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[LWN] 📸 Film School Changed My Life...

[LWN] 📸 Film School Changed My Life...

Lunch With Norm's Weekly Newsletter - Amazon News & Updates

August 06, 2024 • Estimated Read Time: 10 minutes

🎉 How Film School Changed My Life

What you’ll find in this week’s newsletter:

📸 How Film School Changed My Life [True Story]
🗞️ Amazon News and Updates
🧐 Is Amazon Turning Into Temu?
🔍 Using Amazon Attribution for Affiliate Marketing [7 Tips]
🚨 Warning to All Sellers - Amazon is About to Change Forever [Upcoming Episode]
🌍 Upcoming Amazon Events

📸 How Film School Changed My Life [My True Story]

In last week’s newsletter, I talked about my first ever business in high school.

But what about college?

In my second year of film school, I started a video production company called Excel Promotions.

My buddies and I were all living on a very tight budget during these days.

Think ramen and peanut butter sandwiches…

So this business gave us some much needed relief.

These projects were enough to pay for our rent, some tuition, and even some extra fun money on the weekends.

Lucky for us, my buddy’s mother worked with the government and so we were able to land some government contracts (along with other cool projects).

That also meant we were able to use and operate the top-of-the-line equipment of that time.

Because of our experience of this new found company, we ended up way ahead of our second-year classmates.

When other students were learning how to use a studio quality camera, we were already figuring out production value, budgeting, accounting, and so much more.

We were gaining real-life experience in real time.

We made a lot of mistakes but that’s how you learn.

Figuring out scripting, storyboarding, and solving different day-to-day problems was all part of the fun.

We had a blast.

I remember one project, we had to sit down and brainstorm how to pitch a large budget for a project.

We needed to figure out:

How do we present this pitch?

How do we create a budget?

What the heck does a business plan look like?

Remember, this was all before Google.

We weren't in business school, this was film school after all.

We learned how to market through trial and error and somehow made it out the other side.

These were all things that our classmates weren't doing.

When our classmates were out partying, we were working and making money.

This business was only for a year and a half but the experience we gained was priceless.

Enjoy the rest of the newsletter.

PS I’m travelling through the Canadian Rockies and I should’ve known there would be no service.

Sorry the newsletter is a day late.

— Norm

Here’s a pic I took from today going through the Rockies

What Did You Think Of This Week's Issue? 🤔

🗞️ AMAZON NEWS & UPDATES 🗞️

What’s happening in the world of Amazon today…

🚨 Update on Reimbursement Automation and Eligibility Window to file reimbursement claims - Read More
🤫 Amazon quietly improves a major customer pain point - Read More
🔍 Is Amazon Turning Into Temu? - Read More
🔥 Temu’s new penalty policy angers Chinese vendors - Read More
📢 Submit your deals for upcoming Labor Day sale - Read More
🛒 Dozens of angry Chinese suppliers swarmed Temu's office - Read More

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS THE BEARD GUY?

Can you find Norm in the picture below? Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter to see the answer!

WHAT YOU MISSED LAST WEEK

👇 Highlights from last week’s Lunch With Norm podcast episode👇

AFFILIATE MARKETING WITH AMAZON ATTRIBUTION W/ MIKE BEGG

Watch the full episode here

7 Key Takeaways:

Amazon Attribution:
- Amazon Attribution allows sellers to track traffic from off-platform sources like social media, paid media, and email marketing to their Amazon listings.
Brand Referral Bonus:
- Amazon offers a 10% brand referral bonus for sales generated through Amazon Attribution. This bonus is credited towards FBA fees, making it cheaper for sellers to drive off-platform traffic to Amazon
Types of Affiliates:
- Affiliates can include influencers, publications, product review sites, and deal sites. Each type of affiliate can drive traffic and sales to Amazon listings, and it's important to engage with a variety of affiliates to maximize reach
Make Sure You Set Clear Expectations:
- Failing to set clear expectations and guidelines for affiliates can result in inconsistent messaging and poor campaign performance. Sellers should clearly communicate their goals, preferred promotional methods, and any specific requirements
Identify Potential Affiliates:
- Research and identify potential affiliates such as influencers, publications, and review sites that align with your brand. Try sites like Levanta to find affiliates.
Provide Clear Attribution Links:
- Organize your affiliates and use the correct attribution links to track their efforts accurately.
Offer Competitive Commissions:
- Set competitive commission rates to incentivize affiliates to promote your products effectively. Try using exclusive discount codes!
Use Clear Naming Conventions:
- Adopt clear naming conventions for your attribution links to easily track and analyze campaign performance like this 👇

Full credit to nicholaserik.com

DON’T MISS THIS WEEK’S EPISODE!

You can watch all episodes on YouTube or on my Facebook page at 12 pm ET on Wednesday!

Guests and topics are subject to change*

Wednesday - WARNING ALL SELLERS - Amazon is About to Change Forever

About Steven Selikoff:

Steven is the Founder of the Product Development Incubator and the Product Development China Trip. He has been selling to retailers since 2001 and on Amazon since 2005.

His products have been featured in every major morning TV show and were in the gift bags at the Oscars.

His students have products in retailers all over the globe, have been on Shark Tank, and have won prestigious design awards including Time Magazine’s Best New Invention of the Year.

What you’ll learn:

At least 9 platforms will all be competing within the next 12-18 months, and all offering Chinese factories a direct pipeline to western consumers.
Amazon Discount section will ultimately distribute from within the US. Temu is already doing that with some products.
The Chinese government is encouraging direct sales from factories to consumers
The de minimis loophole will not remain forever and should not be considered a differentiator for your products
Six suggestions to compete with these changes.

Join us us 12 pm ET on Wednesday! If you have a question for Jake, email me and I’ll make sure we ask it on Wednesday 😎

Watch LIVE 👉 Sign up here