Upside – Détails, épisodes et analyse

"I quit my 40-hour a week job so I could work 150 hours for myself” - it definitely isn’t for everyone but for those who find a side hustle like selling on Amazon, it could become a reality that opens up a new way of living and working. 

In this episode, Ali & Zamir shine a spotlight on their personal and professional lives and how being successful founders has unlocked the ability to live and work wherever they decide (even if it doesn’t permit shopping on Amazon!).

Hear how the challenges and rewards of being entrepreneurs are allowing them the freedom, flexibility and geographic mobility to live a life by design. 

Key Takeaways:

Being adaptable, resilient, and open to new opportunities is essential for innovation and personal growth, no matter what field you're in.

Gaining international experience can broaden your perspective and provide unique insights, enhancing both personal and professional development.

Building a brand or career that reflects your authentic values can lead to a more fulfilling and successful professional journey.

Embrace challenges as learning experiences and use them as stepping stones toward achieving your goals.

Engage with supportive communities and networks to access valuable resources, advice, and collaborative opportunities that can aid in growth and success.

To access more insights on boosting sales, minimising costs, and maximising profitability across online marketplaces, visit https://thiswayup.online/resources

In this special episode, Ali & Zamir discuss cross-border trade and the current tariff war between the US and China.

They explore the unpredictable and volatile nature of tariffs and how they significantly affect business planning and stock management. As businesses grapple with uncertainty, hear about the importance of adjusting pricing strategies or accepting lower margins to continue operating in a challenging environment.

The unique challenges faced by Amazon sellers, especially when managing price increases due to tariffs and duties, can dramatically alter costs, so the rule of thumb is careful balance of stock without overcommitting.

The episode also explores the struggles of China-based sellers with duty payments and the lack of Amazon-specific relief programs for customs duties - and asks whether adopting Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) terms could simplify the customs process.

Key Takeaways:

Tariffs create volatility and unpredictability in international trade, particularly affecting businesses that trade across borders. Key considerations include the point of origin of goods and the target market for sales.

Businesses need to be cautious about stock levels under fluctuating tariff regimes. Large stock commitments can pose risks if tariff costs change, impacting profitability.

Sellers facing increased costs due to tariffs should carefully plan price adjustments to avoid losing competitive advantage, such as the Amazon "buy box." 

The impact of price changes on demand varies based on product type. Understanding consumer prioritization of needs versus wants helps businesses plan pricing strategies effectively.

Excess supply originally meant for the US market due to tariff impacts could lead to increased competition and deflationary pressures in other regions like Europe. 

To access more insights on boosting sales, minimising costs, and maximising profitability across online marketplaces, visit https://thiswayup.online/resources

Expansion into new markets often comes wrapped in the promise of growth, increased revenue, and greater visibility - but at what cost? In this episode, Ali & Zamir explore the allure and pitfalls of business expansion, shining a light on the critical decisions sellers face when scaling their brands.

From their personal experiences, hear how premature growth can lead to operational strain, diluted focus, and even financial setbacks. This episode unpacks the dangerous allure of FOMO in decision-making and challenges the widely held belief that geographical expansion is always a marker of success.

Ali & Zamir advocate for a more measured and strategic growth mindset, highlighting that building a strong foundation at home is often the key to winning globally. If you've ever wondered when to say "yes" to opportunity or "no" to risk, this episode is a must-listen.

Key Takeaways:

Scaling too quickly or without adequate preparation can lead to operational strain, financial inefficiencies, and weakened market focus.

Fear of Missing Out can push entrepreneurs to make impulsive growth decisions, often at the expense of long-term stability and success.

Thoroughly assess your target market, addressable audience, and market saturation to avoid spreading your resources too thin.

Focus on building a strong foundation and solidifying your home market before venturing into new territories.

Not every opportunity is worth pursuing. Knowing when to resist the allure of expansion allows you to operate with greater clarity and strategic intent.

To access more insights on boosting sales, minimising costs, and maximising profitability across online marketplaces, visit: https://thiswayup.online/resources

Welcome back to the two-part special about mistakes Ali & Zamir have made during their 20 years of selling on Amazon.

This episode contains five common mistakes that a lot of new sellers make when starting out - the importance of buying your own barcodes, the risks associated with discount voucher codes, the necessity of understanding the cost of goods sold, the importance of trademarks, and the pros and cons of the Amazon Launchpad program. Each topic is explored in depth, providing valuable insights for new and experienced sellers alike.

Remember - Ali & Zamir have made the mistakes so you don’t have to!

Key Takeaways:

• Always purchase your barcodes from GS1 and trademark your brand to avoid legal and operational complications.
• Understanding your cost of goods sold and knowing your numbers are vital for effective pricing, profitability, and long-term business survival.
• Be cautious with discount voucher codes, as they can become public and result in significant losses. Always consider the long-term consequences of using discounts.
• Proper planning can help you avoid costly mistakes like re-labeling or stock issues. Evaluate programs like Amazon Launchpad carefully before committing.
• Check for existing trademarks before launching a new product to avoid legal disputes and unforeseen challenges.
• Many costly errors in online selling can be avoided through careful research, strategic planning, and a proactive approach.

To access more insights on boosting sales, minimising costs, and maximising profitability across online marketplaces, visit: https://thiswayup.online/resources

We all make mistakes, right?!

In the first of a two part special, Ali & Zamir share their personal experiences and mistakes made while starting their Amazon businesses 20 years ago.

In this episode, hear about the importance of understanding market differences, the significance of good packaging, and the pros and cons of the Amazon Vendor vs.  Marketplace. 

The discussion is filled with valuable lessons for aspiring Amazon sellers with practical tips. They’ve made the mistakes so you don’t have to!

Key Takeaways:

• The importance of conducting thorough market research prior to product introduction cannot be overstated.
• Understanding that product appeal may vary significantly across different cultural contexts is vital for successful market reach.
• Investing in high-quality packaging is essential to mitigate potential damage during transit and enhance customer satisfaction.
• The distinction between Amazon's Vendor and Marketplace programs is crucial - evaluate the implications of each before making a commitment.
• Learning from established brands can provide invaluable insights and strategies that can significantly enhance operational effectiveness and customer experience.
• Testing product viability in new markets through micro shipments can prevent substantial financial losses and facilitate smoother market entry.

To access more insights on boosting sales, minimising costs, and maximising profitability across online marketplaces, visit: https://thiswayup.online/resources

AI is set to have an increasingly significant impact on sellers, especially on platforms like Amazon.

In this episode Ali & Zamir digest how Amazon is leveraging AI to personalise search results and enhance product recommendations based on user behaviour and preferences. They discuss the evolution of purchasing and the way AI analyses search intent, highlighting that sellers will need to adapt to new metrics, such as click-through rates and conversion rates, rather than just impressions.

The conversation also talks about the emerging trends in reviews, where summarised feedback will play a crucial role in product visibility. They explain the current limitations of new chatbot Rufus, and how sellers should remain focused on optimising for traditional search results rather than getting distracted by Amazon's new tools as not all of them become successful or popular - with Alexa as an example.

Key Takeaways:

• AI is significantly changing how Amazon personalises search results for consumers this year.
• Sellers must focus on click-through rates and conversion rates as new key metrics.
• Stock availability is becoming a crucial factor in determining product search rankings.
• Rufus, Amazon's chatbot, may not replace traditional search but could assist in finding products.
• Understanding customer reviews and experiences will be essential for product visibility.
• Sellers should not be distracted by AI hype but adapt to evolving metrics.

To access more insights on boosting sales, minimising costs, and maximising profitability across online marketplaces, visit: https://thiswayup.online/resources

Foreign sellers, particularly from China, are significantly impacting the Amazon marketplace, leading to discussions about the future of e-commerce platforms.

In this episode, Ali & Zamir explore an evolving landscape where these sellers are increasingly shifting their focus to alternative platforms like Temu and AliExpress, and the changing dynamics of brand importance amid regulatory challenges.

As Amazons grapples with issues of trust and customer experience, we discuss the implications of D2C selling and how consumer expectations are shifting towards quality and delivery reliability.

Remember - the key to success lies not in the origin of the seller but in the quality of products and brand reputation.

Key Takeaways:

• Foreign sellers, especially from China, are impacting Amazon's marketplace significantly with aggressive pricing strategies.
• Amazon is seeing a shift where branding is becoming increasingly important among sellers on the platform.
• The de minimis rule in the US allows products under $850 to avoid duty, benefiting Chinese sellers.
• Many Chinese sellers are moving to platforms like Temu and AliExpress due to less stringent regulations.
• D2C sites are facing challenges as consumer trust diminishes with the rise of AI-generated content.
• Ultimately, quality and brand reputation will dictate success on Amazon, regardless of seller origin.

To access more insights on boosting sales, minimising costs, and maximising profitability across online marketplaces, visit: https://thiswayup.online/resources

Fact: Over 70% of conversions on Amazon now occur on mobile devices.

This episode explores the importance of adopting a mobile-first design approach when creating Amazon listings. 

Ali & Zamir provide practical steps that sellers can take to enhance their listings, starting with the need to evaluate product images and titles based on how they appear on mobile screens, ensuring they are clear and impactful. They discuss specific strategies for optimising images, including the importance of primary images and the first few characters of product titles.

This means ensuring images are large enough to catch the eye in search results, that the key benefits of the products are immediately visible, and that any text included is legible on smaller screens.

Attention whilst scrolling is limited, brands who prioritise mobile-friendly listings can gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Key Takeaways:

• Over 70% of all Amazon conversions now take place on mobile devices, emphasising the need for mobile optimisation.
• When assessing your Amazon listings, evaluate them primarily on a mobile device for accuracy.
• Primary images should be large enough to capture attention and clearly display key benefits.
• Fonts and colours used in mobile listings must be easily readable and appealing to customers.
• Ensure that your titles are impactful, with the first 50-80 characters being critical for mobile visibility.
• Brands that optimise for mobile will gain a competitive advantage over those that do not.

To access more insights on boosting sales, minimising costs, and maximising profitability across online marketplaces, visit: https://thiswayup.online/resources

Are you struggling with profitability in your Amazon advertising? This episode explores the common pitfalls that can drain your advertising budget and offers practical solutions to enhance your ad performance in 2025.

Ali and Zamir explain the importance of structuring your campaigns effectively, including keeping ad groups focused with no more than 10 to 12 keywords each. They also highlight the need to manage your budget wisely, ensuring that auto campaigns don't exceed 10% of your overall ad spend. By segregating brand search terms into dedicated campaigns, you can avoid skewing your results and ultimately make your advertising efforts more profitable. 

Key Takeaways:

• Sort your Amazon ad campaigns by spend to identify where you can save the most money.
• Limit each ad group to no more than 10 to 12 keywords for optimal visibility.
• Allocate a separate campaign for brand search terms to avoid overstating generic campaign results.
• Auto campaigns should ideally not consume more than 10% of your total advertising budget.
• Identify highly relevant search terms from auto campaigns and target them in manual campaigns.
• Single keyword campaigns are perfectly acceptable and can help improve ad performance significantly.

To access more insights on boosting sales, minimising costs, and maximising profitability across online marketplaces, visit: https://thiswayup.online/resources

The battleground for success in 2025 is the search results page, where competition for clicks is fierce. Our first episode of the year dives into the seven key criteria that influence whether potential customers will choose your product over a competitor's. From pricing and reviews to the critical importance of high quality and engaging product imagery, each factor plays a vital role in attracting clicks.

Whilst maintaining compliance with platform regulations to avoid penalties that could diminish visibility, Ali & Zamir explain that a well-designed primary image can significantly enhance visibility and engagement, as humans process images much faster than text. 

With actionable insights and examples, this episode underscores the significance of understanding the competition and consumer behaviour, advising listeners to analyse their search result pages and adapt their strategies to optimise their product listings and stand out in a crowded marketplace.

Key Takeaways:

• In 2025, mastering the search results page is crucial for product visibility.
• Products must stand out visually in search results to attract potential buyers.
• Images communicate key product information faster than text, influencing customer choices.
• Including relevant search terms in product images can enhance customer engagement significantly.
• Delivery promises and prices are essential factors that influence consumer decisions online.
• Companies should continuously improve their product images to maximize click-through rates.

To access more insights on boosting sales, minimising costs, and maximising profitability across online marketplaces, visit: https://thiswayup.online/resources