Trust the Data Podcast Archives

Follow The Data Podcast: Finding Success in E-Commerce with Ashley Armstrong

How does one pave their way into the world of e-commerce? We spoke with Ashley Armstrong to find out.

Since the beginning of 2020, the popularity of e-commerce has skyrocketed. Finding Success in E-Commerce can be as easy as one, two, three.

After years of steady growth, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated online businesses to new heights. With increasing interest from media to shine a spotlight on the industry, even more people have recognized the limitless potential that comes with selling on Amazon.

But not everyone is jumping right in, even after conducting the research. Why?

Undoubtedly, fear of failure is a leading reason and one that’s entirely fair. But how do we overcome that fear, and what steps should be taken to mitigate risks?

We dialed up Ashley Armstrong, an e-commerce rockstar with 10+ years of experience in online businesses, to discuss these issues.

Loyal listeners of the Follow The Data podcast may recognize Ashley, as this isn’t her first time on the show. Last time, we honed on the topic of how to grow businesses through virtual assistants. This time, we focus the conversation on more big-picture ideas.

Tune in for an in-depth discussion on overcoming fear, the importance of building a support system, and how she’s taking on a leadership role to bring together women in e-commerce.

HIGHLIGHTS

Get to know Ashley Armstrong and what she’s been up to since we last spoke. (0:00)

With more than a decade in e-commerce in a variety of roles, Ashley’s one of the best resources in the Amazon selling space. We check in on what she’s been up to over the pandemic, with so many changes in e-commerce in such a short span. Finding Success in E-Commerce can be done.

As more people recognize the tremendous opportunity that comes with selling online, what’s the number one reason people don’t make the leap into e-commerce? (6:39)

With so many green lights for the industry, why aren’t more people taking the leap into e-commerce? Fear. Fear of failure or the doubts that come with learning something new can create the devil on your shoulder, telling you all the reasons not to do something big.

Amazon sellers come from all types of backgrounds, with each one providing valuable lessons to guide them to success. How did Ashley’s background in athletics work to her advantage? (8:49)

One of the beauties of e-commerce is that it’s open to people that from diverse backgrounds. And people are able to use their life experiences as resources that fuel them to success. With a background in sports, Ashley explains the crossover of the athlete’s mindset and how it applies to e-commerce.

We’ve talked about how fear can be your worst enemy when it comes to starting an online business. From the perspective of a potential entrepreneur, how do we overcome that fear? (20:09)

Unfortunately, you can’t separate the determination for success from the fear of failure regarding e-commerce. Cam and Ashley break down how to cope with fear and certain opportunities to consider before taking that step forward.

How can you turn your losses into lessons that fuel long-term e-commerce success? (32:57)

While we can work with fear and take strategic steps to mitigate risk, failure is not something that can be eliminated entirely. In fact, some of the more prominent names in e-commerce have experienced failure at some point. Ashley tells us about a time she took a loss and used it to her advantage.

Why has Ashley pivoted to running a seller community for women? (39:04)

Throughout our discussion, we’ve mentioned how important it can be to have a support system. Whether it’s about product research, strategy, or personal support to take care of our mental and emotional health, it’s crucial to be around people who have your back.

Online, it can be very much a lone wolf mentality. Additionally, finding female representation in the Amazon selling space can cause someone to feel like even more of an outcast. As the Amazon seller community grows larger, Ashley’s looking to fill the gap for representation from women in e-commerce. Finding Success in E-Commerce is great.

With her extensive background and great knowledge, we look forward to seeing that community grow.

While we typically talk more nuts and bolts of Amazon, such as product research or PPC, understanding the barriers that prevent aspiring entrepreneurs from achieving their dreams and how to overcome fear and doubt is an essential conversation worth having.

As always, a huge thanks to Ashley for taking the time to share her vast knowledge with us. You can stay in touch with her on her website or by joining her network for women in e-commerce.

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Amazon Marketplace with Ecom Dave: Following the Data

Are you getting started in the Amazon Marketplace or thinking about launching your own online business? We spoke with Ecom Dave to discuss how to kickstart an Amazon business in 2021 and how to avoid common mistakes that get in the way.

Over the past 18 months or so, the Amazon marketplace has made plenty of waves. Whether it’s been about record-setting numbers, expansion into new countries, or competitors such as Shopify or Walmart looking to duplicate its success, there’s plenty of buzz on the topic. Here are some tips to getting started on amazon.

To anyone who likes making money (and who doesn’t?), this may seem like your signal to get in on the action. There’s plenty of opportunity on Amazon and the industry is still growing rapidly.

But before jumping in headfirst, there are plenty of considerations to make.

As with most things that go through massively evolving growth, things change quickly. As recently as 5 or 10 years ago, just starting an Amazon business may have been enough to fast track your success.

With a more mature marketplace, new sellers must enter more strategically than in the past.

That’s why we spoke with Ecom Dave, a superstar seller and seller mentor in the Amazon community. He takes us through his journey as a seller, how Amazon has evolved over the years, and how sellers can build their business the right way.

Tune in to the whole conversation for a free-flowing conversation packed with plenty of helpful Amazon Marketplace tidbits!

HIGHLIGHTS

Get to know Ecom Dave and his experience with e-commerce. (0:00)

If you aren’t familiar with Ecom Dave, take a second to learn his fascinating journey from bartending and failing at his first attempt at selling on Amazon to launch a successful online business and becoming one of the biggest names in the Amazon seller community.

What mistakes are the new wave of Amazon sellers making? (9:31)

When learning a new skill, knowing what not to do can be as critical as knowing what to do. Steering clear of common missteps can make the difference between a dud and a stud, with thousands of dollars at stake. Dave walks us through his process and thinking while assisting new sellers and where many are going wrong.

How getting started on amazon impacted Dave’s lifestyle? (13:25)

Let’s be real. Most of us don’t work because we love the work. We work to afford the best lifestyle we want.

One of the main allures of selling on Amazon is the ability to be your own boss, build your business, and live the life you’ve always wanted. That’s certainly the case for Dave, who walks us through his daily routine compared to before he began selling on Amazon.

Dave walks us through what aspects he believes have personally contributed to his Amazon business? (22:10)

A seller’s mentality at approaching their business plays a tremendous factor in the outcome of the business. When running your own business, your business’s success or failure and overall imprint becomes inescapably related to person running it.

The Amazon seller community is quite diverse in terms of mentality and approach, so while there certainly is no “one-size-fits-all” mentality, each person’s strengths or weaknesses can make an impact on their business. Getting started on amazon can have a large impact. Dave explains how his personality and experiences played a role in his ultimate success.

Before we say goodbye, Dave offers some final advice for Amazon sellers who are kicking off their FBA careers. (27:00)

If we were to dive into all the aspects that go into selling, the Follow The Data podcast would be longer than an episode of the Joe Rogan show. So before the conclusion of this conversation, we asked Dave what other tips or topics he’d like to cover that hadn’t been covered already.

A huge thanks to Dave for taking the time to share his valuable expertise. For more tips and tricks to starting and succeeding on Amazon, check out his website! You can also connect with Dave on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

As always, drop your email below to receive the latest Amazon seller news and updates!

Follow The Data: From Part-Time Amazon Seller to Running an E-Commerce Agency

Fernando Campos talks through lessons learned developing a wildly-successful Amazon agency, and how Amazon sellers can adopt the same strategies in 2021+ to grow their own e-commerce businesses.

In our latest conversation on how to effectively grow and scale online businesses in 2021, Follow the Data host Cam Yoder chats with Fernando Campos, co-founder of MarketplaceOps, an agency that helps e-commerce brands maximize their potential.

Fernando is a true Amazon success story, and has progressed from a part-time Amazon seller to starting an agency that helps e-commerce brands accelerate their growth through proven seller practices.

Fernando’s sophisticated understanding of the processes that go into building a brand based on his years of experience is extraordinary. With a background in tech and specializations in operations, product development, and finance, he is certainly a thought leader in brand growth.

Tune in for expert advice, advanced seller strategies, and areas of emphasis to get an edge on your competition!

HIGHLIGHTS

Get to know Fernando, who’s evolved from a part-time seller to helping run a successful eCommerce agency. (0:18)

Welcome back, Fernando! We had Fernando on the podcast way back in 2018, and much has changed in three years. Since then, he’s found even greater success in e-commerce as the industry continues to revolve. Find out Fernando’s history and why he’s an authority on elevating eCommerce businesses on a massive scale.

After building successful Amazon brands of his own, why make the leap to starting an agency? (2:13)

Likely, we’ve all heard the adage, “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.” So why make the switch from running your own business to helping manage and promote others? Fernando walks us through his experience and why he decided to start an agency for online companies.

Knowing what Fernando knows now, what advice would Fernando give himself before starting his agency? (12:28)

Hindsight is 20/20, but unfortunately, we have to gain experience before gaining the insights. In e-commerce, few are willing to share details about their success and failures. Luckily, Fernando lets us in on some lessons he’s learned since he was a beginner in e-commerce.

The importance of generating traffic from outside of Amazon has fluctuated over previous years. How and who should focus on external traffic? (18:05)

There are many conflicting thoughts regarding the importance of driving external traffic in the Amazon seller community. As selling on Amazon continues to be more nuanced, sellers should be aware of this hot topic from trusted minds. Hear Fernando’s tips and advice not just on how to create external traffic, but who should be emphasizing this practice.

Based on current trends and habits, what do the next few years of e-commerce look like? (27:31)

If the last year has proven anything, it’s shown how difficult predicting the future can be. However, those with a finger on the pulse regarding the past and present of e-commerce have a distinct advantage on what lies ahead.

Of course, we are grateful for Fernando hopping on the show and sharing his expertise. We hope his tips, tricks, and strategies help you take the next step to scale your Amazon business. You can get in touch with him through email at fernando@marketplaceops.com. Be sure to check out MarketplaceOps to learn more about their management and strategy offerings.

Want the latest Amazon news and updates sent to your inbox? Drop your email below to always be in the know!

Follow The Data: Creating A Distinctive Brand Identity With Emma Schermer Tamir

On this episode of Follow The Data, host Cam Yoder chats with Emma Schermer Tamir to discuss how to create a distinctive Amazon brand identity.

In 2021, branding is key for building and expanding your Amazon business.

Emma Schermer Tamir, owner and marketing expert of Marketing by Emma, is sharing her expertise on product branding and listing optimization in this episode of Follow The Data.

Branding is VITAL to the current and future success of any Amazon product. Emma’s here to give advice on principles to elevate the experience customers get from a product’s branding, and how a listing plays a direct role in that experience.

It’s crucial to remember that your brand is more than your logo and packaging. Everything you do creates your brand identity, whether it’s

Tune into this week’s episode to learn tips and tricks for maximizing your brand and optimizing your copywriting.

HIGHLIGHTS

What are the major areas of focus for copywriting and Amazon listing changes in 2021? (3:19)

As Amazon continues to evolve, sellers should be aware of the changing landscape. Periodically, it’s worth re-examining your listing’s copy to ensure you’re following Amazon style guidelines, utilizing proper tactics, and avoiding breaking any of the guidelines.

What does a good, well-established brand identity look like? (13:35)

We’re certainly aware that much of the discussion regarding branding can seem vague or generalized, making it difficult to learn the specifics. Before we dive deeper into the topic of branding, Emma provides her expert opinions on what goes into developing a strong brand identity.

Why is branding so important on Amazon? What’s the outcome of a strong brand? (21:51)

Within the Amazon marketplace, space for communicating your branding is limited and also given to all of your competitors. So what makes it so important? In short, the same reason it’s demanding is the same reason why it’s invaluable. Emma breaks down the benefits of owning a strong, unique brand identity.

Before saying goodbye, Emma provides a few final thoughts and helpful advice to remember while building your Amazon brand identity. (36:19)

Emma leaves us with a few gems of advice that should always be on your mind when considering your branding. As she mentions, your brand identity is happening whether you’re consciously crafting your brand or not. Creating your brand identity with a thoughtful, intentional strategy can pay off to help you stand out from the crowd.

A special thanks to Emma for sharing her expertise on building your Amazon brand identity. But her knowledge isn’t the only value you can gain from her.

In addition to all of the incredible information Emma gives in this episode, she provides listeners of Follow The Data with a FREE listing analysis. Head here to get your listing analyzed and checked over from one of the top minds in the Amazon game: https://marketingbyemma.com/freeanalysis.

Lastly, drop your email below to receive the latest tips, tricks, and news about selling on Amazon!

Expert Predictions for Amazon FBA 2021: How Amazon & Ecommerce Will Change?

What’s ahead for Amazon FBA in 2021? How will Amazon change? What will it mean to be an eCommerce entrepreneur?

As the clock winds down on the current year, Follow The Data host Cam Yoder asks a handful of the brightest minds in the Amazon selling space to prognosticate what lies ahead for Amazon FBA in 2021.

As always, staying a step ahead of the competition is the name of the game when it comes to dominating on Amazon and skyrocketing your sales. For example, just think about how knowing how anyone who could see the future would’ve crushed it on Amazon this year.

Of course, 2020 was a year nobody could’ve predicted for unprecedented reasons well outside of Amazon. However, that was 2020. In most years, a glimpse into the future is more realistic, especially when that glimpse comes from Amazon experts who track trends to predict what comes next.

We’ve collected input from a wide range of Amazon & eCommerce experts to give their insight into how we can expect Amazon to change in 2021 & beyond, as well as key strategies and steps we can take to address the up & coming changes.

Amazon 2021 Expert Predictions

Got an Amazon FBA 2021 prediction of your own? Drop it in the comments!

Be sure to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel, as we’ll be sure to keep you up-to-date on all things Amazon with content and conversations with the best minds in the space.

All in all, thank you all for the support. We know that 2020 was rough, but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. Keep pushing hard and finish the year strong! We’ll see you in 2021.

Lastly, we’re grateful for the expert insight and advice from our panel of guests! Find each of their names, contact info, and full-length show episode below:

1. Danny Carlson , KenjiROI
2. Destaney Wishon, BetterAMS
3. Michael Sene, Deliverr
4. Joseph Abitol, Seller Locker, podcast coming soon!
5. Michael Begg, AMZ Advisers
6. Travis Zigler, Profitable Pineapple

Follow the Data: How To Start an Amazon Consulting Business & Elevate Your Brand

In this episode of Follow The Data, Britt Englund breaks down the lessons she’s learned consulting and managing enormous brands on Amazon!

Much like Liam Neeson in Taken, successfully selling on Amazon requires a very particular set of skills. Quite often, sellers are short on time, experience, or knowledge to optimize each aspect of their online business.

When your business could use some outside help, hiring an experience brand consultant to develop strategies, establish best practice processes, and develop a network can catapult your Amazon business to the next level.

We spoke with Britt Englund, a noteworthy Amazon seller consultant and brand strategist, to learn more about her expertise in Amazon consulting!

HIGHLIGHTS

Getting to know Britt Englund (0:00)

Before we dive deep into the world of starting an Amazon consulting business, get to know about Britt and her vast Amazon experience. With around 10 years on the platform, you’ll be hard-pressed to find someone more immersed into Amazon trends, standards and strategies.

Going into 2021 and beyond, why is brand development so important on Amazon? (4:24)

Visibility and brand recognition can make all the difference in eCommerce! Britt breaks down the logic on the latest Amazon branding trends. Should sellers be utilizing the same tactics on Amazon on all eCommerce platforms? Find out here from an expert.

What are the tools sellers can utilize to separate their brand from the competition? (7:30)

The market on Amazon is as competitive as ever. Britt offers insight on what options exist for sellers to elevate their brand past competitors, with a strong focus on how to approach influencer marketing.

Selling cross-platform became more popular in 2020 during the COVID-19. Should sellers be using other eCommerce platforms? (23:40)

Logistical issues meeting increased demand at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic opened the door for eCommerce competitors such as Walmart and Shopify. Was this a one-off instance, or should sellers exclusive to Amazon pursue expanding their online business beyond Amazon?

As Amazon continues to mature, the interest in brand consulting is booming. What’s the process of consulting and what should aspiring consultants be doing to achieve their goals? (26:40)

Amazon brand consulting is an emerging market, with interest and demand rising exponentially. Britt saw the rise of Amazon consulting early and positioned herself as an expert at helping brands reach their potential. She thoughtfully analyzes her path and what should prospective brand consultants be doing to set themselves up for success?

What is the biggest thing sellers should be focusing on for Q4 and beyond? (36:41)

It’s the busiest time of the year! With the wave of sales during the holiday season ahead, sellers need to be on top of their game. As time runs out on 2020, Britt breaks down how sellers can optimize their Q4 and set themselves up for a profitable 2021.

A special thanks to Britt Englund for taking the time to talk shop with us on the show! You can keep up with her on LinkedIn for more.

Follow The Data is a podcast by Viral Launch for Amazon sellers hosted by Cam Yoder, an expert on all things Amazon. Available on iTunes, Spotify, and all your favorite platforms, be sure to like and subscribe to receive exclusive content and updates when new episodes release!

Amazon Product Research in 2019 – The Game Has Changed

The Amazon game has changed and will continue to change in the new year. The standard on Amazon has increased significantly, so how are you staying competitive? In this episode, Casey Gauss discusses emerging tactics for success in 2019. Product research, review generation, and micro-niches, oh my!

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Failing Successfully: How To Use Failure To Grow Your Business

REBROADCAST | Failing Successfully: How To Use Failure To Grow Your Business w/ Casey Gauss

A lot is happening at Viral Launch, and we will be taking a little break! Get ready for some great new shows coming your way with Casey Gauss, founder and CEO of Viral Launch. In the meantime, enjoy this rebroadcast of “Failing Successfully: How To Use Failure To Grow Your Business”.

Sellers in the Amazon space today seem to only talk about success. But what about the other side? The side that sees less attention? As a seller, it’s important to recognize that failure is a critical aspect of growth for you and your business. Successfully handling failure on Amazon can make or break even the greatest sellers. With the right systems in place, it can be used as one of your most valuable assets. Scaling your business effectively means knowing how to best respond to failure. In this episode, we break down how you can leverage failure to effectively grow your business. We’ll talk through how you can shift your mindset towards failure, and how this mindset shift can change your life as well as your business.

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Casey Gauss: Using Innovation To Build & Scale Your Business

Challenging the status quo through disruptive ideas…Innovation is what drives us, as a company and as individuals here at Viral Launch. We wouldn’t be where we are today without it, AND we wouldn’t be able to keep on moving forward without innovation as the wind in our sail. Innovation is what keeps companies like Apple at the forefront of their craft, and so we strive to keep it at the forefront of our business. Today, we’re talking through how you can do the same.

Today, I’ve brought in CASEY GAUSS to talk through innovation. Not necessarily WHAT innovation is, but how innovation has defined what he’s been able to accomplish here at Viral Launch, and how you can apply it to kind of SHIFT your mindset and, as a result, grow your Amazon business and other aspects of your life as a whole. There’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s jump in

11/8
We’re announcing TWO new tools! Sign up for the webinar here:
bit.ly/VL-Innovation

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Amazon Seller Questions: Seller Mistakes, Finding Great Products, Split Testing & More

Data is EVERYTHING here. If you’re an avid listener of the show, you know that. We’re pulling from one of our many sources of data today – Amazon Sellers. We help a LARGE number of Sellers every single day, and get to see where a lot of confusion is happening in the space. We get HUNDREDS of questions from Sellers every single day, and we’re answering those questions in today’s episode.

I’m bringing in two Viral Launch employees who interact with Sellers every single day. We’re breaking down the main topics here – ones that Sellers ask us about ALL the time. There’s honestly a LOT of good info here, and we cover it all quickly, so get ready to zone in. ALSO, just wanted to make sure you’re aware, I do a two live Q&A sessions each week on our social channels. One is through the Data Hunters, our Facebook Group, which is at 10am EST, and the other is just through our normal YoUTube Channel and Facebook Page at 1pm EST. If you have questions we don’t cover today, come ask me live during those times. When you join, let me know you listened to this episode, ill give you a shoutout. All that being said, lets jump in.

Listen to our last Coaching Episode: http://bit.ly/Ep-39
Ask me your questions! http://bit.ly/Cameron_Insta

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