Greg Mercer of Jungle Scout is one of the faces behind Splitly and has allowed me to offer my listeners and exclusive discount on this new software. Start with a free trial if you want to try it out first.
Receive an exclusive PLS discount off your first month of Splitly===> Use Special PLS Link Here
Aug 25, 2016
Welcome To Episode #51 of the Amazon FBA Private Label Show Podcast!
In this episode, talk about 4 things that I am currently struggling with in my Amazon FBA business.
Listen to this Amazon FBA podcast now!
4 Things I'm Struggling With In My Amazon FBA Business [EP51]
[powerpress]
I wanted to put out a podcast episode where I talk about some of the things that I struggle with as an Amazon FBA seller.
Just because I have a podcast and blog dedicated to Amazon FBA and private labeling doesn't mean that everything is perfect for me.
I struggle with many of the same things the average Amazon seller does.
4 Main Struggles:
- Inventory Management
- Hard to judge inventory needed. Finding the balance is tough. Products do really well sometimes and then sometimes not.
- I am currently out of stock on my best seller and I am about 2 weeks away from re-stock. This is costing me TONS of $$$
- There are softwares out there for this but I haven’t yet looked into it.
- My Q4 strategy is to buy as much inventory as possible and just stuff it just in case.
- Amazon Pay Per Click
- I spend many hours each Monday going through my PPC reports and its time consuming.
- Hard to figure out PPC from month to month. Always changing. ACOS are crazy sometimes.
- My main goal is to fully outsource this but I haven’t done this yet.
- Scaling My FBA Business
- Adding more products takes a lot of work.
- Managing all the day to day items takes a lot of time.
- Selling on different platforms and markets is the goal. I see AMZ as just a launchpad now.
- Customer Service
- A problem sooner or later for me
- I don’t want to keep working in the business rather work on it
- Will eventually need to go through the growing pains of training someone to handle customer emails.
What are you struggling with right now? Get some help by asking a question at PrivateLabelerShow.com/ASK
Not a member of the Facebook Mastermind group yet?
If you haven't yet listened to Episode 3 where I talk about "How To Find A Winning Private Label Product" then please do that as well.
Check Out Episode 3 of The Private Label Podcast
Check out my Quick Start Guide To Finding A Winning Private Label Product <===Click Here
SUBJECT TIMES ON PODCAST:
[X] I-TUNES REVIEW - TO LEAVE A REVIEW CLICK HERE
[4:21] Struggle #1 Inventory Management
[7:10] Struggle #2 PPC
[9:50] Struggle #3 Scaling
[11:30] Struggle #4 Customer Service
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Easy UPC – SAVE 20% OFF your purchase when you use code “PLSHOW” at checkout – You will need a UPC code to activate your product listing on Amazon so you might as well get a great deal on them and save some money.
For all other resources and tools that I use in my Amazon business please see the resources link.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW!
I NEED YOUR HELP!
If you felt you got any value out of this podcast, then please support me with an iTunes review. It's simple to do! Just click here to head to iTunes and leave an honest rating and review of the podcast. Every review helps!
4 Things I'm Struggling With In My Amazon FBA Business [EP51]
Aug 24, 2016
Welcome To Episode #50 of the Amazon FBA Private Label Show Podcast!
In this episode, I uncover 4 major roadblocks many Amazon Sellers face that keep them from launching their first product on Amazon FBA.
Listen to this Amazon FBA podcast now!
4 Roadblocks That Keep Amazon Sellers From Getting Started - PLS EP[50]
[powerpress]
Many Amazon sellers become paralyzed for one reason or another before they even start selling on Amazon FBA.
In this episode I uncover 4 common reasons why Amazon sellers just can't bring themselves to keep taking action and launching a product.
I will give you practical guidance and advice to power through these roadblocks so you can start makin some money!
Q4 is right around the corner and that's when all the big money is to be made as an Amazon seller.
4 Common Roadblocks:
I STILL CAN’T FIND A PRODUCT TO SELL!
- Avoid all the super popular items in the main categories. (grill gloves, garlic press, etc..)
- Join review groups and see what others are selling. Take note of what to avoid.
- Check out the product research video I did with using Watchcount.com
- Go to Ali-Express and find the most popular items to get ideas
- Use those ideas to check the market on Amazon. If come up empty then look in the “also bought” areas. Also look at what those other sellers are selling for hidden gems.
- If you are not using time-saving tools like Jungle Scout then you are simply wasting time. Use JS to quickly check demand on product ideas. Dig deeper if demand is met.
**The gold jackpot is finding a weird product that only has a few sellers and massive demand. Even better if the products have terrible reviews but still selling. ** This might be weird accessories for other main products. Go to Walmart and walk the store to find and check for these weird items.
I LACK THE FUNDS TO GET STARTED
- Set a goal to by said date to aquire $1000, $2000, etc… to get started and invest.
- Resell on Amazon – Check out episode I did with Steve Raiken. College text books are huge!
- Merch by Amazon - no cost to get started and T-shirts are big sellers on Amazon.
- Drop shipping on Shopify – minimal costs to get started. Don’t need to buy any product.
- Find a family member that has the funds and partner up.
I FEEL LIKE I AM GOING TO LOSE $$
- Its all mindset. Flip your thought with I am going to make tons of $$.
- Most of this is a break even when you fail anyways.
WORRYING ABOUT THINGS THAT DON’T MATTER YET
- Taxes, FB ads, Instagram, WHO CARES!!!??
- Only worry about picking a product and launching it to get sales and reviews.
Not a member of the Facebook Mastermind group yet?
If you haven't yet listened to Episode 3 where I talk about "How To Find A Winning Private Label Product" then please do that as well.
Check Out Episode 3 of The Private Label Podcast
Check out my Quick Start Guide To Finding A Winning Private Label Product <===Click Here
SUBJECT TIMES ON PODCAST:
[X] I-TUNES REVIEW - TO LEAVE A REVIEW CLICK HERE
[1:34] Want To Be A Guest?
[4:14] Roadblock #1
[15:30] Roadblock #2
[19:22] Roadblock #3
[21:20] Roadblock #4
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
AliExpress – Another site for scouring products to sell. It’s similar to Alibaba but focuses more on smaller tester orders instead of huge bulk orders.
Shopify – Take your Amazon business to the next level and start a Shopify store to start selling on your own website. This is the platform I use as it’s simple and can link to you Amazon FBA account.
For all other resources and tools that I use in my Amazon business please see the resources link.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW!
I NEED YOUR HELP!
If you felt you got any value out of this podcast, then please support me with an iTunes review. It's simple to do! Just click here to head to iTunes and leave an honest rating and review of the podcast. Every review helps!
4 Roadblocks That Keep Amazon Sellers From Getting Started - PLS EP[50]
Aug 19, 2016
Welcome To Episode #49 of the Amazon FBA Private Label Show Podcast!
In this episode, I get crazy and reveal to you what happens when you use creative product images instead of normal product images.
Listen to this Amazon FBA podcast now!
My Experiment With Crazy Product Images - Amazon FBA Private Label Podcast Show
[powerpress]
Good product images are extremely important to the success of your products on Amazon.
I recently ran some split tests that tested standard product images versus creative product images.
My theory was that by using creative product images my images would stand out and get more clicks and impressions compared to my competition.
More impressions would lead to more sales naturally and of course more profit.
I used Splitly to test the different main images out.
Here were the results:
Product # 1
- Normal image received many more impressions than the creative
- Normal image had a 1.71% increase in conversion over the creative image
- Normal image sold 2 more on average per day! That is over 700 more units sold over a year!
- WINNER - Standard style main image
Product # 2
- Standard main image received many more impressions than the creative
- Creative main image had a 4% higher conversion rate
- Standard main image made $30 in profit per day more than the creative image
- WINNER - Standard style main image
I would encourage you to always get extra images made up by your photographer. Think outside the box and test out different ones as I did here. As you can see images really matter. Always keep testing to maximize profit.
As mentioned in the podcast I use Splitly to handle all my split testing needs. I have been using it for a while now and I love it because it helps me see what performs best on my listings. If you have products up on Amazon then you absolutely want to be split testing.
To get a free trial and listener discount click here <---------
Not a member of the Facebook Mastermind group yet?
If you haven't yet listened to Episode 3 where I talk about "How To Find A Winning Private Label Product" then please do that as well.
Check Out Episode 3 of The Private Label Podcast
Check out my Quick Start Guide To Finding A Winning Private Label Product <===Click Here
SUBJECT TIMES ON PODCAST:
[X] I-TUNES REVIEW - TO LEAVE A REVIEW CLICK HERE
[1:50] Ready for Q4?
[3:23] Winner of the split testing poll
[5:00] My crazy image experiment
[12:40] Testing other image arrangements
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Splitly is an AWESOME tool that now allows us to split test various things on your product listings like pricing and images to measure how they perform over time. If you want to maximize your profits and destroy the competition you need to be split testing your listings. I have been using this so for a while now and I am loving it because Splitly does all the heaving lifting for me.
For all other resources and tools that I use in my Amazon business please see the resources link.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW!
I NEED YOUR HELP!
If you felt you got any value out of this podcast, then please support me with an iTunes review. It's simple to do! Just click here to head to iTunes and leave an honest rating and review of the podcast. Every review helps!
My Experiment With Crazy Product Images - Amazon FBA Private Label Podcast Show EP49
Aug 17, 2016
Welcome To Episode #48 of the Amazon FBA Private Label Show Podcast!
In this episode, I answer 3 questions from you the listeners of the show.
Listen to this Amazon FBA podcast now!
Listener Questions Answered - Amazon FBA Podcast [EP48]
[powerpress]
Question # 1 - Pablo asks about shipping and customs as an international Amazon seller
- Apply for an EIN ---> Click Here
- Hire a good freight forwarder to handle your shipping and customs clearance ---> Click Here
- Check out this blog post for more detailed information about shipping as an international seller ---> Click Here
Question # 2 - Mark asks about sending wire transfers from home and Amazon seller consulting
- I use Chase bank now for my international wire transfers
- I can send from home and I pay $40 for each wire transfer
- I do not currently offer coaching or consulting for Amazon FBA sellers
Question # 3 - What is a good conversion rate ?
- Will vary per product and category
- 12-15% is a sweet spot for most products
- Always improve your product listings by split testing
- Use Splitly to split test and increase your conversion rates and sales
If you want to have your question featured and answered on a future Amazon FBA podcast episode then submit it here!
Not a member of the Facebook Mastermind group yet?
If you haven't yet listened to Episode 3 where I talk about "How To Find A Winning Private Label Product" then please do that as well.
Check Out Episode 3 of The Private Label Podcast
Check out my Quick Start Guide To Finding A Winning Private Label Product <===Click Here
SUBJECT TIMES ON PODCAST:
[X] I-TUNES REVIEW - TO LEAVE A REVIEW CLICK HERE
[2:50] Want Your Question Answered?
[3:38] Question # 1 - International Sellers and Shipping ?
[9:05] Question # 2 - At Home Wire Transfers ?
[12:30] Good Conversion Rates?
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
For all other resources and tools that I use in my Amazon business please see the resources link.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW!
I NEED YOUR HELP!
If you felt you got any value out of this podcast, then please support me with an iTunes review. It's simple to do! Just click here to head to iTunes and leave an honest rating and review of the podcast. Every review helps!
Listener Questions Answered - Amazon FBA Podcast [EP48]
Aug 12, 2016
Welcome To Episode #47 of the Amazon FBA Private Label Show Podcast!
In this episode, I uncover my answer to 3 frequently asked questions about shipping to Amazon FBA.
Listen to this Amazon FBA podcast now!
3 FAQ About Shipping To Amazon FBA Answered - Amazon FBA Private Label Podcast
1. Can I Choose My Amazon FBA Warehouse?
Not exactly. Amazon will tell you what FBA warehouse to send to when you are creating your shipment. They will sometimes split your delivery into 3 separate warehouses.
You can elect to send your delivery to a single FBA center if you choose to enroll into Inventory Placement. Why would you want to do that?
Why would you want to do that? It's easier as Amazon will split your delivery for you then. It costs extra money though.
How do you do it in Seller Central?
Inventory placement settings
To change your inventory placement settings:
- Under Settings, click Fulfillment by Amazon.
- Under Inbound Settings, click Edit.
- Under Inventory Placement Option, click Inventory Placement Service.
- Click Update.
How much does it cost?
Inventory Placement Service fees
Standard size (per item)1 lb or less$0.301-2 lb$0.40Over 2 lb$0.40 + $0.10/lb above the first 2 lb
Oversize (per item)5 lb or less$1.30Over 5 lb$1.30 + $0.20/lb above the first 5 lb
2. How Long Does It Take To Check In?
Could be checked in right away! Could take several days. All varies. You can follow along with everything in Seller Central. Just be patient as things work out. Sometimes Amazon will then split your inventory right away to other FBA’s which can take about a week to sort itself out.
3. What Should I Do With My Defective Merchandise?
Elect to have Amazon send you returned or defective or have them dispose of it. Sometimes Amazon will sell returned merch on your listing as used. Once a week see how many units are UNFILLABLE in seller central.
How?
In Seller Central...
INVENTORY---MANAGE INVENTORY--- REMOVE UNFILLABLE
**I have mine sent to me for spare parts.** Often times the merch is in perfect condition. You can even use those to do giveaways to your audience to build an email list with .
Not a member of the Facebook Mastermind group yet?
If you haven't yet listened to Episode 3 where I talk about "How To Find A Winning Private Label Product" then please do that as well.
Check Out Episode 3 of The Private Label Podcast
Check out my Quick Start Guide To Finding A Winning Private Label Product <===Click Here
SUBJECT TIMES ON PODCAST:
[X] I-TUNES REVIEW - TO LEAVE A REVIEW CLICK HERE
[1:50] Share Your Story
[3:10] Choose The Amazon FBA Warehouse?
[8:40 How Long To Check In?
[12:02] Defective Merchandise?
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
SAVE 10% BY USING THIS SPECIAL LINK –>PLS LISTENER DISCOUNT
For all other resources and tools that I use in my Amazon business please see the resources link.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW!
I NEED YOUR HELP!
If you felt you got any value out of this podcast, then please support me with an iTunes review. It's simple to do! Just click here to head to iTunes and leave an honest rating and review of the podcast. Every review helps!
3 FAQ About Shipping To Amazon FBA Answered - [EP 47]
Aug 10, 2016
Welcome To Episode #46 of the Amazon FBA Private Label Show Podcast!
In this episode, I walk you through 3 things that I wish I knew when I first started selling on Amazon.
3 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Selling On Amazon - Amazon FBA Private Label Podcast
When I first got started selling on Amazon I was just trying to figure everything out.
Learning and consuming as much content as I could.
I like to go into a situation making sure I know all the angles.
As I look back on things I certainly wish I could have done things a little differently.
If I were to start selling on Amazon for the first time again I would not waste as much time on useless stuff.
I would focus on the stuff that actually mattered and learn the rest as I went along.
Here is a summary of the podcast
3 Things I Wish I Knew When Starting To Sell On Amazon:
1 - Over Analyzing is costing you $$$!
I spent months planning, studying and consuming every possible step of the process. Planning for the worst case scenarios. What a waste of time!
Stop debating for weeks whether or not you should get an LLC. Stop planning each step in detail before you even need to worry about it. If you haven’t even picked a product yet then stop trying to learn PPC or Facebook ads. You can figure all that type of stuff out later. Focus on the basics!
MY ADVICE – just get started and launch a product. Don’t worry about it being perfect. If it’s a success then great. Learn from it. If it flops…learn from it.
2 - Your suppliers aren’t all trying to screw you over
I went into talks with suppliers hearing horror stories and was so worried that they were just going to steal my $$. I got so hung up on that. Most are not going to risk their standing on Alibaba and are going to be fair to you.
ADVICE – consider them a business partner and build your relationship with them. If you don’t feel comfortable with the process then hire a sourcing agent to handle it all for you. I think it’s best if you work through your first few product yourself though.
3 - Invest in time-saving tools early
I spent WAY to much time in the product research phase. At the time I didn’t really know about the tools that existed to help me out with that. Wasting time and not making money is awful. You only get 24 hours in a day. Maximize each minute with time-saving tools. Since then I am always buying tools and software to help me run things.
The most common tool beginners need to consider is a product research tool. While there are several on the market my tool of choice is Jungle Scout.
ADVICE – always use tools when you can make the job easier or automate things. This is a business so treat it like one.
Not a member of the Facebook Mastermind group yet?
If you haven't yet listened to Episode 3 where I talk about "How To Find A Winning Private Label Product" then please do that as well.
Check Out Episode 3 of The Private Label Podcast
Check out my Quick Start Guide To Finding A Winning Private Label Product <===Click Here
SUBJECT TIMES ON PODCAST:
[X] I-TUNES REVIEW - TO LEAVE A REVIEW CLICK HERE
[4:20] Over Analyzing Is Bad
[8:20] Your Supplier Is A Partner
[13:05] Invest In Tools
[16:30] Saving Time
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
SAVE 10% BY USING THIS SPECIAL LINK –>PLS LISTENER DISCOUNT
Alibaba – This is one of the main sites I use for sourcing products to sell on Amazon. It’s a portal to get connected with suppliers and the site is improving all the time.
Global Sources – Similar to Alibaba this portal is a very high quality site to find products to source. It isn’t as well know as Alibaba but certainly should be part of your tool belt when looking for new products.
For all other resources and tools that I use in my Amazon business please see the resources link.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW!
I NEED YOUR HELP!
If you felt you got any value out of this podcast, then please support me with an iTunes review. It's simple to do! Just click here to head to iTunes and leave an honest rating and review of the podcast. Every review helps!
3 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Selling On Amazon [EP-46]
Aug 6, 2016
Welcome To Episode #45 of the Amazon FBA Private Label Show Podcast!
In this episode, I walk you through 5 easy steps to properly deal with the dreaded 1 - star product reviews on Amazon.
How To Deal With 1-Star Product Reviews Like A Pro - Amazon FBA Private Label Podcast
It's gonna happen sooner or later...
You log onto your product sales page on Amazon and you see your first 1 star product review.
It sucks. Yup.
Calm down. It's going to be ok. Promise.
It's all about handling them like a pro so you can use the reviews to actually improve and grow your business.
5 Steps To Dealing With 1 Star Reviews
- Monitor reviews carefully (use Sales Backer to get notified)
- Don’t overact to negative reviews (stay calm)
- Read and understand the concern or issue. Is it legit?
- Respond and offer a solution (don’t bash or argue)
- Report any incorrect review to Amazon
Using 1 Star Reviews To Your Advantage
- Learn what customer like and hate about your product
- Talk to your factory about improvements based on your reviews
- Always continue upgrading your product
- React and make changes immediately
Avoid 1 Star Reviews With Systems
- Set up a review and feedback system like Sales Backer
- Ask customers to reach out to you personally if they have issues
- Use Sales Backer to alert you immediately of negative reviews
- Set up a FAQ page
To get a 60 Day Free Trial of Sales Backer check out the link below. (NO CREDIT CARD NEEDED)
Sales Backer Special Discount <----------
Not a member of the Facebook Mastermind group yet?
If you haven't yet listened to Episode 3 where I talk about "How To Find A Winning Private Label Product" then please do that as well.
Check Out Episode 3 of The Private Label Podcast
Check out my Quick Start Guide To Finding A Winning Private Label Product <===Click Here
SUBJECT TIMES ON PODCAST:
[X] I-TUNES REVIEW - TO LEAVE A REVIEW CLICK HERE
[1:50] Dealing with 1 star reviews
[4:30] 5 Main steps to dealing with reveiws
[8:20] Use a professional tone
[9:03] Use 1 star reviews to your advantage
[13:30] Use Sales Backer to prevent negative reviews
[17:49] Conclusion
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
*Get a 60 day FREE trial and Unlimited emails during the 60 days. Pre-Installed Email Campaign Templates – No Credit Card Required
For all other resources and tools that I use in my Amazon business please see the resources link.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW!
I NEED YOUR HELP!
If you felt you got any value out of this podcast, then please support me with an iTunes review. It's simple to do! Just click here to head to iTunes and leave an honest rating and review of the podcast. Every review helps!
How To Deal With 1-Star Product Reviews Like A Pro - Amazon FBA Private Label Podcast [EP45]
Aug 5, 2016
Welcome To Episode #44 of the Amazon FBA Private Label Show Podcast!
In this episode, I walk you through the best and main ways to pay your supplier for samples and of course your actual orders.
How To Pay Your Suppliers - Amazon FBA For Beginners
Ordering samples and placing your first order can be an exciting time for sure.
No doubt you have a lot going on in your head as far as what move to make next and how to do it.
Now it's time to send money overseas to someone you don't really know.
It can make you nervous.
How do you actually pay your supplier? Is it safe to send the money?
In this podcast I dial it back a bit and discuss the best and most common ways to pay your suppliers.
Amazon FBA For Beginners
Paying For Samples
- Paypal - Most popular method. Safe and easy.
- Western Union - Use if your supplier doesn't accept Paypal
Paying For Your Actual Order
- Wire Transfer (T/T) - Most common way to pay for your order. Shop banks for the lowest fees.
- Credit Card - 2.8% fee which can be costly on larger orders.
- E-Checking - $15 fee. My preferred method of payment now.
- Paypal - Another option to pay. Ensure you know the fees and Paypal rules.
General Tips
- Always ensure you get an inspection before you pay for your order
- Negotiate your payment terms. 30/70 is most common.
- Always opt for Trade Assurance in Aliababa if you can
- Always trust your gut. If something seems off then don't send money.
Not a member of the Facebook Mastermind group yet?
If you haven't yet listened to Episode 3 where I talk about "How To Find A Winning Private Label Product" then please do that as well.
Check Out Episode 3 of The Private Label Podcast
Check out my Quick Start Guide To Finding A Winning Private Label Product <===Click Here
SUBJECT TIMES ON PODCAST:
[X] I-TUNES REVIEW - TO LEAVE A REVIEW CLICK HERE
[5:00] Start Of Main Content
[6:30] Paying For Samples
[9:00] 4 Main Ways To Pay
[10:10] Negotiate Terms
[12:10 Wire Transfer
[16:55] Credit Card
[18:26] E-Checking
[19:20] Paypal
[21:26] No Trade Assurance ?
[24:00] Tips
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Alibaba – This is one of the main sites I use for sourcing products to sell on Amazon. It’s a portal to get connected with suppliers and the site is improving all the time.
Global Sources – Similar to Alibaba this portal is a very high quality site to find products to source. It isn’t as well know as Alibaba but certainly should be part of your tool belt when looking for new products.
For all other resources and tools that I use in my Amazon business please see the resources link.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW!
I NEED YOUR HELP!
If you felt you got any value out of this podcast, then please support me with an iTunes review. It's simple to do! Just click here to head to iTunes and leave an honest rating and review of the podcast. Every review helps!
How To Pay Your Suppliers - Amazon FBA For Beginners - PLS [EP44]