Pasha Knish, CEO and Lead Strategist of AMZ Optimized, is a veteran Amazon seller and the founder of a boutique agency helping brands navigate the increasingly complex Amazon ecosystem. We spoke about what it really takes to succeed on Amazon today—and why many sellers are getting crushed by outdated strategies, poor infrastructure, or a fragmented team approach.

With 14+ years of experience, Pasha brings clarity to the chaos of Amazon's ever-evolving landscape. Whether you're a new seller launching your first product or an established brand losing traction, this conversation unpacks the real playbook for sustainable growth.

“Amazon is a place where both sellers that are completely brand new can exist as well as sellers that have been on the platform... but all sellers deal with the same problems.”

We explored:

Why having a fully optimized listing before running ads is non-negotiable
The power of pricing psychology: “Sometimes you actually sell more when you price higher.”
How Amazon’s AI is now cross-referencing your website to verify your listing info
The hidden costs of success: compliance, fees, logistics, and inventory flow
Why DSP (Amazon’s demand-side platform) and tools like DeepM matter for serious scaling
The myth of “set it and forget it” and why seller success requires ongoing partnership

“This is not eBay. You want to make it easy for the customer and easy for yourself.”

Key takeaways:

PPC should never be your starting point. Nail your content, compliance, and pricing first.
Inventory is your lifeline—“If you run out of stock, you lose all your momentum.”
Being the cheapest doesn’t win—being the best value does.
Boutique support can outperform internal hires or freelancers by aligning every moving part.
Amazon may be templated—but real success is always custom.

If you think Amazon success in 2025 is dead, think again. As Pasha puts it: “There’s still an opportunity... but it's getting eaten up little by little. You need to be smart, fast, and prepared.”

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