January 20, 2025 Newsletter

[SFTB] 🐶Optimize for Rufus or Fall Behind

✅The Instant Value Section (IVS)✅

Here’s a simple trick: upload your image to ChatGPT and ask it to describe what’s in the image. Rufus AI (and other AI tools) understand images best when they are clear, simple, and well-designed. This means your visuals should have clean layouts, readable text, and focus on the main message you want to convey.

After uploading your image, use a prompt like, **”Can you explain this image?”** If ChatGPT gives you a response that matches what you intended to show, great job—your image is optimized! If it doesn’t get it right or misses key details, it’s a sign you may need to tweak the image. Maybe the text is too small, the layout is cluttered, or the important parts aren’t obvious enough.

Take the feedback and improve the image. Keep things simple: use large, clear fonts, focus on one key message, and avoid overloading the design with too much information. Then, test again. When the AI gives the right explanation, you know your image works—not just for AI, but also for people!

If you want to get real nerdy, throw the image into Amazon Rekognition (accounts are free). This is Amazon’s own AI that identifies various elements in your image.

You can be sure Rekognition is already at work in the back-end of RUFUS. The output will be straight from the source.

Hope this helped!

Last week I caught up with my friend and online seller Wayne Seto who was vacationing with his family. I had Wayne on the podcast check it out here!

It’s always great to connect in person with people you frequently talk to online. One of the perks of having seller friends is that they often have the flexibility to travel, thanks to credit card points and the ability to take time off as they choose. In today’s interconnected world, it’s easier than ever to find “your people,” and I encourage you to keep building those relationships. They’ll pay off for you in so many ways. 

As we kick off 2025, consider making a few new connections with like-minded individuals. Don’t hesitate to reach out, but lead with value. Offer help or share something useful rather than starting with an ask. Here’s an example: The last time I did start with an ask, I offered to pay Wayne for an hour of his time. He refused the money, shared some advice, and what began as a simple conversation turned into a strong friendship.

Challenge yourself this year to expand your network. You never know where a meaningful connection might lead.

Today’s Newsletter: More value than neck-pillow sales to an Airport convenience store ✈️

Tomorrow, January 21st Amazon’s new title requirements go into effect. The new rules? No more of two of the same word in the title (among other things).

This has a lot of sellers scrambling. Lucky for you our good friend Ritu Java made a GPT that helps with Title TOS compliance and it works pretty good.

Everything you’d ever want to know about Rufus (Amazon’s handy AI search bot).

Read the lengthy article here.

If you love reading Selling From the Beach then you’ll really love what our friend Jon Elder is doing over at Amazon Insiders, a weekly newsletter for Amazon sellers.

He’s done over $10 million on Amazon and exited for 7 figures. Now, he dishes out one actionable growth hack every week to help you dominate on Amazon. Some of his readers include legends like HexClad and Simple Modern. Sign up HERE. (it’s free!)

Most people A/B Test by throwing spaghetti at the wall and seeing what sticks.

I am really proud of this handy guide. It clearly and directly explains the two different ways you can A/B test. Implement these strategies into your workflow and I guarantee you’ll see a consistent CTR (Click-Through Rate) Increase.

Download it below by:

1) Clicking the link below

2) Click the small box on the bottom right of the image

2) Click the download button on the top right

It’s often cheaper to do more stops in your flight.

So…. Why not work those stops into your trip plans?

You may want to choose a flight with a long layover in a city you’ve never been. Many airlines offer free or low-cost stopover programs, allowing you to explore an additional destination.

A layover that’s “all part of the plan” isn’t a drag. It’s a new experience. It’s also a good way to save a few bucks.

This makes the airport a gateway instead of a cage. You walk foreign streets, taste unfamiliar food, fill your lungs with a whole new atmosphere.

Sounds pretty good 🙂

We booked a trip to Escazú, a suburb of San José, to meet with our architect and builder and shop for essentials like tile and faucets (for our new dream home). The city offers a better selection and lower prices compared to our area. We used Bonvoy points for the hotel and noticed that weekends were the cheaper option. Very strange.

Hotels in the city tend to be busier during the week, which drives down points redemption costs for weekend stays.

If you’re planning a trip to the city, consider visiting on a weekend to save points. Also, keep an eye on the points cost after booking. Since cancellations and rebookings come with no penalty, you can take advantage of any drops in redemption costs and save some points.

Here’s a deleriously silly post from yet another Guru at an Amazon “Agency.”  In this post Ryan Dietrich basically tells Amazon Sellers to eat the new FBA Reimbursement changes.

And that our “Freebie” is gone.

Smart money takes the scenic road.

With us driving, you can enjoy the views.

So will your products.

Does this Click for you?

Speak Up! Community Comments & Questions:

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If you liked this newsletter, here’s where we share more stuff like it:

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