The Ecommerce Influence Podcast

We can talk about & analyze business all we want on this show, but at the end of the day the force of life is the drive for fulfillment; so start something that matters.

This episode is a celebration of our 100th episode together and we thought it was a perfect time to discuss how we were able to find and start something that mattered deeply to us, and how you can, too.

In this episode we open up about our process for finding and starting something that matters, the insights we've gained since our beginnings two years ago, and how this episode signifies major changes in the business and some smaller changes to this podcast.

It's one of the more authentic episodes we've done and we think it'll be able to help you figure out how to start something that matters...or recalibrate what you're already doing to make it matter more.

Thanks for joining us on episode 100!

Key Takeaways from the Show

  • The two spiritual needs that humans need satisfied for lifelong fulfillment
  • How to find something that matters before actually starting it
  • How to actually start something that matters
  • Why "finding a need and filling it" is the wrong way to go when you want to start something that matters
  • Why the business you'll start won't be the business you have
  • What we've learned in the process and how you can apply it to your business
Direct download: EI100.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am CDT

Whether you're an experienced ecommerce store owner, or just getting started, knowing how to choose the best ecommerce platform for your business is crucial to your success.

When it comes to choosing a platform to build any business on, the best companies, like MVMT Watches, Heist, and Mizzen + Main, choose a platform based on what's best for them 5 years from now, not what's best today.

And if you're looking to start, or grow, an ecommerce business then making sure you have the right platform for your growth will be one of the most important business decisions you'll make.

Today's guest, Dylan Whitman of BVAccel, has been in the ecommerce space for 10+ years, which is like dinosaur years when it comes to ecommerce.

And when you consider his client list of Red Bull, Daymond John from Shark Tank, MVMT Watches, Heist, Mizzen + Main and more, then you know it's smart to heed his advice.

His past and present experiences with all types of ecommerce platforms will guide you in making the right decision for your business.

Key Takeaways from the Show

  • How to choose the best ecommerce platform for your business.
  • The differences between Magento, Shopify, Shopify Plus, and the other platforms available.
  • How he would design his own ecommerce store based on the tests he's run for his clients.
  • The next level beyond your virtual staffing foundation
  • The biggest mistakes ecommerce store owners make and how to avoid them.

Links / Resources

Direct download: EI099_Dylan_Whitman.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am CDT

It's not everyday that you can get advice for growing your ecommece business from someone who has built and sold a $20MM per year store by the age of 22.

But in this episode, that's exactly what we get. Mike Zhang is the original founder of Airsoft Megastore, an ecommerce site that was said to be generating $20MM in revenue per year at the time of it's sale in 2012.

What started off as a small eBay project for Mike ended up turning into a full-fledged ecommerce business, one that has garnered him numerous entrepreneurial awards including Bloomberg 25 under 25 and Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the year finalist.

He has a wealth of experience in ecommerce, and business in general, at the ripe old age of 25.

In this episode he lays out some of his best advice for growing your ecommerce business to where you want it to go.

Key Takeaways from the Show

  • What it's like to get started in ecommerce at the age of 13
  • How he grew Airsoft Megastore to $20MM
  • How to incorporate systems into your business to eliminate wasted time and take your site to the next level
  • What experiences he's taking from Airsoft Meagastore and how he's applying them to his new company, DripClub
  • Mike's best advice to his 20 year old self and how you can use it when growing your ecommerce business

Links / Resources

Direct download: EI098_Mike_Zhang.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am CDT

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