This podcast recently won the Best Podcast Award in the business category at the Independent Podcast Awards, which was a real honour. Over the years I’ve had lots of people ask me for tips on starting a podcast. While I'm not an expert, I have been hosting this podcast since March 2020, and now have nearly 200 episodes released,  so I have learned a few things. I thought I would share some behind-the-scenes information on how I run my podcast, in case it's helpful for anyone thinking of starting their own someday, perhaps as a goal for 2024. I’ll talk you through the process of planning the episodes, recording, editing and releasing them. I’ll also share what you need to buy tech wise (not much!). An introduction to the episode and why I am recording this (01:23)Who my podcast is for (03:45)Why I like to have guests on my podcast (04:39)The process of booking in guests, and scheduling ahead (06:41)Why I batch record episodes (09:14)Recording the introductions to conversations with guests (10:47)Editing (11:29)Outsourcing the rest of the process including transcription and show notes (12:06)My podcast hosting platform, Captivate (12:51)Releasing the episode, and accompanying social media, emails etc (13:24)Five things that make a great podcast (14:16)What do you need to buy (22:58)The Bring Your Product Idea to Life Podcast  - Best Business Podcast Award, Independent Podcast Awards 2023USEFUL RESOURCES:My VA: Jennifer Cooper TimesaverMy Podcast Hosting Platform: CaptivateLET’S CONNECT:Join my free Facebook group for product makers and creatorsFind me on InstagramWork with me Buy My Book: Bring Your Product Idea To LifeIf you enjoy this podcast, and you’d like to leave a tip, you can do so here: https://bring-your-product-idea.captivate.fm/supportMentioned in this episode:Get on the waitlist for my Group Product Creation ProgrammeJoin the waitlist to be first to hear when you can join Create a Product to Sell and get a free 1:1 call with me when you sign up! https://checklist.vickiweinberg.com/waitlist

Today on the podcast, I'm speaking to Hari Fell. After running her own hotel for the past 20 years, Hari decided she wanted a new challenge. Having given up alcohol in 2019, she launched Nolo Cocktails and Bars, bringing choice to people who choose not to drink through non-alcoholic cocktail subscriptions, gift boxes, and a mobile alcohol-free bar.This was a great conversation with Hari about her subscription business for people who don't want to drink alcohol but want exciting drink choices. We spoke a lot about how she develops her drinks and sources ingredients, as well as the practicalities of running a subscription business.An introduction to herself and her business (01:24)The inspiration for setting up Nolo Cocktails (01:52)Creating the recipes (04:56)Finding suppliers (06:33)Curating her subscription boxes (08:42)Why she chose the subscription box model (11:43)The appeal of the subscription box model (14:48)Packing the boxes (16:30)Why having a niche product makes the marketing a little easier (18:22)Having a pop up in John Lewis and working with The Great Brand Exchange (20:54)Her number one piece of advice for product creators (24:55)The Bring Your Product Idea to Life Podcast  - Best Business Podcast Award, Independent Podcast Awards 2023USEFUL RESOURCES:Nolo Cocktails WebsiteNolo Cocktails Twitter Nolo Cocktails  FacebookNolo Cocktails InstagramNolo Cocktails LinkedInThe Great Brand ExchangeLET’S CONNECTJoin my free Facebook group for product makers and creatorsFind me on InstagramWork with me Buy My Book: Bring Your Product Idea To LifeIf you enjoy this podcast, and you’d like to leave a tip, you can do so here: https://bring-your-product-idea.captivate.fm/supportMentioned in this episode:Get on the waitlist for my Group Product Creation ProgrammeJoin the waitlist to be first to hear when you can join Create a Product to Sell and get a free 1:1 call with me when you sign up! https://checklist.vickiweinberg.com/waitlist

Today on the podcast, I am talking to Katie Bell from Katherena about how she followed in her father's footsteps and launched her own women's accessory brand. Katie has had her brand for over six years now, and has just launched a membership for businesses and influencers to help collaborate and grow their brands.Katie shares lots of useful tips about finding a manufacturer, the importance of not over-ordering, and having the confidence to negotiate, and how you can’t necessarily predict what your bestsellers are going to be. An introduction to herself and her businesses (01:08)Katie’s background in fashion (01:38)How her dad inspired her to set up her own business (03:05)The process of deciding that making the bags herself was not viable (04;34)Making manufacturing connections in China (06:10)How Katie commissions her designs without detailed design drawings (07:22)You can’t always predict what your bestselling designs will be (09:21)The process of experimenting with her range (13:17)Learning not to overorder (15:11)The importance of negotiating with manufacturers (16:24)Storing her stock (18:18)Order fulfilment (19:08)Managing work and her young children (19:55)Selling other products alongside her own on the website (20:48)Her number one piece of advice for product creators (23:42)The Bring Your Product Idea to Life Podcast  - Best Business Podcast Award, Independent Podcast Awards 2023USEFUL RESOURCES:Katherena WebsiteKatherena InstagramJoin The Collab Lab - Katie’s membership for businesses and influencers to collaborate and grow their brands - Free TrialLET’S CONNECTJoin my free Facebook group for product makers and creatorsFind me on InstagramWork with me Buy My Book: Bring Your Product Idea To LifeIf you enjoy this podcast, and you’d like to leave a tip, you can do so here: https://bring-your-product-idea.captivate.fm/supportMentioned in this episode:Get on the waitlist for my Group Product Creation ProgrammeJoin the waitlist to be first to hear when you can join Create a Product to Sell and get a free 1:1 call with me when you sign up! https://checklist.vickiweinberg.com/waitlist

Today on the podcast, I'm talking to Melissa Reynolds-Lawrence. Melissa is a multi passionate creative and she splits her time between a copywriting day job, running her homeware brand and her most recent venture, an upcycling furniture studio where Melissa gives homeware a new lease of life and also hosts creative workshops. We talked about how Melissa’s businesses have evolved, and how she manages multiple projects, including the importance of having creative outlets and being able to switch off from work. Melissa shares how trade shows have been invaluable in helping her spot trends for her online store, and the decision making process she goes through when deciding whether to stock something - if you are looking to sell your product via wholesale, this is a great insight into what shop owners and retailers are looking for.Melissa also shares some of her copy writing expertise, including how you can never have too much information, a breakdown of how to write a product description for your website, and how to communicate with your writing the value of your product to the customer. An introduction to herself and her businesses (01:39)What inspired her to launch Honey Bee Home, her homeware brand (02:36)Managing multiple businesses (02:58)Copywriting tips for writing about products and e:commerce websites (05:48)A step by step breakdown of how Melissa writes a product description (07:45)Writing from a customer’s point of view, and showcasing how the product fits into their lives (09:51)How a business upcycling furniture grew to include curating and selling homeware products online (13:29)Building her range, and how she decides what to stock and not to stock (18:29)How her customer base organically diversified (21:01)Analysing buyer behaviour using Shopify analytics (22:28)How she sources her products, and the power of trade shows (24:22)How the upcycling side of her business works (29:36)Running creative workshops (35:35)Managing imposter syndrome (37:31)The importance of slowing down and being able to switch off from your business (39:33)Her number one piece of advice for product creators (40:48)The Bring Your Product Idea to Life Podcast  - Best Business Podcast Award, Independent Podcast Awards 2023USEFUL RESOURCES:Honey Bee Home WebsiteHoney Bee Home InstagramHoney Bee Home FacebookStyled By Melissa WebsiteMelissa Reynolds-Lawrence Linked InLET’S CONNECTJoin my free Facebook group for product makers and creatorsFind me on InstagramWork with me Buy My Book: Bring Your Product Idea To LifeIf you enjoy this podcast, and you’d like to leave a tip, you can do so here:

In today's episode, I want to demystify Amazon for you. You might be selling on Amazon now, thinking about it, or in discussions about it. You may have heard lots of terms, phrases, and acronyms that you don't understand. I want to give you the ultimate A to Z guide to explain common Amazon terms and acronyms simply. I’ve written an accompanying blog post, so you can listen along, or read, whatever suits your learning style the best.The Bring Your Product Idea to Life Podcast  - Best Business Podcast Award, Independent Podcast Awards 2023USEFUL RESOURCES:Blog PostAmazon A-Z Terms You Might Have Heard Of And What They MeanPodcast Episodes:185 5 things nobody tells you about selling on Amazon (that I will!)183 How to rank higher on Amazon159 How to start selling on Amazon151 Should you sell your product on Amazon?107 Common Amazon issues and how to resolve them79 What to do when things go wrong on AmazonHOW I CAN SUPPORT YOU ON AMAZON:My Free Resources Is Amazon Right For You? Mini Strategy SessionAmazon Account AuditAmazon Launch PackageAmazon Training Q&A HourBook a Power Hour with meLET’S CONNECT:Join my free Facebook group for product makers and creatorsFind me on InstagramWork with me Buy My Book: Bring Your Product Idea To LifeIf you enjoy this podcast, and you’d like to leave a tip, you can do so here: https://bring-your-product-idea.captivate.fm/supportMentioned in this...

Today on the podcast, I'm speaking to Lucy Jeffrey, the founder of Bare Kind, a bamboo sock company that saves endangered animals by donating 10% of the profits to the animal on the sock. She's also the co-founder of Candid Founders, a Youtube channel that shares the highs and lows of growing Bare Kind so other business owners can learn from their journey. Lucy shares how she manages the logistics of partnering with over 25 charities, and how her willingness to follow her gut and take a risk led her to quit her job in the pandemic, set up Bare Kind, and enjoy rapid growth.Lucy shares mindset tips for those tricky cold outreach calls, and why it is so important to share the lowlights of business, as well as the highlights.It’s a really inspiring episode that will lift your spirits, and encourage you to keep going. An introduction to herself and her business (01:36)What inspired her to start Bare Kind (02:11)Designing her products (04:51)Partnering with charities and designing the right sock for them (05:51)Managing the logistics of donating income from the sock sales to charities (08:46)Find manufacturers for socks (10:07)The benefits of having been in person to visit her manufacturers in Turkey (11:51)Quitting her job and setting up Bare Kind in lockdown (15:07)The power of taking risks and following gut instinct (16:45)Transitioning from being a solopreneur to having a team (19:12)Selling via wholesale and using Faire (22:41)How to get out of your own way and do cold outreach (24:32)Systemizing wholesale (26:51)How her Youtube channel Candid Founders came about (28:01)Why it is important to share the lowlights as well as the highlights of business (31:11)Her number one piece of advice for product creators (33:34)The Bring Your Product Idea to Life Podcast  - Best Business Podcast Award, Independent Podcast Awards 2023USEFUL RESOURCES:Bare Kind Website Lucy Jeffrey Linked In Bare Kind Instagram Candid Founders Youtube FaireNotionLET’S CONNECTJoin my free Facebook group for product makers and creatorsFind me on InstagramWork with me Buy My Book: Bring Your Product Idea To LifeIf you enjoy this podcast, and you’d like to leave a tip, you can do so here: https://bring-your-product-idea.captivate.fm/supportMentioned in this episode:Get on the waitlist for my Group Product Creation ProgrammeJoin the waitlist to be first to hear when you can join

At what stage for you move from packing your orders on the kitchen table to using an order fulfilment centre? Today’s podcast guest is Sam Anderson, the founder Order Fulfilment Experts who providing product owners and ecommerce businesses with smart and reliable order fulfilment services, so you can focus on other aspects of your business and continue to grow.Order Fulfilment Experts can send orders business to customer, or business to business, help you prep your products to be sent to Amazon and more. Sam explains when you should start looking at using a fulfilment company, and the benefits it can bring. There is no need to sacrifice bespoke packaging, Sam shares how this has been a key way companies stand out from the crowd, and the sort of personalised packaging that they can provide. We discussed managing logistical challenges, and some of the common mistakes she sees businesses make from over ordering stock to spreading themselves too thin across too many sales channels.This episode is absolutely packed full of useful information and tips, and I can’t wait for you to listen. Listen in to hear Sam share:An introduction to herself and her business (01:37)Working with different size businesses, and ensuring they can support small businesses (02:15)When to look at outsourcing order fulfilment (03:56)The importance of building fulfilment costs into your prices and margin (06:28)Benefits of using a fulfilment centre (07:35)Examples of the types of bespoke packaging fulfilment centres can do (10:20)The importance of bespoke and standing out from the crowd in ecommerce (14:50)The psychological challenges of scaling your business and starting to outsource (15:49)The differences between fulfilling orders Business to Customer and Business to Business (18:36)How they help their clients manage their stock, and why they encourage them not to have too much (19:51)Dealing with logistical challenges such as the problems in the Suez Canal and Royal Mail strikes (23:33)Supplying products to Amazon, and ensuring that they conform to Amazon requirements of how it is sent (28:43)Tips for starting to supply to new territories and mistakes to avoid (34:46)The importance of not diluting your efforts by trying to sell on too many channels, but instead focusing on getting one right (36:28)Her number one piece of logistical advice when running an ecommerce business (39:38)USEFUL RESOURCES:Order Fulfilment Experts WebsiteOrder Fulfilment Experts FacebookOrder Fulfilment Experts InstagramOrder Fulfilment Experts Linked InOrder Fulfilment Experts TwitterFree Resource: The Top 10 Mistakes To Avoid When Building A Sustainable E-Commerce BusinessLET’S CONNECTJoin my free Facebook group for product makers and creators

Today on the podcast, I'm speaking to Mark Morton. Mark is the founder of Journalise, which provides journals for mental health and wellness self care, as well as information on all aspects of mental health and wellness through his website and blog content. Mark's goal is to normalise mental health self care and ensure everyone understands and can access the appropriate tools and support whenever needed. Mark shares how his own search for tools and resources to support his mental wellbeing made him realise there was a gap in the market for a journal that addressed these things, and wasn’t specifically aimed at women.We discuss the pros and cons of using UK based vs Overseas Printers, and how using a ‘try before you buy’ digital sample offer on his website has increased sales. There are lots of tips to take away, including the power of sharing your story when building a product brand. Listen in to hear Mark share:An introduction to himself and his business (01:36)What the journals consist of, and how they provide prompts if you are new to journalling (02:41)The benefits of journaling (04:11)What inspired him to create the journals (05:33)Identifying a gap in the market, and creating journals aimed more towards men (07:11)Supporting men’s mental health (09:50)Why the journals are undated (13:30)The design process for the journals (14:42)Finding a printer (18:36)Selling a combination of printed and digital products, and letting people ‘try out’ the journals (20:09)How the try before you buy offer converts (23:25)The power of sharing the person behind the product in your marketing (25:01)His number one piece of advice for product creators (26:38)USEFUL RESOURCES:Journalise WebsiteJournalise FacebookJournalise InstagramJournalise YoutubeJournalise Linked InLET’S CONNECTJoin my free Facebook group for product makers and creatorsFind me on InstagramWork with me Buy My Book: Bring Your Product Idea To LifeIf you enjoy this podcast, and you’d like to leave a tip, you can do so here: https://bring-your-product-idea.captivate.fm/supportMentioned in this episode:Get on the waitlist for my Group Product Creation ProgrammeJoin the waitlist to be first to hear when you can join Create a Product to Sell and get a free 1:1 call with me when you sign up! https://checklist.vickiweinberg.com/waitlist

Today I'm going to share with you five things that you might not know about selling on Amazon that other people may be a bit reluctant to tell you.When I collaborate with a new client, I believe in complete transparency throughout the process. This means I'll highlight all the compelling reasons for them to consider selling on Amazon and the potential benefits they can reap from it. Undoubtedly, Amazon remains an excellent platform for many businesses, but it's not a one-size-fits-all solution. As with everything there are some less favourable aspects, and this is what I will be sharing with you today/.Listen in to hear me share:Amazon isn’t right for everyone and every product (01:03)Why you won’t be on page one straight away (02:57)It can take a lot longer than you might think to get set up (06:36)Seller Central is really hard to navigate (09:13)Amazon Seller Support isn’t very good (11:14)How I may be able to help you (14:26)USEFUL RESOURCES:Podcast Episodes:183 How to rank higher on Amazon159 How to start selling on Amazon151 Should you sell your product on Amazon?107 Common Amazon issues and how to resolve them79 What to do when things go wrong on AmazonBlog Posts: How To Rank Higher On AmazonHOW I CAN SUPPORT YOU ON AMAZON:My Free Resources Is Amazon Right For You? Mini Strategy SessionAmazon Account AuditAmazon Launch PackageAmazon Training Q&A HourBook a Power Hour with meLET’S CONNECT:Join my free Facebook group for product makers and creatorsFind me on InstagramWork with me Buy My Book: Bring Your Product Idea To LifeIf you enjoy this podcast, and you’d like to leave a tip, you can do so here:

My guest this week on the podcast is Jenna Farmer, a PR strategist and journalist.  Whether you're looking for practical tips to do your own PR, guided resources to get you started or to work with Jenna on a 121 basis, Jenna can help you get your business out there through the right kind of press coverage.With Christmas right around the corner, now is the perfect time as a product business to leverage seasonal PR opportunities. I spoke with Jenna about how you can get your products featured in gift guides and roundups.Even though we are already in October, Jenna assured me it's not too late to start reaching out to journalists. Jenna shares insider tips for identifying relevant media targets, crafting effective pitches, providing the assets journalists need, and more. Whether you're new to PR or a seasoned pro, Jenna's advice will help you make the most of the Christmas PR window and get your products in front of more people.Listen in to hear Jenna share:An introduction to herself and her business (01:40)When to start thinking about PR for Christmas (02:06)How Christmas PR differs to PR at other times of the year (04:18)The sort of PR opportunities to look for (07:00)How good PR gives your product authority (08:24)How to find gift guides you may want to be included in (09:12)What to send a journalist you are pitching to (16:01)Putting together a press release (16:29)How to do PR without getting overwhelmed (21:12)The importance of keeping going and not getting disheartened (22:43)USEFUL RESOURCES:Jenna Farmer WebsiteJenna Farmer InstagramJenna Farmer Linked InJenna’s Facebook Group: Get Your Business In The Media With Jenna FarmerFree Resource: How To Write The Perfect Press ReleaseReadlyLET’S CONNECTJoin my free Facebook group for product makers and creatorsFind me on InstagramWork with me Buy My Book: Bring Your Product Idea To LifeIf you enjoy this podcast, and you’d like to leave a tip, you can do so here: https://bring-your-product-idea.captivate.fm/supportMentioned in this episode:Get on the waitlist for my Group Product Creation ProgrammeJoin the waitlist to be first to hear when you can join Create a Product to Sell and get a free 1:1 call with me when you sign up! https://checklist.vickiweinberg.com/waitlist

Today on the podcast I'm talking to Kate Smith from The Makery. Kate set up The Makery in 2009 on a mission to teach the world how to craft. Fast forward 14 years, two books, a Dragon's Den appearance, an internationally distributed product range, and nearly 150, 000 customers having attended her craft workshops and events. Covid, Brexit and other challenges led Kate to pivot her business, and she is now dedicating much of her time to helping other creative entrepreneurs achieve their full potential and run successful businesses doing what they love. The power of this conversation is that Kate has navigated real highs and real lows in her business. Kate explains how the highs came about via the power of yes, and the mindset tools she needed to navigate the lows and make huge decisions about the direction of her business.There is so much to take away and I am sure you will be inspired after listening. Listen in to hear Kate share:An introduction to herself and her business (01:25)Why she set up The Makery to run craft workshops (03:31)Getting a book deal (05:25)Being on Dragon’s Den (05:41)Getting a licensing deal for her products and kits (06:32)When things go wrong (07:44)Pivoting the business online after the pandemic (10:02)The realisation that she didn’t need physical premises to run the business (10:58)What to do when a major source of income disappears (12:51)How to mentally deal with challenges and setbacks in business (15:52)Creating products with a licensing deal (17:07)The power of saying yes (26:31)Why she stopped selling physical kits (27:38)How she moved into consultancy and running a team who teach crafting all over the country (28:48)Her number one piece of advice for product creators (37:30)USEFUL RESOURCES:Makery Kate WebsiteMakery Kate InstagramMakery Kate FacebookMakery Kate YoutubeKate Smith Linked InLET’S CONNECTJoin my free Facebook group for product makers and creatorsFind me on InstagramWork with me Buy My Book: Bring Your Product Idea To LifeIf you enjoy this podcast, and you’d like to leave a tip, you can do so here: https://bring-your-product-idea.captivate.fm/supportMentioned in this episode:Get on the waitlist for my Group Product Creation ProgrammeJoin the waitlist to be first to hear when you can join Create a Product to Sell and get a free 1:1 call with me when you sign up! https://checklist.vickiweinberg.com/waitlist

My guest this week is Amelia Peckham. In 2005 Amelia Peckham was told she would never walk unaided again, following a serious quad bike accident and consequent spinal injury her ’new normal’ aged just 19, was a life on crutches. Sadly her hospital ones gave her blisters, clicked so everyone could hear her coming, slipped and even snapped - it was then Amelia alongside mother Clare, sought to find something better. There was a huge gap in the market for comfortable, silent, certified crutches and walking sticks that wouldn’t compromise on style…and so Cool Crutches & Sticks was born.Tackling a number of pain points Cool Crutches and Sticks are moulded to a left and right hand (no more blisters), totally silent to use (no more clicking), they’re cushioned (so won’t jar upper body joints), have added grip (won’t slip) and are CE certified to support long term, medical conditions and disabilities. The best part? They’re unavailable in hospital grey - with a wide range of fabulous colours and prints as well as the option to print your own personalised design these sticks are the walking definition of functionality & style.It was an absolute delight to talk to Amelia, learn more about the story behind the business, and how Amelia’s background in PR and confidence in the product has helped the company go from strength to strength.Listen in to hear Amelia share:An introduction to herself and her business (01:21)The importance of proving you can have functionality without compromising on style (03:04)How the NHS issues crutches to people and identifying a gap in the market (04:21)The design process (08:06)Adding fun and style to the design (13:25)Working with a manufacturer (15:10)Offering personalisation (17:19)Using the design and personalisation process as a positive focus for customers (20:33)The psychological boost the crutches can provide (21:53)Generating Press and PR (25:15)Working with and supporting celebrities (27:40)The power of absolute confidence in your own product (33:17)Her number one piece of advice for product creators (37:30)USEFUL RESOURCES:Cool Crutches WebsiteCool Crutches FacebookCool Crutches TwitterCool Crutches InstagramCool Crutches TikTokLET’S CONNECTJoin my free Facebook group for product makers and creatorsFind me on InstagramWork with me Buy My Book: Bring Your Product Idea To LifeIf you enjoy this podcast, and you’d like to leave a tip, you can do so here: https://bring-your-product-idea.captivate.fm/supportMentioned in this episode:Get on the waitlist for my Group Product Creation...

This week my guest on the podcast is Stephanie Mensah, the founder of Bibinee Dolls. Bibinee Dolls are a range of early years soft diversity dolls, which help to encourage learning through play and positive representation.Stephanie’s business launched at the beginning of this year, and she has already achieved great things, getting stocked at Very and Littlewoods. Stephanie explains how her children’s own experience at nursery inspired her to create this range, how she went about manufacturing the dolls and ensuring that they met safety standards. Stephanie explains how customer feedback has informed the development of her range of products which now also includes clothing and accessories. Most of all Stephanie is just a really inspiring person to listen to  - she shares what drives her, what inspires her and how she has navigated setbacks. It really is an episode packed full of positivity and inspiration. Listen in to hear Stephanie share:An introduction to herself and her business (01:25)Her range of dolls and what they look like (02:49)How her children’s experience at nursery inspired her to create the dolls (06:40)Making sure the dolls were usable and durable for very young children (11:38)Finding a manufacturer to work with (13:57)How her mum inspired her with her own business (16:08)Overcoming setbacks and what keeps her going (17:36)Finding stockists (20:09)Her experience at Trade Shows, The Baby Show (23:51)Customers reaction and learning that there is a wider market for the dolls (25:15)Challenging gender stereotypes and responding to customer requests (27:02)The process of getting safety certifications for toys (32:50)Their sustainability policy and what this involves (36:26)Her number one piece of advice for product creators (40:14)USEFUL RESOURCES:Bibinee Dolls WebsiteBibinee Dolls TwitterBibinee Dolls FacebookBibinee Dolls InstagramToy WorldThe Baby ShowLET’S CONNECTJoin my free Facebook group for product makers and creatorsFind me on InstagramWork with me Buy My Book: Bring Your Product Idea To LifeIf you enjoy this podcast, and you’d like to leave a tip, you can do so here: https://bring-your-product-idea.captivate.fm/supportMentioned in this episode:Get on the waitlist for my Group Product Creation ProgrammeJoin the waitlist to be first to hear when you can join Create a Product to Sell and get a free 1:1 call with me when you sign up!...

If you're selling on Amazon or plan to do so in the near or distant future, one of your primary goals is likely to be securing a place on the first page of search results for relevant terms. This goal is well-founded because when users search for something related to your product, you want to appear on that coveted first page. Research indicates that products on the initial page receive a minimum of 80% of all clicks, with the top three listings accounting for 60% of those clicks. To put it simply, being on the first page is crucial, and the higher your position on that page, the better. Think of your own shopping habits - how often do you venture beyond the initial search results page?In this episode I share my top tips for ranking higher on Amazon from explaining how the algorithm works to talking you through step by step writing  your product description. There is an accompanying blog post to this episode, and if you would like any further support please do get in touch. Listen in to hear me share:The benefits of ranking higher on Amazon (00:50)How the Amazon algorithm ranks products (02:41)A9 The Amazon Algorithm and how it differs to Google (03:33)The factors that influence how you rank (05:26)Make sure you have a great product listing (08:49)Step by step instructions on how to write your product listing (12:08)What A Plus content is and how it can help (14:47)How to get your first sales to boost your ranking (17:46)The importance of sharing your Amazon product listing on social media and with your friends and family (21:54)The importance of product reviews and how to get them (23:52)The most important things to do (26:31)How I may be able to help you (25:12)USEFUL RESOURCES:JunglescoutFree guide - How to successfully launch a product on Amazon or rescue one that’s not sellingBlog Post: How To Rank Higher On AmazonHOW I CAN SUPPORT YOU ON AMAZON:My Free Resources Is Amazon Right For You? Mini Strategy SessionAmazon Account AuditAmazon Launch PackageAmazon Training Q&A HourBook a Power Hour with meLET’S CONNECT:Join my free Facebook group for product makers and creatorsFind me on InstagramWork with me

Today I'm talking to Liz Cooke from Chester & Cooke. Liz designs and makes country living products for the home, garden, horse, and dog. Liz shares her product business journey, and how she transitioned from a career in finance to starting her business and designing wooden products, which her husband then makes and they sell. We discussed the challenges of pricing handmade products, the power of offering customisation to your customers, and the areas to prioritise learning about and investing in when running your own business.Liz has also won quite a few awards, and had some great PR successes, including being commissioned by ITV show Love Your Weekend to make a welly rack. We discuss how these came about, the channels that Liz finds more successful in helping people to find her business.Listen in to hear Liz share:An introduction to herself and her business (01:17)How and why she started her own business (01:44)Designing and making products from wood (03:38)Her expectations when setting up the business, and how these have grown (05:56)Their first product - a boot jack (08:34)The biggest challenges of setting up her own website (10:01)How to price handmade products (12:16)The power of personalisation on your products (16:24)How she achieved awards and PR success (18:25)Which channels work best for bringing in sales (22:11)Things to prioritise when you are at the early stages of your business (23:32)The importance of making sure your business doesn’t take over your life (28:17)Her number one piece of advice for product creators (29:24)USEFUL RESOURCES:Chester & Cooke WebsiteChester & Cooke EtsyChester & Cooke FacebookChester & Cooke InstagramChester & Cooke PinterestChester & Cooke YoutubeMaddy ShineLET’S CONNECTJoin my free Facebook group for product makers and creatorsFind me on InstagramWork with me Buy My Book: Bring Your Product Idea To LifeIf you enjoy this podcast, and you’d like to leave a tip, you can do so here: https://bring-your-product-idea.captivate.fm/supportMentioned in this episode:Get on the waitlist for my Group Product Creation ProgrammeJoin the waitlist to be first to hear when you can join Create a Product to Sell and get a free 1:1 call with me when you sign up!...

My guest today is Elle Williamson of The Ecommerce Assistant. Elle helps people build and grow their online businesses with the power of Shopify + Klaviyo to sell more online. Ella has made it her mission to teach everything she knows about ecommerce to founder-led businesses looking to thrive online.Elle was originally a guest earlier this year on episode 162 where she talked about how to make the most of Shopify. I've invited her back to talk about Klaviyo, an email marketing system, which works really well with Shopify. Elle shares what Klaviyo can do, why she is such a big fan of it, and top tips to get the most out of it. We also talk about email marketing in general - why it's important, best practices, ways to nurture your list and what to do if it is far too long since you emailed them!Whether you decide to use Klaviyo or not (and there is a free option) there is lots here for you to take and try in your own business to boost your sales. Listen in to hear Elle share:An introduction to herself and her business (01:29)Why email marketing is important (02:21)How often you should be emailing from bare minimum to maximum (06:41)Getting past mindset blocks (07:58)How to nurture your email list, and what this means (09:10)How to start emailing your list again when you haven’t been in touch for a long time (13:35)What Klaviyo is and why Elle recommends it (17:23)Klaviyo’s integration with Shopify (18:20)The difference between the paid and free versions (19:51)The data insights you can get - including how much money each email has made (21:35)Ecommerce features that Klaviyo has (22:50)Top tips for optimising your email marketing for whichever platform you use (27:30)Ways to grow your email list (32:34)What AB tests are and how to do them (34:48)Her number one piece of advice for using email marketing effectively (38:01)USEFUL RESOURCES:The Ecommerce Assistant WebsiteThe Ecommerce Assistant InstagramElle Williamson Linked InElle’s Klaviyo ServicesKlaviyoShopifyPodcast 162: How to get the most out of Shopify with Elle Williamson - The Ecommerce AssistantLET’S CONNECTJoin my free Facebook group for product makers and creatorsFind me on InstagramWork with me Buy My Book: Bring Your Product Idea To LifeIf you enjoy this podcast, and you’d like to leave a tip, you can do so here:

Summer is a great time to do a DIY audit on your Amazon Seller Central account. This will help you assess your performance and identify areas where you can improve.In my previous episode which I released last year, I talked about some general things you can do to keep your account in order over the summer. In this episode, I'll be going into more detail about specific metrics you can look at, such as: account health, inventory performance, sales performance, and advertising performance. I'll also be sharing some tips for doing a DIY audit on your Amazon Seller Central account, such as using the Seller Central reports and comparing your performance to your competitors.Listen in to hear me share how to:Check your account health (01:44)Check your customer feedback (03:21)Checking your IPI score (04:34)Check your conversion rate or unit session percentage (06:25)Review your listings (07:07)Review your keyword rankings (09:03)Review your fees (11:18)Why you should run ads in the summer (12:48)Tracking your metrics (14:54)How I may be able to help you (15:55)USEFUL RESOURCES:Blog Post: How to audit your Amazon Seller Central account this summerPodcast Episode 123 - Things to do with you Amazon Seller Central Account this summerJungleScoutAmazon account auditFREE AMAZON CHECKLISTFREEBIE: How to Successfully Launch a Product on Amazon or Rescue One That's Not SellingHOW I CAN SUPPORT YOU ON AMAZON:My Free Resources Is Amazon Right For You? Mini Strategy SessionAmazon Account AuditAmazon Launch PackageAmazon Training Q&A HourBook a Power Hour with meLET’S CONNECT:Join my free Facebook group for product makers and creatorsFind me on InstagramWork with me Buy My Book: Bring Your Product Idea To LifeIf you enjoy this podcast, and you’d like to leave a tip, you can do so here:

My guest today is  Kate Whorlow from Time For Me Teas.  Kate helps women to make time for themselves by nourishing and rejuvenating their mind and body while sipping on organic, loose leaf herbal tea blends which are not only beneficial, but taste great too. Kate is also a herbalist, and she has worked in a pharmacy, and she has pulled all her skills together to create a business that works for her. Kate is incredibly knowledgeable, and explains how to find the right herbal tea for you, why herbal tea bags from supermarkets can taste bitter, and the best way to make a cup of tea.We also cover how Kate has used fairs and communities to build her business, and the value of face to face interactions with your customers when running an online business. Listen in to hear Kate share:An introduction to herself and her business (01:37)How chronic illness led her to discover herbs and blending her own teas (02:05)The inspiration for setting up her Tea Business (02:54)Creating teas that deliver the benefits and taste great (05:31)Capturing her recipes (09:43)The benefits of herbal teas (10:44)How her teas differ from supermarket herbal teas (18:09)How to make the perfect cup of herbal tea, that doesn’t taste bitter (21:03)Converting sceptics into raving fans (22:31)Selling related products (24:58)Transitioning from selling to friends and family to running a ecommerce business and selling at fairs (27:29)The importance of face to face interaction with her customers (33:27)Personalised tea subscription boxes (38:27)Get your own personalised tea consultation (47:32)Her number one piece of advice for product creators (48:58)USEFUL RESOURCES:Time For Me Teas WebsiteTime For Me Teas InstagramHedgewitch Apothecary Subscription BoxTime For Me Teas FacebookLET’S CONNECTJoin my free Facebook group for product makers and creatorsFind me on InstagramWork with me Buy My Book: Bring Your Product Idea To LifeIf you enjoy this podcast, and you’d like to leave a tip, you can do so here: https://bring-your-product-idea.captivate.fm/supportMentioned in this episode:Get on the waitlist for my Group Product Creation ProgrammeJoin the waitlist to be first to hear when you can join Create a Product to Sell and get a free 1:1 call with me when you sign up! https://checklist.vickiweinberg.com/waitlist

Liam Murphy is the inventor and founder of Stix - the world’s first hand-held sensory product designed to encourage children to take control of their wellbeing by making mindfulness fun. The Stix Remotes use audio, haptic feedback and calming lights to guide kids through fun and interactive therapeutic activities involving balancing, deep breathing, guided meditations and more, whilst the companion app gamifies the experience, rewarding children for practicing mindfulness.Liam came up with the idea of Stix whilst in his final year of university and I was fascinated to learn how he went from concept to reality, to bring a tech product with an accompanying app to life. Liam shares how accelerators and Kickstarter campaigns have helped him create Stix. Liam also shares lots of useful ideas about how he has tweaked and refined his website so it answers customer queries about a product they have never seen before. It’s a really inspiring episode, and Liam brings real creativity and imagination to bringing an original product idea to life. Listen in to hear Liam share:An introduction to himself and his product Stix (01:40)The inspiration for creating Stix (02:28)How he became interested in the benefits of mindfulness (03:59)How Stix works and support children (05:16)Creating a product that also has an app (06:04)Using an accelerator program to access the technology and expertise to build the product (08:15)From final year project at university to product business (10:04)Their launch strategy (13:25)How they educate parents about how Stix can help their children (14:44)How they evolved and tweaked their website (14:59)Using case studies and videos to demonstrate the effectiveness of Stix (17:33)Working with schools (19:34)His number one piece of advice for other product creators (22:11)Advice for running a successful Kickstarter campaign (25:33)USEFUL RESOURCES:Stix WebsiteStix FacebookStix InstagramStix Linked InThe Central Research LaboratoryThe ADHD FoundationKickstarterLET’S CONNECTJoin my free Facebook group for product makers and creatorsFind me on InstagramWork with me Buy My Book: Bring Your Product Idea To LifeIf you enjoy this podcast, and you’d like to leave a tip, you can do so here: https://bring-your-product-idea.captivate.fm/supportMentioned in this episode:Get...

Anna Frapwell is the founder of Neon Digital Clicks, an e-commerce growth agency. Neon Digital Click’s focus is on driving more profitable sales for baby, kids' and women's brands through Meta, Tik Tok and Google Ads, and email marketing.Anna Frapwell originally appeared on the podcast to talk about why you should be selling on Tik Tok. I invited Anna back to explain what you can be doing over the summer to prepare for a strong final quarter of the year, and boost your sales. We talk about why waiting until September will put you on the backfoot, and how you can take advantage of the summer lull to experiment with your advertising, and refine your message so that you are in the best possible position going into Q4. It’s full of simple, actionable ideas that you can implement now.If you would like more support, Neon Digital Clicks offer a free audit, which you can sign up for here.Listen in to hear Anna share:An introduction to herself and her business (01:28)Why it is best not to shut down over the Summer (02:16)When you should start thinking about Q4 (04:44)Why summer is a better time to start advertising rather than waiting until Q4 (06:26)Using the summer for audience building (08:55)Proactive things you can be doing now to make consistent sales in Q4 (10:43)Practical ways to build your email list (12:17)Tips for starting to advertise (14:53)How to use digital ads to shine a spotlight on your business, and identify things you can improve (17:11)Making sure you have the right foundations in place for digital advertising and messaging (19:16)The power of outsourcing (20:37)USEFUL RESOURCES:Neon Digital Clicks WebsiteNeon Digital Clicks FacebookNeon Digital Clicks InstagramNeon Digital Clicks Linked InNeon Digital Clicks FREE AUDITPodcast Epsiode 129: Why you should be selling your products on Tik Tok with Anna FrapwellKlaviyoLET’S CONNECTJoin my free Facebook group for product makers and creatorsFind me on InstagramWork with me Buy My Book: Bring Your Product Idea To LifeIf you enjoy this podcast, and you’d like to leave a tip, you can do so here: https://bring-your-product-idea.captivate.fm/supportMentioned in this episode:Get on...