#how to start an ecommerce business on amazon

[mostlysignssomeportents]

MIT libraries are thriving without Elsevier

I'm coming to BURNING MAN! On TUESDAY (Aug 27) at 1PM, I'm giving a talk called "DISENSHITTIFY OR DIE!" at PALENQUE NORTE (7&E). On WEDNESDAY (Aug 28) at NOON, I'm doing a "Talking Caterpillar" Q&A at LIMINAL LABS (830&C).

Once you learn about the "collective action problem," you start seeing it everywhere. Democrats – including elected officials – all wanted Biden to step down, but none of them wanted to be the first one to take a firm stand, so for months, his campaign limped on: a collective action problem.

Patent trolls use bullshit patents to shake down small businesses, demanding "license fees" that are high, but much lower than the cost of challenging the patent and getting it revoked. Collectively, it would be much cheaper for all the victims to band together and hire a fancy law firm to invalidate the patent, but individually, it makes sense for them all to pay. A collective action problem:

https://locusmag.com/2013/11/cory-doctorow-collective-action/

Musicians get royally screwed by Spotify. Collectively, it would make sense for all of them to boycott the platform, which would bring it to its knees and either make it pay more or put it out of business. Individually, any musician who pulls out of Spotify disappears from the horizon of most music fans, so they all hang in – a collective action problem:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/06/21/off-the-menu/#universally-loathed

Same goes for the businesses that get fucked out of 30% of their app revenues by Apple and Google's mobile business. Without all those apps, Apple and Google wouldn't have a business, but any single app that pulls out commits commercial suicide, so they all hang in there, paying a 30% vig:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/08/15/private-law/#thirty-percent-vig

That's also the case with Amazon sellers, who get rooked for 45-51 cents out of every dollar in platform junk fees, and whose prize for succeeding despite this is to have their product cloned by Amazon, which underprices them because it doesn't have to pay a 51% rake on every sale. Without third-party sellers there'd be no Amazon, but it's impossible to get millions of sellers to all pull out at once, so the Bezos crime family scoops up half of the ecommerce economy in bullshit fees:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/11/06/attention-rents/#consumer-welfare-queens

This is why one definition of "corruption" is a system with "concentrated gains and diffuse losses." The company that dumps toxic waste in your water supply reaps all the profits of externalizing its waste disposal costs. The people it poisons each bear a fraction of the cost of being poisoned. The environmental criminal has a fat warchest of ill-gotten gains to use to bribe officials and pay fancy lawyers to defend it in court. Its victims are each struggling with the health effects of the crimes, and even without that, they can't possibly match the polluter's resources. Eventually, the polluter spends enough money to convince the Supreme Court to overturn "Chevron deference" and makes it effectively impossible to win the right to clean water and air (or a planet that's not on fire):

https://www.cfr.org/expert-brief/us-supreme-courts-chevron-deference-ruling-will-disrupt-climate-policy

Any time you encounter a shitty, outrageous racket that's stable over long timescales, chances are you're looking at a collective action problem. Certainly, that's the underlying pathology that preserves the scholarly publishing scam, which is one of the most grotesque, wasteful, disgusting frauds in our modern world (and that's saying something, because the field is crowded with many contenders).

Here's how the scholarly publishing scam works: academics do original scholarly research, funded by a mix of private grants, public funding, funding from their universities and other institutions, and private funds. These academics write up their funding and send it to a scholarly journal, usually one that's owned by a small number of firms that formed a scholarly publishing cartel by buying all the smaller publishers in a string of anticompetitive acquisitions. Then, other scholars review the submission, for free. More unpaid scholars do the work of editing the paper. The paper's author is sent a non-negotiable contract that requires them to permanently assign their copyright to the journal, again, for free. Finally, the paper is published, and the institution that paid the researcher to do the original research has to pay again – sometimes tens of thousands of dollars per year! – for the journal in which it appears.

The academic publishing cartel insists that the millions it extracts from academic institutions and the billions it reaps in profit are all in service to serving as neutral, rigorous gatekeepers who ensure that only the best scholarship makes it into print. This is flatly untrue. The "editorial process" the academic publishers take credit for is virtually nonexistent: almost everything they publish is virtually unchanged from the final submission format. They're not even typesetting the paper:

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00799-018-0234-1

The vetting process for peer-review is a joke. Literally: an Australian academic managed to get his dog appointed to the editorial boards of seven journals:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/olivia-doll-predatory-journals

Far from guarding scientific publishing from scams and nonsense, the major journal publishers have stood up entire divisions devoted to pay-to-publish junk science. Elsevier – the largest scholarly publisher – operated a business unit that offered to publish fake journals full of unreveiwed "advertorial" papers written by pharma companies, packaged to look like a real journal:

https://web.archive.org/web/20090504075453/http://blog.bioethics.net/2009/05/merck-makes-phony-peerreview-journal/

Naturally, academics and their institutions hate this system. Not only is it purely parasitic on their labor, it also serves as a massive brake on scholarly progress, by excluding independent researchers, academics at small institutions, and scholars living in the global south from accessing the work of their peers. The publishers enforce this exclusion without mercy or proportion. Take Diego Gomez, a Colombian Masters candidate who faced eight years in prison for accessing a single paywalled academic paper:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/07/colombian-student-faces-prison-charges-sharing-academic-article-online

And of course, there's Aaron Swartz, the young activist and Harvard-affiliated computer scientist who was hounded to death after he accessed – but did not publish – papers from MIT's JSTOR library. Aaron had permission to access these papers, but JSTOR, MIT, and the prosecutors Stephen Heymann and Carmen Ortiz argued that because he used a small computer program to access the papers (rather than clicking on each link by hand) he had committed 13 felonies. They threatened him with more than 30 years in prison, and drew out the proceedings until Aaron was out of funds. Aaron hanged himself in 2013:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Swartz

Academics know all this terrible stuff is going on, but they are trapped in a collective action problem. For an academic to advance in their field, they have to publish, and they have to get their work cited. Academics all try to publish in the big prestige journals – which also come with the highest price-tag for their institutions – because those are the journals other academics read, which means that getting published is top journal increases the likelihood that another academic will find and cite your work.

If academics could all agree to prioritize other journals for reading, then they could also prioritize other journals for submissions. If they could all prioritize other journals for submissions, they could all prioritize other journals for reading. Instead, they all hold one another hostage, through a wicked collective action problem that holds back science, starves their institutions of funding, and puts their colleagues at risk of imprisonment.

Despite this structural barrier, academics have fought tirelessly to escape the event horizon of scholarly publishing's monopoly black hole. They avidly supported "open access" publishers (most notably PLoS), and while these publishers carved out pockets for free-to-access, high quality work, the scholarly publishing cartel struck back with package deals that bundled their predatory "open access" journals in with their traditional journals. Academics had to pay twice for these journals: first, their institutions paid for the package that included them, then the scholars had to pay open access submission fees meant to cover the costs of editing, formatting, etc – all that stuff that basically doesn't exist.

Academics started putting "preprints" of their work on the web, and for a while, it looked like the big preprint archive sites could mount a credible challenge to the scholarly publishing cartel. So the cartel members bought the preprint sites, as when Elsevier bought out SSRN:

https://www.techdirt.com/2016/05/17/disappointing-elsevier-buys-open-access-academic-pre-publisher-ssrn/

Academics were elated in 2011, when Alexandra Elbakyan founded Sci-Hub, a shadow library that aims to make the entire corpus of scholarly work available without barrier, fear or favor:

https://sci-hub.ru/alexandra

Sci-Hub neutralized much of the collective action trap: once an article was available on Sci-Hub, it became much easier for other scholars to locate and cite, which reduced the case for paying for, or publishing in, the cartel's journals:

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2006.14979

The scholarly publishing cartel fought back viciously, suing Elbakyan and Sci-Hub for tens of millions of dollars. Elsevier targeted prepress sites like academia.edu with copyright threats, ordering them to remove scholarly papers that linked to Sci-Hub:

https://svpow.com/2013/12/06/elsevier-is-taking-down-papers-from-academia-edu/

This was extremely (if darkly) funny, because Elsevier's own publications are full of citations to Sci-Hub:

https://eve.gd/2019/08/03/elsevier-threatens-others-for-linking-to-sci-hub-but-does-it-itself/

Meanwhile, scholars kept the pressure up. Tens of thousands of scholars pledged to stop submitting their work to Elsevier:

http://thecostofknowledge.com/

Academics at the very tops of their fields publicly resigned from the editorial board of leading Elsevier journals, and published editorials calling the Elsevier model unethical:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2012/may/16/system-profit-access-research

And the New Scientist called the racket "indefensible," decrying the it as an industry that made restricting access to knowledge "more profitable than oil":

https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24032052-900-time-to-break-academic-publishings-stranglehold-on-research/

But the real progress came when academics convinced their institutions, rather than one another, to do something about these predator publishers. First came funders, private and public, who announced that they would only fund open access work:

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-06178-7

Winning over major funders cleared the way for open access advocates worked both the supply-side and the buy-side. In 2019, the entire University of California system announced it would be cutting all of its Elsevier subscriptions:

https://www.science.org/content/article/university-california-boycotts-publishing-giant-elsevier-over-journal-costs-and-open

Emboldened by the UC system's principled action, MIT followed suit in 2020, announcing that it would no longer send $2m every year to Elsevier:

https://pluralistic.net/2020/06/12/digital-feudalism/#nerdfight

It's been four years since MIT's decision to boycott Elsevier, and things are going great. The open access consortium SPARC just published a stocktaking of MIT libraries without Elsevier:

https://sparcopen.org/our-work/big-deal-knowledge-base/unbundling-profiles/mit-libraries/

How are MIT's academics getting by without Elsevier in the stacks? Just fine. If someone at MIT needs access to an Elsevier paper, they can usually access it by asking the researchers to email it to them, or by downloading it from the researcher's site or a prepress archive. When that fails, there's interlibrary loan, whereby other libraries will send articles to MIT's libraries within a day or two. For more pressing needs, the library buys access to individual papers through an on-demand service.

This is how things were predicted to go. The libraries used their own circulation data and the webservice Unsub to figure out what they were likely to lose by dropping Elsevier – it wasn't much!

https://unsub.org/

The MIT story shows how to break a collective action problem – through collective action! Individual scholarly boycotts did little to hurt Elsevier. Large-scale organized boycotts raised awareness, but Elsevier trundled on. Sci-Hub scared the shit out of Elsevier and raised awareness even further, but Elsevier had untold millions to spend on a campaign of legal terror against Sci-Hub and Elbakyan. But all of that, combined with high-profile defections, made it impossible for the big institutions to ignore the issue, and the funders joined the fight. Once the funders were on-side, the academic institutions could be dragged into the fight, too.

Now, Elsevier – and the cartel – is in serious danger. Automated tools – like the Authors Alliance termination of transfer tool – lets academics get the copyright to their papers back from the big journals so they can make them open access:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/09/26/take-it-back/

Unimaginably vast indices of all scholarly publishing serve as important adjuncts to direct access shadow libraries like Sci-Hub:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/10/28/clintons-ghost/#cornucopia-concordance

Collective action problems are never easy to solve, but they're impossible to address through atomized, individual action. It's only when we act as a collective that we can defeat the corruption – the concentrated gains and diffuse losses – that allow greedy, unscrupulous corporations to steal from us, wreck our lives and even imprison us.

Community voting for SXSW is live! If you wanna hear RIDA QADRI and me talk about how GIG WORKERS can DISENSHITTIFY their jobs with INTEROPERABILITY, VOTE FOR THIS ONE!

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/08/16/the-public-sphere/#not-the-elsevier

[mariacallous]

Citizens of the European Union live in an internet built and ruled by foreign powers. Most people in the EU use an American search engine, shop on an American ecommerce site, thumb American phones, and scroll through American social media feeds.

That fact has triggered increasing alarm in the corridors of Brussels, as the EU tries to understand how exactly those companies warp the economy around them. Five years ago, Shoshana Zuboff’s book The Age of Surveillance Capitalism neatly articulated much of lawmakers’ critique of the tech giants, just as they were preparing to enforce the flagship GDPR privacy law. Now as the EU enacts another historic piece of tech regulation, the Digital Markets Act, which companies must comply with starting tomorrow, March 7, a different critic du jour sums up the new mood in Brussels.

In his 2023 book, Technofeudalism, Yanis Varoufakis argues the big US tech platforms have brought feudalism back to Europe. The former Greek finance minister sees little difference between the medieval serf toiling on land he does not own and the Amazon seller who must subject themselves to the company’s strict rules while giving the company a cut of each sale.

The idea that a handful of big tech companies have subjugated internet users into digital empires has permeated through Europe. Technofeudalism shares bookshelf space with Cloud Empires and Digital Empires, which make broadly similar arguments. For years, Europe’s wanna-be Big Tech rivals, like Sweden’s Spotify or Switzerland’s ProtonMail, have claimed that companies like Google, Meta, and Apple unfairly limit their ability to reach potential users, through tactics like preinstalling Gmail on new Android phones or Apple’s strict rules for the App Store. “It’s not a problem to be a monopoly,” says Sandra Wachter, professor of technology and regulation at Oxford University’s Internet Institute. “It becomes a problem if you're starting to exclude other people from the market.”

Crowbarred Open

In answer to that problem, Brussels’ politicos agreed to the Digital Markets Act in 2022. It is designed to rein in the largest tech companies—almost all of them from the US—that act as gatekeepers between consumers and other businesses. A sibling regulation, the Digital Services Act, which focuses more on freedom of expression, went into effect last month. Wachter says they follow a long tradition of laws trying to protect the public and the economy from state power, wielded either by the government or the monarch. “With the rise of the private sector and globalization, power has just shifted,” she adds. Tech platforms rule over digital lives like kings. The DMA is part of the attempt to keep up.

The rules change tomorrow for platforms deemed “gatekeepers” by the DMA—so far including Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, and TikTok parent Bytedance. The law essentially crowbars open what the EU calls the gatekeepers’ “core services.” In the past regulators have proposed containing corporate giants by taking them to pieces. EU lawmakers have adopted the motto “Don’t break up big tech companies, break them open.”

In theory, that means big changes for EU residents’ digital lives. Users of iPhones should soon be able to download apps from places other than Apple’s app store; Microsoft Windows will no longer have Microsoft-owned Bing as its default search tool; Meta-owned WhatsApp users will be able to communicate with people on rival messaging apps; and Google and Amazon will have to tweak their search results to create more room for rivals. There will also be limits on how users’ data can be shared between one company’s different services. Fines for noncompliance can reach up to 20 percent of global sales revenue. The law also gives the EU recourse to the nuclear option of forcing tech companies to sell off parts of their business.

Homegrown Challengers

Most tech giants have expressed uncharacteristic alarm about the changes required of them this week. Google has spoken of “difficult trade-offs,” which may mean its search results send more traffic to hotel or flight aggregators. Apple has claimed that the DMA jeopardizes its devices’ security. Apple, Meta and TikTok have all filed legal challenges against the EU, saying new rules unfairly target their services. The argument in favor of the status quo is that competition is actually thriving—just look at TikTok, a technology company launched in the past decade, now designated as one of the so-called gatekeepers.

But TikTok is an exception. The DMA wants to make it normal for new household names to emerge in the tech industry; to “drive innovation so that smaller businesses can really make it,” as the EU’s competition chief Margrethe Vestager explained to WIRED, back in 2022. Many hope some of the new businesses that “make it” will be European. For almost every big tech service, there is a smaller homegrown equivalent: from German search engine Ecosia to French messaging app Olvid and Polish Amazon alternative Allegro. These are the companies many hope will benefit from the DMA, even if there is widespread skepticism about how effective the new rules will be at forcing the tech giants to change.

Today, US-based Epic Games said Apple had terminated its European developer account, soon after Epic announced it would take advantage of the DMA to open a new games store for iOS. Apple told WIRED that Epic was untrustworthy and Apple has the right to terminate the accounts of any of Epic's wholly owned subsidiaries following a 2021 court judgment. “Apple chose to exercise that right,” a statement provided by company spokesperson Rob Saunders said.

App Stores will be an early area of focus for DMA enforcement, Vestager said this week. But Europeans can’t expect the internet to transform overnight. In its early days, the new law’s effects will be more about the power struggles behind the curtain of the world’s biggest companies; not about making netizens’ lives easier. In fact, their online experience is likely to get messier at first. There will probably be even more website pop-ups. “This dominant position that these companies have is partially because we have been so addicted to convenience,” says Anu Bradford, a professor at Columbia Law School and author of Digital Empires: The Global Battle to Regulate Technology. The new rules will mean users have to reengage with what they want their online lives to look like, she adds. Defaults set by US corporations will no longer be chosen for them.

Instead the DMA’s objective is to remind Europeans what they traded in exchange for that convenience in the first place. The DMA is about power, not necessarily convenience. Whether Europeans will be able to remember that as their online worlds are cracked open remains to be seen.

[cindylouwho-2]

RECENT NEWS, RESOURCES AND STUDIES, MID-AUGUST 2023

Welcome to my latest roundup of ecommerce and other online news for small and micro businesses, including Etsy sellers. Usually August is a slow news month, but there is still a fair amount going on.

Want to receive this report and my website blog posts by email? Sign up here: http://bit.ly/CindyLouWho2Blog

With the continuing demise of Twitter being a concern, here is a list of places you can find me, and here is where I am posting news:

LINKEDIN

BLUESKY

REDDIT

TWITTER

I hope to get the next report out before Labour Day, but of course I cannot predict what will happen between now and then. Please let me know if there is anything you would like to see more reporting on!

TOP NEWS & ARTICLES 

Repeating this from the last update since it so important: Etsy’s latest policy changes brought in the ability to opt out of the binding arbitration clause, but existing members only have until August 23rd to do so. The Indie Sellers Guild has some thoughts on this. If you are opting out, remember this must be done for each account (buyer or seller), and make sure to include the following information in your email to arbitrationoptout@etsy.com:

your name

the email address for your account

your username

your shop name (if applicable)

Expect a vague email response that does not verify that you are opted out, because this is Etsy and why would they be clear? 

If you have anything with images of children in your Etsy shop (including art and figurines), please carefully read Etsy’s new policy on such imagery, as it appears many current photos and other visual depictions will not be allowed as of September 8. I started a thread in the Etsy forum for discussion. 

Amazon changed the deposit rules for UK and EU sellers who started on the site before 2016, implementing the “7 days after delivery date” deposit release that newer sellers also face. The UK’s small business commissioner and the minister for small business were not amused, and that led to some money being released early, but with a warning that the new delayed deposits would resume in January 2024.  

ETSY NEWS 

Etsy has changed the criteria for payment reserves for the time being, but we don’t know much about how, other than the fact most have been reduced to 30% from the original 75%. We still don’t know how they have made “... adjustments for issues that are beyond sellers’ control” such as a lack of cheap tracking, or if they are truly providing better communications to sellers just put on reserve, other than this Seller Handbook article from August 4. That article does admit that most current reserves are about shipping. I do know that we aren’t seeing many new reserves mentioned publicly, so it appears they have changed something. 

A few sellers from the UK have been able to opt out of Etsy’s Offsite Ads, but Etsy is now pushing back and rejecting requests. Reminder that most of the EU and also Switzerland can now opt out. 

The Make an Offer tool now lets you choose which listings you will accept offers on, as well as other improvements. (It's still only available to shops that sell in USD, and not all buyers can see it yet.)

To accompany the release of Etsy’s new baby registry, Etsy reported on recent baby and nursery trends. Farm animals are apparently in, as are flowers. 

The holiday season trends report is also out; it covers Canadian Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve. “277% YoY increase in searches on Etsy containing “wooden christmas tree decor” - With sustainability in mind, many buyers are opting for ornaments made of solid hardwood over plastic.” And apparently maxi skirts are back? 

The second quarter 2023 report showed stagnation in sales but more new sellers, plus Etsy focussing on telling sellers to discount items. You can read my coverage here. Some analysts are starting to sour on Etsy: “They feel a little bit like Pinterest to me where they have something great but they're not finding the opportunity on it.” 

Smiley faces are one of the latest takedown targets - not by Etsy bots, but by the actual rights owner. 

SEO: GOOGLE & OTHER SEARCH ENGINES 

If you are using internal links on your website for SEO reasons, beware that the anchor text is also important. 

An analysis of the biggest winners in Google search results for the United States in the first half of 2023 shows Mercari had a huge leap in search visibility so far this year. 

Bing is not gaining much on Google’s market share, despite having a jump on AI search. 

Brave Search now includes both video and image searching. 

If you missed a lot of Google developments in July, Search Engine Roundtable has you covered. 

[Advanced content] An Ahrefs study found that ⅔ of websites using hreflang have at least one problem. 

SOCIAL MEDIA - All Aspects, By Site

General

Since most social media platforms don’t want people leaving their site, they tend to give lower ranking to posts with links in them. You can get around this issue by focussing on zero-click marketing. [text and video] There’s a followup video with transcript on the 4 ways you can promote content through social media as well. 

Another what and when to post on social media, this one covering Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, based on what brand accounts did in 2022. [I’m thinking the Twitter data may not be as relevant today.]

Several US states have passed laws requiring parental permission for anyone under 18 to join social media, or are in the process of doing so.

One of the downsides of Bluesky is that it counts any link URLs as part of your character limit, but you can get around that if you aren’t also adding a photo. 

Facebook (includes relevant general news from Meta)

Daily active users on Threads have dropped over 80% from their peak. The site is still developing, however, and desktop access plus searching is coming soon. 

Instagram

Instagram is adding more tools that use artificial intelligence. 

Photos carousels now support music. 

TikTok

TikTok will be offering fulfilment services in the UK, to be followed by the US. “The example merchants are influencers and beauty brands to start with.”

Users in the EU will be able to remove online tracking from their TikTok “For You” algorithm in the near future, possibly by August 28.There will also be advertising changes. 

Twitter

The Twitter algorithm is changing, and now prioritizes replies, plus it is pushing video. “X is also penalizing mentions of the term ‘Threads’ as well as links to the Meta competitor.” [Yes, I am still calling it Twitter, but you can call it X if you want.]

Tweetdeck is now a paid service only. The ability to organize different lists and even work with multiple different accounts made it an essential for doing a lot of work on Twitter. 

ECOMMERCE NEWS, IDEAS, TRENDS (minus social media)

Amazon

Amazon will be charging additional fees for sellers who use Prime but don’t ship through Amazon, starting October 1. 

Amazon added hundreds of new product attributes that need to be added to relevant new listings starting on August 16. 

Looks like there will be another Amazon Prime Day in several countries this year.

Amazon’s second quarter was strong, with a lot of growth in ads. 

Investors are suing Amazon over several issues, including lying to them. 

eBay

eBay is finally agreeing to negotiate with the union of its recent acquisition, TCGPlayer, after the larger company failed to reverse the vote to unionize.  

Poshmark

Poshmark’s app will soon include an image search, called “Posh Lens”, although only some have the beta test at the moment. 

All Other Marketplaces

Depop’s new seller protection policy for US and UK sellers kicks in on September 3, and requires sellers to purchase shipping labels on the site. 

Wish is laying off over ¼ of its staff, including up to 40% of its employees in the United States.  

Shipping 

The port labour disruption in British Columbia is officially over.

ONLINE ADVERTISING (NOT SOCIAL MEDIA OR ECOMMERCE SITES 

If you aren’t using the free Google Shopping ads for your website yet, here are some tips on optimizing your products. Note that “Google may also assess your landing page speed and experience to rank your products”; many think that is only for organic results. 

Google ended “similar audiences” from all ads on August 1. “Campaigns using similar audiences will automatically get opted into optimised targeting and audience expansion moving forward. Marketers who would rather avoid this can go to the audiences tab in the Google Ads settings page and manually turn off the campaigns instead.”

STATS, DATA, TRACKING 

Still not paying much attention to Google Analytics 4? Here’s more info on why and how it is different from Universal Analytics. 

And that's it for this edition! Please let me know if there are other topics I should be covering.

[ecommerce-yourguide]

Ready for Amazon Holiday Season 2023?

The holiday season is approaching, and it's a prime opportunity for eCommerce sellers like you to excel and maximize profits. Whether you're an experienced Amazon-Shopify seller or just starting out, preparation is key.

What to Expect: Our blog is your go-to resource for navigating the challenges and opportunities of the upcoming holiday season. We've got a calendar of important dates, expert insights, trends from the past year, and invaluable tips to help you succeed in the online marketplace.

What's Inside: Discover strategies used by top-performing sellers, analyze market dynamics, and explore invaluable insights to take your Amazon business to new heights.

Stay on Track: Check out our eCommerce Holiday Season 2023 Calendar for Amazon Shopify sellers to keep up with key dates and events.

Key Insights for 2023: Learn how to boost sales with AI, manage returns effectively, utilize BOPIS, leverage social media advertising, and embrace the resale market.

Consumer Trends from 2022: Get quick insights into mobile shopping, conversion behavior, addressing errors, average order value, and more from the 2022 holiday season.

2022 Holiday Retail Recap: Understand the successes and challenges faced by retailers, including the impact of discounts, Cyber Week, and the importance of realistic forecasting.

Advanced Tips for Amazon Holiday Season 2023: Improve selling, shipping, and fulfillment, expand sales channels, go global, create a memorable unboxing experience, offer free returns and shipping, and more.

Expert Support: Partner with CedCommerce for expert support and guidance. Our Amazon Channel app has transformed the businesses of over 17k+ sellers.

Trusted by Thousands: Join the ranks of satisfied sellers who have scaled their businesses with CedCommerce. Check out a case study of Nashua Nutrition's success.

Seize Multichannel Success: Elevate your business, enjoy growth, and simplify multichannel sales operations with CedCommerce’s Amazon Channel App.

Read the Full Blog: https://bit.ly/44Z8VX2

Don't miss out on the holiday rush! Prepare your eCommerce business for Amazon Holiday Season 2023 and watch your success soar.

[ecommercegyan]

How Does the Amazon PPC Advertising Work? 

PPC adverts are part of Amazon's internal advertising system. Businesses, agencies, and third-party sellers can advertise in Amazon's search results and their competitors' results pages using Amazon PPC Management. That way, merchants can show Amazon shoppers relevant products at checkout, improving the likelihood of a sale. Due to its effectiveness, three out of four Amazon sellers utilize this method.

Definition of Amazon PPC

Amazon PPC is the paid advertising service provided by Amazon to its independent sellers. It lets vendors set up advertising campaigns for their wares and collects payment from them at each interaction with a potential consumer.

Now the question at hand is, how much does pay-per-click advertising on Amazon actually cost?

How Much Does Amazon PPC Cost?

Each seller's Amazon PPC charges for Amazon PPC Services will be different based on the number of ad campaigns they're running and the number of keywords they're aiming for. Depending on the degree of competition in your industry, you could spend anywhere from $0.15 to $6 per click.

In What Ways Does Pay-Per-Click Marketing Function?

PPC advertising takes on a variety of forms depending on the medium, but typically consists of the following steps:

Determine your end goal before deciding on a campaign format.

The settings, audiences, devices, locations, schedules, etc., should all be fine-tuned.

List your spending limits and proposed bidding approach.

Enter the web address of the page you wish to visit.

Make a commercial ad.

Your ad's quality and relevance, as well as your campaign's budget, bid, and parameters, are all factored into an algorithm that then determines where your ad will show, how often it will appear, and how much it will cost per click.

Platforms will reward advertisers with better ad placement and lower costs if they take the time to generate high-quality, user-friendly PPC campaigns.

How Does Google Ads' PPC System Work?

Marketers choose keywords to bid on while building ads. You can instruct Google to show your ad for queries that match or are related to the keyword by bidding on it.

Google uses formulas and auctions to select ads for each search. Before entering the auction, your ad's relevance to the term, expected CTR and landing page quality will determine its Quality Score.

Your Quality Score multiplied by the maximum bid determines your Ad Rank. High-ranking ads are displayed first. This technique lets successful advertising access specific audiences at affordable prices. It resembles an auction.

Check here to more about - Why Amazon FBA Coaching is Important for Sellers

Invest In Online Marketing with the Assistance of Experts

Amazon PPC grants you to promote your company's products on the world's most visited online store. However, it takes time and work to create and run an Amazon PPC campaign, especially for companies that provide a vast selection of products. A service like ECommerce Gyan comes in handy at this point. Because of their expert team and long history in e-commerce training, they are the go-to solution for sellers and suppliers who wish to get trained to successfully market their items on Amazon.

Conclusion

E-commerce Gyan is an organization that provides Amazon FBA Course India and Ecommerce PPC management services and is considered the best Amazon PPC expert in India that assist businesses to maximize their advertising investment and accomplish sales goals. Their Ecommerce business training includes learning how to perform market research, create items, create websites, apply digital marketing, and handle logistics. The training can help those who want to start an e-commerce firm and sell things online. 

[ecommerce-knowledges]

How to configure and set up Shopify for Google AdWords conversion monitoring

There will be a lot of moving components if you are launching a new online business. You'll spend a lot of time creating the products or refining your service, including taking images, writing descriptions, setting up the technical aspects, and finding out how to get people by creating a marketing strategy. Additionally, for Shopify-based eCommerce businesses, running advertisements can provide you exposure similar to that of a shop, and it is becoming more sophisticated every day.

Therefore, I will explain and give instructions on how to install Google AdWords conversion tracking on Shopify in this article today. I will also add a Google Adwords conversion tracking element to your website. Make sure you have set up conversion monitoring for your website according to the guidelines before you start.

Step 1: Generate a conversion action in Google Ads

The process of creating a conversion action is the initial step in configuring Google Ads conversion tracking. The most common conversion action is tracking purchases, which allows you to determine how effective your advertising is in generating sales for your online store by setting the category to Purchase/Sale and the value to Use different values for each conversion. Simply click Create to proceed once you have finished creating your conversion activity.

Step 2: Get the global site tag installed

Getting the global site tag inserted in your Shopify theme code is the next step after creating a conversion action.

Step 3: Install the event snippet

Do you have the global site tag finished? The event snippet needs to be included to your checkout page as the following step. When someone clicks on one of your adverts, the event snippet tracks conversion and eventually directs them to the checkout page of your online business.

Step 4: Make the conversion value active

You will have different figures for each conversion depending on the conversion activity that you are tracking on your online store. For instance, let's say Ted runs two different Google Ads campaigns for his clothing store. One is for his collection of pants, while the other is for his watch collection. On his online site, he has two commercials that have generated the same number of clicks and sales, but the watch collection ad will result in more expensive purchases. Because more expensive goods are bought by clients who click on that advertisement, the value is larger. Ted makes his advertising budget decisions using this information.

Source: install google ads conversion shopify

Related article: How dropshipping from amazon to shopify

[fulfillplex]

How to Successfully Sell Print on Demand Products from Home

Although your dining table may not appear to be the most glamorous place to start a business, many start-ups have grown into success stories from such humble beginnings. Learning how to sell print on demand products from home is an excellent way to start a business on a low budget. It's simple to make money selling products from home if you take the right approach. The internet has changed the game for home-based businesses. You can now sell to a global audience from the comfort of your own home using only a computer and Wi-Fi.

Why Should You Sell Products From The Comfort Of Your Own Home?

There are numerous advantages to selling products from home. It's inexpensive and simple to get started. Converting a spare room or garage into an office or workspace saves money on rent. With a home-based business, you have the freedom to set your schedule and flexible work hours. Many home-based businesses involve the owner doing something they enjoy. It is a method of turning a hobby or interest into a business while learning new marketing, sales, and business management skills. You can expand the business or keep it running on a small scale.

Effective Tips for Selling Print on Demand Products Online From Home

1. Choose the Best Products to Sell

Choosing the right products to sell from home is critical to business success. You can either create your products to sell or buy existing products from suppliers and resell them to customers directly. It's a good idea to pick something you're interested in or skilled in. For instance, if you're interested in health, you could sell print on demand supplements or health-related products. Consider what makes a product successful. Look for products in high demand, easy to ship, and inexpensive to produce. When reselling products, aim for more than 50% profit margin. Make sure you will make a profit from it.

2. Determine the Market's Size

Examine market studies, journals, and government reports to determine the market size for your products. The larger the market, the greater the chance of success. Examine the market's competitiveness as well. Many small businesses selling similar products are a good indicator of demand, but it can make it difficult for your company to stand out. Avoid products that are trademarked and sold by large retailers. Niche products are an excellent choice.

3. Select a Print on Demand Service Provider

You sell a manufacturer's products with print on demand fulfillment. You accept the order and your provider ships the items directly to the customers. You don't have to spend money on bulk inventory, worry about stock storage, or manage product shipment. Your print on demand provider will handle order fulfillment, freeing you up to focus on marketing and selling products.

4. Pick a Good Marketplace

There are numerous marketplaces where you can sell products from the comfort of your own home. Websites like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy provide easy access to eCommerce tools such as listing, payment, mailing and customer communications, and even inventory storage and fulfillment. They can also reach millions of potential customers. The drawback is that you'll have to give up a significant portion of your profit to the marketplace, and you'll frequently be competing with hundreds of other small businesses selling similar products.

5. Make your website.

You can create your eCommerce website rather than selling through an online marketplace. If you don't know how to build a website, look for an off-the-shelf eCommerce template. You can use an online website builder and hosting services like Wix, a content management system like WordPress, and a pre-made eCommerce template. The good news is that there are thousands of free or low-cost eCommerce WordPress templates to choose from, making it relatively simple to set up your eCommerce website. Keep the layout and design simple so that customers can easily find and purchase products.

Last Thoughts

An online store is almost free to set up, so there are few risks, and the factors determining your business's success are entirely within your control. Continue to apply and experiment with your marketing strategy and optimize your site based on user feedback, analytics data, and the types of products they are purchasing. Selling products online is a journey, and you've only just begun. Allow Fulfillplex to accompany you on your next steps toward business success. Check us out now or send us a message to learn more about how a top eCommerce fulfillment company like us can help your online business.

[alexsharing]

What is Connective Ecommerce in 2024? Is it Scam | Imagency Media

In the fast-paced world of digital transformation, eCommerce continues to evolve rapidly, driven by advancements in technology and shifting consumer behaviors. In 2024, one of the most significant trends redefining the digital marketplace is connective eCommerce. This paradigm goes beyond traditional online shopping, blending interconnected technologies, platforms, and user experiences to create a seamless, intelligent, and omnipresent commercial ecosystem.

Defining Connective eCommerce

At its core, connective eCommerce refers to a model where various technologies and platforms are integrated to facilitate a fluid, data-driven, and personalized shopping experience. The idea is that instead of siloed platforms where users shop on individual sites or apps, there is a connected web of digital touchpoints—ranging from social media to smart devices—that allow businesses and consumers to engage anywhere and at any time.

This model leverages the power of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), the Internet of Things (IoT), and omnichannel strategies to deliver hyper-personalized experiences that anticipate user needs, preferences, and behaviors.

Key Components of Connective eCommerce in 2024

Omnichannel Integration In connective eCommerce, every channel is interconnected. Consumers no longer see distinctions between shopping online, through social media, or in-store. The lines have blurred, and businesses are required to ensure that every touchpoint—whether it’s a website, an app, a social platform, or a physical store—delivers a consistent and cohesive experience. This goes beyond mere availability; it means that customers can start their journey on one platform and seamlessly complete it on another.

AI-Powered Personalization AI is playing a pivotal role in how businesses understand their customers. In 2024, connective eCommerce relies on real-time data processing to deliver hyper-relevant product recommendations, personalized content, and dynamic pricing strategies. AI helps predict what consumers will want next, improving both the shopping experience and customer loyalty.

Social Commerce and Influencer Ecosystems Social platforms have become key players in the connective eCommerce space. With features like in-app shopping and shoppable live streams, platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook are not only channels for discovery but also for direct transactions. Influencers play a critical role in this ecosystem, driving trends and helping brands build authentic connections with consumers.

Voice and Visual Search Voice search and visual search are emerging as popular tools within the connective eCommerce framework. Voice-enabled devices, such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, are allowing consumers to shop using voice commands, while visual search tools help users find products by snapping a photo or uploading an image. This shift marks the move toward more intuitive and accessible forms of interaction between consumers and digital storefronts.

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Try-Ons AR technology is revolutionizing how consumers shop for products online. Virtual try-ons—be it for clothing, makeup, or even home décor—are becoming mainstream, allowing users to see how products will look or fit in their real lives before making a purchase. This helps reduce return rates and increases consumer confidence in buying products online.

Blockchain and Decentralized Commerce Blockchain technology is influencing eCommerce by introducing decentralized platforms where transactions can occur without intermediaries. Smart contracts are enhancing security and transparency, especially in global trade and high-value transactions, which adds a layer of trust between buyers and sellers.

Benefits of Connective eCommerce

Enhanced Customer Experience: With every channel working together, consumers experience a seamless, convenient, and highly personalized journey, increasing satisfaction and brand loyalty.

Real-Time Data and Insights: Businesses can track customer behavior across multiple platforms, gaining real-time insights that inform better marketing strategies, inventory management, and product development.

Increased Conversion Rates: Personalization powered by AI and ML improves engagement and boosts conversion rates as consumers are presented with products and content tailored specifically to them.

Greater Scalability for Businesses: Connective eCommerce allows companies to expand their reach effortlessly across platforms, opening doors to new markets and customer bases globally.

Challenges to Overcome

While connective eCommerce offers significant advantages, it also presents unique challenges:

Data Privacy and Security: With an increasing number of platforms and touchpoints, ensuring consumer data privacy and securing transactions remains a major concern.

Integration Complexity: Successfully integrating various platforms, tools, and technologies can be complicated, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses that may not have the resources to implement such solutions seamlessly.

Customer Expectation Management: As experiences become more personalized, consumer expectations will continue to rise. Companies need to ensure they deliver on promises while avoiding over-reliance on algorithms that may not always get it right.

The Future of Connective eCommerce

As we move further into 2024, the connective eCommerce landscape is set to expand, with more companies adopting this model and consumers expecting seamless, interconnected shopping experiences. Innovations like AI-powered personalization, AR, and decentralized commerce will likely grow even more sophisticated, driving a new era of digital commerce that feels both intimate and infinite.

For businesses, the key to thriving in this space lies in leveraging the power of data, embracing new technologies, and crafting strategies that put the consumer at the center of a connected web of experiences. In doing so, they will not only meet the demands of today's digital-savvy shoppers but also set the stage for the future of commerce.

In 2024, connective eCommerce is not just an emerging trend—it’s the future of how we buy and sell, bringing the world of online retail into a new era of hyper-connectivity and intelligent, adaptive shopping experiences.

Contact us

By embracing these innovations, businesses can stay ahead in this highly competitive digital age, creating richer, more meaningful interactions with their customers in ways that were once unimaginable. The connective eCommerce revolution has just begun, and its potential is limitless.

[fortressofserenity]

The advantages of losing America

If there are any advantages when it comes to the loss of America as a superpower is that it's conducive to a blue ocean situation, especially when it comes to the first mover advantage where a company introduces something new and different to the market. It would be like the thing with superheroes where the market for them has been saturated at various points in publishing and the like. First you obviously have DC and Marvel, then you have things like Valiant, Top Cow, Bumilangit, Lev Gleason and My Hero Academia.

Any attempts at creating a new superhero universe and sustaining it for long is going to be difficult, given the nature of brand loyalty that one would have to find a way to make something stand out for long and hold onto that audience too. That's how I feel about something like Wildstorm that while it has a number of interesting stories and characters, the problem is many of its characters were derivative of their DC and Marvel counterparts that it's easier to go back to these two. This is the same situation where Concord's at when it comes to shooter games.

Actually it's getting more and more complicated when it comes to things like Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, Hunter x Hunter and the like that offer similar ideas and stories that I don't think it's going to be easy launching a new superhero universe this time, especially when there's so much competition with franchises and brands offering something similar that it's practically a red ocean situation at this point. The loss of America as a superpower might be very conducive to a first mover advantage in a blue ocean situation because there's far less competition this time.

This makes it easier to introduce a product that's unlike any other in a given market or any market really, that makes it easier to not only attract a new audience but also retain them for long. Since there are no alternatives at this point that people will always rely on and turn to it for long, whatever it may be but one that's got less competition at this point. Admittedly you could argue with me here, but the thing is that as America is something of a superpower it's going to export a lot of products that find audiences.

It's going to innovate and create products that'll find an audience in due time, so a lot of American brands catch on with a lot of people whether if it's software like Microsoft, streaming television like Netflix or animation like Disney. You'd have to compete hard with American brands and properties if you're going to launch a product in the global marketplace. The tide is beginning to turn with China's favour such as TikTok (short form video) and Russia's Telegram.

So American brands like YouTube have caught up with offering things like YouTube shorts, TikTok in turn began offering longer video clips to maintain its share of the market. Supposing if America ever stops being a superpower for good that a number of its brands becomes less popular over time, so the market becomes less saturated making it easier to create a new product that catches on with a lot of people, especially if said product got created and innovated elsewhere.

Ever since becoming a superpower, it's inevitable that for a long time America often got a head start in any industry and product. It was the first country to introduce the Internet (however as a military weapon of sorts to track down people or something), first to popularise ecommerce with things like Amazon and Etsy and one of the first to make its mark on commercial cinema, especially in southern California.

The tides are changing and if America ceases to be a major superpower, it will also cease to be a leader in innovation and business too.

[primesummitsolutions]

Best Amazon Dropshipping Services for Small Business Owners in the USA

Amazon has become a leading platform for entrepreneurs and business owners seeking automation and growth. However, many struggle to manage their eCommerce businesses effectively due to time constraints, lack of experience, or the complexities of handling day-to-day operations. To bridge these gaps, expert Amazon services can provide valuable support by offering tailored strategies that suit both long-term growth and exit plans.

Amazon’s growth, especially post-pandemic, continues to make it an attractive platform for investment. A survey by eMarketer projects U.S. holiday spending to reach $282 billion in 2024, a 28% increase from the previous year. This demonstrates the continued success of eCommerce platforms like Amazon Seller Central.

For entrepreneurs considering dropshipping, professional managed services are invaluable. Just as an experienced race team helps optimize performance, a managed Amazon service allows business owners to hit the ground running without trial and error. By partnering with experts, owners can avoid the learning curve and start generating consistent revenue sooner.

How Amazon Dropshipping Works

In Amazon dropshipping, sellers list products from suppliers without holding inventory. When a customer makes a purchase, the seller buys the product from the supplier, and the supplier ships it directly to the customer. This model allows sellers to avoid upfront inventory costs and purchase products only after a sale has been made. Additionally, returns are managed by coordinating with suppliers, ensuring efficient refund processing.

Dropshipping is low-risk with the potential for quick growth, making it an ideal option for many entrepreneurs. Prime Summit Solutions offers a checklist-based approach to ensure compliance with Amazon's policies and optimize store performance.

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)

FBA differs from dropshipping in that Amazon manages the entire fulfillment process, including storage, shipping, and customer service. Prime Summit Solutions offers comprehensive FBA services, handling everything from product research to listing management. With FBA, businesses benefit from faster shipping, higher net profit margins, and quicker payouts compared to dropshipping. This model allows sellers to focus on growth while Amazon takes care of logistics.

The Benefits of Managed Amazon Services

Managed companies like Prime Summit Solutions provide expert support, helping small business owners optimize their eCommerce operations from the start. By leveraging expert knowledge, entrepreneurs can avoid the hassle of learning from scratch, saving valuable time and increasing their chances of success.

For long-term growth, services like white labeling and private labeling can help sellers build unique brands, eventually creating more attractive exit strategies. Prime Summit Solutions provides assistance in all areas of eCommerce, from dropshipping and FBA to brand development and Amazon automation, ensuring smooth operations at every stage.

FAQs

Payments: All earnings are paid directly to your bank account by Amazon.

Profit Margins: Dropshipping margins are typically 10-20%, while FBA margins range from 15-30%.

Financial Reports: Detailed monthly reports are provided for accounting purposes.

Return on Investment Guarantee: Prime Summit Solutions offers a legal money-back guarantee if you don’t achieve a full ROI within a specified period.

To get started, business owners can reach out to Prime Summit Solutions through their website for a free consultation. Their Amazon automation services are designed to support business growth and maximize profitability.

For more details, visit: Prime Summit Solutions

[carlhooper]

Is an Amazon Clone App the Right Fit for Your Enterprise?

The growing popularity of eCommerce apps is driven by advancements in smartphones and mobile applications. AI technology, in particular, has significantly boosted eCommerce apps by offering a variety of user-friendly features.

This is why Amazon clone apps have become increasingly popular, carving out a significant space in the eCommerce world.

Let’s explore why your eCommerce business can benefit from developing an Amazon clone app.

Let’s start with trends! 

Top Trends Of Amazon Clone App 

The main reason for developing an Amazon clone app is its widespread familiarity among users.

As a business person, you need a platform that offers a familiar shopping experience. This, along with the app's proven business model, explains why Amazon clone apps are becoming so popular.

Let’s find out why:

Immediate Brand Recognition

Since the early days of online shopping, Amazon has been a key player in the eCommerce industry. Around 67% of people worldwide use Amazon for their shopping needs. This widespread recognition motivates many businesses to create similar shopping apps or websites for their products.

Amazon has become a benchmark for eCommerce platforms.

Improved Feature Capabilities

The Amazon app has set a standard in the eCommerce industry with its integrated features. These proven features, like product recommendations, customer reviews, secure payment options, and order tracking have become essential for online shopping.

Having such feature-rich capabilities in your eCommerce app will deliver a great user experience, making it stand out.

Quick Development Process

As mentioned earlier, using a ready-made solution significantly speeds up the development of an eCommerce app compared to building from scratch. A clone solution provides pre-designed frameworks, simplifying customization and speeding up the overall process.

If you want to stay ahead of the competition, get into the market quickly with this fastly developed app. 

Customize to Fit Your Needs

With the Amazon clone app, you can easily adapt it to meet your specific Ecommerce needs through scalable customization. Whether it's designing the user interface or adding complex features, the app can be tailored to fit your requirements.

The Amazon clone script helps you launch a unique Ecommerce app without altering the core workflow or business model.

Stand Out in the Crowd

In the busy world of e-commerce, creating a unique shopping platform from scratch can be challenging. However, using a feature-packed Amazon clone app allows you to stand out by leveraging a strong customization process.

This approach will help you carve out a niche in the market and give you a competitive edge over others.

Monetization systems can provide a better understanding of why Amazon clone fits the best. Le’t find! 

Revenue Models Of the Amazon Clone App 

The revenue system can decide how far you can run in the line as investing and taking back is all about the business. Take a look at Amazon’s monetization strategy! 

E-Commerce Sales

An online shopping app, similar to Amazon, primarily makes money from e-commerce sales. It serves as a marketplace where users can explore and buy a wide variety of items, from electronics to home goods, sourced from sellers all around the world. The app earns by charging commission fees on transactions that occur through its platform.

In addition to this, the app also profits by selling its own branded products. These items are often produced in partnership with suppliers, enabling the app to sell directly to customers without needing third-party sellers.

Another key revenue source for the Amazon clone app is its investment in logistics. The app runs numerous fulfilment centres worldwide, where it also sells returned or discounted products. This setup allows customers to purchase these items directly through the app.

Amazon Prime

Amazon Prime is a subscription service that gives members access to a host of exclusive benefits. The standout feature is free shipping on eligible items, with orders arriving within two days at no extra charge.

But Prime offers more than just shipping perks. It also provides a broad selection of entertainment options, including movies, music, and TV shows, making it a versatile service. This diverse value proposition has been key to Amazon's success, helping it maintain a strong market position.

The revenue from Amazon Prime subscriptions is a major contributor to Amazon's global success, solidifying its place among the top businesses.

If you're developing an Amazon clone app, adopting a similar subscription model could boost its appeal and revenue potential, helping your business grow effectively.

Advertisement

Advertising is a key revenue source for many businesses, including Amazon. It allows retailers and product companies to promote their products to a global audience. Amazon uses a pay-per-click model, where businesses pay only when users click on their ads, boosting visibility and sales.

Amazon also offers sponsored ads that place products prominently on the site. This gives companies control over their promotions, ensuring targeted marketing.

By adopting a similar advertising model in your Amazon clone app, you can drive revenue and increase your business's success in the competitive e-commerce market.

Physical Store

Amazon has ventured into physical retail, allowing customers to shop in person while enjoying e-commerce pricing. This innovative model has received positive feedback.

A prime example is Amazon Go, where customers use the Amazon Go app to enter, shop, and check out seamlessly. Another example is Amazon's bookstore, which combines a diverse book selection with techs like Kindle and Echo devices, enhancing the shopping experience.

If you're starting an e-commerce business, you can begin online and later expand into physical stores as you grow, following Amazon's successful approach.

Wrapping Up, 

You need cutting-edge technology to include these trends and monetization in your Amazon clone app. 

What if I say that you can get them all cost-effectively and in less time? 

Amazon Clone can perfectly build with all these features at a low cost and time. Yes! It can bring the existing functionalities and more behind the concept using the customization concept. 

To know more about how to develop an Amazon clone app, cost, and design, check my other blogs where you can find a detailed explanation. 

[korshubudemycoursesblog]

How to Start a Side Hustle: A Complete Guide to Extra Income

Are you looking to boost your income, explore a passion, or create a backup plan for your career? Starting a side hustle can be the perfect solution. In today's fast-paced digital world, the opportunities for launching a side business are endless. Whether you're aiming for financial independence, personal growth, or simply an extra stream of income, this guide will help you take that leap.

What is a Side Hustle?

A side hustle is any work or business you do in addition to your full-time job. It's a way to supplement your income while pursuing a personal interest or passion. Unlike a traditional part-time job, a side hustle is often more flexible and can be scaled based on your time and commitment.

Why Start a Side Hustle?

There are various reasons why people consider starting a side hustle:

Extra income: Many people start a side hustle to earn additional money to pay off debts, save for vacations, or invest in future ventures.

Personal fulfillment: A side hustle often allows individuals to explore passions or hobbies that their full-time jobs don’t satisfy.

Skill development: Running a side hustle can help you develop new skills, such as marketing, sales, and time management.

Financial security: A successful side hustle can provide a safety net if you ever lose your primary source of income.

Top Side Hustle Ideas in 2024

Before we dive into the steps of how to start a side hustle, let's explore some of the most popular side hustle ideas in 2024:

Freelance writing: If you have a talent for words, freelance writing is an excellent way to start earning money online.

Blogging or Vlogging: With platforms like WordPress and YouTube, you can turn your expertise into a profitable blog or video channel.

Dropshipping: With minimal upfront investment, you can start an eCommerce business through dropshipping.

Online tutoring: Share your knowledge with others by teaching online courses or offering tutoring services.

Social media management: Help businesses build their online presence by managing their social media accounts.

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Start a Side Hustle

Starting a side hustle requires careful planning and a commitment to your goals. Below are key steps to successfully launching and growing your side business.

1. Identify Your Skills and Interests

The first step in starting a side hustle is identifying your skills and interests. Consider the following questions:

What am I passionate about?

What skills do I possess that others are willing to pay for?

How much time can I realistically dedicate to my side hustle?

Your side hustle should align with your interests and talents. For instance, if you're passionate about writing, freelancing or content creation might be your ideal hustle. If you’re more tech-savvy, you could explore web development or graphic design.

2. Research Market Demand

Once you've identified your skills and interests, the next step is to research market demand. A great side hustle idea should have a balance between your passion and what people are willing to pay for.

To do this:

Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, Google Trends, and SEMrush to discover trending keywords and market demand.

Browse popular platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Amazon to understand what services or products are in demand.

Analyze competitors in your niche to see what’s working for them.

Keyword research can help you uncover lucrative areas that people are searching for. For instance, you might find that “How to Start a Side Hustle” is a frequently searched phrase, indicating that many people are looking for ways to begin their journey.

3. Define Your Business Model

After understanding the market, it's time to choose a business model for your side hustle. There are various models to consider:

Freelancing: Offer your services to clients on a project-by-project basis.

eCommerce: Sell physical or digital products through online platforms.

Affiliate marketing: Promote other companies' products and earn a commission on sales.

Online courses: Create educational content and sell it to learners on platforms like Udemy or Teachable.

The business model you select will dictate how you generate income, the tools you'll need, and how much time you can dedicate to your side hustle.

4. Create a Business Plan

Before you dive into the operational side of your hustle, create a business plan. This should outline:

Your target audience: Who are you trying to reach with your product or service?

Your value proposition: What unique offering or service will you provide?

Revenue streams: How will your side hustle make money? (e.g., direct sales, advertising, affiliate commissions)

Marketing strategy: How will you promote your business?

A solid business plan ensures you're not wasting time or resources and gives your side hustle a clear direction.

5. Set Goals and Track Progress

Without clear goals, it can be challenging to measure success. Establish both short-term and long-term goals for your side hustle. These could be income-related or focused on customer growth or social media presence.

Use tools like Trello, Asana, or Google Sheets to track your progress. Regularly assessing your performance helps you understand what’s working and what needs adjustment.

6. Develop a Marketing Strategy

Marketing is essential for the growth of your side hustle. The most successful side hustlers leverage multiple marketing channels to reach their audience. Here are a few strategies to consider:

Social Media Marketing: Use platforms like Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or TikTok to promote your side hustle.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Optimize your website or blog for keywords like “How to Start a Side Hustle” to drive organic traffic.

Email Marketing: Build an email list to nurture relationships with potential customers.

Paid Advertising: Consider running Google Ads or Facebook Ads to get immediate visibility for your services or products.

A combination of organic and paid marketing strategies ensures you're building brand awareness while driving sales.

7. Manage Your Time Wisely

One of the biggest challenges of a side hustle is balancing it with your full-time job. Efficient time management is key to success. Here are some tips:

Set aside dedicated time: Block out specific hours each day or week for your side hustle.

Prioritize tasks: Focus on high-impact tasks that directly contribute to income generation or business growth.

Automate where possible: Use automation tools for tasks like email marketing, social media scheduling, or even customer support.

8. Leverage Tools and Resources

There are plenty of tools available to make your side hustle more efficient:

Website builders like WordPress or Wix can help you create a professional online presence.

E-commerce platforms such as Shopify and Etsy allow you to sell products easily.

Freelance platforms like Upwork and Fiverr can help you find clients and gigs.

Invest in learning from online courses on platforms like Udemy to upskill yourself and enhance your side hustle knowledge.

9. Stay Consistent and Adapt

Consistency is the key to growing any side hustle. It’s important to show up regularly and adapt to changing trends or market demands. Whether it’s updating your services, pivoting your business model, or finding new ways to market your offerings, staying agile ensures your side hustle remains competitive.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Starting a Side Hustle

Not having a plan: Jumping into a side hustle without clear goals or a plan can lead to burnout or failure.

Underpricing your services: Many new side hustlers price their services too low, which can hurt profitability and long-term sustainability.

Overcommitting: Trying to do too much at once can lead to burnout. Start small and scale gradually.

Not investing in marketing: Even the best side hustle ideas won’t succeed if no one knows about them. Make marketing a priority from the start.

Conclusion: How to Start a Side Hustle Successfully

In today’s digital age, starting a side hustle has never been easier. Whether you’re looking to earn extra income, follow a passion, or build a long-term business, the steps above will guide you in the right direction. Remember, consistency, smart planning, and leveraging the right tools are crucial to making your side hustle a success.

[cindylouwho-2]

Recent SEO & Marketing News for Ecommerce, November 2023

As promised, here is the separate report on marketing and SEO news for ecommerce businesses, up to the end of November. This is now separate from the ecommerce report (which will be out in the next week or so).

I probably won't be posting SEO and marketing news again until the new year, so this is my chance to remind you that I plan on leaving Twitter soon. You can still keep caught up here on Tumblr, plus daily on Bluesky and on LinkedIn. My plan is to have a new way to follow my news posts in a more timely fashion early in 2024, so stay tuned!

SEO: GOOGLE & OTHER SEARCH ENGINES 

Google launched another core ranking update on August 22, which ended on Sept. 7. eBay, Amazon and Etsy lost a fair amount of page visibility in the UK, according to this analysis. The US version of the same study saw large drops for the same 3 sites, while sites with “user-generated content” did well. Then Google released a Helpful Content update, which finished on September 28. Sites with poor UX (user experience, for example too many pop-up ads) and too much focus on on-page SEO seem to be experiencing the worst effects. Google also gave out tips on what might be considered “unhelpful.” Then, Google rolled out the October Core update, which ended October 19. But wait, there’s more! They also did a November core update, which finished at the end of the month. 

Google has long denied using click data to determine search ranking, but the current antitrust hearings have revealed a different story. We also learned that it cost $26.3 billion in 2021 alone to buy spots as the default search engine in many browsers and devices. Here are more revelations about search ranking from the trial. 

Deleting old content will not necessarily help your Google rankings or traffic. However, if Google is penalizing your pages because it deems them “unhelpful”, removing those less-helpful pages will probably help the site overall. 

Internal links on each important page of your website will generally result in better Google traffic. The study covers 23 million links, but the author notes it only demonstrates correlation, not causation. Different anchor text for the same link is an even better predictor of Google search traffic. Note that Google staff recently stated links aren’t a top-3 ranking factor any more, though. 

Optimizing category/collection/section pages can provide a big SEO boost on an ecommerce website. Here are some tips. 

Google recently started showing follower counts for social media links in search results, but says they are not a ranking factor. 

Large media sites overwhelmingly rank at the top of Google search for common queries in many areas. It’s an interesting read. 

My periodic reminder that “LSI keywords” don’t help your SEO. LSI is an outdated method of data analysis that tries to find connections between words, but it was invented before the internet as we know it existed, and simply isn’t relevant for Google. Yes, related words are good, but LSI is not the way to find them. 

Semi-advanced content: how to figure out your potential buyers’ path to your product through Google data. This is a little more detailed than figuring out which problems people have and how you can solve them, but the basic idea is there. 

In case you missed everything on Google in August, here is a roundup, then you can catch up on September, and finally, October’s changes. 

Not Google

Bing Chat (basically, regular Bing search with Chat GPT involved) is now known as “Copilot”. The name change alone is unlikely to increase traffic, though, which is showing very little gain on Google despite the AI-driven search experience. 

Yahoo’s search redesign is expected to start appearing in early 2024. 

Yandex, the top Russian search engine, is for sale.

SOCIAL MEDIA - All Aspects, By Site

General

Branding is an important part of social media for businesses; here are some good tips on representing your business well and getting seen. As I always remind folks, you don’t need to be on every platform; that can actually be harmful. “It’s unlikely your audience will be active on every single social media platform, especially considering how many are out there in this day and age. Be thoughtful about which platforms you want to leverage for your social media presence. Once you know where your audience is most active, ask yourself whether the platform itself aligns with your brand values, story, identity, and tone of voice.”

Facebook (includes relevant general news from Meta)

European users can soon pay a subscription to opt out of advertising on Facebook and Instagram. 

Facebook uses member information to train its artificial intelligence models, but you can opt some of your data out of that process. Unfortunately, “[t]here’s no guarantee from the company that it’ll delete it, or that it’ll provide you with the information you’re asking for, even if it’s yours.” Also, this only includes the outside data and not your actual posts. 

Meta has new AI-tools for its ads, but not all accounts have access yet, as they continue to test. Ad revenue was up 23% in the third quarter.  

Instagram

Just like many other platforms, Instagram has issues with people advertising illegal things for sale. They are also blocking people posting research on the problem, instead of blocking the illegal ads. 

The basics of Instagram SEO: “The platform says there isn’t one Instagram algorithm. Instead, there’s a personalized set of classifiers and processes for each user.”

LinkedIn

Like most sites, LinkedIn is looking to upgrade some features with AI, but unlike most sites, it is planning on summarizing the feeds of its Premium subscribers so they don’t have to read everything. 

Yes, SEO can help you get found on LinkedIn.

Pinterest

Pinterest is now a bigger shopping destination for Gen Z, who are now the site’s “fastest-growing audience”. 

Reddit

Reddit removed its awards earlier this year, and will be replacing them with gold awards only, and will also pay top creators who earn at least 10 gold a month. 

Reddit may end up blocking Google and Bing from crawling the site, as a way to stop AI training. 

Snapchat

Snapchat ad revenue led to an improved 3rd quarter for Snap, but the company is still losing money. 

Threads

Threads - Meta’s Twitter competitor - continues to get upgrades, with polls and GIFs added recently. Apparently the site has almost 100 million users every month. They are now planning to launch in the EU by the end of the year.

TikTok

TikTok may be considering a ban on links to products for sale on other sites, although the company denied it. This may be to protect their own shopping platform: “Consumers in the U.S. are currently spending around $3 million to $4 million a day on TikTok Shop, up from around half a million to $1 million a day in June, the report says. TikTok staffers expect this number to exceed $10 million by the end of the year.”

That beta test is now live: TikTok Shop is officially in the United States. “As part of the rollout, the company is bringing features such as a dedicated shop tab on the home screen, live video shopping, shoppable ads and affiliate programs for creators…TikTok execs told The New York Times that more than 90% of sellers on TikTok Shop were based out of the U.S.” 

Longer videos may be a TikTok goal, as they are easier to place ads with.

Twitter

Twitter continues to die, losing users since it was sold. Advertisers are leaving completely, and others are not posting content. (Etsy has not posted any promotions on Twitter since November 14.)

Musk keeps stating Twitter may start charging users, and the company is forcing new members in New Zealand and the Philippines to pay $1 a year if they join via the web and want to tweet or retweet, i.e., they can still read without paying. A phone number is also needed for verification of new accounts in these countries. 

Twitter removed headlines from news link cards, but will be bringing them back soon. 

Tumblr

Tumblr will be rolling back some changes and focussing on “the core functionality” of the site, after many new features failed to gain traction. 

YouTube

Look for new AI video tools on YouTube in the near future; the new “Create” app is currently in beta for Android. 

If you produce Shorts for YouTube, you will want to know how that algorithm works. 

(CONTENT) MARKETING (includes blogging, emails, and strategies) 

Gmail, Yahoo and AOL are all implementing new email rules in 2024 that may impact some types of email newsletters, although most major companies have already complied with the new requirements. 

While Gmail hides your promotional emails, Yahoo is now offering new AI tools that will find those missing “gift cards, discount codes and store credits that people may have forgotten about.”

Newsletter option TinyLetter is being shut down by Malichimp. 

Substack users: be aware that your subscribers may see your address and phone number unless you change the default setting. 

The first step in writing content isn’t necessarily doing SEO keyword research [I’d argue that products are different than content, though, and that even forum or social driven content could benefit from a bit of SEO.] 

Looking for content marketing topics for December? Here are 5 ideas to get working on, and if you have some free time, get a head start on January.

ONLINE ADVERTISING (EXCEPT INDIVIDUAL SOCIAL MEDIA AND ECOMMERCE SITES) 

Did you know there are tools to track ads from different companies on many ad sites? Some are even free. [includes TikTok, Meta, Google and LinkedIn]

Ecommerce advertisers may find Amazon a better place to spend their budget compared to Google Ads. “Amazon’s search volume comprises 54% of all product-related searches in the United States.”

Google’s third quarter was decent, but Cloud revenue was below projections while ad money was up. Microsoft’s ad revenue also improved. 

Chrome plans on ending all third-party cookies by the end of the third quarter 2024, and will start with 1% of users in early 2024. This will affect some types of ads, if you are wondering why platforms start changing. 

Anyone using Google’s Performance Max campaigns may be interested in this overview of how to get the most out of them, with screenshots. 

STATS, DATA, TRACKING 

Since a lot of people still can’t figure out Google Analytics 4, here is yet another good overview. 

This new YouTube video from Google shows you how to figure out traffic sources in Google Analytics 4. 

Still working on moving to GA4? Here’s a bit more info, including how to save your old UA data. 

For video learners, here is “5 reasons for using Google Search Console”. [YouTube, 3 mins.]

BUSINESS & CONSUMER TRENDS, STATS & REPORTS; SOCIOLOGY & PSYCHOLOGY, CUSTOMER SERVICE 

A report out of the UK on small business use of online platforms calls for the UK government to better protect small businesses from the power differential often evident in these relationships. 

Amazon’s Prime Day sales barely beat last year, while their competitors actually dropped. [Washington Post gift link] Some analysts think this bodes poorly for the holiday season, and that consumers are looking for discounts.

Around 50% of Generation Zers in the US plan to shop in malls this holiday season, and people in general plan on spending less this year. But another study said nearly half of Gen Z shoppers will make at least some purchases on social media, while the US average is just ⅓. Most online holiday shopping will take place on mobile instead of computers, and ecommerce shopping will be up less than 5% per some reports, and over 10% according to others. Black Friday stats also indicate that mobile outpaced desktop - smart phones delivered 54% of online sales. “Global data from Shopify also showed strong mobile performance for merchants on that platform. Mobile versus desktop 76% to 24%, respectively.”

Large companies report that various types of consumer fraud are on the increase, and cost $100 billion annually. 

IMAGES, VIDEO, GRAPHIC DESIGN, & FREE ONLINE TOOLS

Thinking of using AI to create some products and images to sell? Be aware that AI art is not copyright-protected, at least in the US at the moment. A recent case led the court to rule that “human authorship is a bedrock requirement of copyright.” [article includes a copy of the entire case]

Need some free web design tools? Practical Ecommerce has a recent list of 19, and an even more recent list of 17. 

MISCELLANEOUS (including humour) 

A snarky article in the Verge had SEOs all worked up, and some were very defensive about it. I thought the whole thing was hilarious. 

Reminder that there are usually consequences for (and laws against) improper use of a customer’s private information, which includes asking them on a date. “Almost one in three people aged 18-34 have received unwanted romantic contact after giving their personal information to a business, a UK poll has shown.”

Do you know what happens to your website and social media accounts when you die? Sometimes, even the platforms get confused about this, and there are few laws. 

Jewellery finding company TierraCast is closing by the end of 2023. 

UPDATED: December 4, 2023

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Featured Post: The Profit Playbook: Quick & Easy Marketing Strategies To Transform Your Store Into A Constant Cash Machine by Veronica Jeans

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Prime Day 2023 Recap:

The dust has settled on the astonishing #AmazonPrime Day 2023. A whopping $12.7 billion was spent in the U.S. alone, setting new records and creating a shopping frenzy. Prime members flooded the platform, saving billions on exclusive deals, and third-party sellers enjoyed a spectacular winning streak, achieving substantial growth in categories like Fashion, Beauty, and Home products.

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Unlocking the Internet Goldmine: How to Make Money Online

In today’s digital age, the internet offers countless opportunities for individuals to earn money from the comfort of their own homes. Whether you’re a student, a stay-at-home parent, or someone looking to supplement your income, there are numerous ways to tap into this vast online marketplace. Here are some popular methods to consider:####

1. FreelancingFreelancing has gained immense popularity as businesses seek flexible talent. Platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer allow you to offer services ranging from writing, graphic design, programming, and marketing. Create a strong profile, showcase your skills, and start bidding on projects that match your expertise.####

2. Online Surveys and Market ResearchCompanies are always looking for consumer feedback before launching new products. Sites like Survey Junkie and Swagbucks pay users to participate in surveys. While this won't make you rich, it's an easy way to earn some extra cash in your spare time.####

3. Affiliate MarketingAffiliate marketing involves promoting products or services and earning a commission for each sale made through your referral. Joining platforms like Amazon Associates or ClickBank can be a great start. Create engaging content that resonates with your audience to effectively promote affiliate products.####

4. Blogging and Content CreationIf you have a passion or expertise, consider starting a blog or a YouTube channel. With quality content and consistent engagement, you can monetize your platform through ads, sponsored content, and affiliate marketing. Building a loyal audience takes time, but the rewards can be significant.####

5. E-commerceSetting up an online store has never been easier. Platforms like Shopify and Etsy allow you to sell handmade products, digital downloads, or even dropshipping items without holding inventory. Find a niche market, promote your store on social media, and watch your business grow.####

6. Remote Work OpportunitiesMany companies are offering remote positions as the workforce continues to evolve. Websites like Remote.co and We Work Remotely list job openings in various fields. Update your resume and start applying to find a remote job that fits your skill set.####

ConclusionMaking money online opens up a world of possibilities. With determination and the right approach, anyone can find a method that suits their skills and lifestyle. Remember to stay patient and keep learning, as success doesn’t come overnight. #### Hashtags:#MakeMoneyOnline #Freelancing #Ecommerce #AffiliateMarketing #OnlineSurveys #RemoteWork #PassiveIncome #SideHustle #Blogging