Blog

Late last year, Amazon Advantage (see my Amazon Advantage videos) changed its main page and several other features to look more like Amazon Seller Central. I’ve speculated before that Amazon will eventually merge Advantage into Seller Central. Could the latest updates be a sign that Advantage users will be switched over to Amazon Seller Central?Read more

What is a publishing brand, and how can indie publishers build one? This short video explains the elements that typically make up a publishing brand and uses an example from a book series to show how independent publishers can approach the challenge of building their own brands and leveraging them for additional income streams. NOTE:Read more

This short video explains how to prepare an Amazon Advantage shipment using the advantage.amazon.com online tool. NOTE: This is not an official Amazon Advertising video, nor do I represent Amazon. Please read and review the relevant Amazon terms of service to learn more about Amazon programs for sellers, including Amazon Advertising, Amazon Seller Central, and AmazonRead more

I get this question on a regular basis from people who have never worked in publishing: Should I create an ebook to market my idea/product/brand? NO! It’s a bad idea for many reasons, starting with: They introduce delays and barriers to people reading what you have to say. Ebooks usually require a login process toRead more

Dig into Shopify analytics to better understand visitors and customers using the online store sessions report. This short video explains how it works, using real examples on a basic Shopify store. Length: 5 minutes. NOTE: This is not an official Shopify video, nor do I represent Shopify. Please read and review the relevant Shopify terms ofRead more

This Amazon Deep Dive video explores Amazon Advantage, and why publishers may want to try it out for offset-printed books and special types of media products. It includes a review of the interface as well as special marketing opportunities, including Amazon Vine and A+ detail pages. NOTE: This is not an official Amazon Advertising video, norRead more

Amazon Seller Central (sellercentral.amazon.com) allows practically anyone to sell new or used goods (including their own branded products) on Amazon. This video explains the free and pro tiers for Amazon Seller accounts, and the difference between Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) and Fulfilled by Merchant (FBM) when shipping goods to customers. It also covers various promotionalRead more

Learn how to add items to a Shopify store collection. This short video explains how it works, using real examples on a basic Shopify store. Length: 5 minutes. NOTE: This is not an official Shopify video, nor do I represent Shopify. Please read and review the relevant Shopify terms of service to learn more. i30 Media Corporation cannotRead more

The drumbeat of news concerning Amazon’s broken, corrupted system for third-party sellers continues. In the past I’ve talked about how innocent sellers can get snared by Amazon’s rules while sellers breaking them get off scot-free. Publishers are also affected. There is even an actual case of corruption involving sellers, “Amazon consultants,” and Amazon employees, whichRead more

Ancillary products on Amazon or your website don’t only have to be the domain of million-dollar publishing brands. This short video shows all kinds of product examples, from children’s books to nonfiction. It includes best practices for evaluating marketplace opportunities, and detailed descriptions of various production considerations, including manufacturing, packaging, and weight. NOTE: This isRead more