?? New Alibaba tool for Amazon product sourcing

Every 4-6 weeks I announce a new member of the Billion Dollar Dream 100. These are the people you should follow and get to know. They’re announced in no particular order.

Michelle Barnum Smith is today’s inductee into the Billion Dollar Dream 100.

In the ever-evolving world of e-commerce, where innovation reigns supreme and the faint-hearted fall by the wayside, there stands a queen—poised, powerful, and trailblazing. Her name? Michelle Barnum Smith, once best known as the “Queen of Amazon Chat Marketing” but now is the reigning “Queen of TikTok Marketing.”

Michelle’s story isn’t one of overnight success. It’s one of grit, reinvention, and seeing opportunity where others see chaos.

Raised in a tiny farm town, Michelle didn’t take the conventional path to success. She skipped her last two years of high school, opting instead to attend college concurrently—a move that set the tone for a lifetime of breaking molds and defying expectations.

Her career began in the corporate trenches, working for Fortune 100 giants like Lenovo, IBM, and McAfee, crafting international marketing strategies and overseeing billion-dollar partnerships. For 12 years, Michelle climbed the corporate ladder, proving herself in a world where politics were thick, and opportunities for balance were thin. But when she started a family, she made the bold choice to leave it all behind to carve out her own path.

In 2012, Michelle launched her own marketing agency. She’ll tell you those early days were messy—full of learning curves and late nights. Five years later, in 2017, she discovered Facebook Messenger bots and everything changed.

It started with a simple click—a Facebook ad that led her down a rabbit hole of possibilities. “What is this coolness?” she wondered as she interacted with a seamless Messenger bot. Within months, Michelle had not only mastered the technology but had pioneered its application for Amazon sellers, helping them boost rankings, gather reviews, and drive sales faster than ever before.

Michelle didn’t just join the chatbot revolution—she led it. She created the "chat marketing" category on Upwork, which quickly became a magnet for Amazon sellers looking to revolutionize their strategies. Word spread, and soon Michelle was on stages across the globe, teaching thousands how to harness the power of ManyChat.

But Michelle’s genius didn’t stop at Messenger bots. When Dan Ashburn of Titan Network approached her in 2021 to head external marketing for a brand integration venture, it was a match made in heaven. With a lab-like environment to test and perfect her strategies, Michelle worked across hundreds of brands and thousands of products, refining tactics that now form the foundation of her TikTok Shop success framework.

Today, Michelle is empowering sellers to dominate the TikTok Shop marketplace with her battle-tested 5-step framework at TTShopSellers.com. Her methods, honed over years of experimentation and success, help sellers identify their most “TikTokable” products and unlock the platform’s vast potential.

Michelle is a featured expert at the BDSS Market Masters Think Tank and is a speaker at BDSS XI in Iceland in April 2025.

?? AI SEARCH OFF-AMAZON WILL AFFECT SELLERS

AI search is significantly impacting both SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and Google Search, revolutionizing the way information is discovered and presented online.

The traditional dominance of search engines, particularly Google, is being disrupted as AI-powered search tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity gain traction.

This shift is not just about technology—it’s poised to significantly impact e-commerce, including Amazon sellers, by changing how traffic reaches your listings and how customers discover your products.

AI Search Is Disrupting the Landscape

1. AI-Powered Search Tools are Rising Platforms like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Microsoft’s Copilot are becoming popular alternatives to traditional search engines, reshaping how consumers seek information and make purchasing decisions.
2. Chatbot Referral Traffic is Growing While AI-driven traffic currently accounts for less than 1% of website visits, it’s projected to hit 20% within a year. This growth is particularly pronounced in sectors like e-commerce, where chatbot-driven recommendations are directing more traffic to specific listings.
3. Traditional Search and Ads Are Stagnating Google’s dominance in search is plateauing, and its ad model faces disruption. Amazon sellers relying heavily on SEO or Google Ads to drive external traffic may need to rethink their strategies as AI search gains traction.

What This Means for Amazon Sellers

• Shifting Traffic Patterns: With AI tools increasingly influencing consumer behavior, Amazon sellers might see changes in traffic sources. Chatbots and AI systems can now refer customers directly to your listings or competitors' products.
• The Need for AI-Friendly Content: Optimizing your listings for AI-driven search tools may become as critical as traditional SEO. Providing clear, structured, and context-rich product information will help AI systems recommend your products effectively.
• The Importance of Reviews and Social Proof: AI systems often prioritize highly rated products with strong social proof. Ensuring your product pages are well-reviewed and engaging will be essential to capturing this new type of traffic.

Adapting to the AI Ecosystem

1. Stay Visible in AI-Driven Searches Listings optimized for AI recommendations could see a boost in visibility. Consider integrating conversational keywords and phrases that align with how consumers interact with AI tools.
2. Shift in Focus SEO is moving away from keyword-centric approaches towards understanding user intent. This means content creators need to prioritize creating high-quality, relevant content that addresses users' needs rather than simply targeting specific keywords.
3. Explore New Marketing Channels With AI search platforms like Perplexity gaining traction, you might benefit from diversifying ad spending. Experiment with platforms that cater to chatbot ecosystems and explore partnerships with AI-friendly marketplaces.
4. Prepare for the Paradigm Shift The movement from “universally accessible information” to “universally accessible intelligence” means that traditional marketing and discovery strategies will need to evolve. Start considering how your product and brand can integrate with AI-powered shopping assistants.

What Google’s Struggles Mean for You

As Google integrates AI more aggressively into its search model, it faces risks of alienating traditional users and publishers. This opens opportunities for new players like OpenAI and others to capture traffic. For Amazon sellers, it’s vital to stay ahead by tracking these shifts and positioning your brand within AI-driven ecosystems before competitors do.

?? YOU GOTTA SEE THIS

?? STATS YOU SHOULD KNOW

?? GAME CHANGER for AMAZON SELLER SOURCING

Accio, an AI-powered procurement engine from Alibaba, is revolutionizing the global sourcing process for Amazon sellers.

By leveraging cutting-edge artificial intelligence, it simplifies product discovery and supplier connections, boasting a 40% higher purchase intent compared to traditional search methods.

This makes Accio an invaluable tool for sellers aiming to expand their product catalog or optimize supply chains with precision market insights.

Key Benefits for Amazon Sellers:

1. AI-Powered Search

Accio’s advanced AI analyzes Alibaba’s massive product database, enabling sellers to efficiently find suppliers and products using text or image prompts. This dramatically reduces the time and effort required for sourcing.

2. Enhanced Purchase Intent

Studies show that Accio increases purchase intent by 40% compared to traditional searches, helping sellers identify and source high-potential products more effectively.

3. Integrated Market Analysis

Accio goes beyond sourcing by providing market trend insights, demand forecasting, and competitor analysis. These features equip sellers with data-driven strategies to make informed decisions.

4. Global Sourcing Reach

With Accio, sellers can effortlessly connect with suppliers worldwide, opening up opportunities to diversify and expand their product offerings across multiple niches.

5. Multilingual Support

To serve sellers from diverse backgrounds, Accio supports multiple languages, making it easier to communicate with international suppliers and conduct seamless transactions.

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???? TRUMP and the TIKTOK ECONOMICAL IMPACT

TikTok's fate in the United States hangs in the balance as the platform faces a potential ban set to take effect on January 19, 2025. This situation has become increasingly complex due to Donald Trump's evolving stance on the issue.

Trump's Shifting Position

Trump's attitude towards TikTok has undergone a dramatic transformation:

• 2020: As president, Trump attempted to ban TikTok, citing national security concerns.
• 2024: Trump now opposes the ban, calling TikTok a "unique medium for freedom of expression".

Current Legal and Political Landscape

• A law signed by President Biden in April 2024 requires ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a US ban.
• The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on January 10, 2025.
• Trump has filed a brief asking the Supreme Court to pause the ban.

Trump's Current Stance

Trump now argues that:

• Banning TikTok could set a "dangerous global precedent" for government censorship.
• A delay would allow him to pursue a "political resolution" once in office.

Factors Influencing Trump's Change of Heart

1. Political Benefits: Trump has gained over 14.7 million followers on TikTok.
2. Youth Appeal: He believes TikTok has helped him win support among young voters.
3. Potential Donor Influence: Jeff Yass, a Republican mega donor with a stake in ByteDance, may have influenced Trump's position.

Impact on E-commerce and Social Commerce

• TikTok Shop has grown rapidly, with projected sales of $8 billion for 2024.
• The ban would disrupt the $8 billion U.S. marketplace and force user migration to other platforms.
• Alternative platforms currently lack comparable shopping features.

Future Implications

Despite the potential ban, TikTok's impact on e-commerce may have lasting effects:

• Users have become accustomed to purchasing products directly through social media content.
• The "see it, like it, buy it" behavior could influence future e-commerce trends.