A Reminder About Online Information Overload

There is SO much information swirling in the seller-sphere. Online courses, YouTube videos, Facebook groups, podcasts, even this article. Does it all ever eventually just start to feel like… noise?

How do you distinguish what is helpful and what is “buzz for the sake of buzz?”

Facebooks Groups

Talking about tight-knit social media communities like Facebooks groups is always a mixed bag, right?

For many e-commerce sellers, Facebook groups provide an accessible space to network with like-minded entrepreneurs and learn the basics of selling on Amazon or Walmart. However, many of these communities run the risk of falling into turmoil at the drop of a hat. For example, we’ve seen plenty of Facebook groups have their original administrators abandon their group, leaving the community to devolve into a free-for-all of disinformation and, frankly, chaos. 

There are still plenty of organized, “manicured” social media communities on Facebook. But just because something is well put together does not mean it is helpful. 

The frequent problem with Facebook groups?

Misinformation on replies. Remember, in many of these communities almost anybody can respond to questions from newer sellers. Just because you’re in a group that specializes in a subject does not make every member in that group infallible! 

Actionable Insight

Check if your Facebook groups have 24/7 moderation. How many spam posts (irrelevant posts about bitcoin or sleuth advertising) do you see and how fast do they get deleted? If these posts stick around on the page for longer than a day or two, this may be a red flag! You should not be seeing repeat offenders stick around your e-commerce Facebook groups. 

Does this mean that whenever you see an inaccurate response in a Facebook group, the whole group is a scam? Of course not! The more people that join a community, the more variation in opinion there will be. Different perspectives or mistaken information is one thing. False information pitched as gospel is something else entirely.

Take it from us, we’ve been moderating our Amazon selling Facebook groups for years and it’s never a clean-cut process.

Remember: Use social media with a main course of networking and a side dish of healthy skepticism. 

Blogs and Podcasts

These two mediums are perhaps the most oversaturated in the e-commerce industry. The internet is undoubtedly useful for many things, but it also gives some voices a stage they shouldn’t necessarily have. 

The Problem?

When you give everyone in the world their own microphone, you can expect some bad songs.

Actionable Insight

It’s going to sound oversimplified, but it’s truly the best first line of defense.

Listen! 

Here’s an example we see all too often:

“The A10 algorithm has been kicking our butts with product rankings lately…”

There is no such thing as the A10 algorithm and you should always be wary when you hear someone imply “official e-commerce” terminology when it’s simply slang.

Are there “made up” Amazon selling terms floating around the industry? Most definitely! “Honeymoon period,” “Indexing,” “Maldives Honeymoon strategy.” While these are not official Amazon terms, they are still generally accepted as legitimate vocabulary (with mass adoption) for selling on Amazon. On top of that, most of us who use these terms are not posing them as if they were official Amazon terms.

Still, it’s important to keep your eyes and ears sharp out there. If you hear something unfamiliar, track it down. If you run into publications trying to force new, “coined” terms as fact… proceed with extreme caution. 

Make sure to balance who and what you follow. Don’t get caught in information overload. If you follow 15 blogs, you may be spending too much time ingesting and not enough time DIGESTING. 

Find your sweet spot.

Remember: Never take in more information than you will be able to pull action out of.

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Brian Wisniach

Content Writer at Helium 10

Brian was born to tell stories. With a background in screenwriting and riveting daydreams, Brian brought his love of creative storytelling to the world of marketing. For the last three years, he's been inventively blending the two.

Brian is as easygoing as it gets but has an appetite for adventure. If there is a new way of looking at life, you will find him first in line at the telescope.

Don't let his lanky frame fool you, he is awful at basketball.

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