🤫 My (Not So) Hidden Secret

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

• 🤫 My (Not So) Hidden Secret [True Story]

• 🔍 Top Amazon News and Updates

• 😱 TikTok’s Crazy Weekend & Full Update [Deep Dive]

• 🚨 Update Your Titles For Amazon New Title Guidelines [Tool Included]

• 💰 Your Website Is Costing You Thousands in Sales [How to Fix It]

 🤫 MY (NOT SO) HIDDEN SECRET [TRUE STORY] 

Let me take you back to a time when standing in front of my classmates with a book was my worst nightmare.

I’m talking about my school years, when reading out loud felt like being on a high wire without a safety net.

The words on the page?

They were clear as day.

But when my brain tried to turn them into sentences?

Here’s a representation of what I see → here

It was like a car stalling on the freeway.

Back in elementary school, I could manage to keep my secret.

But come grade 7 and 8, my teacher decided I needed extra help and yanked me out of regular English classes for a special reading program.

Sure, it was one class a day, but the label stuck.

And so did the teasing.

I tried to shake it off, but those experiences followed me long after we moved to Montreal.

The thing about dyslexia?

It’s not something you outgrow.

Even in college, I’d read the same passage over and over, just to make it stick for tests.

But here’s the kicker: despite the struggle, I built a successful career.

Reading out loud or presenting to a crowd?

Still terrifying.

Case in point: SellerCon 2017.

Imagine standing in front of 1,500 people for your first-ever public speech.

My hands were shaking, and I felt physically ill the night before.

My sister-in-law had once asked me to MC her wedding, and I turned her down because of this fear.

Yet here I was, minutes away from that dreaded moment.

Somehow, I got through it.

And when I launched my podcast in 2020, let’s just say the live format added another layer of terror.

My kids can tell you how much I struggled. I stumbled over words, made awkward pauses, and yes, made mistakes.

But you know what?

Those mistakes became part of the charm.

I wasn’t some polished host.

I was just me—a guy willing to try, fail, and keep going.

Even today, if I have to read a script, it’s like a cruel joke.

My mind just doesn’t process the words like most people’s.

But that’s okay.

I’ve learned to lean into my strengths, like storytelling, connecting with people, and being authentic.

Lessons Learned: Your weaknesses don’t define you.

Lean into your strengths and find ways to work around the rest.

Amazon Seller Lesson: Mistakes are inevitable, whether it’s a typo in your listing or a botched product launch.

Own them, learn from them, and keep moving forward. Chalk it up to paying your Amazon Tax.

Enjoy the rest of the newsletter.

— Norm

😱 NEGATIVE REVIEWS ARE COSTING YOU MORE THAN YOU THINK!

They hurt your rankings, scare off shoppers, and tank conversions.

But here’s the truth: most sellers fail to remove them without a proven system.

Enter TraceFuse.

TraceFuse specializes in removing negative Amazon reviews that violate policies – all while staying 100% compliant with Amazon’s Terms of Service.

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• Deep Data Analysis: Spotting abuse and policy violations others miss.

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• Relentless Persistence: Filing, tracking, and following up until every option is explored.

The Results:

• Higher conversions and trust with improved star ratings.

• Lower ACoS, higher ROAS, and better organic rankings.

• 11,000+ reviews removed for 400+ brands.

Ready to safeguard your seller's reputation?

We’ll handle the hard part – identifying and removing policy-violating reviews – so you can focus on growing your business.

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🗞️ AMAZON NEWS & UPDATES 🗞️

🤷‍♂️ TIKTOK’S BAN, TRUMP’S MOVE, AND WHAT COMES NEXT

If you’ve been following the TikTok saga, it’s been a wild weekend.

On January 18th, TikTok went dark in the U.S. for 14 hours.

The Supreme Court upheld the federal law banning the app unless ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based parent company, sells its U.S. operations.

In an act of rebellion, TikTok users flooded to Red Note, a Chinese-owned short video platform. Meta also released a new video editing app that is combatting against TikTok’s CapCut, the day after the ban called Edits.

Service was temporarily restored the next day, but let’s be honest—this is far from over.

Here’s what’s been happening and what’s next:

The Blackout and the Ban

The ban officially kicked in on January 19, requiring Apple, Google, and web-hosting providers to block TikTok.

Apple and Google pulled the app from their stores, which means no new downloads or updates. ByteDance complied, shutting TikTok down in the U.S. entirely, leaving users with a simple message:
"You can’t use TikTok for now due to a law banning TikTok."

🚨 If you try and download TikTok in the App Store, you’ll find you are still unable to download the app.

Trump Steps In

On January 19, President-elect Donald Trump swooped in and announced a 90-day delay on the ban. He says the time will give ByteDance a chance to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations to American interests.

Trump took to Truth Social to outline a potential deal where U.S. companies would own 50% of TikTok through a “joint venture.” His claim? It’ll protect national security and keep TikTok alive in the U.S.

And in a surprising twist, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew showed up at Trump’s inauguration the next day, rubbing elbows with folks like Tim Cook and Joe Rogan. If that’s not signaling willingness to negotiate, I don’t know what is.

The Fallout

Not everyone’s thrilled with Trump’s move. Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) is pushing back hard, questioning whether Trump even has the authority to delay the ban. Some lawmakers argue he can’t extend the deadline unless ByteDance shows real progress toward selling TikTok—and that hasn’t happened yet.

Meanwhile, the tech world’s divided.

Oracle and Akamai restored TikTok’s service after Trump’s announcement, but Apple and Google aren’t budging. Without their support, TikTok remains unavailable for download, and updates are off the table.

Even the public response has been intense. A 19-year-old protester allegedly set fire to a congressman’s office over the ban.

Thankfully, no injuries were reported, but the tension is real.

What Happens Next?

Trump’s 90-day extension gives ByteDance until mid-April to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations. Rumored buyers include Oracle, Walmart, and Amazon. ByteDance reportedly wants $40-50 billion but isn’t eager to let go of TikTok’s content algorithm, which complicates things.

Even if a deal happens, challenges remain.

Apple and Google’s refusal to restore TikTok in their app stores limits its functionality. No updates mean bugs, glitches, and eventually, a broken platform.

Final Thoughts

This 90-day countdown isn’t just about TikTok—it’s about how quickly companies, governments, and users can adapt to massive change.

TikTok has 170 million U.S. users, and these next few months will determine whether it can survive or join the long list of social platforms that fizzled out.

For now, we’ll keep an eye on the drama, but if you’re in the digital marketing world, don’t wait for a resolution. Start thinking about your pivot strategy now.

🔥 UPDATE YOUR TITLES FOR THE NEW AMAZON RULES FOR ALL PRODUCT TITLES 

Courtesy of Amazing’s Mike McClary

On January 21, Amazon will be enforcing new rules for all product titles that could dramatically affect your sales.

To stay compliant, titles must:

•  Not exceed 200 characters (including spaces)

• Not include any special characters such as !, $, ?, _, {, }, ^, ¬, and ¦, unless they’re part of the brand name

• Not contain the same word more than twice, except for articles, prepositions, and conjunctions (e.g., “the,” “and,” “of”).

• Non-compliant titles risk being suppressed or automatically changed by Amazon—and we all know those changes rarely work in your favor.

To help, I’ve created a completely free tool for myself that you are welcome to use: The Amazing Title Wizard.

It's a custom GPT that will:

 ✅ Scan your product titles for compliance

 ✅ Suggest optimized titles if changes are needed

P.S. This is not a sponsor! I thought this would be useful for sellers.

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!

💰 Your Website Is Costing You Thousands in Sales - Matthew Stafford

Here’s 10 Takeaways From This Episode:

1. Simplify Website Navigation:

   • Focus on your top-performing products by featuring them prominently in your navigation bar. Avoid cluttering the homepage with too many options or trying to sell directly from it. Instead, use the homepage to highlight your unique value proposition and help users easily find what they’re looking for​.

2. Use Filters on Category Pages:

   • Add filters (e.g., size, color, price) to category pages to make it easier for customers to narrow down their choices. This approach reduces frustration and helps users quickly find the exact product they need​.

3. Optimize the Product Page for Questions:

   • Address key customer concerns directly on the product page, such as shipping times, materials, and return policies. Include high-quality images, detailed descriptions, and authentic reviews to build trust and encourage conversions​.

4. Leverage Negative Reviews Strategically:

   • Display negative reviews with responses that show how your business resolved issues. This builds credibility, as customers value transparency and seeing how you handle problems​.

5. Enhance the Search Bar Experience:

   • Make the search bar prominent and include placeholder text that guides users (e.g., "Search for your product or solution"). Track search queries to identify new product opportunities and improve descriptions using customer language​.

6. Focus on Mobile Optimization:

   • Ensure your website is mobile-friendly, as 80% of traffic typically comes from mobile devices. Test your site on different devices to confirm that navigation, buttons, and checkout processes are smooth and intuitive​.

7. Prioritize Revenue Per User Over Conversion Rate:

   • Monitor revenue per user to assess your site’s performance, as it provides a clearer picture of overall sales effectiveness. Track metrics like "add-to-cart" rates and "proceed-to-checkout" rates to identify problem areas in the user journey​.

8. Incorporate Add-Ons on the Product Page:

   • Offer complementary products as add-ons directly on the product page rather than during checkout. This increases average order value without disrupting the purchasing flow​.

9. Implement Hierarchy of Focus:

   • Make the next action on every page (e.g., "Add to Cart," "Proceed to Checkout") visually distinct from the rest of the page. Use colors that stand out from your site’s theme to guide users through the buying process​.

10. Optimize Checkout Form Fields:

    • Provide clear reasons for collecting information in checkout forms. For example, include "Email required for order confirmation" or "Phone required for shipping updates." This reduces errors and ensures accurate contact information for follow-ups

🚨 Watch the full episode here.

🚨 Watch this week’s LIVE episode here at 12 pm ET on Wednesday

🚀 CATCH UP WITH THE MARKETING MISFITS!

Here are 5 TIPS from this episode!

1. Spend 80% of Your Effort on the Hook: The first five seconds of a video determine whether viewers stay or leave. Test multiple hooks and focus on making them attention-grabbing, whether it’s through humor, curiosity, or shock value.

2. Create a Brainstorming Team for Ideas: Build a small group of writers or collaborators to generate as many ideas as possible. Aim for 50 "bad" ideas initially, as these often lead to 1–2 great concepts for your video.

3. Hire Comedy Writers for Humor: Don’t rely solely on your own sense of humor. Use platforms like Fiverr to find at least five experienced comedy writers to critique and refine your script. The collective input ensures the humor resonates with your target audience.

4. Focus on a Single Product or Problem: Avoid cramming multiple products or messages into one video. Craft a story around one product that solves a clear problem and position it as the hero.

5. Test Multiple Video Versions: Produce several variations of the same video, each with a different hook or edit. Use paid ads to determine which version performs best by analyzing retention curves and conversion rates.

   🚨 Watch the full episode here

MARK DOWN THESE EVENTS! 

Market Master II

Feb 20 - 24 - Austin - Starting at $2997

ASGTG

Mar 20 - New York - $161.69

MDS Inspire

Mar 24 - Las Vegas - $1495

Prosper Show

Mar 25 - 27 - Las Vegas - Starting $399

BDSS 2025

April 4 - 9 - Reykjavik, Iceland - Starting at $5497

Amazing Days

Apr 28 - Sofia, Bulgaria - Starting at €99

→ FULL CALENDAR ←

And that’s it, Beardos!

P.S. Make sure you don’t miss any updates by joining our community here.

See you next Monday!

- Norm

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