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A publisher recently reached out asking about how to use Internet graphics in a yet-to-be released book on a specific medical condition. The author had found the images on a Google search, and wants to use them in the book. The problem that the publisher immediately identified: the images are copyrighted and therefore can’t beRead more

Don’t assume anything about your ability to make custom goods on Amazon FBA and successfully sell them. I say this after reading this account from a prospective FBA seller who is documenting his or her journey, and making some mistakes that could be very costly down the road. But it provides a window into gettingRead more

When I first started thinking about creating a lean framework for media content, I wrote some blog posts about Lean Media. As I began to prepare the Lean Media book, I gave a few presentations for which I recorded some simple videos. Recently, I decided it was time to update the Lean Media video contentRead more

As described on Amazon’s own brand services site, Amazon Transparency is a program to fight counterfeit products on Amazon.com and give Amazon customers confidence that they are buying authentic products. The following blog post and video cover the following topics: The Amazon counterfeit problem and First Sale doctrine What is Amazon Transparency What Amazon TransparencyRead more

Amazon Seller Central has several features that display sales, including the dashboard, inventory planning, and business reports. This 7-minute video covers the pros and cons of each one and explains the tool that power sellers should be using to track sales on Amazon Seller Central, with either merchant fulfilled inventory or Fulfillment by Amazon (AmazonRead more

If you have been using Amazon Marketing Services (AMS) in recent years, you probably received an email this week describing the new name: Amazon Advertising. But the big news is not the name. It’s the new interface, and a new requirement for “Sponsored Brands” (formerly Headline Search Ads). First, the announcement: We are excited toRead more

Brands, manufacturers, and resellers using Amazon Seller Central are constantly seeking Amazon reviews for their products. What’s the best legitimate way to get real Amazon reviews? In the short video below, I reveal five best practices for getting honest Amazon reviews that follow Amazon’s strict review guidelines and don’t turn off shoppers. Includes examples, warningsRead more

This morning I received an important announcement from Amazon Advantage, the program for publishers of physical media (books, DVDs, etc.) to ship physical stock to Amazon warehouses which can then be sold on Amazon’s websites and mobile apps. It’s how I supply paperback copies of Lean Media to sell on Amazon, as well as aRead more

Last year when I was promoting the book, I took part in some interesting discussions with radio, podcast, and video hosts across the country. One of them was Ivana Taylor of DIYMarketers, who had me talk about Lean Media and the marketing angle for both businesses and creators. Lots of discussions about how to handleRead more

When I launched the Lean Media book, one of the most important promotional tools was Amazon Advertising (formerly Amazon Marketing Services, or AMS), a self-serve advertising platform available at advertising.amazon.com. It allowed me to start promoting the book even before it was released, by sending potential customers to a preorder page. You can use AmazonRead more