Actualize Freedom | Amazon FBA with Danny Carlson | Private Label Ecommerce Selling on Amazon
By Danny Carlson
Actualize Freedom | Amazon FBA with Danny Carlson | Private Label Ecommerce Selling on AmazonMar 25, 2020
Seller Skills 7 - Regina Peterburgsky - Amplifying Women’s Voices in The eCommerce Space - Women on Amazon
Have you ever wondered why you don't see many successful women in the Amazon e-commerce world?
Regina Peterburgsky is the host of the Women on Amazon Podcast where she interviews top women in the selling on Amazon FBA space.
In this episode of the Actualize Freedom Podcast, Regina talks about the reasons why you don't see many women as speakers or influencers in the Amazon space, and what she's doing to change that.
Ep 81 - David Storey - How to Double Your Amazon Business Sale Price
Mistakes are best learned by wasting your hard-earned cash, & David Storey shares his mistake that cost him more than $1,000,000...
David has sold his business and has lots to say about ways to increase that sale price that he wishes his past self knew.
Check Out David's Facebook Group Here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/548698855753215/
Seller Skills 9 - Ritu Java - Product Targeting Ads Strategies
Product targeting ads on Amazon are one of the newer strategies available to Amazon Sellers, so many brands have yet to figure out the best tactics.
Ritu Java shares her best Amazon product targeting ads strategies for 2020 from her depth of experience running PPC Ninja.
Targeting specific ASINs, categories, and adding in filters for price and reviews relative to your product are all key concepts we cover.
Seller Skills 6 - Troy Johnston - Manychat Software Automations
One of the only repeat guests on the Actualize Freedom Podcast, Troy Johnston was asked to come back on to share his innovative solution to Amazon launches using Manychat.
Troy is a big fan of using Manychat to drive sales to products with a promise of a rebate. But it's a very time-intensive process manually confirming order ID's and sending PayPal rebates to customers.
Seller.tools developed a tool that automatically confirms order ID's then only sends rebates automatically through VISA or Amazon gift cards.
Seller Skills 5 - Orion Avidan - Sell Excess Inventory Keeping 60% of Profit
Do you have inventory that just won't sell sitting in Amazon FBA warehouses costing you storage fees?
Orion Avidan has a proven framework for selling through that inventory while retaining 60% of your profits.
Clear cut criteria for deciding which inventory should utilize which liquidation strategy removes uncertainty and provides the most efficient way to get that capital back to work launching new products.
Ep 80 - Amy Wees - Amazon Positioning Tricks to Rank for Unique Keywords
Looking for an edge on your Amazon competition? Throwing more money at Amazon Ads or product launch services isn't the only way.
Product positioning through unique copywriting targeted at buyer desires works just as well! Check out Kenji ROI's Amazon Copywriting Service: https://www.kenjiroi.com/amazon-listing-services/
Amy Wees from Amazing at Home has toured the Amazon FBA conference circuit for years as a speaker in front of sold-out crowds.
She has 3 Amazon brands of her own and holds some patents to back them up, and her 18-year military planning experience helped her dive successfully into selling on Amazon and now helping others do the same.
Seller SKills 4 - Michelle Smith - 2020 Messenger Marketing Updates for Amazon Rank & Reviews
Using Facebook Messenger Marketing for Amazon launches, ranking, and reviews is effective, but it's recently gotten more complicated.
So I brought my friend Michelle Smith back on the podcast for round 2, and a short, to the point summary of what 2020 will bring for challenges, but also opportunities in the Messenger Marketing Space.
Ep 79 - Isaac Smith - What to Do After Selling an Ecommerce Business
Isaac Smith has been building eCommerce businesses for over six years. After selling his business in 2019, he co-founded Summit eCommerce Advisors, which provides bookkeeping and financial services to eCommerce businesses.
He also hosts a podcast, Next Level eCommerce, where he interviews successful eCommerce entrepreneurs.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/surviveandthrivesummit/
http://www.nextlevelecommerce.co/
https://www.summitecommerce.co/home36177204
info@nextlevelecommerce.co
Ep 78 - Jonny Bradley - Sell Apps With Amazon FBA Products
Can you add value to your Amazon FBA products by pairing it with a cheap smartphone app?
More brands are realizing the power of connecting physical products to the digital world, and how a basic app can be a unique differentiator in the e-commerce market.
Jonny Bradley is an Entrepreneur, Author, and Ecommerce Expert, & helps ordinary people create extraordinary things one product at a time.
In this episode of the Actualize Freedom Podcast, we dive deep on Jonny's experience launching a product that had an app, why it took much longer than expected, and his entire costs & exact product that he launched.
Seller Skills 3 - Derric Haynie - Shopify Apps
If you are considering creating a Shopify store to supplement your Amazon sales, you're probably wondering which Shopify apps you should use.
Derric Haynie is a professional Shopify software stack consultant and tells us his best recommendations for:
- Abandoned Cart Automations
- SMS Marketing Automations
- Shopify Themes
- Conversion Rate Boosting Apps
And everything you need to set up your Shopify store.
Ep 77 - Andy Arnott - Diversifying Platforms & Recession Proofing on Amazon FBA
The world economy is on the brink of collapse, and Amazon sellers are worried. Why are some brands thriving while others struggle to survive?
Sure lots of it depends on whether you're selling survival or outdoor recreational items, but as Andy Arnott points out, there are other things Amazon sellers can do as well.
With his wealth of knowledge as a long time Amazon seller and his mass of data from his software company Seller SEO, he shares his best tips for recession proofing your Amazon business.
Seller Skills 10 - Mike Michelini - COVID-19 China Manufacturing Update
Mike Michelini is stuck in Cebu City Philippines hotel room after being dragged out of his friend's apartment by paranoid security guards during the COVID-19 outbreak.
He was featured on Yahoo finance talking about the situation in China with manufacturer shutdowns, and some returning to business as normal.
With his unique on the ground insights, Mike Michelini shares the current situation with Chinese manufacturers depending on their region & specialties.
Are your manufacturers back to business as normal? Find out on this episode of the Actualize Freedom Podcast on all podcasting platforms.
Seller Skills 2 - Paul Easton - 3 Steps to Build an Audience Off Amazon - Drive External Traffic to Amazon Products
Relying on Amazon as your only traffic source is scary and dangerous.
Paul Easton shares why building your own store is NOT the first step, and what you should be focusing on first to diversify your Amazon traffic.
Step 1: Product Inserts
You design them quickly in Canva using pre-made templates. Depending on the product, different incentives will have the best conversion rate.
Warranties work really well for some products, but make little sense for others. Or entering to win a $200 gift card every month can work really well.
Step 2: Setup Email Marketing Automation
The most basic way is to setup a free Mailchimp account, and just use the template landing page for email opt in from your Amazon product inserts.
For a more robust system, Danny uses Active Campaign, but it's more expensive and only makes sense if you have a larger list.
Step 3: Should You Use Manychat / Facebook Messenger?
Reach Out to Paul: https://PaulEaston.com
Ep 76 - Tygh Walters & Michael Melgar - Changes To Buy Seller Messages and Ecommerce Business Tips
Getting reviews for your Amazon products is getting more and more difficult, & techniques evolve.
Gone are the days when you could buy Amazon reviews through shady Amazon review sites and get away with it. White hat is the way to go!
Michael Melgar and Tygh Walters have an ecommerce customer service company Seller Smile. Their team manages reviews and feedback for large brands, and they're always up to date with changes in Amazon's TOS policies.
A recent change is Amazon has been more hesitant to remove neutral or negative seller feedback. It used to be easy to request feedback removal when it's clearly a product review, not seller feedback, but now it's hit or miss.
It's now recommended to continue opening cases at least 3 times before giving up.
Amazon buyer-seller messaging has tightened in recent years as well, with many sellers removing themselves from everything but essential order update emails, meaning they will not receive your review request email.
This means that excellent customer service is more important now then ever to keep your reviews coming in, and stop the negative ones from happening (or reverse them).
In this episode, Tygh Walters talks about the 3 fundamentals to provide good Amazon customer experience:
- Be fast and correct. Speed of reply and accuracy of information.
- Be Friendly. Use language that can only be read as polite.
- Be Proactive. Try to think of what the customer would ask next, then provide that answer.
It’s essential to make the customer feel emotionally engaged, using emojis and asking about their purchase to make them feel valued.
18:36 - Tygh Walters talks about some amazing tips for how to manage any size or type of E-commerce business with loads of activities taking place every day and dozens of messages popping up in the email.
- Running a business is not a one-person job.
- Hire multiple people to perform similar activities.
- Provide constant training.
- Have expert guidance sessions.
- The agents should stay up to date with changes taking place in the inventory and business.
- Have important information in one central location, plus more.
Ep 75 - Ben Donovan - Building a Brand That Supports Your Lifestyle
Ben Donovan is a based UK family man and Amazon Seller & YouTuber who focuses heavily on building a brand with quality products.
Here's some of what you can expect on this episode of the Actualize Freedom Podcast.
4 Steps To Building a Brand
- Find a market you can improve on
- Source a quality, unique product to bring to that market
- Know how to sell
- Build systems, processes, and a team around that brand so you can focus on steps 1 & 2.
ANKER is Ben Donovan's Best Example of a Strong Brand
This is a 9 figure Amazon Seller that grew on Amazon first before branching to other channels. Their branding is great because they only sell products of high quality at a good price, and their branding is consistent across all products.
How to Build Your Brand Around Your Life
Set aside time to create systems and train team members with any new profits. This is the only way to avoid the trap of becoming the bottleneck that's stopping your business from growing.
Ben Donovan's Website: https://www.bendonovan.co.uk/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxGzzG7F7ulKLqcVakZy8bA
Ep 74 - Will Christensen- Amazon FBA Software Automations Used by 7 & 8 Figure Brands
Will Christensen is the master of Amazon FBA business automations, and founder of the company Data Automation, and he shares his experience in this Actualize Freedom Podcast Episode!
What things should you NOT automate?
Will Christensen's rule is to never automate something you haven't done yourself at least 5 times. If you haven't' tested a process, it's likely you haven't fixed the "bugs" in your process.
What things can you automate in an Amazon FBA Business?
Will first will Google "how do I automate X process?" and see how other people have figured out how to automate it. Rather than trying to figure it out from scratch, it's likely other businesses have already solved your exact problem.
What exactly can Amazon Sellers automate?
The most common one is Amazon business reports & metrics consolidated into one single report with excel formulas to give you better information to grow your sales.
Zapier is a powerful automation platform that Will's company Data Automation often uses to create business process automations without using any code. It's simple enough for non techy people to set up powerful automations and replace manual tasks or the need to pay a virtual assistant to do it.
Will's Automation Agency: https://dataautomation.com
Seller Skills 1 - Is European Seller Conference Worth It - Augustas Kligys
Orange Klik: https://orangeklik.com/
Conference Link: https://europeansellerconference.com/
The European Seller Conference is coming up in less than 2 weeks in Prague, is it worth it?
Personally I can say the value I've gotten from Amazon Seller events far outweighs the costs of tickets and flights.
All it takes it 1 valuable new business relationship with another seller, Amazon service provider, or 1 "golden nugget" shared over a group dinner to have a positive ROI.
Augustas Kligys, Founder of European Seller Conference gives us details on who the conference is for, what types of people will be there, and a few real life examples of key business partnerships that started at his past events.
If you are looking to level up your network with an Amazon Seller conference this year, the European Seller Conference may be for you.
Ep 73 - Amazon Video Ads & The Ppc Software Killer With Sean Smith
Sean Smith is near the top of my list of who I trust for Amazon PPC strategy.
I've been through a lot of Amazon PPC courses and in my opinion, his PPC & AMS Accelerator with Taylor Benterud is the best one.
Software automation for Amazon PPC optimization is great, but Sean Smith is a big advocate for using bulk files to smooth Amazon Ads workflow.
Everything from keyword bid adjustments & negative matches to uploading full campaigns for multiple products with thousands of keywords can be done without software much faster than using Amazon Seller Central's campaign manager.
Amazon Sponsored Ads is getting more competitive, so creating an effective Amazon ppc management strategy is going to be essential in 2020 and beyond.
Sean also talks about Amazon video ads and how many accounts are now getting access to this tool, and what new Amazon marketing strategies are coming soon to Amazon sellers and brands with larger adspend.
Ep 72 - Ryan Rigney - Messenger Launch Automation with Search Find Buy
1:48 - Changes coming to Facebook Messenger in 2020
5:05 - Is sending series of value-based messages acceptable?
6:19 - Is immediately getting people on email/sms messaging lists recommended?
10:32 - The future of messenger marketing in general
15:20 - How Ryan engages with his group
17:33 - Tactics for Amazon product launches using messenger marketing
23:15 - How Ryan manages his sequences with Boost Rooster
31:47 - How many units does Ryan recommend giving away for a search find buy launch?
33:05 - How technically intensive is the process of setting up these Facebook ads with Boost Rooster?
35:19 - Rebates, Amazon gift cards and potential red flag concerns
39:12 - How to elicit reviews while avoiding review manipulation
42:18 - Where to find Andrew online
Links/resources
Boost Rooster - https://boostrooster.com/
Ep 71 - Taking Unique Amazon Products to Market Profitably with Zack Leonard
1:41 - Adding revenue and cutting costs
2:49 - The first things to look at when cutting costs
4:45 - Finding the pertinent information in order to properly cut costs
6:44 - Gauging and negotiating profit margins with suppliers
8:17 - Creating a relationship with your suppliers that allows for product innovation
9:29 - Methods for figuring out how to innovate products that mesh well with manufacturing costs
11:13 - How to locate someone with a specialty for optimizing the manufacturing process
13:12 - Typical costs and timeframe to be expected when working with an industrial designer
14:16 - $2000 vs $50,000 new product
15:44 - Advice for finding and choosing the right suppliers
19:00 - How to verify a legitimate factory to work with remotely
20:14 - Recommended strategies to verify whether or not your innovation ideas are a good market fit
21:46 - Locating trending items on Etsy and Pinterest
23:16 - Where are common ecommerce businesses getting their foundational setup wrong?
25:44 - Recommended ways to monitor profitability on Amazon
28:20 - Hiring independent contractors that scale their pay with the needs of your business
31:57 - First thing to do to begin successfully monitoring profitability
32:36 - Where to find Zach online
Links/resources
Gembah - https://gembah.com/
Ep 70 - Amazon Keyword URLs & 2020 Launch Tactics from Top Amazon Podcaster Bradley Sutton
1:56 - Changes to Amazon URLs
5:57 - Why are some people seeing mixed or poor results with keyword URLs?
8:50 - The best contemporary product launch strategy according to Bradley
13:27 - Gauging Etsy and Pinterest trends
18:51 - Combining launch strategies for a product with budget in mind
22:05 - Differing trends between successful and unsuccessful sellers
31:18 - Connecting with the seller community
34:58 - Where to find Bradley online
Links/resources
Helium 10 Users Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/Helium10Users/
Helium 10 website - https://www.helium10.com/
Serious Sellers Podcast - https://www.helium10.com/subscribe/
Ep 69 - Kristina Mertens - Avoid Scams & Hire Killer Contractors to Grow your Amazon Sales
Kristina Mertens is an expert on hiring Amazon FBA related freelancers and agencies with her experience at Sermondo, a platform that connects brands with Amazon FBA talent.
She shares her best tips on vetting companies, avoiding scams, and most effective ways of working with freelancers to get the most out of your investment.
Hiring & delegating is definitely a skillset and something that must be learned. For this reason I really recommend you start delegating at a small level much sooner than you want to to start gaining the skills you will desperately need as your business grows.
Team is everything, there's only so much one person can do so don't fall into the solopreneur trap!
Links/resources
Sermondo Blog - https://sermondo.com/blog/
Ep 67 - Quin Amorim - Amazon Review Boosting Tricks & Why ACoS Doesn't Matter
1:44 - Amazon followup email optimization
12:43 - Review optimization numbers
16:29 - ACOS
21:35 - How much ACOS is too much?
26:09 - Search Find Buy best practices
29:30 - Product research with Helium 10 filters
39:13 - Where to find Quin online
Links/resources
Profit Builder - https://wpprofitbuilder.com/
QA Selling Online Podcast - https://qasellingonline.com/
Fail Fast Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fail-fast-podcast/id1378650994
Prolific Zone - https://www.prolificzone.com/
Quin’s Linkedin - https://ca.linkedin.com/in/private-label
Ep 66 - Jon Tilley - Real Amazon Data for Research & Optimization
ZonGuru CEO Jon Tilley joins us today to delve into the depths of the Amazon data stores need to grow their Amazon business, and how to properly implement it to maximize results. Many sellers ignore this data, and as a result, their business suffers. Or perhaps they are doing well, but could be doing amazing with proper knowledge of data application. Tune in today to discover the powerful business-boosting methods you might be missing in your store!
1:36 - How has Amazon evolved over the last 5 years?
4:23 - Has Amazon become too competitive to even try anymore?
5:59 - How Jon uses data to get an edge on the competition
9:50 - Strategies for bringing unique products onto the Amazon marketplace
12:49 - Tips for identifying profitable niche markets
17:10 - Data points many sellers neglect, but shouldn’t
25:01 - Real data points available through the API
26:07 - Using data to optimize Amazon listings
28:58 - Keyword placement methods
34:11 - The rest of the listing
39:15 - Metrics to monitor to boost your Amazon sales
42:17 - Where to find Jon online
Links/resources
ZonGuru - https://zonguru.com/
Email Jon - Jon@zonguru.com
2020 Perfect Product Vision webseries - https://2020.zonguru.com/watch-video-three
ZonGuru Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/zonguru/
ZonGuru Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zonguru/?hl=en
ZonGuru Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMFKz4QVV5JrXZ2YoyLVfLw
Ep 65 - John Li - Amazon Shopper Surveys to Maximize Conversions
Amazon listing optimization expert and founder of PickFU John Li joins us today on Actualize Freedom. In this episode, John elucidates the importance of split testing in regards to your ecommerce store’s optimization process. We’ll get into the hard details regarding split testing, how to implement it properly and how you can derive the most value out of your feedback.
0:49 - What was John’s first business?
2:14 - A pivotal failure
3:14 - Why John chose to have and keep his cofounder
4:41 - Why John created PickFU
6:39 - Primary use cases for PickFU in ecommerce
11:39 - 2nd and 3rd most important aspects of an Amazon listing
13:11 - Brand testing
15:51 - How John gets use out of PickFU for his own business
18:08 - Future plans for PickFU
21:55 - Where to begin optimizing your listings
23:36 - Where to find John online
Links/Resources
Exclusive Actualize Freedom coupon for PickFU - pickfu.com/actualizefreedom
John’s email - john@pickfu.com
Ep 64 - Scott Needham - $350 Million Sold on Amazon
Many Amazon sellers disregard the option to implement coupons into their sales strategy as they believe there are better, more auspicious ways to land more conversions. Scott Needham is here with us today to shine a light on the unique opportunities Amazon coupons can offer. If you feel like your Amazon store needs a boost in conversations Scott is the man to heed!
1:00 - Fundamentals of Amazon coupons
4:36 - Where and when to offer coupons
7:19 - Practical amount to discount your products
11:03 - Insuring profitability when offering discounts
19:44 - Factoring for the ebb and flow of income
22:30 - Automation: Deciding what to hire for and what to create or purchase software for
30:35 - Simple and effective methods to implement automation to your business processes
34:23 - Where to find Scott online
Links/resources
Scott’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/smartestseller/?hl=en
Scott’s podcast - https://player.fm/series/the-smartest-amazon-seller
Zapier - https://zapier.com/
Phrase Express - https://www.phraseexpress.com/
Ep 63 - Rick Cesari - $1B Brand Video Marketing Strategy
Video marketing can be a minefield, especially for newcomers. Without knowledge of what to shoot for, you can deplete your bankroll real fast with botched video advertisement implementation. Video marketing expert Rick Cesari joins us today to help us defuse some of those mines commonly stumbled onto in the field.
1:28 - Video’s position in advertising today
4:32 - Specifics of Content Samurai
5:41 - What type of videos should Amazon sellers be focusing to practically promote their business?
8:21 - The importance of text captions
12:28 - Creating video content with a specific objective
21.24 - Tips for making videos more engaging
26:23 - Good books and resources to solidify your marketing fundamentals
31:17 - Methods for getting more value out of one video
32:59 - Best platform (after Amazon) to focus on video marketing for
36:11 - Rick’s new book, Video Persuasion
Links/Resources:
Do you want to learn more about how video marketing can work for you? You can check it out here - https://rickcesari.com/actualizefreedom/
Video Persuasion book - https://www.amazon.com/Video-Persuasion-Everything-Effective-Testimonial/dp/0578500469
Content Samurai - https://www.contentsamurai.com/
Ep 62 - Dan Meadors - Wholesale Secrets for Private Label Sellers
Wholesale expert Dan Meadors joins us today to share the often overlooked benefits of a wholesale business model. Wholesale and private label models don’t have to be mutually exclusive, and can actually be integrated together very effectively. Join us today as Dan walks us through his process for successful wholesaling and how it can help you should you decide to go this route.
1:06 - How Dan was forced to start his business
17:03 - Providing potential clients value before they commit
21:28 - How Dan learned to systematize his business
25:26 Dan’s day to day activity in his business
26:55 - What you need to get started in wholesale
31:14 - Profit margins a wholesaler should be looking for in a wholesale product
32:41 - Finding the right products for wholesaling and creating relationships with suppliers
37:55 - Where to find Dan online
Links/resources
Dan’s website - http://thewholesaleformula.com
Special page for Actualize Freedom audience - http://thewholesaleformula.com/actualizefreedom/
Ep 61 - Steven Black - Amazon Marketing Secrets 2019
Today we interview Steven Black, a seasoned Amazon guru with a different perspective than most experts out there today. Steven tells us all about how he gets so much done, the methods he employs to achieve success and where he finds all the time to do it all. This one is absolutely jammed with gold nuggets, so be sure to tune in!
1:53 - Time management
9:13 - Aspect of marketing most people ignore that they shouldn’t
11:44 - Growing an audience
19:52 - How to begin growing your audience
32:29 - Facilitating a successful product launch on Amazon
39:18 - Advice for people who feel overwhelmed by all the steps one needs to take to achieve success on amazon
44:44 - Where to find Steven online
Links/Resources
Unstoppable FBA webpage - http://unstoppablefba.com/
Unstoppable FBA Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/UnstoppableAMZ/
Steven’s official Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/officialstevenblack
Clockwork book - https://clockwork.life/
Ep 60 - Liran Hirschkorn - Amazon with 11 Years Marketing Wisdom
Amazon external marketing strategist and mindset development expert Liran Hirschkorn joins us today do delve deep into the mysterious depths of external marketing in ecommerce. Laran goes into the crucial details about how to run an effective marketing campaign from the ground up, as well as attaining a successful mindset. If you’re looking to boost your revenue by getting the good word of your product into the public eye, you’d be remiss to miss this one!
1:00 - Changes in ecommerce over the last 11 years
4:37 - The importance of marketing skillsets today
7:15 - Have a good criteria for product selection
14:15 - After you select a product, how should you proceed with marketing?
19:09 - Second step of an effective ad strategy
21:30 - Other external marketing strategies to focus on
23:55 - Setting up an ad campaign
29:27 - Developing a mindset for success
36:17 - Where to find Liran online
Links/Resources
The Amazon Seller Podcast - https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/amazing-freedom-3/the-amazon-seller-podcast
Liran’s Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lhirschkorn
Impact Theory - https://impacttheory.com/
Ep 59 - Henson Wu - White Hat Amazon Reviews
Ecommerce veteran and expert Henson Wu joins us today on the Actualize Freedom Podcast. Henson delves deep into the hot topic that is Amazon reviews and details what we can do to influence this crucial component of our businesses to our benefit. Whether or not you sell on Amazon, Henson delivers spot-on tips that apply to ecommerce across the board, so this is not one to miss!
1:01 - The early days of ecommerce
3:54 - Post “wild west” ecommerce
8:51 - Top 3 methods of collecting more positive reviews on Amazon
11:51 - White hat methods for soliciting reviews
18:55 - Effective subject lines for emails for eliciting feedback
20:47 - Methods for mitigating negative reviews
28:17 - Important aspects of your business you should stay current with
33:41 - Where to find Henson online
Links/Resources
Henson’s website - www.feedbackwiz.com
Ep 57 - Shawn Michael - $10 Million Goal & the Mindset to Get There
Veteran of all things Amazon Shawn Michael joins us today as we delve into the ever-crucial mindset necessary in order to tackle the broader aspects of being an Amazon business runner as well as the integral minutiae involved. Hard work and failure is essential for long term success. Join us today as we discuss the mind frames that will virtually guarantee your goals will be reached.
0:54 - Evolution of Shawn’s Amazon career.
3:35 - Mindset required to create functional/logical systems in regards to outsourcing and making sure things get done.
8:43 - Mindset fundamentals for success.
14:42 - Keeping emotions out of business decisions.
22:30 - Efficiency in business.
27:53 - Systems for maintaining mental balance.
29:20 - Sticking to long term plans.
34:30 - The importance of setting goals.
39:02 - The process of bringing new products to the market.
45:19 - Where to find Shawn online.
Links
Shawn’s Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/dbaglife/?__tn__=%2Cd%2CP-R&eid=ARD5tGHuXSBomj5nyOIY8iCz72aMI2lFZ_O0j61atiKgLZBq3qfILxVmQsCJmPgLK4tEZs_JTydE2v24
Ep 56 - Chris Rawlings - Mental Roller Coaster Raising $4.5 Million
Scientist turned Amazon seller manager and tech innovator Chris Rawlings joins us today to share his unique story and invaluable experiences. Between monitoring the performance of small, midsize and large companies and technological innovations, we’re lucky Chris found the time to feature on Actualize Freedom and share his indispensable insights with us and our listeners!
2:15 - The story of Chris’s tech startup Judolaunch.
4:51 - Setbacks Chris endured after venture funding and what he’s learned from them.
14:32 - Difference between key performance indicators (KPIs) in larger businesses versus smaller businesses.
19:51 - The KPIs new sellers and smaller businesses should be aware and keep track of.
22:09 - Troubleshooting KPIs.
27:33 - How Chris found investors for his international tech startup Judolaunch and the world’s first equity-backed security token, 22x.
34:54 - Stress management in tech startups.
39:18 - Chris’s predictions for near future changes and trends in Amazon.
49:03 - Where to find Chris online.
Links:
Judolaunch - https://judolaunch.com/
22x security token - https://www.22xfund.com/
Chris’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hippiemogul/?hl=en
Seller Jams Podcast - https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/anchor-podcasts/sellers-jams
Ep 55 - Brandon Buckner - Amazon FBA + Google Ads & External Traffic
Amazon external traffic expert and self-proclaimed marketing nerd Brandon Buckner joins us today to offer valuable insight into relevant topics such as Google Ads and how Amazon sellers can optimize their revenue using various advertising methods. Brandon discusses effective cutting edge methods to manage sales campaigns and funnels that are crushing it with current algorithms. New and seasoned sellers alike are sure to get value out of this value-packed interview!
1:16 - Brandon’s background with Amazon.
4:50 - How difficult will it be for a beginner to set up a proper Google Ads campaign?
6:13 - What strategies is Brandon using for his Google Ads campaigns?
10:08 - Key elements of creating an optimized storefront for sales.
13:20 - What strategies are working well recently with Facebook Ads?
17:26 - How does Brandon construct his sales funnel after potential clients see video ads?
21:00 - Effective ways of using Facebook Messenger for sales.
23:32 - The importance of strategy vs creativity in sales.
28:06 - More successful sales strategies.
32:20 - Is there software that allows tracking conversions from Google Ads to Amazon?
34:04 - Is Brandon seeing good results with Youtube ad funnels?
35:11 - What is Google Shopping?
37:13 - Brandon’s recommendations for diversifying advertising platforms.
40:21 - Where to find Brandon online.
Links/Resources
Brandon’s advertisement optimization business - https://nextlevelsellers.com/
Brandon’s email - Brandon@nextlevelsellers.com
Ep 54 - Troy Johnston - Systems Thinking, Keyword Mastery, & ManyChat
Mastermind behind FBA Kings Facebook group and the Seller.tools application Troy Johnston joins us today on Actualize Freedom. Troy’s experience and knowledge of keyword implementation as well as Amazon’s inner workings and procedures will lend an auspicious helping hand to new and experienced sellers alike.
1:30 - What should new sellers focus on when launching new products?
2:49 - Core fundamentals for launching products.
5:19 - Underutilized ways for identifying pertinent keywords.
7:50 - Methods for coming up with ‘blue ocean’ keywords.
12:09 - Ranking for ‘blue ocean’ or ‘long tail’ keywords.
15:42 - When to use Manychat.
22:17 - Key methods of system syncing for Amazon sellers.
25:06 - Troy’s methods for creating operating procedures.
27:43 - A complex process Troy was able to standardize in an SOP.
31:49 - Troy’s educated predictions for changes in the Amazon platform in the near future.
38:01 - Where to find Troy online.
Links/Resources
FBA Kings Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/AmazonKings/
Seller.tools - https://seller.tools/
Zapier - https://zapier.com/
Manychat - https://manychat.com/
Ep 53 - Nick Young - ManyChat, Remote Teams, & Product Launch
Third member and co-mastermind of Seller Tradecraft to be a guest on the Actualize Freedom Podcast Nick Young joins us today to share his wide breadth of knowledge, experience and expertise with running an Amazon business and successfully navigating its many grey areas. This episode contains integral information regarding running a successful Amazon business and is not one to be missed!
1:23 - Finding and launching new products on Amazon.
4:17 - What Amazon can do to detect manipulated giveaways.
6:06 - Rebates on Amazon.
10:24 - Manychat/Facebook Messenger marketing and direct emails.
13:52 - Nick’s Manychat funnel.
17:42 - Targeting/segmenting audiences.
20:28 - Why is Seller Tradecraft’s team composed almost entirely of outsourced talent?
24:40 - What Nick looks for when hiring new outsourced workers.
27:02 - Diversifying your talent pool when hiring workers.
29:50 - Relying on instinct vs logic when making business decisions.
32:04 - Contemporary traits which separate failing business from successful ones.
35:48 - Where to find Nick online?
Links
Seller Tradecraft website - https://www.sellertradecraft.com/
Seller Tradecraft Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/sellertradecraft/
Seller Tradecraft Youtube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPHntYYv-dwbTP-g-y4RYsg
Nick’s Email - Nick@sellertradecraft.com
Ep 52 - Adam Hudson - Developing Unique Products with the Amazon Polymath
Multiple 8 figure business owner and business coach Adam Hudson joins us today as we delve into the multiple angles within Amazon with his unique and comprehensive perspective. Adam details the mindset necessary to keep unique, innovative and interesting products on the market and how to effectively implement market segmentation. This interview is a must for any new or aspiring sellers who are looking to tap into the profitable markets less sought-after!
1:42 - Pivotal moments in Adam’s career.
4:58 - The process of creating unique products for the Amazon marketplace.
9:24 - Balancing time and budget.
12:53 - Indicators for products or product areas which are ripe for modernization/innovation.
16:27 - Developing niche products for boring or “unxexy” yet profitable markets.
20:44 - Finding the proper balance between shooting hard for the first sale and protecting your product and capital.
23:48 - Cost effective methods to differentiate your product from the current market.
29:51 - Other methods of product differentiation.
34:09 - Important ways entrepreneurs need to grow as entrepreneurs in order to grow their businesses.
38:05 - One final resource/piece of advice.
40:47 - Where to find Adam online.
51 - Coran Woodmass - Get Higher Multiples When Selling
We all know that creating an Amazon business presents a long list of challenges. What many sellers don’t know is that if you already have an Amazon FBA business and are looking to sell, it’s not exactly like selling a car or a set of vintage baseball cards. Coran Woodmass specializes in selling this type of business and is fully aware and highly experienced in the ins and outs of the process. If you’re looking to sell your Amazon FBA business, this is the episode for you!
1:10 - Coran’s podcast.
1:50 - Why some of Coran’s clients did not want to sell.
5:37 - Range and factors that influence sellers to sell or keep their business.
11:21 - Criteria for what gives a good multiple.
14:15 - Other factors that go into a seller’s decision to sell or keep.
18:11 - Selling a portion of your business vs selling the whole thing.
21:08 - Deal breakers that greatly devalue businesses.
24:28 - Examples of successful diversification.
26:48 - The importance of standard operating procedures and precise financials when selling a business.
31:49 - Example of a business that was ready to sell but had a skeleton in the closet.
33:40 - Where to find Coran online.
Ep 50 - Lesley Hensell - Suspension Prevention 2019
Over time, Amazon terms of use and service have become more stringent, and in some cases, fairly obfuscated. Some of these evolving rules and regulations can sometimes become hard to keep up with and easy to forget. Today’s guest, Lensley Hensell specializes in conformance to these guidelines, resolving suspensions and keeping Amazon seller accounts healthy and active at all times. She has helped to recover and keep safe thousands of seller accounts. Let her knowledge and experience keep your seller page compliant with Amazon’s terms of service.
1:14 - The mindset to overcome an Amazon suspension.
5:49 - Primary/secondary Amazon accounts and suspensions.
8:25 - Amazon suspensions related to Amazon BSR and promotion manipulation.
10:34 - The language involved in terms of rebates and Amazon TOS.
16:09 - Intentionally directing customers to favorable places to the seller.
17:48 - How Amazon makes calls on what is manipulation and what isn’t.
20:43 - The controversial “Super URL” in 2019.
22:41 - Search and browse violations.
24:56 - Can Amazon detect “search find buy” techniques?
27:05 - Can Amazon detect copy/pasted reviews?
28:46 - The top 3 reasons Amazon sellers are getting suspended today.
35:02 - Amazon customer service.
40:05 - Where to find Lesley online.
Ep 49 - Fernando Cruz - 8 Figure Product Research, Launch, & Scale
Starting an Amazon business is often daunting, presenting tasks and learning curves which may seem insurmountable, scaring many new sellers off. Of the ones that make it through that initial stage, most don’t realize the brand new set of tasks and learning curves that come with substantial growth. Join us today with 8-figure Amazon seller Fernando Cruz as he details his Amazon journey, particularly after the growth phase. His vast experience easily can save you innumerable amounts of time and headaches!
2:20 - How does an 8-figure seller conduct product research?
6:12 - Coordinating proper margin calculation.
8:46 - What product launch methods are most effective with current Amazon algorithms and protocols?
10:30 - How Fernando is managing product rebates.
12:18 - Calculating rebates versus discounts/giveaways.
14:46 - Fernando’s strategy for managing inventory.
17:34 - Strategies for effectively outsourcing employees.
26:14 - How Fernando communicates with his team of outsourced help.
29:44 - In what ways has Manychat benefited Fernando’s business?
31:14 - What does a typical work day for Fernando look like?
33:07 - Fernando’s predictions for Amazon ecommerce for the next year.
36:24 - Pixelfy.me
38:35 - Where to find Fernando online.
Ep 48 - Liz Adamson - Amazon Ads Strategies for 2019
Every product or service requires a unique advertising plan and method of execution. Additionally, each of these plans needs to be updated and tweaked as time goes on and the Amazon climate continues to evolve. These processes can be overwhelming even for seasoned sellers. Take this opportunity to let Amazon Ads expert Liz Adamson’s knowledge and experience help you get your business that crucial boost in exposure to make your products and services thrive!
1:12 - New additions to the Amazon Ads platform.
2:26 - Who has access to these new additions?
3:36 - Other additions that may not be available to everyone yet.
7:29 - Targeted advertising.
8:24 - Can you see if your competitors are using programmatic display ads?
9:31 - Having your ads show up on specific ASINs.
16:56 - Is it always best practice to target your “weakest” competitor?
21:18 - Sponsored products/keyword advertisement best practices in 2019.
25:13 - Tools and methods Liz recommends for keyword research.
26:28 - Recommendations for methods on bid adjustments.
28:49 - Does Liz use software for programmatic bid adjustments?
31:26 - Which bid adjustment software(s) does Liz use, and what are the specific inputs placed into the software?
35:16 - How does Liz keep track of all the details of her advertising campaigns?
37:19 - What type of mindset and procedures does Liz use to keep up testing and tweaking her ad campaigns?
39:27 - Where to find Liz online.
Ep 47 - Brittany Brown - Profit Killing Mistakes FBA Sellers Make
Many new or aspiring Amazon sellers aren’t aware of the integral number crunches that are so essential to a successful business. Let Brittany’s expertise give you a head start on those unsexy yet crucial bureaucratic elements of running your Amazon business.
1:39 - Quantifying and designating funds properly on Amazon.
6:56 - Recognizing the bigger picture of your profits and expenses.
11:11 - Accounting tips for new or newer sellers.
13:59 - Cash flow management and sales projections.
18:08 - Time/inventory management for spreadsheet beginners and intermediates.
23:21 - Recording and reporting revenue properly/dodging the long reach of the IRS.
28:28 - The murky waters of cross-territory sales taxes.
34:08 - The cost of tax registration across multiple states, and what Brittany recommends as the minimum threshold for reporting revenue across those individual states.
38:05 - Where to find Brittany online.
Ep 46 - Alex Huditan - 5-to-the-Power-of-5 Method for 7 Figures
In this episode we interview 7 figure Amazon seller and digital nomad Alex Huditan. Alex shares in depth details about his methods to success as well as some important lessons he’s learned in this past 5 years. The present operations climate at Amazon is not very user friendly for newcomers. Let Alex’s experience and expertise help you put your new business on the right path.
1:50 - Alex’s experience getting into Amazon sales 5 years ago
3:46 - Things Alex did to properly build up his business to where it is today
6:22 - How Alex handled product pictures on Amazon?
8:02 - Alex’s view on not-entirely-honest tactics to get good reviews
11:04 - One more integral thing Alex did to contribute to his business’ growth
12:35 - How Alex dealt with handing over management responsibilities for his company
15:37 - How Alex decided on a work/life balance which fit both his ambitions and desire for personal time
17:40 - A mistake Alex made with his business that made for an invaluable learning experience
20:48 - Mistakes Alex made in the product ranking/product launch categories
23:39 - Present trends in Amazon that cause sellers to struggle
28:17 - Power of the long term mindset
29:44 - Alex’s latest project
33:36 - Where to find Alex online
Ep 45 - Casey Gauss - Data Backed Ranking & Suspension TRUTH
Young entrepreneur Casey Gauss shares his in-depth knowledge about the micro and macro data operations on Amazon. As founder and CEO of Viral Launch, a company aimed at providing entrepreneurs with the insight, tools, and partnerships needed for lasting success, Casey often launches hundreds of products daily. Take this opportunity to learn from one of the most experienced Amazon gurus out there today!
1:46 - Casey’s experience transitioning from a small company into large business
2:51 - Casey’s Youtube channel
4:01 - Witnessing large scale Amazon changes from the inside
11:37 - What precautions should new Amazon sellers take in regards to promotions?
15:25 - What to expect running a new PPC campaign
20:20 - How long does it reasonably take to get a profitable campaign set up?
22.40 - Amazon PPC metrics
26:26 - The effects of black hat tactics on conversion rates
28:08 - Casey’s predictions for near-future changes on Amazon
35:26 - Are there ways to elicit positive reviews within Amazon’s terms of use?
40:00 - Where to find Casey online
Ep 44 - Aron Raduly - Systems that Protect Amazon Businesses
In this interview we discuss the unique entrepreneurial journey of successful Amazon seller and software developer Aron Raduly. Aron details the story of his multi-faceted business ventures, provides tips to avoid pitfalls and his experience dealing with the problems that invariably arise. Take advantage of the expertise of someone who has been there/done that!
0:32 - Why/how did Aron sell his first business on the Empire Flippers marketplace.
7:18 - What was Aron’s next business step after selling his Empire Flippers business?
15:12 - Why do some people become complacent and even lazy after they’ve reached a certain level of success, and what are the potential consequences?
19:32 - What are the most important things for an Amazon seller to be monitoring, and what is the proper procedure on how should they go about monitoring them?
30:41 - Aron’s advice for new Amazon sellors.
34:59 - Where to find Aron online
Ep 43 - Ryan Rigney - Facebook Ads & Manychat for Reviews & Launch
Contemporary online ads expert Ryan Rigney shares his vast experience in external advertising for Amazon products. Ryan offers in-depth detail regarding the immense opportunity found in Facebook Messenger campaigns and Facebook ads. Other exciting topics discussed include implementing successful launch strategies, focus on reviews, best practices and risky endeavors in today's digital climate.
1:15: How Ryan became an Amazon external ads expert.
5:21: The process of learning to use Facebook Messenger and Facebook advertisements to enhance Amazon sales.
7:50: Ryan’s recommendation for a single source to best generate traffic to Amazon.
10:24: Good strategies for promoting larger, higher priced items on Facebook ads.
16:41: What is the minimum timespan to allow Facebook ads to implement the proper algorithm for your ads?
18:13: Ryan’s preferred strategy to use Messenger and Facebook ads to get more reviews on Amazon.
20:12: Why does Ryan give away items that are not incentivized?
24:12: Ryan’s take on “black hat” incentivized review campaigns.
25:57: How does Ryan build and nurture audiences to create longer term seller/customer relationships?
29:52: How often and for what reasons does Ryan send out new messages to his subscribers?
33:19: Ryan’s recommendations for how to begin learning about setting up ad campaigns.
35:40: Ryan’s predictions for emerging trends and techniques for Amazon sellers in the future.
Ep 42 - Jeremy Sherk - Life of an 8 Figure Seller
Amazon superstar and guru of supplement sales Jeremy Sherk stars in this first-ever return appearance on Actualize Freedom! Get the inside information about what has changed since his last interview in terms of approach, distribution, marketing strategy, psychology of business and much more.
1:58: The Amazon review purge.
4:30: The correlation between the amount of reviews and sales on Amazon.
6:41: How Jeremy dealt with the review purge psychologically and proactively.
10:00: How has Jeremy changed his distribution strategy since he was last on Actualize Freedom?
12:40: Jeremy’s unique approach to supplement sales.
17:20: Jeremy’s day-to-day strategic approach.
19:53: The importance of personal care.
23:02: What are the indicators of burnout for Jeremy and what preemptive action does he take when the indicators show themselves?
26:22: Details about Jeremy’s new podcast and his motivations for doing it.
29:52: Has Jeremy had any business epiphanies since our last chat?
36:31: Jeremy’s view on Messenger marketing.
38:32: Messenger or email - which is more effective right now?
41:00: Parting words/advice.
43:51: Where to find Jeremy online.
Ep 41 - Ben Obrien - Become a Traveling Entrepreneur
Amazon entrepreneur, family man and digital nomad Ben Obrian shares the secrets which earned him freedom from his mundane day job! In this interview Ben details the hours he worked at different periods in his business as well as the processes, steps and decisions he made throughout his entrepreneurial career. Let Ben guide you to attaining financial freedom with Amazon and drop that 9 to 5!
00:28: How did Ben initially discover Amazon?
2:10: How many hours was Ben spending on his business at the beginning stages?
4:44: Ben’s current situation and plans for traveling the world with his wife and young child.
8:01: Hours Ben works on his Amazon business during the busy season as compared to “relaxed periods”.
10:14: What was Ben’s process for deciding on the first product to sell on Amazon?
15:41: Details about Ben’s Kickstarter campaign.
17:51: The manufacturing and scaling process.
25:10: What Ben wishes he was told when he first started.
28:35: Ben’s main focus for advertisement.
30:01: Ben’s plans for the future of his business ventures.
32:43: Ben’s current travel plans.
34.29: In today’s business climate, what products would Ben pursue and which ones would he avoid?
36:43: How to find Ben online.
Ep 40 Eric Dahl - Doing the Opposite of Gurus
QUOTES:
“I eventually found this Amazon FBA model which made just so much sense to me because I could see the value of the tangible products, I didn’t need to build trust with the customer, I didn’t need to do anything but create a better widget and present it to the customer base and they would react with hopefully, sales.”
“At the beginning stages of your journey, I highly recommend spending 3-4 hours a day, as much as you can , listening to as many different podcasts, youtube or if you’re able to buy a course for whatever it can cost you because saving time in the long run will save you a lot of money.”
“If you want to expand a business, it really really takes a lot of cash and so you need to be very cognizant of what your goals are if you’re going into a product.”
“I’m looking for at least 100% ROI, the reason for that is if you go under a 100% ROI, it means that in order to double your inventory, you need to add more capital and so that’s not a great thing.”
“My mindset is always find the best products on the market that currently exist and read the reviews, see what people really really want and find a way to add to that value.”
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SUMMARY
In this episode of Actualize Freedom podcast, Danny goes live in Canggu, Bali with Eric Dahl. Eric has built a multimillion Amazon business that is built off the opposite of what the industry ‘gurus’ preach.
Erik expounds on the market that he went after, the pitfalls and hurdles involved in pursuing this business. He shares some advice on how to start one’s business journey as well as valuable tips on cost saving, product sourcing and handling, and other nuances that should be considered in running the business.
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HIGHLIGHTS
1:16 Eric’s background and how he ended up in Bali
3:33 Examples of Eric’s decisions that go against the grain
11:10 Eric talks about his market pricing and product research
16:53 Eric shares some approaches on how he runs his business
19:22 Shipping
23:08 Strategy recommendations for anyone starting out
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RESOURCES
Actualize Freedom 1 40 Shownotes.txt
Displaying Actualize Freedom 1 40 Shownotes.txt.
Ep 39 - Nate Ginsberg - The Unsexy Drivers of Amazon FBA Success
Successful Amazon entrepreneur Nate Ginsberg details how he built his business from the ground up. He covers a wide scope of pertinent subjects ranging from vetting employees, marketing, finance management, logistics, the psychological aspect of building and running a business and the importance of enjoying what you do.
2:10: Nate’s first Amazon business.
4:17: The influential effects of being around other Amazon sellers.
6:46: What prompted Nate to sell his business?
14:18: How did Nate decide on the next step?
20:51: The process of identifying Nate’s unique ability.
26:01: Hiring and inspiring the right team.
32:27: Practical and/or subtle things Nate does to foster inspiration in employees.
44:10: Incorporating the correct systems and structures into the business’ foundation.
47:10: Where to find Nate online.