Personally, I can't imagine not having this product hit my inbox every week.
Merch Momentum Monday Strategy Guide has been used by individuals who were accepted into the Merch By Amazon Program for years and can attest to it's value...and rightfully so!
But if you are like me and like being able to see what is "under the hood" so to speak, well...join me as I take you through page by page.
For this review, I'll be using the latest issue to date, December 14, 2020. Michael Essany, of Merch Momentum, is the creator of the guide and always has the guide set to send to your email a day early.
So, what is Merch Momentum Monthly Strategy Guide, anyway? As Michael Essany would tell you, Merch Momentum was the guide he wished he had starting out on the Merch by Amazon program (selling tshirts) and since there was no such guide at the time, he created one! I, for one, am so glad he did!
What's in this issue, you ask? Let's take a look!
First up... "This Week in Merch"
Pg. 3 You will find a list of Michael Essany's 10 BEST SELLING NICHES FOR THE PAST WEEK, every single week! Yes, you read that right! Every single week, Michael dishes up HIS 10 Best Selling Niches just for his readers. He literally creates competition for himself. Have you ever known anyone who would intentionally do that!? I mean really! Competition is stiff on Amazon, so to do that, well...that's simply unheard of.
Personally, I can't thank him enough for his generosity. Only a person who truly cares for his audience would ever do such a thing!
Michael begins the weekly guide by talking about how late Q4 sales can be "an excellent barometer of" what is to come in Q1. He goes on to disclose an evaluation of what he has observed across platforms. From there, he offers "prevailing themes to watch and focus on for the remainder of" the month and into the next.
Based upon those themes, he offers six messaging/sayings. I depend on those messaging/sayings as food for thought and inspiration to spark new ideas. You see, this is such a profound inclusion for me, because many times I need that spark, that stepping stone, that humor that Michael has to help me relate to the target audience in question. Without that, I'm dead in the water! I'm stuck and would otherwise just skip over that niche, because I don't know or understand how best to relate to the target audience. (Pg. 4-6)
Starting on pg. 7-9, Merch Momentum covers the unique circumstances presented this year that has been like no other and out of this year, _________ ______ has been discussed so much that people can now relate to it more on a personal level and would obviously make great fodder for products...in this case, tshirts. In this case, you will find 9 messaging ideas for you as inspiration.
Pg. 9-12 It's sometimes difficult coming up with the right way to convey a message, especially with those your love and care about. You will find such a concept with loads of ideas and messaging for your designs. I really like this one, because it is an quick and easy design to create with mere text...No graphics needed.
The bottom of page 12 is a niche I have been wanting to tackle for some time, because I think it is an important one. In this niche, we are given the best window of opportunity and now, I know the best way to address the messaging for this niche. Love this idea!
Next up: Q & A with Top Merch Seller
This section is exactly what it sounds like. It provides a Q & A session where Michael interviews that issue's Top Merch Seller about their success on Merch and what suggestions they might have for the Merch Momentum audience.
*This particular seller for this issue earned a massive amount in royalties during the first nine days of December.
*What this seller had to say is an area of struggle for me a lot of the time and that is WHY I rely on Michael's products for guidance. (pg. 15-21) I agree with this top Merch seller. It is ALL about your ability to use your __________ and _________ and translate it into designs that your target audience wants to buy. This section is worth the read.
Apparel Keyword and Niche Leads: (Pg. 22-25)
These are keywords and niche leads that Michael has extracted from lots of different tools, trends, etc. and he has uncovered. They are the most up-to-date leads, and like his messaging in all his guides, should be used as a stepping stone and/or as inspiration for your next designs. This very reason is why I am GRATEFUL, yes grateful, that I receive this guide every week in my inbox.
You see, I could go directly to Amazon and do research there to see if I can compete in a particular niche. Problem is coming up with that initial idea to put in as a keyword to research. If I didn't have his list in this guide, etc. I would be at a loss for HOURS, just staring at the computer screen wondering, "What on earth should I try now!" Merch Momentum, and ALL of Michael's guides, are a MUST have. They never fail me, as there is so much information inside each issue.
Graphic Bundle: (Pg. 26 - 28)
*This is definitely a great niche this week. I LOVE this idea!
And if that's not enough, this issue had a graphics bundle made especially for this guide!
Monday Mindset
*This section is like looking through Michael's crystal ball, where he's projecting months ahead and what that might look like. (Pg. 29-31)
So, there you have it! Keep in mind that this is just a tiny insight into what you will receive.
I hope you have gotten something out of this post that it was helpful to you. Here is the link to the latest issue and future issues of Merch Momentum Monday Strategy Guide. (Note: it is a subscription, but you may cancel at any time)
Have a great day!