Wizards of Ecom

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