[ BDSN ] Cracking the code on TikTok Shop

STUMP BEZOS

Not counting Sunday’s replay sales, how much did Alex Hormozi’s 9-hour webinar generate in sales on Saturday?

[ Answer at bottom of email ]

💰 STARTS TOMORROW: BDSS 12 VIRTUAL - YOU JOINING?

Over 2½ days starting tomorrow afternoon through Thursday, smart sellers will be attending BDSS 12 Virtual LIVE to get a competitive edge on their competition.

Two ways to join us:

1. Grab your ticket at the official website for a LIVE or LIVE+replay pass
2. Join the Billion Dollar Sellers Club for $9 and get a $497 credit for a LIVE ticket

Hosted and curated by Kevin King, it is the premier online event in the Amazon selling space. There is nothing else like it - in format, in content or in networking.

Here’s a partial list of what you’ll miss if you don’t:

  • Unlock the AI-first selling playbook to future-proof your visibility across every marketplace before competitors even know what hit them.

  • Learn a four-phase creative domination framework that can supercharge CTR and CVR across your entire catalog, turning browsers into buyers.

  • Discover the secret “rank ready” step top sellers take before PPC or organic pushes that makes rankings stick while others fade away.

  • Harness AI-powered ad creation to slash CPMs by up to 72% and outspend competitors without breaking your margins.

  • Deploy video ad workflows that scale profitably without ever stepping in front of a camera.

  • Master DSP and first-party data targeting blueprints that keep TACoS low while bringing in more new-to-brand customers.

  • Use battle-tested creative testing frameworks that outperform top tier agency work they charge $5K+ for with up to 200% higher CTR.

  • Tap into AI-driven product validation that eliminates launch risk and ensures every new SKU is a winner.

  • Leverage AMC secrets even beginners can use to pinpoint exactly which audiences convert and why.

  • Build emotion-triggering product videos with copy-and-paste AI prompts that make shoppers stop scrolling and start buying.

  • Crack the code to solving suspended ASINs and nightmare case IDs using insider communication tactics Amazon actually responds to.

  • Optimize your inventory and operations with AI so you sell more while tying up less cash in stock.

  • Escape the “race to the bottom” with brand differentiation strategies that let you win without lowering prices.

  • Cut creative production time in half using AI agents that double your output and launch campaigns faster than ever.

Just one of these strategies can 10-100X or more your investment.

Two ways to join us:

1. Grab your ticket at the official website for a LIVE or LIVE+replay pass
2. Join the Billion Dollar Sellers Club for $9 and get a $497 credit for a LIVE ticket

🌎 INTERESTING STATS 

Drewry’s World Container Index decreased 3% to $2,350 per 40ft container this week. 

Transpacific spot rates fell this week, as rates on Shanghai–Los Angeles fell 2% ($2,494/feu) and those on Shanghai–New York 5% ($3,638/feu). Since the big rush to ship cargo before the tariff increase is now over, Drewry expects spot rates to be less volatile in the coming week.

🕹️ CRACKING the CODE on TIKTOK SHOP (BDSC Exclusive)

On August 6, BDSC (Billion Dollar Sellers Club) members got to participate live in a mastermind call with three top TikTok Shop experts: Paul Harvey, Michelle Barnum Smith and Stephanie Tramicheck.

This content is normally reserved just for BDSC members, be I decided to share a summary of this call this one time with you here so you can see the type of strategies you’ll learn inside the BDSC.

TikTok Shop's Future: Not Going Away

The Consensus: All experts agree TikTok Shop won't disappear despite political concerns

  • Growth data: H1 2025 TikTok Shop hit $5.8B (91% YoY growth vs Amazon's 11%)

  • Political reality: Too much money at stake - middle Americans earning $100K+/month would create political backlash

  • Strategy: Take advantage NOW while early adopter benefits still exist

Product Discovery & Validation Process

Step-by-Step Discovery Method (Michelle's approach):

  1. TikTok Shop Analytics → Products → TikTok Bestsellers (sort by category)

  2. Look for products with high GMV but low competitor count

  3. Validate externally using CaloData, EchoTik, or FastMoss

  4. Check Creator Search Insights for content gaps and trending keywords

  5. Test with sub-500 unit orders initially

Key Validation Questions (Stephanie's framework):

  • Can you demonstrate it dramatically on video?

  • Do you have sufficient margins (25%+ after commissions)?

  • Is fulfillment cost reasonable for "free shipping" expectation?

  • Can you differentiate in a crowded space?

Affiliate vs Creator vs Influencer - Critical Distinctions

Affiliates: Performance-driven, commission-only, "mercenaries" who post 3-5 videos daily across categories

Creators: Paid per video ($200-500+), less skin in the game since they're paid upfront

Influencers: Community-focused, careful about brand alignment, typically higher engagement

Best Strategy: Start with 3-5 creators on retainer → develop winning hooks → attract affiliates with proven conversion data

Commission Structure Reality Check

  • Open Collab: 15-20% commission baseline

  • Target Collab: 2-5% higher than open collab

  • Shop Ads: 5-10% LOWER than organic (don't piss off affiliates)

  • Competitive Research: Always check competitor rates first

Evolution Path: Commission-only → Retainer + commission → Incentives/contests as you scale

Affiliate Recruitment: The Harsh Truth

Current Reality: 0.1% response rate through TikTok Shop Affiliate Center
Why Affiliates Reject New Brands: They want products already proving viral/profitable

Winning Approach:

  1. Content First: Create 30-50 videos before heavy affiliate outreach

  2. Prove Conversion: Show affiliates your hook works with specific conversion data

  3. Target Matching: Focus on affiliates who've sold similar products

  4. Creative Briefs: Keep them SHORT - affiliates won't read 10-page documents

Essential Tools Stack

  • Analytics: KaloData (winner) or FastMOSS (more expensive at $1K/month)

  • Financial Tracking: Hive HQ (by Fernando Campos)

  • Affiliate Management: AI-powered platforms like Euka, Reacher app

  • Shopify Integration: Shop Dance (NOT TikTok's native integration - it's terrible)

  • Fulfillment Sync: Autodesk, Webee, Shopable

GMV Max Ads Strategy

Paul's Proven Method:

  1. Minimum Content: Start with 30-50 videos minimum

  2. Force Learning: Use Max Delivery at $50/day to accelerate algorithm learning

  3. High ROAS Start: Begin with aggressive targets, then optimize down

  4. Time Investment: Only 10 minutes/day per brand (unlike Amazon PPC)

Content Focus: Algorithm handles optimization - your job is continuously feeding new creative content.

The Margin Imperative

Critical Success Factor:

Build commission costs INTO pricing from day one Strategy:

Use hero products with thin margins for brand establishment, but MUST have higher-margin products in catalog for sustainability

Common Failure: Sellers not calculating total commission costs, ending up with no profit

The panel emphasized TikTok Shop rewards "aggressive sellers" willing to invest heavily upfront, but success requires systematic content testing and building genuine affiliate relationships rather than chasing viral moments.

🤯 AMAZON MANUFACTURING CENTRAL LAUNCHES in INDIA

Amazon just dropped a bombshell that has sellers asking: Is this the supply chain solution we've been waiting for, or are we handing over the keys to our kingdom

Amazon's new Manufacturing Central portal makes sourcing from India sound as easy as ordering your morning coffee:

Step 1: Login/Create Account ✓
Step 2: Browse vetted Indian manufacturers by category
Step 3: Submit quote requests with your specifications
Step 4: Pick your manufacturer and track everything through Amazon's ecosystem

For new sellers, this looks like paradise: instant access to factories without the headaches of sourcing experience. But experienced sellers should pump the brakes.

Here's the kicker: Amazon launches this India-focused platform just as the US slaps a brutal 50% tariff on Indian goods.

The tariff timeline reads like a trade war playbook:

  • August 7, 2025: 25% tariff hits

  • August 27, 2025: Another 25% added (total: 50%)

Key Amazon seller categories getting hammered include textiles, jewelry, leather goods, and electronics, exactly what Manufacturing Central targets.

But the tariffs aren't the scariest part. Amazon's new portal gives them unprecedented access to your:

  • Manufacturing costs and profit margins

  • Supplier relationships and factory capabilities

  • Product designs and customizations

  • Which niches are actually profitable

Industry experts warn this is Amazon's final chess move toward complete supply chain control. They already handle your shipping, storage, sales, and delivery. Now they want to see your "first mile" too.

Reach page 1 on Amazon simply by sending free products to Micro-Influencers 

Use the platform Stack Influence to automate Micro-Influencer product seeding collaborations at scale (get thousands of collabs per month) and increase your Amazon ranking, generate UGC, and boost up your recurring revenue like never before.

Top Amazon brands like Magic Spoon, Unilever, and MaryRuth Organics have been able to get to #1 page positioning on Amazon and increase their monthly revenue as high as 13X in as little as 2 months.

  • Pay influencers only with products (stop negotiating fees)

  • Increase external traffic Amazon sales (get to top page rankings)

  • Get full rights image/video UGC (build your brand with authentic content)

  • 100% automated management (don’t lift a finger to get influencer collabs at scale)

Don't believe it? Check out the results from the Blueland Micro Influencer campaign which generated a 13X ROI scaling up influencers on Amazon.

After successfully raising investment on Shark Tank, Blueland turned to Stack Influence to boost their Amazon sales and become a top selling listing using Micro Influencer marketing.

Increase your Amazon listings ranking for targeted keywords and multiply your organic recurring revenue in 2025!

Get 10% OFF by signing up this month

🗜️ RUFUS OPTIMIZATION STRATEGIES for AMAZON SELLERS

Amazon's AI revolution isn't coming, it's here. With Rufus, Interests AI, and multimodal search reshaping how customers discover products, sellers who adapt now will dominate by 2026.

Here's your tactical playbook from Rufus expert Andrew Bell for thriving in Amazon's AI-first marketplace.

Understanding Amazon's New Search Reality

Amazon search now operates on three synergistic layers, not competing systems:

A9 Algorithm: Still foundational, combining keyword mechanics with semantic understanding. Keywords aren't dead, they're evolving to include natural language, review sentiment, and Q&A data.

Rufus AI: The game-changer. Customers ask direct questions like "What's a good kids' allergy pillow?" and Rufus generates personalized answers using your product info, visuals, and context. Crucially, Rufus now sets price alerts transforming optimization from content-only to pricing strategy.

Interests AI: Agentic discovery where customers describe intent ("gifts for three sons with different interests") and Amazon curates personalized feeds updated daily.

The New Rufus Reality: Pricing Matters as Much as Content

Critical insight: Rufus optimization extends beyond listing content to pricing strategy. With Rufus's new price alert capability, your deal cadence and price history directly impact AI recommendations.

Action items:

  • Track your pricing patterns. Rufus analyzes historical data

  • Plan strategic discount timing, not just random sales

  • Monitor competitor pricing cycles that Rufus references

  • Use price alerts as a retention tool, not just acquisition

The Triple Strategy: SEO + GEO + AEO

Stop choosing between optimization approaches. Winners use all three:

SEO (Search Engine Optimization):

  • Maintain strong keyword foundations for A9

  • Optimize backend search terms

  • Focus on bottom-funnel buyer searches

GEO (Generative Engine Optimization):

  • Create conversational, semantically rich content

  • Write for natural language queries Rufus processes

  • Include context about why products matter, not just what they are

AEO (Answer Engine Optimization):

  • Position products as solutions in Q&A scenarios

  • Anticipate customer questions in your content

  • Optimize for "the answer" positioning

Tactical Implementation Guide

1. Listing Optimization for AI

  • Combine data-driven keywords with narrative storytelling

  • Use AI tools to translate product passion into compelling copy

  • Focus on "heartfelt" descriptions that communicate meaning and purpose

  • Ensure every story-driven element remains discoverable by traditional search

2. Visual Strategy Revolution

  • Generate brand-consistent images using AI tools

  • Create multiple ad creatives monthly, not quarterly

  • Test AI-generated visuals for Sponsored Brands, Product Ads, and Display campaigns

  • Run iterative generations, choosing only conversion-optimized outputs

3. Advertising Evolution

  • Move beyond keyword-only PPC to AI-centric campaigns

  • Leverage Rufus-driven contextual ad placements

  • Implement AI-optimized bidding and targeting

  • Use multiple creatives with monthly updates

  • Let predictive algorithms automate campaign structure and creative rotation

4. The Interests AI Advantage

  • Create narrative-rich, solution-oriented content

  • Answer "why" questions as thoroughly as "what" questions

  • Focus on mood-driven, context-aware product positioning

  • Optimize imagery to represent lifestyle and intent, not just features

The Competitive Edge: Harmonized Strategy

The biggest opportunity gap? Most sellers still think in silos.

Winners orchestrate every element:

  • Keyword research informs narrative development

  • AI-generated content maintains SEO foundations

  • Pricing strategy supports both conversion and AI recommendation algorithms

  • Visual assets work across traditional and AI-driven touchpoints

Amazon's multi-layered AI environment rewards sellers who embrace "all of the above" thinking. Don't choose between traditional optimization and AI adaptation harmonize them. Use AI to bridge the gap between your product passion and customer understanding, while maintaining the fundamentals that drive discovery.

🥃 PARTING SHOT

"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now."

Chinese Proverb

✌🏼 See you again Thursday …

The answer to today’s STUMP BEZOS is
Sat. only: 2.7 million books sold, $82-100 million revenue