Amazon Product Research - a podcast by Michael Veazey

Product research not equal market research

Being product centred and focussed on numbers - using tools like Jungle Scout, Helium 10, etc. -  on Amazon is what everyone does.



Hyper-competition = we HAVE to differentiate.





“Zig when they zag” (Andre Chaperon)

You need to have a differentiated business model to create a differentiated product.



If everyone starts on Amazon - get off Amazon.



Numbers vs. People



* Keywords as the start vs. People as the start



“Grow where you’re planted” (Verne Harnish)

Start with jobs, hobbies; activities of spouses, friends, family

It has so many advantages: 



* You’re going to care more



As Seth Godin puts it “you care enough to get hit” (he was talking about ice hockey, not street violence!)



* You already have a knowledge head start

* You’ll understand the customer better

* You can literally talk to your future customer



Start with your customer (PAP)

Don’t start with a product and search for the customer.



Decide on your ideal customer.



Talk to them! Find pain.



Pick a pain.



PAP - Person and Pain



Develop a product with and for your customer. 

Custom manufacturing 

Ryan Schaffer’s episode of 10K Collective podcast 



Of course, you should run the marketing numbers before ordering!

Don’t start selling to profit; develop to learn 

First thing is to iterate product - or find other ones -  until good enough for a private customer.



The second thing is the same with a pilot project until the market likes it.



Only then are you aiming to roll out on a big scale and go for profit.



Doing both is ideal (profit plus learning). But that’s a bonus.

“The only way to fail in business is to run out of money” (Anon)

Cashflow trumps “profit” as well.



Don’t worry about profit initially; instead, think of minimising risk and making sure you can afford the downside if it happens. (Risk-reward ratios)



Watch my discussion of Amazon Product Research: The Open Secret

Further episodes of Amazing FBA Amazon and ECommerce Podcast, for Amazon Private Label Sellers, Shopify, Magento or Woocommerce business owners, and other e-commerce sellers and digital entrepreneurs.

Further podcasts by Michael Veazey

Website of Michael Veazey