This is part II of how I launched my first product on Amazon. If you haven’t yet read part I on how I discovered private label selling, you can find it here: http://www.mastersellingonline.com/amazon/private-label-series-pt-1-meeting-ej-discovering-private-label/
Getting Started
After returning from the Feedvisor Amazon conference in Orlando I had a fire in me to learn as much as I could about selling on Amazon as quickly as I could. Now keep in mind, at this point I have worked with Amazon Seller Central and Vendor Central for around 1-2 years with larger, established brands but was not aware of the huge opportunity that is RA, OA and PL. Not knowing much about these topics meant that I had a whole lot to catch up on and learn as quickly as I could. Without wasting any time I joined a few different Facebook groups and started downloading some podcasts and checking out YouTube videos. I knew I had a lot to learn before I would be able to take a stab at actually working with a product or idea. I had no clue how to even begin the process. And just as a note, my initial intentions were to go direct to Private Label. My end goal is to be able to build various passive income streams so that I can build a lifestyle based around freedom of schedules. I knew that with RA and OA in order to sustain my business I would need to trade my hours for payment. If I stopped working, the revenue would stop flowing. But PL can become a semi-passive income depending on how you set it up. I knew if I could find a profitable item that performs at a steady rate on Amazon, all I would really need to keep up with would be inventory management. So based on that, most of my initial research was how to launch a PL brand on Amazon.
The very first Facebook group I joined was Amazing Freedom with the Andy Slamans, Nathan Slamans and Liran Hirschkorn (Two of whom I met at the conference!). Most Amazon FB groups are very welcoming of new users as long as you are there for mutual benefit. There is tons of knowledge to be had using the Facebook search bar within the group and it is very appreciated if you share any new knowledge you acquire with the group as well. Just beware not to spam the group or try to take advantage of the group. This particular group had many successful users in the Amazon scene and it was overwhelming to me how happily they shared their knowledge and tips on how to be successful. I started a google doc for myself and began taking notes. Everything from how to do product research, what niches to look for, what products others were having success with and even deeper into the details around finding a supplier, transporting goods, importing to Amazon, optimizing listings and so on.
Here are a few of the resources I used when first starting off with zero knowledge:
Amazing Freedom Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/slamazonbros/
Product Sourcing Anna Joan Wallace: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1717111615268216/
Jungle Scout YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0iJ3ldvDUGiUPfGiiifzVQ
Jungle Scout How to find a profitable product **: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APzroJzik8s
Andy Slamans YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbOnLYb3IQzlZAtmIeab3gA
Andy Slamans How to research products: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQnwkwJtyjk&t=6849s
Amazing Freedom Podcast: http://www.amazingfreedom.com/category/podcast/
The Amazing Seller Podcast with Scott Voelker: http://theamazingseller.com/
These were a few of the main resources that I used when first starting off my Amazon research. I highly recommend the Jungle Scout and Andy Slamans’ YouTube channels if you are a visual learner or want to jump start the learning process. They go through their steps of how they research, what requirements they look for in a product, how they narrow down options and how to source these products from a supplier. I probably spent the first week watching 2-4 hours worth of YouTube videos a day and taking notes on everything I could. There is definitely a learning curve for those of you starting out, but these experts truly give you the knowledge you need to start and feel as comfortable as possible when making your first order.
Scott Voelker is also an incredible source of knowledge and brought me up to speed on so many necessary items. Not only did he help me get started while listening to his podcast, but he keeps you entertained 🙂 I would put his podcasts on when I went to the gym and knock out 30-60 minute episodes each day based on what I needed to learn about. At this time he has around 400 podcast episodes out so there is plenty to learn from! Choose what you need! The Slamans and Liran had just started their podcast as I write this and have about 4 episodes out – look for them to be a huge resource as you get started as well from some incredible Amazon experts.
As you can tell, this process definitely needs to be broken down into manageable steps. I will leave my product research for another post. The main point of this post is to arm you with the tools and resources needed to jump start your learning process. If anyone ever told you selling on Amazon would be easy, they tricked you 😉 Just as with anything in life, if you want to be successful you need to put in the time to research, learn, grow and test your ideas. If it were easy it would be extremely saturated. More people are picking up on RA / OA and markets are getting a little more saturated and that is why PL is so intriguing. We have an opportunity to make our own products, build our own brands, and create our own niches in the market. Be an innovator, get creative and make some money while your at it! Just don’t forget to start with research and an understanding of what it takes to be successful. If you do the research and follow the guidance of those who have found success you should be able to find it yourself as well and use that knowledge to test what you think may work best.
Work hard and don’t give up!
Thanks for reading 🙂
Check out Pt. 3 here:
