Ep 56: The Marketplace Revolution

Summary: Michael Begg is the co-founder of AMZ Advisers, a Guadalajara, Mexico based agency that specializes in Amazon Marketing, Management, and Strategy. We pick Mike's brain on how he wound up being an Amazon marketing agency, the biggest lessons he's learned from his experience, his services structure, and even get into tips for effectively marketing products on Amazon. Top 3 Curtain Pulls in this episode: Diversification is important, but intelligent specialization of your agency is crucial in a world where so many agencies are everything to everyone. You must balance the two.Amazon can REALLY allow you to retire on the beach- specifically due to their fulfillment programs. You can have Amazon handle every step of the process. Amazon is a discovery tool. 70% of online searches start on Amazon- so being where the people are is a no-brainer. Amazon allows you to capture customers that you wouldn't otherwise, and redirect them to your website in a variety of ways. About our Guest: Mike Begg is an Ecommerce entrepreneur with a background in commercial real estate. He saw the opportunity in ecommerce early and began his journey as an Amazon Marketing agency in 2015. He has spoken for organizations such as SEM Rush and has extensive experience marketing on Amazon for a variety of industries. Connect with his agency directly: https://amzadvisers.com/Check out AMZ's Amazon courses teaching the fundamentals of the platform and how to build your own brands with Amazon: https://www.amzcourses.com/ For more tips, discussion, and behind the scenes: Follow us on Instagram @AgencyPodcastJoin our closed Facebook community for agency leaders About The Guys: Bob Hutchins: Founder of BuzzPlant, a digital agency that he ran from from 2000 -2017. He is also the author of 3 books. More on Bob: Bob on LinkedIntwitter.com/BobHutchinsinstagram.com/bwhutchins Bob on Facebook Brad Ayres: Founder of Anthem Republic, an award-winning ad agency. Brad's knowledge has led some of the biggest brands in the world. Originally from Detroit, Brad is an OG in the ad agency world and has the wisdom and scars to prove it. Currently that knowledge is being applied to his boutique agency. More on Brad: Brad on LinkedInAnthem Republictwitter.com/bradayresinstagram.com/therealbradayresfacebook.com/Bradayres Ken Ott: Co-Founder and Chief Growth Rebel of Metacake, an Ecommerce Growth Team for some of the world's most influential brands with a mission to Grow Brands That Matter. Ken is also an author, speaker, and was nominated for an Emmy for his acting on the Metacake Youtube Channel (not really). More on Ken: Ken on LinkedInMetacake - An Ecommerce Growth TeamGrowth Rebel TVtwitter.com/iamKenOttinstagram.com/iamKenOttfacebook.com/iamKenOtt Show Notes: [1:33] The Guys introduce today's episode topic: Amazon. Many agencies have turned Amazon into a one-channel specialty- is that a good thing? [3:56] Bob introduces today's guest Mike Begg of AMZ Advisers. With his extensive experience in Amazon marketing, he knows the ins and outs of Amazon well. [4:30] Mike is calling us from his office in Guadalajara, Mexico. His team and offices are located there but he is originally from Connecticut. [5:45] Mike tells us about his history. He started out working for Deloitte in consultation, but wasn't a fan. After trying out real estate and watching retail spaces shift and change so quickly, he saw that ecommerce was the future. He and his team began importing products and selling them on Amazon, seeing the opportunity before many others did. [7:05] Mike talks about the instability of his business experiences, saying that he wanted to try something new. They started AMZ in 2015 after experiencing success on Amazon. [11:37] Ken asks Mike about how they get clients- tips, techniques, and things that work well. What are roadblocks and challenges that didn't work? [11:55] Mike speaks on the importance of partnership- he had a partner that was great with sales that he could rely on. Although his background wasn't in marketing, he was passionate about it and pushed for putting a lot of focus on great SEO blog content to build authority. This helped generate unique users that they wouldn't have had otherwise. [13:17] Brad asks about the location of their clients. [13:40] Mike says most of their clients are US and Canada, but they also have an Asia team. Their niches are varied; apparel, health supplements, pet supplies, beauty products, etc. [14:39] Mike shares the evolution of his business, and how they wound up in Mexico. Initially they had stopped working and moved to the beach- the dream! But then their income that was still coming in from Amazon began to show more promise. The fulfillment programs provided by Amazon truly allow you to move to the beach and make money, and they are life changing. You have your inventory sent straight to Amazon, they fulfill it for you and warehouse it. There is never ...