Upside

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...

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 challen...

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 a...

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...

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...

It’s almost a month since the biggest sales event of the year, the final figures are in and the numbers have been crunched. In the final episode of 2024, Ali & Zamir deep dive into exclusive data from Amazon covering the Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend.  With sales for November already seeing a year on year increase of 16%, Black Friday (29th November) being a week later also coinciding...

As the holiday season approaches, Ali & Zamir reflect on the top 5 mistakes they've seen sellers make during 2024.  Hear the common pitfalls such as; the fear of raising prices due to rank concerns, the danger of setting unrealistic growth targets without market context, and the confusion between indexing and ranking on platforms like Amazon. Packed with insights into the importance of underst...

Navigating the complexities of Amazon's FBA system can be daunting for brands, especially when it comes to managing inventory levels. In this episode, Ali and Zamir explore the critical balance between being overstocked and understocked. With Amazon's increasing storage fees, especially during Q4, it's vital to carefully manage your inventory to avoid hefty charges while maintaining sales visibili...

In this episode, hosts Ali and Zamir are joined by guest Ashley Wright from Social Tale to explore the power of TikTok for brands. They dive into TikTok's unique blend of entertainment and education, known as 'edutainment,' and how it enables brands to connect with users in a more engaging and informative way. TikTok expert Ashley highlights the significance of TikTok Shop in "social commerce", al...

This episode features predictions for the sales weekend of the year - Black Friday & Cyber Monday. Ali & Zamir discuss the peak shopping days to look out for, with momentum expected to surge from November 29th as monthly salaries hit bank accounts, they share key insights on consumer behaviour and the timing of expected sales spikes. Discover which product categories are set to dominate, w...

In this episode, Ali and Zamir rip the wrapping off Q4, a crucial period for sellers from October to December. They dive headfirst into the nuances of this peak season, highlighting significant sales events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and the impact of paydays on customer purchasing behaviour. Top tip - This year's Black Friday (29th November) falls a week later than last year, requiring r...

In this episode, Ali & Zamir explore the philosophy of advertising, by comparing strategies on Google and Amazon. While the core principles of advertising remain consistent - focusing on customer acquisition and lifetime value - the application differs significantly between platforms. On Amazon, advertisers need to leverage paid ads to enhance organic visibility, as the two are interconnected...

In this episode, Ali & Zamir dive headfirst into a common misconception surrounding Amazon advertising: that higher bids guarantee more visibility. Hear how click-through rates (CTR) significantly influence the value of bids, and how focusing on optimising listings will lead to higher engagement. Amazon's payment structure is primarily based on clicks, not impressions, meaning that having a co...

In this episode, Zamir and Ali dive into the economics of search, and in particular, Amazon advertising. They explore the concept of search as a form of inventory with a very short shelf life, the dynamics of search activity throughout the day, and how advertisers can leverage fluctuations in cost per click to their advantage. The episode also highlights the importance of using AI-driven bidding t...

In this episode, Zamir and Ali break down the key changes to Amazon’s fees in 2024 and discuss how these new policies will impact sellers. From increased fees for inventory management to Amazon’s VAT regulations, they explore the challenges and opportunities for businesses navigating these changes. The duo tackles whether Amazon’s fee increases are penalising disorganised sellers or rewarding the...

In this episode, Zamir and Ali explore the complex world of resellers on Amazon, breaking down the good, the bad, and the ugly scenarios that brands face when dealing with third-party sellers. From businesses losing control of their listings to the opportunities resellers can provide, the duo leaves no stone unturned. They discuss how resellers can be both a blessing and a curse, highlighting key...

In this episode, hosts Zamir and Ali dig into the controversial topic of why some brands refuse to sell on Amazon. With a lively back-and-forth, they explore whether the notion that Amazon devalues brand identity is still valid, or if these brands are simply missing out on a huge opportunity. The conversation challenges the idea that Amazon is a ‘cheap’ marketplace, arguing that it has evolved int...

In this episode, Zamir drops a bombshell: FBA (Fulfilled by Amazon) may no longer be the best option for sellers on Amazon. Joined by Ali, the duo dive into the evolving debate between FBA and Seller Fulfilled Prime (SFP), exploring why SFP is becoming a more attractive option for many sellers. They break down the key differences between the two fulfilment methods, from cost and scalability to the...

Welcome to The Upside, a limited series podcast for brand owners, brand managers and the digitally curious. In each episode we'll be sharing insights and strategies that have helped us and over 100 brands grow to dominate the online marketplace. We'll dive into the most common questions we get from founders, explore the nuances of consumer behaviour and reveal our formula for success. Whether you’...