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in 2018, I was a high school social studies teacher. I was drowning. I didn't control my time. I didn't control my wage. I couldn't just pick up and go anywhere - I was stuck. Other then great students, there wasn't much to like. I felt like I was in jail. My classroom didn't even have a window -- even some jail cells have windows. We did use these things called "fluorescent light covers" that had pictures of clouds on them. They were supposed to look like skylights. It didn't help. It just made me sad. So I tried something new. I started selling on Amazon. And things got better. I now control my time, the amount of work I put in is almost directly correlated to my wage, and I can work from a laptop anywhere in the world. I also don't have any interest in selling my brand ever - exits? No thank you. I'm having too much fun. I'm the "trenches" on Amazon all day every day - and I love it. There's nothing that bothers me more then "gurus" offering advice even though they've left Amazon selling a long time ago. That isn't me. You can be 100% sure the content and value you're receiving is the latest, up-to-date info. Oh... and If there's a mistake on Amazon to be made - I've made it.... and now I'm sharing them with you! My main goals: → Grow Amazon Sellers' Revenue (like you) by identifying your blind spots → Provide as much value as I can for free → Connect with as many sellers as I can Got a question? Need a little 1-on-1 time? Shoot me an email (or DM me). max@sellingfromthebeach.com P.S. We have a community of Amazon sellers who don't see vacations or travel as a once a year thing you do for two weeks- sound like something you might like? Check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sellingfromthebeach
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Stop Catering to Cowards, Karens, and Coupon Clippers Here’s the inconvenient truth: Most sellers are addicts. Addicted to approval. Addicted to volume. Addicted to dopamine from opening their Amazon Seller App. They’ll take any sale. From anyone. At any margin. You can’t "block" customers on Amazon, and you have to reply to them, sure. But you can repel them. • With copy that attracts your ICP and repels everyone else. • With pricing that punches tire kickers in the face. • With branding so specific it offends many and seduces the few. (think Deathwish Coffee & Liquid Death) If your product is “for everyone,” it’s for no one. And if you're chasing Karen, Karen's gonna refund. After opening a case. After one-starring you straight to hell. You don’t need more customers. You need fewer, better ones who believe in who you are and why you do it. Start repelling. Or start dying.
The Saturday Micro-Interview: Sim Mahon on AI automation and playing too "small" Thanks Sim for taking the time to speak with me. I appreciate how much you want to give back and make things well (reminds me a lot of Danny McMillan) 1. What’s a typical workday look like? I’m usually in the office around 8:15am, clearing emails and Teams messages. Our offshore team in the Philippines means mornings are quite full-on. Most meetings run between 9 and 2, and I try to keep afternoons clear to work on projects... right now that’s AI automation. By 4pm, I aim to leave, get to the gym, and be home for time with the wife and kids. 2. How do you think about work-life balance? Balance comes in waves. There are times where work takes priority, but I’m lucky to have a strong team I can rely on. That’s allowed me to focus more on the parts of the business I enjoy and where I can add the most value. 3. What do you wish you knew when you started selling on Amazon? I started in 2017, and looking back, there’s a lot I’d do differently. Top three lessons: 1. Focus on products that have real leverage, whether that’s strong repeat purchase potential or large, growing niches. 2. Don’t think small. We played it too safe early on. 3. Great imagery should’ve been a top priority from day one. With what I know now, we could’ve competed in any niche. 4. Most impactful business book? Recently, Buy Back Your Time really hit home. It helped me realise I was spreading myself too thin. Delegating the tasks that drained me let me get back to enjoying the work again. It came at the right time. 5. Do you prefer learning things yourself, outsourcing, or finding a mentor? It depends on the situation. Sometimes outsourcing is the quickest way to move forward and pick up insights along the way. Other times, I like getting hands-on first so I can really understand how something works before handing it off. I’ve done both, and I think there’s value in mixing the two
You must NOT worship the Altar of AMEX The next SFTB newsletter will land @ 10AM on Monday, July 7th. Subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/g9RrWizG Inside: • Amazon AI Software That Will Actually Help You • 300 Amazon tips that work right now • A complete system for Auditing any ASIN • DST Rescinded (Saves me $10K this year) Plus… • 35 Reasons Shrinking Your Packaging Size is So Important • A simple & useful tip for creating variations • Points are important. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿. And much more... See you at the Beach! Sign up: https://lnkd.in/g9RrWizG
Points are important. Your business is importanter. You must not worship the altar of AMEX. Yes, points matter. Yes, we talk about them a lot in the Selling From the Beach Newsletter (Coming out tomorrow, July 7th!) Yes, you should be earning them (strategically). But let's not confuse playing the points game with building a business that prints money. There’s a dangerous kind of perverted productivity cosplay where people spend hours optimizing flight redemptions or comparing cashback multipliers on $9 lattes. You know what’s worth more than 5x on gas? Making 5x more in your business. You don’t need a new card. You need more Amazon sales. You don’t need to learn 15 new points tricks. You need to launch your damn product. So go launch your damn product. (And read the Selling From the Beach Newsletter, here: https://lnkd.in/gbgawdKQ)
The relationship between Amazon and its sellers has become increasingly complex. While Amazon provides access to millions of customers, many sellers question the company's true intentions. Does Amazon genuinely want sellers to thrive, merely provide a neutral marketplace, or actively compete against successful sellers by launching similar products using sellers' own data? What do you think? How pessimistic can we get LOL
Don't Launch on Walmart. At all. The next SFTB newsletter will land @ 10AM on Monday, June 23rd https://lnkd.in/g9RrWizG Inside: • Fred McKinnon solves 8541/8542 for you • Global PPC Negation saves so much money holy Sebastian Eduard • Google Flights is simply awesome • Prime Day is here again (/eyeroll) Plus… • I'm so cheap that I... • $140K goes poof with 0 explanation - thanks, Amazon! • A detailed 26-page remote hiring playbook And much more... See you at the Beach! Sign up: https://lnkd.in/g9RrWizG
What you should actually pay for getting Amazon listing images made: Everyone knows that main & secondary images are your highest conversion lever. And anyone who's followed me for any length of time knows that I don't shut up about this. 🤢 This the case for 99% of ASINs that I audit in the ASIN Audit OS. Seems simple, no? Get better images, make more sales. So where's the bottleneck? It's hiring someone to do this for you. Seriously. That's where most people get hung-up. Here’s what real pricing looks like: Avg Freelancers: $15–30 per image • Fine if you give clear direction • Usually basic edits or template-level work $40–60 per image • Mid-tier with real Amazon experience $80–100+ per image • High-end designers • Expect packaging mockups, lighting adjustments, creative strategy Where to find them: • Upwork, OnlineJobs, Fiverr Pro • Look for portfolio variety, not just pretty images • Always ask for Amazon-specific examples • Always get them to do a quick "test" you can pay them for this - I.e. "put my product in this background" Agencies and Studios: • $90-100+ per image on the lowest end, for example My Amazon Guy charges this. • High end can be upwards of $10K+ In my opinion, hiring someone to do this for you is the right choice. You're in the long-term, brand building business. But of course that comes with added complexity like creative direction, bonuses, HR, etc. etc. Now... expensive doesn’t mean better... Plenty of $30 designers can outperform $100 ones - but it's your job to find them. So... If you're just beginning, what should you pay for a main or secondary image? Anywhere from $15-$100 is reasonable.
Most people know they should reduce the size of their product packaging on Amazon. Gee, ya think? Duh. But have we really thought it through? Like... all the way? Yes, we all know reducing packaging size will lead to cheaper fees for selling on Amazon (something sorely needed in 2025), but there's a few more other things we're probably missing -- I did. When you ruthlessly reduce your packaging size... • The factory buys and charges you for less material • Smaller packaging is often simpler • Smaller packaging is quicker to produce • You can fit more units per master carton • … Which means less master cartons overall • Your overall shipment costs from your factory go down • Smaller packaging that fits better leads to less product damage • You have less cartons to manage and pay for • You pay for less space at your 3PL • It's easier to ship a smaller product from a 3PL • Your 3PL doesn't ship in as many cartons • Your product has less waste - less to throw out or recycle • If you're in retail stores, more of your product can fit on a shelf … and probably a lot more I missed. How much is all that worth? I have no idea. But it's a lot.
Last Monday in Selling From The Beach Newsletter, we shared our top 10 hacks from Tyler Wallis. (He wrote 100 hacks in 100 days, see here: https://lnkd.in/gPQuMYcv) But one of them blew the rest out of the water. Not because it was clever. Because it made me more money than all the others. Here it is (from Mike Michalowicz' book, "PROFIT FIRST") Instead of Sales – Expenses = Profit... Flip it. Sales – Profit = Expenses. Sounds like a minor shift. It isn’t. When you leave profit to the end, it’s always what gets eaten. But when you commit to it upfront, it forces everything else to shrink. Waste, bloat, fluff, etc. It dies fast when you're protecting your margin. When you have less money to work with, you spend less. When you have a smaller plate, you put less food on it. That shift changed how I run things. I think it did the same for Tyler. You don’t build a lean business by accident. You do it by deciding in advance how much you keep. If you're serious about profitability this year, reread (or read) this one. This wasn’t just a good hack. It was the one that actually made me richer.
This post isn't for 95% of Amazon Sellers. You’ll probably scroll past. Totally fine. (What good idea attracts absolutely everyone?) There's a top tier Amazon group I'm a part of - and it's not FREE. And it’s not for you if you’re doing $50K/month and hoping for a relaxed community. This is for operators. People running 7, 8, & 9-figure brands. Sellers in the trenches, with working systems, and real P&Ls. Sellers who don’t ask “what’s the best PPC tool?” Because they already know. It's a group for people who are serious. And are seriously looking to grow this thing and stop f-ing around. It's not cheap. There's multiple interviews. No beginners, no hobbyists, no shortcut-chasers. You’ll find monster ad budgets. Multi-million dollar exits. Real-time breakdowns of what’s working right now (not last quarter). Its got a content library and a room full of killers. Oh yeah, and no service providers. Just the top-tier sellers talking about what's working on right now. DM me if this speaks to you.
I bet you'll get a kick out of this. Let's audit your ASIN (together). First come, first served. 🎁 Why am I doing this? I believe in Karma - the more I help others, the more help I receive. (A good reminder to just give more in your life) -- To get the specific tip: 1) Like this post 👍 2) Connect with me 🤝 3) Comment AUDIT 4) I will DM you in 10 minutes (or less) w/ instructions What have you got to lose?
It's still darn easy to make money on Amazon: Here's why: Everyone's phoning it in. Still. Check out this video where I expose a huge leak that many sellers have when thinking about who is actually buying their product. Anyway... Want a second set of eyes on your listing? Might be worth it to check out the ASIN Audit OS: https://lnkd.in/gPfdFSTY My friend Danyal Aziz last week said one change I suggested increased his sales by 50%. Not bad.
Amazon AI Software that will actually help you: In the Selling From the Beach Newsletter on Monday, Sim Mahon shared an AI group & software that had some simply mind blowing content in it. And it seemed actually useful for Amazon Sellers (unlike most of the noise out there). He recorded a 4 minute loom video showing what it can do. 💪 Anyway... Wanna know more? -- 🧑🎓 Here's how to get it: 1. Like this post 2. Connect with me 3. Comment "SIM" 4. I will DM it to you in 10 minutes or LESS -- A big thank you to everyone who supports the newsletter! Subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/gbgawdKQ See you in the next one, on Monday July 21st. :)
Amazon customers aren’t dumb. They’re smart. They're just busy, distracted, and don’t care about you. (probably) Don't make them think. Food for thought: When's the last time you met someone that was truly dumb. Like... a complete moron? (other than me, of course). I can't think of a time when I met one. I certainly don't know one. Everyone is smart. The problem isn't that people aren't smart. It's that they're bored & distracted. They're busy. Ever heard the saying: "Be kind, for everyone is fighting a great battle" ? It's true. They're scrolling with one hand, juggling a toddler with the other. They don’t have time to decode your clever infographic. So don’t make them think. Don’t make them read fine print. Don’t make them solve a visual puzzle to understand what your product actually does. Here's an example: Everyone and their dog has a picture on their PDP which shows their product dimensions. I would wager about 1/100 show the "dimensions image" in a lifestyle setting. Here's an example above with a Tongue Scraper. Sure the dimensions are there, but you're making me THINK about how big it is. AND I HATE THINKING OK? A lifestyle setting meaning somewhere that your product would naturally appear, next to sizes of things they already understand. One image. One idea. One clear takeaway. That’s the rule. Show the outcome. Make the benefit stupid obvious. Make it impossible to misunderstand. If your image requires brainpower, they’re gone. Not because they’re idiots. Because they have options. And the next guy made it easier to say yes.
Yes, you can blur your e-commerce images to mimic poor vision & sell more stuff. Here's how: Your image passed the design review. Your team thinks it looks great. But did it pass the Blur Test? Welcome to real-world shopping conditions: • Small screen • Poor lighting • Older eyes • Zero patience The Clari-Fi Blur Test simulates what your hero image actually looks like on a crappy phone, in a rush, with bad vision. Here’s how it works: 1. Apply a standard blur (replicates what an older buyer might see) 2. Check if key elements still show up 3. If they vanish? Redesign If your product title, size, or flavor disappears in the blur, it’s not ready. Design for how people really see your image. Not how you hope they do. Try the Clari-Fi Blur Test: https://lnkd.in/g45mHfV9
A simple and useful hack from Fred McKinnon - 8541/8542 SOLVED (finally): In the Selling From the Beach Newsletter on Monday, Fred shared a super smart tip for fixing Amazon's most common (and most annoying) error. If you're anything like me, every time you get an 8541 error you consider jumping off a bridge. Fred solved it. The guy's got a watermelon brain. 🍉 Anyway... Want the hack? -- 🧑🎓 Here's how to get it: 1. Like this post 2. Connect with me 3. Comment "FRED" 4. I will DM it to you in 10 minutes or LESS -- A big thank you to everyone who supports the newsletter! Subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/gbgawdKQ See you in the next one, on Monday July 7th
My friend Danyal took "one" change that I suggested while doing an ASIN Audit and it increased his sales 50%. Insane. Truly one of my favorite things in the entire world is unlocking more revenue for FBA sellers. If you're struggling with your ASIN or aren't sure what's wrong, how about a second pair of eyes? Happy to do it for you. Pro bono. First come, first served. 🎁 -- To get the specific tip: 1) Like this post 👍 2) Connect with me 🤝 3) Comment AUDIT 4) I will DM you in 10 minutes (or less) w/ instructions What have you got to lose?
Unpopular Opinion: Don’t launch on Walmart. At all. Not now. Not next quarter. Not “as a test.” Walmart is a distraction. Here’s what happens: You split inventory. You overcomplicate logistics. You get worse at Amazon. And for what? A trickle of sales and a fake sense of progress? “Omnichannel” is a lie most sellers tell themselves when they’re bored or scared. Here’s the reality: • MCF is live • WFS is inventory splitting • Complexity tax is real • Remember the pareto principle - don't invest time in the 80% If you’re not crushing Amazon, what makes you think Walmart is going to save you? Got FOMO? Ask yourself this: If you believe Amazon is still launchable today, then Walmart can wait. Walmart ecom is 5–10 years behind Amazon. Less traffic, fewer tools, more to do. So why rush? If you can win in the big leagues now, why focus on being great in the juniors? And if you can't win on Amazon… what makes you think Walmart will be any better? Master Amazon first. Walmart will still be there. You don’t need more channels. You need more discipline. Walmart won’t make you rich. Amazon already has. Stick with the one that feeds you.
AI won’t save you. Or your Amazon listing. Everyone’s using it. Which means everyone’s blending in. If you’re trying to win, why would you copy what the average seller is doing? Remember that time Warren Buffett said: "Just jump in once it’s popular!” Me neither. AI content is fast. Cheap. Easy. And that’s exactly how it sounds. You know what stands out? Effort. Intent. Clarity. A listing that was actually written by someone who gave a crap. Here’s a wild idea: Spend 5 minutes thinking about what your customer actually cares about. Then say that. Design that. Plainly. Humanly. Honestly. If your listing sounds robotic, don’t be surprised when your conversion falls off. And you’ll lose to me (because I'm writing like a person).
Beautiful listings, broke sellers: Amazon isn't a design contest, okay? My A+ was clean. My photos were professional. My bullets were tight. So why wasn't I selling? Turns out I was talking to the wrong person. Showing the right product to the wrong buyer. Saying all the right things to someone who didn’t care (and the wrong things to those who did). Most sellers are obsessing over polish. Photos. Copy. Infographics. Cool... those matter. But not if your offer sucks. Not if your audience is misaligned. Not if you’re optimizing for keywords or creative that lead to non-buyers. Here’s what actually drives sales: 40% audience, 40% offer, 20% creative. A so-so listing with a tuned offer to a ready buyer will outperform my perfect listing every time. Like Richard Sears said: “I can write the ad on a paper bag in crayon, but if it’s the right offer to the right person at the right time... it sells.” So what can you do to make sure you're targeting the right people with your content? • Run a purchase barrier test • Analyze reviews from your top 10 competitors in bulk using ChatGPT • A/B test main and secondary images more than once every 5 years • Explore Google Trends and see what people actually care about.
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