đŸ‘„ How Sellers Actually Scale Sourcing in January

A practical, no-fluff process for hiring your first (or next) sourcing VA.

January 05, 2026

January is when a lot of sellers hit the same realization:

“I can’t keep doing everything myself this year.”

Q4 exposed the bottlenecks.

Sourcing took too long.

Good opportunities were missed simply because there weren’t enough hours in the day.

That’s usually when sellers start thinking about hiring a VA.

The problem?

Most don’t have a process, so it turns into frustration instead of leverage.

Here’s a simple, proven way to approach it.

Step 1: Where to actually find good VAs

You don’t need to hunt people down.

One platform consistently works well for Amazon sourcing roles: OnlineJobs.ph.

You post once.

Applicants come to you.

It’s especially strong for Filipino VAs and tends to attract candidates with real Amazon exposure – far more reliable than general freelance marketplaces.

Expect a flood of applications quickly.

That’s a feature, not a bug.

Your job is to filter, not chase.

Step 2: Write a job post that filters for you

A good job post does half the hiring work.

Be clear about:

  • what the role actually is (Amazon OA product research)

  • the tools they’ll use (Keepa, SellerAmp, etc.)

  • pay range and hours

  • expectations and growth opportunity

Specificity attracts serious applicants.

Vagueness attracts noise.

You’re not looking for perfection; you’re looking for honesty, clarity, and alignment.

Step 3: Ask questions that reveal how they think

You don’t need a long interview.

A few targeted questions will tell you almost everything you need to know.

For example:

  • ask them to show a product they’d source today

  • confirm their internet reliability

  • have them explain a Keepa chart in their own words

  • ask why they want the role and where they’re headed long term

You’re hiring primarily for:

  • attitude

  • logic

  • willingness to learn

Skills improve fast.

Mindset usually doesn’t.

Step 4: Train in phases, not all at once

The biggest mistake sellers make is information overload.

A phased approach works better.

Week 1:
Basics only. Short Looms. Daily check-ins. Let them observe how you source.

Week 2:
Have them submit a small number of leads. Give detailed feedback on every one.

Week 3:
Increase expectations. Reduce hand-holding. Shift to weekly calls.

Week 4:
They should be sourcing independently with clear standards and accountability.
At that point, you’re no longer “training”; you’re managing.

Step 5: Track what actually matters

If you don’t track performance, you’re guessing.

A simple Google Sheet is enough:

  • leads submitted per day

  • approval rate (how many you actually buy)

  • average ROI

  • categories they perform best in

This gives you clarity fast:

  • Who needs more coaching

  • Who’s improving

  • Who isn’t a fit

Step 6: Incentives (optional, but effective)

One way to improve sourcing quality is performance-based incentives.

Not as pressure — as motivation.

For example:

  • bonuses for consistent lead volume

  • higher approval rates

  • standout profitable finds

Think of this as a sample framework, not a requirement.

When incentives align with quality, VAs stop chasing “okay” leads and start hunting for real wins.

Final thought

Hiring a VA doesn’t magically fix sourcing.

But hiring with a process and good inputs
 that changes everything.

You stop being the bottleneck.

Leads show up daily.

And your time shifts from hunting to deciding.

One simple shortcut worth considering

If hiring and training still feels like too much right now, there is a lower-effort option.

Instead of building a sourcing operation from scratch, some sellers use our lead lists as a shortcut, letting vetted leads show up daily so they can focus on validation and buying instead of hunt

No hiring.
No training curve.
No management overhead.

Just time saved and consistent inputs while you decide whether (and when) to build a VA team.

Subscribe to our lists and start stacking wins like Ken, one of our long-time subscribers:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“My experience with lead lists always turned into a dumpster fire until I subscribed to FBA Lead Lists. I have more than tripled my revenue and profits!” - Ken

  • Instant access. 10+ fast-moving, high-profit OA leads every morning

  • 85% avg ROI, $14+ avg profit/unit. Lists capped to prevent saturation

  • One flip can cover your month’s subscription. No lock-in periods.

Some links may be affiliate links. We may get paid if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these. We appreciate the support.

Delivered to your inbox every week.

Need-to-know seller content only. No spam. Unsubscribe at any time.