Amazon vs DTC: Which Platform Would Make You More Money
The best strategy is to do both. While DTC offers control and branding, Amazon provides a massive built-in audience and can significantly increase your overall sales.
Key Takeaways
- DTC channels like Facebook and Instagram offer speed and scalability for new product launches.
- Integrating Amazon with your DTC strategy can boost gross sales by as much as 20%.
- Paid media is a powerful tool for quickly testing and scaling e-commerce businesses.
- A multi-channel approach, combining both Amazon and DTC, is the best way to dominate the market.
- Understanding the strengths of each platform is key to building a successful e-commerce empire.
Key Takeaway 1
DTC channels like Facebook and Instagram offer speed and scalability for new product launches.
Key Takeaway 2
Integrating Amazon with your DTC strategy can boost gross sales by as much as 20%.
Key Takeaway 3
Paid media is a powerful tool for quickly testing and scaling e-commerce businesses.
Key Takeaway 4
A multi-channel approach, combining both Amazon and DTC, is the best way to dominate the market.
Key Takeaway 5
Understanding the strengths of each platform is key to building a successful e-commerce empire.
Are you wondering where you should focus your energy to make the most money in e-commerce?
Are you wondering where you should focus your energy to make the most money in e-commerce? It is the big question for so many sellers: Amazon vs DTC. Which platform is really going to move the needle for your business? In this episode, I sit down with Aaron Parkinson, the CEO of 7 Mile Media, to get to the bottom of this debate. We are going to break down the pros and cons of both Amazon FBA and building your own direct-to-consumer brand, so you can figure out the right path for your products and your financial goals.
One of the biggest things we talked about is the power of speed and scale, especially when
One of the biggest things we talked about is the power of speed and scale, especially when you are just starting out. Aaron is a huge fan of the direct-to-consumer model, using paid ad platforms like Facebook and Instagram to get a product to market fast. The beauty of this approach is that you can test your ideas quickly. You do not have to wait for Amazon’s approval or deal with their complex system. You can create an ad, target a specific audience, and see if people are interested in what you are selling. If it works, you can scale up your ad spend and grow your sales almost overnight. This gives you, the business owner, a ton of control over your brand and your marketing message.
But here is the thing, you cannot ignore Amazon.
But here is the thing, you cannot ignore Amazon. Aaron himself admits that he is a little jealous of the power of the Amazon platform. Even if you have a successful DTC brand, you are leaving money on the table if you are not on Amazon. Think about it, millions of people go to Amazon every single day to shop. They trust Amazon, and they are ready to buy. By listing your products on Amazon, you can tap into this massive audience and pick up an extra 20% in gross sales. That is a huge number that you just cannot ignore. It is about meeting your customers where they are, and a lot of them are on Amazon.
So, how do you make these two platforms work together?
So, how do you make these two platforms work together? That is the real secret to building a dominant e-commerce brand. It is not about choosing one over the other, it is about creating a strategy that uses the strengths of both. You can use your DTC site to build your brand, tell your story, and create a loyal community of customers. You can use paid media to drive traffic to your site and test new products. At the same time, you can use Amazon as a powerful sales channel to reach a wider audience and boost your overall revenue. They can and should work together to create a powerful, multi-channel selling machine.
At the end of the day, building a successful e-commerce business is about being smart and
At the end of the day, building a successful e-commerce business is about being smart and strategic. It is about understanding the tools that are available to you and using them to your advantage. Whether you are just starting out or you are looking to scale your existing brand, this episode with Aaron Parkinson will give you the insights you need to make the right decisions for your business. Do not miss this conversation about Amazon, DTC, and how to build a profitable e-commerce empire. If you are ready to stop trading your time for money and build a business that gives you freedom, this is the episode for you. Listen to the full episode to get all the details, and when you are ready to take the next step, visit us at Voltage Business Builders to see how we can help you build your own e-commerce success story.
Episode Summary
Are you wondering where you should focus your energy to make the most money in e-commerce? It is the big question for so many sellers: Amazon vs DTC. Which platform is really going to move the needle for your business? In this episode, I sit down with Aaron Parkinson, the CEO of 7 Mile Media, to get to the bottom of this debate. We are going to break down the pros and cons of both Amazon FBA and building your own direct-to-consumer brand, so you can figure out the right path for your products and your financial goals.
One of the biggest things we talked about is the power of speed and scale, especially when you are just starting out. Aaron is a huge fan of the direct-to-consumer model, using paid ad platforms like Facebook and Instagram to get a product to market fast. The beauty of this approach is that you can test your ideas quickly. You do not have to wait for Amazon’s approval or deal with their complex system. You can create an ad, target a specific audience, and see if people are interested in what you are selling. If it works, you can scale up your ad spend and grow your sales almost overnight. This gives you, the business owner, a ton of control over your brand and your marketing message.
But here is the thing, you cannot ignore Amazon. Aaron himself admits that he is a little jealous of the power of the Amazon platform. Even if you have a successful DTC brand, you are leaving money on the table if you are not on Amazon. Think about it, millions of people go to Amazon every single day to shop. They trust Amazon, and they are ready to buy. By listing your products on Amazon, you can tap into this massive audience and pick up an extra 20% in gross sales. That is a huge number that you just cannot ignore. It is about meeting your customers where they are, and a lot of them are on Amazon.
So, how do you make these two platforms work together? That is the real secret to building a dominant e-commerce brand. It is not about choosing one over the other, it is about creating a strategy that uses the strengths of both. You can use your DTC site to build your brand, tell your story, and create a loyal community of customers. You can use paid media to drive traffic to your site and test new products. At the same time, you can use Amazon as a powerful sales channel to reach a wider audience and boost your overall revenue. They can and should work together to create a powerful, multi-channel selling machine.
At the end of the day, building a successful e-commerce business is about being smart and strategic. It is about understanding the tools that are available to you and using them to your advantage. Whether you are just starting out or you are looking to scale your existing brand, this episode with Aaron Parkinson will give you the insights you need to make the right decisions for your business. Do not miss this conversation about Amazon, DTC, and how to build a profitable e-commerce empire. If you are ready to stop trading your time for money and build a business that gives you freedom, this is the episode for you. Listen to the full episode to get all the details, and when you are ready to take the next step, visit us at Voltage Business Builders to see how we can help you build your own e-commerce success story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I sell on Amazon or build my own DTC store?
The best strategy is to do both. While DTC offers control and branding, Amazon provides a massive built-in audience and can significantly increase your overall sales.
What is the fastest way to scale an e-commerce brand?
According to Aaron Parkinson, using paid media on platforms like Facebook and Instagram is the quickest way to test, launch, and scale a new product or brand in the DTC space.
How much can Amazon add to my DTC business?
When done correctly, adding an Amazon sales channel to your existing DTC business can increase your gross sales by 20% or more, capturing a wider audience.
Full Transcript
👉 If you want to learn more about direct-to-consumer business, paid media, and Amazon FBA, visit http://voltageb2b.com to get in touch now. My guest today is Aaron Parkinson, CEO of 7 Mile Media. Aaron is secretly jealous of Amazon and what the guys know and how to be successful with Amazon! In all seriousness, Aaron likes speed, scale, and domination on the direct-to-consumer (DTC) channel - his bread and butter. His first step for his DTC clients is to tap into Facebook and Instagram because they are the easiest ones to scale compared to Amazon. He can get in quickly with paid media, test, launch, and scale. However, Aaron agrees that the client needs to be on Amazon, too, as this will pick up 20% more gross sales when done correctly. Let's discuss more Amazon, DTC, and paid media with Aaron! Additional sources: If you're a passionate business builder yourself, visit http://voltageb2b.com to get in touch now. Ready to stop trading time for money and build almost automated income with FBA? Visit https://voltagedm.com to learn how you can buy back you freedom by building your very own ecommerce empire!
Are you wondering where you should focus your energy to make the most money in e-commerce? It is the big question for so many sellers: Amazon vs DTC. Which platform is really going to move the needle for your business? In this episode, I sit down with Aaron Parkinson, the CEO of 7 Mile Media, to get to the bottom of this debate. We are going to break down the pros and cons of both Amazon FBA and building your own direct-to-consumer brand, so you can figure out the right path for your products and your financial goals. One of the biggest things we talked about is the power of speed and scale, especially when you are just starting out. Aaron is a huge fan of the direct-to-consumer model, using paid ad platforms like Facebook and Instagram to get a product to market fast. The beauty of this approach is that you can test your ideas quickly. You do not have to wait for Amazon’s approval or deal with their complex system. You can create an ad, target a specific audience, and see if people are interested in what you are selling. If it works, you can scale up your ad spend and grow your sales almost overnight. This gives you, the business owner, a ton of control over your brand and your marketing message. But here is the thing, you cannot ignore Amazon. Aaron himself admits that he is a little jealous of the power of the Amazon platform. Even if you have a successful DTC brand, you are leaving money on the table if you are not on Amazon. Think about it, millions of people go to Amazon every single day to shop. They trust Amazon, and they are ready to buy. By listing your products on Amazon, you can tap into this massive audience and pick up an extra 20% in gross sales. That is a huge number that you just cannot ignore. It is about meeting your customers where they are, and a lot of them are on Amazon. So, how do you make these two platforms work together? That is the real secret to building a dominant e-commerce brand. It is not about choosing one over the other, it is about creating a strategy that uses the strengths of both. You can use your DTC site to build your brand, tell your story, and create a loyal community of customers. You can use paid media to drive traffic to your site and test new products. At the same time, you can use Amazon as a powerful sales channel to reach a wider audience and boost your overall revenue. They can and should work together to create a powerful, multi-channel selling machine. At the end of the day, building a successful e-commerce business is about being smart and strategic. It is about understanding the tools that are available to you and using them to your advantage. Whether you are just starting out or you are looking to scale your existing brand, this episode with Aaron Parkinson will give you the insights you need to make the right decisions for your business. Do not miss this conversation about Amazon, DTC, and how to build a profitable e-commerce empire. If you are ready to stop trading your time for money and build a business that gives you freedom, this is the episode for you. Listen to the full episode to get all the details, and when you are ready to take the next step, visit us at Voltage Business Builders to see how we can help you build your own e-commerce success story.
Your Amazon tools can read the data. They cannot act on it.
In a recent 143-seller AI challenge, 47% of sellers said the same thing: take PPC off my plate first. Almost every tool answers with another read-only report you still have to act on by hand. Caiman Data is different. 85 Read + Act tools on Amazon's own APIs run the analysis, put the recommendation and the trade-offs in front of you, and write the change back to Amazon on your go. You stay in the CEO chair.
PPC comes off your plate first
47% of sellers want AI to take over PPC before anything else. Full campaign audits, bids, placements, negatives, and bulk changes run under your supervision instead of eating your week.
Escape the read-only trap
Downloading reports is not automation. Read + Act tools publish listing fixes, bid changes, and reorder calls straight back to Amazon, previewed before anything ships.
Time back, pointed at the exit
Sellers in that challenge ranked scale and exit as their top two goals. The same stack saves us 17 hours a week and an average of $26,400 a year across our 30 brands, and those hours go into building an asset a buyer wants. Our largest client exit: $72M.
Voltage Business Builders is not software you buy and figure out alone. It is an invite-only room of 320+ elite operators, plus Caiman Data access that connects your live business data to the systems we run on our portfolio brands. You stay in the CEO chair while AI does the analytical horsepower. The room keeps you on the right fundamentals so you 10x results, grow net profit the right way, and build toward empire or retirement with exit in mind.