The Ecommerce Influence Podcast

Beardbrand’s approach to content marketing has resulted in 1.6 million subscribers on YouTube.

On today’s episode, I am bringing back my good friend Eric Bandholz. I first met Eric in 2014 at an Ecommerce Fuel event and he was one of our early Ecommerce Influence podcast guests. Since then, he’s been continuing to build an incredible business called Beardbrand.

In this episode, we talk about being on Shark Tank, what it’s like being the face of your brand as a founder, content marketing that creates superfans and so much more.

Enjoy!

Episode Highlights

  • 5:11 The stressful, year-long experience of being on Shark Tank
  • 12:23 The difference between having business partners and owning 100% of your business
  • 14:53 How Eric has created freedom in his life and business over the last 8 years
  • 19:44 The pros and cons of being the face of your brand
  • 22:27 How Beardbrand showcases different facets of their brand through multiple social media channels
  • 25:27 Beardbrand’s approach to dealing with online haters
  • 27:55 What Beardbrand focuses on to stay ahead of their competition
  • 29:48 An approach to content marketing that creates superfans
  • 31:57 The lesson COVID-19 has taught businesses
  • 34:49 What Eric wishes he had known when he first started his business
  • 35:27 The system Eric uses to hire top-notch employees 
  • 37:29 Key roles Eric plays in the business today
  • 39:16 Using agencies to grow your business and when to transition to in-house
  • 43:50 Beard Brand’s approach to paid advertising
  • 46:05 What Eric is curious about right now
  • 48:52 The hidden world of infertility and the journey Eric and his wife have been on

Links and Resources:

Direct download: EI_266_EricBandholdz_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

What if you could find the marketing formula that would double your business, and then double it again?

This is the kind of growth Oral Essentials is currently experiencing as they’ve dialed in and refined their approach to marketing and paid advertising. 

On today’s episode, I’ve invited Justin Madahhi, Co-founder and Head of Online Sales and Marketing at Lumineux Oral Essentials, back on the show. Justin and his team were already experiencing fast-paced growth when we started working together two years ago, and since he was on the show last fall, their growth has continued to skyrocket.

In this episode, Justin talks about dialing in your messaging, the marketing formula they’ve created to drive consistent sales, how to drive subscription revenue and how to get your team into alignment during high-growth times.

Episode Highlights

  • 7:32 What Justin learned is critical for rapid, successful growth 
  • 9:43  A sophisticated approach to Facebook marketing
  • 13:00 Expectation vs Reality: What startling fast growth actually looks like
  • 15:51 Justin’s three main roles in the company today and how his team has grown over the last year
  • 19:34 Shifting focus to a long-term brand vision
  • 21:13 How to get your team into alignment, set realistic expectations and maintain a high work ethic
  • 24:20 The sales channel Justin believes is going to take the company to the next level
  • 26:03 Factors to consider when crafting paid ad content
  • 28:00 The one thing you need to ask yourself before deploying a new marketing strategy
  • 32:22 Why disruption is a double-edged sword and the impact it has on your marketing
  • 35:27 Oral Essential’s approach to email marketing and the changes they made over the eight months that have had drastic results 
  • 38:15 Three steps to successfully drive subscription revenue
  • 40:55 Key metrics that will increase the valuation of and stabilize your business
  • 43:43 How failure helped Justin get more perspective and learn to set an example for his team
  • 45:34 Justin’s advice for entrepreneurs trying to build 9-figure businesses
  • 47:47 The most helpful resources Justin has found on his journey, including his recommended Twitter follows
  • 50:37 What freedom means to Justin and how it shows up in his business
  • 52:13 Analyzing the long term effects of COVID-19 on consumer psychology 
  • 57:41 Oral Essentials is hiring!

Links and Resources:

Direct download: EI_265_JustinMaddahi.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

When I met Greg Williams in the Coalition, he told me he wanted to sell his business and be a millionaire by age 40. A year later, he’s done just that.

Greg started Autoimmune Institute in 2017 with the intention to sell, and in just three years, he went from $50,000 to $2,000,000 in sales. In this episode of the Ecommerce Influence podcast, Greg shares the levers he pulled to fast-track business growth, what it actually looks like to sell a 7-figure business, and how to maximize your business’ valuation.

If you’re interested in building a business with the intention to sell, this episode is a must-listen.

Enjoy!

Direct download: EI_264_GregWilliams.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

The “crush-it” culture of entrepreneurship almost led to me giving up the business I have today.

After two years at a fast-growing startup, I was pushed to the edge mentally and physically. I knew I had to walk away and form a vision for what I wanted my future to look like. It took eight years for me to go from burnout to freedom by building my business into what it is today, and creating that vision involved a lot of trial and error and reinvention.

In this episode I talk about some of the lowest points I’ve experienced as an entrepreneur, what it was like to close down a successful marketing agency, the trials of breaking up with a business partner, and the importance of defining success so you know what you’re actually working towards. 

Episode Highlights

  • 5:22 The early foundation of Austin’s journey as an entrepreneur
  • 8:17 Invaluable experience gained from startup life and lessons learned from burnout
  • 10:58 Making sales while you sleep: Austin’s introduction to ecommerce and email marketing
  • 12:49 How the Ecommerce Influence podcast was born
  • 14:04 The unexpected rise and intentional fall of Austin’s marketing agency
  • 18:30 The most important thing to consider when forming a business partnership
  • 20:32 Austin’s lowest point in his entrepreneurship journey
  • 22:38 The lightbulb moment at a mastermind that led to the creation of a new business model
  • 24:47 Crush it culture resurfaces: how a second round of burn out changed the direction of Austin’s business
  • 28:50 Hiring a business coach and building a membership site
  • 31:23 The three current revenue-drivers for Austin’s business
  • 32:42 Austin’s huge mindset shift that led to steady and consistent growth
  • 36:07 How to create more freedom in your life as an entrepreneur
  • 40:20 Austin’s definition of success in business and life today
  • 44:22 An unpopular opinion Austin has about business that many other entrepreneurs won’t agree with

Links and Resources:

Direct download: EI_263B_AustinandCarly_Finalv2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

1