Serious Sellers Podcast: Learn How To Sell On Amazon FBA & Walmart

#624 - Profitable Amazon Keywords You Never Knew Existed

Learn how to audit old Amazon listings to uncover new keywords, drive sales, and gather valuable customer data that can help in listing optimization to boost your conversion rates.

► Instagram: instagram.com/serioussellerspodcast

► Free Amazon Seller Chrome Extension: https://h10.me/extension

► Sign Up For Helium 10: https://h10.me/signup  (Use SSP10 To Save 10% For Life)

► Learn How To Sell on Amazon: https://h10.me/ft

► Watch The Podcasts On YouTube: youtube.com/@Helium10/videos

Could Amazon listings that you haven’t touched in a while be the hidden goldmine you've been overlooking? In this episode, Bradley Sutton reveals his tried-and-true method for breathing new life into overlooked product pages and uncovering keywords that boost sales and conversions. As 2025 approaches, it's vital to stay ahead of trends and search habits to refresh your listings. Using the Project X egg trays, he demonstrates how to effectively audit and optimize your Amazon listings using tools like Search Query Performance and Helium 10. We'll explore how examining new reviews and tweaking your advertising and product images can align your listings with consumer trends, ultimately driving profitability.

Keyword optimization isn't just about throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. Instead, it's an art form, and Bradley is here to guide you through crafting a keyword strategy that resonates. With a focus on a wooden egg tray example, we'll uncover unexpected opportunities by analyzing platforms like Etsy and Search Query Performance. Discover how an overlooked keyword like "porcelain egg holder" can unlock new potential. By analyzing click-through rates and impressions with Helium 10’s Cerebro tool, you'll learn how to capture untapped markets and expand your advertising reach.

Understanding sales dynamics is crucial for any Amazon seller. By leveraging BSR history, we can pinpoint sales spikes and identify the keywords that fueled them. Bradley will show you how to use Helium 10's historical data tools to track keyword sales and ranking changes over time and outsmart competitors. It's not just about finding what works but creating a Standard Operating Procedure to efficiently manage the process across multiple products. Get ready to unlock hundreds of dollars in additional sales by strategically optimizing your keyword usage. Let's make tangible financial gains a reality.

In episode 624 of the Serious Sellers Podcast, Bradley talks about:

• 00:00 - Auditing Amazon Listings for Optimization
• 00:56 - Refreshing Product Listing for Project X
• 02:34 - Market Analysis Tools for Sellers
• 04:43 - Analyzing Keywords for Optimization
• 08:36 - Keyword Research for Wooden Egg Tray
• 14:14 - Utilizing Historical Data for Product Ranking
• 15:19 - Analyzing BSR and Keyword Data
• 17:40 - Organic Ranking Improvement Analysis
• 20:49 - Analyzing Keyword Performance Through Sales
• 25:33 - Analyzing Feedback for Product Improvement
• 28:24 - Optimizing Amazon Listings for Sales
• 28:41 - Discovering Profitable Keywords for Increased Sales

Helium 10 Buzz 12/19/24: Amazon Makes Move That Might Cost Sellers Millions of Dollars!

BREAKING NEWS: Amazon sellers are angrier than I've ever seen them before because of this move that Amazon made that could be costing sellers millions. How crazy is that?

► Instagram: instagram.com/serioussellerspodcast

► Free Amazon Seller Chrome Extension: https://h10.me/extension

► Sign Up For Helium 10: https://h10.me/signup  (Use SSP10 To Save 10% For Life)

► Learn How To Sell on Amazon: https://h10.me/ft

► Watch The Podcasts On YouTube: youtube.com/@Helium10/videos

We’re back with another episode of the Weekly Buzz with Helium 10’s Chief Brand Evangelist, Bradley Sutton. Every week, we cover the latest breaking news in the Amazon, Walmart, and E-commerce space, talk about Helium 10’s newest features, and provide a training tip for the week for serious sellers of any level.

Update to the FBA inventory reimbursement policy
https://sellercentral.amazon.com/seller-news/articles/QVRWUERLSUtYMERFUiNHTU4yV1c1M0xMQlNKWlRB

Is Amazon's new FBA inventory reimbursement policy a game-changer or a nightmare for sellers? Recent changes have sparked a significant uproar, and many sellers feel misled and worried about potential financial losses in the millions. We dissect this contentious shift, highlighting the importance of transparency and fairness in Amazon's communication while recognizing its right to shape its own policies. The discussion also provides strategic insights into managing these upcoming changes.

TikTok Shop US Sales Surpass Shein, Sephora
https://www.silicon.co.uk/e-marketing/ecommerce/tiktok-shop-us-593031

Return Rate and Star Rating features on Voice of the Customer Dashboard
https://sellercentral.amazon.com/seller-news/articles/QVRWUERLSUtYMERFUiNHWEw1VEZNWTI2WFc0WTdO

Temu Leaves Amazon in E-Commerce Dust, Topping Apple’s Most-Downloaded Apps List
https://www.inc.com/kit-eaton/temu-leaves-amazon-in-e-commerce-dust-topping-apples-most-downloaded-apps-list/91067132

Account vacation settings and support for the holidays
https://sellercentral.amazon.com/seller-news/articles/QVRWUERLSUtYMERFUiNHN0w1UkNRQlZQR0E5SjJW

TikTok asks Supreme Court to temporarily halt a law that would ban the app in the U.S.
https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2024-12-16/tiktok-supreme-court-temporarily-halt-ban

Enhanced display placement targeting features on Amazon DSP
https://advertising.amazon.com/en-us/resources/whats-new/enhanced-display-placement-targeting-amazon-dsp/

Join us for a comprehensive exploration of these pivotal shifts, equipping you with the knowledge to thrive in the Amazon space.

In this episode of the Weekly Buzz by Helium 10, Bradley covers:

• 00:52 - Amazon Drops Hammer On Reimbursements
• 23:28 - TikTok Shop Passes Shein
• 24:01 - Amazon EU FBA Fee Update
• 27:46 - Voice of the Customer Update
• 28:30 - Temu Most Downloaded
• 29:21 - Amazon Vacation Mode
• 29:52 - TikTok - Supreme Court
• 30:31 - New DSP Features

#623 - From Amazon Influencer To Amazon Seller

In this episode, we got the TikTok queen with 1M+ followers to share her 2024 journey as an influencer, creator, & new Amazon seller. Learn her secrets to making money this year!

 

► Instagram: instagram.com/serioussellerspodcast

► Free Amazon Seller Chrome Extension: https://h10.me/extension

► Sign Up For Helium 10: https://h10.me/signup  (Use SSP10 To Save 10% For Life)

► Learn How To Sell on Amazon: https://h10.me/ft

► Watch The Podcasts On Youtube: youtube.com/@Helium10/videos

 

Gracey Ryback from Deal Cheats, the TikTok and Amazon Live sensation with over a million followers reveals her transition from a successful influencer/content creator to Amazon seller in our latest episode. Gracey shares how her initial venture into sourcing products from China provided key insights, eventually leading to a strategic pivot towards U.S.-based suppliers. Her story is not just about product sourcing, but about understanding the intricacies of e-commerce from a seller's perspective, enabling her to connect deeply with other aspiring entrepreneurs in the industry.

Forget traditional advertising methods—Gracey explains why she swerves around Amazon PPC, favoring the power of external traffic and influencer marketing to launch products organically. We dissect her strategies for breaking into saturated markets, utilizing influencers and deal sites to propel organic traffic and product visibility. With practical advice on setting lucrative discounts that draw customers while keeping profit margins healthy, Gracey provides a replicable blueprint for launching products without sacrificing profitability.

Dive into the world of influencer marketing on Amazon as Gracey discusses the tools and platforms that make content creation and brand collaboration seamless. From Helium 10 Xray’s influencer mode to utilizing other platforms, Gracey shares how repurposing content can maximize reach and revenue. Balancing the demands of being a creator and Amazon seller isn't easy, but with Gracey's insights on work-life dynamics and leveraging multiple platforms, listeners will gain valuable knowledge on how to thrive as both a creator and a seller.

In episode 623 of the Serious Sellers Podcast, Bradley and Gracey discuss:

• 00:00 - Gracey's Amazon Selling Journey
• 06:59 - Organic Product Launch Strategies
• 08:53 - Uniqueness and Potential for Success
• 13:01 - Product Promotion and Brand Expansion
• 15:10 - Maximizing Influencer Income on Amazon Live and TikTok
• 18:10 - Best Helium 10 Tools For Amazon Sellers
• 25:53 - Alternative Revenue Streams for Creators 
• 26:05 - Creator's Work-Life Balance and Platforms
• 28:48 - Daily Routine and Content Creation
• 34:10 - Influencer Tools for Amazon Success

#622 - Strategic PPC for Amazon Sellers

In this episode, we’ll discuss helpful Amazon advertising strategies, Amazon Marketing Cloud, Search Query Performance, and even some suggestions for the best Ethiopian restaurants.

► Instagram: instagram.com/serioussellerspodcast

► Free Amazon Seller Chrome Extension: https://h10.me/extension

► Sign Up For Helium 10: https://h10.me/signup  (Use SSP10 To Save 10% For Life)

► Learn How To Sell on Amazon: https://h10.me/ft

► Watch The Podcasts On Youtube: youtube.com/@Helium10/videos

Join us as we welcome back George Meressa of ClearAds Agency, to the Serious Sellers Podcast, where we talk about Amazon advertising and e-commerce strategies. We discuss how tightened margins and increased competition from Chinese products are impacting sellers. The conversation covers the role of AI in leveling the playing field for non-native English speakers and the significance of external traffic sources like TikTok and Google Ads. We also examine the rising influence of larger brands on Amazon and the higher entry barriers that are discouraging new sellers. Our transition to using Pacvue for Amazon advertising and the emphasis on improving listings to enhance conversion rates are also key highlights.

In our discussion on Amazon PPC campaign optimization, we focus on strategically reducing wasted ad spend and reallocating resources for better performance. George and Bradley share insights on identifying inefficient ad campaigns and leveraging tools like the Hemingway app and Pacvue to simplify language and automate bid adjustments. We explore the importance of enhancing listings through effective keyword use and optimizing Q&A and reviews, which are crucial for ranking. This conversation emphasizes how strategic budgeting and allocation can uncover easy wins and growth opportunities for Amazon sellers.

Listen in as we explore modern advertising strategies and data utilization on Amazon. George discusses optimizing sales through effective keyword analysis and the benefits of using Amazon Marketing Cloud for insights into new-to-brand sales. We also touch on the value of Amazon's B2B reporting and the challenges of sponsored TV ads for ROI-focused clients. The conversation highlights the enduring effectiveness of sponsored product ads and the importance of maintaining advertising spend on high-ranking keywords. Finally, we share a lighter moment, connecting over a shared appreciation for unique ethnic cuisines, with a particular focus on Ethiopian food.

 

In episode 622 of the Serious Sellers Podcast, Bradley and George discuss:

• 00:00 - Amazon Advertising and E-Commerce Strategies
• 04:42 - Optimizing Amazon PPC Campaigns
• 09:48 - Automated Bid Adjustment Strategies for Success
• 14:41 - Amazon Advertising Strategies and Data Utilization
• 15:09 - Understanding Amazon Search Query Performance Keywords
• 19:03 - Advertising Strategies and Best Practices
• 21:26 - Benefits of the Amazon Bestseller Badge
• 26:17 - Shifting Focus to Organic Sales
• 29:55 - Discussing International Cuisine Preferences
• 30:29 - Exploring Unique Ethiopian Cuisines

Transcript:

Bradley Sutton:

Today we've got George back on the show for the first time in a couple years and we're going to talk about a wide variety of subjects, including general Amazon advertising strategy, AMC, Search Query Performance and even some suggestions for the best Ethiopian restaurants. How cool is that? Pretty cool, I think. Hello everybody, and welcome to another episode of the Serious Sellers Podcast by Helium 10. I'm your host, Bradley Sutton, and this is the show. That's a completely BS-free, unscripted and unrehearsed organic conversation about serious strategies for Serious Sellers of any level in the e-commerce world. And we're here in Milan, Italy, at our Avask and Helium 10 workshop, and just fresh off the stage is George. Now I'm going to be asking him a little bit about what he talked about, because I was in here recording another podcast so I didn't get to hear him. But, George, it's been a little bit since you've been on the podcast. Welcome back.

 

George Meressa:

Thank you so much for having me. It has been a while yeah.

 

Bradley Sutton:

Yes, yeah. So now you flew in here, you're still based in London.

 

George Meressa:

I am, yeah, I'm in London.

 

Bradley Sutton:

Excellent, excellent. So I'm going to need some restaurant advice. I'll be going there two times in the next couple of weeks, so you'll have to give me some great local eats.

 

George Meressa:

Absolutely, I'll give you my advice. I've been told I have horrible advice, but there's one or two winners, so then I'll get you with them.

 

Bradley Sutton:

Excellent, excellent. Now we're not just here to talk about culinary things, were here to talk about you know what, what your specialty is, which is, you know, Amazon advertising, just Amazon in general. And so I remember the last time you were on the show. You know you talk a lot about DSP. Dsp obviously has come a long ways, but just in general, what are the biggest things that have changed in the last couple of years that advertisers are dealing with now? Or you know some new feature that they have access to? That wasn't around the last time you were on the show.

 

George Meressa:

Yeah, it's a good question. So I think the biggest thing we've seen is just how margins are being tightened for sellers. So there's been costs that have increased in so many different areas, like warehouse costs. The cost per click just has increased in general, and not only that, but we've also seen a whole range of competition come within Amazon, so a lot of cheaper products coming directly from China and I think AI has had a massive impact on that where now Chinese sellers are able to have content that matches up with those who speak the native languages, like English in the US and other marketplaces and Temu has been one as well. It's just been a competition where you can find products at such a lower rate.

 

So there have been a few big components. Outside traffic as well has played a big part too. So getting viral stuff coming through TikTok, people really homing in on Google Ads they've had an impact and also the bigger brand as well. I think a lot more bigger brands are putting their products on Amazon and because they have the awareness, the conversion rates are just naturally better and they're coming in and just sweeping in and taking a considerable amount of market share. So there's a whole sea of things happening. I think one of the biggest things we've noticed, though, is there's less newer sellers, because just the barrier of entry is a little bit higher than it was when we first uh, when we last had the conversation.

Bradley Sutton:

Now you guys, uh, I know, um, in the last couple years you know, switched over to Pacvue, uh, for software, another one of our companies.

So you know Pacvue is not just Amazon, you know, it's a really a lot of multi-channel. So are you guys leveraging advertising now on other platforms at all? Are you strictly still pretty much Amazon advertising?

 

George Meressa:

So we're mainly Amazon advertising now. I think the biggest change that's happened since we last spoke is, uh, we're now working within the listings too, so leveraging some of the skill set we brought in from outside um, those who've run amazon brands and done really well and they've been able to help us to grow the conversion rate, because ultimately it comes down to the conversion rate and the sales. So and sometimes it's quite straightforward fixes it could be standing out with images, it could be keywords in the back end that most people forget to put in descriptions, titles, and just really working with that, and other times just that product is kind of hitting the end of its life cycle and that's

 

one thing we've noticed is the life cycle of products are kind of diminishing more and more since last being here.

 

Bradley Sutton:

Yeah, I imagine that's kind of a benefit for you guys, because if you're only an advertising agency, you know you can only control the advertising. But if they've got a crap listing or they don't even have the right keywords, it's a little bit hard to change things. But if you're able to go in there and help people from a to z, then it just makes the advertising, I imagine, much more effective too.

 

George Meressa:

Exactly that. So it's a kind of massive flywheel effect. When you get the listings right and you have a kind of superior product or product that stands out, it just makes everything else flow better. So you could, you know, um? On extreme examples, we've seen exceptional products of high barrier or high barrier to entry products, where they have very basic PPC campaigns, but they just rank, they just do well, and on the opposite side you have other products that are similar to what's out there and it's very difficult to get that edge. I think when I first started doing Amazon pay-per-click, you know you had the auto campaigns. Manual campaigns were just introduced. There wasn't much data. I mean there wasn't much competition, so it was easy to run it. But now I mean the data that we have access to with Amazon is unbelievable. It's unbelievable what information you can get right now and I think that is still probably the biggest edge a lot of people can have against their competitors is actually taking advantage of the data and knowing what to do with it.

 

Bradley Sutton:

Now what is one of the most common I don't know if I can say mistakes or things that you're changing like now you take on a new client and now you do have the ability to go in and modify some things, both on the advertising side of what they were doing, but both on also on the listing, you know, side or keyword side. What are some things that are like oh my goodness, like we've had so many customers who have done this wrong and this is like the first thing that we check for to change. Does anything stick out in your mind?

 

George Meressa:

Yeah, it's very simple. So we look at what can we bring down, what can we bring out? I mean, what can we bring down? What can we bring up? They're the two simplest ways of putting it. So what can we bring down?

Where in the campaigns that we're looking at is there wasted budget? Where that, where the resources haven't been allocated well right? So this could be campaigns that are getting a very high amount of clicks but not any sales. So that's a. That's just a more straightforward basic um, um kind of uh example. But on the other hand, you can also have keywords that have a decent a cost, a horrible conversion rate, and that's where most of the budget's been distributed. So the more budget and ad spend a company has when they come to us, the stronger the chances that we will find something to improve. So that's the first thing we do is okay, what can we cut back? If someone's got, you know, you know, 10 000 a month ad spend or 100 hundred thousand a month, and we can reduce it by 10%, 15%. Then we got opportunity with that additional budget to put it in places where it is working, or untapped opportunities. That is going to be an easy win. So where is the easy wins, is the quickest thing, and reducing that spend and cutting the cost is the first place we go. So that's the first thing. And then the second thing is what can we bring up? Where is there potential for growth? And this is where we kind of dig into Search Query Information. Where are certain listings organically positioned well or getting a good proportion of sales that you're just not pushing through PPC right? And when we got that information, we can then create campaigns to then test okay, what would happen if we put some campaigns behind this? Would their positions improve? And most of the time the conversion rates are strong, as strong as they and they are shown on Search Query Data. Then they move and it works well. So, from a PPC side of things, that's where we see the quick wins.

Um, on a listing side of things, it's very basic things that get missing. I mean the amount of companies we look at where they just haven't got back-end keywords and they don't have, uh, their descriptions fleshed out and their, their, um, their bullet points haven't been reviewed since they first launched the products because they've got so many products. Amazon is looking at the listings to look at what is this product relevant to what is. What is the search terms that are most likely to entice a sale. So we go a little bit further as well and kind of work on um Q and A as well. How can we maximize the, the amount of questions that are answered around the products and making sure that the type of answer that's given is what amazon's looking for. So, especially with Rufus so there's a science paper that uh was recently published where amazon actually say they, they give more um, they put more weight in terms of ranking to the questions and answers and the reviews as opposed to the product description. So really making sure that all of the content it works well.

I think one of the things I've just shared downstairs as well is um using simple language, right. So a lot of people things I've just shared downstairs as well is using simple language, right. So a lot of people forget that, just using the US as an example, the average reading age is of a seventh grader, right? So if the average reading age is of a seventh grader, why not use this much more simple language within your listings to really convey the message? Because then, ultimately, you're reaching 100% of your audience as opposed to reaching, you know, 40 or 30%. That in itself could have just tremendous impact and it has, we've seen in our clients in terms of the conversion rates. So I just spoke downstairs a really cool app to use is Hemingway, the Hemingway app. So with that app, you can just put your listing title in there and it will teach you to just use more simple language. Right, there's no, there's no, there's never any issue in doing that, and actually you could reach a much, much larger audience, especially if you're selling a complex product. That is the art. If you sell a complicated product to complicated ingredients, you know, really conveying the um, the benefits.

And just moving back to what you mentioned, Pacvue that's been a game changer. One of the big things that it's allowed us to do is allowed us to put in rules so that we can automatically make bid adjustments that humans just can't do as well, right? So just to give you a few examples, we can put in rules which say, okay, if, uh, the position in organically is X, make X change within the bids, right. So if this and if the conversion rate threshold is above this, increase the bids, right. Doing this is just one layer, right, and that's helped a considerable amount in terms of ensuring that it's done in real time. That's the first one. The second thing is doing um, increasing bids, budgets during certain times of the day and week, right.

So we found out, all of the tools we've used, patfuse being the most superior in terms of getting that right and homing in. You know, you can ask someone, a VA, you can ask a special, a specialist account manager who's been doing it for donkey's years, to manually sit there and do that, but it's not going to meet the human, it's not going to meet, uh, the tool's ability to do it at such a rapid rate. There's so many things that we do within those tools now where we're now focusing more on a strategy and we're allowing the tool to do the mundane clicking and ensuring that the campaigns are given the best possible, uh, chance of succeeding. So, um, that's kind of how we use the tool and I think, is getting to a place now.

If you're not using these tools, you're going to fall behind, like you cannot. It's not like those old days where you could just click and make the budget adjustment. Amazon is checking all of the position and ranking every time a search is made for your products, right? So you want to take advantage of that, especially if you're doing good volumes. You're getting good traffic, getting good impressions. You really want to be on top of it.

 

Bradley Sutton:

Want to keep up to date with trending topics in the e-commerce world, make sure to subscribe to our blog. We regularly release articles that talk about things such as shipping and logistics, e-commerce in other countries, the latest changes to Amazon Seller Central countries, the latest changes to Amazon Seller Central, how to get set up on new platforms like Newegg, how to write and publish a book on Amazon KDP and much, much more. Check these articles out at h10.me forward slash blog.

Now, one thing you mentioned a couple minutes ago was about the Q&A. So let's say, you know, just organically, nobody has left that many questions and so obviously that means there's not that many answers to. So does this mean that you're just getting like some Amazon customers to write some questions so that the seller or the account manager can answer them, or how do you get the right questions and answers on there?

 

George Meressa:

Very good question. So I'm going to step a bit back, Bradley. So you can use a tool like AHREF, right, and you can ask a question about a product, right, and it will give you the most asked questions on Google, right. So that's where you can do the research and be more data focused. So I'll give you an example there was some sort of nail varnish that one of our clients sold. When we put that product into AHREF how to remove the nail varnish it was the biggest question I was asked. It was getting like 20,000 to 30,000 searches a month.

 

So, firstly, it's about finding the right questions. Where is the itch right? What are people asking? Right? And then, when you find a few of these questions, then we encourage friends and family and there are some other ways you can do it. I just would need to speak to a team about how to do it, but in the day-to-day of the business. But what we find is, when you do that and then you answer the question as well, there's Amazon Comprehend. So Amazon Comprehend is a tool that allows you to ensure you answer the question in the right way.

 

So you're not neutral. So either positive or negative, and it's about being as black and white as possible, and we've noticed that Rufus picks up on this as well. So, um, you want to make sure that you're answering those questions. Um, well too. So, um, don't be vague. Um, try and be yes or no. Um, does it answer the question is this a product that removes? Uh, you know how does this product remove nail varnish easily? Yes, it does it. Does it X, does it X, Y and Z? And actually what we did is, when we actually did the research on some of these tools like AHRef, SEMrush, we found that when you go to the listing, you can actually put some visual aids of showing step-by-step how easy it is to remove it. So there's a whole range of ways you can find it but this has been really, really useful for it.

 

Bradley Sutton:

Um, you, you also mentioned, you know, Search Query Performance and I think that's just a great data point, that that Amazon. I think none of us really ever could have predicted that Amazon would, would, would give. Um, I think you touched on it. But, like, my main thing is, I'm looking at keywords where I've got a better conversion rate for purchases, that, then the overall and then yeah, you know, checking. Maybe I'm not advertising for it or maybe I'm not ranking high. I need to double down and then maybe the ones I'm not converting as well, maybe I even dial back on the spend because I know, you know, it might not help me much with my organic ranking. Uh, because I'm converting poorly for it. What other uses other than just those, those two that are using the search performance data for?

 

George Meressa:

That's a good question. So, as well as looking at conversion rates, looking at what is the potential on that keyword, if you're getting three sales a week from that keyword and there's 25 sales, is it gonna be better use of your time to go for another keyword that you may be getting free sales, but there's 400 sales a week, right, so it gives you the potential that keyword has for you to grow in it and make more sales. So that's the first thing. Another thing as well is Amazon doesn't make this clear, but there's two types of keywords that you have within search query, so you have more discovery keywords and you also have more kind of intent based keywords. Right, and you can figure out where these keywords lie by just looking at their kind of um, the click percentage share, and you can also look at it from the add to cart share as well.

 

So there's going to be certain keywords where people just are more likely to buy quicker, and so they're the keywords really good to really understand as well, because effectively, this is going to be better use of your money. So if you can find those keywords where the conversion rate is higher, then you're likely to kind of do more with that. So there's some of the ways we use search query and I know they've gone a step further with my team as well where you can actually reverse, engineer and figure out, ok, depending on how many sales there are for a certain keyword and how much competition there is. There are for a certain keyword and how much competition there is, if you get X amount of sales for that keyword per day, this is how much it's likely to cost you per click on average to see what it would look like to move you up organically. So that's what search queries can do if it's in the right hands.

 

Bradley Sutton:

What other new Amazon data points you know, like brand metrics or things like that, are you guys leveraging to help you make decisions?

 

George Meressa:

Good question. So I think one of the I was just speaking to Ben just last week and I think one of the big things we noticed recently is just the B2B reporting through the child ace and so you can see now how many sales you'll get in from B2B customers. So I think that's been interesting. So I think anyone who uh is sales on amazon and they should just apply to and have b2b pricing. So if people wanted to buy uh larger units we're still quite early on into this, but we started to see certain trends of search terms where it's more targeted towards b2b customers and really taking advantage of those search terms as well and probably spending a bit we spend a bit more on them. So uh tape, some sort of tape for plumbers we kind of saw that. Yoga supplies we saw that. So there's gonna be a lot more we can do with it, but that's kind of one of the latest things that we've seen that we've taken advantage of.

 

Bradley Sutton:

Are you guys leveraging AMC? I mean, AMC has been around for a while, but now it's kind of more getting a little democratized. It's not just for people with DSP. Have you been leveraging that at all for your clients?

 

George Meressa:

Yeah, we've been using AMC for some time now with DSP clients, so there's a whole, there's a bunch of really cool things that AMC gives you in terms of data. So the first and most obvious way is you can now start to see how many new to brand sales you get through sponsored product ads. Uh, within the interface, you can only really see that for responsive brand. So it really, especially if you have, um a consumable product, you're able to see, okay, um, which, which keywords are responsible for bringing in new purchases where, um, they've never they've never seen your product I haven't bought within a certain time period. So that's been really useful.

 

Um, and leveraging that information, um, there's been. How else have we used it? Uh, we created custom audiences as well. So, um, you could exclude. So, within dsp, you can exclude those who may have seen your product 15 times, because they're less likely to buy after 15 times across the whole account as opposed to uh, as opposed to one um. So there's yeah, there's been a few ways, and I think this is going to be really good for uh, e-commerce brands now, the fact that we have it at our disposal within seller central, because before it was, you know, you had to go for an agency.

 

Bradley Sutton:

So have you guys dabbled at all with any of your clients with a sponsored tv?

 

George Meressa:

uh well, we haven't seen it work. We have, um, it just seems to waste a lot of money, um. So most of the clients that we deal with they're kind of more ROI focused. They want to grow. We haven't really had anyone yet with us. I know Matt has his previous agency that want brand exposure and are prepared to spend 20, $30,000 a month on that. So we haven't. We haven't. We've tested, we've not seen the results. So we haven't, we haven't, we've tested, we've not seen the results. So we've kind of moved away from it.

 

Bradley Sutton:

Um, what's maybe the best kind? You know, obviously there's a million kinds of ads now before, back in the day, say, there's auto campaigns, or there's broad campaigns, and then there's ASIN targeting and then now all of a sudden there's, you know, sponsored brand headline ads and video ads and throughout different times, you know different ones have been the most profitable or drive best ROI. It's a general thing to ask, but anything like any type of ad you see nowadays in 2024, 2025, going into 2025, that are just working better than others, that you're like, hey, everybody needs to be making sure they've got a good strategy with this type of campaign.

 

George Meressa:

I think it's been sponsored product ads from the get go and I think they're still kind of the number one.

 

If you can get your ads to appear, your products to appear at the top of the search results for the right keywords, that is always going to outperform anything else.

 

So that's the first place is to kind of find those keywords that you're likely to convert better with, or you have been converting better with, and pushing them top of page placements through sponsored products. We tend to find that 70 of our budget goes to sponsored product ads and then if we start to see, okay, there's common themes across certain keywords where we do convert well through sponsored product ads, then we would take those keywords and put them into sponsored brand ads on exact match to really push them that way. So they tend to and have done so for a while perform the best. Every now and again you get ace in target campaign and category targeting. That works really well, especially if a particular product is superior across the category. So if you have that kind of product where your average rate and count is a lot higher, then that's another option as well to kind of really push and with those kinds of terms, if someone has searched for your competitor and they end up buying your product, then Amazon's gonna favor that a great deal more too.

 

Bradley Sutton:

So the question I have is kind of like, I'm not sure if there's one right answer, but everybody has differing opinions, so I just want to get yours is a common one that people have is like hey, I'm on a key keyword that's relevant to my niche, but now I'm already ranking high organically. You know, like, like, should I pull back on my, my spend? You know, like, maybe before I was always going for top of search for, for sponsored ads. But you know, like, my philosophy in the past has been I want as much real estate as possible. You know, I want to go ahead and have that sponsored brand headline ad. I want it to be the one of the first sponsored ads. I want the organic rank. You know, maybe I'll have a video on the page just because now it's pushing competitors. But you know, is it, is it possible that I'm maybe cannibalizing some organic sales because they clicked on the sponsored ad when they probably would have bought my product anyways? Where do you sit on this, on this kind of debate, I guess?

 

George Meressa:

Good question. So, um, if you have the bestseller badge, you want to do everything within your power to keep that velocity of sales up. You want to make sure that you have more sales within that category than anyone else, because when you get that badge, amazon also already knows that you are the best in that category with what you sell. So there's going to be places that Amazon will show your products that you just would not have access to otherwise. So there's a whole range of benefits that you see would not have access to otherwise, right, so there's a whole range of benefits that you see. Not only that, but when you're positioned and you have the best seller badge, you actually have a much higher advantage compared to your competitors in terms of the price you pay per click. So we tend to also find that the cost per click is lower.

 

So when one of our clients actually cuts back or when they lose that bestseller badge, it's so hard to get it back. It's really, really difficult. Effectively, what you've done is you've created a moat. So if you've got those number of sales in, you're making a profit. You do really want to work hard to keep that momentum of sales. If it's working to cut back, it could be dangerous.

 

I would probably consider encouraging people to look outside of Amazon. If it's working to cut back, it could be dangerous. I would probably consider encouraging people to look outside of Amazon to kind of compliment what they have. But I mean, there's been just too many horror stories I've heard and seen where people have, like, positioned really well, doing great sales, and then a few people with VC-backed money come in, really push PPC, run their campaigns that are lost for a while, and then, um, they take the best seller badge and they just can't get it back. They don't have the resources like some of the other companies do. So if you're in that fortunate position, you should be doing everything you can, and I think one of the key metrics you should be looking at is how many units of sales are you pushing compared to some of your main competitors? Um, just to make sure that? uh, yeah,

 

Bradley Sutton:

Somebody's just getting started and they want to start budgeting. Uh, you know, maybe it's tacos or maybe it's like, hey, how much should I put aside? You know, like because the worst thing they can do is just budget for the product, for shipping and getting started, and they have no budget for PPC. But nowadays I think the amount of advertising we kind of have to do is more than ever. But you know you can't do it to the point where you lose money. Is there a number where you're like, hey, you should budget this percent of, like, your initial order or this amount of money weekly or something for somebody so they can really make sure that they've got enough budget where they don't run out and then now they can't run advertising.

 

George Meressa:

So somebody, so they can really make sure that they've got enough budget where they don't run out and then now they can't run advertising. So what we look at, especially when someone's launching a product, is okay, what terms are you going to want to go for to begin with and work backwards in that way? So if you have a product, strongly encourage you. Well, try and get brand registry from the very, very beginning so you have access to brand analytics. Get the products in. You're doing a variation; it's going to be easier to get this information. But what we tend to do is look backwards and go okay, what are the keywords that we're going to target and what impressions and clicks and conversions do they get a week? What do we need to achieve to begin with? And then how much do we need on average, working on some scenarios, to have more of an educated guess, and we work backwards in that sense.

 

And then we have phases as. So we might have four or five phases. So at the lower end of the phases, we've got those search volume keywords. I'll get in maybe 5,000 searches a month and we start there and then we kind of go right. Here's five keywords in phase four and what we're going to do with these keywords is start off with that and we're going to have X amount of budget. So we do have a tool in-house where we kind of figure out what we, what we need to spend and then we kind of move up the phases. The moment we start to see movement in organic positioning, um, but at the beginning is going to be, you know, I mean you obviously should probably going to sign up for vine and get those reviews coming in it's going to all factor in at the beginning. If you're getting really good reviews, you're getting really good conversion rate, then then you're going to have to have some budget, additional budget, to just help you with that momentum

 

Bradley Sutton:

Another question I had was I think in the old days you know, I don't know, maybe six years ago or so a lot of, if not the majority of sellers, when they're trying to optimize their advertising, is like strictly ACoS, like hey, I have a cost goals at the campaign level, at the keyword level, whatever. Nowadays that that's not enough. You've got to be looking at ROAS and different things like that. What is your suggestions out there as far as managing your advertising in a more holistic way, instead of just strictly looking at that one ACoS metric that we did for so many years?

 

George Meressa:

ACoS is certainly an important metric to look at, but that shouldn't be your key KPI. I think the conversion rate should be ultimately right at the top and TACoS then comes in later, should be prioritized more than ACoS, because there may be some sacrifices you have to make with ACoS for the benefit of organically getting ranked better and start to get more sales. I think the biggest shift that we're seeing is more sales across every. Well, most accounts we're looking at is coming from paid ads compared to organic ads from the past. So trying to reverse engineer that where you're having more coming from organic, is going to be key because that's going to give you a stronger moat compared to your competitors, if you can master that. So and there's been some extreme examples where we've had one or two clients where they have a higher price point when it comes to their product, but the conversion rate has been um, not as good, right. So PPC they have additional margins compared to their competitors where they can rank higher than them, I mean where they can position behind them on paid ad, but organically they're not running the moment. Moment their ads stop running, their listings go down, right. There's no history there organically. So it's heavily reliant on PPC. So, and that's why ACoS can be a dangerous game, if you're constantly measuring ACoS and you're going with the terms with the lowest ACoS and you're pushing them, every ACoS is just going to continue to climb and climb, and climb and climb. And for someone who's a little bit more strategic, um, and using data to their advantage and they're focusing more on the keywords where the conversion rates are higher and they're positioning better, they're going to come in and they're going to take those positions off you. They're the ones that are going to come and start to slowly win.

 

There's one example of one client where we didn't want the main competitors to even know that we were competing for those terms. So we went for those slightly obscure keywords that get maybe a number like 20 sales a week, 30 sales a week, and we pushed those keywords to get the velocity and we started ranking and we started to understand what kind of keywords relevant to us and then we went for those core keywords that everyone else goes for, right, and then that way we were able to then easily kind of come in and take organic position and rank, and that's how you should be thinking now. So a few years ago ACOS was our main KPI. Now it's just something we look at and it's really difficult actually to share with people. That way of thinking now is such it's so short term it's not going to allow them to kind of really see this for a year good points.

 

Bradley Sutton:

Now before we get into our last questions. If people want to reach out to you to get more, information on what you do and how you can help them out. How can they find you on the interwebs?

 

George Meressa:

So clearadsagencycom is the URL. Just search George Meressa on LinkedIn. I've got an obscure last name M-E-R-E-S-S-A. I think there's no one else with that. I'll just say George Meressa, so you'll find me. Connect with me there. But yeah, that's probably the best place.

 

Bradley Sutton:

Favorite Helium 10 tool of all time.

 

George Meressa:

Cerebro.

 

Bradley Sutton:

 

 

And something that you know. Maybe you don't know if we have or not, but you're like man, I don't think Helium 10 has this. If I was in charge of Helium 10 or this is the task I would give them that would give me more value.

 

George Meressa:

I mean, you've got a Genie in there. Now we need the reverse, what helps you get money back. So that's what's, and it's free. So that's probably one I would have suggested, but you've already done it, so that's a box already ticked. I can't really think right now of anything I want. I think you've got the package. I think the data that we found has been, um, it's been so solid over the years. I think you, you're one of the very few companies who've had this data for so many years, and I think that's always been important to us. Um, but yeah,

 

Bradley Sutton:

As you know, I'm going to Ethiopia for my first time. Obviously, I'm ordering lots of injera, but what's a couple of dishes that you recommend? Maybe even a dessert? I've never had Ethiopian dessert, so what are some things I should be looking for in some uh restaurants? I can call it by name and they'll be impressed that I know.

 

George Meressa:

Okay so first, what you gotta do is you gotta find those little places where they're making coffee. There's like an old lady wearing all white and she's she doesn't have to be old, she could be young but like, um, like, and they're just making some coffee, the freshly brewed coffee. Get some of that, you're gonna love it. So that's the first place to go. And then, um, when it comes to India, the India is actually quite different to what you get in the uh, in the states and in the UK it's they use that.

 

It's that really brown sourdough. I don't know if you've had that version. It's usually kind of white flour they use in in your kind of Europe and the western world, but that's quite sour, so it's going to be interesting for you. I mean, you can take spice, right? Yeah, so I love ASAP. That's like the red sauce with the egg and the chicken and that is not my favorite, but, um, yeah, I think that's probably in Jera is like the most common thing to have there. So that's what I recommend.

 

Bradley Sutton:

Love it, love it. That's the. It's a top three cuisine for me. Like I’m all for Mexican food, Korean food and then Ethiopian food is there, so like it's always been on my bucket list to go and I'm finally going only for a day, but maybe next time I'll be able to go for more.

 

George Meressa:

That was the most random thing, though, and I think you told me three years ago. I was like George, do you have Ethiopian food? I was like yeah, and he's like I love it. And I was like what it was? Bradley was the last person food. It's like crazy. Anyway. I don't have many people that come up to me and tell me that and this is like an intimate cuisine for me, like I have it at home. I grew up with it, like growing up, and it's just there and um, and now you know you absolutely love it anyway. Crazy.

 

Bradley Sutton:

Love it, love it. I will people know I march the beat of a different drummer. I don't like to go with what's the norm and that's definitely not the norm and I love it. So if you guys look up, uh, Yelp, if you have an Ethiopian restaurant near you, and give it a try and trust me, you're going to love it.

 

George Meressa:

Thank you so much for having me, Bradley.

 

Bradley Sutton:

Thank you for being on here, and we'll bring you back next year to see what you've been up to.

 

George Meressa:

Sounds good.

 

Helium 10 Buzz 12/12/24: Chinese Sellers Struggling? | TikTok Shop, Amazon New Countries

Chinese sellers on Amazon and Temu struggling? TikTok Shop opens in two new marketplaces. Amazon is about to open in a new country. These buzzing stories and more on this episode!

We’re back with another episode of the Weekly Buzz with Helium 10’s Chief Brand Evangelist, Bradley Sutton. Every week, we cover the latest breaking news in the Amazon, Walmart, and E-commerce space, talk about Helium 10’s newest features, and provide a training tip for the week for serious sellers of any level.

No Black Friday windfall for Chinese sellers on Temu and Amazon as competition rises
https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3289727/no-black-friday-windfall-chinese-sellers-temu-and-amazon-competition-rises

TikTok Shop Goes Live for Spain, Ireland in Europe Rollout
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tiktok-shop-goes-live-spain-094457160.html

Countdown to Amazon.ie as businesses are invited to register and new Country Manager is announced
https://www.aboutamazon.eu/news/retail/countdown-to-amazon-ie-as-businesses-are-invited-to-register-and-new-country-manager-is-announced
Create percent-off price discounts with minimum discounted price floor on Amazon

How Gen Z Fashion Brands Shein and Temu Exploit a Legal U.S. Tariff Loophole
https://www.forbes.com/sites/gregpetro/2024/12/09/how-gen-z-fashion-brands-shein-and-temu-exploit-a-legal-us-tariff-loophole/

Amazon and Intuit expand their strategic partnership
https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/aws/amazon-seller-central-quickbooks-aws-partnership

Amazon launched new seller-fulfilled customer service quality insights on the Feedback Manager page in Seller Central.

Generative AI tools in the A+ Content Manager are now available to all Brand Registered sellers in the US.

Lastly, we discuss some game-changing Helium 10 new features for Black Box ABA top search terms and provide valuable insights into calculating profit margins on TikTok Shop with the all-new Helium 10 TikTok Shop profitability calculator. Whether you're looking to optimize your sales strategies or stay informed on the latest e-commerce trends, this episode offers a wealth of information to help you succeed.

In this episode of the Weekly Buzz by Helium 10, Bradley covers:

• 00:46 - Chinese Sellers Struggling
• 03:06 - TikTok Shop EU Opens
• 04:01 - Amazon Ireland Opening
• 04:40 - Price Discount Update
• 06:00 - Why Temu/Shein Are So Cheap
• 06:39 - Amazon x Intuit
• 07:11 - Customer Service Quality Insights
• 08:54 - Gen AI A+ Content
• 09:29 - Check Out Helium 10’s Latest Blogs
• 10:12 - Helium 10 New Feature Alerts
• 13:08 - Training Tip: TikTok Shop Profitability Calculator

#621 - Amazon Keyword Tracking Masterclass

Master Amazon keyword tracker strategies: learn why keyword tracking matters, how to act, and link keyword ranks to PPC spend, holidays, deal days, and more in this masterclass!

What if you could revolutionize your Amazon-selling strategy with just a few clicks? Join us in this episode of the Serious Sellers Podcast: Seller Strategy Masterclass, where Bradley Sutton, Helium 10’s VP of Education and Strategy, explores the transformative power of Amazon keyword tracking. He dives into the Helium 10 Keyword Tracker tool, unlocking its potential to not only monitor your organic and sponsored keyword positions but also to outsmart your competitors. This episode is packed with insights on how mastering keyword tracking can be your game-changer in boosting product visibility and sales on Amazon.

As we navigate through the complexities of keyword tracking, Bradley emphasizes the importance of optimizing your Amazon keyword tracking frequency. Imagine having a comprehensive understanding of your product's visibility by monitoring keywords more than once a day. He guides you through the setup process, from tracking individual product variations to employing Helium 10 Keyword Tracker’s boost feature for hourly updates. You'll learn how to fine-tune your tracking preferences, allowing for precise data collection and informed decision-making that can elevate your Amazon game.

Visualize your rankings like never before with the new Heat Map feature, offering a clear picture of keyword trends over time. In this episode, Bradley also discusses the significance of competitor analysis and the strategic use of automated keyword tracking. By adding competitors' ASINs and tracking them diligently, you can gain a competitive edge and refine your Amazon PPC campaign’s bidding and pricing tactics. Listen in to discover how leveraging Helium 10’s advanced keyword tracking tool can empower you to make smarter decisions, ultimately leading to increased sales and enhanced Amazon product visibility.

In episode 621 of the Serious Sellers Podcast, Bradley talks about:

• 00:00 - The Importance of Amazon Keyword Tracking 
• 01:24 - Introduction & Overview to Helium 10 Keyword Tracker
• 11:33 - How to Track Your Amazon Keyword Ranks Daily Or Hourly
• 19:01 - How to View Keyword Ranks On A Heat Map
• 23:51 - How to Track Competitor Keyword Ranks
• 26:45 - How to Add Notes and Tags To Keywords
• 29:41 - How To Automate New Keyword Suggestions
• 33:00 - How to View PPC Data On Your Keywords

► Instagram: instagram.com/serioussellerspodcast

► Free Amazon Seller Chrome Extension: https://h10.me/extension

► Sign Up For Helium 10: https://h10.me/signup  (Use SSP10 To Save 10% For Life)

► Learn How To Sell on Amazon: https://h10.me/ft

► Watch The Podcasts On YouTube: youtube.com/@Helium10/videos

#620 - Amazon Listing Translation Strategies

In this episode, we will discuss how to expand your Amazon brand with translations using AI & the human touch, cultural insights, global marketplaces, and strategies for crafting high-converting listings.

► Instagram: instagram.com/serioussellerspodcast

► Free Amazon Seller Chrome Extension: https://h10.me/extension

► Sign Up For Helium 10: https://h10.me/signup  (Use SSP10 To Save 10% For Life)

► Learn How To Sell on Amazon: https://h10.me/ft

► Watch The Podcasts On Youtube: youtube.com/@Helium10/videos

 

Join us for an engaging discussion as we sit down with Jana Krekic of YLT Translations, an expert in translations and e-commerce strategies, to explore the transformative role of AI in the world of translation and localization. Recorded live from Milan, Italy, Jana shares her expertise in optimizing Amazon listings, shedding light on the limitations of AI in delivering high-quality, culturally nuanced translations. Through vivid examples, she illustrates the crucial role of human touch in understanding cultural contexts, such as the importance of local references like "nonna" in Italian culture. Discover why relying solely on AI could mean missing out on potential sales and how balancing technology with human expertise is key to successful e-commerce strategies.

Explore the nuances of expanding into new markets with insights into evaluating marketplaces for product expansion. The conversation emphasizes not only the importance of assessing sales but also the significance of comparing profits across regions. Uncover strategies for beating competitors through superior content and keyword optimization, especially in areas where local language content is often neglected. Learn about typical expansion routes for US and European brands, and gain insights into emerging markets like Japan and the UAE. We also touch on the growing curiosity among US businesses about platforms like Walmart and TikTok Shop, despite uncertainties in their operational dynamics.

Finally, we emphasize the importance of optimizing Amazon listings by focusing on context and customer interaction. Hear about the ever-evolving nature of Amazon's rules and algorithms and the necessity of adhering to local regulations in international marketplaces. With AI playing a significant role in product visibility, an effective keyword strategy is crucial for reaching the right audience. Listen as we highlight successful global brand localization strategies and share tips for enhancing engagement and profits by tailoring content to resonate with local audiences. Plus, don't miss a valuable travel tip on saving money through tax-free shopping while abroad, making this episode a must-listen for anyone involved in the e-commerce world.

In episode 620 of the Serious Sellers Podcast, Bradley and Jana discuss:

• 00:00 - AI Translation and Listing Localization Strategies
• 01:22 - AI Advancement and the Translation Industry
• 05:59 - Localization of Images for Amazon Listings
• 10:33 - New Emerging E-commerce Marketplaces 
• 12:37 - Product Market Research in Germany
• 17:09 - Optimizing Amazon Listings with AI
• 20:14 - Understanding International Food Standards
• 25:42 - Challenges of Brand Localization
• 26:38 - Global Brand Localization Success Strategies
• 31:22 - Airport Tax Refund Travel Tips

 

Transcript:

Bradley Sutton:

Today we've got Yana back on the show we're recording live from Milan, Italy, and she's going to talk about a wide variety of subjects, such as preparing your listing for Amazon AI translating your listing, other marketplaces and much more. How cool is that? Pretty cool, I think. Sellers have lost thousands of dollars by not knowing that they were hijacked, perhaps on their Amazon listing, or maybe somebody changed their main image or Amazon changed their shipping dimension so they had to pay extra money every order. Helium 10 can actually send you a text message or email if any of these things or other critical events happen to your Amazon account. For more information, go to h10.me forward slash alerts.

 

Hello everybody, and welcome to another episode of the Serious Sellers Podcast by Helium 10. I'm your host, Bradley Sutton, and this is the show. That's a completely BS-free, unscripted and unrehearsed, organic conversation about serious strategies for serious sellers of any level in the e-commerce world. And speaking of the e-commerce world, I am on the other side of the world right now. I'm in Milan, Italy. and we are at the Helium 10 Elite and Avask Workshop, and one of the speakers for today is somebody who is no stranger to the show, Jana. Jana, welcome back.

 

Jana Krekic:

Thank you so much.

 

Bradley Sutton:

Now, this is the first time we've seen Yana, because she's been uh, creating life, you know, uh out there, uh, how's that for you? How's that going for you?

 

Jana Krekic:

um, it's a struggle, but it's something that I'm really grateful for, honestly.

 

Bradley Sutton:

I got an early start. You know she were just talking about how my kids are in their 20’s already. But then again, you know there's advantages of waiting. You know like you got to, you know you and Lazar got to have a. You know just pretty much, go wherever you whenever you want. You see now that it's a little bit different.

 

You can't just go up and like, hey, let's go to Ibiza today.

 

Jana Krekic:

huh yeah, well, I mean, I could go to Ibiza, but I have to be uh home by 9 pm, so that's the small difference.

 

Bradley Sutton:

So we’re not here to talk about parenting. Where’re here to talk about what Yana is an expert at, and that's mainly translations and things. And I think one thing that's been on the mind of many people is wait a minute, with AI do I even need professional translators anymore? I could just go ahead and click a button and now I can have a perfectly optimized listing, thanks to ChatGPT or thanks to AI. Now can you tell us? Is that a true statement?

 

Jana Krekic:

Well, honestly, Bradley, I use AI on daily basis and I think it has changed our lives and made our lives simpler in some ways. But I would disagree with the part where you said to get your listings optimized. I would say it's great to do a summary of your reviews and maybe to help you understand how a product works, maybe to describe what you see on the picture if the image is blurry and you can't tell. But I would stay away from AI when it comes to optimization, keywords and, most importantly, localization, because AI is still it's getting better, definitely, but I still we are years away from this being a fantastic tool that will replace human brain and human touch and human understanding of context.

 

Bradley Sutton:

Yeah, so you actually had some examples of what the drawbacks are. Because, yeah, you know, maybe if, if you have zero budget and you want to have something better than just the Amazon auto translates, sure, maybe you know ai is not is going to put you on the right track, but what's an example of kind of like money you're leaving on the table if you just 100 rely on AI for translation?

 

Jana Krekic:

yeah, I would, I would agree. I would say that you can get it translated. It will be probably mediocre at best. A lot of things will be maybe translated very confusingly, will be poorly translated, but you know, if you're on tight budget, yeah, sure, go ahead and you know, see how that works, because probably it will not be as efficient as something else.

 

But since we're here in Italy, I have a really good example, and this is a pasta machine, whatever clients were selling. So she was selling this in the States and then she was branding is as pasta machine, like in Bella Italia. Now, like for an American like you would probably think that, wow, this is something very authentic, something that will make me help make great posts at home. But what if you want to sell this product in Italy? So what if you tell Italian hey, buy this product because it's in Bella Italia? And you, being an Italian, would be like, what do you mean Bella Italia? I don't understand. We're already in Italia and it is Bella, but I mean I don't get it. So, -like using AI, I tried to play around a little bit with this example and so the first thing I wrote out really nice prompt and I said can you make it sound more localized so that Italians want to buy this machine because it's really top quality and will make amazing pasta. So the AI came up with make pasta in a traditional way, which is better.

 

It's not a literal translation, but it's still so far away from like. What is like when you say Bella Italia in English and to an American. It doesn't send the same message and it doesn't have the same warmth as like. What you would get is, for instance, if you said make pasta like your Nonna or like your grandma used to make. So when you say Nonna to an Italian, it automatically triggers that childhood memories great pasta, warmth.

 

It sells emotions and this is what will sell us your product and it will make it closer to your local audience and Italians will be like well, let me try this because I really want to make you know like pasta like my grandma used to make, because this is probably one of the best memories I've had of my grandma and then they will buy this product. But then AI will not come up with this because AI is not uh, doesn't have. This lacks human touch, literally like. That translation is okay, it's decent, but it lacks that something that will connect you with the target audience and sell your product and convey the same message you'll have back in your home marketplace yeah, so that's.

 

Bradley Sutton:

That's a one good example, and almost in any language there's going to be, you know, similar one thing like that, even in English. So maybe somebody who is an Italian person trying to make an American listing, you know might try to translate an American listing. You know might try to translate some words that just you know, like American or English or American slang that you just can't always just translate from an AI. I mean, definitely, I think AI is better than Google translate. You know that's one of the worst things that you could do for your listing, but it still has a little way to go.

 

Now, um, something interesting we've been seeing lately from Amazon, something that Amazon sellers have been asking for a while is the ability to localize your images easier. You know, in the past sometimes, hey, you have your US ASIN and then you're using the same ASIN in Italy or Spain or wherever, and it would pull in those images and then you try and rewrite the image and then now all of a sudden, your Spanish infographic is showing in US. But now they have this kind of like cool image manager where you can make the images for each marketplace. What are some best practices for how you can quote unquote localize the images. It's not just about the words. Obviously that's a no brainer, you know, don't have Japanese writing in your Amazon USA listing but like even some lifestyle images like would you suggest changing like base to make it more look like you know you don't want, you know, like maybe to have Jap Asian looking models for Japan market or things like that, or what can you talk about? Localization of images?

 

Jana Krekic:

So this is a really good question, but unfortunately, maybe 1% of the brands would actually do that. 90% of the brands would just change the text on images. The images will stay the same, but they will just translate it into different languages, which is fine. It is also one step forward compared to how it used to be. But what is really important depends on the category that you're selling. For instance, if you're selling doorknobs or if you're selling anything that has to do with anything you can find in your bathroom, maybe like a shower organizer or a shower curtain or anything like it.

 

You have to keep in mind that bathrooms in Europe are quite different than bathrooms in the States, and all the brands selling anything like that like from the States to Europe they leave the American doorknobs, they leave the American shower heads, which is fixed to the ceiling. In Europe we have, like this completely different thing, and also this is something that really catches like my attention every single time, because like then these customers will say, well, well, maybe this works like in the states, but like it doesn't fit really well into my shower cabin. I don't have it. I also have a really big bath which you don't get like in the States and like there are like a lot of things that are very, very different also. For instance, like in in Europe, like I want to have a bidet in my bathroom, which is quite usual to have in your home. Uh was in the States, like I have never seen a bidet except the international chain of hotels

 

Bradley Sutton:

My house has one from living in Japan. I was like I need a bidet in my, so I custom uh, imported one and I'm using one in my house well.

 

Jana Krekic:

You're one of the 1000 people I probably have like that smart uh toilet as well, which is my favorite. Um, yeah, so this is like something that brands don't really pay attention to. So, for all the other things, I think you can get away with. For instance, if you're selling something like a I don't like a office supplements, sports, outdoors, all of that, maybe yes, maybe switched with like different models, but I would say that for most of the cases, you can keep the same models. But when you're selling a home appliance or anything that has to do with something which is in your home, keep in mind that homes are very different and people would not be able to relate with this product, understand where to put it, how it works, because they'll have different things in their home. And then, in these cases, I would recommend changing the images, because I think that this would bring you so much more and this might be a deal breaker for your product.

 

Bradley Sutton:

Good point, good point. Now, going back to your topic of listings and things like that. Now I'm going to miss. I'm not going to be able to see your presentation this afternoon because I'm going to record another podcast and we're not going to go over your whole thing here. But can you give some of the main points of what you're going to talk about this afternoon?

 

Jana Krekic:

Right. So I'm going to try to answer the question like where to sell your product next. So a lot of people ask me this, so I decided to dig a little bit deeper into this topic and try to, um, just do like a short summary of like what you should pay attention to. For instance, like you should check, like, what, how much money is this product making on your marketplace? Then I would compare the profit that, for instance, my competitor is making my home market versus what is making. What are they making on the new marketplace? So this is really important. So not only the sales matter, but also profit. If they're making less profit, then they're making their in your home marketplace and selling more than maybe you should. You know, think again of like if you want to do or not. And then, of course, you want to know if you can beat them on the content level, using keywords, using optimization, using a bunch of different things, strategies. This is really important because, like, if you have 10, 15 different top competitors, from my experience and from all the analysis I've done, you can land in top three, four, even in the top best-selling categories on the content level. So that for me alone is worth going there because you can organically be indexed very easily, because a lot of brands that come from the States that sell in Europe they don't really care about their content because their team does not understand it, so somehow, they think it's irrelevant when it isn't. I mean, if it's relevant in English, why is that relevant in another language, right? So if you ask me, like content is really easy to get positioned, like very well in Europe, and then, of course, very important, which a lot of people don't understand the importance of is actually your audience.

 

And then asking your audience, will they buy your product? For instance, we had PickFu also build our international polls for us, and so you would want to like test out, let's say, like you want to go to Spain, you think it's a great product. All the numbers add up, it's fantastic. But will your buyers buy it? Will they be excited about it? So you ask, let's say, 100, 150 people you can target them women, age 40 to 50, amazon Prime, whatever high income and then you ask them would you or somebody you know buy this product, yes or no?

 

Because we had a situation where we had one of the clients wanting to sell something in Germany and everything added up nicely, but the product was just not selling. So I went to my German team and asked them like would you buy this product? It was some sort of like a Mr. and Mrs. thing, like a cup with that. And then I have 12 German team members and every single one of them said no, we're never, never buy this product. And then I'm like why? And they're like because, Jana, it's like such a not a German product to buy. It's like so, not something that we would want to have in our kitchen.

 

And I was like, wow, this is insane. So I went back to the client and I'm like well, I'm sorry, I think the audience hates this, this product. Like you should come up with something different or maybe try another country. So this is something really important. You know the Vox Populi. It's very, very important. All the other parameters are, but this also adds to like to a really big, important part whether you should expand to this country or not.

 

Bradley Sutton:

Where are you seeing a lot of people from US and then, conversely, from Europe. Where are they expanding to? Like, historically it's always been vice versa. All right if I'm in US, you know, obviously if I was doing Canada and Mexico already, but then now I go to Europe. If I'm in Europe, I'm either already selling in US or that's the next one. Is that still the case? Or are you seeing more people go to newer places, like maybe Japan or Middle East or other places?

 

Jana Krekic:

Right. Well, when we're talking about us brand, it's always going to be first Mexico or Canada, because of course geographically it makes no sense. Then it's Europe and then we've seen people try to go to UAE. I think people are very interested in the marketplace. They don't know what to expect but there’re like let me try, because usually like you would not need translations or any like it's not a big of a deal to go to UAE. You can keep your lessons in English, especially if you're targeting expats. That's really important because then they don't do like Arabic keyword research. And then some of the brands they're brave enough they go to Japan.

 

We've seen a lot of crazy products be really successful in Japan, but not all brands are ready for it because of the alphabet and unknown universe and everything. They're really, really afraid of that. But we've seen brands do Japan, especially in the last year. We've seen the increase in Japan and a little bit of like showing interest for the UAE. I think Saudi Arabia is going to be also really interesting. We've talked about this earlier and yeah, but I would say still Europe number one and then more than like. If I compare it to like three years ago, definitely more Japan and more UAE, but still I would say that they want to go to Europe a lot and I'm not sure if any of them, like from the States, would be interested in Australia. Honestly, I think Australia has grown bigger, but because of the Australian sellers, not because of the brands that actually want to expand there.

 

Bradley Sutton:

Are a lot of your US customers expanding to both Walmart and TikTok shop, or do you see more going to one or the other?

 

Jana Krekic:

Yes, I would say Walmart definitely, especially in the last year, year and a half. And then TikTok shop a lot of people want to but they don't know how it works honestly. And then this is I get a lot of questions like we've heard amazing things about TikTok and they've never sell with, like influencers, ugc. They haven't used it a lot, so they're kind of really afraid to test the waters. But I know that the ones that have already sold on TikTok shop had amazing results and it's like completely different universe and of course, you don't know how long it's gonna last. So I'd say, like you know, hop on that train and, just you know, do it. It's really, it's really yeah. I think it's going to be a good ROI, really.

 

Bradley Sutton:

All right, now, switching gears a little bit. Something that I was talking about in my presentation was for me. You know, I I'm not doing too much differently nowadays, even though there's new AI things like Rufus, but there's a lot of people who maybe weren't doing best practices for listing, but now those people are going to be even farther behind because of what Rufus is. And so what are you know? Like you as a company, when you're making a listing for somebody, I believe you probably have in mind things like Rufus, right, even when you're making the listing, what are those things that you guys have in mind? And how are you you're doing things um to make sure that somebody's listing is ready for, for Amazon's AI things?

 

Jana Krekic:

Right. That's also a really good question. Uh, because, um, as you said, a lot of things that you were doing the right way maybe six, seven years ago. They are still relevant, some of them. So we were also.

 

Whenever we're doing listing, we always pay attention to context and how it sounds to the target audience. Uh, so it's not only like when you have your bullets. It's not only like when you have your bullets. It's not only about your key features, how this product and that product. It's also like how you would like talk to the customer.

 

So let's pretend that you have a customer on your page and then you have, like this hello, how we can help you. Like chat box saying, hey, so what do you wanna know about this product? And then maybe let's say this this customer wants to buy something for their daughter, let's say a diaper bag. And then you know, like, maybe ask, like do you travel a lot? Oh, you may be traveling a lot, so maybe put this in the bullet. Or you know, you can go to your reviews and like see what people are talking about, their situations where they use these products, locations where they use this product, because this will make your bullet sound more real and like as if someone wrote the bullet who was your customer.

 

I would think, from a customer standard customer point of view, write things as if you were using this product but and get ideas from the reviews and actually like you are talking to a real person. I think this is like really important. So not just like random sentences like buy a product because this, this, this and this, because it sounds like you're reading a manual. So you're not buying things from like a manual, buying from a real person that loves and enjoys your product.

 

So I would have this mindset with writing listings and, of course, not just using keywords in the title, which is really important. So keyword stuffing has all like been dead for a long time, but even now, like today, I don't see a title that reads nicely, that's also filled with just like random words, maybe like random phrases, but definitely not and this can hurt a lot the algorithm and like actually the power of AI to recognize what your product is about and to offer it to customers, because it will not understand the true value of what your product is bringing and solutions it's offering. So I think it's really important to today sit down and optimize your listings as if you were a customer. I think that is really important To make it more human. I think that is the actual approach you should take.

 

Bradley Sutton:

What else is new in your world as far as things like? One thing I mentioned also is that one of the constants in Amazon is change. Rules are changing. Algorithms are changing, best practice changing. You know fees might change the way you have to do things. Things are always changing in Amazon. It's never a dull moment. So in the last you know couple of years, since maybe the last time you've been on this podcast, what are some other things that you're having to do differently for clients or that you've had to adapt due to something that maybe changed on Amazon?

 

Jana Krekic:

Well, definitely, you always have to keep up with the forbidden words, and we do a lot of supplements, so that's always a very big challenge. Every supplement is different. Every country is different, so, more than ever, you have to really pay attention to that. It's really important Now. When you say bio, for instance, like in Germany, it does not have to mean that it is 100% organic. Earlier it was organic, but now it doesn't have to mean. It means that you have a certificate, but it doesn't mean that it's an organic product. So you can't say and use the word organic actually to make this be like a bio product or vice versa. It's really now, it's really like fine print, uh, what you should read really, really carefully. Um, because I think it's getting more refined of what is allowed and what is not. A couple of years ago it was like, okay, you can't have a health claim, sure, let's just, you know, let's just figure it out like just, uh, you know, come up with a different sentence, but now you're gonna have to use it as a health claim, but you have to be really refined about it because you have to have it in a listing. So I would say that even on European marketplaces, there are lighting years behind us market. It is getting more refined and more difficult to get away with things that you could use like three years ago. When it comes to keyword research, it's now pretty much the same as like. If you use long tail keywords, as you've used for the last six years, you'll be good. Helium 10 now covers all the international marketplaces, which is amazing. It's always the best choice for all of the search volumes, relevancy and all of that. And I would also just add that when you choose a keyword do you want to use in your listing, you shouldn't only pay attention to the search volume, because a lot of sellers would be like, oh okay, 70,000 search volumes, this is amazing, but it's not because the relevancy is what matters. So you need to combine those two because sometimes, like the top on the top list of the search volume keyword is not going to be best to describe what your product actually is.

 

And now more than ever, talking about the AI, it's really important to use relevant keywords and related keywords to your product, because then the AIO will better understand what your product is about and how your customer is typing to get to this product. Maybe sometimes you will think well, maybe this is too broad, but then type it into Amazon and see what is going to be in that search result. Maybe this is where your product should be and this is why you should think of like putting it into your listing. So I think now you should kind of use more of your strategy and brain power like to put it like in your listings than before, when it was like a no-brainer, being like okay, this doesn't describe my product. Next, now, maybe this is something. It's a related search term that people use in order to get to your product because it's like broader but it's still not.

 

Let's say, if you're selling um fitness, like um yoga mat, maybe you're not gonna put like sports equipment.

 

Maybe this is too broad search for you, but maybe something narrower, but even like a little bit broader than what you thought put in a listing, will help ai connect the dots and like to put it all together. It it's also I love SEO. It's like my bread and butter and I know a lot of like Google SEO. So when you also have a Google and you have like that knowledge panel of your company on Google and then on your about company page, or if you have like your own page about me. You should have all of the, let's say, LinkedIn, Facebook, everything that helps Google connect the dots and put it in your knowledge panel so that you're relevant for one thing. This is literally what AI on Amazon will do, just more like a niche, because Amazon is a niche, like in Google, is much broader and it will help AI, or anything that is inside of the search engine, connect the dots and make them realize that your product is relevant for x, y, z things.

 

Bradley Sutton:

Are you guys mainly just doing translations or do you also do things from scratch, where somebody just comes with a product, they don't have a listing in a certain marketplace and you're creating it from scratch?

 

Jana Krekic:

Yeah, absolutely. We do copywriting in all the non-English for our non-English marketplaces, uh, and we do this from scratch and this is also the, the strategy that we have thinking as a buyer and then putting the our you know thoughts and experience into words and selling it to the target audience with localization. So I would say that we are I mean saying that we are translation agency is very simple. It means just like translating words by word, but we actually translate it into emotions and, like you know, we're translating into the sales actually of the product. So, basically, localization is much more different than translation, because you need a little bit of copywriting in that as well, because if you have a sentence like in Bella Italia, if I would translate it will be just like the same sentence in Italian with the Bella Italia, but then you might add something or recreate that single sentence to achieve the same effect as you have in English. So it is a little bit of transcreation, as I would say.

 

Bradley Sutton:

Okay. So then when somebody does come with a new project um, you we've mainly today been talking about listings and maybe some images and titles what's your strategy as far as A-plus content or premium A-plus content, brand story, in the case of making something from scratch, or when we're talking about translating like, maybe they've got a brand story, they've got A-plus content in one, are you completely telling them to completely change it in the other marketplaces? Or what are some strategies for these things you can talk about?

 

Jana Krekic:

That is a really difficult one we have with our clients, because every time when a new client comes like we send them our onboarding questionnaire, we ask them a couple of questions. So we are 100% sure that we are on the same page with the brand and the brand voice. But you'll be surprised how many brands are really scared of changing anything and localize, localizing their A plus, content, brand story, storefront, anything. They're just like translate it, but please make sure to have all of the important, important information there. And then you tell them like, yeah, we're gonna have all the important information, but maybe we change the contest a little bit. And they're like God, no, don't change it. And I'm like but this will resonate better with the target audience. They're like well, maybe just like 10%. So brands are actually afraid of localizing, which doesn't mean that their brand is going to get butchered, it's just going to get a little bit adapted to a new marketplace.

 

And this is what I suggest to all brands to do. You would be surprised of the conversions and everything when someone reads something which is closer to them in German, in French, in Italian, versus a big, gigantic US brand that speaks to Americans in a salesy, fluffy voice. You don't want to sell that type of brand in Europe at all. So that's really really important. Very few listen to what I say, but a lot of them are really, really afraid of doing that. This is a true case study. But those that do really have good results. And we've had one baby brand selling fleece jackets for babies. They had about 60% increase in visits on their webpage because they changed their images and they changed the tone of the voice in their storefront, which was absolutely amazing, and of course, with that followed increase in profit. So don't be afraid to localize your storefronts. Nothing is going to change. The only change we'll see is probably positive change.

 

Bradley Sutton:

For people who want to reach out to you. How can they find you on the interwebs out there?

 

Jana Krekic:

You can find me on LinkedIn. I do a lot of video analysis I really enjoy just like helping brands scale and just pointing out to what they could do better. So LinkedIn, definitely number one. And then definitely you can reach out by email at Jana@ylt-translations.com.

 

Bradley Sutton:

All right, so a few more questions here. Your favorite Helium 10 tool?

 

Jana Krekic:

I think the new Keyword Tracker really I absolutely love it and it's so easy like it's so straightforward, like even I think my seven month I absolutely love it and it's so easy, like it's so straightforward, like even I think my seven month old baby could use it. It's very easy and I love how you can like find out new keywords, you can be ranked for and track all of the competitors like in all different marketplaces. It is really really important for us as from what we do, so I would say that that is like the my probably latest favorite update.

 

Bradley Sutton:

And then something that maybe we don't have, that you're having to get from somewhere else, or some new feature that nobody has, and you've always thought, oh man, this would make my life so much easier If I were to let you be in charge of the Helium 10 product team, what would be your first job for them to make some new tool or some new feature?

 

Jana Krekic:

Yeah, well, first of all, I really have to say big thank you to Helium 10 because they've always listened to what I said. All of the you know, like suggestions, like, for instance, like when you do keyword research, usually it was to put number two as a default for the keywords. And then I went to Boyan, who was then a CEO, and then I told him like look, you need to change this to number one and two because of the big compound words in German that do not come up in the lists. So that was amazing. So I don't have anything like that, like as amazing as that suggestion was, but I'm really happy to see that all international marketplaces are available in Helium 10. And then I would maybe want to see, yeah, like if new marketplaces show up, I would want to like see, like, all the updates for that as well. And then maybe, like you know how you have an opportunity explorer, like for a product.

 

I think that may be combined into like one thing so you have like a better overview of like, of like the statistics, with like numbers and lines going up, because I think sometimes it's kind of visually difficult to visualize how everything is working together when you want to scale to a new marketplace. You do have all these amazing numbers, but I think that visual graphics would do amazingly well because a lot of people get lost in these numbers and then once you have something visually presented for you, you're like wow, this is actually gonna work versus wow, 1000 numbers, 3000 excel sheets, like I don't even know what I'm doing. So like this will like stimulate people into wanting to expand more by having it visually clear for them that this is going like top sales competitors, you know, following all of that, just like in like visually pleasing display, like screen. I'm a very visual type, so this for me is really important. For instance.

 

Bradley Sutton:

Awesome, awesome. All right, what's your last 30 second tip or 60 second strategy you have for the audience? Could be about parenting. It could be about travel. It could be about travel. It could be about Amazon. It could be about anything.

 

Jana Krekic:

Oh, I have a tip about travel for all the US citizens out there. So when you travel to Europe and I know that this year and last year has been an insane number of US Americans, I think only because, like Taylor Swift's concerts, like people going to Europe and Paris, I remember that, because, like Taylor Swift's concerts, like people going to Europe and Paris, I remember that. So, like, when you buy, especially luxury goods they're very expensive you can get tax free at the airports. I know a lot of people don't know about this, but if you buy, let's say, something that costs 1000 euros, you get, in Italy, 12% back, cash back. So if you buy that you get a receipt and then you take it to the airport and then before you hop on a plane, you show the item you bought. So don't put it in your checked-in bag, you have to show it and then, on spot, you will get cash back. That there can be a lot of money sometimes.

 

Bradley Sutton:

Awesome, awesome. All right, a cool travel uh tip. I just recently did something like that. I think I was in Japan or or Korea, uh, and even a couple services I had paid tax, but then there was like a machine in Korea and I was able to get it back.

 

Jana Krekic:

I was surprised because a lot of people that really do travel a lot they didn't know about this. So I'm like you know what I'm going to say. It maybe some of you know, but I'm sure a lot of you don't. So I think, free money, why not?

 

Bradley Sutton:

Awesome, Awesome. Well, Jana, it's good to connect with you again. I look forward to again you know seeing you at conferences, like we always used to in the past, and wish you the most of success.

 

Jana Krekic:

Thank you so much for having me always a pleasure to catch up.

 

 

Helium 10 Buzz 12/5/24: 2025 Amazon FBA Fees | Biggest Black Friday-Cyber Monday Ever | Bundling Policy Updates

In this week’s buzzing episode, new updated Amazon FBA fees for 2025, the results of Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2024, and reimbursements for coupons for sellers.

e’re back with another episode of the Weekly Buzz with Helium 10’s Principal Brand Evangelist, Carrie Miller. Every week, we cover the latest breaking news in the Amazon, Walmart, and E-commerce space, talk about Helium 10’s newest features, and provide a training tip for the week for serious sellers of any level.

Updates to 2025 fees for Buy with Prime, Multi-Channel Fulfillment, Amazon Warehousing and Distribution, and Supply Chain by Amazon Managed Service

Amazon’s Black Friday Week and Cyber Monday deal event was its biggest Thanksgiving holiday shopping event ever
https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/black-friday-sales-results-amazon-online-shopping

Walmart Marketplace Records Record Black Friday-Cyber Monday Sales
https://www.pymnts.com/walmart/2024/walmart-marketplace-records-record-black-friday-cyber-monday-sales/

New Feature to Edit Coupon Discounts
Sellers are now able to increase discount amounts for active coupons without the need to recreate the coupon. This feature makes it easier for you to manage your promotions and helps you to adjust to changes in inventory levels.

Limited-time coupon fee reimbursement for new FBA selection
From now through January 31, 2025, sellers will receive an automatic reimbursement of the $0.60-per-redemption coupon fee for coupons on newly launched Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) selection. The promotion applies to FBA offers on products that first became buyable after November 2, 2024. Reimbursements will be automatically disbursed to your Seller Central account by February 28, 2025.

Amazon’s note on the recent Product Bundling Policy update

This episode also introduces new features from Helium 10, including updates to our Profitability Calculator for TikTok influencer promotions, which could be a game-changer for sellers looking to expand their reach. Additionally, we discuss the innovative Listing Builder AI's keyword performance feature, which offers in-depth insights into keyword usage and optimization strategies, empowering sellers to enhance their Amazon product listings effectively. Tune in again next week to stay ahead in the ever-evolving landscape of Amazon, Walmart, and the E-commerce world.

In this episode of the Weekly Buzz by Helium 10, Bradley covers:

• 00:45 - 2025 Amazon Fees
• 04:04 - Biggest Ever Black Friday-Cyber Monday
• 06:22 - Walmart 3P Record Growth
• 08:21 - Edit Coupon Discounts
• 09:05 - Coupon Reimbursements
• 09:55 - Bundling Policy Update
• 12:20 - Helium 10 New Feature Alerts
• 14:01 - Training Tip: Listing Builder - Keyword Performance

► Instagram: instagram.com/serioussellerspodcast

► Free Amazon Seller Chrome Extension: https://h10.me/extension

► Sign Up For Helium 10: https://h10.me/signup  (Use SSP10 To Save 10% For Life)

► Learn How To Sell on Amazon: https://h10.me/ft

► Watch The Podcasts On Youtube: youtube.com/@Helium10/videos

Transcript

Carrie Miller:

New Amazon fees for 2025, the results of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and reimbursements for coupons for some sellers. All of this and more on this week's episode of the Weekly Buzz.

Bradley Sutton:

How cool is that? Pretty cool, I think. Hello everybody, and welcome to another episode of the Serious Sellers Podcast by Helium 10. I'm your host, Bradley Sutton, and this is the show. That is our Helium 10 Weekly Buzz, where we give you a rundown of all the news stories that are going on in the Amazon, Walmart and e-commerce world. We highlight the latest new feature alerts from Helium 10, and we review a training tip of the week that'll give you serious strategies for serious sellers of any level in the e-commerce world. Now, today, our host is going to be Carrie Miller. So, Carrie, take it away and let us know what's buzzing.

Carrie Miller:

All right, let's go ahead and get into the first article, which is about Amazon fees that are starting in 2025. So there's some more fees that have come out and there are some increases and there are some discounts in fees. So let's go ahead and go over what was posted in Seller Central. Now, in this first section here, they actually talk a lot about all the things that they've done to improve all these different services over the last year, and so you've got all that information. But then, if you scroll further down, it gets into the nitty gritty details, which is what I wanted to share with you today. And so the first thing that they talk about is AWD, which is Amazon Warehouse Distribution, which they seem to want to incentivize sellers to use AWD. And so here is the update A new AWD smart storage option will provide a 10% discount on your AWD storage fees If you maintain sufficient levels of inventory. This discount brings fees down to as low as 43 cents per cubic foot per month, and Amazon will also separate the AWD processing fee into inbound and outbound processing fees, rather than the current approach, which is charging both together. So these changes are effective April 1st of 2025. And for details you can actually go and there's a link there, and so this should be in your seller central. There's a link to more of details about the fees, all right, so the next one is MCD, which is multi-channel distribution. Okay, so MCD outbound transportation fees will move from a fixed fee to a distance-based fee, and this will lower fees for shorter distances and increase them for longer ones. So inventory replenished into Amazon, though, will not be affected by this change and will continue to be charged a fixed transportation fee that they were before and it will not be distance-based. So these changes are going to be effective April 1st of 2025. And then there's also a link still in seller central that will give you a little bit more details on all of that, if you need more information about that.

Carrie Miller:

Okay, and then the next part. Here it says we're updating the discounts for sellers who choose the supply chain by Amazon managed services to include 20% off of AWD storage fees and 10% off of AWD storage or transportation fees from AWD to FBA. The managed option for supply chain by Amazon provides a simplified experience where Amazon coordinates the end-to-end supply chain logistics, warehousing and fulfillment and these changes are going to be effective April 1st 2025 also, and then you can go in and get more details on that as well. And then MCF, multi-channel fulfillment. I know a lot of people use this. They're actually going to increase their fees by 3.5% on average and they say this is less than the average of 5.9% that some other carriers use. For units with shipping weights of one pound or less. The fees are actually going to remain unchanged for standard delivery speed and for units that exceed one pound, the fee increase will vary depending on the unit size and weight, and these changes are effective January 15th, so a lot sooner of 2025. And for details about the changes, you can actually go to the little link there that they give in uh, in seller central as well. And then the finally, we're going to talk about buy with prime and any fees there, and it looks like buy with prime there's going to be no increase to the buy with prime service fee and fulfillment fees. For some large standard size units it actually is going to decrease. So they're going to continue to offer the one to two day delivery at rates that are comparable to the three to five day standard delivery rates on other carriers, and so it'll still kind of all be the same, but maybe there will be some discounts, so that change is going to be effective January 15th. So you can check for more details in the link that they provided in there as well.

Carrie Miller:

All right, so let's go ahead and get into the second article of the day, which is about Black Friday, cyber Monday. For Amazon, this is pretty exciting news and I'll just go ahead and share this article and that is that Amazon's Black Friday week and Cyber Monday deals. It was their biggest deals event ever and if we scroll down, we can see a little bit more details in this actual article and it said Amazon announced that it's Black Friday week and Cyber Monday holiday shopping event from November 21st through December 2nd was its biggest ever compared to the same 12 day period ending on Cyber Monday in prior years. The deal event saw record sales and a record number of items sold. And then it actually, if you go further down in this article, it says the black Friday week and cyber Monday holiday shopping event was also the largest ever for independent sellers in Amazon's store, most of which are small, medium sized businesses. More than 60% of sales in Amazon's the Amazon store during the event were from independent sellers, so third party sellers anyone out there who sells on Amazon.

Carrie Miller:

Was this the story for you? Did you see a huge increase this year in your sales? I think that's pretty interesting to take a look at. And then, if we go further down, it goes to talk about some maybe contributing factors that might've contributed to this being kind of one of the biggest events ever, and it basically has to do with their AI features for customers. They're a powered assistant, rufus, that helps, you know, helps you kind of ask questions and find things quickly, and then they also have AI shopping guides that may, you know, make the decision-making process a little bit easier by the by consolidating the details of the products and breaking down technical terms. And then also Amazon lens, a visual shopping tool that allows you to just identify products with a photo, a screenshot or a barcode, and then Find on Amazon feature that lets shoppers discover comparable products while browsing online. So I think that you know they're pretty happy about the things that they did here for you know, just boosting Amazon sales during this time. So I'm really interested to know, if you're an Amazon seller, was this Black Friday and Cyber Monday your biggest sales year ever? For me, it certainly was. We actually did 32% more than we did last year on Black Friday, Cyber Monday weekend, so we really just calculated that timeframe. So I'm curious to know if you put it in the comments, that would be great. Did you do better or worse this year in for Cyber Monday and Black Friday?

Carrie Miller:

Okay, so let's go ahead and go to the next article, and that is actually kind of related, and it's Walmart Marketplace. So Walmart Marketplace actually also had record sales in this last Black Friday, cyber Monday, Walmart Marketplace saw its highest ever sales day and also set a single day conversion rate record during the period between November 25th and December 2nd. Walmart goes further on and they say in this article if you can scroll and see, it's at the top here. Walmart says that this record comes as the company's e-commerce business is experiencing substantial growth. During its most recent quarter, that side of the business grew 22%, with Walmart marketplace sales increasing 43%, marking the fifth quarter in a row with more than 30% sales growth. So they're definitely growing.

Carrie Miller:

I'm curious to know if any of you are actually selling on Walmart and you've seen this growth as well, and you saw a huge increase in what happened on Cyber Monday and Black Friday. In addition, the company if you can just scroll down a little bit more. The company says that the marketplace is also gaining more high income shoppers. During its last quarter, around 75% of the company's market share gains came from households earning upwards of 100,000 annually, and that's actually interesting to note, because I do have people ask me quite often if they should put a higher priced item on there, and it looks like the demographics might be changing, for the online portion at least, so you might be able to sell some higher priced products as well on Walmart. So that should be something to keep an eye on. So for any of you who have kind of like those premium products, it looks like they are selling some of those, and then they further kind of said into this article they said that the these gains create exciting opportunities for premium brands and categories on our marketplace, because higher income customers are showing a higher propensity to spend on both discretionary and grocery purchases, and I think that's really, you know, kind of convenient for a lot of people. They want to buy things kind of all at the same time. So very, very good on Walmart's part to kind of work on combining those. I think it's only a matter of time and you'll see a lot more sales there. All right.

Carrie Miller:

So the next thing is was also kind of a feature update in seller central, and this is the coupons. Okay, so now the new feature update is that you can actually edit coupons and you weren't able to do this before, but you're now able to increase the discount amounts for active coupons without the need to recreate the coupon. This feature makes it easier for you to manage your promotions and it helps you to adjust to the changes in inventory levels. So if you're selling out, you can kind of work on that. But you have to note, to maintain customer trust, you can only edit coupons to increase discounts. So I don't know how helpful that is for some of you, but that's really the way they made it, so you don't have to kind of recreate the whole thing.

Carrie Miller:

So the next thing that we want to share about and this is also in Seller Central, that was talked about in Seller Central and it is a limited time coupon fee reimbursement for new FBA selections. So from now until January 31st 2025, you're going to receive an automatic reimbursement for the 60 cent per redemption coupon fee for coupons on newly launched fulfilled by amazon selection. So this is especially helpful for anyone who's like seasonal and you launched a bunch of new things and you did some coupons on there, so you can get reimbursed for those. The promotion applies to FBA offers on products that first became viable after November 2nd 2024 and reimbursements will automatically be dispersed to your seller central account by February 28th of 2025. So anyone who is seasonal and kind of just launched products in this last November, this would be a great thing to take advantage of. I think it actually is. So that's pretty cool information right there, okay.

Carrie Miller:

And then the next thing and this is the last kind of piece of news, but not the least this is about the Amazon bundling clarification. They kind of put a clarification out because when they announced this in October of 2024, there was a lot of confusion around it. So basically, during that time, amazon updated the product bundling policy for consumables to ensure bundle products are safe, authentic and meet stricter handling standards, and this change reflected the higher safety requirements for items like food, skincare and products for children or pets. And Amazon heard a lot of feedback from sellers that the new policy was really confusing. So we're gonna go into the nitty gritty details of this, all right. So the first thing clarification that they're clarifying is all bundles must be product configurations packaged by the original manufacturer for the brand. For example, you can list a bundle that includes Dawn dish spray and display refills, which was originally packaged by Dawn. However, you cannot list a bundle of Dawn dish spray and dish spray refills that yourself have repackaged. Okay, you also cannot create your own bundle combining Dawn products with gloves, sponges and anything else from other manufacturers.

Carrie Miller:

And then the next one is about products. Products may be reconfigured and repackaged as bundles if you have a letter of authorization from a brand owner or manufacturer granting permission to repackage. All products in a bundle must belong to the same brand and the bundles must be branded with the same brand name as the products. Okay, so that's something to note. Now we actually had Ashlyn had an insurance. She did a module in our Freedom Ticket 4.0 where she talks more in detail about this topic and you know what not to do because it is a liability and some somewhat against the rules. So if you want to learn more about repackaging stuff, you can actually go check out our bonus modules in Freedom Ticket 4.0 in that course, or actually it's in our regular modules in there, so you can actually see that.

Carrie Miller:

And then the last thing, but not least, in here that we wanna point out about this bundling is that gift items listed within the gift basket category may contain products from multiple brands that are physically bundled together for customers in a manner suitable for gifting. So there are some exceptions, and so I can see how this could potentially be a little bit confusing. So definitely good to kind of check out this information if you are bundling. This is especially helpful for anyone who's kind of a wholesaler or reseller. Um, so you know what the rules are. So the next thing that I want to do is I'm actually going to show you, uh, some feature updates. So Helium 10, we're always improving and always coming out with new tools and new, new support for sellers, and one thing that we are recommending is that sellers diversify to other platforms. So we have a lot of Walmart content and a lot of Walmart tools. We obviously were Amazon, but then also we wanted to give you some tools for TikTok, and so I'm going to go ahead and show you in here this is our actual, our coffin shelf listing right here.

Carrie Miller:

But say, you wanted to actually start selling on TikTok shop and sometimes you want to know what the data is for TikTok shop, and so what we actually did is we created a Profitability Calculator for TikTok shop and this is going to help you to take your Amazon products and kind of calculate and see if you could be profitable on TikTok shop. So when you go onto your Amazon listing and pull this, you can see that it pulls in the price and all of the dimensions here and then you can put in your manufacturing costs, you can put in your freight costs and then it gives you a spot here for the commission. So this is what you would pay for influencers to share your products within TikTok shop, and so we put it at 20%. But you know it depends. Sometimes people start at 30%, some people will give 10%, and so you just put that in there to calculate your profitability. You would also want to put your estimated time in storage and kind of storage fees for fulfillment by TikTok, and then you can put any duties and tariffs in here and other costs and you can calculate pretty easily your profit on TikTok. So that is something that you should check out if you haven't started on selling on TikTok, or even if you are and you want to kind of add more products and you want to just see how they would do on TikTok shop, that is a great place to take a look.

Carrie Miller:

And finally, we are getting into our strategy of the week and I wanted to do the strategy of the week in the Listing Builder AI. We have a lot of really cool features that are in the Listing Builder AI. So I've actually already pulled it up here for you to see, and this is just an example of all the amazing stuff that we have. Just kind of one example and that is keyword performance. So we put in our list here and you can see that you have the root words and then we also have keyword phrases. So you put in the keyword phrases and then it kind of automatically kind of divvies out these one root words to kind of show you what those are.

Carrie Miller:

But if you want to go in even more detail to see what the keyword performance is, you can actually pull up the keyword performance by clicking on that and it's going to show you all the root words here, so you can see all the root words there. And then you can also see over here. Say, for example, if we check, we want to see all the keyword phrases that have Gothic in it, and so we can kind of check that and hit the filter button and then what you're going to see is all the phrases with coffin in it, and then you can see exactly where it is. It's in the exact phrase exact phrase. You can see it's plural, singular field, field, broad. So it's kind of a broad match there, so not in the exact phrase form. So you can basically check any of these and kind of filter any of these different words that you want to see more details about and how you've used it and where you've used it, and you can also.

Carrie Miller:

What's something that's great about Listing Builder is you can also go ahead and you know you can pretty much put any listing in here, and so you can put your competitors in here and you can analyze their, their keyword performance and see where they're putting their most important keywords um, in the exact phrase and all that. So, um, it still gives you search volume here, the keyword sales, the click share, the title density and the organic rank of that listing. So it's definitely very helpful and just a good place to kind of see where all of your placements are and it gives you just kind of a good overview to see how well you're optimizing your listing. I think this is an amazing tool that you can use and filter and kind of just see where everything's at. So if you haven't tried it out, you should definitely trust uh, try out our Listing Builder AI. That's just one of the amazing features. There's some other competitor kind of comparison features in there as well.

Carrie Miller:

All right, so that is all that I have for you this week on the Weekly Buzz. Hopefully this was very helpful. I think we have a lot of great information in here today that you can kind of take a look at and just monitor, but next week Bradley Sutton should be back, so we'll see you again next week to see what's buzzing. Bye, everyone.

#619 - From War Stories to Amazon Strategies

In this episode, we’ll discuss the inspiring story of a 1970s war veteran turned Amazon seller who achieved six-figure success and 40% profit margins—proof that it’s never too late to start crushing it on Amazon.

Imagine transitioning from a life on the battlefield to thriving in the world of e-commerce. That's the remarkable journey of our guest, Andy Ackroyd, who shares his life's extraordinary path from being a young soldier in the Rhodesian Bush War to becoming a successful Amazon seller. Raised in a close-knit community in Zimbabwe, Andy's early years were defined by outdoor adventures and the profound lessons of resilience learned amidst warfare. His gripping tales of survival and fortitude during the war provide a powerful backdrop to his unexpected foray into the world of Amazon-selling —a journey filled with both challenges and triumphs.

Our conversation with Andy uncovers his relentless adaptability as he navigated personal and professional shifts across continents—from Zimbabwe and South Africa to the Middle East and Australia. It was in Australia that his interest in Amazon and e-commerce sparked, influenced by a charismatic entrepreneur, leading him to venture into Amazon sales. Andy opens up about the trials of launching products, overcoming patent hurdles, and the importance of nurturing strong partnerships with Chinese suppliers. His story is not just about survival but about thriving amidst change and harnessing opportunities in an ever-evolving marketplace.

Listeners will gain invaluable insights into strategies for Amazon-selling success, including the effective use of tools like Helium 10 and courses like Freedom Ticket. Andy discusses the significance of monitoring key metrics, influencer marketing, and platform diversification to stay ahead of market trends. His experiences highlight the importance of personal growth, continuous learning, and the power of building meaningful relationships within the Amazon seller community. Join us as we explore Andy’s journey and draw lessons from his unique story that are both inspiring and instructive for aspiring and experienced sellers alike.

In episode 619 of the Serious Sellers Podcast, Bradley and Andy discuss:

• 00:00 - Warrior Turned Successful Amazon Seller
• 01:10 - Amazon Entrepreneur's Childhood in Zimbabwe
• 03:05 - Rhodesian Bush War Stories
• 04:26 - How Andy Got Started On Amazon
• 13:13 - Strategies for Amazon Success
• 18:25 - Amazon Income for Travel and Growth
• 19:44 - Foreign Friendship and More Amazon Strategies
• 22:56 - Exploring International E-Commerce Platforms
• 26:16 - Invest in Yourself for Amazon Success
• 31:44 - Invest in Yourself, Nurture Relationships
• 35:29 - Full Circle Experience For Andy

► Instagram: instagram.com/serioussellerspodcast

► Free Amazon Seller Chrome Extension: https://h10.me/extension

► Sign Up For Helium 10: https://h10.me/signup  (Use SSP10 To Save 10% For Life)

► Learn How To Sell on Amazon: https://h10.me/ft

► Watch The Podcasts On YouTube: youtube.com/@Helium10/videos

#618 - Q4 Amazon Keyword Research

Are you or your competitors generating sales on hidden keywords this December? Join us in this step-by-step walkthrough to uncover these keywords and start driving traffic and conversions this holiday season!

What if you could uncover the hidden keywords that skyrocket your Amazon sales this December? Join Bradley Sutton, as he reveals advanced strategies tailored for Amazon sellers eager to maximize their holiday profits. This episode of the Serious Sellers Podcast by Helium 10 guides you through a meticulous process of identifying high-conversion unique keywords using tools like Helium 10 and Amazon Seller Central. Discover the secrets to refining your keyword strategy, targeting specific product variations, and ensuring your listings are primed for maximum visibility during the peak holiday season.

We dive into the art of finding new and previously uncharted keywords that could be the key to unlocking hidden sales opportunities on Amazon. By analyzing historical keyword trends and leveraging Helium 10's powerful tools like Cerebro, you'll learn how to uncover terms that have driven past successes, even with limited search volume data. The episode emphasizes the importance of prioritizing high-performing keywords and offers tips on refining your searches to focus on product variations that resonate with your audience.

Boosting your product's visibility on Amazon requires more than just smart keyword selection; it demands effective optimization techniques. Learn how to generate a targeted list of keywords and use Helium 10’s Index Checker to ensure your listings are searchable. Uncover strategies for updating your product descriptions with new keywords and employing traffic strategies to improve rankings. This episode equips you with the tools and insights necessary to create compelling product narratives that captivate your audience and enhance your sales efforts.

In episode 618 of the Serious Sellers Podcast, Bradley discusses:

• 01:01 - Historical Keyword Research for December Sales
• 07:52 - Identifying New Unique Keywords for Amazon
• 12:55 - Finding Keywords for the Project X Products
• 19:44 - Analyzing Historical Keyword Rankings
• 20:28 - Optimizing Keywords for Amazon Indexing
• 26:46 - Running Keywords For Amazon Advertising
• 30:32 - Optimizing Amazon Keywords Inside Listing Builder
• 31:28 - Amazon Keyword Research Strategies Overview
• 35:11 - Keyword Optimization for Amazon Sales

► Instagram: instagram.com/serioussellerspodcast

► Free Amazon Seller Chrome Extension: https://h10.me/extension

► Sign Up For Helium 10: https://h10.me/signup  (Use SSP10 To Save 10% For Life)

► Learn How To Sell on Amazon: https://h10.me/ft

► Watch The Podcasts On YouTube: youtube.com/@Helium10/videos