The Ecommerce Influence Podcast

“Where did the SEO hide the dead body? On page two of Google.” Yes - SEO in 2022 will still play a huge role in eComm success. With ad costs going up it’s a great time to learn how to drive quality organic traffic with smart SEO tactics. 

John Murphy is the CEO of Ebike Generation and an eCommerce SEO expert. 

In this episode, we talk about John’s journey, and how he went from being an executive at GE to starting his own eCommerce company. John’s eComm success has largely come from SEO after he was banned from Google Ads and Facebook ads in the early days of his business. 

He shares his tips on how he drives $2 million a year from just SEO and what SEO in 2022 will look like (yes - free traffic still exists). 

Note: John is offering his course How I Generate $2M+ Per Year in Sales from Organic Traffic in the membership in March. If you’re a member you can register here. Or if you’d like to join to take the course you can find more information here

Episode Highlights:

  • 5:47 How John started selling online 
  • 8:09 Finding the right product 
  • 12:03 Getting the first sale 
  • 13:58 Supply chain issues & COVID 
  • 16:20 Finding the right niche and not being scared to narrow down 
  • 22:28 Getting banned from Google and Facebook ads 
  • 24:49 Shifting to SEO for a majority of traffic 
  • 29:09 SEO in 2022 
  • 31:24 How much content do you actually need to be successful in SEO
  • 36:58 External linking & its relevance today 
  • 39:46 What’s working now in SEO backlinks 
  • 45:27 Getting organic traffic when you’re too reliant on paid traffic 

Resources:

Direct download: 33620-20John20Murphy_Updated20Midroll.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

The path to massive success is often through failure. This episode's guest went from Forbes 30 under 30 to bankruptcy in the same year and reflects on lessons learned. 

Josh Durham co-founded Weighted Comforts, one of the first weighted blanket brands, with his mom in 2015. They took off like a rocket, hitting 8-figures in 4 years. 

But - they hit some snags, the market shifted and at age 24 Josh went from almost $10 million in sales to bankruptcy in a period of less than a year. 

In this episode, he goes through what it was like to grow, how they did it, and then what it was like when it all unraveled. Josh is very transparent in his experience of where and how things went wrong in a way you’re not going to hear in many places. There’s a lot to learn here. 

Josh has gone on to have success with another brand and now his own agency, Aligned Growth, and he shares a bunch of learnings from having worked with a lot of different brands now. 

Episode Highlights:

  • 3:56 How Josh got involved with eCommerce growth marketing 
  • 5:44 Josh’s first Shopify store in 2015 and how it came to be
  • 7:53 The downfall of Josh’s business 
  • 10:39 Dealing with limited cash and coping with the stress of a business in trouble 
  • 11:47 What the strategy and business looked like in the end 
  • 14:01 Closing out in an asset sale 
  • 16:28 Filing for bankruptcy at 24 years old 
  • 18:10 Biggest takeaways from a failing business
  • 21:58 The dangers of scaling a single product business 
  • 26:54 Josh’s next venture & hitting 35 million
  • 28:51 Starting marketing at product development
  • 30:24 How to stand out after competitors come it 
  • 34:22 Starting an agency 
  • 36:16 The importance of creative refresh on brand growth 
  • 38:01 Managing creative at an agency 
  • 43:09 Current eCommerce requires a higher level of execution on creative 

Resources:

Direct download: EI_33520-20Josh20Durham.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

“Systems run your business, people run your systems.” Learn how to grow your business and unlock hidden profit using virtual assistants. 

Barbara Turley is the founder of The Virtual Hub, an agency that pairs businesses with virtual assistants, and she's an expert at delegation. Barbara has paired over 500 virtual assistants with companies and her team is over 240+ in the Philippines. In this episode, she pulls back the curtain on how it's worked for her, and how it might work for you in your own business.

This episode is very helpful if you are building a remote company, are thinking about using virtual assistants, or have tried and failed to use VA’s in the past. 

Episode Highlights:

  • 8:38 How Barbara started her virtual assistants business 
  • 11:38 Roles for VAs that often get overlooked 
  • 13:10 Managing teams in different time zones 
  • 16:12 Where to start when hiring virtual assistants
  • 19:20 Tools used to manage communication 
  • 20:32 The importance of having a process before hiring 
  • 22:07 Becoming a good delegator 
  • 26:55 Barbara’s team structure 
  • 27:19 Is there importance in connecting with a remote team in person?
  • 28:46 Building culture for a remote virtual assistant team
  • 31:40 How to not get burned from a VA experience 
  • 34:24 Paying virtual assistants and economic considerations 
  • 39:30 Where people get burned when building a company 
  • 42:34 Why you need an operating system
  • 44:25 Hiring virtual assistants through word of mouth vs hiring process 

Resources:

Direct download: EI_334_Barbara20Truley.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:49am CDT

This Is A Special Episode – The Recording Of A Live 'Ask Me Anything' With Joe Valley On How To Sell Your Online Business, Recently Offered Inside The Brand Growth Membership.

Joe is the author of The EXITPreneur's Playbook. He's a buyer and seller of many online businesses and the president of Quiet Light Brokerage. He’s an expert on how to sell for max profit. 

If you listened to my earlier episode with Joe this AMA session takes those concepts and goes deeper, which is what we do in the Membership. The podcast is just a glimpse into what we cover in the Brand Growth Membership.

We’re giving you a sneak peek inside the Brand Growth Membership with access to this Ask Me Anything session because we just launched a brand new version of our membership and it’s KILLER - check it out here

I hope you enjoy this session and if you want to check out more of the Ask Me Anything sessions and trainings we have in the membership...

we’re offering a 21 day trial for just $1.  Go here to sign up. (only available until Dec 12, 2021)

Episode Highlights:

  • 3:37 Introduction to Joe Valley 
  • 5:19 The valuation formula
  • 8:33 What multiple ranges to expect for valuations
  • 8:49 The different types of add-backs and examples of how they are applied
  • 10:08 The 4 things buyers are looking for (and the surprising 5th)
  • 38:34 Q&A – Is there anything different about a sale of a minority stake?
  • 40:53 Q&A – Should we build a brand that is targeting a different demographic as a separate brand or sub-brand?
  • 45:09 Q&A – What are the differences in this process for Canadian companies?
  • 46:17 Q&A – How long does it take for a deal to close?
  • 48:18 Q&A – Are there any hidden fees to be aware of?
  • 51:01 Q&A – How are multiples different between different types of businesses?
  • 54:47 Q&A – What is the smallest SDE that a private equity firm will look at?
  • 56:39 Q&A – Is there a different approach to building a business for sale to a strategic acquirer vs a typical buyer?
  • 58:16 Q&A – Can agency marketing spend that has been replaced by in-house work be considered an add-back?
  • 59:40 Q&A – What kind of multiples are there for wholesale businesses?
  • 01:07:22 Q&A – What are the options to sell for a Shopify site vs. an FBA?

Resources:

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

Launching a first-of-its-kind product comes with challenges, but Pela has always been a creative first-mover. They’ve had massive success and fun educating consumers and keeping their mission to combat climate change positive. 

This episode’s guest is Pela CEO Matthew Bertulli. Pela makes compostable phone cases and they just launched a new product called Lomi that went viral on Kickstarter. 

Matt and his team at Pela are forward thinkers and Matt share’s how that’s led them to success, what it was like to go from bootstrapped to venture-backed, as well as what he’s excited about for the future of eCommerce and environmental products.  

This is an excellent episode with somebody who is in the arena building things and very passionate about his work. 

Episode Highlights:

  • 3:56 How the Lomi Kickstarter went viral 
  • 5:15 What exactly Lomi is 
  • 10:17 Educating consumers about environmental products & the problems with Facebook 
  • 14:52 Using storytelling to build word of mouth momentum 
  • 15:28 What Lomi stands for as a product and way of life 
  • 19:36 Is pollution a personal or corporation problem & the mission to combat climate change
  • 22:01 Consumer demand for better companies 
  • 25:59 Better packaging options for brands 
  • 28:45 The power of education: from $5k to $85k in 3 months
  • 29:40 Raising money and becoming venture-backed 
  • 31:16 Early success and first-mover advantage
  • 35:39 The difference between running a bootstrapped brand and a venture-backed brand
  • 38:12 Challenges of running an agency in comparison to a D2C
  • 40:46 The benefits of launching a new product on top of an established company (even if they’re not directly related) 
  • 41:57 Competition when you’re a first of its kind product 
  • 43:45 Building a product for the future & being a visionary brand with the mission to combat climate change
  • 46:29 Resources that have been helpful to Matt on his journey 
  • 48:06 Best in class marketing & messaging tactics 
  • 50:30 Identifying what’s wrong with current stories in your niche and changing the narrative for your product 
  • 54:30 The intersection of blockchain and climate 
  • 58:55 The powerful culture of being a mission-driven company

Resources:

Direct download: EI20333_UpdatedMidRoll.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

We’re looking out to the (near) future at some very creative opportunities for eCommerce in NFTs. These ideas could help circumvent some of the margin pressure and economic challenges brands are facing today. 

This episode features Taylor Holiday, the founder of Common Thread Collective. Before running an eCommerce agency he had his own D2C brand so he brings a ton of knowledge from being on both the brand and the agency side of eComm business. Taylor is an NFT enthusiast and has some brilliant ideas about NFTs and their place in the changing sphere of eCommerce. 

In this fascinating conversation, you’ll learn a ton about NFTs -- what they are and how you might be able to use them to combat margin pressure in your eCommerce brand. 

Episode Highlights:

  • 4:37 Taylors large business vision 
  • 6:23 The difference between running a brand and running an agency 
  • 7:30 Complexities around cash flow management & human relational problems
  • 9:40 The importance of your product to the success of your brand 
  • 11:20 What the hell is going on with Facebook 
  • 14:33 Quantifying what other brands are seeing in metrics right now
  • 15:19 The primary metric to care about post iOS launch 
  • 16:56 aMER (acquisition marketing efficiency rating): why it’s critical 
  • 20:07 Diversification is not primarily an advertising strategy 
  • 23:39 Where to start if you’re moving out of Facebook 
  • 25:05 Why Web3 is so exciting & what it means for current margin pressure 
  • 26:31 Margin innovation and opportunities in the metaverse
  • 32:04 Why you shouldn’t blow off investing in cryptocurrency 
  • 33:19 Examples of creativity with eCommerce in NFTs used to bring in fast cash
  • 36:16 Why NFTs are a better version of Kickstarter 
  • 37:35 Creating built-in affiliates with NFT holders
  • 38:44 The NFT as a community access token as well as an asset
  • 43:13 How to continue to add value associated with holding your NFTs
  • 47:34 Shopify beta opportunity for eCommerce in NFTs sold like a SKU 
  • 48:37 Using NFTs for access to special content or promotions 
  • 52:28 What’s just interesting and what’s actually important in the future of eCommerce in NFTs
  • 56:51 What % of Shopify stores might invest in NFTs next year? 
  • 57:56 Raising funds & engaging a target market with NFTs
  • 1:02:42 The calendar cleanse process that has helped Taylor manage his many priorities 

Resources:

Direct download: EI2033320Taylor20H.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

Was Facebook ever really performing as well as we thought - or was our attribution model just wrong? A post-purchase survey will tell you where people are actually hearing about your brand. 

If you're spending money on Facebook you know it's incredibly hard to figure out where your customers are coming from. Matt Bahr, CEO of Enquire Labs, has a way to help you better track attribution with a post-purchase survey. 

I stumbled across Enquire a couple of years ago and thought they were super interesting because their simple survey really helped us figure out what was effective marketing and what was not. In this episode, we talk all about what they're doing and how they’ve helped brands figure out attribution in the midst of the chaos of iOS changes. 

It's an excellent episode and you’ll get a lot of interesting tips for running successful marketing. 

Episode Highlights:

  • 3:58 Matt’s timing of building a post-purchase survey app 
  • 6:31 How Enquire came to be 
  • 10:22 Where brand’s think sales are coming from vs where the sales are actually coming from
  • 12:50 The power of word of mouth 
  • 14:51 Thinking about attribution using post-purchase surveys 
  • 18:00 A better way to get questions answered by customers 
  • 21:10 Comparing quantitative and qualitative data 
  • 21:38 What smaller brands can learn from the bigger brands 
  • 24:57 Higher AOV: is it harder to track? 

Resources:

Direct download: EI20331_Matt20Bahr.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

Cryptocurrency is the financial system of the future. Ready or not it’s coming and as an eCommerce founder, there are opportunities you could be taking advantage of now. 

This episode is part of a series on cryptocurrency and decentralized finance (DeFI). My guest, Nat Eliason, has been a guest before as an SEO expert but in the last year he’s made a trajectory shift and moved into the space of web3, and specifically DeFi. 

Nat talks about why he made the shift, what he’s so excited about and why, as a business owner, you should care. We go into the basics of DeFi and how people are getting hedge fund style returns. 

If you know nothing about cryptocurrency, this episode is for you - Nat has some simple ways you can start earning money today. 

Episode Highlights:

  • 5:04 Nat’s shift from SEO to DeFi
  • 6:28 What is DeFi and why is it important
  • 9:22 How DeFi levels the playing field and gives individuals with small capital access to high returns
  • 12:34 Examples of high returns 
  • 14:49 What a stablecoin is 
  • 16:05 The risks with stablecoins
  • 20:14 Metamask and seed phrase: what are they and how do they provide security
  • 25:02 How long you have to “park” your stablecoins to see returns
  • 27:36 The range of interest returns historically seen
  • 29:48 Ways to profit that haven’t traditionally been available to average people
  • 31:48 The difference between a fiat-collateralized coin and a crypto-collateralized coin
  • 34:48 Wrapped Bitcoin: what is it
  • 38:08 Minimum collateralization ratios 
  • 40:26 How debt protocols work in DeFi & what happens in a market crash 
  • 46:26 Yield farming: what is it 
  • 50:26 How network security works 
  • 52:24 “Staking your Eth” - how and what that means 
  • 55:57 What is impermanent loss and why do you want to avoid it? 
  • 1:02:01 Biggest hurdles to DeFi being widely adopted right now 
  • 1:05:03 As an eCommerce owner - what should you be thinking about
  • 1:09.50 What Nat’s excited about right now 

Resources:

Direct download: 330.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

You might be surprised how lessons learned from over a decade on a SWAT team apply to building a highly successful lifestyle brand. 

Todd Lamb, CEO of PureLife Organics, was a police officer for 17 years, as a SWAT team leader and then canine officer. When his wife started having health issues he turned to natural remedies and found an incredibly successful protocol that helped her heal. He wanted to share this protocol with others and thus, Pure Life Organics was born. 

Today, the business Todd built from the ground up is well on it’s way to 9-figures. In this episode - Todd shares his wisdom about paid traffic and expertise in creating offers. He talks about how his team systematically worked to make native ads work and how they're testing at a budget of $10k to $15k a week to get results.

There are some great nuggets here about native ads, copywriting, and creative strategizing. Enjoy!

Episode Highlights:

  • 4:29 Lessons from working as a canine officer 
  • 7:31 The idea behind Pure Life Organics 
  • 12:47 Todd’s protocol and ingredients 
  • 14:40 Looking at growth in the business
  • 16:28 Developing a sales funnel 
  • 17:37 Selling the first million dollars of product with native ads and cross-promotions 
  • 19:34 Testing with big spend 
  • 21:12 Finding success with Native Ads and the difference from Facebook ads
  • 26:09 Long-form copy & writing offers that convert 
  • 29:07 Impacts from current eCommerce challenges like iOS 14 & supply chain 
  • 34:54 Exploring NFTs with a tree-planting program
  • 37:27 Enhancing the experience and getting people excited 
  • 40:20 Prioritizing the routine & how Todd does it all 

Resources:

Direct download: EI20329.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

Would you quit your day job and move to Miami to sell your new product while playing on the beach? Sounds like a dream and this founder made it a reality, with a lot of hard work, motivation and talent. 

This episode’s guest is Chris Meade, the founder of Crossnet, one of the fastest-growing games in the US. 

Chris has been on an incredible journey from quitting his job at Uber to moving to Miami to sell his dream game on the beaches. Crossnet has grown incredibly fast due to an organic viral video and word-of-mouth marketing with live events and influencers. In just a few years they’ve gone from selling 2-5 nets a month to an 8-figure business. 

Crossnet started as DTC and has expanded into big-box retail and Chris shares some of the opportunities and challenges that came with that shift. 

This is a great founder's story and an inspiration if you have a product idea. I hope you enjoy it! 

Episode Highlights:

  • 4:21 What exactly is Crossnet
  • 5:09 How the idea of Crossnet was born 
  • 7:36 Getting people to care about a brand at the start 
  • 10:09 The catalyst & viral video that started the growth
  • 13:02 Being frugal and why Crossnet has been successful 
  • 13:50 Initial marketing wins 
  • 15:17 Talking to customers and adjusting marketing to speak to them 
  • 16:50 The role of founder and changes from 2 sales a day to 8-figures 
  • 18:11 Going from eCommerce DTC to big box retail 
  • 20:54 iOS 14: its impact and how Crossnet is measuring metrics now 
  • 23:43 Tips for success with influencers 
  • 25:47 Structuring retainer deals with influencers
  • 27:24 Supply chain issues and manufacturing in China 
  • 32:03 Advertising: agencies or in-house?
  • 33:55 Lessons from running a seasonal business 
  • 36:21 Chris’s favorite marketing resources 
  • 37:47 Content marketing on LinkedIn
  • 39:40 Keeping a team engaged and excited about the product 

Resources:

Direct download: EI20328.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

How is your pop-up game? Email capture strategies to increase conversion are one of the single most important things you can do to grow your eCommerce business and if you’re using the same old “discount for email” strategy you’re missing out on potential customers. 

This is a tactical episode with how-to steps you can use to improve your email capture strategies to increase conversion right now. 

John Ozuysal is the Head of Growth at Optimonk, a platform where you can create unique, interesting pop-ups and overlays to drive more sales and capture more emails. As we all have holiday marketing top of mind, I thought it would be a great time to bring John in to share what they’re seeing success with right now and provide some inspiration as you determine how to integrate pop-ups and overlays into your Q4 strategy. 

One of the things that they've been experimenting with is conversational pop-ups and John shares how they tripled signups and boosted revenue by 25% using this method. We also cover customer value optimization and opportunities to learn more about buying behavior with qualitative pop-ups. 

If you're interested in quick, easy tweaks to your website that will make you more money… this episode is for you.

Episode Highlights:

  • 4:14 Why most eCommerce stores are using pop-ups and overlays the wrong way 
  • 5:14 How to 3X your email sign up rate with conversational pop-ups 
  • 8:02 What a conversational pop-up is and how to implement email capture strategies to increase conversion
  • 9:40 Optimizing engagement for brands with a lot of product categories 
  • 11:27 Collecting emails and phone numbers effectively and without drop off 
  • 12:02 Using curiosity and mystery instead of discount to drive sign up 
  • 13:35 John’s favorite non-monetary incentives to test 
  • 16:52 Best tips on how to increase your cart value and AOV 
  • 18:19 Using content to convert 
  • 19:30 Strategies from B2B that DTC brands should learn from including qualitative feedback
  • 22:31 The benefits of qualitative feedback when your inventory is low
  • 24:31 How qualitative feedback can decrease abandonment rates
  • 26:05 What is customer value optimization and how you should be using it 
  • 28:29 Step by step guide for using conversational pop-ups in your Black Friday marketing 

Resources:

Direct download: EI20327.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

If you hate what you’re doing - can you stop doing it? How can you stay engaged and keep your business ventures fun? Plus, using video sales letters for viral launches.

Andrew Drish is a good friend and we have spent countless hours talking about business, life, and relationships. So - I'm excited to bring him on the show and share one of these conversations with you. 

Andrew was behind The Foundation, which was a very successful accelerator for developers building software companies. In this episode he shares the story of how he pulled off its 7-figure launch, completely automated, with a video sales letter that went viral.

From there - Andrew shares the story of how he completely burnt out and then came back to entrepreneurship with a whole new approach.

Over the years, Andrew has extensively studied top-performing video ads (Purple Mattress, Squatty Potty, etc) and he shares his winning formula that you can apply directly to your own video creative (hint: it’s more about the script than the visuals).

This is a great interview - Andrew has a ton of insight on life and business and I’m always inspired after talking to him. I hope you are too.

Episode Highlights:

  • 4:34 The impact The Artist’s Way has had on running a business
  • 5:47 Learnings to make life and running a business more fun and playful
  • 8:44 Why heartbreak is the best medicine
  • 10:29 The power of the question “what would I do differently?”
  • 13:11 The wild story of launching The Foundation while at Burning Man
  • 15:26 Why Andy is now dark online and how his entrepreneurial journey has changed after burning out
  • 20:16 The key priciples of Andy’s new venture
  • 21:48 The nature of entrepreneurs and what a good operator is
  • 22:44 How to hire and build a team based on people’s nature
  • 23:35 Going from determining principles to starting a business
  • 26:00 The art and science of compelling video sales letters
  • 31:07 Using humor to get a sale 
  • 34:42 Why text should be your priority over imagery when creating a video sales letter
  • 38:08 Working with a team to create viral videos 
  • 43:47 Crypto currency and it’s potential impact on societal challenges
  • 48:48 Resources that have helped Andy on his “DeFi” journey 

Resources:

Direct download: EI20326.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

We’ve all been saying it - the world is crazy right now. So - I’m sharing what’s top of mind for me going into Q4 and 2022 including the very real energy crisis in China, opportunities to make 6+ figures flipping NFTs, and what the heck to do with paid social in Q4. 

This episode is a solo cast. I wanted to check in and talk about what's been on my mind as we prepare for Q4 and ultimately start to make our 2022 business plans. 

I’m thinking about how to optimize Facebook and Instagram for Q4 (after a crazy year). I’ve been doing daily journaling and it’s given me a great perspective on where I’m at in my business and life. I’m also talking about how the energy crisis in China will likely impact business and why you should be paying attention now. Plus, I’ll share some new exciting things to come on the podcast with an NFT series. 

I'd love to hear from you on Twitter. What are you thinking about? What's exciting to you right now? Let me know what you’d like to hear more about on the podcast. 

I hope you enjoy this solo episode - I always enjoy talking with you. 

Episode Highlights:

  • 2:30 Facebook and Instagram training for Q4
  • 3:33 The Artists Way and the profound impact it’s had on me 
  • 6:08 My predictions around the current energy crisis in China causing rolling blackouts 
  • 8:20 Managing the winter risk in the U.S. 
  • 9:18 What I’m doing to prepare 
  • 11:17 Flipping NFT’s for over 6 figures
  • 12:10 Opportunities for young people to acquire property from NFT sale profits 

Resources:

Direct download: EI_325_Solo.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

What could you do to make your website better, your ads stronger, and ultimately increase sales? Try one of these expert tips from an agency owner who’s interviewed over 150 eCommerce founders and marketers.

Chase Clymer is the host of the Honest Ecommerce podcast and also co-founder of the Electric Eye Agency. In this episode, we’re talking about mistakes that eCommerce owners make with their website and advertising and how to make simple improvements to avoid them. 

Chase and I also discuss ideas for Black Friday/Cyber Monday marketing, user testing your website, and how to actually run A/B tests. 

Lastly, Chase shares his Brand Scaling Framework philosophy and the 3 KPI’s he bases everything on.  

This is a great practical episode with expert tips and takeaways to implement today. 

Episode Highlights:

  • 3:28 Why Chase started the Honest Ecommerce Podcast 
  • 4:53 Expert tips from 168 interviews with founders & marketers 
  • 10:02 How Chase went from punk rock band to eCommerce
  • 11:44 The Brand Scaling Framework and how it works
  • 14:27 3 KPIs the Brand Scaling Framework tracks
  • 18:33 Simple, consistent improvements that lead to big improvements over time
  • 19:23 Mistakes you’re probably making on your website and expert tips on how to fix them 
  • 23:34 Why you need to be user testing your site 
  • 27:54 Reasonable testing windows for eComm brands based on volume 
  • 29:13 Exciting things that are working right now
  • 29:52 Best features of Shopify online store 2.0 
  • 34:31 How to audit your Shopify apps purpose 
  • 37:19 Black Friday/ Cyber Monday expert tips  

Resources:

Direct download: EI_324_Chase20Clymer.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

The pandemic forced many owners to shift from brick and mortar to eCommerce. Some succeeded, and some did not. 

Today’s guest was one of the successful -- she doubled her brick and mortar business revenue in 2020 by implementing Shopify, Klaviyo, and a seamless in-store and online rewards program. 

Mandy Buterra began her journey as an entrepreneur at age 50 when she started Wren and Wild a brick and mortar business featuring clean beauty and aerial yoga, in Bend, Oregon. Her business evolved and she was building a good customer base, then COVID hit.  

Instead of panicking, Mandy taught herself eCommerce and joined our Coalition membership. Listen to this episode to learn how she’s now hitting sales highs and doubled her revenue in the last year by transitioning her brick and mortar to eCommerce. 

If you’re in the transition or considering turning your brick and mortar into an online store this episode is filled with good tips about how to integrate the two business models. If you’re already running an eCommerce business Mandy also has tons of tips around how to build a rewards program and smart email marketing to build customer loyalty. 

This is a well-rounded conversation and I know you’ll walk away with at least one tip to implement in your business.

Episode Highlights:

  • 4:54 How Mandy started as an entrepreneur
  • 8:30 Taking time for clarity before launching a business 
  • 9:14 Restarting, again, after losing a lease 
  • 11:11 Mandy’s brick and mortar and how COVID impacted it 
  • 13:57 How launching a Shopify site doubled business 
  • 15:28 Brick and mortar to eCommerce: the differences and advice for people transitioning
  • 17:04 The importance of data and capturing email in store 
  • 18:13 Transitioning a rewards program from brick and mortar to eCommerce
  • 19:38 Rewards program recommendations
  • 20:20 What makes a good rewards program
  • 23:04 Things that have moved the needle in Mandy’s business 
  • 27:29 SKU management and how to narrow and focus offerings 
  • 30:30: Planning for Q4 and holiday 
  • 31:41 The importance of a network when you’re growing a business 
  • 33:50 What brought Mandy’s site from a 1.9% conversion rate to 3.9%
  • 35:54 Advice for people growing and building a business

Resources:

Direct download: EI20323.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

Are you building to sell? You should be. Even if selling isn’t your main priority it will make you a better business owner and it will make the value of your business higher. This episode has the details of how to do it. 

Joe Valley is the author of The Exitpreneur’s Playbook and a buyer and seller of many online businesses, both on his own and now as a broker with Quietlight.com. 

Joe’s book is designed to help you get maximum value for your online business and in this episode we go deep into his vast knowledge of building to sell. He answers a ton of questions you should be asking when you’re thinking about selling your business, what multiples to look at for eCommerce, plus he shares mistakes you might be making now and how to prevent those BEFORE you’re getting ready to sell. 

It's an excellent interview and Joe is truly an expert in building to sell. If you’re ever going to want to sell your business or have thought about buying a business in the future you’re going to get a ton of value in this episode. 

Episode Highlights:

  • 4:03 Why Joe wrote his book
  • 6:14 Who an Exitpreneur is and building to sell
  • 7:11 The argument for building and selling a business
  • 10:17 How Joe sets tangible goals with real data
  • 11:41 Where to start when determining the value of your business 
  • 17:09 How to find a good bookkeeper 
  • 18:47 The multiple you should be looking for in eCommerce
  • 22:13 Why you should separate inventory when looking at the value of a business 
  • 24:19 Joe’s take on aggregators and the roll-ups of FBA (fulfilled by Amazon) and Shopify stores
  • 29:50 Things to look out for in deal terms and the “stability payment” 
  • 32:19 Do roll-ups blow up or end up incredibly successful?
  • 34:36 When you should start planning if you’re building to sell your business 
  • 36:46 How to “exit without exiting” 
  • 39:06 Is there a sweet spot for time to sell a business?
  • 42:09 Joe’s first 3 actions to have success with your first acquisition
  • 46:31 How deals are financed on Joe’s site
  • 50:32 What Joe’s excited about right now

Resources:

Direct download: EI_320_Joe20Valley.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

Building a business is filled with amazing highs and big lows. Despite some tough blows in the early days, one eCommerce founder kept his commitment to his personal health and family and found success on the other side.

Jay Campbell is the owner of Aseir Custom, and in this episode he shares his wild journey of building a business. We go deep into what he's learned through major manufacturing issues and how he managed customer experience after that. We discuss how he unlocked massive growth working with influencers. We also talk about Jay’s commitments to his family and personal health and how for the last 5 years he has taken a trip with his wife every 8 weeks. 

Aseir Custom went from about $16k / month in sales in February 2021 to hitting $250k in August 2021. The journey has been anything but linear and there’s a lot to learn from this story. Jay has a great mindset and he shares the raw truth of his experience going through incredibly challenging times while seeing rapid growth in the business simultaneously. 

If you are an operator in the weeds, building a business, or experiencing rapid growth you will get a lot out of this discussion.

Episode Highlights

  • 5:16 How Jay and his wife plan their “every eight weeks” travel adventures 
  • 8:01 Jay’s transition to eCommerce 
  • 11:09 The beginning of Jay’s hair regrowth business 
  • 17:07 Managing Black Friday with major manufacturing issues 
  • 19:54 How Jay and his business partner recovered their business from almost shutting down
  • 25:47 The realities of running an eCommerce business and trying to scale 
  • 28:30 The benefits of getting help in the early stages of building a business 
  • 33:53 Learning from the first year and a half of Jay’s business 
  • 39:43 How Jay manages work while he’s traveling 

Links And Resources

Direct download: EI20321.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

Is TikTok the new frontier for social advertising? How to get reliable Facebook ad performance data post iOS 14? These are some of the questions The Social Savannah is answering for us today.

This episode features Savannah Sanchez a media buyer and owner of The Social Savannah. Savannah started her advertising career at large agencies working on Facebook ad accounts.  In 2019 she left to create her own boutique agency helping eCommerce brands with their paid social advertising.  

She is a prolific creator of ads and creative as well as an optimization expert. She has cracked the code of TikTok ads and continues to be a top creator of winning Facebook creative.  

In this episode Savannah and I discuss how to get started with TikTok ads, the key metrics to be tracking on Facebook post iOS 14, how creative strategies should vary between social channels, and some of the tools Savannah uses to track metrics across channels. Savannah also shares her vast knowledge working with TikTok influencers and what you can do to see success there. 

If you are running a brand or doing digital marketing, you're gonna get a lot out of this episode!

Plus: if you’re a member of the Coalition check out Savannah's recent training: Demystifying TikTok.

Episode Highlights

  • 4:40 Savannah’s community of media buyers 
  • 7:26 How Savannah got started in advertising 
  • 12:05 Takeaways from running media budgets of $100k+
  • 15:03 The biggest difference between Facebook and TikTok ad account strategies 
  • 18:04 How to start from zero with TikTok advertising 
  • 21:05 Finding TikTok content creators 
  • 22:26 Going viral on TikTok 
  • 23:22 What a good hit rate is for TikTok 
  • 24:37 How KPI’s differ by social channel 
  • 28:53 The biggest changes on post iOS 14 Facebook 
  • 32:31 MER (marketing efficiency ratio): Savannahs favorite KPI 
  • 35:35 How long does it take to set up cross channel reporting for a simple channel strategy 
  • 38:26 The technical set up for TikTok 
  • 39:14 Using TikTok influencers to run ads
  • 42:06 What Savannah’s daily life looks like 
  • 44:03 Savannahs favorite tools
  • 1:01:52 Tips for success when breaking out on your own 

Links And Resources

Direct download: EI_320_SavannahSanchez.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

In this Greatest Hits episode we're revisiting a conversation about market disruption and big goals. JT Marino shares the story of his dream to build a company that would disrupt the mattress industry.

JT Marino was the co-founder of Tuft & Needle, and this is his story of bootstrapping his way from nothing to the largest online mattress retailer in the world.

JT, who is now the Chief Strategy Officer for SSB Phoenix, joins us to share his incredible story.

We talk about why customer-centricity was one of Tuft & Needle’s core principles from the beginning, and the role it played in their eventual merger with Serta Simmons. JT shares his thoughts on the importance, as a founder, of having an intimate understanding of how every aspect of your business works, and why they decided not to take any outside investments when they first started out.

This is one of my favorite founder interviews we’ve done and I hope you enjoy it!

Episode Highlights

  • 4:58 Introducing JT Marino
  • 6:47 How the friendship and partnership started between the founders of Turf & Needle, JT and Daehee
  • 11:13 How the Tuft & Needle co-founders maintain a strong friendship while running a business together
  • 12:51 How JT’s prior experience with heavily-funded, but unsuccessful, Silicon Valley start-ups influenced Tuft & Needle’s decision to not take outside investments.
  • 17:21 The importance of identifying “the problem” when you’re building a business, and how this led to the creation of Tuft & Needle
  • 19:28 Some of the other principles the Tuft & Needle founders committed to before starting their business
  • 22:11 How JT and Daehee used a problem-solution approach to determine whether they had a product-market fit for Tuft & Needle
  • 27:59 The benefits of being highly involved with and having an intimate understanding of every aspect of the business, from manufacturing to supply chain to marketing
  • 31:30 How Tuft & Needle moved through the pit of sorrow and started to scale
  • 35:12 How a Hacker News blog post contributed to explosive growth of Tuft & Needle
  • 37:51 The importance of customer satisfaction and word-of-mouth to Tuft & Needle’s success, especially when they had a limited advertising budget
  • 39:40 The various channels that helped grow the business over time
  • 42:45 JT's approach to tracking attribution across a variety of channels
  • 45:55 How Tuft & Needle developed advertising techniques and targeting that span across digital and non-digital
  • 50:34 The unconventional reason Tuft & Needle started selling on Amazon
  • 53:39 The Net Promoter Score target T&F set before making the decision to list on Amazon
  • 56:10 JT’s advice if you’re considering selling on Amazon and the importance of looking at the market picture as you start to grow
  • 59:35 The role customer-centricity played in Tuft & Needle’s decision to merge with Serta
  • 1:06:46 The future of the mattress industry
  • 1:09:48 JT shares his hobbies and what’s in store for him in the next year
  •  

Links And Resources

Direct download: EI_320_JT_Morino20Replay_v2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

We’re bringing back this Greatest Hit with 6 quick wins you can execute today to grow your business immediately. 

I get asked for my growth checklist for eCommerce businesses all the time so I'm bringing back this episode with Andrew Foxwell on how to grow your business with 6 tactical and quick wins you can implement today.

We're sharing the tried and true things we know work from Facebook ad set up to email segmentation, and website optimization to customer acquisition. I guarantee these tips will help you generate sales and you'll see results immediately.

Enjoy!

Episode Highlights

  • 3:59 Quick Win #1: 4-6% Lookalikes based off pixel value.
  • 5:21 Quick Win #2: Identify previous customers who are likely to spend again, but who are no longer on your email list, and hit them with remarketing.
  • 6:57 Quick Win #3: Integrate your Klaviyo audiences with Facebook.
  • 8:08 Quick Win #4: Turn great text reviews into video reviews.
  • 10:48 Quick Win #5: Use bid caps to ensure your Facebook ads are being shown.
  • 12:39 Quick Win #6: Get a fresh perspective on your website.

Links And Resources

Direct download: EI_318_620quick20hits20replay.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

Positioning your brand correctly is the most powerful thing you can do to attract and retain customers. Effective copywriting is how you do it. 

My guest on this episode is none other than The Email Copywriter, Chris Orzechowski, and he’s here to deliver massive value about copywriting, positioning, and marketing strategy. 

We talk about how to think about copywriting, ways to improve your emails, and different styles of email campaigns and flows. We go deep into positioning and ways to unlock advertising angles for your brand that are probably already inside your own head if you’re passionate about your business and products. 

Chris is a member of the Coalition, our community of 250+ eComm founders, and recently did a training on How to Make Your Emails Irresistible. It’s one of our most popular trainings so definitely check it out. If you’re interested in joining the Coalition to access this training and more like it, sign up here

Episode Highlights:

  • 4:08 How Chris became The Email Copywriter 
  • 4:54 Why Chris chose to focus on eCommerce copywriting
  • 9:01 Where Chris’s advertising inspiration comes from
  • 11:36 Debunking the biggest misconception about email marketing - sending too many emails 
  • 15:18 Long form copy - why you should test it 
  • 19:28 Writing about your product with dimensionalized benefits 
  • 21:07 Levels of market sophistication and how to position yourself in your industry
  • 24:21 Appealing to your market identity 
  • 26:26 Chris’s favorite email testing opportunities
  • 28:15 The process Chris uses to test copy 
  • 32:08 Copywriting that shifts people’s mindset 
  • 33:17 Using your product knowledge to write inspiring copy 
  • 39:09 How to talk to your customers to inform your copywriting
  • 40:49 The future of email marketing - what you should be thinking about
  • 46:11 What’s working right now in email marketing - things to test today
  • 52:28 The new marketing copy opportunity - SMS 
  • 58:59 How to hire a copywriter 

Resources:

Direct download: EI_317_Chris0_v2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

I have worked with hundreds of different companies at various stages of growth, from pre-launch to multi-million dollar acquisitions. In this Greatest Hits episode we're talking about scaling a brand and what it takes. 

This is the first episode in our scaling series, where we’ll talk about each stage of growth and the challenges you're going to face as you scale up your business from zero to 8-figures.

In this “zero to launch” episode where we’ll address some of the questions you’ll face when you’re determining how to launch and going from an idea for a product to actually getting sales.

If you enjoy this episode be sure to go back and check out the other core episodes in our Scaling Series that will give you value whether you're at the beginning, already making 7-figures, or somewhere in the middle.

Enjoy!

Episode Highlights

  • 5:04 Why we decided to do a scaling series.
  • 9:12 The most important thing when you’re just starting out? Feedback.
  • 10:29 Knowing what your community looks like is critical for scaling.
  • 13:45 Once you know your community, identify their buying power and your market potential.
  • 15:43 A zero to launch case study.
  • 18:21 Common missteps at this stage.
  • 19:45 Creating a “talk trigger” product.

Links And Resources

Direct download: EI_316_Scaling20Episode20120Replay.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

In this episode we have a handful of quick and easy wins that have been tested and proven to increase revenue. If you’re looking for a win that also saves you time - it’s in here. 

Lisa Byrnes is a marketing and business coach. She's also a member of the Coalition, our community of 250+ eCommerce business owners and experts. 

After 17 years managing multi-million dollar brands, Lisa left her corporate job and started her own marketing business to support emerging eCommerce business owners (specifically women) build their marketing strategy and fulfill their own dreams. 

We’re talking tactical easy wins for emerging brands ($10k - $50k) and this episode is filled with great action items that won’t take much time but could have a big impact on your business. 

Enjoy!

Episode Highlights:

  • 4:47 Why Lisa started her coaching business and her focus on female entrepreneurs
  • 7:33 The biggest mistakes emerging brands make
  • 10:10 Strategy: marketing towards a persona instead of a demographic
  • 13:17 Common website mistakes that are easy to fix 
  • 16:00 How to tell your authentic brand story & and the marketing power of a founders face
  • 18:50 Brands who successfully showcase the founder as the face of the brand 
  • 22:12 Easy things to do to engage with customers 
  • 25:26 How to focus and not immediately dive into the next new and exciting marketing idea 
  • 29:09 How the Coalition has helped Lisa grow her business 
  • 29:57 Voice of customer copywriting technique 
  • 31:36 One thing to take away from this episode and implement this week 

Resources:

Direct download: EI_315_LisaByrne_V2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

There Are 2 Directions Your Ecomm Brand Can Go - You Can Be A Brand That Scales Up, Or You Can Flop. In This Greatest Hits Episode We Share the Secrets We've Seen Behind The Brands That Make it Big. 

Some eCommerce brands make it big while others stall out, it’s a fact. But there’s really no big mystery behind why this happens.

Today we're revisiting an interview I gave on the Ecommerce Evolution Podcast by my good friend Brett Curry. We break down what separates eCommerce brands that scale up versus those that plateau.

Brett and I talk about a variety of things, including average order value and lifetime value, and how that directly impacts your ability to scale up. We talk about demand generation versus demand capture: which is "better" and which lends itself to being able to scale. We talk about the roadmap to building a team and scaling up your business, how your role as a CEO changes as you grow, and much, much more.

This is a great conversation with a lot of tips from Brett and me. I hope you enjoy!

Episode Highlights

  • 5:54 Why I’m so passionate about dissecting why some brands scale and others don’t.
  • 7:25 The KPIs that separate the businesses that can scale from those that can't.
  • 8:47 Demand capture vs. demand generation and which one will allow you to scale.
  • 12:20 Factors I look for when evaluating a product’s potential for growth.
  • 14:22 How a passionate market can contribute to success.
  • 18:32 Why having competitors in your market is a good thing.
  • 19:13 Average order value and lifetime value: why they’re important and what to look for if you want to scale.
  • 22:17 How to evaluate CPA across different channels and the other metric I recommend examining.
  • 24:59 It’s OK if your business doesn’t scale -- and this is why.
  • 27:57 Growing your business by expanding your product line.
  • 31:49 A true entrepreneur falls in love with their customers, not their product.
  • 33:16 Great founders know when to ask for help.
  • 34:46 Why business founders need to become experts at their marketing channels before handing over the reins.
  • 38:52 How a CEO’s role shifts as the company grows.

Links And Resources

Direct download: EI_314_Why20Some20Brans20Scale20Replay.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

Raising capital can go two ways - it can help you reach your goals faster or be disastrous and destroy your business. 

Karen Howland is the managing director at Circle Up, an investment platform that uses technology to invest in early-stage businesses (mostly health and wellness CPG companies). She’s been investing in companies for the last eight years, and in this conversation, we go deep into early-stage investing, what entrepreneurs need to know about raising capital, and the mistakes she sees entrepreneurs make along the way.

Karen also shares what opportunities are out there right now and what she's most excited about. 

If you’re considering raising capital for your business or are interested in investing this episode will give you the tips and tricks to get started. 

Episode Highlights

  • 4:12 How Karen first got excited about investing 
  • 5:35 The mission of Circle Up and what makes them different from other investment firms
  • 8:32 What’s hot right now in the health and wellness space 
  • 12:47 Why it’s so hard for large CPG companies to incubate and develop their own new products 
  • 15:21 How Covid may have created the opportunity for CPG companies to innovate right now
  • 17:43 The biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make when raising capital
  • 24:14 Investing in CPG companies vs. investing in tech companies 
  • 28:10 Patterns in companies that have massive success 
  • 30:24 How Amazon, retail, and DTC companies can exist together 
  • 36:05 What the future of protecting your brand on Amazon will look like
  • 40:44 From raising capital to strategic exit - where entrepreneurs have the most challenges
  • 43:55 Areas that Karen is excited about investing in

Resources:

Direct download: EI20313_V2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

Buffy was one of the first brands to crack paid social. As today's Facebook advertisers scramble to adjust to changes on the platform we revisit this Greatest Hits episode to learn from one of the best. 

What started as an idea to disrupt the bedding industry has grown into a multi-million dollar business.

This summer we’re re-releasing some of our top episodes of all time, and this week we’re bringing back this incredibly relevant show with Buffy co-founder Shoaib Kabani.

We talk about everything from product development, to the importance of testing, how landing pages can improve your funnel, and what performance KPIs you have to be thinking about as you scale on paid social.

Whether you’re a business owner or an ecommerce marketer, you’re going to get a lot out of this episode.

Enjoy!

Episode Highlights

  • 5:55 How a desire to change the bedding industry led to the creation of Buffy.
  • 7:27 The training Shoaib got from his start in consulting that’s helped him as an entrepreneur.
  • 8:41Developing the initial idea and concept for Buffy: providing value and values.
  • 10:35 The process of validating the concept online, on social, and in person before going all in.
  • 13:33 How do I make this a no brainer for the consumer?
  • 15:20 What’s worked for Buffy from a creative perspective and changes they’ve made as they’ve scaled.
  • 19:42 Some of the unintended consequences of having a free trial offer.
  • 21:01 Unique KPIs Shoaib looks at on a daily basis.
  • 23:03 A funnel analysis tool that’s been a game changer as Buffy’s scaled up.
  • 24:16 The materials and brand values that make Buffy stand out in the bedding industry.
  • 26:27 How Buffy uses landing pages to enhance its sales funnel.
  • 29:11 Addressing customer lifetime value when you have a limited number of products.
  • 33:15 Shoaib’s approach to launching into new ad channels, specifically with affiliates and podcasts.
  • 37:59 How the Buffy founders set their budget for testing new channels and concepts.
  • 40:13 What you, the ecommerce business owner, need to be thinking about to be successful.
  • 42:48 Exciting insight into what’s next for Buffy.

Links And Resources

Direct download: EI_31020Buffy20Replay.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

Are you winging it when it comes to processes and systems in your business? Today’s guest will help you stop before you spiral out of control. 

Joshua Uebergang is a master of processes and systems. He is the director of Digital Darts, a Shopify agency based in Australia, as well as a certified Shopify Marketing Expert. He is also a member of the Coalition

In this episode, we get an inside look into an ultra-organized mind. We talk hiring process, the importance of SOPs (and how to write them), iOS 14 mistakes and opportunities, and tools and resources to create your own processes and systems.  

Leave this episode with direct actions to get more organized and build a business structure so stable “a fool could run it.” 

 

Episode Highlights:

  • 4:19 What Joshua is most interested in right now post-iOS 14 apocalypse
  • 6:00 How Joshua got into eCommerce and the shift from Magento to Shopify
  • 8:39 Key processes and systems that helped Digital Darts grow over the last 6 years 
  • 10:42 Why you need a step-by-step hiring process
  • 12:01 The tools Joshua uses to manage processes 
  • 15:00 Defining the “why” in SOPs - not just the how
  • 16:40 Comparing project management tools 
  • 17:45 How the Coalition helped Joshua level up in his business
  • 22:17 Thinking about systems not only in business but also in your relationships
  • 24:05 Common mistakes from the front lines of iOS 14 
  • 26:57 iOS 15 - how concerned should you really be?
  • 39:18 Books that have helped Joshua on his journey 
  • 31:05 Is it easier to run a business with 8 people or 2 people?

Links and Resources:

Direct download: EI_311_v2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

What Would Pura Vida Do? From Start-Up to Multi-Million Exit We Talk Strategy With One of The Top Ecommerce Brands Today. 

When someone asks about eCommerce best practices, we always hear, “well, what’s Pura Vida doing?” and in this episode we’re talking with Pura Vida CEO, Griffin Thall, to get an inside look at their strategies, how the company’s grown over the last several years, the way his role has evolved, and what it’s actually like to prepare your company for a multi-million dollar sale.  Get a behind-the-scenes look at Pura Vida's exit strategy.


Interested in the Coalition training with Griffin? You can join the Coalition membership here for access to this and many other great trainings and resources.

Episode Highlights:

  • 7:00 What got Griffin and Pura Vida to where they are today.
  • 8:03 How Griffin’s role has changed as the company’s grown.
  • 9:33 Pura Vida’s unique influencer strategy and how it started.
  • 13:23 Relentless innovation and how Pura Vida continues to increase customer lifetime value.
  • 15:53 The moment Griffin realized the brand was going to be a success.
  • 17:09 How Pura Vida’s growth strategy has changed over time.
  • 18:32 The challenges Griffin’s faced over the years as CEO.
  • 20:47 Where Griffin’s seen the most success in hiring.
  • 22:47 How Pura Vida’s ambassador program started, and where it’s at today.
  • 22:56 A day in the life of the Pura Vida CEO, and the value of growing a team.
  • 25:00 Why you’ve got to stop wearing all the hats in your business if you want it to scale up.
  • 28:49 What you should be focusing on as a founder, instead of getting enticed by the newest Shopify app.
  • 30:03 A key approach for brands launching today vs 6 years ago.
  • 32:28 Lessons learned about managing cash while scaling up.
  • 34:22 Pura Vida’s exit - how they ended up making a deal with Vera Bradley, and the process of finding and securing that kind of partnership.
  • 38:42 Griffin’s biggest takeaway from meeting with investors.
  • 40:15 The expansive value Pura Vida’s gained from their partnership with Vera Bradley.
  • 42:14 What Griffin’s excited about right now and some things in store for Pura Vida in 2020.

Links and Resources:

Direct download: EI_310_GriffinThall_Replay.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

 

In a world full of varying attribution models, collecting and using data is critical to understanding your customers and running a successful business.

Kevin Hillstrom is President of MineThatData, a consultancy that uses data to help executives better understand the relationship between their customers, advertising, products, brands, and channels. Kevin supports a diverse set of clients, from internet startups, to billion dollar multichannel retailers and previously held various roles at major retailers like Nordstrom, Eddie Bauer, and Lands' End.

In this episode, we talk about the myths of eCommerce, how using data can help boost repeat purchase rate, when and where to discount and how to deal with the attribution problem of running multi-channel marketing. Kevin’s been the influence for a lot of what I’ve done in my own business, and I know you’ll enjoy the conversation.

Episode Highlights:

  • 4:24 How (and why) Kevin consistently publishes daily blog content
  • 6:47 Kevin’s background from working in analytics to starting his own business
  • 9:15 The biggest challenge business owners face around their analytics and using data
  • 12:08 Approaching the attribution problem
  • 17:21 Identifying low-cost and no-cost acquisition channels for your brand
  • 21:04 Using data to retain the new customers you acquired in 2020 
  • 27:06 Building a solid foundation that will pay back in conversion dividends over time
  • 31:42 When to start investing in the “welcome program” mentality
  • 35:46 Looking at repeat purchase rate data
  • 41:24 The biggest mistake business owners make when evaluating data
  • 45:14 The discount challenge - when & where is the place for discounts
  • 48:13 Everyone thinks their customers are loyal - why they’re actually not
  • 52:04 Where to go to learn more about Kevin

Links and Resources:

Direct download: EI20309_KevinHillstrom_Midroll_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

Imagine the insights you'd glean if you could get a behind-the-scenes look at five different brands at once. Lucky for you today's guest is pulling back the curtain. 

Andrew Faris is the host of the Ecommerce Playbook Podcast and CEO of eCommerce holding company, 4x400. After helping grow one brand from $0 to $20MM in less than 2 years, Andrew founded 4x400, where he supports five different eCommerce brands.

In this episode, Andrew shares the challenges he's faced and how his mindset has changed while running multiple eCommerce businesses simultaneously. We discuss the shift he anticipates we'll see in how brands reach their audiences in the near future and the channels he's investing in as a result of this. 

If you're an eCommerce operator, you won't want to miss this episode.

Episode Highlights:

  • 4:13 The meaning of 4x400 and how it relates to business growth.
  • 6:11 Andrew's beginnings in the eCommerce world.
  • 10:20 The challenges of operating multiple eCommerce businesses at once and the depth of learning that comes with it.
  • 15:57 What Andrew's team at 4x400 looks like.
  • 19:03 Metrics Andrew regularly looks at to track brands' success.
  • 21:34 Impacts of the iOS 14 update across five different brands. 
  • 24:57 Channels Andrew is investing in as a result of Facebook's volatility.
  • 29:45 The mindset shift entrepreneurs need to make around attribution.
  • 32:37 Why you should take a cautious approach to your 2021 projections, especially if you crushed it in 2020.
  • 33:59 How Andrew measures success and the difference between his free cash flow and EBITA goals. 
  • 37:15 Recommended resources for eCommerce entrepreneurs.
  • 40:10 Lessons Andrew's learned as he's grown into a leader in his business.
  • 45:25 Things that are making Andrew's life better right now.

Links and Resources:

Direct download: EI_308_Updated.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

Think you need to sacrifice everything to have a successful business? You're wrong.

When you get to a certain point in your business' growth, sacrificing your relationships and your health is the worst thing you can do for your ongoing success.

We help you scale up without sacrificing everything or feeling overwhelmed. Today, I'm walking through our current programs so you can determine which one is the right fit for you. 

Episode Highlights:

  • 3:37 A coaching community with tools to help you scale up
  • 6:41 Building connections with established eCommerce entrepreneurs
  • 10:02 Accelerating your growth without adding more to your plate
  • 12:03 Expanding your network and keeping yourself accountable
  • 14:21 Where to go if you're ready to level up in your business

Links and Resources:

Direct download: EI_Flash_3.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

Most people start a business because they dream of freedom. But in reality, they build themselves a prison.

Having 7 or 8-figure revenue only does so much good if your entire business is dependent on you. I see so many business owners with more stress and less free time.

The good news is, it doesn't have to be this way.

In this episode, I'm sharing the 7-step roadmap for how to build a self-managing company that brings you joy and gives you the freedom you've always desired. 

If you're ready to get more freedom in your business, without sacrificing your health, personal life, or family, you need to check out Intentional Wealth. It's an 8-week accelerator for eCommerce business owners that kicks off July 7. The enrollment period is open now, and the program is filling up quickly. Get the details here.

Episode Highlights:

  • 3:05 Step #1 for building a self-managing company: Change your mindset about what's possible.
  • 5:07 Step #2: Understand what you're really selling.
  • 7:11 Step #3: Start thinking like a general manager, not a coach.
  • 9:37 Step #4 for building a self-managing company: Share your intent, not your outline.
  • 12:21 Step #5: Narrow down your metrics and give your team autonomy.
  • 14:43 Step #6: Embrace delegation as a competitive advantage.
  • 17:01 Step #7 for building a self-managing company: Find your mentors.

Links and Resources:

Direct download: Flash_2_Building_a_self-managing_Company.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

Are you making at least 20% of your revenue from email marketing? If not, today’s guest is here to tell you how.

Chase Dimond is a prolific email marketer who is making a lot of noise in the eCommerce arena. In 2018, he launched an email marketing agency called Boundless Labs that supports 6-9 figure eCommerce companies. Since then, he and his team have helped their clients send hundreds of millions of emails resulting in over $50 million in email attributable revenue.

Chase joins us on today’s episode to share his knowledge on email marketing for eCommerce. He offers specific and tangible actions you can take to drive more sales and increase your email marketing revenue, talks about what works in email and what doesn’t, how to optimize your opt-ins, and how to find talented copywriters.

Enjoy!

Episode Highlights:

  • 4:26 The Bernie Singles Case Study
  • 8:10 Common misconceptions about email marketing
  • 10:05 Chase’s early career in email marketing
  • 14:02 How Chase took complete ownership of his marketing funnel
  • 17:54 The easiest ways to increase your eCommerce revenue with email marketing
  • 20:09 How to maximize your email opt-ins 
  • 22:31 Does gamification work for opt-ins?
  • 23:36 Chase’s email diagnostic checklist
  • 27:27 What types of products should be invested in email marketing
  • 32:09 The future of SMS marketing and what is overhyped
  • 36:41 How to find talented copywriters and designers
  • 39:53 Resources that helped Chase build Boundless Labs
  • 42:47 What motivates Chase to stay committed to email marketing

Links and Resources:

Direct download: EI307_Chase_Diamond_Midroll.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

Do you want to unlock massive growth or stay small? If you're unsure why your eCommerce business isn't growing, this episode is for you.

Over the last five years, I've worked with businesses that have grown from $100K per month to $1MM per month, and I've worked with businesses that have continued to stay small, despite their desire for growth.

In this bonus episode, I'm sharing the 9 reasons why your eCommerce business isn't growing, and how you can change that.

If you're ready to unlock growth in your business, without sacrificing your health, personal life, or family, you need to check out Intentional Wealth. It's an 8-week accelerator for eCommerce business owners that kicks off July 7. The enrollment period is open now, and the program is filling up quickly. Get the details here.

Episode Highlights:

  • 2:51 Reason #1 why your eCommerce business isn't growing: You're scarcity focused
  • 4:12 Reason #2: You aren't keeping up when the game changes
  • 5:24 Reason #3: Superhero Syndrome
  • 7:23 Reason #4 why your eCommerce business isn't growing: You aren't managing your cash
  • 8:35 Reason #5: You're transaction-focused instead of transformation-focused
  • 11:20 Reason #6: You're focused on tactics instead of strategy
  • 12:46: Reason #7: You don't know what you want or what your business is
  • 16:31 Reason #8 why your eCommerce business isn't growing: You think in terms of cost, not investment
  • 18:12 Reason #9: You're trying to do it all alone.

Links and Resources:

Direct download: EI_Flash_9_Reasons.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

After a decade of fast-paced growth, are you wondering what’s next in eCommerce? Today’s guest is here to share his predictions.

Three-time returning guest Andrew Youderian is back on today’s show. Andrew is a well-known entrepreneur in the eCommerce space, host of the eCommerce Fuel Podcast and the owner of the eCommerce Fuel forum.

In this episode, we do some big picture thinking on what’s next in eCommerce, what we’ve seen coming and going, Facebook trends and the future of Amazon. We also touch on brand building, emerging channels to pay attention to and what we think is on the horizon.

Episode Highlights:

  • 5:39 Fast-paced growth and what’s next in eCommerce
  • 8:39 The state of Amazon for eCommerce sellers
  • 13:00 Is Facebook advertising going to be a thing of the future or the past?
  • 18:46 Why Andrew Youderian doesn’t think Facebook is the path to sustainable growth
  • 23:40 Strategies for owning your relationship with your community
  • 28:10 Are you still experiencing asymmetric returns?
  • 32:42 How to take advantage of emerging channels to grow your audience
  • 35:49 Why Andrew closed the eCommerce Fuel job board
  • 40:04 Exciting new tools and the future of Facebook groups
  • 45:47 Why social trust is critical to the success of businesses

Links and Resources:

Direct download: EI306_Andrew_Youderian_Midroll.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

Writing copy that converts has nothing to do with magically pulling the perfect words out of thin air. It’s about learning how to copy + paste.

At least that’s what Val Geisler - email marketing conversion copywriter, strategist for B2C startups and Customer Evangelist at Klaviyo - has to say. Val has been a part of the eCommerce community for a long time and is a master at the art of conducting meaningful customer research that translates into copy that converts.

Val joins us today to dive deep into email marketing for eCommerce brands, marketing automation, copywriting, and how you can use words to increase the perceived value of your brand. We also talk about how to improve your email flows, how you should be using SMS, and what it means to build your acquisition flywheel.

If you want to learn how to set up email flows and automations, check out our Email Growth Guide and Intensive Course inside the Coalition

Episode Highlights:

  • 4:18 The easiest way to write copy that converts
  • 8:27 How to conduct meaningful customer research
  • 12:16 Val's new role at Klaviyo
  • 21:40 The emails you absolutely need to do customer research for
  • 26:13 Val’s approach to balancing qualitative and quantitative data
  • 32:06 Klaviyo’s SMS product update 
  • 36:54 How do upgrade your flows with SMS
  • 41:31 Ways you can optimize your abandoned cart
  • 47:31 The power of marketing automation
  • 52:00 How to design your customer acquisition flywheel
  • 55:29 Val’s Email Marketing Hall of Fame

Links and Resources:

Direct download: EI_304_ValGeisler.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

Is your business built to sell? John Warrillow is here to help you harvest the value of your company.

John Warrillow is the founder of The Value Builder System, a Top 10 Forbes Ranked Podcast host, and author of Built to Sell, a best-selling book that’s helped over 50,000 businesses build more valuable companies. Throughout his career, he's founded and exited four companies and now dedicates his time to helping entrepreneurs sell their own for higher multiples.

Listen now for John’s most valuable advice on the secret to a successful exit, key pillars for being built to sell, how to create more value in your business, and the biggest mistakes he sees entrepreneurs make when trying to do this on their own.

Episode Highlights:

  • 6:49 The secret to having a successful exit
  • 12:04 How much you should get for your business
  • 19:26 The number one job you have as a business owner
  • 23:58 Why so few entrepreneurs turn pro
  • 28:49 Tactical ways you can increase the long term value of your business
  • 36:20 The power of taking a pause in entrepreneurship
  • 43:54 The biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make when selling their business
  • 49:49 What to do if you are forced to take an earnout 

Links and Resources:

Direct download: 303-JonWarrilow_ShipBob.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

From changes in consumer privacy to new business models popping constantly, the Ecommerce landscape is changing and it's changing fast.

Here to help you keep up is my good friend Brett Curry. Brett is an entrepreneur, eCommerce strategist, and host of the eCommerce Evolution podcast. He leads an incredibly talented team at OMG Commerce, and today we're diving into what's new in eCommerce.

We talk about the future of eCommerce advertising and who should be most concerned about upcoming privacy changes. Brett shares his formula for creating consistently great content, I share what makes lucrative subscription models work, and we touch on how our roles as CEOs and operators have evolved as our businesses have grown.

Episode Highlights:

  • 4:44 The future of eCommerce: A return to the renaissance
  • 8:26 Google’s changes to audience targeting and attribution
  • 11:29 Why agencies and freelancers should be weary of privacy changes
  • 19:12 The formula for consistently creating high-converting content
  • 28:02 Why subscription models aren't going away anytime soon
  • 31:13 How to make a subscription model work for your business
  • 35:51 Three types of subscription models to consider
  • 42:31 How to keep up with the speed of change in business
  • 44:32 What being a basketball coach and CEO have in common
  • 48:10 Austin’s perspective shift on his role in business
  • 53:43 Check out the eCommerce Evolution Podcast

Links and Resources:

Direct download: 303_BrettCurry.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

It's time to stop losing customers and start understanding them.

Sean D’Souza, author of The Brain Audit, founder of Psychotactics, and host of The Three Month Vacation Podcast, is a Marketing Strategist and expert on consumer psychology. He’s one of the most articulate and well-spoken people I’ve met in the field of marketing and he’s here to help you figure out why you aren’t selling as much as you should.

In this episode, Sean sets the record straight on the number one reason your customers back out of a purchase. We also dive into how to ease your customer’s fears, the importance of having a uniqueness factor, and how to start understanding your customers in a deeper way so you can stop losing customers.

Sean is giving a training inside of the Coalition on May 11th called, “Buy Your Life Back: How to Raise Prices and Not Lose Customers”. Apply to join the Coalition today so you don’t miss out.

Episode Highlights:

  • 4:23 Why Sean D'Souza created "psychotactics"
  • 6:41 What stops people from taking a 3-month vacation
  • 10:57 The best way to stop losing customers
  • 19:30 Why your business needs to have a uniqueness factor
  • 25:12 How to come up with your uniqueness factor
  • 32:15 Unpacking the misconception around sales
  • 37:07 Tiger Woods' iconic shot and what it has to do with your customers
  • 40:58 How to start understanding your customer in a deeper way
  • 45:04 Learn more about Sean D'Souza
  • 47:08 Sean’s top recommendation for a vacation destination

Links and Resources:

Direct download: 302_SeanDeSousa_Gorgias.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

Trying to get valuable time back from your business? Steve Chou and I are here to talk about how automation helps us work smarter.

Steve Chou, host of the My Wife Quit Her Job Podcast, has built a large business that only requires the help of one VA. From managing a robust social media calendar to tackling email marketing, Steve has cracked the code on how to do more with less.

Steve and I share a joint passion for helping entrepreneurs build businesses that don't consume their entire life. If you've been feeling overworked and bogged down in the weeds of your business, this episode is for you. Tune in to hear how we've freed up our time by automating five key areas of our businesses: hiring, social media, email marketing, our inbox, and project management.

Episode Highlights:

  • 4:10 Automation #1: Your hiring process
  • 10:18 Automation #2: Your social media production
  • 15:07 Automation #3: Your inbox
  • 18:17 Automation #4: Your project management
  • 24:15 Automation #5: Your email marketing
  • 29:40 How to combine SMS and email
  • 34:04 What Steve is most excited about
  • 38:14 Check out Steve’s podcast

Links and Resources:

Direct download: EI_302_SteveChou_Coalition.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

The right marketing strategy + the right team members to execute = DTC success. 

“A little crazy” is what Ecuadorian artisans called Case Bakker after he requested order after order of handmade blankets to sell to boutiques all over the Ottawa Valley. Rooted in a mission to give back, Pokoloko started off as a wholesale brand dedicated to bringing global inspiration to people's homes and directly supporting artisans all over South America, Turkey, Morocco, and Indonesia.

I met Case, Pokoloko’s CEO and co-founder, about a year ago when he reached out with one goal in mind: transition from wholesale to DTC eCommerce. Since then, we’ve worked together inside the Coalition and Intentional Wealth, and his team has made incredible progress. Case joins us today to tell us how.

Tune in for a candid talk about how Pokoloko generated their first $100k in sales, what marketing strategies move the needle, the hires that have been essential to their success, and leadership lessons he’s picked up along the way.

Enjoy!

Episode Highlights:

  • 3:51 How Pokoloko was first created
  • 6:23 How Pokoloko generated their first $100,000
  • 9:19 The biggest difference between running wholesale vs direct to consumer
  • 11:02 Three major initiatives that moved the needle when switching to online sales
  • 13:32 Critical hires when growing a B2C business 
  • 15:28 Marketing initiatives with a high ROI
  • 19:01 How transitioning to B2C affects wholesale 
  • 20:28 Leaderships lessons Case wishes he knew years ago
  • 24:20 What Case is most excited about

Links and Resources:

Direct download: EI_301_Case.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

Misinformation is spewed left and right about nearly everything in eCommerce and it’s driving Kurt Elster and I insane.

We are excited to bring you episode 300 of the Ecommerce Influence podcast and our special guest today is Kurt Elster. Kurt is a CRO expert, host of the Unofficial Shopify Podcast, and runs an eCommerce website design and development agency called Ethercycle.

If you’ve been a long-time listener of the podcast, you know that Kurt is a trusted recurring guest and in this episode, we’re hoping to put a nail in the coffin of six costly eCommerce myths. 

Tune in as we set the record straight on Google PageSpeed, website design and copywriting, work ethic and so much more.

Enjoy!

Episode Highlights:

  • 5:28 Myth #1: You need to diversify your traffic
  • 8:38 Myth #2: Google PageSpeed is crucial to getting more sales
  • 14:00 Myth #3: You have to be the first to do everything 
  • 18:49 Myth #4: If a “big” business is doing it, it must be right
  • 23:10 Myth #5: Hustle and grind is the key to business success
  • 27:57 Myth #6: People don’t read on the internet 
  • 35:40 Check out the Unofficial Shopify Podcast

Links and Resources:

Direct download: EI_300_Kurt_Elster_2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

Does your business take all of your time or does it give you the freedom to do the things you love?

Jeff Vogl, president of Classic Car Stereos, has been intentional about creating that shift over the last couple of years and I’ve had the pleasure of seeing him do it. Jeff and I started working together in 2019. Since then, Jeff’s business has grown tremendously and he’s continued to add to his portfolio.

From mastering the art of creating packages his customers can’t ignore, boosting his AOV, and spending more time on the golf course than in the weeds of his business, Jeff is a sharp entrepreneur and he’s here to tell you how he made these big wins possible.

Tune in to learn how you can creatively increase your AOV, why Jeff believes a Google AdWords strategy is a must, the importance of bidding on your brand, and how a change in leadership style has unlocked the freedom Jeff always wanted.

Enjoy!

Episode Highlights:

  • 4:03 Learning how to create packages to boost your AOV
  • 6:20 How Classic Car Stereos manages all of the moving parts in their business
  • 8:18 Jeff’s journey from spending time in the weeds of his business to spending time on the golf course
  • 10:55 A mindset shift on inventory management and demand planning
  • 16:19 Entrepreneurial finance 101: The numbers every entrepreneur should know
  • 25:06 Using Google Adwords and why you should always be bidding on your brand
  • 29:12 Evolving your leadership style to empower your team
  • 34:35 The resources Jeff uses to grow Classic Car Stereos

Links and Resources:

Direct download: EI_299_Jeff.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

Holistic Habitat self-taught their way to Facebook Ads success. Here's why they doubled their ad budget in 2020.

Kristin Holler is the co-creator of Holistic Habitat, an eCommerce home decor company for the socially conscious. I met Kristin in 2019 and have worked with her inside the Coalition, and most recently, as a member of Intentional Wealth. Since we started working together, her business has grown tremendously and email marketing makes up 30% of her monthly sales. However, that’s not the only lever Kristin has learned how to master.

With a roll-up-your-sleeves mentality, Kristin has led Holistic Habitat through the ever-changing landscape of Facebook ads, the COVID-19 pandemic, market shifts and so much more. She’s here to share how they grew 500% in 2018, how she became a Facebook ads pro, and the secret behind creating ads that convert. We also dive into the biggest leadership takeaways of 2020 and how to get out of your own way.

Episode Highlights:

  • 4:21 How Kristin started as an eCommerce entrepreneur
  • 7:27 The moment Kristin realized Holistic Habitat had potential
  • 9:55 How Holistic Habitat grew 500% in 2018
  • 12:53 Why Kristin doubled her FB ads budget at the beginning of COVID-19
  • 16:53 The biggest leadership takeaways from 2020
  • 19:13 Working in the Coalition: How Kristin increased profits and got out of her own way
  • 23:25 Becoming a Facebook ads pro
  • 26:23 How to run Facebook ads that convert
  • 28:32 Holistic Habitat’s unforgettable marketing mishaps 
  • 31:10 Advice for purpose-driven brands trying to build customer loyalty 
  • 33:57 The #1 thing Kristin wishes she knew before starting her entrepreneurship journey
  • 35:27 What’s keeping Kristin up at night
  • 37:16 Lessons from COVID-19 that keep moving the needle
  • 38:43 How Holistic Habitat creatively increases their average order value
  • 41:52 Get in touch with Kristin

Links and Resources:

Direct download: EI_298_KristinHoller_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

Today's guest turned her passion project into a global movement.

Chrissie Lam is the founder of Love Is Project, a thriving lifestyle brand that supports thousands of female artisans in developing countries around the world. I’ve known Chrissie for years and have had the pleasure of getting an up-front look into how her business has taken off. Between landing a spot on Shark Tank, multiple press hits, and being featured by Facebook during Women’s History Month, Chrissie has so much insight to share on developing a lifestyle brand with a purpose.

In the episode, we talk about what it’s like to launch a business while traveling the world, getting onto Shark Tank and how to leverage the press to grow your business. Chrissie also shares the ups and downs of working with freelancers and agencies, and how she’s been using our Intentional Wealth program to keep her business and life in balance.

Episode Highlights

  • 2:57 Chrissie’s passion for travel
  • 5:11 Launching Love Is Project in Bali
  • 9:43 The process of getting onto Shark Tank
  • 12:55 Chrissie’s mindset heading into Shark Tank and how it panned out
  • 14:57 How the power of the press for Love Is Project
  • 17:07 The trial and error of hiring freelancers and agencies
  • 20:10 How Chrissie is able to work anywhere in the world
  •  21:33 What Chrissie wishes she knew before launching Love Is Project
  • 21:53 How Chrissie is leveraging the Intentional Wealth program 
  • 24:20 Chrissie’s advice for people building a lifestyle brand
  • 26:20 What Chrissie is most excited about going forward
  • 27:35 Helpful resources for entrepreneurs

Links and Resources:

Direct download: EI_297_Chrissie.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am CDT

Our most highly requested guest, Moiz Ali, is here to tell you how he made a 9-figure exit in just over 2 years. 

Moiz is the Founder of Native, the fastest growing CPG company in the US. Two and a half years after its inception, the company was acquired by Procter & Gamble for $100MM and Moiz is here to tell us how he made that happen.

We talk about what made Native so successful early on, how he prepared to sell the company and what life was like at Procter & Gamble after the sale. Moiz also dispels a few eCommerce myths and lets you know what he’d do differently if he could hit the reset button.

Episode Highlights

  • 3:30 How Moiz Ali’s family encouraged him to lean into entrepreneurship
  • 5:01 What drove Moiz away from law school
  • 6:13 How life is like at Proctor & Gamble
  • 11:18 A/B testing deodorant: Native vs P&G
  • 16:00 Why Native was successful so quickly
  • 20:53 Navigating eCommerce upsells
  • 23:43 The team members and agencies Native leveraged to grow
  • 28:18 What Moiz would do differently if he could hit the reset button
  • 31:06 Raising money: Should you or shouldn't you?
  • 35:55 Prepping to sell your company
  • 39:45 What Moiz’s schedule was like leading up to the sell
  • 43:22 Moiz’s advice on whether you should go all-in on your business
  • 45:56 eCommerce myths Moiz wants to dispel
  • 48:21 The best eCommerce platform to use
  • 50:09 How Ali Capital chooses which companies to invest in
  • 53:46 What’s exciting Moiz Ali about eCommerce right now
  • 55:40 The three main keys to Native’s early success

Links and Resources:

Direct download: EI_296_Moiz_Ali_V2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

There isn't a rulebook for building a $100MM brand. This serial entrepreneur is here to tell you how he did it.

Josh Snow taught himself how to build websites at 12 years old. His early venture sparked a full-fledged passion for marketing and branding which led Josh to where he is today, the founder and CEO of Snow - a fast-growing D2C brand and leader in premium oral care.

Josh is a true operator and in this episode, we dive deep into how he’s grown Snow to over $100MM in revenue. We talk about the differences between running a $1MM company and a $100MM company, how his leadership has needed to evolve in the process, and his thoughts on hiring the right people. Josh also shares how leveraging influencer marketing was a game-changer and where he plans on taking the company next.

Enjoy!

Episode Highlights

  • 4:02 Josh’s pre-teen start to entrepreneurship
  • 8:36 Snow’s defining moment of growth
  • 13:55 Josh’s take on paid acquisition
  • 16:45 How Snow strategically diversified their marketing channels
  • 21:34 The biggest differences between running a $1MM and a $100MM company
  • 27:07 How Josh has learned how to ask for help as a leader
  • 32:20 The difference between “hunting elephants” and “hunting rabbits”
  • 39:26 How Snow leverages influencer marketing and a celebrity’s social capital
  • 45:00 Common misconceptions about running an eCommerce business
  • 52:29 Where Snow is going and the challenges Josh sees on the horizon
  • 56:01 Josh’s words of wisdom for eCommerce entrepreneurs

Links and Resources:

Direct download: EI_295_Josh_Snow.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

Losing half a million dollars in one year can be a devastating blow. Find out how this company turned things around to become the 20th fastest growing company in the US. 

Garret Ackerson is the cofounder of Kindred Bravely - a privately held company that has experienced the highs and lows associated with rocketship growth. Garret did a live training for Coalition members last fall, and I'm sharing it with you now because it’s truly a transparent and sobering look into the ups and downs of a fast-growing company.

Garret dives into the importance of knowing your numbers, making KPIs a team event, and why founders should carve out time and space to think. He also shares why he's never scared to invest in learning, how to build a flywheel, and find the right partners for your business.

If you're a founder or someone who helps eCommerce businesses grow, this episode is a must-listen.

Enjoy!

Episode Highlights

  • 4:02 How Kindred Bravely first started in 2015
  • 7:02 The KPI system Kindred Bravely uses that promotes ownership
  • 14:42 Why you should always schedule time to think
  • 16:53 Why you should never be afraid to pay for learning
  • 19:39 How to debrief and implement your learnings
  • 22:26 The only two functions of your enterprise
  • 27:30 How to start thinking and dominos and why you want should
  • 28:46 Why you need to create a flywheel
  • 34:52 What Garret’s thinking routine looks like and the questions he asks himself
  • 36:19 The first hire that Kindred Bravely made and why
  • 38:37 How to create a flywheel in Shopify
  • 43:17 The most important part of capital management
  • 47:00 Kindred Bravely’s financial reporting rhythm
  • 51:18 The best way to have successful relationships with agencies
  • 53:35 How Garret structures business goals and sprints

Links and Resources:

Direct download: EI_294_KindredBravely.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

Buying an ecommerce business can be a brilliant move to build wealth, or have costly unintended consequences. 

Between finding the right business, knowing what to look for when going through due diligence, and avoiding misinformation - buying an eCommerce business can be a lot to handle. We're giving you a crash course on how to do it.

Today’s show is a mashup of three episodes I’ve done with expert eCommerce entrepreneurs in this space - David Newell, Shakil Prasla, and Drew Sanocki. We talk about how to determine if you are the type of person who should buy or build, what a thorough due diligence process looks like, and the things to always investigate within a prospective company. We also breakdown the common pitfalls first-time buyers tend to experience and how to avoid them.

Enjoy!

Episode Highlights

  • 4:30 How to determine if you should buy or build an eCommerce site
  • 7:27 Buying a business to cross-sell
  • 9:29 The 6 key tenets to robust due diligence when buying a business
  • 13:12 How to assess the quality of a business’ backlinks
  • 16:23 Financials you should always assess as a buyer
  • 19:23 Problem areas to investigate before buying a business
  • 23:15 Technical and legal checklist items you shouldn’t forget
  • 25:38 The biggest mistakes most first-time buyers make and how to avoid them
  • 27:34 Leveraging SEO and content for growth
  • 30:53 Income and age: Two essential criteria for evaluating a company
  • 32:49 Buying a business on a bank loan
  • 35:48 Five things to always look for when buying
  • 39:04 The advice Shakil would have given himself when he was starting out
  • 41:30 Shakil’s process for reviewing prospecting companies and getting them through due diligence
  • 43:30 What Drew is most excited about when buying
  • 46:15 Merger and acquisition opportunities that can help your brand
  • 50:45 Uncovering your blind spots within the acquisition process
  • 52:26 Boostrapping vs acquisition: Which is right for you and which comes first?

Links and Resources:

Direct download: EI_293_Buying_An_Ecomm_Brand_-_Throwback.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

Apple’s recent championing of consumer privacy means your ad data is never going to be the same.

If you’re an eCommerce business owner, you’ve likely been swept up in the confusion around iOS 14 and Facebook ads. Andrew Foxwell from Foxwell Digital is back on today’s show to unpack what this means for you and your business.

We’ll be diving into the iOS 14 release and the implications it’ll have on Facebook advertising. We’ll also discuss the tools you’ll need in place for this shift and how you can optimize your ads for this new normal. If your business relies heavily on Facebook advertising, you can’t miss this episode.

Enjoy!

Episode Highlights

  • 5:21 The current state of Facebook advertising and what you need to know about iOS 14
  • 7:47 Apple’s new positioning around consumer privacy and how it will affect your advertising
  • 9:56 How Apple will control the floodgates of information
  • 12:52 What we know is changing between iOS 14 and Facebook ads
  • 16:05 The upside to these changes within Facebook 
  • 18:24 What the upcoming data delay will mean for you 
  • 21:42 8 must-have events to set up to prepare for the new normal
  • 25:40 How to set up and customize your new events
  • 28:58 Don’t get taken advantage of: A word of caution when searching for help
  • 32:05 Who is going to be most affected by these changes 
  • 37:57 The tools Facebook and Apple are working on to help you

Links and Resources:

Direct download: EI_292_WhatTheFacebook.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

If you're trying to stretch your marketing dollars as far as you can there's one piece of low-hanging fruit you shouldn’t ignore.

If you cringe when you think about pop-ups, you're missing out on huge wins including more revenue, more email captures, and a higher AOV. Take it from Erik Christiansen, eCommerce CRO expert and the CEO of Justuno. I’ve known Erik for a long time and his company has helped thousands of businesses with conversion rate optimization. He’s joining us today to talk about the future of eCommerce CRO and how you can leverage it in your business.

Outside of Erik’s knowledge of eCommerce CRO, what I’ve continued to admire about him over the years is his ability to not only grow a team but retain his team members too. We’ll also cover how he’s built a team of 60+ people, how he thinks about hiring and retention.

Enjoy!

Episode Highlights

  • 5:11 How Justuno has evolved over the years
  • 6:52 The business basics Erik has been on top of for the last 10 years
  • 11:44 Stretching your marketing dollars as far as you can
  • 14:20 What Erik has learned about leading a remote team
  • 17:51 The two things Erik tells every single one of his employees
  • 21:35 What Erik is most excited about in Justuno’s future
  • 26:10 How to optimize your landing pages
  • 29:45 What Justuno has on the 2021 roadmap you should know about 
  • 32:05 How to get 30 days of free access to the Coalition

Links and Resources:

Direct download: EI_291_Erik.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

Society Has Brainwashed Entrepreneurs To Believe They Have To Sacrifice Everything To Be Successful. 

“Crush it” culture convinces us that sacrificing our health, personal life, and family is a part of the game and if you’re not making those sacrifices, you can only get so far.

It’s time to crush this false narrative and make a paradigm shift.

In today’s episode, I’m introducing the Brand Acceleration Formula. It’s a five-step process designed to help entrepreneurs grow their business from $500K to $5MM without sacrificing what matters most to them. We dive into the biggest causes for slow business growth, how to stay focused on the metrics that move the needle, and our best advice on bringing your best ideas to life.

I’m going to help 20 entrepreneurs apply this formula and have the best 90 days of their business life. Will you be one of them? Get the details here.

Episode Highlights

  • 6:28 How society has entrepreneurs brainwashed
  • 8:29 Are you playing a status game or a wealth game?
  • 12:11 The Brand Acceleration Formula
  • 15:03 The biggest cause for slow business growth
  • 17:15 How to avoid shiny object syndrome 
  • 20:05 What our most successful clients have in common
  • 22:03 The best way to start bringing your big ideas to reality 
  • 24:21 Our new Intentional Wealth Program

Links And Resources:

Direct download: EI_290_500k-5MM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

If you're just focusing on your company's annual income, you're doing it wrong.

Today, Ryan Tansom, founder of Arkona, is here to talk about why creating long term value in your business should be your priority.

In 2014, Ryan helped turn his family business around and then sold it for 8 figures. Today he's helping entrepreneurs make the shift from thinking about annual income to focusing on long term value creation instead.

In this episode, Ryan shares why your goal shouldn’t always be to maximize income, how to think about investing in your business, and the right way to run your business so that people want to buy it. 

Whether you have intentions to sell or not, Ryan’s ideas on creating long term value in your business will open up opportunities you’ll have the power and choice to leverage whenever you want.

Enjoy!

Episode Highlights

  • 4:49 Why Ryan is passionate about helping entrepreneurs create long term value
  • 8:04 The right time for a business to think about its direction
  • 11:16 Annual income vs long term value: Which is better?
  • 13:51 How investing in your business could be more valuable than cash
  • 18:00 Tracking the value of your company even if you don’t want to sell
  • 19:30 What a “good valuation” really means
  • 22:28 Things professional buyers are looking for when evaluating your company 
  • 25:47 Understanding the J curve and the opportunities you may be missing in your business
  • 30:33 When it’s time to find a new CEO
  • 35:37 Why you should focus on long term value even if you don’t plan to sell
  • 41:16 What business owners should know about the exit process
  • 44:21 The things entrepreneurs actually have control over 
  • 46:01 What you’ll learn in Ryan’s upcoming Coalition training

Links and Resources:

Direct download: EI_289_Ryan.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

Implementing Traction at your company? Here’s what you should know before you start. 

Many of our clients inside of the Coalition have heard of Traction and have considered trying to implement EOS at their company. If this phrase is new to you, EOS - the Entrepreneurial Operating System - is a set of concepts and tools that can help your team align on a clear vision, make progress towards defined goals, and increase accountability and communication. 

Our team dove headfirst into the task of implementing Traction just over a year ago and we’ve learned a lot since. In this episode, I’m sharing how we adopted the EOS methodology, the pros and cons of using it, and who I think has the most to gain from it. 

If you’re an eCommerce entrepreneur who thinks there might be a better way to run your business, this episode is for you.

Enjoy!

Episode Highlights

  • 4:50 Life before finding Traction
  • 6:53 The best part about using the EOS process and how it changed the game for us
  • 8:05 What “rocks” are and how they address the biggest struggles I see entrepreneurs facing today
  • 10:27 The feedback from my team that I didn’t see coming
  • 11:51 How we work around the biggest con of using EOS 
  • 15:07 Who EOS works best for
  • 16:10 Why I think solopreneurs will struggle implementing EOS 
  • 18:59 How to get free 30-day access to the Coalition

Links and Resources:

Direct download: EI_288.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

Do you want to know how to hire rockstar talent this year? 

Finding high-quality talent is a major key to the growth of any organization. However, it’s often seen as a difficult task and can cost a lot of time and money when done incorrectly.

At Brand Growth Experts we just hired our newest Community and Events Manager after sorting through nearly three hundred applications and I’m here to tell you how we did it.

You’ll learn our step-by-process on how to hire a great employee every time, ways to simplify and structure your hiring process, and the tools we used to manage hundreds of applications.

If you've been wondering how to hire without getting overwhelmed at the task this episode is for you.

Episode Highlights

  • 6:36 Creating your accountability chart
  • 9:39 How to attract the right candidates
  • 14:24 Promoting your job with advertising
  • 16:52 The number one mistake I see companies make when hiring 
  • 19:22 Mapping out your hiring process 
  • 22:20 How to hire using AirTable
  • 24:06 Are you valuing your own opportunity?

Links and Resources:

Direct download: EI_287_hiring.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

Is your content strategy worth half a million dollars? 

Mark Stallings is the CEO of Casely, an ecommerce tech-accessories retailer that’s gone from zero to eight figures in just four years. After dropping out of college, Mark convinced his sister Emily to cofound the company with him. They’ve been bootstrapping their way through everything from website coding to paid advertising ever since.

I’ve gotten to know Mark over the last few years after he became a founding member of The Coalition in 2018. He joins us to share what he and his sister learned over the years, including how they profitably spend half a million dollars on paid advertising every month. We also touch on how they leverage their content strategy for growth, their approach to hiring, and how they maintain a lean team.

Enjoy!

Episode Highlights

  • 6:45 How Casely leverages the subscription model 
  • 10:33 Why Mark dropped out of college after one year
  • 12:14 Diving into an Instagram rabbit hole to understand your audience
  • 16:08 What the first six months of paid advertising looked like for Casely
  • 18:31 The content strategy that’s taking the business to the next level
  • 22:29 Building and scaling the Casely team
  • 27:22 The two biggest obstacles when using FB ads
  • 29:37 How Mark spends time in the business
  • 31:12 Common misconceptions people have about spending a lot on Facebook
  • 31:45 The top metrics Mark closely monitors 
  • 35:01 Mark’s biggest learning experience over 2020
  • 38:51 The hardest part about building Casely
  • 40:05 The secret sauce for hiring and company culture
  • 43:26 What Mark is most curious about today
  • 45:00 Two things every ecommerce company should focus on
  • 47:15 Mark’s resources and strategies for growing your business

Links and Resources:

Direct download: EI_286_MarkStallings.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

2020 Threw Us All For A Loop. Here’s What We Learned From It and How It’s Helping Us Prepare For 2021. 

Nobody saw COVID-19 coming and nearly every business had to make pivots while market conditions changed daily. 

Not only did I see changes happen in my own business, but I also witnessed them across all of the ecommerce companies I have the opportunity to work with inside of The Coalition. This made my annual end-of-year review that much more interesting so I decided to wrap up my findings in this episode and share it with you.

In this episode, I talk about the things that went well for me and the companies we work with, the hard lessons and challenges that were presented, and the top takeaways that every ecommerce business owner needs to know to prepare for 2021.

Enjoy!

Episode Highlights

  • 3:55 The number one question I’m asking myself about 2020
  • 7:45 How hiring has been a game-changer for our business
  • 10:07 What having a local community has done for me
  • 11:25 The COVID-19 impact on our business 
  • 17:09 My biggest takeaways from 2020
  • 18:44 Do you own your marketing channels?
  • 20:09 How having multiple streams of income can help prepare for 2021
  • 22:29 Industries that are going to continue to thrive
  • 23:27 Why awareness might not be your marketing problem

Links and Resources:

Direct download: EI_285_year_in_Review.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

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