The Online Hustle Podcast

S3 E10 Why your Amazon listing may not travel well

Selling internationally only works when your product, language, and offer make sense in the market you are entering. In this episode of The Online Hustle Podcast, Khaled from AVASK speaks with Jana from YLT Translations about what sellers often miss when expanding across Amazon marketplaces and international ecommerce. The conversation moves beyond simple translation and looks at cultural fit, local buying behaviour, product-market validation, listing content, imagery, and why a successful product in one country may fall flat in another. Jana shares the story behind building YLT Translations, niching into Amazon listing localisation, recovering from an early SEO mistake, and learning when to delegate, say no, and focus on the business. The episode also covers practical examples such as diapers versus nappies, US-style copy versus German expectations, wine glass imagery, Italian pasta messaging, and where AI can help without replacing native-market judgement. Takeaways: - Validate demand before launching into a new country. - Localise tone, keywords, imagery, and product framing together. - Use AI carefully, then verify with human expertise. - Treat expansion as a strategic decision, not a default next step. TIMESTAMPS  00:00 – Opening and guest context 01:28 – Why product fit matters before expansion 08:10 – From corporate role to building YLT Translations 20:25 – Amazon, Europe, and changing ecommerce behaviour 25:44 – The name mistake that became an SEO lesson 34:31 – Localisation beyond direct translation 43:35 – Costly keyword differences across English markets 48:28 – AI, native nuance, and better product messaging 55:26 – Business lessons: delegation, finances, and focus 66:21 – Practical expansion research and where to start Ready to expand? Start your journey today:  https://avask.com/find-your-plan/ Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2244411/support]

S3 E9 Does Amazon growth depend more on conversion or traffic?

Scaling on Amazon takes more than launching products in another country and hoping the marketplace does the rest. In this episode of The Online Hustle Podcast, Donald Murray, founder of Jungle Agency, joins AVASK to discuss what Amazon sellers need to consider before expanding internationally. Drawing on his background in corporate law, retail, online selling, and Amazon agency growth, Donald explains why strong products still fail when listings, localisation, PPC, compliance, stock planning, or marketplace fit are not properly managed. The conversation covers how Amazon brands can diagnose conversion weaknesses, structure advertising around ACOS and TACOS, adapt listings for local search behaviour, and avoid common expansion mistakes around VAT, EPR, customs, fulfilment, and marketplace readiness. Donald also shares why TikTok, video content, AI search tools like Rufus, and competitor research are becoming increasingly important for sellers trying to protect profitability while growing across markets. Takeaways: Why Amazon growth depends on conversion, not just traffic How localisation affects trust, search, pricing, and product presentation Why compliance can make or break international expansion When specialist agency support can outperform a small in-house team 00:00 — Introducing Donald Murray and his route into Amazon 02:41 — From frozen yoghurt retail to online selling 05:38 — What high-street retail teaches about Amazon growth 07:16 — Diagnosing why Amazon brands plateau 10:14 — AI search, Rufus, and listing optimisation 12:29 — Localising Amazon listings for different markets 17:41 — Compliance risks when expanding internationally 20:32 — ACOS, TACOS, and measuring Amazon account health 24:06 — Why early ad spend can look unprofitable 26:06 — How to know if a brand is ready to expand 31:56 — Product imagery, localisation, and conversion gaps 34:02 — Video, TikTok, and driving warm traffic to Amazon 37:58 — Competitor research and campaign structure 39:51 — Agency expertise versus bringing Amazon in-house 44:06 — What Donald would do if starting again today 46:22 — Where to find Donald and Jungle Agency Expand your business today: https://avask.com/find-your-plan/ [https://avask.com/find-your-plan/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2244411/support]

S3 E8 Why clarity matters more than keywords for Amazon Rufus & Cosmo

Silvia from Ecomm Hero Academy [https://www.ecommheroacademy.com/] explains how Amazon listing optimisation is no longer just about keyword density, PPC spend or adding more variations. This conversation focuses on how sellers can use buyer intent, product imagery, catalogue structure and customer data to make listings easier to understand and more likely to convert. Sylvia shares how her background in film, events and Amazon selling informs her approach to visual storytelling. She explains why brands should audit ownership and catalogue issues first, prioritise high-ROI listings, rewrite titles and bullets around benefits, and use images to answer real buyer questions. The episode also covers reviews, returns, packaging, premium positioning, AI versus real models, and why many sellers may have a structural listing problem rather than a traffic problem. Takeaways: - Start with listing control and high-ROI opportunities - Replace keyword stuffing with buyer-focused clarity - Use visuals to answer objections before the buyer asks - Let reviews, returns and competitor data guide optimisation TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Meet Sylvia and where her creative approach comes from 06:20 Listing ownership mistakes and catalogue audits 09:11 Rufus, Cosmo and the opportunity for smaller brands 13:22 Turning titles and bullets into buyer benefits 17:35 Product images, buyer intent and visual clarity 23:31 Data-led optimisation, launches and variations 28:22 Reviews, returns and buyer objections as research 35:49 Packaging, creative support and investment choices 42:36 Structural listing problems and making products clear 48:23 Closing advice and how to contact Sylvia Expand your business today: https://avask.com/find-your-plan/ [https://avask.com/find-your-plan/ ] Contact Silvia here: https://www.ecommheroacademy.com/book-my-call [https://www.ecommheroacademy.com/book-my-call] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2244411/support]

S3 E7 The future of live selling and scaling retail brands

In this episode of the Online Hustle podcast Chris Dawson, founder of ChannelX shares his extensive experience in the e-commerce industry, starting from the early days of eBay in the 2000s. He breaks down how online selling has evolved from simple bedroom operations to complex multi-channel businesses facing rising marketplace fees and new operational challenges.  The conversation provides a deep dive into the strategic decisions modern retailers must make regarding inventory, international expansion, and platform selection. Chris also explores the massive upcoming shifts in retail, detailing how artificial intelligence will change consumer search habits and why live selling is rapidly capturing the Gen Z market.   Key takeaways from this discussion: Why new brands should perfect their operations on a single marketplace before expanding everywhere.   The three upcoming stages of AI adoption in retail, including automated purchasing agents.   How eBay Live and TikTok are actively reshaping the future of online shopping.   Using Amazon's fulfillment network to safely test international markets like Germany and France.   TIMESTAMPS  -  00:00 Introduction and starting an eBay business in the early 2000s  03:15 - How the Tamebay blog started and evolved into ChannelX  08:01 - The rise of high street retailers joining online marketplaces  10:48 - Understanding the massive shift in e-commerce marketplace fees  16:24 - Rebranding to ChannelX to reflect the modern retail ecosystem  20:58 - The three stages of artificial intelligence in online shopping  29:35 - How Gen Z is changing e-commerce through Depop and TikTok  32:22 - The explosive growth of live selling on eBay Live  34:16 - Why new brands should master one channel before expanding  44:41 - Bridging the gap between marketplaces and retail sellers  50:38 - Managing inventory storage and marketplace fulfillment costs  54:24 - Strategies for testing and entering international markets  01:03:37 - Why live video selling is the top recommendation for new sellers  01:04:39 - Upcoming retail and e-commerce events from ChannelX Get in touch today: https://avask.com/find-your-plan/ ChannelX: https://channelx.world/ Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2244411/support]

S3 E6 The Amazon scaling mistake costing you organic rank and sales

In this episode of the Online Hustle Podcast, AVASK  sits down with Destaney Wishon, CEO of BTR Media to uncover what truly drives scalable growth on Amazon. While many e-commerce sellers obsess over Return on Ad Spend (ROAS), Destaney explains why this single metric can be highly misleading and detrimental to long-term organic ranking. She breaks down the evolving Amazon advertising landscape, emphasizing that basic keyword optimization is now merely table stakes for sellers. Instead of competing solely on price, modern brands must leverage creative storytelling, video assets, and a deep understanding of consumer psychology to stand out on the platform. Destaney also shares candid insights from her seven-year journey building a top-tier agency, discussing the importance of mindset, the current limitations of AI in strategic planning, and how to hire a team that complements your weaknesses. - Why focusing strictly on profitability can sometimes decrease a brand's total revenue and visibility. - How the "Mom test" reveals the true impact of Amazon's diverse ad placements on shoppers. - The structural advantage small brands have over massive corporations when implementing new strategies. - Why a brand's long-term vision must dictate daily habits to ensure scalable success. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction and Destaney Wishon's early e-commerce career  03:00 - The core values and risk-taking behind building BTR Media  05:29 - Why ROAS is a misleading metric for Amazon sellers  09:08 - AI limitations and optimizing for human buying psychology  13:07 - Common scaling mistakes and the underutilization of video  17:09 - Why creative assets and branding are the new competitive moat  20:08 - Navigating Amazon's expansive retail and media network  23:18 - The speed and agility advantage of small to mid-size brands  26:10 - Crucial Amazon ad updates and utilizing creative studio  30:13 - The importance of leadership mindset and long-term goals  34:29 - Key leadership lessons from scaling an agency over seven years  42:04 - How to choose the right Amazon advertising agency partner Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2244411/support]