Amazing FBA Amazon and ECommerce Podcast, for Amazon Private Label Sellers, Shopify, Magento or Woocommerce business owners‪,‬ Michael Veazey

In the cutthroat world of e-commerce, maximizing customer engagement is paramount. Yet, with a plethora of marketing channels available, choosing the right one can be daunting. This guide delves into the powerhouses of email and SMS marketing, specifically for Amazon sellers on a budget, helping you decide which weapon best suits your brand's arsenal.







[00:00:00] - You Can Set Up Future Sends for Most Impact[00:00:26] - Introducing the 10K Collective Uber Mastermind[00:00:49] - Discussing Email Marketing Segmentation and Flows[00:01:22] - Importance of Email Marketing for Sales[00:02:18] - Dos and Don'ts for Email Design and Content[00:04:20] - Best Times to Send Email Campaigns[00:05:20] - Weekday vs Weekend Email Sending[00:06:39] - Using SMS Marketing in Addition to Email[00:09:00] - Revenue Impact of SMS Marketing Campaigns[00:10:30] - SMS Marketing Cost Considerations[00:11:36] - Shelf Life of SMS Numbers for Marketing[00:13:35] - Re-Engaging Neglected Email Lists[00:15:16] - Setting Up Email and SMS Marketing Structure[00:17:03] - Avoiding Overattribution with Multiple Platforms[00:18:03] - Integrating SMS Marketing Setup Process[00:19:03] - Services Offered by Aspect Agency[00:20:28] - Getting a Free Email Marketing Audit[00:21:26] - Any Questions for the Email Marketing Expert[00:22:00] - Introducing the 10K Collective Uber Mastermind[00:23:49] - Closing Thoughts







Email Marketing: A Powerful Foundation







Email marketing remains a cornerstone of e-commerce success. Here's why:









* Cost-Effective: Reaching thousands of customers with a single email is incredibly affordable.







* Scalability: Your email list can grow exponentially, allowing for broader reach.







* Content Versatility: Tailor emails with captivating visuals, informative content, and personalized offers.







* Automation Magic: Set up automated email sequences to nurture leads and drive sales efficiently.









Avoiding Common Email Marketing Blunders







Even the most potent tool can backfire if used incorrectly. Here are some email marketing pitfalls to avoid:









* Buried Lead Syndrome: Don't hide crucial information below the fold.







* Image Overload: While visuals are valuable, prioritize clear communication over aesthetics.







* MIA Information: Clearly state the email's purpose, be it a product launch, promotion, or valuable resource.







* Link Overload: Excessive links can trigger spam filters. Keep it concise and focused.







* Image Size Issues: Use tools like TinyPNG to optimize image size for faster loading times.









Optimizing Your Email Send Times







Timing is crucial for email marketing success. Unfortunately, a one-size-fits-all approach doesn't exist. Consider A/B testing on platforms like Klaviyo to determine the best send times for your audience. Here are some general best practices:









* Pre-Work Hours: 7-8 AM often catches people checking emails before starting their day.







* Lunchtime Lull: 11 AM-1 PM can be a good time for browsing promotions.







* Post-Work Window: 6-8 PM caters to those catching up after work.







* Weekend Strategy: While weekends can be hit-or-miss, Saturday mornings might work for specific sales or promotions. Sundays are generally best avoided.









SMS Marketing: The Powerhouse of Personalization







SMS marketing boasts unique advantages:









* High Open Rates: SMS messages often boast open rates exceeding 90%,

E-commerce success on Amazon is fantastic, but it's like renting a storefront. You don't own the customer data, limiting your ability to build brand loyalty and scale beyond the platform. This is where email marketing shines. In this guide, we'll equip you, the savvy Amazon seller, to build a thriving email list and unlock explosive growth for your brand – all with minimal capital.







[00:01:19] - Discussing Email Marketing with Expert Nikita[00:02:07] - Email Marketing Relevance for Amazon Sellers[00:03:11] - Getting Customer Data from Amazon Orders[00:04:22] - Using Landing Pages for Email List Building[00:05:09] - Avoiding Amazon's Buy Box Suppression[00:06:07] - Offering Mysterious Discounts for Email Opt-Ins[00:07:21] - Effective Opt-In Rates for Email Capture[00:09:08] - Email Marketing vs List Building Strategies[00:10:01] - Setting Up Website Pop-Ups for Email Capture[00:11:15] - Welcome Email Flow for New Subscribers[00:12:16] - Using Quizzes for Email Capture and Segmentation[00:13:35] - Importance of Email List Segmentation[00:15:25] - Using Suppression Lists for Better Deliverability[00:17:27] - Cleaning Email Lists to Reduce Costs[00:19:04] - Core Email Flows and Automations to Set Up[00:21:49] - Cross-Selling Strategies via Email Marketing[00:24:13] - Tracking Revenue from Email Marketing Efforts[00:30:28] - Introducing the 10K Collective Uber Mastermind







Why Email Marketing Matters for Amazon Sellers







Nikita, CEO of ASPEKT, a powerhouse email and SMS marketing agency, emphasizes the transformative power of email marketing, especially for hybrid brands utilizing both Amazon and DTC channels. While Amazon provides a launchpad, email marketing empowers you to cultivate direct customer relationships, fostering brand loyalty and repeat purchases.







Here's how email marketing becomes your secret weapon:









* Capture customer data you can't access on Amazon. Though Amazon guards customer emails fiercely, you can utilize product inserts and other creative strategies to collect valuable contact information.







* Retarget potential customers based on browsing behavior. Leverage ad platforms to reconnect with those who expressed interest in your products but didn't convert on Amazon.







* Break free from the buy box trap. Offer exclusive discounts or mystery offers via email, enticing customers to bypass the competitive buy box scenario.







* Mystery sells! Intrigue trumps generic discounts. Pique customer curiosity with mystery offers, driving them to your email list for the big reveal.









Building Your Email List Beyond Amazon







Now, let's dive into the nitty-gritty of building your email list:









* Strategic website popups: Capture email addresses strategically. Consider popups triggered by 50% page scrolling or after 10-20 seconds on your site.







* Mystery offer magic: Fuel sign-ups with a captivating mystery offer that sparks curiosity and begs for email subscription.









Crafting Core Flows for Email Marketing Success







A well-structured email sequence is the backbone of a winning DTC email strategy. Let's explore some essential flows:









* Welcome Flow: This is your first impression! Set the tone with a warm welcome email, including a discount code and a brand story that resonates with your target audience.







* Value-Driven Content: Go beyond the sale. Provide valuable content tailored to your niche. For example, fashion brands can offer styling tips, while food brands can share delicious recipes.







* Personalized Product Recommendations: Leverage quizzes to unde...

Online marketing gurus - who should you believe? Hey folks, time for some real talk today. I want to talk about internet marketing gurus. What does that mean? And should you believe what you hear on the internet or from a course or from any internet marketing or business coach? Stay tuned.







Hey folks, Michael Veazey from Amazing FBA here.







Are online marketing gurus the same as business consultants?







Guess what? I'm Michael from Amazing FBA. That means I'm here to give you advice or thoughts or information about internet marketing, particularly selling on Amazon. And that is an interesting one because it brings up this concept of a guru. I get accused of being a guru occasionally by people and I feel if it's an accusation rather than something helpful.







A guru passes on "Divine wisdom"







My understanding of the word guru is it comes from the Hindu tradition and like other religious traditions there's a tradition of received wisdom that a person who becomes holy enough through meditation, prayer and other such things gets received wisdom directly from God or the spirit world or whatever.







I'm not qualified to say whether that happens in religion, for all I know it does, but that is not what I'm saying I'm offering. I'm not that person. And anyone who does say they are that person, I think is going to be treated with some skepticism. But that is a mentality in itself that worries me. And let me explain.







Who you follow as an online marketing guru is only one part of the equation







The online marketing guru who you choose to follow as an authority of some kind, let's use that word as a more grown-up word, is an important choice.







It's your responsibility to decide if the online marketing guru is worth following







The first thing I would say is: it's your responsibility if you're going to follow somebody to do a bit of homework and feel whether they sound like they know what they're talking about and have they given consistently decent advice.







Michael's background in online marketing and Amazon advising







And there are ways to do that just to lay my cards on the table. I've been selling on Amazon since 2014. I've been coaching people one to one since 2016. Since 2015, I've been running a podcast. I've interviewed well north of 200 experts. And we've done probably close to a thousand episodes now, most of which have been expert interviews. We've had over a million Downloads. So there's some social proof there.







Since 2016, I've coached over a hundred people who enter one of whom handful have gone on to create over a million dollars worth of sales between them.







And then the mastermind since 2017 without people get to seven figure exit and what else triple their business and the COVID admittedly in three or four cases. And then one person got to eight figures in revenue.







The online marketing gurus you follow are your decision







Now that's about me. Is that enough for you? It's up to you to decide. All I can tell you is who I am, and then you decide if it's right for you.







And I want to talk about not the gurus today, but you as the consumer of coaching or consulting, or me as a consumer of coaching and consulting, because I also follow other people.







If you are watching the video, I'm going to give you a little visual here, because I think it can really help.







The spectrum of belief (4 boxes)







 I want you to visualize, if you're not seeing the video four squares across from left to right,

Ecommerce brands face a constant challenge: maximizing return on investment (ROI) for their advertising spend. In 2023-2024, while social, search, and display advertising witnessed impressive returns, the current trend reveals a worrying decline. The knee-jerk reaction might be to throw more money at the problem, but that's a recipe for wasted resources.







The key lies in optimizing your approach. This guide dives deep into common mistakes e-commerce brands make and equips you with actionable strategies to improve your ad ROI, even with limited capital.







[00:00] - The Importance of Nurturing Existing Customers[01:02] - Introduction to E-Commerce Marketing Issues[01:44] - Overuse of AI and Need for Re-evaluation[03:10] - Lack of Customer Retention Strategies[03:54] - Bad Habits Growing in Good Times[05:11] - Relying on Amazon Data vs. Other Sources[06:08] - Oversaturation on Meta/Facebook Advertising[07:20] - Lack of Holistic Media Mix Approach[07:58] - The Concept of a 'Richer Message'[09:31] - Explaining the Marketing Funnel[11:09] - Simplifying Messaging for Customers[12:55] - Understanding Media Efficiency Metrics[14:11] - Importance of Frequency in Advertising[15:00] - Consistency in Branding and Messaging[17:04] - Bright Marketing's Services Explained







Rethink the AI Hype: Leverage Data for Smarter Decisions







AI has become a major trend in marketing, but relying solely on it can be a costly mistake. Here's why:









* Data Blindness: AI tools are powerful, but they can't replace human analysis of campaign data. Understanding what's performing well and what's not allows for targeted adjustments.







* Customer Disconnect: AI-driven targeting might miss the mark. Analyze past purchases to identify upsell, resell, and cross-sell opportunities. Don't forget – customer churn is a hidden cost. Analyze your data to identify and nurture your audience effectively.









Many brands rely on data from different platforms without a central source of truth. Consider implementing robust tagging and tracking systems in Google Analytics and Google Search Console to gain a holistic view.







Beyond Facebook Ads: Exploring the Evolving Media Landscape







Meta (Facebook) and Instagram, while popular, are becoming saturated, leading to diminishing returns. Here's what you need to consider:









* Audience Targeting: Success hinges on reaching the right audience on the right platform. Don't blindly buy placements based on cost alone. Understand where your target audience spends their time online.







* Holistic Approach: Many agencies solely focus on SEO and PPC, neglecting Amazon platforms. A complete media mix considers the entire customer journey, including top-of-funnel strategies like TV, billboards, sponsorships, and influencer marketing.









Media Buying 101: Understanding Efficiency and Effectiveness







Media buying involves acquiring ad space across various platforms. Here are key concepts to grasp:









* Cost per Mille (CPM): This metric indicates the efficiency of your buy. It represents the cost per thousand impressions.









The Power of the Marketing Funnel: Tailoring Your Message for Impact







The customer journey can be visualized as a marketing funnel with distinct stages:









* Awareness: Introduce your brand and product to potential customers.







* Consideration: Nurture interest and highlight the value proposition.







* Preference: Differentiate yourself from competitors and establish brand preference.

Jennifer Sutton, CEO of Bright Marketing, a results-oriented agency for growth-stage companies, knows the challenges e-commerce brands face. With 30 years of experience in agency marketing, creative development, and consumer insights, Jennifer has witnessed the evolution of media consumption – but the core principles of marketing haven't changed.







[00:00] - Lack of Thinking in Business[00:50] - Introduction to Jennifer Sutton[01:32] - Jennifer's Background and Bright Marketing[02:21] - What is a Full Service Ad Agency?[03:55] - Lack of Thinking in Marketing[05:17] - The Role of Ad Agencies[06:18] - Smaller Businesses Bringing Marketing In-House[07:56] - No Formula for Media Buying[09:07] - Lack of Data-Driven Decision Making[09:29] - Defining Media Planning and Buying[11:18] - Understanding Media Buckets and Data[12:29] - Summarizing Brand, Marketing, and Media[13:31] - Clients Thinking They Have an Advertising Problem[15:43] - Selling Benefits Over Features"[17:19] - Defining Your Core Message and Value Proposition







While the "Mad Men" era of full-service agencies might seem glamorous, today's marketing landscape requires a different approach. Gone are the days of generic templates and a lack of consumer understanding. Today's success hinges on:









* Collective Creativity: Working within an agency fosters a cross-pollination of ideas, preventing creative stagnation.







* Disciplined Problem-Solving: Deep dives into your brand's specific challenges ensure solutions are tailored, not one-size-fits-all.







* Objective Insights: It's hard to see your brand objectively. An agency provides a fresh perspective to uncover hidden opportunities.









While the allure of a "secret formula" for media buying exists, the reality is far more nuanced. Success hinges on understanding your audience, their consumption habits, your unique offering, and crafting a compelling brand message.







The good news: advancements in tools and consumer data provide powerful insights. However, many businesses struggle to leverage this data effectively. This is where understanding media planning and buying comes into play.







Unveiling the Powerhouse Duo: Media Planning vs. Media Buying







Media Planning: The strategic roadmap for your brand message. Here, you define your ideal customer, their online behavior, and the best channels to reach them. This includes exploring options like influencer marketing, sponsorships, television advertising, digital media, and search engine marketing.







Media Buying: The tactical execution of your media plan. This involves negotiating placements, securing ad spots, and managing your media budget across chosen channels.







It's crucial to understand that media planning and buying are two sides of the same coin. You can't have an effective media buy without a solid plan, and vice versa.







Beyond the Formula: Building a Brand Story with Impact







Often, clients approach agencies with the belief they have an "advertising problem." However, the root cause frequently lies deeper – a brand issue. At Bright Marketing, we believe in building brands first:









* Business Objectives: We translate your goals into a consumer-centric perspective, crafting a brand story that resonates.







* Marketing Strategy: This defines how you'll communicate your brand message.







* Media Planning: We determine the optimal channels to ensure your message reaches the right audience at the right time.









This approach falls under a framework called the "Marketing Mix Model,

Intro







Let's talk about rhythm, shall we? In your life. Now my background is a musician, and so I naturally think of rhythm. When I was teaching people and still conducting choirs evenings and weekends, I'm always banging on about rhythm. And what does that mean? Well, it's really about having a shape to time, if you will.







And that is something that's very, very important for productivity in life and in business. So today, now that I'm surrounded by a beautiful garden here and talking about seasons and seasonality is very much on my mind. Let's discuss rhythm and how that affects your use of time as an organic way of using and managing your time. Stay tuned.







Seasonality in Nature and E-commerce







Hi, this is Michael Veazey, and today I'm coming to you from our lovely garden. I think it's lovely anyway in Hertfordshire. So about a year ago, in May 2023, I was sent up by my wife to go find ourselves somewhere more peaceful to live. We were in a flat in London, a bit noisy, very urban, not really relaxing. We wanted a house and a garden, and we've got them.







The garden, of course, is a thing that really makes you think about seasonality. And today, I want to talk about rhythms in your business. We can start with seasonality and the overall shape of each year as a very, very good start.







Now, it's not rocket science to say that quite a few businesses or ways of making a living have strong seasonality. So the two that I'm most familiar with, my old profession of teaching and making music (I still conduct choirs in the evenings and weekends and love doing so), and e-commerce both have very strong seasonality.







Some jobs, I guess, you just grind along same old same old week to week and then have your couple of weeks off in the summer, and that's it. That is not the case for education. In education, my wife's still working very, very hard in the summer because lots of institutions have exams. So A-level students are having exams. My wife's off playing the piano for music colleges in London where people are playing very difficult music for their end-of-year exams. E-commerce is no different.







Embracing Seasonal Rhythms







In e-commerce, if you sell something that's giftable, you will find that it becomes crazy in Q4. In other words, November and December, just before Christmas or the holiday season if you wish to call it that. And of course, that changes everything about your year. The rhythm of your year, your week, and your day is really to some extent dictated by others.







To the extent that you recognize that, you get in tune with your market and the way things operate in your industry, then you will find that things work better. If you try and fight it or just ignore it, that's one of the signs that things are wrong. One of the things that is really important is if you do have a strong Q4-centric business.







By the way, a lot of people who are at an early stage or even pre-revenue entrepreneurs (I don't tend to work with those anymore) are obsessed with the idea that they can even out the sales, cash flow, and inventory and have a non-seasonal type business. But the truth is that the businesses that I know that do really well embrace the seasonality and roll with it. They understand that that is the nature of the market they're in.







Planning for Seasonality







Rather than trying to go in three and four different markets that magically balance each other out in theory (one could have that but in practice I don't see that), I see people who successfully manage the seasonality. So, I think you have to roll with the rhythms of your industry, your marketplace,