AM/PM Podcast

#488 - New AI Universal Commerce Protocol & Amazon Superstores Coming? | Weekly Buzz 1/16/26

Is there a new universal order for AI e-commerce that excludes Amazon? Set PPC bids based on keyword rank. Will your product soon appear in an Amazon brick-and-mortar superstore?

We’re back with another episode of the Weekly Buzz with Helium 10’s VP of Education and Strategy, Bradley Sutton. Every week, we cover the latest breaking news in the Amazon, TikTok Shop, Walmart, and E-commerce space, talk about Helium 10’s newest features, and provide a training tip for the week for serious sellers of any level.

 

Google announces a new protocol to facilitate commerce using AI agents
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/11/google-announces-a-new-protocol-to-facilitate-commerce-using-ai-agents/

Walmart's head of AI reveals the key difference between its shopping deals with Google Gemini and ChatGPT
https://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-ai-head-reveals-difference-in-gemini-and-chatgpt-shopping-2026-1

New Feature Alert: Helium 10 Ads is testing rank-based bid automation. Elite/Diamond users can auto-adjust bids using Share of Voice metrics when organic or sponsored rank changes, reducing manual checks and optimizing ad spend.

TikTok Adds More AI-Powered Tools To Assist TikTok Shop Merchants
https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/tiktok-adds-more-ai-powered-tools-to-assist-tiktok-shop-merchants/809789/

Strategy of the Week: Helium 10 Inventory Heatmaps show where FBA inventory and sales are located. They help sellers avoid poor conversion from slow shipping, decide when to reopen listings, and optimize restocks by tracking inventory and sales distribution.

Amazon takes on Walmart with new store concept
https://www.grocerydive.com/news/amazon-big-box-store-plans-walmart-grocery/809423/

In episode 488 of the AM/PM Podcast and Weekly Buzz, Bradley talks about:

• 00:00 - Introduction
• 01:05 - Universal Commerce Protocol
• 04:21 - Walmart x Gemini
• 08:54 - Keyword Rank PPC Rules
• 12:49 - AI TikTok Seller Tools
• 14:33 - Inventory Heat Maps
• 17:58 - Amazon Superstore?

#487 - AI Amazon Product Images in Minutes

Can one phone photo become a full Amazon image stack & A+ Content? Learn an AI prompt framework, review-based market intel, live demos, and split-testing tips.

 

Shivali Patel kicks off this AI-themed AM/PM podcast episode with a simple question: What if a few camera-phone shots of your product could turn into a full, high-converting Amazon image stack, plus A+ Content, in minutes, without a photoshoot? She frames the problem sellers constantly face: creative assets are expensive, and even after you invest, you still need fast updates when dimensions change, bundles get added, or customers misunderstand what’s included (like the Project X coffin products, where many shoppers didn’t realize a gift box was part of the offer).

 

Kamaljit Singh from AMZ One Step and ListingOptimization AI explains that AI isn’t the magic; systems are. AI can speed up and scale production, but conversion comes from knowing what an image needs to communicate and how to direct the model. He breaks down his “Image Framework” approach for structuring prompts (intent, main subject, aesthetics, guidelines, and emphasis) and emphasizes the difference between AI “lazy users” and “power users,” especially for more complex products where details, angles, and visual references require tighter control.

 

From there, the episode shifts into live demos that show the workflow in action: generating market intelligence by analyzing your reviews and competitor reviews, turning that into a brief, and then producing multiple main images, secondary infographics, and even A+ Content modules quickly using templates and different image models. They also show how edits can be made with direct commands, and they close with the practical next step: don’t guess, use Helium 10 Audience and Manage Your Experiments to split test, ideally changing one element at a time so you can clearly measure what actually improves conversions.

In episode 487 of the AM/PM Podcast, Shivali and Kamaljit discuss:

• 00:00 – Introduction
• 01:06 – AI For Listing Images & A+ Content
• 01:52 – Project X: Coffin Products & Image Audit
• 03:51 – Kamal’s Framework & Live Demo Overview
• 05:33 – Systems Beat AI Alone
• 06:17 – Lazy Vs Power AI Users Explained
• 08:17 – Image Framework Prompt Structure
• 13:46 – Market Intelligence From Reviews Demo
• 19:28 – Crocs Product Demo: Generate Images Fast
• 28:39 – Split Testing Your Generated Images

#486 - HUGE Amazon Reviews Change! | Weekly Buzz 1/9/26

Amazon just changed how reviews work, dropped new discounted MCF pricing, and AI shopping tools are creating serious tension for brands. These and more buzzing news on this week's episode!

We’re back with another episode of the Weekly Buzz with Helium 10’s Senior Brand Evangelist, Shivali Patel. Every week, we cover the latest breaking news in the Amazon, TikTok Shop, Walmart, and E-commerce space, talk about Helium 10’s newest features, and provide a training tip for the week for serious sellers of any level.

Amazon changes to review sharing across product variations starting Feb 12
https://sellercentral.amazon.com/seller-news/articles/QVRWUERLSUtYMERFUiNHNzQzV0JEN0RBN1pQNFFR

Multi-Channel Fulfillment 2026 Preferred Pricing
https://sellercentral.amazon.com/help/hub/reference/G53QRBEHXR2G5CCT

Helium 10’s exclusive automatic keyword harvesting lets sellers set-and-forget rules to surface competitor and own-product keywords, saving hours of manual research.

Amazon’s AI shopping tool sparks backlash from online retailers that didn’t want websites scraped
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/06/amazons-ai-shopping-tool-sparks-backlash-from-some-online-retailers.html

Walmart Opens Up Ads in Gen AI Shopping Agent Sparky
https://www.adweek.com/commerce/walmart-opens-up-ads-in-gen-ai-shopping-agent-sparky/

For our New Feature Alert, Helium 10 combines Cerebro and Magnet into a single, upgraded Cerebro, allowing sellers to run ASIN- and keyword-based research with flexible seed ASIN controls in one place.

Track Amazon Business customer patterns with new metrics
https://sellercentral.amazon.com/seller-news/articles/QVRWUERLSUtYMERFUiNHVEg1NVVVOUpNNjY2RllD

In episode 486 of the AM/PM Podcast and Weekly Buzz, Shivali discusses:

• 00:00 - Introduction
• 00:37 - Reviews Get Decoupled
• 05:05 - MCF Gets Cheaper
• 07:39 - Automate Keyword Harvesting
• 12:56 - AI Shopping Backlash
• 15:48 - Walmart Opens AI Ads
• 17:21 - Cerebro Update 
• 20:46 - Track New B2B Metrics

#485 - Amazon PPC Extreme Makeover Workshop

In this episode, we audit the Project X Amazon ads account's bidding rules, keyword harvesting, placements, dayparting, AMC audiences, and retargeting to lift profit.

 

Bradley goes live from London for an “Amazon Ads Account Extreme Makeover Workshop,” bringing in PPC expert Vincenzo Toscano of Ecomcy to audit Helium 10’s real Project X Amazon Ads account. The twist: Project X has been run more like a testing playground than a growth-focused brand, so while it’s still producing sales, there’s a long list of modern PPC levers that haven’t been fully pulled. Together, they break down what’s working, what’s outdated, and what changes could quickly improve both sales efficiency and profitability.

 

We begin with Bradley’s rule-based PPC management within Helium 10 Ads, utilizing ACoS “bands” to incrementally adjust bids, pausing targets with repeated non-performance, and establishing keyword harvesting rules to transfer proven search terms into high-performing campaigns. Vincenzo confirms the logic and adds key guardrails: add minimum click/spend thresholds before rules fire, keep campaigns tight, and avoid overreacting to small data. They also dig into keyword harvesting best practices, why immediate search term isolation can backfire, and why conversion rate benchmarks matter (because you can’t “pay your way” into a keyword if your listing can’t convert).

 

From there, the makeover focuses on high-impact upgrades, including dayparting and budget scheduling based on historical performance, placement optimization (top of search vs. product pages), and why placements become far more powerful once you transition to single-keyword campaigns. Vincenzo then highlights the biggest “new-school” opportunity, Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC) audiences, so you can bid more aggressively only when shoppers match high-intent behaviors (like past purchasers or add-to-cart users). The episode concludes with actionable advice on Sponsored Display retargeting, refreshing video creatives to prevent burnout, utilizing storefront landing pages to minimize competitor distraction, and a plan to implement changes on Project X and report back with tangible results.

In episode 485 of the AM/PM Podcast, Bradley and Vincenzo discuss:

• 00:00 - Introduction
• 02:03 - Project X Account Backstory And Purpose
• 06:39 - ACoS Bid Rules And Logic
• 09:47 - Minimum Click Thresholds Recommended
• 13:36 - Keyword Harvesting Rules And Flow
• 15:24 - Keep Five Keywords Per Campaign
• 17:12 - Avoid Search Term Isolation
• 19:52 - Dayparting And Budget Scheduling Tips
• 22:33 - Placement Optimization Quick Wins
• 31:42 - Amazon Marketing Cloud Audience Targeting
• 40:04 - Sponsored Display Defense And Retargeting
• 52:22 - When To Use Product Video Ads

#484 - Will Amazon Keep Blocking AI? And Big TikTok Shop Shipping Issue | Weekly Buzz 1/2/26

Amazon may soon let ChatGPT shop on its site. Here’s what sellers need to change quickly. Plus USPS shipping updates for TikTok Shop and more in this week’s Weekly Buzz.

 

We’re back with another episode of the Weekly Buzz with Helium 10’s VP of Education and Strategy, Bradley Sutton. Every week, we cover the latest breaking news in the Amazon, TikTok Shop, Walmart, and E-commerce space, talk about Helium 10’s newest features, and provide a training tip for the week for serious sellers of any level.

 

Amazon faces 'leader's dilemma' — fight AI shopping bots or join them
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/24/amazon-faces-a-dilemma-fight-ai-shopping-agents-or-join-them.html

TikTok Shop tightens Postal Service shipping options for sellers
https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/tiktok-shop-usps-label-requirements-change/806303/

TikTok Shop offers incentives to new sellers, as U.S. uncertainty is finally over
https://digiday.com/marketing/tiktok-shop-offers-incentives-to-new-sellers-as-u-s-uncertainty-is-finally-over/

TikTok Shop is offering substantial US incentives again. Start your account now and sign up through Helium 10’s special link at http://h10.me/ttstart

Amazon Hid FBA Listings Regionally for Two Months
https://www.ecommercebytes.com/2025/12/14/amazon-hid-fba-listings-regionally-for-two-months/

The Weekly Buzz has moved to the AM/PM Podcast, while the Serious Sellers Podcast now focuses on real seller and brand stories from Amazon, TikTok Shop, Walmart, and Shopify entrepreneurs. We’re holding an open casting call! If you’ve hit meaningful success and want to be featured in the Serious Sellers Podcast, email your story to mhel.d@helium10.com

In episode 484 of the AM/PM Podcast and Weekly Buzz, Bradley talks about:

• 00:00 - Introduction
• 00:59 - Amazon Vs. AI
• 03:46 - TikTok Shop USPS Issues
• 06:28 - TikTok Shop Listing Conversion
• 08:51 - TikTok Shop Incentives
• 10:06 - Amazon Hid Listings?
• 15:06 - Podcast Invite

#483 - TikTok Shop Advertising & Promotion Guide

Learn TikTok Shop promotion in 2026 with content that builds brand awareness, creator and affiliate outreach, GMV Max ad strategy, plus sending TikTok traffic to Amazon.

 

TikTok Shop isn’t an overnight success; it’s a brand-building game first. In this session, Bradley sits down with TikTok Shop expert Tamara Žeravljev of Add2Ads to break down what to expect in your first 3–6 months, and why consistency matters more than “going viral.”

 

You’ll learn how to start the right way: build your TikTok profile, test content styles, and use hooks that stop the scroll. Then we get into creator and affiliate strategy. How to choose better partners, set expectations, and keep momentum so you don’t disappear from the algorithm.

 

The conversation then shifts to TikTok Shop advertising, with a clear explanation of GMV Max campaigns and the key factors required to make them successful. Tamara explains why creative volume is critical, how to think about daily budgets, and what to do if you can’t spend at the higher end. Finally, they cover how TikTok can still boost your Amazon sales through smart traffic strategies, what the customer experience looks like when you send users to Amazon, and why tracking may be imperfect even when the sales lift is real.

 

In episode 483 of the AM/PM Podcast, Bradley and Tamara discuss:

• 00:00 – Introduction
• 01:05 – Why TikTok Matters More In 2026
• 02:25 – TikTok Ads Versus Amazon PPC Differences
• 03:25 – Tamara’s TikTok Shop Background And Experience
• 04:45 – Why TikTok Sales Are Not Instant
• 06:30 – Start With TikTok Profile Before Shop
• 08:10 – Video Content Strategy And UGC Basics
• 10:20 – Build Followers And Brand Trust
• 12:10 – Affiliate Outreach And Creator Collaboration Tips
• 14:30 – GMV Max Setup Creatives And Budgets
• 18:55 – Sending TikTok Traffic To Amazon
• 22:45 – Reviews Creators Commissions And Tools Q&A

#482 - 10 New Helium 10 Features | Weekly Buzz 12/26/25

Hidden listing keywords. An Amazon & TikTok Shop reality show. And a tool that exposes the Amazon influencers hyping your competitors’ products. Special edition Weekly Buzz today. Let’s go!

 

We’re back with another episode of the Weekly Buzz with Helium 10’s VP of Education and Strategy, Bradley Sutton, and Helium 10’s Principal Brand Evangelist, Carrie Miller. Every week, we cover the latest breaking news in the Amazon, TikTok Shop, Walmart, and E-commerce space, talk about Helium 10’s newest features, and provide a training tip for the week for serious sellers of any level.

1️⃣ Listing Builder combines 8 tools into one, integrating keyword research and listing creation so you can find, analyze, and optimize Amazon listings in one place.

2️⃣ Helium 10’s Scale Stories YouTube series follows real sellers at different stages, with expert mentors guiding beginners and stuck sellers step by step to grow.

3️⃣ TikTok Product Finder helps sellers discover winning TikTok Shop products using filters like category, price, sales, GMV, affiliates, and influencers.

4️⃣ Helium 10’s Chrome extension now supports Amazon Saudi Arabia, letting sellers analyze sales and opportunities in this fast-growing market.

5️⃣ TikTok Hot Videos shows top-performing TikTok Shop videos by keyword, category, and timeframe, helping sellers and influencers replicate high-converting content.

6️⃣ Amazon Influencer Finder helps sellers discover, analyze, and contact Amazon influencers making product videos, making it easy to recruit proven creators for listings.

7️⃣ TikTok Shop Ads tool lets sellers analyze GMV Max ads by platform, product, and video to spot top-performing creatives and improve ROI.

8️⃣ Helium 10 Share of Voice shows how much page-one visibility your brand owns across organic, sponsored, and video placements, revealing true share of shelf beyond rankings.

9️⃣ Keyword Tracker now includes built-in translation, letting sellers instantly understand and analyze foreign-language keywords across global Amazon marketplaces.

🔟 Helium 10’s AI Assistant instantly answers how-to questions, recommends tools, and helps users work faster—plus users can submit feature ideas directly from the dashboard.

 

In episode 482 of the AM/PM Podcast and Weekly Buzz, Bradley and Carrie discuss:

• 02:00 - 8-1 Keyword Research
• 07:02 - Scale Stories
• 09:47 - TikTok Product Finder
• 12:32 - Amazon SA Tools
• 13:15 - TikTok Hot Videos
• 15:57 - Amazon Influencer Finder
• 20:04 - TikTok Ads
• 22:10 - Share of Voice
• 25:49 - Keyword Tracker Translation
• 28:07 - AI Assistant

#481 - How to Stay Profitable on Amazon in 2026

Stay profitable on Amazon in 2026 with pricing, PPC, and inventory tips. Plus, how Helium 10’s Managed Refund Service helped a seller recover $100K in reimbursements.

 

Amazon profitability in 2026 is going to reward sellers who run their business like a finance department and a marketing department at the same time. In this episode, Carrie Miller and Leo Sgovio bring on experienced sellers to talk through what’s actually moving the needle right now: pricing discipline, smarter PPC decisions, inventory/storage awareness, and operational tweaks that protect margin when costs keep rising.

 

Ryan Cramer shares how Gen-Y Hitch stays profitable by controlling what they can control: manufacturing in the US, negotiating in bulk, keeping prices consistent across Amazon/Walmart/other channels, and forecasting 6–12 months out so unprofitable SKUs get sunset instead of quietly bleeding margin. Leo adds a practical angle from the games category: when competitors aren’t racing to the bottom on price, the real leverage becomes perceived value. Sharona Ozeri brings the apparel perspective, where price pressure is brutal, and explains how she’s leaning harder into brand positioning, using a mix of lower-margin “traffic drivers” and higher-margin specialty products to stay afloat. She also breaks down her CM1/CM2/CM3 contribution margin method to pinpoint whether the real issue is price, Amazon fees/returns, or PPC spend, so decisions stay math-based, not emotional.

 

Then the conversation turns into “found money”: reimbursements. If Amazon loses inventory (and it happens), leaving reimbursements unclaimed is like accepting a lower profit margin on purpose. Ryan explains why Helium 10’s MRS Managed Refund Service stands out (hands-on support + smart automation), how documentation like BOLs matters, and how their team recovered six figures in reimbursements, money that went straight back to the bottom line. Carrie also highlights a limited-time incentive: if you activate Helium 10’s MRS inside your dashboard, the fee is 10% through February 28, 2026, making it an easy win compared to services charging 15–20%+.

 

In episode 481 of the AM/PM Podcast, Carrie, Leo, Ryan, and Sharona discuss:

• 00:00 – Introduction
• 01:19 – Ryan Cramer: Forecasting and Cost Control
• 05:03 – Leo Sgovio: Pricing and Perceived Value
• 07:11 – Sharona: Competing in Apparel by Branding up
• 10:39 – CM1/CM2/CM3 and FBA vs FBM Strategies
• 12:40 – Amazon PPC for Profitability Basics
• 21:19 – Amazon Reimbursement Policy Change
• 23:33 – Helium 10 Managed Refund Service
• 25:46 – MRS promo: 10% fee until Feb 28, 2026
• 40:20 – Deals, Rufus Price History, and Price Wars

#480 - Alexa Plus on your Browser, New 3 Euro Duty on imports, & Tools for Saudi Arabia | Weekly Buzz 12/19/25

Amazon launches a new Alexa+ web browser, Europe introduces new fees for small imports, and Helium 10 adds more tools for the Saudi Arabia market.

► Free Amazon Seller Chrome Extension: https://h10.me/extension

► Sign Up For Helium 10: https://h10.me/signup  (Use SSP10 To Save 10% For Life)

► Learn How To Sell on Amazon: https://h10.me/ft

We’re back with another episode of the Weekly Buzz with Helium 10’s Principal Brand Evangelist, Carrie Miller. Every week, we cover the latest breaking news in the Amazon, TikTok Shop, Walmart, and E-commerce space, talk about Helium 10’s newest features, and provide a training tip for the week for serious sellers of any level.

 

Introducing Alexa+, the next generation of Alexa
https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/devices/new-alexa-generative-artificial-intelligence
https://alexa.amazon.com/about

EU to impose 3 euro duty on e-commerce parcels from July 2026
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/eu-impose-3-euro-duty-small-e-commerce-parcels-july-2026-2025-12-12/

New Helium 10 Tools for the Saudi Arabia Amazon Marketplace

Brand Store quality rating now reflect sales performance
https://advertising.amazon.com/en-us/resources/whats-new/brand-store-quality-rating-now-reflect-sales-performance/?ref_=a20m_us_wn_gw

TikTok Shop is driving social commerce growth
https://www.retaildive.com/news/tiktok-shop-drives-social-commerce-growth/807665/

Amazon Seller News: View updated Customer Service Insights in Feedback Manager
https://sellercentral.amazon.com/seller-news/articles/QVRWUERLSUtYMERFUiNHSDIyVjY1QzRVNllYVUNO

In episode 480 of the AM/PM Podcast and Weekly Buzz, Carrie covers:

• 00:45 - New Alexa+ Web Browser
• 02:36 - New 3 Euro Duty
• 06:06 - Saudi Arabia Tools
• 07:57 - Brand Story Quality Rating
• 09:32 - Advanced Keyword Research
• 14:54 - TikTok Shop Driving Growth
• 16:26 - Customer Service Insights

Enjoy this episode? Want to be able to ask questions to Leo Sgovio live in a small group with other 7 and 8-figure Amazon sellers?  Join the Helium 10 Elite Mastermind and get quarterly workshops, monthly training, and networking calls with Leo at h10.me/elite

Make sure to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you listen to our podcast!

💰 Get Helium 10 with a special discount to start or scale your e-commerce business here: https://h10.me/h10

Want to absolutely start crushing it on eCommerce and make more money? Follow these steps for helpful resources to get started:

1. Get the Ultimate Resource Guide from Bradley Sutton, Carrie Miller, and Shivali Patel for tools and services that he uses every day to dominate on Amazon!
2. New to Selling on Amazon? Freedom Ticket offers the best tips, tricks, and strategies for beginners just starting out! Sign up for Freedom Ticket.
3. Trying to Find a New Product? Get the most powerful Amazon product research tool in Black Box, available only at Helium 10! Start researching with Black Box.
4. Want to Verify Your Product Idea? Use Xray in our Chrome extension to check how lucrative your next product idea is with over a dozen metrics of data! Download the Helium 10 Chrome Extension.
5. The Ultimate Software Tool Suite for Amazon Sellers! Get more Helium 10 tools that can help you optimize your listings and increase sales for a low price! Sign up today!
6. Does Amazon Owe YOU Money? Find Out for FREE! If you have been selling for over a year on Amazon, you may be owed money for lost or damaged inventory and not even know it. Get a FREE refund report to see how much you’re owed!
7. Check out our other Amazon FBA podcasts including the Serious Sellers Podcast, as well as our Spanish and German versions!

You can also listen to the AM/PM Podcast on YouTube here!

 

 

#479 - Taking Back Control of Your Amazon Advertising

Learn how to take back control of your Amazon PPC, fix costly agency mistakes, and use rules-based ads plus new Sponsored Products video formats to scale profitably on Amazon.

 

In this episode of the AM/PM Podcast, Bradley dives into one of the biggest pitfalls he sees Amazon sellers fall into: handing their PPC over to an agency before they truly understand how advertising works. That loss of control doesn’t just cost money; it keeps you in the dark on whether your campaigns are actually growing your brand or quietly draining profits in the background.

 

To prove it, he spotlights a real case study from the new Helium 10 Outsourced to Optimized series. Helium 10’s own Carrie Miller and Destaney Wishon from BetterAMS walk through what happened when they opened Carrie’s account: profitable campaigns randomly shut off, creatives that didn’t match search intent, and VCPM display campaigns that looked like rock stars in the dashboard but weren’t driving incremental sales. From there, they rebuild the entire strategy on the fundamentals: a clean campaign structure, SKUs grouped intelligently, 10-30 targets per campaign, and rules-based bid management tied to real business objectives, such as organic rank, BSR, and strict ACoS targets.

 

Throughout the conversation, you’ll see how a self-described “non-PPC person” can learn to manage sophisticated Amazon ads with the help of Helium 10 Ads and their Ads Academy training. Destaney shows Carrie how to utilize bid rules, keyword harvesting, negative targeting, and Amazon’s newer tools, such as Creative Studio and Sponsored Products video ads, without turning PPC into a full-time job. They also break down off-season strategies, what to fix when you’re getting impressions but no conversions, and how much of your revenue should realistically flow back into ads. The big takeaway: whether you keep an agency, lean on software, or run everything yourself, you need to understand the basics of Amazon PPC so you can keep partners accountable and finally take back control of your Amazon advertising.

 

In episode 479 of the AM/PM Podcast, Bradley, Carrie, and Destaney discuss:

• 00:00 – Introduction
• 05:48 – Carrie's Amazon PPC Agency Issues
• 07:19 – Carrie Learns PPC From Scratch
• 10:23 – Rules-Based Bidding With Helium 10 Ads
• 14:24 – When To Automate Your Amazon Ads
• 18:11 – Scalable Campaign Structure For Sellers
• 23:16 – Single-Keyword Campaigns & Dayparting
• 28:36 – Keyword-Specific Creatives & Creative Studio
• 30:54 – Off-Season Strategy & Fixing Conversions
• 33:08 – Sponsored Product Video Ads Launch
• 36:00 – Scaling Benchmarks & Ad Spend Targets
• 40:09 – Final PPC Lessons & Next Step