Episode 320 - AI Visibility in the New Era of Amazon Selling
Scott returns from a month of trade shows to break down what he’s seeing on the front lines of e-commerce, and why we’re entering a new era of “AI visibility” for Amazon sellers.
He shares how the largest brand client his team has ever signed actually found them through ChatGPT, and what that means for agencies, software tools, and brands trying to stand out online.
Scott walks through the major eras of selling on Amazon, from early booksellers and repricers to retail and wholesale resellers, the private label boom with Jungle Scout, the rise of Amazon advertising and analytics tools, TikTok Shop’s rapid growth, and now AI business agents and shopping assistants.
He explains how AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini already influence which Amazon products, agencies, and software tools get recommended, and why strong written content, clear bullet points, and smart keyword strategy matter more than ever.
Episode Notes:
00:30 - Signing Up a Large Corporation
01:30 - The Evolution of Amazon Selling: Era by Era
06:50 - The Dawn of AI Visibility
07:29 - Understanding AI Visibility on Amazon
10:05 - Building Amazon Visibility
11:19 - Amazon vs. AI Shopping Agents
13:47 - Content Optimization for the AI Era
16:02 - Keyword Ranking by State
16:55 - SmartScout’s Feedback Tool
Related Post: The Ultimate Guide to Amazon Selling Tools (and How to Choose the Right One)
Scott’s Links:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scott-needham-a8b39813
X: @itsScottNeedham
Instagram: @smartestseller
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@smartestamazonseller2371
Newsletter: https://www.smartscout.com/newsletter-sign-up
Blog: https://www.smartscout.com/blog
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Episode 319 - Simplifying Success & Finding Your Fit with Scotty O.
Discover why simplicity might be the ultimate Amazon strategy. This is straight from an industry veteran who’s seen it all.
In this episode, Scott sits down with Scotty O. of Quickfire and Always Off Brand podcast to unpack decades of experience navigating Amazon’s third-party marketplace.
From working with iconic brands like Columbia Sportswear and North Face to building agencies and embracing straightforward solutions over flashy tech, Scotty O. shares practical wisdom for sellers at every stage. They dive into the realities of ad management, finding your ideal client fit, surviving category competition, and why Amazon Business is suddenly a hot topic.
Episode Notes:
00:11 - Scotty O Introduction
03:08 - Scott Ohsman's Retail Journey
05:15 - Entering the Agency World
06:22 - Life at Quickfire
09:51 - Tech, Tools, and Agency Value
10:40 - Audience Awareness and Communication Styles
13:43 - Niche Services and Transparent Relationships
15:49 - The Realities of the Amazon Marketplace
17:39 - The Seller's Dilemma: Guarantees and Incremental Wins
21:15 - Pricing and Competition: Can Small Brands Win?
26:00 - Chinese Sellers, External Traffic, and Ad Tech
27:54 - Amazon Business: The Sleeping Giant
Related Post: How to Know Amazon Market Share by Category: What Brands Are Winning on Amazon and Why
How to Reach Scotty O:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scott-ohsman-861196a6
Website: quickfirenow.com
Always Off Brand Podcast: Spotify | Apple Podcast
Scott’s Links:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scott-needham-a8b39813
X: @itsScottNeedham
Instagram: @smartestseller
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@smartestamazonseller2371
Newsletter: https://www.smartscout.com/newsletter-sign-up
Blog: https://www.smartscout.com/blog
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Episode 318 - AI Agents for Sellers with Nick from Aiometrix
Nick from Aiometrix explains how agentic AI can automate busywork and boost results for Amazon brands.
He began in a California garage with retail arbitrage, then expanded into wholesale and manufacturing during the COVID surge. Today, his team builds AI agents that connect to WMS and ad APIs to make real-time decisions on bids, budgets, and inventory so operators can focus on strategy.
Scott and Nick cover Amazon’s AI roadmap for sellers and shoppers, why large companies move slowly, then fast, and how to use copilots without losing human judgment. The conversation also touches on advances in image generation, including Google’s Nano Banana update, and what these developments could mean for PDP creative.
Episode Notes:
00:15 - Nick Bahr Introduction
01:35 - Nick’s Personal Background and Journey
03:04 - The Shift During Covid and Evolution in E-Commerce
05:15 - Amazon's Announcements and AI Adoption
07:24 - The Changing Landscape of AI in E-Commerce
09:20 - The Role and Potential of AI Agents
11:30 - Enhancing Workflow and Decision-Making with AI
13:40 - Specific Use Cases and Technology Developments
16:32 - The Complexity and Regionality in AI Applications
17:45 - Aiometrix: A ChatGPT for Amazon Sellers
18:45 - Education and Mastery in AI Interaction
20:10 - AI for Image Generation
22:15 - Aiometrix Special offer: FREEAGENTS30
Related Post: Top 10 Amazon Quotes From the Operators Podcast
How to Reach Nick:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nick-bahr-47346b9a/
Website: https://aiometrix.com/
Scott’s Links:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scott-needham-a8b39813
X: @itsScottNeedham
Instagram: @smartestseller
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@smartestamazonseller2371
Newsletter: https://www.smartscout.com/newsletter-sign-up
Blog: https://www.smartscout.com/blog
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Episode 317 - Rufus, AI Search, and the New Playbook for Amazon Growth with Noah Wickham
Scott and Noah unpacks agency growth that actually moves the needle for Amazon sellers.
They tackle conference takeaways, real playbooks for managing hundreds of brands, and how “unreasonable hospitality” builds sticky B2B relationships. You will hear how top teams stay resilient, communicate proactively, and keep speed and flexibility at the center of every client touchpoint.
Also learn how AI is reshaping product discovery on Amazon, from ChatGPT workflows to Rufus and what that means for ranking, conversion, and revenue.
Instead of chasing vanity metrics, Scott and Noah show how to optimize for sales and profitability first, with SEO as a supporting lever.
If you run an Amazon agency or lead an in-house marketplace team, this episode is your roadmap to faster growth, smarter tools, and happier clients.
Episode Notes:
00:50 - Noah Wickham Introduction
02:25 - E-commerce Beginnings and Favorites
04:20 - Joining My Amazon Guy
05:24 - Leadership Journey with Steven Pope
09:55 - What Amazon Sellers Value
11:00 - The Four Pillars of Amazon Success
11:59 - Amazon Accelerate
13:35 - Amazon’s AI Strategy and New Tools
15:45 - Building an AI Tool for Amazon Sellers
19:17 - Adapting to AI Search Behavior
20:25 - The Rise and Adoption of Rufus
21:55 - Golden Seller Awards
24:06 - Managing Hundreds of Seller Accounts
27:10 - The Importance of Speed and Execution
28:20 - Unreasonable Hospitality in B2B Contexts
29:10 - Fast Onboarding and Proactive Communication
31:04 - Business Growth, Innovation, and Culture
Sellers United 2025
Related Post: Top 10 Creator Brands on Amazon in 2025
How to Reach Noah:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/noahwickham/
Scott’s Links:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scott-needham-a8b39813
X: @itsScottNeedham
Instagram: @smartestseller
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@smartestamazonseller2371
Newsletter: https://www.smartscout.com/newsletter-sign-up
Blog: https://www.smartscout.com/blog
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Episode 316 - Daniel Boufford’s Journey from Real Estate to 7-Figure Amazon Success
Scott welcomes Dan Buford, known online as @1000Asins, to share the journey of scaling a wholesale Amazon business from the ground up.
Dan explains how he left a demanding real estate career in New York to pursue e-commerce, starting with retail arbitrage before shifting to wholesale during the pandemic. He highlights the breakthrough moment of selling yeast during COVID, which fueled his full-time transition, and discusses how his team now spans the US, Philippines, and Serbia with in-house prep operations to navigate changing FBA rules.
The conversation covers the realities of running a wholesale business today, from the challenges of account suspensions and rising fees to building profitable brand-direct relationships. Dan also shares insights into the future of wholesale, where resellers add value with SEO, content, and advertising support.
Episode Notes:
00:09 - Daniel Boufford Introduction
01:52 - Transition from Real Estate to Amazon Selling
03:15 - Retail & Online Arbitrage
04:05 - Pivot to Wholesale & Pandemic Opportunities
06:02 - Building and Scaling the Business
07:35 - Strategies for Wholesale Growth
08:40 - Market Trends & Seller Suspensions
12:15 - Evolution of the Wholesale Model
16:12 - Entry Barrier and Advice to New Sellers
20:14 - Wholesale Exit Opportunities & Business Valuation
23:00 - Insights from Seller Events & Community
25:10 - Content Creation and Personal Brand Building
Sellers United 2025
Related Post: The Best Carriers for Different Shipping Needs: A Data-Driven Guide
How to Reach Jeremy:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/danielboufford
Instagram: @1000asins
Scott’s Links:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scott-needham-a8b39813
X: @itsScottNeedham
Instagram: @smartestseller
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@smartestamazonseller2371
Newsletter: https://www.smartscout.com/newsletter-sign-up
Blog: https://www.smartscout.com/blog
Scott Needham is the Founder of SmartScout. An Amazon software developer for 10 years his company BuyBoxer has done over $300m in sales on Amazon. Scott has accumulated a deep knowledge about selling product online, and in the podcast he shares his knowledge with you to help you become a better Amazon seller.
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