicize the product. [31:33] How things proceeded after the launch. [32:45] Kent’s traditional media approach through local newspapers. [35:21] How Kent’ pitched the article to the local newspaper. [38:27] Scott’s takeaways from this episode and process. [41:50] Kent’s advice to those getting started with private label sales. RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE: www.StepsToPassiveIncome.com www.TheAmazingSeller.com/FB www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop - get into a LIVE workshop for free. www.Tomoson.com

When it comes to researching and launching a private label product on Amazon there are many hoops to jump through - and the Amazon terms of service change often. How do you know that what you’re doing is the right thing to do? One way is to find a trusted person who’s already been down the path - and that’s what these Ask Scott episodes are all about! You can ask your own questions of Scott Voelker, an experienced Amazon seller. He’s got 4 questions today about PPC, unloading failed products, the impact reviews have on sales or PPC, and whether or not you should try to sell your products on platforms other than Amazon. It’s all on this episode. How to cut your losses to get out of a private label product you’ve tried. A listener called in to ask Scott if he could walk through the various options when it comes to liquidating private label products that simply aren’t selling. Scott understands the question and the need behind it. There are many reasons you might need to get rid of products that you’ve been trying to sell and his answer to this question is one that will give you a head full of ideas to try out if you’re in the same situation. Be sure you listen to find out ways that you can sell products to recoup the money you’ve invested. I have hundreds of products on Amazon already. How should I approach PPC? On this episode a caller asks about using PPC when she’s already got an established and broad Amazon seller account. In her case, she’s already listed hundreds of products on Amazon. Choosing how to approach PPC seems like a daunting task. But Scott’s got some good suggestions for making her pay per click strategy effective and he shares them with her on this episode. Are you confused about PPC? As Scott answers this question you’ll probably find some help to the issues that are hanging you up, too. What impact do reviews have on the success of my products and PPC campaigns? A lot of people who place their private label products on the Amazon sales platform don’t understand how product reviews work in the Amazon ecosystem. It’s not that your reviews directly get you a higher ranking on Amazon search results OR give you an increase in your sales numbers. Reviews serve more of a complementary function. Imagine this: You’re searching for a product you’ve been meaning to buy and there are two options. One of them has 3 product reviews, the other has 300. Which are you more likely to trust? The one with the 300 reviews. Do you see that the number of reviews your product receives serve as social proof that your product is a good one? Find out how Scott advises this caller who only has a handful of reviews on what she can do to get more social proof for her product by listening to this episode. Is your ecommerce business being held hostage by Amazon? Selling private label products on Amazon is really an ecommerce business. Since it’s on Amazon you may not have thought of it that way, but it’s the truth. Ecommerce can be implemented on a wide variety of platforms - Amazon, Ebay, Etsy, and more. But you have to understand that whatever platform you’re selling on, you have to play by that platform’s rules. It’s understandable - and somewhat frustrating at times. Scott answers a listener’s question today with a question of his own… Is Amazon holding your ecommerce business hostage? You’ll want to hear this one. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER [0:03] Scott’s introduction to the podcast! [1:04] How you can submit your questions for these Q&A episodes. [2:42] QUESTION ONE: How should I go about bailing out of a product that I want to stop selling? [10:35] QUESTION TWO: How should I approach PPC when I already have hundreds of products on Amazon? [16:30] QUESTION THREE: How do my sales and PPC campaigns relate to the number of reviews I have? [25:30] QUESTION FOUR: My product was reviewed and has been unlisted. I have similar products so I’m a bit confused. RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE www.TheAmazingSeller.com/ask www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop www.FreePrivateLabelCourse.com www.eBay.com www.Etsy.com Craigslist

  TODAY'S GUEST: Rick Simpson is a retired power engineer who worked for 25 years in the medical system in Canada.  After suffering a severe head injury in 1997 he took all the medications that the doctors prescribed, but their side effects did nothing but harm.  So in desperation he turned to the use of cannabis extracts, which he produced himself and quickly found that he had discovered the greatest natural medicine on earth.  After learning the truth about the amazing healing abilities of these extracts, he then went to everyone in authority to have its use recognized once more,  but found that in reality those who control our lives, wanted to keep the truth hidden from public view.  Having nowhere else to turn, he then made this knowledge public and since that time countless individuals worldwide have used his information to cure or control illnesses for which our current medical systems have no solution. Rick Simpson was giving the oil away for free, since he was growing plants in his own backyard, while he was still in Canada, until 2009, when the Royal Canadian Mounted Police did the final raid at his home. Rick was always talking about THC oil, and not CBD oil. The oil that he was giving away for free had a very high percentage of THC and it also contained low levels of CBD and other cannabinoids.  Today these extracts are usually called RSO or Rick Simpson Oil and it was the previous leader of the hemp movement Jack Herer himself who coined this phrase. Since 2013 Rick no longer lives in Canada. "I want people to know how to heal themselves."  -  Rick Simpson NOTE: Rick Simpson does not want to be connected with any company that is producing hemp oil. We need to get your confirmation that you are not going to use the interview with Rick, to promote such organisations.   Connect With Today's guest: RICK SIMPSON Website: http://phoenixtears.ca/ On YouTube On Facebook IN THIS EPISODE: My conversation with Rick Simpson continues on this episode of Vidal Speaks. He's a fount of knowledge when it comes to the growing of cannabis for medicinal purposes and gives some detailed information on this episode about the species he grows, how he creates the extracts and oils from the plant, and even gives some non-solvent based solutions to extracting the medicinal properties of the cannabis. That makes me feel a lot safer doing this myself and I think it will for my of you. Rick Simpson's feeling about traditional medicine is not good. With the experiences he's had with the wonders of medicinal cannabis I can see why. If you want to know the wide variety of treatments that can be addressed and even totally healed by using cannabis extracts, Rick shares a handful of stories of the things he's seen on this episode. I hope you'll listen with an open mind. Medicinal cannabis has been applied to a variety of ailments thousands of years and today's guest, Rick Simpson, believes that there has been clear proof that it can be used to cure cancer for at least 150 years. Why haven't we heard about it sooner? Rick believes that both the medical establishment and the pharmaceutical companies have far too much to lose in terms of profit to allow the medicinal use of cannabis to be clearly revealed. That's why he's been so outspoken about this wonderful healing plant over the years. What kind of ailments do you suffer from? Would you do anything to experience true healing? If that's the case you'll want to hear what my guest, Rick Simpson has to say - but you'll need to come with an open mind. He's a proponent of the medicinal uses of the cannabis plant, which has been demonized under the term “marijuana.” On this episode Rick gives clear data that shows how cannabis has been used to treat and cure many diseases that the medical establishment continues to throw addictive drugs at. I bring this conversation to you in hopes that you can find the healing you truly need. If you know someone who is suffering from cancer of any kind, skin ailments, breathing issues, or some unknown condition, please allow your care for them to motivate you to action. Rick Simpson's generous sharing in this conversation could be the answer they've been looking for. Medicinal cannabis is not an addictive drug or a terrible thing only “potheads” use. When made and used responsibly, like any medicine cannabis can have tremendous benefits that defy explanation. Please, take the time to listen and share this episode with those you love who need this information. Outline Of This Great Episode [1:59] Deborah's introduction to this part 2 episode with Rick Simpson. [6:11] What would you do if you were diagnosed with a terminal disease? [7:55] How Rick began using cannabis extracts and began making them. [8:58] The most amazing stories of healing Rick has heard using cannabis. [10:50] Historical data regarding the use of cannabis for healing. [12:08] Why there's no stopping the legalization of cannabis. [17:32] The issue of solvents in the production of cannabis extracts. [19:40] Producing extracts without the solvents. [25:06] Why those who smoke pot for the high are not getting the full benefit. [27:00] Have we known how to cure cancer for over 150 years? [29:12] Is there a difference between hemp and cannabis? [32:42] The right amount of plants to provide adequate resin. [34:11] The way to get started growing cannabis. [39:37] Mixing the extracts for the best benefits. [41:10] Removing the risk of a fire when you're making the extracts. [45:00] Rick's recommendations for making your own cannabis extracts. [47:30] Steps to take to help legalize medicinal cannabis. [52:04] Rick's 3 tips for optimal health. Resources Mentioned On This Episode www.PhoenixTears.ca The Corbett Report The Indoor Outdoor Medical Grower's Bible Phoenix Tears: The Rick Simpson Story Phoenix Tears: Rick Simpson Oil: Nature's Answer For Cancer www.SimpsonRamadur.com

Every private label seller has dreams of their business going big. But very few think as big as what actually happened for Chad Rubin. Chad’s private label success forced him to create an amazing software solution for his biggest problems. You’re going to hear Chad’s story from the beginning until now - how he built an amazing private label business on Amazon, grew it to monstrous proportions, and then pivoted to create a software that is now leading the way in the ecommerce space. Great ways to discover product ideas that actually sell. One of the most difficult aspects of building an Amazon private label business is finding that perfect product that sells - and continues to sell. Chad Rubin says that those kinds of products require a lot of research into the market it will be serving. You’ve got to make sure that you’re actually meeting a real life need to ensure that there will always be a market for the product so you’re not left with a huge investment that never pans out. You can hear Chad’s advice for finding those kinds of products on this episode.   Come up with an idea that solves a specific problem. You can’t expect to jump on Alibaba and choose the first product that looks like it might sell. You’ve got to find one that truly meets a need that consumers are willing to pay to have solved. Chad Rubin’s formula for private label success starts there. He suggests that you look at your own life - at the problems you face and the things you wish were different - and let those frustrations inspire you to create products that solve those problems. If you have the problem, you can bet thousands of others do too. Find out how Chad goes about his own product discovery on this episode of The Amazing Seller. Come up with an idea that has to do with something you love. Many private label sellers fade away over time because they start selling a product they think will be successful, but it’s not something they personally have an interest in. Chad Rubin says that long term success requires that you’re working on something that you actually enjoy or have interest in. When you’re passionate about the products you sell you’re going to be much more motivated over the long haul and will be able to persevere to see your business thrive. If you want to be inspired by an incredible story you’ll want to hear this episode. Choose a product that doesn’t get you stuck in one narrow niche. Successful private label sales depends on building a brand, not just selling one popular or in-demand product. When you only have one product you get stuck in a one dimensional place where it’s hard to branch out and create secondary streams of income for your business. Chad Rubin suggests that you start out with an eye toward building a brand that can span many different niches of products. That way you’re able to pivot more easily, add complementary products to your product line in a natural way, and maximize your potential to cross sell to your existing customer base. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER [0:04] Scott’s introduction to this podcast episode. [1:46] An iTunes review left recently (leave your review over there, too!). [3:24] The upcoming workshop! [4:24] Scott’s introduction to Chad Rubin and the beginnings of his story. [6:42] How Chad recommends someone get started when looking for products. [8:19] Why Chad focuses on products that bring innovation to the market. [9:18] The way that Chad began selling his inventory on Amazon. [10:55] How Chad pivoted his business to service existing brands. [13:27] The places Chad gets his product ideas. [15:26] Chad’s recipe for e-commerce success. [17:30] The value of making sure your products are on more than one channel. [18:58] The process to getting products listed on Wal-Mart. [24:31] Choosing a brand that doesn’t get you stuck in one small niche. [28:28] Is Alibaba the best place to find a good product? [32:10] A big rookie mistake Chad made when he began. [34:19] The way Chad fulfills his orders. [36:19] How Chad created his own software to solve a business problem. [38:30] Chad’s book: Why he wrote it and what it’s about. [41:23] What Chad says to those just starting out. RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop - get on board now! Terapeak Google Keyword Planner Anker Skubana BOOK: Cheaper, Easier, Direct

Every Amazon private label seller is going to face this problem sooner or later: you’ll run out of stock so quickly that you won’t be able to get new products to Amazon in time. There are many ways you can deal with it, but what should you do to ensure that your sales resume at a good pace once you have products back in stock? On this episode Scott and his friend Chris - both experienced Amazon sellers - are looking at a real Amazon product that ran out of stock and is now having trouble resuming the good sales it had before. Both guys have great insights into the issues that are causing problems, on this episode. Always check the trends surrounding a product’s sales before you launch. You may not think of your particular product as a seasonal item. But you might be surprised. Scott and Chris always recommend that a key component of your product research phase is to use a tool like Google Trends to research the trends of how your product has sold in the past. On this episode Scott and Chris discover that a product that was selling like crazy and suddenly lost it’s momentum is actually seasonal in nature. It makes a huge difference in how you approach your product sales and sometimes impacts whether you choose to sell that product at all. Are you making this mistake with your product title? In an effort to build brand recognition many Amazon sellers place the name of their brand in the title of their product. Both Chris and Scott believe it’s a mistake to do that. Why? Because unless someone is specifically searching for your brand name you won’t get any search juice out of having your brand name in the title - and the title of your product is one of the most important spots you want to have keywords that people may be searching for. On this episode you can learn some additional hacks you can use to optimize your listing for better search accessibility and greater sales. Do you have the right kind of pictures on your product listing? Amazon’s terms of service make it clear what type of picture can be used for your primary product photo, but when it comes to your secondary photos there are many things you can do to make them stand out and attract attention. On this episode Scott and Chris analyze a real private label product that is having problems with sales and the images are one of the things they notice. Find out what remedies they recommend and get some ideas for how to improve your own product listing, on this episode. Look at the product that is selling the most in your niche and imitate what they’re doing. It only makes sense that if one product in your niche is dominating the sales, you should borrow from what they’re doing. Never use the exact photos they are, but if you can create a photo that is similar in approach or feel, do it. Never completely copy their title or description, but if they are expressing the usefulness of your product in different ways, try to learn from what they are doing. You’ll find some “best practices” from those who are doing it the best - so be sure you take the time to analyze your competition. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER [0:03] Scott’s introduction to this “Hot Seat” episode of the podcast! [1:26] How you can get into Scott’s free workshop. [2:08] Get into the TAS Facebook group. [4:28] The scenario the guys are looking over today. [6:03] Initial thoughts about the out of stock problem and lagging sales. [9:00] Why you want to look at the trends surrounding products before you launch. [10:28] Using Jungle Scout Pro to look at the Amazon search results. [13:50] Looking at average sales to assess true market depth. [14:20] Keyword results: Something that seems to be missing. [17:35] Pictures are a HUGE issue for product sales. [21:20] Potential products to feed sales alongside this product. [23:30] Build out content around the product. [25:15] Great tricks learned from the highest seller in the niche. [27:20] The importance of benefit driven copy and descriptions. [32:40] Should you jack up your price when you’re about to run out of stock? [39:25] Summarizing the assessment of this product. RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop - get into the free workshop. www.TheAmazingSeller.com/FB - Facebook group www.TheAmazingSeller.com/LIVE - next event update. Google Trends Splitly www.CamelCamelCamel.com PREVIOUS HOTSEAT EPISODES Episode 50 Episode 162 Episode 174 Episode 188 Episode 197 Episode 222  

This episode of the Amazing Seller podcast is where Scott Voelker answers questions about Amazon private label sales and ecommerce. On this episode he’s addressing some pretty interesting questions. Should you try to compete directly with Amazon when it is the only seller of a particular product? How can you go about coming up with a brand name? When would it be better to merge two identical products that only have one small variation? Those are just some of the things you’ll hear on these Ask Scott episodes, so be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss an episode. Should you launch a product that is in direct competition with Amazon? There are many products on Amazon that only Amazon sells - and it may be intimidating to think of going up against the mighty Amazon. But Scott thinks that if you approach it the right way and keep your head on straight. You can do it. On this episode Scott is asked about that issue and he gives a very clear answer to whether it’s a good idea to compete directly with Amazon, what questions you should be asking, and what you should look out for if you’re going to take it upon yourself to challenge Amazon’s sales. My products are duplicates except for their color. Should I merge them? When you list a product for sale on Amazon you have two options. You can set up every product you bring to the platform in its own listing, or if they are similar and only differ by variations such as color or size, you can place them under the same listing, but as variations of the same product. Which is better? It depends on a number of things that can sometimes be confusing. So on this episode Scott tackles the question and gives you his ideas on how to make the decision. I really want to find the brand name for my products that is just right. Do you have any tips? In many ways naming your brand is just like naming your first child - you really want to get it right. But Scott doesn’t think it’s all that important at first. Instead he recommends that you get a trial run of your product on the way and experiment with its sales first to ensure that all your energy to name it is well founded. But he doesn’t stop there - Scott does have some good ideas for how you can brainstorm brand name ideas, so be sure to listen to this episode. If you are new to Amazon Private Label, here’s a free resource for you! It can be very confusing trying to figure out all the rules and steps involved in listing a product for sale on Amazon. That’s why Scott Voelker has simplified things into 5 steps and put it into a free course. You can learn everything from researching product ideas, to choosing the product, to finding a supplier, to getting your first shipment and listing it on Amazon. You won’t find a better resource to teach you how to get started so make sure you listen to this episode of the podcast to see how you can get started with Amazon Private Label. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER [0:03] Scott’s introduction to the podcast! [3:57] QUESTION ONE: I’m curious if I should try to launch products that Amazon itself sells? [13:08] QUESTION TWO: I’m trying to come up with a brand name. Any tips? [19:29] QUESTION THREE: I have some products that are duplicate except for their colors. Should I merge their AISNs? [25:35] How you can ask your own question for a future episode. RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE www.TheAmazingSeller.com/ask - how you can ask your question! www.FreePrivateLabelCourse.com - free PL course. www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop - Scott’s free workshop www.GoDaddy.com www.Bluehost.com www.TheAmazingSeller.com/FB - the TAS Facebook Community

TODAY'S GUEST: Rick Simpson is a retired power engineer who worked for 25 years in the medical system in Canada.  After suffering a severe head injury in 1997 he took all the medications that the doctors prescribed, but their side effects did nothing but harm.  So in desperation he turned to the use of cannabis extracts, which he produced himself and quickly found that he had discovered the greatest natural medicine on earth.  After learning the truth about the amazing healing abilities of these extracts, he then went to everyone in authority to have its use recognized once more,  but found that in reality those who control our lives, wanted to keep the truth hidden from public view.  Having nowhere else to turn, he then made this knowledge public and since that time countless individuals worldwide have used his information to cure or control illnesses for which our current medical systems have no solution. Rick Simpson was giving the oil away for free, since he was growing plants in his own backyard, while he was still in Canada, until 2009, when the Royal Canadian Mounted Police did the final raid at his home. Rick was always talking about THC oil, and not CBD oil. The oil that he was giving away for free had a very high percentage of THC and it also contained low levels of CBD and other cannabinoids.  Today these extracts are usually called RSO or Rick Simpson Oil and it was the previous leader of the hemp movement Jack Herer himself who coined this phrase. Since 2013 Rick no longer lives in Canada. "I want people to know how to heal themselves."  -  Rick Simpson NOTE: Rick Simpson is NOT connected with any company that is producing hemp oil. Connect With Today's guest: RICK SIMPSON Website: http://phoenixtears.ca/ On YouTube On Facebook IN THIS EPISODE ABOUT THE MEDICAL USES OF CANNABIS: Today's conversation is one that I'm especially happy to bring to you because it has to do with the real ways that people who are currently suffering from terrible diseases like cancer can take control of their own health, remediating the pain and even curing their illness through the use of a controversial but proven treatment - medical cannabis. As you can see from Rick Simpson's bio above, he's one of the people on the front lines - not only of the use of cannabis as a legitimate medical treatment but also in leading the charge to repeal the ridiculous laws worldwide that keep people from being their own best physician. This conversation about the medical uses of cannabis ranges widely - from how Rick Simpson began his own experimentation with distilling essential oils from the cannabis plant, to the legal threats he's experienced as a result, to many of the details about what the cannabis plant actually does in the body and how it gives relief not only to pain in the actual healing of many diseases people are suffering from all over the world. I want to encourage you to open your mind… to think about cannabis differently. Neither my guest, Rick Simpson, nor I are encouraging anyone to spend their lives high from smoking marijuana. What we're imploring people to consider is that this plant, though controversial because of its use as a drug in some contexts, is also endowed with the ability to be a truly helpful medicine for many who suffer needlessly. What can we do to make the way easier for those who suffer to manage their own pain and set their lives on a better pathway toward health? Rick Simpson is a man who is willing to ask those difficult questions and lead the charge toward legalization of cannabis for medical uses and to educate people how they can use the plant for its medicinal properties in safe and effective ways. You will get so much from listening to this conversation so I encourage you to do it - and to do so with an open mind. Outline Of This Great Episode [2:00] My introduction to this episode and why you'll need to open your mind for this episode. [8:40] My welcome of Rick to the show and the mission Rick is pursuing worldwide. [10:06] Why natural medications like cannabis are a better alternative to modern medicine. [11:00] How Rick got into distilling and using cannabis for his own ailments. [19:00] The reasons Rick left Canada and began to travel the world speaking. [22:47] An incredible story of healing using the essential oils Rick produces. [25:00] How the medical establishment regularly violates its own code of ethics. [27:42] The possibility of the same benefits of medical cannabis from other sources. [28:55] The importance of high THC plants. [31:00] The right every person has to grow cannabis. [33:39] What about juicing cannabis? [35:30] Medicinal uses of cannabis for people without dramatic diseases. [37:51] The availability of seed even though it's hard to find uniform quality. [38:33] Rick's favorite few strains of cannabis seeds. [43:02] Do you get high from using medical cannabis oils? [44:20] The use of cannabis oils while remaining in your work environment. [46:47] The opiate addiction in the modern world and how cannabis can help. Resources Mentioned On This Episode www.SoundMarketing.mobi DNA seeds Greenhouse Seeds Beatitude Seed Company

  Scott hears people complaining all the time that they can’t do sales on Amazon because they don’t have the cash to get started. Hey, we all know what it’s like to be tight on cash. But if you are honest with yourself you’ll be able to look at the opportunities you have to get the extra cash you need to get started. That’s what this episode of the podcast is all about. Scott’s talking with his friend Dom Sugar about the way he’s gotten started and the simple but significant things he has done to make cash when he didn’t realize he had the resources. Anyone can do what Dom suggests on this episode so be sure you take some time to listen. From a retail store, to ebay, to retail arbitrage, to private label.   Dom Sugar grew up in an environment where business was a significant part of life. As he grew older he began looking for ways that he could “set up shop” for himself and one of the most significant in the early years was through eBay. He learned quickly that he could sell used and new items for a profit and began leveraging the opportunity to increase his own cash flow. As the online space grew and changed, so did he, and the success he’s experienced in his business overall is a testament to the power of diligence and patience. You can hear Dom’s story and get some ideas about how YOU can get started selling items online, on this episode. There is no excuse for not getting started. It seems that many of the people who say they want to get started selling products on Amazon just don’t want it badly enough. Dom Sugar is convinced that anyone can scrounge up the money to get started, whether it’s through a garage sale, through selling used or unused items on eBay, or beginning to step into the retail arbitrage area. On this episode he tells the story of how he got going with retail arbitrage, gives some great tips on how to go about it and the types of products to look for, and speaks to why he thinks RA is the first logical step into the Amazon waters. You can learn a lot from this conversation. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. One of Scott’s favorite sayings is, “Take action” because nobody ever did anything by waiting for it to happen. If you want to get started selling products on Amazon there is a way. The question is, “Do YOU have the will to see it happen?” On this episode Dom Sugar shares with Scott how he’s been able to make his business grow through consistent hard work and learning, and how he’s now sending truckloads of products to Amazon to prepare for Christmas and the 4th quarter. It’s a long way from where her started, but he’s convinced that you can do it too - and on this episode he tells you where he’d begin if he were starting all over. When things change in the marketplace, you’ve got to learn how to pivot. From a big box department store chain to a mom and pop store on the corner of your town, any successful business has to pivot as the market changes. That means the leaders of the business have to adapt, come up with new strategies, introduce new products, whatever it takes to ensure that the business can continue to make sales and expand profits. Dom Sugar has done that as his online business efforts have changed time and time again over the years and on this episode he shares some of his ideas about how you can not only get started building cash for a successful Amazon business, but also how you can strategize to stick with it long term. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER [0:03] Scott’s introduction to this episode of the podcast! [3:02] Dom’s background in business, retail arbitrage, and ecommerce. [5:12] Why Dom got into the online space with his retail businesses. [9:53] Why you can’t stick with only one sales platform. [11:00] The difference Amazon FBA made to Dom’s business. [15:20] The reason retail arbitrage is a good entry point. [21:25] The first place to go if you need cash to get started on Amazon. [27:13] Why there is no excuse for not starting. [28:00] Moving onto the Amazon platform with Retail Arbitrage. [36:26] The kind of things that are good products for Retail Arbitrage. [41:49] Why you should get started sending in products for Christmas (4th Quarter). [47:00] How getting a sale is great motivation to keep moving forward. [50:45] The importance of knowing how to pivot when things change. RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE www.meetUp.com - look for the TAS Canada group. www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop - get in on the free PL workshop.

It’s time for you to get your Amazon private label questions answered from Scott Voelker, an experienced private label sales professional who is actively building his business both on and off Amazon every single day. You can submit your questions and hear others ask their real life PL questions and Scott will give his best suggestions, answers, and tips for how to resolve the problems that are presented. If you want to ask your own private label questions, listen to this episode to find out how you can! Is it “legal” with Amazon to put my website URL on my product packaging? One of the main ways you can build your Amazon private label business is to capture the email addresses of the people who purchase your products so that you can then remarket to them with discount offers, other product possibilities, and more. But how do you get the email addresses of your customers? One Amazon seller has the idea to put his website URL on his actual product packaging.But is that legal according to Amazon’s terms of service? On this episode Scott is going to answer the question from his own perspective. His take is interesting because the answer is not very clear in the Amazon terms of service. I’ve ordered my first private label product but am starting to feel like the market is too crowded. Help! If you’ve already got your products or they are on the way to you, that’s great. Way to take action! But sometimes you might start to second guess yourself while you’re waiting to receive your products. It’s not unusual for people in that situation to continue to check their niche and begin to feel that they chose the wrong product because the market is too crowded. If that’s you, what should you do? On this episode Scott fields that question and gives some hopeful answers to make the most of the products you already have. You won’t want to miss this one. I’m considering the purchase of Jungle Scout Pro… can you help me understand the options? Two of the best tools out there to help Amazon private label sellers make the most of their product research and listings is Jungle Scout - but it comes in two versions - the basic and PRO. What is the difference and how do they work together? Scott is personal friends with the creator of Jungle Scout and he has used both versions of the product. That means he’s got a very solid experience and opinion about the software and on this episode he shares the differences, similarities, and which you should get if you’re looking to get into Amazon sales. Should I include multiple words in my search field to get exact match keywords set up? There’s been mixed advice over the years about how to use the “search terms” field in the backend of your Amazon product listing. Some people have said that you should not repeat words in those fields while others say that it’s OK to repeat words to maximize the possibility of being found for long tail keywords. Which is right? On this episode Scott outlines what he’s heard on both sides of the argument and invites listeners to submit their split-test data regarding keywords so he can report on it to the rest of the TAS community. If you want to be part of this experiment, go to the contact page on the website and let Scott know! OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER [0:04] Scott’s introduction to the podcast! [1:20] How you can ask your own questions. [1:54] How to get into Scott’s free private label workshop. [2:46] QUESTION ONE: Am I allowed to put my website URL on the product packaging? And can I put an opt-in on that website? [9:42] QUESTION TWO: I’ve ordered 500 units of my product but I am beginning to think my market may be too crowded. [15:07] QUESTION THREE: I have some questions about Jungle Scout Pro pricing. Can you help me? [19:17] QUESTION FOUR: I’m a bit confused about the search term field in my Amazon backend. Should I repeat words to get exact phrase matching? RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE www.TheAmazingSeller.com/ask www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop www.TheAmazingSeller.com/24 - episode on capturing customer emails. www.TheAmazingSeller.com/resources www.TheAmazingSeller.com/JS (affiliate link) www.TheAmazingSeller.com/Splitly

It’s time for Scott’s favorite part of the week, the episode where he gets to answer your Amazon private label questions on the show. Today’s episode is filled with questions from real Amazon sellers who are in the trenches, building their own business to benefit themselves, their family, and the world. Today Scott answers questions about choosing a second product, aiming at a particular market, shipping to Amazon USA when you live in a different country, maximizing your PPC (Pay Per Click) campaigns, and how to use Camel Camel Camel. It’s all on this episode of the podcast. I’ve heard people say that launching a second product is a good way to increase sales, is that always true? The short answer is, “No.” A second product has to be researched effectively and tied into your current product line to make the most sense and give you the most return on your effort. You can’t expect to simply pick a product, set it up on Amazon, and see sales come in. It simply doesn’t work that way. It makes a lot more sense to research your market and to develop a uniquely branded product line within the market that feeds from one product to another within your brand. That way you can promote cross sales and related items to people who are already familiar and happy with your products and brand. I don’t live in the U.S. How can I have my Chinese supplied products shipped straight to Amazon instead of to my home? A caller has heard that it makes sense to have your products from China shipped to your home before you send them to Amazon so that you can inspect them and assure that the quality is as you wish. But what if you don’t live in the U.S. but are selling on the Amazon U.S. site? The answer is to find an inspection company that can go on site to your supplier and inspect your products to ensure their quality before they ship. It’s an added expense and an added step, but it is a great way to enable your supplier to ship directly to Amazon and ensure that the quality of your products is high as well. My Pay Per Click (PPC) budget is used up in the first day. What am I doing wrong? If you’re running a PPC campaign where the daily budget runs out quickly or almost immediately, you may have a very good problem. What’s happening is either one of two things: #1 - You’ve allotted a very small amount and it’s running through it quickly - in which case you’d need to increase your daily budget. OR #2 - There are many people searching for your target keywords and clicking on your ads as a result. How do you determine which it is and what can you do to take full advantage of it? You’ll find out on this episode of The Amazing Seller when Scott answers a listener question about PPC. A great tool you can use to validate data about a new product idea. When you’re considering a new product, it’s easy to be misled by the initial research. The numbers can look very good at first until you dig a bit deeper. You want to use tools like www.CamelCamelCamel.com to look into the sales history and other facts surrounding similar products before you take the plunge. You can learn a lot that could save you from making a mistake that could cost you thousands of dollars. You can hear Scott’s description of how to use it effectively on this episode of the podcast. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER [0:03] Scott’s introduction to the podcast! [1:33] Why it’s important to move past your fear. [2:05] How you can get transcripts and show notes. [2:36] QUESTION ONE: I’m a bit confused about the criteria for launching a second product. [7:59] QUESTION TWO: I’m in Amsterdam. How can I get my products shipped to the U.S. in the most effective way? [10:51] QUESTION THREE: I ran out of PPC budget within the first two days. What am I doing wrong? [14:20] A BONUS TIP: The Google Chrome extension from Camel Camel Camel. [15:38] What is Camel Camel Camel? [16:30] Why you need to validate data around potential products. RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE www.TheAmazingSeller.com/ask - Ask your questions! www.TopWinInspections.com - Inspection service www.TheAmazingSeller.com/PPC www.TheAmazingSeller.com/119 - PPC episode www.CamelCamelCamel.com Google Trends www.TheAmazingSeller.com/189 - Episode about product validation data. www.TheAmazingSeller.com/FB - Facebook community

The number of questions Scott gets week after week about whether or not a product idea is a good one are so numerous that it’s prompted him to record this episode. There are certain things that make for a great private label product opportunity and other things that make for a lot of trouble and very few sales. On this episode Scott highlights 3 of the main things you should look for that would serve as warning signs or red flags that the product you’re looking at is not a good idea to invest in. You can hear it all on this episode of the Amazing Seller Podcast. Product Research Red Flag #1: Identical Products. If you’re considering a particular product to sell on Amazon you’ve got to be aware of this one. It used to be an approach for sellers to simply grab the exact same product from a Chinese supplier that is already being sold on Amazon and put it up on Amazon. And believe it or not, they would get sales. But that approach doesn’t work anymore simply because it’s too easy for other sellers to sell the exact same thing and undercut you, steal your listing, and other problems. So if you look at a potential product on Amazon and see the identical product over and over and over, beware. Find more things to be careful of when choosing a private label product on this episode. Product Research Red Flag #2: Pages and pages of the exact same product. If you’ve got an idea for a private label product and find pages and pages of the exact same product on Amazon already, you should be very careful. It will be very difficult for you to get your product to make any headway on that product. Why? Because there are so many of the same thing. But there is still a possibility and it lies in whether or not you’ll be able to differentiate a product enough to make yours desireable in ways that the competition is not. You can hear Scott dive into the issue on this episode and ramp up your private label sales. Product Research Red Flag #3: When you see the exact same product on the websites of suppliers. The reason you don’t want to try to start selling a new private label product when the images and product description on the suppliers website is exactly what is already on Amazon is because that product is easily copied. Not only will you have tons of competition for sales on that product, you’ll also have a very high risk of your product listing being hijacked and you will lose control of the buy box and your overall ability to control your prospects for sales. You can find out exactly what all that means on this episode of The Amazing Seller podcast. How can you sell a private label product successfully in a crowded market? The answer is to make your product unique in some way that the buyers truly care about. How can you discover the ways you should differentiate your product? You’ve got to a little legwork by reading through the reviews about similar products that have been left on Amazon. You’ll discover things that actual buyers have complained about regarding the product which translates into improvements you can make to the product that will make yours more desireable. You can also look at related products that could be added to your product in a bundle so that your product is not only a greater value but also more unique. Scott has lots of ideas about this kind of thing and you can hear them on this episode. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER [0:25] Scott’s introduction to this episode of the show. [1:57] How you can get transcripts and show notes. [2:16] Get in on the new Private Label Workshop. [3:21] Get into the TAS Facebook group. [4:17] Why Amazon is not too saturated for you to make it big. [7:30] Some promising results Scott has had recently on a new product experiment. [10:13] Red flag #1: Identical products. [11:53] Red flag #2: Pages of the identical product. [17:41] Red flag #3: The exact same product on supplier websites. [19:20] Considerations you should make about these situations. [31:35] Recap of these red flag issues. RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE: www.TheAmazingSeller.com/workshop www.TheAmazingSeller.com/FB www.TheAmazingSeller.com/PPC www.TheAmazingSeller.com/56 and www.TheAmazingSeller.com/161 www.TheAmazingSeller.com/222 - the episode with Carl. www.TheAmazingSeller.com/189 - the product validation episode www.CamelCamelCamel.com Google Trends

This is the Friday Ask Scott episode of The Amazing Seller podcast where you (and people like you) get to ask their particular questions about Amazon sales. On this episode Scott fields question about choosing a product when the market appears to be very crowded, how to differentiate products, and what to expect when having products shipped from China. You’ll get a great taste from the type of things Scott is able to answer and learn how you can submit your own questions regarding Amazon private label sales, on this episode. I have found a product possibility that looks promising but the market is very crowded. What should I do? One of the things that you need to research when it comes to finding a product that could be a good seller on Amazon is the market that product is within. You want a product that is already on Amazon and selling fairly well, but if the market is too crowded you’ll have a very hard time getting your product to become a contender in that niche. BUT - that’s not always the truth. If you find a crowded market but many of them are not optimized well or are not getting many sales, you might have a winner, especially if you can differentiate your product somehow. On this episode you’ll hear Scott go over a number of ways a product can be created that is unique and draws in buyers, so be sure to listen. Creating a bundle may be your answer to entering a crowded market. If you’ve found a potential product that has great sales numbers in the highest selling products but is in a very crowded market, you can break in by offering a product bundle that meets more specific needs of the market. How do you do that? On this episode Scott talks through many of the things you can do to find exactly how you can make your products unique, get them into the market in a powerful way, and begin taking some of that market by adding value that nobody else is adding. You’ll hear it all on this episode of The Amazing Seller. I got a quote from my supplier for shipping of my products but now that my products are in production the shipping has doubled? Is that normal? A listener called in to ask Scott about what’s normal or customary when it comes to working with overseas suppliers. She’s already found her product and negotiated a deal on cost and features and the products are being produced now. But just recently she received an email from her supplier saying that her shipping costs had more than doubled - from $1000 to over $2500! She wants to know if that’s normal or if she should be skeptical and ask more questions. In typical style Scott goes right to the heart of the issue and gives some clear and practical advice on what this listener can do to find out exactly what’s going on. You can hear it on this episode. Do you have an issue with your private label product that you’d like answered? There’s no reason you can’t ask and get an answer. The Ask Scott sessions of The Amazing Seller podcast publish every Friday and are a great way for you to submit specific questions about Amazon private label sales and get an answer from Scott Voelker, and experienced Amazon seller. He takes questions from the most fundamental to the most advanced so don’t be shy about asking. You can find out how to submit your question on this episode of the podcast. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER [0:04] Scott’s introduction to thIs Ask Scott episode! [1:03] The issue of moving in Scott’s life, and how good is coming from it. [3:15] iTunes reviews are coming in! [4:56] QUESTION ONE: Can you clarify about how much competition is too much? [13:30] QUESTION TWO: I’ve got a possible product with great signs that I can get into the market, but there are many people trying to sell the product. What should I do? [23:20] QUESTION THREE: Do shipping costs change without warning or is my supplier trying to gouge me? RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE: www.TheAmazingSeller.com/ask - ask your questions www.TheAmazingSeller.com/156 OR www.TheAmazingSeller.com/161 www.TheAmazingSeller.com/189 - about product research www.CamelCamelCamel.com Google Trends www.TheAmazingSeller.com/222

If you’ve not experienced the frustration of a well selected private label product that simply won’t sell yet, you probably will in time. When a product won’t sell but it looks like the market is a pretty good niche to be in, there are usually some fundamental things wrong with the product listing itself. On this episode of The Amazing Seller, Scott Voelker and his friend Chris Schaeffer look over a real life product listing of a product that’s having those exact problems and true to form, the listing itself is much of the problem. You can hear all the details on this episode of the podcast. How beneficial would it be to have an experienced seller tweak your private label product listing on Amazon? That’s exactly what you get from these Hot Seat sessions of the Amazing Seller podcast. Scott Voelker and Chris Schaeffer take their time walking through the fundamental and advanced steps to optimizing product listings of private label products that have been submitted for help. They normally find a little bit of both and help struggling Amazon sellers get over the hurdles so they can begin selling their products more consistently. There’s not a regular schedule to these hot seat sessions so you should subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss them, and hear how Scott and Chris advise today’s seller on this episode. Is the market of your private label product a good market to be in? How can you know if a potential private label product is one you should take a chance on or one you should leave alone? The best way is to research the broader market that product is in and the current sales of that particular product or things that are similar. By using some simple software tools (many of them free) you can discover exactly what the market for that product is like and whether there is enough room in it for your product to push in and grab some of the sales. Scott and Chris chat about the details of doing that and a whole lot more on this episode of The Amazing Seller.   Quality, clear product images are vital to a good product listing. The product listing that Scott and Chris are looking at today has one major problem that both of them notice immediately; the images do not possess the quality and clarity of any of the other products in their niche. It’s the main reason Scott and Chris believe this product listing has only gotten one organic sale so far. You can hear what they recommend to upgrade the images and how they’ve seen an improvement of the images change the sales of a product dramatically, on this episode. But that’s not all. There are other suggestions for this seller that Scott and Chris make so be sure you take the time to listen. What they share could be the key to YOUR private label product getting even more sales. Don’t start your exact match PPC campaigns too soon. As Scott and Chris look over an actual private label listing on Amazon on today’s episode they notice that the seller is already running an exact match PPC campaign, and both of them feel that he’s probably wasting his money. Why? Because he’s not taken the time needed in order to truly understand what his exact match keywords should be. It takes weeks and sometimes months of broad match campaigns to receive enough data to show exactly what keywords are most used when finding your products, and then it takes some time to discover where the actual clicks and sales are coming from within those keywords. Only when those milestones have been crossed you might be ready for an exact match campaign. Find out more on this episode. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER [0:04] Scott’s introduction to this episode and his friend Chris Schaeffer. [4:40] The scenario Scott and Chris are addressing today. [5:17] The importance of the data in evaluating sales problems. [6:30] A look at the stats on this product. [8:35] Sorting by estimated sales to get a different view. [12:19] Why the review counts don’t scare Scott or Chris. [13:20] The concern of the niche being dominated by one brand. [14:40] The importance of quality, clear images for clicks and product sales. [22:12] Optimizing the title for better keywords and description. [27:58] Optimizing the backend of the listing including keywords. [31:13] Pay per click considerations for a poor selling product. [40:37] Looking at the numbers of the competition for the sake of giveaway planning. [44:09] Considerations for the future of this product to research more sales. [46:12] A quick summary of what needs to be fixed on this episode. [46:55] How to use the data from CamelCamelCamel to research competition and make sales projections.. [53:00] Bundle possibilities for this product listing. [55:34] Why you need to model what’s working in your market. RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE www.TheAmazingSeller.com/LIVE www.FreePrivateLabelCourse.com Previous Hot Seat Episodes Jungle Scout www.TheAmazingSeller.com/174 - a previous Hot Seat episode mentioned. www.CamelCamelCamel.com www.TheAmazingSeller.com/119 - www.TheAmazingSeller.com/PPC

There are so many things to learn when it comes to selling a private label product on Amazon. But you don’t have to learn it all from scratch, you’ve got a friend who’s been down the road a bit farther and is willing to help you get going and be a success. Scott Voelker publishes these Friday “Ask Scott” episodes to answer your Amazon private label sales questions. If you’d like to submit a question to Scott for one of these Friday Q&A episodes, you can find out how to do that on this episode. PPC issues: Balancing inventory and income to get the right amount of sales. A caller for this episode of the Ask Scott podcast episode, the seller had a great problem that he needed some advice about. He is selling his first product at a rate of 30 sales per day. That’s a wonderful start. He gets most of his sales through Amazon Pay Per Click and has established a daily budget to ensure that he doesn’t spend more than his budget allows. The problem is that he’s selling so much of his product that he runs out of budget by early afternoon each day. He’s afraid to increase his PPC budget because he might run out of product. What would Scott do? You’ll get to hear his answer on this episode. Launching a product that is not on Amazon, but self-created. A listener called in to ask Scott about his situation, and it is a very unique idea. He and his wife have created a product of their own and would be able to source their product components from Alibaba in China. He’s curious what they should do because there is nothing on Amazon that is even close to it but they believe that it would sell very well. He’s curious about whether he should try to sell the product on Amazon or not? What would Scott do? As always, you’ll hear Scott’s response on this episode of the Amazing Seller Podcast. Pay Per Click headaches and figuring out the problems. When you first begin running pay per click to promote your Amazon products you need to start with broad match categories using the keywords that you are hoping your product will rank highly for. You let that run for around 7 to 10 days to discover which of those keywords are actually converting into sales. Once that happens, you should take the keywords that have gotten sales and put them into their own broad match campaign to put your entire budget toward those keywords that work. Once you do that for another 7 to 10 days, you’ll need to take the winners from that campaign and put them into an exact match campaign to crank up your sales on your most profitable keywords. You can learn a lot from this episode as Scott answers a question about Amazon PPC. Have you gotten your basic education by receiving Scott’s free private label course? What are you waiting for? Scott has created a free 10 day course to help beginners to the Amazon private label community learn how he’s gone about researching, buying, packaging, promoting, and selling his own private label products on Amazon. It includes everything you need to know to get started. If you want to learn how to build your own business the private label way, you need this free course. Nothing is held back so be sure you listen to this episode of the podcast to find out how you can get into the 10 day course. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE AMAZING SELLER [0:03] Scott’s introduction to the episode! [0:25] How to ask your question for Scott to answer. [1:10] How to connect with the TAS Facebook community. [3:16] How to get into Scott’s free private label course. [4:23] QUESTION ONE: My PPC is running out of budget too early, what would you do given that I’m working with limited inventory? [12:07] QUESTION TWO: My wife and I have invented a product and want to know if we should try to sell it on Amazon. [22:25] QUESTION THREE: My PPC “phrase match” is causing my ACOS to go up too high. Can you give me some advice on what I’ve done wrong? RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE www.TheAmazingSeller.com/ask www.TheAmazingSeller.com/119 - episode on Pay Per Click www.Periscope.tv - Follow Scott @ScottVoelker  

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.TheAmazingSeller.com/158  - Previous episode with Jon Haver www.BrandBuilders.io - Jon’s website services website www.ListingEagle.com/TAS - (affiliate link) get your discount on Jon’s notification service.