10/1/2022
Adriana Munao

The CrushIt Column Volume 6: What’s New in October 2022 at Helium 10

The sixth issue of The CrushIt Column has just been released. Remember this is your dedicated affiliate newsletter to give you the inside scoop on everything Helium 10 and CrushIt related.

Events in October

Helium 10 Tool Highlight

Take control of your traffic

Do you want to drive external traffic directly to your Amazon listings? With Helium 10’s tool Portrals, you can create landing pages that link directly to your product listings. You can create these custom landing pages to use in marketing channels like email or social media platforms that will then drive traffic to your listings. Portals provide collective data from your landing pages so you can analyze them and make changes that fit the goals and objectives you want to reach. 

Portals give you the ability to have landing pages outside of Amazon. Since we host the landing pages, you don’t have to worry about already having a website of your own to create and use these landing pages. This tool provides three templates for you to choose from: the product landing page, email opt-in page, and thank you page. These different template styles allow you to drive traffic from multiple sources to increase the external traffic to your product listing. Portals also allow you to create QR codes that can be scanned by any smartphone device and bring you to a customized URL. 

This unique tool allows you to build your brand awareness as well as maximize your external traffic. Plus you can easily integrate with multiple sites including Zapier, Google Analytics, Facebook, and more. If you want to share Portals with your audience, ask your affiliate manager to schedule you a call with one of Helium 10’s brand evangelists. They can help you make a video about any Helium 10 tool to share with your audience! To read more about Portals, visit the information page!

Noteworthy News

Should you start an LLC for your Amazon business?

As any business grows, you might wonder what your next steps are and what you can do to help protect not only your business but yourself. One way that some people do this is by creating an LLC. But do you need one for your Amazon business? Is it worth going through the process to get registered? We are going to explore the benefits of starting an LLC as well as why it might or might not be the best option for your business. 

An LLC (limited liability company) is a US business structure that protects its owners from personal responsibility for debts and liabilities. Forming an LLC for your Amazon business gives you a separate legal identity, allowing you to distinguish yourself and your personal assets from your business. No matter how successful your business is, there is always the chance that someone could sue you. With an LLC, your company would be sued and your personal assets would be protected. Setting up an LLC for your Amazon business can also provide credibility. Selling items from your company rather than just from yourself can make your company appear more legitimate to potential customers. By registering your business, you give it a professional identity.

So now you must be wondering, what do I have to do in order to get started? The first thing you need to do is register your LLC and to do that you must pick which state you would like to do that in. When deciding which state to register in, you might want to consider where Amazon FBA centers are and which of those states have tax benefits. Some example states are Nevada, Wyoming, and Delaware. 

Next, you will need to choose a unique name for your LLC. The name you choose can be similar to the brand you have already started through YouTube, your affiliate website, Instagram, TikTok, etc. This name will be the official identity of your Amazon business, so you want to pick wisely! To avoid picking a name that is already registered as an LLC, you can check out sites like this company name check website. Another essential thing to add to the name of your LLC is a designator at the end of the name such as “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company”.

After you decide on a name, you will need to find a registered agent for your LLC. This person would receive all legal documents and must have a physical address in the state where you registered your LLC. In the case that your LLC has two or more owners, creating an operating contract for your LLC is an important step. Though it is not required, creating an operating agreement clearly outlines all duties, responsibilities, and contributions between the owners of the LLC. 

The two final steps of setting up an LLC are filing with the secretary of state and obtaining an EIN. In this step, you will file a document called the Article of Organization. Completing this step formally sets up your LLC and requires a fee. In most states, this fee is around $100. The final thing you will need to do for your LLC is to submit a form to the IRS to obtain your EIN. An EIN is an employer identification number and it is a federal tax ID associated with your LLC. The EIN is required to hire any employees for your LLC as well as open a business bank account. 

Now you have all the information you need to start registering your business for an LLC. But what are some of the things you need to consider before making this decision? Starting an LLC requires fees and keeping an LLC going requires annual expenses like filing annual reports and renewing your LLC. These expenses can be tedious and time-consuming if not delegated correctly. Your taxes will also be different with an LLC. Your LLC will typically follow pass-through taxation in which the taxes will pass through the company to the owner. This means you will pay income tax on your LLC’s profits. Along with your income tax, you are also subject to self-employment taxes which is currently at 15.3%. 

The last and maybe most important aspect of starting an LLC is that you are now responsible for a company that is recognized by the US government. This means keeping all records accurate and up to date, reporting all LLC income, paying all annual fees on time, and maintaining a business license. Even though your personal assets are now protected due to the LLC, you are still the owner of the LLC and therefore responsible for it. 

Now you can take all of this information and decide what is best for you and your Amazon business. Having an LLC while selling isn’t required but many have decided that for their business, it was the right thing to do. There is no right or wrong way to approach how you maintain your business, but having all of the information to make smart decisions is what matters the most. So the question remains, is an LLC right for you and your Amazon business? The decision is yours to make.

Affiliate Spotlight

Who’s crushing it this month?

This month’s affiliate spotlight goes to Ofelia Palencia. Ofelia made a huge effort in our last contest, the Sell + Scale Summit Sweepstakes. She submitted a ton of content promotions for Sell + Scale Summit and accumulated 20 tickets for the sweepstakes lottery. Congratulations on winning one of our top prizes. Keep crushing it, Ofelia!

FAQ

plus signgreen line

Who can actually qualify?

Anyone who has an audience or is starting to build one. We especially encourage fans (and users) of Helium 10, as well as people with existing knowledge of Amazon FBA and Helium 10.

plus signgreen line

How do I get paid?

The Helium 10 Affiliate Program pays you on the first of the month, after you reach a monthly threshold of $150.00 or more. Payments are paid out through PayPal.

plus signgreen line

Will you provide me with marketing materials?

Your Affiliate Account Manager will provide you with materials such as graphics, copy, branding guidelines, and plenty of other assets for you to use.

plus signgreen line

Who do I talk to if I need help?

You will be assigned a dedicated Affiliate Account Manager to help you at every step of being a Helium 10 affiliate.

plus signgreen line

You will be assigned a dedicated Affiliate Account Manager to help you at every step of being a Helium 10 affiliate.

Yes! Other affiliates have – why not you?‍

plus signgreen line