Podcasts about resources wizards

Sourcing and supply chain is a main problem in a business if you do not know where to look. Noviland provides solutions in sourcing and purchasing globally with over 4,000 factories in the network.  Ditching traditional supply chain planning and solution with Noviland’s cloud platform. Francois will guide you through how it works from getting you the best quotes with the help from data science and AI, through purchasing with a team of sourcing, logistics and factory experts. Francois and I will dive in building relationships with your factories at the end of this episode. Get to know his take on this matter.    On This Episode: [00:34] Introducing Francois Jaffre, Director of business development in Noviland [01:00] Meeting Francois via meet-up when he presented at Amazon seller meet-up. [03:20] Francois talking about being the business development director. [03:40] Noviland is a sourcing and supply chain company. [04:40] How Noviland started. [08:50] Noviland is 5 yrs and launched the platform in 2018. [09:55] Helping a business scale up quickly. [13:10] What is fascinating about supply chain management. [16:00] Importance of RFQ. [19:15] Noviland involves researches, order samples. [23:29] RFQ Checklist. [26:00] What is Noviland’s ideal customer? Any business that looking to source from overseas. [29:00] What is the starting budget Noviland suggests? [31:55] Noviland charge percentage. [34:00] What logistics looks like with Noviland. [43:00] Noviland’s take on building relationships with factories.   Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon: https://www.wizardsofamazon.com/ Wizards of Amazon Courses: https://wizardsofamazon.mykajabi.com/ Wizards of Amazon Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/South-Florida-FBA/ Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WizardsofAmazon/ Wizards of Amazon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wizardsofamazon/ Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/wizardsofamazon Wizards of Amazon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WizardsOfAmazon Book References: Blitzscaling By: Reid Hoffman The Lean Startup By: Eric Ries   WEBSITE: noviland.com FACEBOOK: Novilandinc INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/novilandinc/?hl=en

We’ve heard about how a failing business ruins marriage. We’ve also heard from business magazines and elsewhere that having a supportive spouse is the key to achieving success. Now let’s hear it from someone who experienced failure for having an unsupportive relationship and success with a supportive one. This episode is not about comparing but about achieving more successfully with the right support and encouragement from your partner. Having a supportive partner is not only about having someone celebrating your success with you when you succeed but also being there every step of the way.  Tune in for some advice.    In This Episode:  [00:30] Take two with Douglas Levin [02:40] Me and Douglas being Covid friends. [04:00] Me talking about how a big part of success my partner. [04:46] Douglas being a believer that your partner is pretty much a make or break on your business or in what you do. [06:40] Morning marketing machine in Youtube [07:10] Being a professional drummer until 2014 [08:33] How Douglas’ Youtube channel started as his Amazon business having problems and not earning much. [11:00] Talks about his previous relationship and how negative mindset affected his relationship and not being unsupportive with each other [14:00] The most damaging one that I’ve experienced from previous relations was when we started challenging each other negatively. [15:08] Douglas speaks about being depressed from previous marriage [15:55] Being delved in negative mindset [16:50] Douglas met his wife and started having a better mindset. [18:30] What it looks like to have a supportive partner when starting a business. [22:58] Douglas talks about being an unconfident person and how his partner helps boost that confidence. [23:50] Dealing with setbacks never done before and trying to overcome them. [24:54] Being in a healthy relationship does not only give you somewhere soft to land when you deal with setbacks but gives you a place where you are willing to consider taking risks rather than failing. [28:30] Your partner is a big part of why you are doing the business. [31:00] talks about mastermind [32:00] Being comfortable talking about business with your partner. [36:40] How wife plays an important role in the business too [37:20] How the coaching profession started. [40:45] Spouse giving confidence and perspective. Book Reference: Shoe Dog By Phil Knight INSTAGRAM: morningmarketingmachine YOUTUBE:Morning Marketing Machine FACEBOOK: Douglas Levin   Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon: https://www.wizardsofamazon.com/ Wizards of Amazon Courses: https://wizardsofamazon.mykajabi.com/ Wizards of Amazon Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/South-Florida-FBA/  

We live and are surrounded by things that can change us or leave an influence or impacts on us.  There are things, people or events that quakes us to our core. Things that may have profoundly impacted us and maybe made us a better person one way or another. In Today’s episode, I’m going to be sharing with you a topic that is near and dear to my heart.  Most of you who know me know that I'm a voracious reader and I’m excited to share with you my Top 5 most impactful books in my business and I’d say they all impacted me positively.  I’m going to be sharing a little something about the Entrepreneurs Book Club so don’t miss this and who knows, you too might get impacted by these books I’m going to share.   In This Episode: [00:20] It’s a solo episode [00:50] Today’s topic [01:40] Entrepreneurs Book Club  [03:25] Most important and No.1 in my list: The Founder’s Dilemmas by Noam Wasserman [03:40] What the book is about and the mistakes we make when starting a business. [05:34] The most impactful about the book is naming The C-level roles. [07:12] Second book is The E-myth Revisited by Michael Gerber [07:48] The importance of realizing the 3 most important roles in the business. [09:36] Identifying what role you are in that or roles you should hire. [10:15] Clearly see your role & potential role of your business partner would be. [10:40] The third and has equally impacted me as no.2 is The Virtual Freedom by Chris Ducker [11:00] A must read book before starting a business. [11:23] Foundation to creating and working with a virtual team [12:12] Identifying who are your first hires. [13:13] Importance of creating a forelist. [14:28] Hiring a general VA. [15:10] Fourth book is The Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne [17:05] This book is knowing and identifying a blue ocean [18:40] Example of how to create a blue ocean. [19:50] Introduction to Wizards of Ecom [20:30] The Fifth book is Hug Your Haters by Jay Baer [21:30] Hug your hater is about having a simple customer service approach for any scenario. [22:30] Hope to hear your feedback. Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon: Wizards of Amazon Courses:  Wizards of Amazon Meetup: The Entrepreneurs Book Club Book References: The Founder's Dilemmas by Noam Wasserman: The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber: Virtual Freedom by Chris Ducker: Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim & Renee Mauborgne: Hug Your Haters by Jay Baer

Is email already dead? Not for those who know how to maximize email marketing.  Getting email marketing right may be challenging though. There is so much work in an email campaign making it a hard work for the business and the answer to this is automation. Automation, proper tools and engagement. These three are where you start email marketing work and you wouldn’t want to miss some tips I’m going to be sharing with you.    Aside from being low-cost, Email is a platform where you build trust with your existing and cold audiences. In this episode, we are going to tackle steps you might want to follow and some email marketing strategies that will not only make emailing efficient but work for you.   These and some takeaways on how to get personal with your audience.  In This Episode: [00:27] Welcome to Wizards of Amazon Podcast’s 50th episode. [01:30] I’m extremely excited about doing this solo episode in a long time. [02:08] Thank you for sticking with me for 50 episodes and almost a year of doing podcasts. [02:48] 1st in-person meet-up after 5 months is happening. [03:00] Email marketing and its importance. [03:45] Automated process [05:20] my three personal favorite email servers; active campaign, clavio, convert kit. [06:37] Capturing cold audience with trivias and other engaging  [11:10] How to be relevant to people who are in your email list. [12:45] Using automation for mails to automatically go out to your new subscribers & follow-up on what’s going to be on the next email. [14:08] automatically tag  [15:43] point system and how it works [19:20] Rewarding and ambassador status [25:00] Merchandise rewarding [27:54] Treasure hunt    Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon: https://www.wizardsofamazon.com/ Wizards of Amazon Courses: https://wizardsofamazon.mykajabi.com/ Wizards of Amazon Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/South-Florida-FBA/   Book References:  Fooled by Randomness By: Nassim Taleb  

#049-Amazon Bribery & Back End Deals Exposed with Jeff Schick of Seller Basics Amazon/Ecom Attorney and 7 figure Amazon seller Jeff Schick proved that having multiple passions works well when you know how to put them together. Find out his take on the controversial Amazon bribery scheme involving 6 individuals and do not miss his legal advice. Find out more about Seller Basics and how they could help you protect your business legally. In This Episode:   [00:40] Welcoming Jeff Schick [02:51] June 11, 2011 when Jeff started his Amazon selling journey with the 6 months free trial. [05:00] Jeff talks about how he sells different products until they grow and grow. [06:00] How Amazon changes over the years [06:40] Jeff talks about packaging options 10 years back. [09:24] How Amazon impacted Jeff’s law journey. [10:50] OMG- Online Merchant’s Guild and attorneys volunteering to make it happen. [12:50] Bribery Case: United States VS. Amazon consultants [13:17] Jeff talks about 3 major charges in the case. [17:30] What conspiracy to access a protected computer without authorization means (hacking) [18:42] Most damning in this case was when client 1 was banned from Amazon and got reinstated at the price of $200,000 allegedly with the help of these consultants. [20:43]  DOJ Seized $100,000 from a raid happened August 19, 2020 [22:30] Wire fraud cases [24:20] What would probably Amazon do with this case. [25:30] Amazon would probably identify more who are involved in this case and do their own audit. [27:30] The meaning of Wire Fraud [28:48] What is going to happen to the sellers that hires these consultants? [34:40] Know who is working on your account.  [36:00] Seller Basics and why you need the [38:00] How seller basics works Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup   Book References: Harry Potter Series by: JK Rowlings Financial Peace by: Dave Ramsey WEBSITE:ecomattorneys FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/eComAttorneys/ LINKEDIN: jeffrey-h-schick GUEST NOTES: Here is a link to the Bribery Case referenced: https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/six-charged-in-amazon-bribery-case-in-u.s.-2020-09-19  

 “Life was meant for good friends and great ventures”. This must be what Ned and friends had in mind when they started Umbrella Fund. From the name itself, Umbrella Fund is a corporation initiated by friends of the same interest in acquiring and growing businesses under one umbrella. Umbrella Fund has a unique way of growing its own by acquiring percentage of outstanding and new companies by helping them grow and develop the business. Learn more in this episode and find out if it fits you and your ventures.   In This Episode [00:30] Welcoming Ned Hakam, co-founder of Umbrella Funds [01:27] How umbrella funds started [02:50] Put together by friends of same interest. Funds under one umbrella acquiring 4-5 companies yearly. [04:25] 15% as lowest equity Umbrella funds have so far [04:45] Bringing people in the table that wants to build a business. [05:20] which kind of business Umbrella funds take in. [09:25] Why they don’t hire entrepreneurs. [12:50] How does Umbrella funds start a deal? [18:35] Two types of business partner/client: profit base and equity base [22:27] The Company acquires 4-5 companies a year to give 3-4 months to settle an acquisition [23:34] Ned works in the acquisition side of the company. [32:00} Power in numbers [32.30] Umbrella funds had set-up corporation in other countries such as Philippines and Vietnam   Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter Book Reference: Good to Great by: Jim Collins   WEBSITE: umbrellafund.com LINKEDIN: linkedin.com/ned

It’s most, if not everyone’s dream to get out of the 9 to 5 rat race. If you consider yourself one for whatever reason, this show is for you. If you like to turn your side hustle to main hustle, This show is for you. If you are lacking side hustle ideas, this show is for you too. If you are looking to diversify your income streams, this show is for you. Nick Loper, founder of Side Hustle Nation, was once working in a corporate job and found his way out through a side hustle income stream turned business. He built Side Hustle Nation to help and inspire aspirants not only to quit their day job or find side hustles that work but to grow a business from it. There are hundreds of side hustles one can consider, and it’s only a matter of time that you find yours that will help you fulfill not only your dreams but your financial independence. I hope this episode inspires you in a lot of ways.   In This Episode: [00:30] Welcoming Nick Loper on the show, founder of Side Hustle Nation. [01:19] Nick introducing himself and how the Side Hustle Show started. [02:37] How is it possible to leave your 8-5 job for a side hustle. [06:09] Find out what side job that is incredibly stressful yet incredibly rewarding made Nick think of quitting his day job. [08:15] Nick talking about having a very supportive wife. “Money is a team sport”. [09:36] The definition of side hustle according to Nick is more than just your second job. [11:20] There are so many ways to earn money through side hustling. [12:58] There are lots of side hustles in Amazon, one advice Nick gave is to read the everything store. [13:35] Nick wrote a book and earned from it. [15:36] Nick talking about flash briefing and it's the possibilities. [19:20] Voice apps and voice technology and how some people earn from them. [26:05] Top 3 side hustles by Nick: YouTube, Newsletter based blogs, and print on demand merchandise. [37:40] Are emails make or break in your business? How curated newsletter content is a niche. [42:00] Advice: It’s the willingness to try different side hustles. [43:30] Favorite books Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup   Book Reference: Rich dad Poor Day By: Robert Kiyosaki Mr Moneymustache Blog   WEBSITE: sidehustlenation INSTAGRAM: @side_hustle_nation LINKEDIN: linkedin.com/in/nickloper/ YOUTUBE CHANNEL: youtube.com/sidehustlenation Website Offer: www.sidehustlenation.com/side-hustle-show  

Are you one with a business idea but could not start due to lack of capital? Could you still begin an Amazon business or any business at limited capital? The answer is YES, for Steven Shashen who started Xero Shoes at a very humble capital of $40. Find out how in this episode where he tackles the hard times in starting small and how his product evolved and grew. While coming up with his very own product idea to start has already been challenging and the road to selling them has not been easy, Steven has had challenges too in putting up his product on Amazon for years and that didn’t stop him but rather develop the product he has pride of creating. Steven has some marketing strategies to share with you in and out Amazon. Knowing and learning your buyer is one thing and a lot more for businesses. They can help you develop and evolve, and be inspired by them and that has been the case for Xero shoes for building a real brand based on demand.  In this 50 mins episode, Steven’s never short of nuggets of wisdom and you wouldn’t want to miss them.   In This Episode: [00:35] Welcoming Steven Shashen to the show [01:55] Could you still begin an Amazon business in limited capital? [02:20] Steven talks about how he started Xero Shoes at a capital of $40 9 years ago. [03:50] For a number of years, Xero shoes couldn’t get on Amazon. [04:40] Starting small with MTO [05:40] Joining communities and finding out what they need. [06:50] Building a real brand can earn more. [08:35] Barefoot running- the keyword that started it [09:30] Why chose to make shoes rather than import? [11:00] How the brand evolved based on feedback & demand. [13:20] Start as small [15:30] Steven talks about getting involved in communities. [17:00] Scaling the product and getting help in handling finance. [21:30] Getting negative feedbacks and starting anew in Amazon [23:50] Impact of Amazon in the business [27:20] Combating competition [30:30] Prefer to go for ROI [32:00] Leveraging social media accounts and more. [34:00] Driving ads in tools that works for your business [37:25] What is the anti-guru blog about? Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup   Book Reference: Stumbling on Happiness by: Daniel Gilbert   WEBSITE:xeroshoes.com INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com LINKEDIN: linkedin.com/in/sashen/ YOUTUBE CHANNEL: xeroshoes

They say that when you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. Augustas has definitely worked his way to where he is now but his passion is his determination. Time and budget pressure, and unexpected things that could happen on events are what organizers face on their jobs and that probably is also the driving factor for Augustas. The thrill and fulfillment he gets by serving people that being a computer programmer did not satisfy him. What does it mean to live your dream as what Augustas describes his fulfillment of becoming an event organizer?     In This Episode: [00:35] Welcome to the show Augustas Kligys [01:55] How Augustas can pull off an event that attendees have only good things to say. [03:30] Augustas on how he is fulfilling his dream and making people happy. [05:10] Augustas sent CVs to events companies and was not offered a job. [06:20] How events became his passion and followed his heart. [07:50] Amazon FBA came 5 years ago and how it all started. [09:20] Getting full scholarship on Virtual Summit Mastery [10:00] In-person event or virtual summit? [13:00] How an idea came and the PPC Congress was born. [14:40] Targeting Seller-fest for local sellers in different countries. [16:00] How Covid affected the events [18:50] Do events organized by others still appeal to Augustas? [20:20] What drives Augustas to do events aside from the profit? [23:50] What’s cooking? Working on virtual summit [27:00] Augustas talks about recording the events. [28:30] Youtube Channel-orange klik [34:00] Favorite book: The Millionaires Mind by Harv Eker  Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup   WEBSITE: orangeklik Twitter: https://twitter.com/kelione?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orange_klik/  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/OrangeKlik?sub_confirmation=1 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/augustas/ GUEST NOTES: I will be speaking at his recently Announced Event "Seller Fest Online" which will run in late September.

When an idea strikes, you best not miss it and that has been the case for Captain Robb Kessler who came up with a brilliant product after a sloppy collared shirt ruined his wedding pictures. Three years after the wedding, a product was born and launched on Amazon. Robb Kessler, inventor of Million Dollar Collar talked about how he was not able to get Kickstarter funds when he was starting and how it turned into his favour. He built the brand through learning from influencers and from people that mentored him.  Not the usual perspective of an E-com Seller, Captain Robb ditched the idea of China production and managed for his brand to be made in The US.  Though his first and main source of sales was Amazon, He felt that his brand wasn’t being well taken care of which led him to create brilliant ads that gained more traffic in Youtube and Facebook.  “Like Viagra for your shirt” intriguing enough? Learn more about the product and advice Robb gives to those who want to patent a product. In This Episode: [00:35] Welcome to the Show Robb Kessler [01:20] How the of the brand idea came up upon seeing himself looking sloppy on his wedding pictures [03:20] Main goal of the product [04:30] The difference of Million Dollar Collar and Go Tieless [07:00] Robb talks about his amazing stunt woman wife. [08:20] 2016 the product was launched on Amazon [08:40] Engaging Youtube personalities and influencers for review of products [10:20] Robb was introduced to an all-men group that mentored him in Amazon [12:25] Stocking up on opportunity [15:50] The brand’s hardest part about selling on Amazon [17:10] Next step: launch of new range [18:50] MDC is made 100% in America [19:15] eyeing Turkey for shirt production [20:30] Robb avoided sending productions in China [21:45] Featured in various pages as GQ and Business Insiders to name a few [22:30] about not getting a kickstarter fund but gets the feedback he needs to develop the brand [23:30] Amazon being the main source of sales for MDC [24:30] Source of Ads- Youtube and Facebook Ads [25:10] How they came about “Like Viagra for your shirt” campaign [27:00] Robb’s advice for those who want to start and patent a product Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter   Book References: The Three Minute Rule by: Brant Pindivic One Simple Idea by: Mitch Horowitz Contact References: WEBSITE: https://gotieless.com/ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/gotieless/ LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robkessleriii/ YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAVhiyyyyJsGj3Vay1RtZ0w Website Offer:  https://milliondollarcollar.com/collections/all Email: robb@milliondollarcollar.com  

For Jeff Lieber,  the answer is yes when a team asks for help to sell on Amazon . He shared his five-step framework for building the most profitable Amazon store possible. He’s here to share that framework and chat about all the changes Amazon has seen.  Jeff has spent the last several years creating Amazon strategies that scale businesses on Amazon. He takes your products and listings and helps you to tweak and promote so that you sell more than ever. He’s open, honest, and ready to help you grow your Amazon business. One of the big new things for Amazon is video. Still so many people are not using video to promote their brands, stores, and products… but you should. Jeff and I dig deep into the why behind using video for your promotion and how you can do it on a budget.  Listen in to learn all about Jeff’s 5-step framework and why it works. Don’t forget… always keep testing. No one strategy is going to work forever. Amazon changes constantly, so having someone in your corner who keeps up with those changes and knows how to shift is very valuable. This was an amazing conversation and I can’t wait to have Jeff back on the show.   Overview of Amazon Storefront Source Tags You can add to any store page URL when using it as the landing page for your advertising and marketing activities. When a customer visits your store using a URL that contains the tag, we automatically detect the tag is in the URL and attribute the visit and any resulting metrics to that tag. There is no limit to how many tags you can create, and tags do not expire. We can use this for all external strategies, that way we don't have to limit it to just one product URL   Where to find it? To find Storefront Source Tags, go to Amazon Seller Central, Stores, Manage Stores, See Insights, Create Source Tag. From there, you can choose the Destination Page, and then put a clear Tag name that will help you identify such as "Facebook Ad For Yoga Mat", then it will provide you your custom link to use for that campaign!   Free Bonuses and Goodies To Grow On Amazon: As a thank you to Carlos’ audience for listening, to get the full training on the steps to scale to 7 figures and beyond on Amazon, or to get the pre-vetted 3rd party warehouse list to diversify during the covid pandemic, or to get other free resources or to talk to TurnKey about how they can help you scale on Amazon, just head over to: www.TurnKeyProductManagement.com/wizards     In This Episode: [00:40] Welcome Jeff Lieber from Turnkey Project Management.  [02:06] Jeff shares his experience working with a Shark from Shark Tank. [04:08] He worked with the baby sharks that this Shark was financing and invested in.  [05:19] How do you go about designing a portfolio for an 8-figure brand?  [07:51] Why weren’t they already on Amazon?  [08:51] Learn more about pulling numbers for competitor stats.  [09:40] Moving into the next phase of taking a brand to Amazon.  [11:37] He who can spend the most money on ads wins… true or false?  [12:57] What happens in phase three of this process?  [13:38] Learn the best practices for optimizing your listing right now.  [18:12] Why aren’t more people using video on Amazon?  [19:00] Should you let cost scare you away from making videos?  [20:24] Does Jeff have a preferred vendor for videos?  [23:28] Which part of the video creation process is most important for Amazon?  [26:24] What happens in phase four?  [30:13] Use the bullseye to test various strategies for ads.  [32:29] You’re still feeding your channels during this time right?  [33:39] What’s doing best on DSP?  [35:41] Learn more about phase 5.  [39:07] Any other critical roles and implementation failures?  [41:26] How can you get your hands on these training steps?  [42:41] What is working really well on Amazon right now?  [45:44] Hear names of some different third party warehouses.  [47:04] A few more tips. [49:43] Connect with Jeff. [50:22] Jeff’s favorite book and why.        Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter www.turnkeyproductmanagement.com/wizards Turnkey on Facebook Turnkey on Twitter Turnkey on LinkedIn Turnkey on Instagram The ONE Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan Podcast editing and show notes by Pro Podcast Solutions.

What do you do when you’ve known you were going to be an entrepreneur your WHOLE life? You sell on Amazon. Sharon Even was raised by two entrepreneurs who gave her the choice to stay in New Zealand when they moved back to Israel. She was already well versed in how to sell, so she took the opportunity and never looked back. At 15 years old she started her first online store and made enough money to pay her rent, stay alive, and then some. She started all over when she moved to Israel at 21 and now she’s sharing her story and her methods with others.  Sharon has a very unique way of figuring out which products she wants to sell and to whom and it all starts with whether or not you can build a brand around it. Interestingly enough it started when her husband challenged her to create a brand around a random hobby.  Now she teaches her methods through her YouTube channel and her programs. So what is it? Think of any hobby. Now do some research and see what products are sold that go along with that hobby. Who purchases those items?  Then you dig deeper and determine where and how you can build that brand even further. She listens to YouTube channels, reads blogs, and studies the niche, the customer avatar, and the products she could sell and then gets to work.  Want to learn more? Listen in and soak up all of the wonderful nuggets of wisdom that Sharon is providing to our community!   In This Episode: [00:30] Welcome Sharon Even to the show! [02:28] Neither Sharon nor I start with software when sourcing products.  [03:00] Sharon provides a bit about her background and how she became an entrepreneur. [06:11] Did she have any strategy for selling sunglasses in New Zealand?  [07:25] Learn more about how she kept things afloat, living off her sales, and being on her own at 15. [09:50] When she did start her unique sourcing process?  [11:23] Did she start with her own hobbies or people near her?  [12:48] We go through an exercise to build a brand around the hobby of rock collecting. [14:40] Does she have a minimum number of products for each niche?  [17:23] Reselling to the same type of buyer is the real goal. [18:36] What does Sharon mean when she says buyer avatar?  [22:00] Why build a brand?  [25:39] Learn why you should build a brand off of Amazon. (... and Sharon’s biggest mistake!) [27:54] Instagram works perfectly for the niches that Sharon is selling for, but maybe Twitch is right for you. [28:49] Sharon also shares another big mistake that she made in her business early on. [30:06] Why you should look at Amazon platforms internationally. [31:47] How do you make use of the customer avatar when addressing your Amazon store?  [34:07] Sharon details her research process. [36:10] Ways you can research specific products. [39:10] Learn another way you can find products to sell on Amazon.  [40:59] Connect with Sharon. [42:08] Sharon’s favorite book and why.   Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter Sharon Even Sharon’s YouTube Channel Amazon FBA Alphas Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki Podcast editing and show notes by Pro Podcast Solutions.

Are you paying too much to source your products? You may be losing money that you aren’t even aware of. This is why I’ve brought on Norman and Afolabi of Honu Worldwide to talk about all things sourcing and why it should correspond with a holistic view of your business.  Both Norman and Afolabi have been in ecommerce for several years so they know what they’re talking about when it comes to the pitfalls of sourcing. They’ve both experienced their own huge setbacks and are using their knowledge and connections to save their clients money.  Listen as they share detailed information about how they’ve helped save clients money everywhere in their businesses. From the actual act of sourcing, to negotiating contracts with better terms, to simply changing the shipping time of products. They help you pick back up the money that you’ve left on the table.  These two are truly knowledgeable about the industry and the various markets across the world. You’ll glean some amazing insights into how you can be better prepared to approach factories yourself, but consider looking into their services if you’ve hit a rough patch. They work with businesses at every level.  Listen right to the end to hear some amazing book recommendations that you won’t want to miss out on. There are several that even I haven’t read and am adding to my must read list now!   In This Episode: [00:30] Welcome the leaders of Honu Worldwide to the show.  [03:00] Learn more about Norman and Afolabi and the beginnings of Honu Worldwide.  [08:17] Why did Afolabi start with shoes?  [09:19] How did Norman and Afolabi meet?  [13:28] They share why Honu Worldwide is different from other sourcing agencies.  [16:00] What do typical sourcing agencies do?  [19:02] You don’t have to spend big bucks to determine if you’re getting a good price.  [23:13] What you can do with a $16 product.  [24:53] Learn more about the in-house repricing program.  [27:18] Afolabi shares some case studies of the money Honu Worldwide saved clients in unexpected ways.  [30:55] Why the way you pack your products matters. [33:15] Learn more about the process of working with a sourcing agency.  [37:50] Norman shares why you have to stay on top of the fees and budget when it comes to sourcing.  [39:21] What’s the one thing you should know about negotiations before you start into them?  [42:54] Listen as Norman shares his favorite form of negotiation. [45:30] Carlos shares his experience with Masterclass.com. [49:21] Connect with Honu Worldwide and learn which businesses they prefer to work with.  [53:32] Norman shares his favorite books.  [55:37] Afolabi shares his favorite book.   Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter   Honu Worldwide Masterclass savings@honuworldwide.com  The E-Myth by Michael Gerber Gung Ho by Ken Blanchard Raving Fans by Ken Blanchard Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter The Unfair Advantage by Ash Ali and Hasan Kubba The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz Hug Your Haters by Jay Baer Podcast editing and show notes by Pro Podcast Solutions.

If you don’t have a book written to help you launch your products, you should. I’ve been using Amazon KDP to help launch my products for years and today I’m sharing exactly how I do it. If you’re ready to dig into the why, how, when, and who, then keep reading. (or listening!)   First off, I decided to start doing this because no matter what type of product you’re selling, there is likely a book that shares why it’s important or how to use it properly. Everything that is made or sold has an instruction manual and your book can help you get eyes on your product by sharing how to use it.   Before you do any kind of writing (or hire a ghostwriter) you should first research the product you want to launch. What other types of books are out there? How well reviewed is the product? What kinds of topics could be covered to find a new set of purchasers?    There are several questions you should be looking for answers to as you do your research. Also keep track of your research. Everything that you find should be provided to your ghostwriter so that they can write the book you really want to publish.    Next you need to hire a ghostwriter, because writing these books yourself is not scalable. You can use any of the VA hiring platforms that you already use to do this, but you definitely want to be sure and vet the writer. Give them a small project in the same niche as your book and have them do a paid assignment.    Once the book is written, have it edited and be sure to create an attention grabbing cover. (or use one of the resources below.)   Creating a book that pairs with your products is an amazing way to generate new leads and expand your email list. Listen in to learn the full 7-step process and how you can start implementing this strategy asap.   In This Episode: [00:37] Learn everything you need to know about Kindle Direct Publishing. [01:42] What is Amazon KDP and CreateSpace?  [03:20] The difference between front-facing authors and ghostwriters. [05:25] Why you should use Amazon Self-Publishing as a lead generation source. [06:34] How I use Amazon Self-Publishing for lead generation. [09:03] What I do before I order my products.  [13:18] Why and how you should hire a ghostwriter. [16:19] Test out your ghostwriter before having them write an entire book. Learn how. [19:14] Where you can find a template for ghostwriters.  [21:07] Why you should hire an editor before making the book live.  [21:59] You HAVE to have an attention grabbing cover.  [23:46] Do your research to give the best direction to the designer.  [24:15] Now you’re ready to publish! [25:51] Last but not least, you need to repurpose your book! [27:54] What you should do if you’re planning to launch in additional countries. [30:00] How you can access a backlog of training in the Video Vault.   Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter   Design Pickle Glorify App EPISODE #006: The Only E-Commerce Design Tool You Will Ever Need Video Vault Community - 305-680-3738 Podcast editing and show notes by Pro Podcast Solutions.

If you have been in business for any amount of time and have not begun to create systems and processes for you and your team, this is a must-listen episode. Trent Dyrsmid, the founder of Flowster, joins me to share how Flowster came about and why his processes have been instrumental in his business growth.   Trent has been starting and building businesses for over a decade now. While they haven’t all been profitable, he’s learned one very important secret to success. Create systems and processes and delegate as quickly as possible.   As a business owner, your time is one of your most valuable commodities. Why are you wasting time finding leads, finding prospects, and finding product? Do it once. Document the process. Show others how to do it and then work on the other more pressing parts of your business.   This mindset is what he used to create Flowster. Listen as he shares the history of his businesses and why Flowster has really become a crowning achievement in his career. Again, if you’re not already creating systems and processes, download, bookmark, and relisten to this podcast, and then go get Flowster and take back your time.   In This Episode: [00:28] Welcome Trent Dyrsmid to discuss creating processes from scratch. [01:50] Trent shares a bit about his background and how he got into entrepreneurship. [03:40] Hear the story behind the beginnings of Flowster and where Trent wants to see it go. [09:57] How did Trent identify what could and should become a process in his businesses?  [11:41] What kinds of things can be templatized in wholesale?  [14:04] Trent lists out the number of steps involved in generating leads in product sourcing.  [17:49] Flowster has been built to make processes insanely easy to follow and develop so that your team can drop in and start working immediately. [19:42] After the first 29 steps, there are several additional steps to help create correspondence and add new leads into the CRM. [20:57] The process templates are built out for each stage of the lead generation flow. [23:16] How quickly did he have his processes up and running in the first five months?  [25:35] What does he like to be involved in with the business? What does freedom look like for him now?  [28:25] He uses this same mindset across all of his businesses. [30:10] Learn more about his process for hiring and managing purchasing and reorders in his Amazon business.  [32:27] Flowster allows you to build your own workflows or download existing templates.  [34:44] What are Trent’s thoughts on workflow creation and pricing?  [37:26] Connect with Trent and learn about his favorite book and why. Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter   Flowster The Bright Ideas eCommerce Podcast  trent@brightideas.co  The E-Myth by Michael Gerber Podcast editing and show notes by Pro Podcast Solutions.

Believe it or not China is not the only country you can source products from. In fact, depending on the products you want to sell, it may not even be the best option to source from. Lokesh Parahsar of ADK India is joining me to share the inside scoop on Indian factories and why it may make more sense to source in India! One caveat for a newbie seller is that there is no central online hub for factories and sellers to communicate within the Indian market. If you’re looking to DIY your factory search and communication, just know you’ll be giving the Google beast a good workout. However, for any product that needs increased time spent or detailed work, Indian factories are better equipped to handle higher level requirements. Things like textiles and detailed workmanship have a better return because the culture in Indian factories is different and more directed to quality craftsmanship. Listen as Lokesh shares why you should never pay a factory any money until all paperwork is completed and why it’s important to enlist the help of broker relationships. He has been in business for himself since the early 90s and his knowledge of the Indian market is superb. China is not the end all be all in sourcing products. Learn why! In This Episode: [00:34] Welcome Lokesh to the show to chat about product sourcing. [02:46] Learn more about Lokesh and his background. [05:04] Do Amazon sellers only need to source from China versus any other locations?  [07:25] Are there certain products that make more sense to source in India versus China?  [08:57] What is the difference between labor costs in India versus China?  [10:32] Learn what it would look like to start conversations to source in India for a beginner.  [13:08] If you have found a factory in India, do not exchange money until you’ve done in-depth research and have a signed non-compete agreement. [14:58] Should you still have a non-compete if the Indian factory already has the product available?  [17:59] Where do inspections come into the equation?  [19:54] What does the process look like to work with ADK? [22:25] How you can connect with Lokesh. [23:14] What’s the difference between researching on your own versus hiring a company like ADK? [25:28] Once ADK finds a factory, can the seller take over the communication?  [27:53] Does ADK help get products from the factory to the seller?  [29:42] What is the biggest mistake new Amazon sellers make when sourcing in India? [32:53] Connect with Lokesh and hear what his favorite book is and why.   Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter   lp@adkindia.me Lokesh on LinkedIn An Autobiography: The Story of My Experiments with Truth by Mahatma Gandhi   TEMPLATE NO. 1 Can you provide a reference of your work?   Where are you based in India? How many employees work in your company? Which type of clients do you work for? Which cities do you cover in India? What type of products do you specialize in? How do you get paid? Are you familiar with the specific needs of e-commerce and Amazon sellers when sourcing and shipping Products? Do you work on weekends? How do you handle claims? Do you sell on Amazon yourself? Do you have products that can be shipped in less then 30 days? Do you work with other forwarders or use only your nominated ones? Do you have in-depth knowledge of smart packaging for Amazon products? Do you know international standards of compliance for different products? Normally how big orders do you have from other buyers? Are you comfortable with small orders taken on priority? Do you think you have enough time to ship my small order on time? TEMPLATE NO. 2 What kind of suppliers do you use? How do you vet or verify your suppliers? What are your requirements for a good supplier? How do you handle contracts between your clients and your suppliers? What is your way of working? Are you sourcing from Alibaba? Are your suppliers selling on Amazon? Do you have a specific product categories or niches that you specialize in? Can I expect the best prices from you? Do you work directly with actual factories? Do you receive a commission from your suppliers? Do you operate out of India? Where are you based? Do you source outside of India? Can you check/ship various samples for us? What are your office hours?  Do you provide the contact information of your suppliers?  Do you provide option for full service sourcing? What is the pricing structure for your sourcing services?     TEMPLATE NO.3 More Questions and Answers Are you capable to sell to Amazon Sellers? What is your official address, email? Do you show your products at the Delhi Gift Fair or any other Fair? How many years is this business? How many employees do you have?  May we visit your factory? From what ports do you ship? Can you consolidate shipments with another factory? Can your company make items from our designs? Do you have your own designer? Are you an exporter or trading company, factory, or other? What are your MOQs? What is your MOA per order? How many new products do you introduce each show (twice a year)? What type of products do you mostly sell? What season products do you produce? What materials do you have ability to use in production?  Resin, iron, wood, led, etc What other US companies do you sell to? Retail or Wholesale? What is your quality control process?  Example: ISO9001 or please list. Who is your contact person in the chain of command starting from the dealing manager to the boss at the company? What is your shipping time from purchase order?  Have you been able to ship on contract date?  If not, what is the most accurate length of time? Few Personal Questions can make it more interesting: What are the National Holidays in your Country? Q. How do you like to spend your weekends? Q. What are your favourite type of food, music or movies Q. Do you have specific work hours when you feel most productive? Q. What is the best day per week to meet online on skype/zoom/another video platform? Q. What is the preferred way for you to communicate with me on day to day? Q. How do you see yourself helping me grow my business?   Podcast editing and show notes by Pro Podcast Solutions.

First things first, I’m sorry this episode has taken me so long to get to. Things have been crazy with Covid and all the changes that Amazon has been making. That being said, had you received this episode four months ago as promised, I wouldn’t have as many amazing things to tell you.    Let’s just hop in. I’m not talking about the basics of Amazon Live Video here. This is an episode dedicated to the live video tactics you should be using in your business now. Have you seen the Amazon created “Follow” button in your live videos? That button is very important.Much like with YouTube, anyone who follows you will be notified when you go live. That means that people who already follow your brand and like what you’re offering will know that you have something new to say! I also share several awesome tactics for making that button stand out just a bit more!   Additionally, you can use the tools Amazon has given you in their live platform to increase your keyword find, search, buy numbers. Rather than putting the item you’re discussing in the carousel below the video, leave it out! Make people search through your products to find that amazing deal.   And yes… you do NEED to go live. Pre-recorded videos are not cutting it on the Amazon platform, so think of this as personal growth. Get a bit uncomfortable and start seeing amazing returns on that discomfort.    Amazon Live Videos can be a game changer for your Amazon store, if you let it!   In This Episode: [00:24] Welcome back to the show and get ready to learn more about Amazon Live Video. [03:02] Hear the top four sections of Amazon Live Video that you need to focus on.  [05:06] The first thing you need to focus on is the call to action. Learn why! [08:19] One last tip for the follow button to make it even more obvious.  [10:43] Next is the verbal search, find, buy option for live videos.  [13:02] Don’t put the product you’re talking about in the carousel below the video.  [16:28] How you can use countdown timers to boost your sales.  [18:43] Why you should pre-schedule your Amazon Live videos.  [20:46] Once your Amazon Live Video is done you can then use the URL of your video to share it out in other places. [23:37] The final thing that you need to know about Amazon Live.  [27:07] Why you shouldn’t just pre-record your videos.  [31:02] One huge no-no you should stay away from. [33:22] Quick recap of the episode and the tactics you should start using for your lives.    Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter  

Jesse Wolfe has never sold on Amazon, but the information he has to share about approaching big box stores is invaluable. He is one of those people who has always been an entrepreneur. From starting his own lemonade stand to starting his own business at the age of 19, he loves serving the world through entrepreneurship.   He is now the founder of O’Dang Hummus and has appeared on Shark Tank with his new ways of using hummus in salad dressings. He started off showing his wares in farmer’s markets across the country and later tried to direct shipping. Crazy enough… transporting hummus is fairly difficult.   It wasn’t until he realized that direct to consumer was not going to work that he started approaching big box stores. He did everything the wrong way starting out, but he learned and now he has a refined process for choosing and approaching huge stores.   Listen in as he shares why you should be discerning about which stores you market to, how to market to them, and to remember your brand values as you go to market. He gives valuable insights into the inner workings of stores like Whole Foods and Costco as well as the Shark Tank process.    If you’re considering breaking into the big box store market, then you will not want to miss out on this treasure trove of information. Jesse will be back on the show, so listen in and don’t forget your pen and paper. You’ll want to take notes!   In This Episode: [00:29] Welcome Jesse Wolfe founder of O’Dang Hummus. [01:39] Jesse is one of the first people on the show who is not an Amazon seller or Amazon-based service provider.  [02:59] Learn more about Jesse’s passion for entrepreneurship and how O’Dang Hummus came about. [04:58] How his path to Shark Tank came about and his work in the healthy food space.  [06:23] Jesse shares the science behind his product.  [08:01] He started in farmer’s markets… How did he build buzz?  [10:51] Why he wanted to create the “fun” tent at the market.  [13:19] They used farmer’s markets to build their tribe and to beta test their products.  [15:36] Jesse shares his obsession with Jeff Bezos and why he wasn’t able to sell on Amazon.  [17:21] Why they went retail versus direct shipping.  [18:01] The difference between Whole Foods and Costco for retail selling.  [21:05] One of the biggest benefits of selling with Costco is how quickly they pay for product. [24:26] If you do well at Costco in the food space that’s a very high standard.  [28:12] What did the transition from farmers markets to eComm to retail stores?  [32:16] How to circumvent the gatekeepers… the wrong way! [36:44] Jesse shares how he connected with his first broker.  [39:23] A broker can make or break you and there’s a huge learning curve there.  [40:55] One more golden nugget to succeed with big box stores… [44:27] Are you expected to continue to drive sales?  [47:22] Connect with Jesse. [48:37] Jesse’s favorite book and why.   Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter   Jesse on LinkedInJesse on InstagramA Thousand Tribes by Robin Lissak and George Bailey The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss

For many eComm sellers, venturing into the Walmart Marketplace seems daunting. Zach and Corey, founders of DotCom Partners, have worked on the inside of the Walmart platform and are here to share their knowledge on how to start selling profitably with Walmart. The first thing you have to know is that Walmart is looking to fill assortment gaps. If you can show how your product performed and also filled one of their gaps, then you’re a shoe in for the best selling tier.  Which brings me to the next piece which is that there are two ways to sell on Walmart Marketplace, either 1P or 3P. The benefits of 1P are definitely better than 3P but it takes a lot more to get into that side.  Zach and Corey have built DotCom Partners to help sellers enter the Walmart Marketplace successfully. Which means they can go through your products and your brand and show you the best ways to position yourself to reach the 1P status faster.  Additionally they have several brands slowly making their way to an in-store status. Listen in to learn all the ins and outs of Walmart Marketplace. Maybe this platform should be your next eComm storefront?    In This Episode: [00:29] Welcome Corey and Zach co-founders of DotCom Partners.  [01:48] Learn more about Corey’s background. [02:48] Zach shares his eComm background.  [05:25] What are some of the biggest complaints store owners had with the Walmart platform?  [08:15] Do names affect the algorithm on the Walmart platform?  [10:33] Learn the best way to structure Walmart product listings.  [11:34] What are your options for selling when starting on Walmart?  [14:02] Hear about assortment gaps and why they’re important.  [17:32] How the 3P selling process works. [19:27] It is a bit tricky to get in without prior selling history, but Corey and Zach know how to give you the best chance.  [22:49] Learn how you can determine if you’re a good fit for Walmart 1P. [25:59] Corey and Zach help you find the assortment gaps. [28:28] What is the process for moving from 3P to 1P?  [31:55] How big should your brand be before exploring Walmart?  [35:15] You can make your brand more attractive. Learn how. [37:06] Why getting into stores is the hail mary play. [41:06] Learn more about the customer perspective.  [43:05] Connect with Corey and Zach. [44:14] What are their favorite books and why?    Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter   team@dotcompartners.com DotCom Partners Inventing Joy by Joy Mangano Golf’s Sacred Journey by David Cook

No matter how many Amazon reviews you have on a product, you always need more. Colleen Quattlebaum of eComEngine joined me to chat about the power of Amazon reviews and why you shouldn’t be complacent once you’ve reached a high number. Now Amazon reviews versus buyer feedback are two different things and affect your listings in different ways. Reviews help boost your visibility and inspire others to buy when they are recent, well written, and come from a trusted source. Reviews once given also can’t be erased or changed. Buyer feedback on the other hand affects your Amazon SEO and a negative feedback can be changed. It is still extremely important to have amazing feedback scores. Listen as Colleen shares how eComEngine approaches the review process and why you should be asking your customers to leave reviews.  If this isn’t already an integral part of your process… then you have some work to do. Listen in to see how you can start implementing systems and processes around requesting reviews, today.   In This Episode: [00:29] Welcome special guest and Amazon Sellers group sponsor Colleen Quattlebaum.  [02:28] Hear a bit about Colleen’s background and her experience with EcomEngine. [04:10] How important is it to have reviews on amazon and why?  [05:46] What are the top things that differentiate very similar products?  [07:57] Are there best practices for getting reviews early on?  [09:29] Do certain products fare better with the early reviewer program?  [10:05] Aside from early reviewers, how else can a new seller get reviews?  [12:54] What type of verbiage is appropriate for requesting reviews from purchasers?  [15:15] Is the manual request a review button better for conversions than automated requests?  [16:45] How EcomEngine automated the request a review button.  [19:59] Can you keep the automated request a review action from sending out to someone who has already left a review? [21:47] What’s the best system for getting higher numbers of reviews?  [22:27] Learn other ways to get reviews for your products.  [23:26] What should sellers be aware of right now with Amazon and reviews versus feedback? [25:29] How does seller feedback impact your listings?  [28:16] Any parting feedback and advice from Colleen?  [30:01] What is Colleen’s favorite book and why?  Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter   eComEngine colleen@ecomengine.com  Inbound Organization by Dan Tyre and Todd Hockenberry

It only took 33 episodes, but I finally got one of the leaders of the Meetup group, Gabe Cossio, on the show to chat about the group and of course… selling on Amazon. We’ve been working to have Gabe come on since the beginning of the podcast and the stars finally aligned. Gabe has been an avid entrepreneur since he was a young child. He grew up in a household with a single mom who was also an entrepreneur and simply loved to work. That drive was passed to him and he started several of his own businesses before he ever left high school. Ecomm has his heart however and he loves chatting about it. We spend time discussing our China trip and why it has been so impactful in Gabe’s life and business. We step a little bit into Gabe’s thoughts on the future of ecommerce and why we should be prepared for additional global pandemics.  This was such a fun conversation spanning several different areas of discussion. If you’ve been interested in joining the China trip or just learning more, this is the episode you’ll want to listen to. Gabe is actually the one who coordinates all of our international trips now!     In This Episode: [00:39] Welcome Gabe Cossio to the show… finally. [01:45] How Gabe and Carlos met and the change it made in Gabe’s business.  [05:41] Gabe just has a passion for helping people. [06:06] Listen as Gabe shares why he turned to ecomm. [09:25] How Gabe’s role in the Meetup group has changed and evolved.  [13:29] Connect with Gabe to get the breakdown on the China trip and what your budget should look like.  [14:51] Hear the details about the China trip.  [16:39] What sort of budget should you consider for the China trip?  [19:21] When do we plan on going to China again?  [22:25] Why Covid has helped bring the Meetup groups together with so much more community.  [25:00] Learn how you can access the group.  [26:09] What are Amazon businesses getting wrong right now?  [28:43] How is Gabe planning in his business to prepare for another pandemic?  [30:37] Connect with Gabe.  [31:14] Gabe’s favorite book and why.  Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter Amazon Group ChatGabe on InstagramThe Art of War by Sun Tzu

Podcast advertising is becoming a widely used avenue for many businesses to increase their visibility and make more sales, but how does one get started? Stephen Pickens with AdvertiseCast joins me to share just how easy it is to launch a podcast advertising campaign.  AdvertiseCast is a one-stop, premier podcast network for buying and selling podcast advertising. They have an entire suite of shows that they’ve vetted who have high listener counts and download rates. What does this mean for you? You have the peace of mind knowing that the money you put into an ad is going to actually be used to get you in front of your ideal audience. Now there are several companies who do the same thing, but with Stephen and AdvertiseCast, you know that the campaigns you’re creating will convert. They hold your hand every step of the way. That being said… Why should you consider advertising on podcasts?  For Amazon sellers, it makes perfect sense to find a podcast with a high listener count and high download rates, which are niched. The beauty of podcasts is that they come with a built in following and most shows are dialed in to one specific topic or interest. If you’re selling wine accoutrements to moms, why wouldn’t you consider advertising on a show called Mommies with Wine? Listen in to learn all about this new advertising venue and how you can get started now.   In This Episode: [00:29] Welcome Stephen Pickens to chat about advertising on podcasts.  [01:48] Learn more about Stephen’s background and AdvertiseCast. [03:41] How AdvertiseCast helps podcasters put money in their pocket.  [06:39] Stephen shares how you can advertise on targeted podcasts.  [08:23] What are the requirements for being on the AdvertiseCast platform?  [10:35] Hear the process for creating an ad and what goes into the show.  [12:32] How much should someone look to invest in advertisement?  [14:55] Can you expect results relatively quickly?  [18:23] What is the benefit of working with AdvertiseCast versus doing it yourself?  [22:15] Connect with Stephen. [23:03] What is Stephen’s favorite book and why?    Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter   AdvertiseCast stephen@advertisecast.com The Decadent Society by Ross Douthat

Have you been looking to branch out and sell somewhere other than Amazon? Alec Valencia of Rakuten is here to share more about this platform and how you can benefit from selling on it. Amazon is an amazing platform to sell on, but don’t discount other platforms designed for diverse markets.  Rakuten was specifically designed to service the Japanese market but has branched out from there. The platform allows for a lot of a store customization and detailed product descriptions because these features are important for Japanese buyers and sellers.  There are some challenges that one would face in using Rakuten to sell to an American market, but this does not mean you shouldn’t consider using this as an addition to your Amazon selling business.  Listen in as Alec details Rakuten, how the platform differs from Amazon, how it is similar, and most importantly, how you get paid. There are so many amazing reasons to diversify your business. Perhaps Rakuten should be your next step.   In This Episode: [00:38] Welcome Alec Valencia of Rakuten. [02:12] What does a Merchant Development Manager do and how long has Alec been with Rakuten?  [06:26] Is Japan the strongest area for Rakuten’s presence?  [07:50] How to get started selling on Rakuten.  [11:02] Where do Rakuten referrals and communications come from?  [12:33] What does it mean to be a small-time corporation on Rakuten?  [16:40] Learn more about the challenges one would have in selling in the U.S. [18:57] What is the learning curve moving from Amazon to Rakuten?  [22:15] Alec explains the Rakuten seller experience. [26:20] How Rakuten shops compare to Amazon storefronts. [31:45] What kind of rating system is there on Rakuten for sellers and products?  [33:43] Can shoppers see where the online store is based?  [36:35] Learn how you can get paid and what the banking situation looks like.  [39:20] Connect with Alec. [40:35] Alec’s favorite book and why.   Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter   Seller Growth Summit Rakuten PingPong Email: alec.valencia@rakuten.com  The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien

Getting reviews for your products is essential for your sales success, but other than hitting up friends and family members to do your reviews, what other ways can you obtain them. There are actually several, but one of my favorites is using Foursquare.  What is Foursquare? It’s essentially another form of Yelp! but better. With Foursquare you can search for reviews on certain products in any number of locations. You can then scope out the profile of the reviewer to see how many they’ve left on Foursquare and what their ranking is.  You can also access that person’s social media profiles and see what types of products they like reviewing. The possibilities for finding fantastic reviewers are truly endless. Plus, these people are reviewing off of Amazon, so their Amazon reviewer ranking will be higher.  There are some pitfalls that you need to avoid if you plan to use Foursquare in your long term business strategy. Listen in as I share the way I use Foursquare and what you should NOT do while using the platform.  In This Episode: [00:27] Carlos is sharing his method of using Foursquare for Amazon reviews.  [01:51] Why the quality of your reviews is more important than the quantity. [03:52] How to navigate Foursquare city guide.  [06:14] Unlike Yelp! you can get additional information about the users on Foursquare. [08:11] Why Foursquare is different from Yelp! [09:53] Carlos shares how he uses this information in his business.  [11:17] The mistakes you need to avoid when using this information.  [14:26] Why you should be a reviewer. [15:45] How Carlos approaches people on Foursquare.  [19:15] One last thought for using Foursquare.   Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter   Foursquare

Why should you consider automating more of your processes in life and business? Dillon Carter of Vendrive is here to share that answer with you. He is the king of automation and creating business efficiencies and he’s sharing his best tips on how to streamline your processes.    First, why are you NOT using your keyboard shortcuts? There is no reason you should be populating your email address or the date or any of those other rote bits of information each time you send correspondence.   You need Keyboard Maestro (Mac). With this one tool you can automate how you type, pulling up programs, talking to those programs, and managing your files. Want better, more efficient file management? Blend Keyboard Maestro with Hazel!   Still not enough? Incorporate Zapier and automate program to program automations.    Think of all the things that you do over and over in your business. Can those tasks be automated? More often than not the answer is yes!   Rather than thinking that you need to bring on another body to handle the tasks that you just don’t have time for, instead think of how you can automate those tasks. If you can hold off on bringing in additional personnel until you’re at more than $500k per year, then you’ve got it made.   Dillon is a wealth of knowledge on how you can better integrate work and life without letting either suffer or take over. You’ll definitely want to catch this episode if you’ve been looking for better ways to make your business more automated!   In This Episode: [00:37] Welcome Dillon Carter to the show to chat about automation.  [01:40] Dillon shares a bit about his show and his entrepreneurial endeavors. [03:54] Testing everything was the best way to get his feet wet.  [07:23] How does Dillon make all of his ventures work?  [09:47] Why automation is so important to exceptional results.  [10:20] Dillon has given up the idea of work life balance and has incorporated work life integration. [13:41] What does Dillon’s tech stack look like and why?  [16:22] Keyboard Maestro is an amazing way to automate keyboard shortcuts with program functions.  [18:02] How did Dillon figure out how long small tasks were taking him to do over and over.  [19:08] Dillon uses Hazel to create rules to rename files, send them to folders, and keep you organized.  [20:31] Learn how Hazel figures out which files go where. [22:59] Hazel can even clean up your desktop dumps. Learn how! [24:40] What’s the cost for Hazel and the learning curve? [27:14] How does Zapier work with your Facebook group?  [32:02] Has Siri gotten good enough to use in automation?  [33:37] Is Siri shortcuts different from regular Siri? [37:11] Any other stand out tools?  [39:33] How Dillon keeps track of his thoughts and ideas even when he’s not ready to act. [42:42] Airtable is for planning… Todoist is for day to day tasks… [47:13] … and everything else you can use to automate. [49:59] Where should someone start with getting automated?  [52:22] What is the OAO framework?  [54:22] Connect with Dillon and what’s his favorite book?    Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter   Vendrive GoAuraWelcome to Growth Podcast Dillon’s Website Keyboard Maestro Hazel Zapier Group Funnels Siri ShortcutsTodoist Airtable Alfred Integromat DraftsCopyClip The Replaceable Founder Algorithms to Live By by Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths

You’ve probably heard this “well-kept” marketing secret a bunch over the past year or so, but Facebook is pushing hard for more people to join and create groups. That’s where a lot of the algorithm is focusing the crawl. Arne Giske is here to share how he created an insanely profitable group and why you should do the same.  Now Arne does not sell physical products. However the process he follows to grow his group and to increase his own notoriety works just as well for those in different spaces. The first step is truly understanding your product and who is using it.  From there you want to look for groups that might be interested in using your product. For instance, if you’re selling shower curtains, look for people interested in redecorating or remodeling. If you’re selling pruning tools, try to find groups aimed at those interested in gardening.  Once you’ve found several groups that align with what you sell, befriend the moderators and see if you can work out a sponsorship or an advertising agreement. This happens all the time and can lead people directly to your product. This is also completely organic. Listen in to hear ways that you can use paid traffic to increase your reach as well.  Of course creating your own group and filling it with people interested in your brand or product is one of the best ways to find your true target market. Then you can use tools like Group Funnel to build your email list with those who have joined your group.  Arne has so many great tips and tools to share with you on how using Facebook groups can greatly increase your reach. For so many the idea of creating a group is daunting because of how much time it takes, but by using Arne’s engagement strategy and Group Funnels, you’ll cut your group time in half while still building your list.  Want to see Arne’s screen as he walks us through his processes? Check out the video here:    In This Episode: [01:36] Arne is THE guy when it comes to building Facebook groups, learn more about him. [04:27] He doesn’t sell anything physical but has still made 7-figures through his group. [05:20] Learn more about the stats that surround groups. [07:17] What can you do to start building a community today?  [09:20] How can you grow the community you have?  [11:59] Is having a community super time consuming?  [14:31] What is everyday content and how does it save you time?  [16:16] Learn Arne’s strategies for not spending so much time online. [19:19] Is it possible to start or join communities that would help sell your physical products?  [22:40] What’s your next step after finding groups that are related to your product? [24:43] Arne shares how you can use Group Funnels to build your email list.  [27:01] Listen as he tells you how his software can help you save time. [29:49] Why asking the intro questions will increase your requests versus decreasing it. [31:39] What is Arne’s favorite book and why? [33:44] Connect with Arne.   Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter   Millennial Entrepreneur Community Coaches and Course Creators Tribe Building Marketing Secrets Group Funnels FB Groups for Business   Influence by Robert Cialdini Do Story by Bobette Buster

Over the course of the last several years, there has been an exponential increase in the number of fake counterfeit claims. Joining me today is Chris McCabe to discuss how you can prepare for the inevitable time that this happens to you and what it looks like on Amazon’s side. The most important part of being prepared is making sure that you have all of your documentation in order and available when a claim is made. If you’re a wholesaler and a brand comes after you, make sure you keep your receipts and have them easily accessible. On the flip side, when you go to craft your appeal, you need to be sure it is individualized to the complaint made. I myself have fallen into the trap of submitting templatized appeals but Chris shares that this is one way to make the process take longer. The auditor looking at your appeal is looking hundreds of appeals each week. Every single appeal will start looking the same if they are all created off of a template. Be sure to respond to the specific complaint made and individualize each appeal. Chris is full of amazing information and even gives us a look at the perspective of the workers on Amazon’s side. Anything you can do to make their lives a little bit easier and make your appeal easier to read will help move the process faster for you. If you’ve ever had your account locked down or been knocked off one of your own listings, you won’t want to miss out on Chris’s advice and tips.   In This Episode: [00:32] Welcome Chris McCabe to discuss Amazon Seller Performance and defending your IP. [03:02] Chris prefaces the conversation with advice on how to deal with performance inquiries. [05:21] Don’t think that simply resubmitting over and over will be effective. [08:04] How to approach fake counterfeit claims. [10:22] What are you being asked for if someone asks for an authenticity letter?  [12:19] Where is this trend going?  [14:30] Have private label sellers been seeing an increase in counterfeit claims?  [17:16] What can you do preemptively to combat false counterfeit claims?  [19:50] Learn the biggest mistakes that sellers make in the first hours of being removed from their own listings.  [22:54] Chris shares what seller performance looks like from the other side. [24:38] How to think like an Amazonian. [26:34] Are there quotas that have to be hit each day?  [29:04] There are several things that go into a successful POA. [33:49] How much does it cost to enlist the help of someone like Chris?  [35:45] What are the criteria to be hired on the seller performance team at Amazon?  [38:27] POAs are not one-size-fits-all. Keep that in mind. [40:04] Connect with Chris.   Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter ecommerceChris ecommerceChris on LinkedIn ecommerceChris on Facebook ecommerceChris on Twitter Chris McCabe on Facebook chris@ecommercechris.com

At this point you’re probably tired of the word coronavirus, but what if there was a way to properly strategize so that you come out on top? Rick Watson is an ecommerce strategist and overall strategy genius. He shares his views on Amazon as a whole as well as why he wrote his recent article about Amazon and what the data reveals. This was a really fun conversation. Rick is full of personality as well as knowledge. Having been raised by entrepreneurs he has always had a different view of how businesses work and how successful businesses become successful. He credits this to his ability to find the best strategy for most ecommerce stores to sell their products and gain visibility. We dig deep into Amazon’s current policies and Rick’s predictions for what the future holds. He also shares why he thinks the government and Amazon teaming up could potentially be a good thing… or a very bad thing. Also learn what you can be doing now to prepare for when all of this is over.  Amazon so far hasn’t been particularly helpful to sellers overall, but they are doing what they can to keep the platform successful. There are a bunch of different things that they could do to help sellers get back on their feet. Only time will tell how it all ends up.   In This Episode: [00:37] Rick is in New York dealing with Corona. Learn more about his background. [01:53] He is not an Amazon seller but he does have an amazing background in ecommerce strategy. [02:28] Learn more about Rick’s background and his strategist brain.  [05:59] How did his prior work experience help him build successful strategies?  [09:14] Rick shares why he wrote his most recent article. [10:27] Why you have to have a war mindset on manufacturing. [13:35] Amazon needs to think like Elon Musk. [16:08] Should we still be focusing on non-essential items for FBA?  [19:37] Will Amazon relax their standards on deliverability?  [22:02] Listen and Rick unpacks Amazon forgiveness on fees.  [24:31] Rick doesn’t see Amazon extending capital terms, but that may be in the future. [25:35] Why did Amazon pick the two weeks for non-essentials?  [28:31] What kind of deal between the government and Amazon could take place?  [33:13] How does Rick recommend you strategize this period to make it through?  [35:36] Connect with Rick and pick up his favorite book.  Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter   Rick’s WebsiteRick on LinkedIn rick@rickwatson.io Neuromancer by William Gibson

There’s a difference between differentiating and developing a new products versus simply changing the details of an existing product. Zack Leonard of Gembah shares the difference here as well as why you need to look at developing your own products.  Rather than trying to move into a space by offering another version of the same thing, or a “me-too” product, consider innovation. When you develop your own product and submit for a patent, you’re protecting your product and listing. For instance, if you piggyback off of an existing product that is already patented, you’re putting yourself at risk to have your listing taken down. Zack walks us step by step through his process and why doing your research up front saves a lot of headaches in the end. Prior to developing any products, they go through a thorough patent research step to be sure that your product idea is free and clear.  He shares all the questions and topics you should be asking when you look to start developing your own products. Also, now is not the time to stop building your relationships with your factories. Keep building and stay in contact! Your factories will make you priority if you make them a priority in communication. If you’ve considered developing your own products, this is the episode you want to listen to.   In This Episode: [00:37] Welcome Zack Leonard of Gembah to chat about product differentiation.  [02:02] What is Gembah and what do they do?  [04:09] Selling a Me-Too product on Amazon is the best way to go… true or false? [07:25] Learn the difference between developing and truly differentiating.  [09:53] Is there a specific time in the process to start discussing strategy with an attorney?  [12:35] Differentiation is a creative process. Learn different ways you can differentiate. [14:10] Zack shares a case study he did with one of his clients. [17:13] Consider changing the materials used when you look to differentiate.  [18:34] What kinds of money could you save through a redesign? [20:08] Where are Zack’s clients in their seller’s journey?  [22:54] Learn more about the research process that Zack’s team goes through. [23:57] Zack gives advice on the questions you should ask and consider when going through this process.  [27:03] You need to be actively involved and communicating with your factories.  [28:01] Connect with Zack.    Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter   Gembahinfo@gembah.com Discount Code: Wizards

Yamaris Diaz is back with Virginia Vich to share all of their knowledge on the CARES Act, Payroll Protection Program, and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan. There is so much information to go through and things are changing daily. If you have to, listen to this episode more than once.  We start off with the CARES Act, what it is, who it’s for, and what you can get. The CARES Act is the bill that was passed into law to help stimulate the economy in this time. There are two arms to that stimulus, one is for families and personal finances, the other is for small businesses.  If you’ve filed taxes in the past couple of years, you will likely be eligible for this stimulus package from a personal standpoint. Yamaris and Virginia take a LOT of time to go over the PPP and EIDL. Both loans have good and bad things about them and you can apply to both at the same time, but you’ll want to listen in to nail down all the details that we currently know.. Both loans require that you fill out an application. The PPP is potentially forgivable and at this time, there is no direction on sole proprietors being able to apply though that information is supposed to come out soon.  The EIDL has both a loan and a grant aspect. You will fill out a quick application, it is determined what you are eligible for, and then the lender will contact you requesting additional information. If you do receive both the PPP and the EIDL then the amount forgiven by the PPP will be offset by the amount received through the EIDL. There was so much information to unpack and as both ladies stated multiple times, the information surrounding these acts is changing daily. They both agreed that with or without full information, time is of the essence. There is only so much money being handed out, so you’ll want to work on getting your hat in the ring as soon as possible.   In This Episode: [00:40] Welcome Yamariz Diaz and Virginia Vich to discuss the CARES Act.  [01:16] Virginia introduces herself and her business.  [01:58] Learn more about Yamaris. [03:07] What is the CARES act and why is it important for ecom businesses?  [05:21] Are you eligible for the CARES personal stimulus checks and how would you receive them?  [07:22] Who is eligible for the small business CARES stimulus?  [09:30] How is the small business loan made forgivable?  [11:45] Is the form complicated to fill out?  [14:54] Are the documents that you need for the PPP available through your accountant?  [17:07] What are unsecured loans and personally guaranteed loans?  [19:11] Learn how you can apply for these loans even if your bank isn’t able to help.  [20:47] Your VAs must live and work in the US. [21:28] What else should you know about the CARES Act?  [23:49] The EIDL is completely different. This is a grant program instead.  [26:31] How does this work if you have multiple businesses?  [29:35] EIDL is not forgivable but does have the possibility of an advance. [30:13] Which loan is easier to get right now?  [31:51] If you’re applying for both loans, you’ll need to hear this part. [33:16] Final words of advice and connect with Yamaris and Virginia. Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter   EcomOwl yamaris@ecomowl.com   VxV Consulting VxV Consultin on Instagram   Loan Platforms - www.sba.gov

Price gouging is a real concern these days. Not just from the perspective of the buyer but also of the seller. Chris McCabe is a former Amazon Compliance employee who has a pre-recorded episode coming out later this week, and is back (for the show) to discuss price gouging and its importance. First, you can’t be angry with Amazon for being overzealous. They are required to comply with 50 different state laws regarding monopoly and price gouging. Essentially, they are going to take the hard line with any complaints or accusations of price gouging and for good reason. That being said, there are a few key things you can do to quickly reinstate your listings should they be taken down to complaints or accusations. First, keep your receipts. If you can show how much you purchased a product for and then subsequently sold it at, assuming the gap isn’t obviously inflated, then your request for appeal should be fairly straight-forward. Also, don’t respond while you’re emotionally charged. This will cause you more harm than good. If for some reason you can’t move past the emotional charge of the situation, reach out to Chris and his team to file your appeal for you. Most of all, realize that even if you’ve done nothing wrong, you have to be able to prove it. Keep all of your records and make sure that you’re able to either create a specific and detailed rebuttal or provide all the information for a third party to do the same. We are all going through an insane time right now, don’t take advantage!   In This Episode: [00:28] Welcome back Chris McCabe to chat about price gouging on Amazon. [02:51] What is price gouging?  [03:59] Why Amazon is so stringent about these charges and how the law is involved.  [06:09] Chris defines the difference between gouging and simply obtaining a bigger return.  [11:03] Is there a severity scale on gouging?  [14:17] Seller performance should be able to see if you have a repricer on your account, but there have been a lot more false positives. [17:26] What kinds of requests and reports is Chris seeing?  [20:13] If your account has been suspended, don’t react while you’re still stewing in emotion. [22:14] Wait until you’re in a good mental state, but respond as quickly as possible. [23:24] How quickly can Chris’s team get accounts back up and running?  [25:00] All the OTHER important things you should know about being accused of gouging.  [27:19] Connect with Chris.  Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter   ecommerceChris ecommerceChris on LinkedIn ecommerceChris on Facebook ecommerceChris on Twitter Chris McCabe on Facebook chris@ecommercechris.com

We are in uncertain times. You’ve likely heard that daily for several weeks at this point (or as of this recording.) However, there is a lot of misinformation regarding the logistics of manufacturing and transportation in China and abroad. Burak Yolga of Forceget Logistics joins me to discuss what’s going on, how this may impact your business, and how to make the best of a terrible situation.  First things first, it’s good to know that at least 80% of China is back up and running. One of the biggest issues now is that Wuhan remains in quarantine and they are smack dab in the heart of China.  This has disrupted supply lines and transportation because moving raw materials and finished products has become more expensive. Burak shares what you can expect from increased shipping costs, why this is happening, and what you can do to help your factories. Burak has an amazingly unique perspective on what has been happening and how you can better weather these types of storms. Listen in to learn what questions you should be asking and how now is the time to fortify your relationships with your factories! In This Episode: [00:29] Welcome Burak Yolga to the show to discuss prepping for market disturbances.  [03:24] Learn more about Burak. [06:32] Which sellers are the most affected by this pandemic?  [07:05] Can you still ship from China? What does the timing look like?  [11:18] Quick recap on the logistics of shipping and manufacturing from China.  [13:22] What kinds of additional charges should you consider due to transportation issues?  [16:06] Freight costs are going up 30-45%. Is there price gauging? What can we expect?  [20:33] How is the factory situation affecting sales? What questions should we be asking?  [23:13] You may be paying upfront so that factories can secure raw materials. [25:54] What can you do to help your factory without hurting your business?  [28:23] The best thing you can do is stick with your supplier and increase communication.  [31:57] Forceget is in a unique position to provide more accurate information given their location. [33:07] Not everything that is being told in the media is correct. There is a lot of exaggeration.  [34:30] Know your product and understand how it is manufactured. [35:35] Connect with Burak and Forceget.    Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter Forceget Logistics Forceget Logistics on LinkedIn Forceget Logistics on Facebook Forceget Logistics on Twitter Forceget Logistics on Instagram

Now is the time to thrive, not just survive. I know that you’re being bombarded with negative information on all sides, so I wanted to address how you can look at ways to adapt your business during this time.    Your mindset, now more than ever, will be the deciding factor in whether or not your business succeeds. So many people feel betrayed by Amazon choosing to prioritize essential items for shipping, thereby cutting into their sales. This is a good thing.   How many more people are now on Amazon Prime because they can get their groceries and other essentials with the Prime promise? Those people are highly likely to stay on Prime and keep shopping after this pandemic.    I wanted to share with you ways you can “pandemic-proof” your business for the future while still finding ways to get your products to your customers. Listen in as I share two tactics that you can start using today.    Again your mindset during this time is the most important piece. If you succumb to the panic, your business will not make it through. Don’t panic, plan.   In This Episode: [02:24] Carlos shares why he switched his topic for this episode and how mindset is so important right now.  [03:40] We are in a pandemic, but your mindset is the most important part of success. [05:57] Why it’s a good thing that things will never be the same as they were before. [06:50] What to do about not being able to send items to FBA. [08:22] How you can still use your FBA account to dropship your products. [10:44] You need to create merchant fulfilled options on your listings.  [14:30] Learn why you need to add an offering not convert your current offering and what to do next.  [16:30] What you need to do if your FBM offering doesn’t get the buy box immediately. [19:30] We are on the right side of this… adapt and you will survive.  [21:33] Mindset, mindset, mindset… if you’re feeling despair, take a hard look at your mindset. Don’t panic [23:44] Amazon did a good thing by prioritizing essentials. This will end up in more buyers. Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter

No matter what business or industry you’re in, finding work-life balance is one of the most difficult endeavors you will take on. Building a business takes time and effort and all of that time and effort is taken from your family and friends. Listen in as Bradley Sutton of Helium 10 chats about being a driven entrepreneur, a family man, and how he has managed to find a small semblance of work-life balance. For Bradley, it wouldn’t be uncommon for you to find him sleeping at the office so that he can get that next thing done. He keeps a sleeping bag in his office and one of the unused spaces is like a mini-bedroom. That being said, he has found ample ways to manage building his career and his family at the same time. It starts with proper scheduling. If you live by a calendar, like most of us do, then block off time for your family and friends. Make sure that those spaces are untouchable by anyone else adding things to your calendar. (Also be sure to stick to your own rules and not work during those times). Bradley’s advice throughout the episode is spot-on. Everything from keeping on top of your health and fitness to understanding that when you love it (your business or career), you’re not really working. If you’ve been feeling the stress of overwhelm or burnout, then you need to stop and take a minute to listen to this episode.  You’d be surprised what kinds of returns you will see when you start taking time for your life as well as your business.   In This Episode: [00:29] Welcome Bradley Sutton to chat about work-life balance.  [01:59] How does Bradley find work-life balance while working long hours on his business?  [05:21] Many times the issue isn’t making the time, it’s actually being there, in the moment.  [08:20] Why Bradley blocks out time for his family on his calendar.  [11:54] Even with afternoons and weekends, his family would still prefer more time. [14:07] Is Bradley planning to join the Amazon Seller Cruise?  [14:52] What should you look out for to confirm if your work-life balance is off?  [17:58] Pay attention to your body because when you’re working long hours, your health is the first thing to go. [22:00] Connect with Bradley. Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter   Helium 10Billion Dollar Seller Summit Amazon Seller Cruise

As of this recording, I recently got back from a whirlwind couple of weeks spent at tradeshows and conferences. I wanted to take a minute and share why you should be attending conferences and then how to get back in the saddle when you get home. Listen in to hear why conferences that aren’t directly related to Amazon selling are still important and my methods for jumpstarting productivity.  It has been a crazy beginning of 2020 and March has been full of events. I went to Seller Growth Summit, Social Media Marketing World, and Podfest and learned amazing things at each one. Despite the fact that SMMW and Podfest aren’t directly related to Amazon selling, I still learn so much by attending.  Between the power of stories for product-based businesses and the correlation between live video across platforms and how to use those techniques on Amazon live video, I learned a ton. Same thing with Podfest. I do have a podcast, but even if you don’t have a podcast, there are tons of influencers who are using the products you sell. By attending Podfest I was able to network with tons of potential sponsors and connections. But when it’s all over and I get home, I tend to fall into the post-show blues. It’s really hard for me to get back to a state of productivity. Listen in as I share my tips and tricks on how to jump back as quickly as possible without wasting a ton of your valuable time.  In This Episode: [01:50] Get ready to learn how tradeshows and conferences can impact your business. [02:49] Carlos recently came back from Seller Growth Summit where he spoke on selling businesses.  [06:26] He followed it up by going to Social Media Marketing World. [10:03] Hear which session Carlos enjoyed the most and why.  [12:11] Why it’s important to know the goals you have going into each conference and session. [13:40] Next up, Carlos went to Podfest. Learn why this conference will still make a difference even if you don’t have a podcast. [16:40] There are podcasts for everything and influencers who need the products you sell. [18:12] Carlos’s upcoming conferences. [19:47] How to get past the post-tradeshow blues. [21:38] Hear the things Carlos does to get back in the saddle after a conference.  [24:34] The first full day back from a conference Carlos reconnects with his teams and recharging.  [26:17] What do you do to get past the tradeshow blues?  Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter Seller Growth Summit Social Media Marketing World Podfest ProsperHelium 10 Event Traffic and Conversion Summit

Miro Posavec is no stranger to hardship in business. After building up a very successful business in real estate and physical stores, the Great Recession swept the rug out from underneath him. He went from successful business owner to single father struggling to keep the lights on. He realized he had to get another business up and running as soon as possible. He sourced a healthcare product and started selling it to doctors and health stores in his area. When someone asked him about selling on Amazon, he initially declined, but later realized that it was the perfect place for his products.  It took buying and implementing the training in an online course to really move the needle in his business though. In two weeks, he went from selling $2k in products to $20k in products per week. Miro has overcome several obstacles since then and he keeps driving his business forward.  One of the ways he’s done this is by hiring skilled virtual assistants to tackle tasks in various parts of his business. He has relied on VAs for several years, but it wasn’t until he ran into Amazon PPC that he realized he needed to start hiring VAs with specific skills. It was an AHA! moment that has taken a great deal of stress out of running his business.  Listen in as Miro and Carlos share their hiring strategies and practices for onboarding new VAs. Is your business ready for some help? Learn exactly what to look for and how to bring them onto your team the right way.   In This Episode: [00:34] Welcome Miro Posavecs to the show to discuss how VAs boost your business.  [01:55] Learn more about Miro and how he moved into selling on Amazon. [05:20] How taking a course completely changed the face of Miro’s business. [07:07] Why Miro’s son inspired his products and how he’s doing now. [08:03] Overcoming obstacles is the key to success on Amazon and in business.  [10:27] Would Miro consider himself a successful Amazon seller? [13:44] What caused Miro to see the value of high dollar VAs?[17:48] Learn more about the process for using FreeeUp to hire team members. [20:36] How did the communication process work?  [22:24] Miro shares his PPC spend before and after hiring his VA and how his sales changed. [25:11] What does the cost of Miro’s skilled VA services cost?  [26:20] Hear Miro’s advice to new sellers about utilizing the services of VAs. Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter Amazing Seller Course Serious Sellers Podcast

Amazon is diving back into the world of live videos but this time around it promises to be much more effective. The first go-round consisted of Amazon employees creating live videos on their main home page but the results were terrible. Now if you have the right credentials, you can go live to help build awareness of your brand. You need to have an Amazon Influencer account along with Amazon Creator studio and you’re set. You can create paid and organic videos that have a couple of different placements but the best part is that your Live videos stay housed in Facebook. Your ability to bring awareness to your brand is going to be greatly enhanced by this new platform. We have been testing out Amazon LIve Video extensively and the results have been astounding. Listen in to this episode to learn who can go live, how you go live, and where your live videos are housed. A couple of weeks from now I will air part II and that is where we will discuss the strategy behind creating live videos. Let me know what you think about this two-part format. I’m curious to know if you’d prefer smaller chunks of information or longer episodes. Either way, you won’t want to miss out on this information because Amazon Live Video is going to be an integral part of your marketing strategy. In This Episode: [00:33] Welcome back. Get ready to learn all about Amazon Live Video.  [02:31] Two things I’ve been doubling down on are Alexa and Amazon Live Video. Learn more about how Live is going to change Amazon shopping. [05:07] This is not Amazon’s first foray into Live video, but it’s certainly more impactful. [06:17] Who can stream on Amazon Live Video?  [08:18] How can you live stream?  [11:30] You can get very creative with this! [11:57] Where does your live stream go?  [12:34] There are two ways to go about live streams, paid and free. [15:56] Your lives show up on your storefront when you go live.  [17:29] Learn how this process works.  [19:45] You have a shareable dedicated URL for your Amazon Live Video. What does this mean? [21:21] What happens to your Live Stream after you go live?  [22:23] Part two will involve tactics and strategy for going live. Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter   Twitch TV Amazon Creator Mobile App PixelMe Taobao

Galyna Parker is one of the founding members of the Wizards of Amazon Meetup group! She has been in e-Commerce for over 10 years and she recently started selling white label products without the hassle of finding her own manufacturers. Listen in as she shares how she got started in e-Commerce, what prompted her to look into vendors rather than manufacturers, and how that has translated into creating her own specially branded products. It all started when Galyna sought to have her own specialized color for one of the products she was selling. She reached out to the vendor that she was receiving the product from and asked if they could get it in her color and then sign off on that color so that no one else could sell it. They said yes and she has been selling that same product for more than three years. Fast-forward to today and she has been sourcing products through vendors rather than going direct to manufacturers because the customer service has been great and the time she saves is enormous. They take a lot of the work out of her Amazon selling business.  Listen in as she delves into why she prefers this route, what she recommends as the first place to get started, and how you can take measures to protect yourself from the sharks on Amazon. Learn how you can create a private label product without the extra hassle!   In This Episode: [00:37] Welcome back to the show. Galyna Parker is here to discuss her unique take on PL. [01:20] Galyna shares a bit about her background and how she got started in online selling. [02:47] What was Galyna doing before Amazon?  [04:00] Learn how to white label or private label without manufacturing.[06:23] How did Galyna go about sourcing her products? [09:07] Were there any additional fees for sourcing directly from the vendor? [11:38] Any cons in the relationship she has with the vendor?  [13:40] Why did Galyna decide to create her own brand through sourcing a new product?[16:04] Does she have to have conversations with the factory creating the product?  [17:40] Is she considering moving toward white label with her branded product?  [20:13] Why source rather than manufacturing your own products?  [22:24] How can you get started in this method and what should you be wary of? [24:07] Connect with Galyna. Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter   Galyna’s WebsiteSeller ToolsetVA Services Galyna on FacebookGalyna on Instagram

Despite having an interesting introduction to online selling through Amazon, Vladi Gordon learned the ropes quickly and realized there was a huge gap in seller support tools. Vladi started his online selling business with a unicorn of ideas that just happened to work due to timing and strategic placement. It was only after he started to expand that he realized the amount of work that goes into having an online business. It wasn’t until Vladi started realizing how many hidden fees there were while doing business that he noticed there weren’t many tools out there to support Amazon sellers with their numbers. As I like to say, you can’t scale what you can’t measure and if your numbers are a mystery, then how do you do business. Vladi set to work creating a tool that would help identify, categorize, and sort all of the numbers in your seller portal into easy to read reports. Everything down to the cost of shipping and the refunds due because of FBA errors. Because he wants every Amazon seller to benefit, he made the price insanely affordable and continues to support sellers of all sizes. I am passionate about this tool because I wish I’d had it when I was first starting my business. Listen in as Vladi describes the tool, who it’s for, how it helps, and why you should invest early in your business to set everything up properly. Plus if my review and his detailed description of what the tool offers aren’t enough, Vladi is giving WOA listeners 2-months free! See the link below.   In This Episode: [00:38] Welcome Vladi Gordon of SellerBoard. Learn more about his background. [03:01] How Vladi got started and why it was somewhat of a fluke. [06:42] Vladi realized after the fact how much work running an Amazon business really is. [08:54] Why did Vladi create SellerBoard?  [11:04] SellerBoard is for every seller because you have to know your numbers and it’s affordable. [12:20] Who can benefit from SellerBoard as an Amazon seller?  [14:42] What are some of the hidden fees that a seller cannot find or may forget about?  [19:05] You can figure out all of your fees manually, but the process is arduous. [24:07] Learn what the SellerBoard process looks like instead. [25:28] SellerBoard allows sellers to…. [27:11] Vladi shares some of the superpowers of the SellerBoard platform. [31:31] Do additional features cost more money monthly?  [34:18] How to get your 2-month free trial?  [34:47] Vladi’s favorite book and why.   Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter SellerBoard Oculus Rift 2-Month Free Trial of SellerBoard The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz

The most money you’ll make in your business, is when you sell your business. At least if you set yourself up for success from the beginning. Salvador “Sal” Vassallo has been working with online businesses as a mergers and acquisitions expert helping them to buy and sell with peak profit in mind. Listen in as he shares his tips for building your business for sale from the beginning, how to create the most value for your business, and when you should contemplate selling.   Sal is a consummate entrepreneur. He has been creating sales opportunities since he was a young child and later moved those skills into the online business world. He is now a sought after speaker and course creator working with some of today’s greatest financial minds to help you find your way through the business selling process.    Did you know that the number one mistake most business owners make is not preparing their business for sale from the outset? So many people think that building a profitable business means creating a legacy to hold onto, but that should only be step one in a greater plan. Every business has the potential to be sold, but not every business sells at a profit. Listen in to learn how you can be the latter.   Keep in mind that it is better to be in a position to sell when you want to, not when you have to. If you can manage your books, continue running your business as if it’s yours while in the process of selling, and create a simplistic but profitable business that attracts high-end buyers, that’s when you find true success. Sal shares so many great bits of information in this episode. Take a moment and soak them in.    In This Episode: [00:32] Welcome Sal Vassallo, here to discuss exiting your Amazon business.  [01:12] How did Sal and I meet?  [03:45] Sal sells online businesses and has given some amazing talks on how to prepare for a sale. [05:13] Learn more about Sal’s process and coaching. [08:18] How did Sal get into mergers and acquisitions?  [10:14] What was Sal’s first foray into Amazon company sales?  [11:31] Why you should prepare to sell your company when you want to, not when you have to. [18:55] You don’t have to have a private label business to have a business that can be sold. [23:43] What are the best practices for creating a desirable business? [26:27] Get your taxes in order a couple of years before considering a sale. [29:18] What is the impact to a sale of having a wide range of products?  [32:12] How do business and swimming correlate?  [33:59] Learn more about the eComm Exit Strategy Course. [38:15] Connect with Sal.   Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter   Social Media Marketing World 2020eComm Exit StrategyZero Hour by Harry Dent The Performance Accelerator Podcast Sal on Facebook

If you aren’t your virtual assistant’s favorite client, you have a problem. Nathan Hirsch, co-founder of Freeeup, joins Carlos on the show to share why you need to outsource, and what you can do to keep your contractors happy. From the hiring process itself to what you can and should outsource, Nathan is a fount of knowledge and he’s sharing it all.   Hiring is one of the most stressful practices in business. You spend all this time and energy trying to find the right person, get them trained, and then incorporate them into the team, but what happens when it doesn’t work out? Nathan shares his go-to interview questions and hiring best practices.    Communication is of course the key to lasting virtual relationships with your team. Not all communication should just be about work. Get to know your teams. Pop in on their birthdays or when you think of a funny anecdote or joke they’d appreciate. You’re building relationships with real people on the other side of the computer screen.    The other key to hiring success is clear expectations, goals, and feedback. Listen as Nathan gives suggestions on how to bolster your team and generate a healthy environment of competition and success.    Hiring is a scary process, especially when you’re a brand new entrepreneur or you are thinking of bringing on your first team member. Before you hire, take the time to listen to a master team builder and implement his words of wisdom. What issues have you faced in hiring? How did you overcome this? Let’s all learn from one another!   In This Episode: [00:35] Welcome Nathan Hirsch, the founder of Freeeup. [01:20] How did Nathan and his business partner keep the sale of Freeeup quiet?  [02:43] Was selling Freeeup an emotional endeavor?  [04:50] Why you need to be the favorite client of your virtual assistant or team.  [08:05] How they managed continuing education for the team at Freeeup. [10:24] What are some of the bad decisions Nathan has seen Amazon sellers make?  [12:20] Learn the best way to build and communicate with your virtual teams.  [15:59] Best practices for hiring your team.  [18:15] Who handled hiring for Freeeup? [22:26] How do you embolden your employees to ask the hard questions and give feedback? [26:22] Creating and giving bonuses, what does that process look like? [28:32] Learn how to figure out which tasks to outsource and when. [29:56] What changes does Nathan see for freelancers in the coming years?  [33:18] Nathan shares his favorite book and why. [34:52] Connect with Nathan.  Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter   Start with Why by Simon Sinek  The Book on Rental Property Investing by Brandon Turner Nathan on LinkedInNathan on FacebookNathan on Twitter Nathan on Instagram Email Nathan at nathanhirsch2@gmail.com FreeeupOutsource School

Ever wondered how people create and use short text numbers for giveaways and opt-ins? The product I use is called SlickText. In the resources below you’ll see a direction to text Amazon to 69922. When you do that, a variety of resources are all sent to you automatically. There are so many ways you can use personalized numbers and text codes to help provide your customers with additional information and resources. I share several of the ways that I use SlickText in my business and why you should start using this in your business. We even have a code to get you into the Wizards of Amazon book club. This tool helps reduce the friction between you and your customer. You get to speak directly to your customer, instantly. You also keep the ball in your court with regard to your follow up protocols and conversation points. Rather than waiting for someone to call you, email you, or reach out to you, you can immediately reach out to them. SlickText keeps you from having to keep business cards ready. Instead, you can have a call to action on your booth or a hat and everyone who is interested can whip out their phone and connect with you. It’s an amazing way to reach all different types of people, even those who are unlikely to strike up a conversation with you in person. I only share the tools and products that I truly love in my business and this one is huge. You can leverage this tool for so many different purposes and I share several of them here. Let me know if you are using SlickText and if you have different ways of boosting your business with this tool. In This Episode: [00:24] Welcome back to the show! Carlos is looking forward to sharing an awesome tool he uses in his business called SlickText.  [01:37] Learn how SlickText works. [04:11] Why you should consider the higher tier payment options. [07:11] How you can use SlickText in your business.  [08:35] One of the first powerful ways Carlos has used this tool in his business.  [10:11] Why SlickText keeps the connection ball in your court versus your customer’s. [12:15] Additional ways you can use SlickText when you’re at conferences and events to reach more people. [14:42] How Carlos uses the tool to help sponsor podcasts and boost his business. [17:50] SlickText also helps you leverage voice technology and Skills on Alexa. [19:26] Listen to hear a couple more hacks Carlos has found for SlickText. [23:06] Carlos does a quick recap of all the ways he uses SlickText in his business.    Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter SlickTextText “Book” to 69922 Use Wizards at check out for SlickText and you’ll get a discount.

Pinterest. Do you hear the word and think, “I’m not in the wedding, beauty, or home renovations space so it’s not for me?” Pinterest is for everyone! Joe Reichsfeld is on the podcast to share with you why you should be on optimizing your Pinterest account and traffic. Joe has been in the eCommerce space since 1999. He’s seen all of the changes and adapted to them and is still extremely relevant in today’s market. That is only possible by learning and harnessing the power of digital marketing.  Listen in as Joe explains what Pinterest is and why you should be using it to optimize your product sales. For everything from product awareness to targeted customer service, Pinterest is the answer to your current pain points.  Joe shares his Pinterest wins, strategies, and best SEO tips and tricks. Check the links below for a FREE Pinterest workshop if you have any questions on how to quickly get started.  You don’t have to hire a VA or pin 30 pins a day. You simply have to show up and be consistent and Pinterest will help you grow your audience, brand awareness, and traffic. Listen in to learn all you can on why Pinterest is right for your business. In This Episode: [00:35] Joe Reichsfeld is on the podcast to chat about how you can start using Pinterest! [02:16] Learn more about Joe and how he got started in eCommerce. [05:51] Joe explains what Pinterest is and how it works. [12:31] Why Pinterest is the future of your buyer’s journey. [17:10] How can you start to use Pinterest to promote your products?  [19:42] You can now use Amazon Affiliates with Pinterest. Learn how! [21:05] What is buyer referral traffic and what does it mean for you?  [24:34] How should you use longtail keywords?  [31:07] Are there best practices for creating strong SEO functions on Pinterest? [34:56] Should you hire a Pinterest VA or use a scheduling platform? Why?   [37:20] Profile and ads. What’s the right strategy?  [42:28] How many people does Joe know that are making money from Pinterest?  [47:38] Connect with Joe and learn how he sets his goals for success. Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter   Joe Reichsfeld - eCommerce Optimizer Free Pinterest WorkshopPinterest Launch Service Joe on FacebookJoe on TwitterJoe on PinterestJoe on YouTube

How do middle school football coaches become multi-six figure international Amazon sellers? Kevin Sanderson is known as a podcaster and wonderfully successful Amazon seller who has a passion for sharing his knowledge with others. He has featured several times in the Wizards of Amazon Meetup events and regularly attends events to provide insights on how to make your Amazon business wildly profitable. Kevin started his international selling in Canada. He has since branched out into countries all over the world and has found that for the most part, each country has its own step-by-step process to get started. He shares the process he used to get his Amazon business off the ground in Canada as well as the tools he uses to make the most from his products. Given his vast experience with international sales, he’s also picked up wonderful tips and tricks for saving money within the process. Kevin shares UPS Promo Codes you can use to save on your shipping costs as well as the best ways to keep track of and pay your international taxes. Starting an international Amazon selling business is not without its complications, but the information he shares makes success feel within easy reach. Listen in for amazing tips, tricks, and hacks to start your international sales off right. He also shares how he uses a portion of his international revenue to fund better marketing campaigns for his U.S. products. If you’ve been thinking about venturing into international sales, you will not want to miss this episode.   In This Episode: [00:36] Welcome Kevin Sanderson to the show! He’s an Amazon seller and podcaster tool! [04:00] Learn about Kevin’s background and why he’s passionate about helping others find success. [04:58] Who is Kevin and how did he start selling?  [10:41] Kevin shares the path he took to becoming a full-time Amazon seller and leaving the 9-to-5. [11:49] Why relationships are the backbone of successful ventures. [13:51] Where did Kevin start his international selling and how did he branch out?   [16:04] Learn how Japan and Australia are a touch different when you start selling in those countries.  [18:35] Has Kevin started selling in Mexico?  [19:55] Kevin shares his step-by-step process for selling in Canada. [20:45] Do your research! [22:38] What forms do you have to complete before you can sell?  [24:53] You’ve filed for and been approved for business registration. What next?  [25:46] How do you determine your inventory numbers?  [27:13] Want some shipping promo codes to save money with UPS?  [28:25] How does the customs and payment process work for shipping across the border?  [31:39] Learn more about currency conversions and how to maximize the rates. [34:41] Do you need a bookkeeper to keep track of the various yearly country taxes?  [37:01] Rather than shipping to the U.S. and then back to Canada, can you ship from another country direct to Canada? How does that work with other countries?  [38:12] What happens to your reviews when you move your listings to Amazon Canada?  [40:08] Learn more about Kevin’s services and how he can help you venture out internationally. [44:33] Check out Kevin’s podcast and connect with him. [45:30] Kevin shares his favorite book.   Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter 2020 Sellers Summit Scott Voelker - The Amazing Seller Amazon.ca UPS Promo Codes: FAST & EASY Plastiq The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy Learn more about Kevin’s services and offerings here: maximizingecommerce.com/carlos Maximizing Ecommerce Podcast Maximizing Ecommerce on YouTubeMaximizing Ecommerce on FacebookMaximizing Ecommerce on Twitter

Alex Jimenez has been traveling the world for more than a decade and has learned to do it in a carry-on. The tips and tricks she learned while spending a full decade doing non-stop travel led her to create the Travel Fashion Girl brand. She is now a huge influencer in the travel space and joins Carlos on the show to share the dos and donts of finding influencer partners for your brands.  After spending 6-years in a corporate job she didn’t love, Alex decided to take a three-month sabbatical and travel the world. Three months turned into ten years! She got tired of trekking across the world with a full suitcase and too many items that she didn’t need or use, so she started researching ways to travel light.  Fast-forward to now and Alex and her brand have educated hundreds of thousands of newbie and experienced travelers on better ways to pack, prioritize, and lighten their load. She is constantly being approached by potential brand partners to review their products and feature them on her site, but many times, the products aren’t the right fit for her brand.  Listen in to learn the right way to approach influencers for potential brand partnerships and why you should always remember there is a human on the other side of your message. Alex shares some wild stories of companies who have pitched her in the past and points out exactly what was wrong with their approach.  If you’ve been considering reaching out to influencers to reach more people through their audiences, then you’ll want to listen to this episode. Alex divulges the good, the bad, and the ugly of influencer pitches, and you can use this knowledge to properly approach your next influencer!   In This Episode: [00:29] Welcome to the show Alex Jimenez of Travel Fashion Girl! [01:52] Learn more about Alex and how she became an influencer. [04:21] How did Alex pay for her travel and what were the questions she asked other travelers for her blog?  [07:15] Alex shares her feelings about being approached by brands for partnerships. [11:23] Hear a good way to approach influencers to build partnerships.  [16:33] Another really simple strategy for a successful influencer pitch.  [20:52] Listen as Alex shares some of the craziest products she’s received that had nothing to do with her brand.  [24:33] When is it appropriate to approach influencers with your new products?  [27:52] Why did Alex stop checking her brand email?  [29:29] Which channel is the best to reach out to Alex and what should you send?  [32:46] Is Alex sharing her own products on her site?  [35:42] Does Alex have any advantage on Amazon because of what she has built?  [37:39] Connect with Alex.  Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter   Travel Fashion Girl Travel Fashion Girl on Facebook Travel Fashion Girl on Twitter Travel Fashion Girl on YouTube Travel Fashion Girl on Pinterest Travel Fashion Girl Group on Facebook Travel Fashion Girl on Instagram

The other day I was scrolling along on Facebook and saw a post about creating multiple Amazon seller accounts. The person was looking to learn more information on how to get approved, so I responded with some advice. I very quickly realized that this is a question many people have and wanted to share my advice here as well.   First, let me state that having multiple Amazon seller accounts is oftentimes unnecessary. Unless you have two completely different businesses with their own bank accounts, EINs, etc. or you sell products that appeal to completely different audiences, you likely don’t need multiple seller accounts.   That being said, I do have several Amazon seller accounts and they have all been approved by Amazon with their blessing. Listen in as I share my exact process for getting additional seller accounts approved. If you want the template I mention, send me a DM on Instagram, the link is below.   But please note, if you are doing anything that is not completely above board with Amazon, you will likely not be approved. Amazon keeps track of your activity and just because they haven’t cited you yet, doesn’t mean they won’t. When you apply, your accounts are thoroughly reviewed by Amazon, so be sure that they are all cleaned up.   Listen in as I share my philosophy on having multiple accounts, when you do and do not need them, how to get approved, and what can happen if you’re not fully above board with your activities. If you’ve been considering applying for a second account, you need to listen to this episode.   In This Episode: [00:39] Welcome back to the show. Listen to learn what inspired this episode. [05:28] What are the two reasons Amazon will allow you multiple seller accounts? [08:38] Why you need to be absolutely certain you’re following Amazon’s terms of service. [10:30] When you shouldn’t request an additional seller account. [16:53] How you can get approved for multiple seller accounts. [20:13] Learn the procedure Carlos follows to submit his requests. [23:37] Why your verbiage to various levels at Amazon should be different. [27:19] Carlos shares why he has so many seller accounts.    Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter

You’ve heard about TikTok and you know that is the new social media platform for our youth, but did you know that businesses are creating huge reach campaigns by using it? Paulina Masson of Shopkeeper has been researching marketing tactics for TikTok and joins Carlos on the show to share her knowledge. You won’t want to miss her in-depth discussion on using the app, creating videos, and why you should jump in now as the platform grows. TikTok is not just for your children. Over 50 million TikTok users are over the age of 18 and using the platform for a variety of reasons. Now is the time to jump in and take advantage of creating bite-sized pieces of content for your Amazon business. Paulina shares several ways you can do this.  Listen in as Paulina dissects the exact process you go through to create an account and then add in your first video. She also shares important follower milestones and the different advantages they unlock. Additionally, learn why you should go ahead and snag your user handle now, even if you don’t intend to start using the platform immediately.  The name of the game with TikTok is following trends and making sure that your initial hashtags are specific to your customer base. If you notice a certain piece of music is trending, use that music in your videos. If you notice a certain length is trending, keep your videos to that length. Then, once you’ve created your first videos, make sure that you properly research your hashtags.  The TikTok platform will take over the process of identifying your ideal customers. The algorithm is designed to show your videos to more people who are like your target audience. Make sure you create valuable content, like “how it’s made” style videos and walkthroughs of the factory or office, and then target the right people. TikTok does the rest.  Paulina gives you some amazing advice for getting started the right way on TikTok. Listen to the end to also snag a really sweet offer she’s providing to our podcast listeners. Are you ready to start diving into TikTok?    In This Episode: [00:29] Welcome to the show Paulina Masson to talk about TikTok. [02:20] How can you use TikTok for business?  [04:52] Learn the type of profile and videos you should create. [09:07] Why you should you use “how it’s made” and manufacturing videos. [10:30] TikTok runs your videos to audiences that are similar to the ones that have previously viewed automatically targeting your ideal customer.  [12:25] How can set up your videos for success and stay within the rules and regulations?  [14:42] What is the best way to follow the trends in TikTok music? [18:17] More information on creating your profile and how to access analytics. [27:53] Paulina gives ideas on how to create videos for your products. [29:45] Ads on TikTok… yes or no?  [30:53] Number 1 piece of advice to get started on TikTok.  [33:46] Connect with Paulina Masson. Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter   paulina@shopkeeper.com Shopkeeper Website Coupon: Stingray180 Shopkeeper on FacebookShopkeeper on TwitterShopkeeper on YouTube

How does copy impact your business? On the show is Michael Goris a Master Copywriter and font of copy knowledge to discuss why copy is important and how you should start implementing it in your business pages. You know you have to write product descriptions, you know you have to have your profiles completely filled out, you know that there are a lot of words to accompany your images, but Michael shares the best way to build your content vault. One of the fastest, and in many ways, the easiest ways to start easing into your brand content is to start a blog. Michael dives deep into blog strategy and content ideas to keep your blog active and help you build up your website. The most important thing to remember about creating written content is that the goal is to create more ways that people can find you online. Listen as he shares the tools you should use to dial in your SEO and make your site more visible. Additionally, don’t forget about your frequently asked questions. You’re selling a product, think of all the questions people either have asked, or would ask about your product and go ahead and answer them. FAQs help by allowing you to write out the exact questions someone will likely Google as well as providing great value to your customers.  Listen to the end to hear the best way to deal with your out of date content and make sure that it is still working for you. Not everyone is a writer, but if you can put together a post a week to discuss your products, your business, and maybe even the businesses of your competitors, your visibility will increase over time. Your copy defines your authority online, make sure you know the best ways to make it work for you!   In This Episode: [00:30] Welcome to the show Michael Goris, a master copy and content writer.  [01:42] Learn more about Michael and his background in writing.  [04:35] How long does it take Michael to hit his stride with a new niche? [05:19] Michael writes for both product-based and service-based companies.[06:13] What forms of copy are there and how important is copy in building a brand presence?  [09:07] Aside from blogs and FAQs, what other forms of content are important?  [13:06] Do you have to blog daily?  [15:15] Where can a person go to find topic ideas for their blog?[16:44] Are there any good planning tools for beginners?  [18:19] Should you cover your competitor’s products? How might you do that?  [21:45] Only review a competitor product if your brand has been established. Learn why. [24:11] How do SEO and blog anatomy impact your message?  [26:28] Hear Michael chat about the anatomy of a blog from top to bottom. [29:01] How do graphics and video come into play? [32:08] If you later come back and add images or video will it affect the post momentum?  [35:57] Should you model a competitor’s blog if they’re already established?  [37:18] How should you deal with out of date content?  [39:26] Connect with Michael.   Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter Bonka Bird Toys Alarm Grid michaelwgoris@gmail.com

What do you think when you hear the word “ads?” Do you break out in hives? Does it sound like someone speaking Greek? If so, then you need to listen in as Monica Louie shares her Facebook Ads 101 for Amazon sellers. She breaks everything down in easy to follow steps that are extremely actionable. Monica started her career in corporate America but after getting married and starting a family, she realized she wanted more control and flexibility in her work life. She started blogging and after successfully using Facebook ads to boost her website traffic, started studying the art and science of ads. It wasn’t long before her peers and friends noticed her success and began asking for her help. Fast-forward to today and she has developed a course to help others manager their ads and now manages ads for 7-figure businesses. She’s is an ads savant and chats about the very basics of creating successful ads. Listen in as she discusses creating the right test ads, how to develop the right audiences, and what you should be doing with your ad spend to maximize results.  If you’ve been considering Facebook ads for your business, you won’t want to miss this episode. Creating successful ads can seem like a daunting activity, but with Monica’s help, you’ll become a pro in no time. Listen to the very end to get a very special Wizards of Amazon discount for Monica’s course!  Not marketing on Facebook? That’s fine! Monica does ads on Instagram, Google, and other platforms as well! In This Episode: [00:29] Welcome back! It’s time to talk Facebook ads with Monica Louie. [01:40] Learn more about Monica and how she started into Facebook ads and coaching. [05:49] How did Monica and her husband pay off all of their debt in two years with one income? [08:22] When should a business look at outsourcing their ads? [11:34] The three things you’re missing if your Facebook ads didn’t work initially. [15:54] What makes a great offer?  [18:13] Learn the best way to start targeting your audiences. [24:06] What goes into the creative portion for developing ads and how should you allocate budget?   [29:34] Monica shares campaign strategy moving into 2020 with campaign budget optimization. [34:06] What data is the most important and how do you determine the best campaigns? [39:13] Connect with Monica.[43:32] Monica’s favorite book and why. Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter Flourish with Facebook Ads (Use Carlos50 to get $50 off)Monica Louie WebsiteFlourish to 7 Figures Podcast Monica on FacebookMonica on InstagramMonica on TwitterMonica on Pinterest DotCom Secrets by Russel BrunsonThe 12-Week Year by Brian P. Morgan

As Amazon sellers, the tools we use to keep everything running are unbelievably important. I wanted to take a moment and share with you the most important tools in my stack. Without these tools and various ways that they integrate, being a successful Amazon seller would be much harder.  First up is Helium 10 with Scribbles. This platform has everything you need to create, track, and streamline your Amazon selling experience. It’s basically like having a dedicated VA there to help you keep eyes on all aspects of your business.  Contrary to popular belief email is not dead. I share my number one email service provider and the site I use to generate feedback on all aspects of my business. Understanding how others see your products, websites, and graphics is key to creating successful listings.  I also use a site that provides me with a dedicated designer and my team and I have been testing and measuring the impact of going live! Listen in to learn my top ten favorite tools to use in my business, both old and new. Some will be obvious but others may surprise you!  What tools are you using to create a clear buyer journey and keep track of your listings and customers? How are you integrating? Creating the perfect tech stack takes time and reflection, but when you do, the difference it creates in your business is astounding.   In This Episode: [00:30] Welcome back, it’s just Carlos chatting about his tech stack. [02:27] The most important tool is Helium 10 with Scribbles. [05:50] You can’t go wrong with this email service provider. [06:41] Need feedback on your products, images, websites? You need this! [08:33] What is Ignite by Seller Labs? [09:28] Want to review the changes that have happened to your listings? [10:31] Carlos still uses Keepa, learn why! [11:19] Brand new to the tech stack is Design Pickle. [13:10] Learn why Carlos’s team is going live with the Amazon Live Creator app! [14:51] Everything has to work together, you need to use Zapier to integrate. [16:08] SEO and PPC are unbelievably important and you need a great tool for analysis.   Links and Resources: Wizards of Amazon Wizards of Amazon Courses Wizards of Amazon Meetup Text “Amazon” to 69922 Wizards of Amazon on Facebook Wizards of Amazon on Instagram Wizards of Amazon on LinkedIn Wizards of Amazon on Twitter Helium 10 ActiveCampaign PickFu IgniteSentryKit Keepa Design Pickle Amazon Live Creator Zapier SEMrush