The Ecommerce Influence Podcast (general)

Dave Munson is founder and CEO of Saddleback Leather where his number one priority is creating the most authentic brand experience for his site's visitors and customers.

Saddleback leather is an ecommerce company that designs and produces the perfect leather bag and other full grain leather goods, products that won't tear, has zippers or buttons wouldn’t break, and products that could withstand a beating or two.

The idea for his product and company came to him while he participated in a real Mexican bullfight, and he began to build his company while living in a drab $100 a month Juarez, Mexico apartment.

He’s so confident in his products that he provides a 100-year warranty, and guarantees that your family will fight over who gets it long after you’re dead.

Today he’s going to tell us his story on how he took his small practical idea and turned into an ecommerce machine through his relentless focus on creating an authentic brand experience (just watch some of his videos!).

 

Topics Discussed Throughout This Interview:

  • How his participation in a Mexican Bullfight inspired his company
  • His Journey from bootstrapped business to a wildly successful online store
  • Creating a truly authentic brand experience for your site's visitors and customers
  • How David defines his brand and what that means for him and his employees on a daily basis
  • Why his site provides links to his top competitors and what that means for his business
  • The balance between an emotional and logical feel to a website and what it means for his conversions
  • What generosity has done for his company and his life and why you should do it to

Topics Discussed Throughout This Interview:

  • How his participation in a Mexican Bullfight inspired his company
  • His Journey from bootstrapped business to a wildly successful online store
  • Creating a truly authentic brand experience for your site's visitors and customers
  • How David defines his brand and what that means for him and his employees on a daily basis
  • Why his site provides links to his top competitors and what that means for his business
  • The balance between an emotional and logical feel to a website and what it means for his conversions
  • What generosity has done for his company and his life and why you should do it to

 

Links and Resources Mentioned:

  • Connect with Dave - dave [at] saddlebackleather.com

 

Thank You For Listening & A Simple Request

To get more awesome Ecommerce Influence content sent directly to your device and into your ears as they become available, you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher!

Also, ratings and reviews on iTunes (hopefully 5-stars!) help us tremendously a we’re very grateful for them. We do read all of the reviews and we’ll answer your questions or comments on future episodes.

Cheers,

Austin & Chad!  

Direct download: EI019_David_Munson.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am CDT

Amazon can crush your business with better customer acquisition, faster shipping, cheaper shipping, easy returns, and many other things that you probably don't even know about.

In addition to having a solid brand, you have to be able to acquire customers and be able to take them through a bulletproof eCommerce sales funnel. Whoever is willing and able to spend the most money to acquire customers and successfully converts them, wins in their niche.

There are five steps in a bulletproof eCommerce sales funnel, and in this episode we’re going to be talking about the first two, and arguably the most important, steps that companies like McDonald’s, Starbucks, and Amazon use to crush their competition.

Why only the first two steps?

Well, because they’re the most important steps of a bulletproof eCommerce sales funnel, yet most ecommerce companies aren’t executing these two steps and they’re missing out on the ability to convert more customers cheaper and faster than everybody else, which means they’re also missing out on a ton of potential long-term revenue.

 

Topics Discussed Throughout This Interview

  • The Five Steps in a Bulletproof eCommerce Sales Funnel
  • Lead Magnet Definition, Importance of, and Highest Converting Examples
  • Definition, Importance, an Examples of the Most Underutilized (But Most Important) Step in a Bulletproof eCommerce Sales Funnel: The Tripwire
  • Why Your Losing Out On Boatloads of Revenue if You're Not Executing These Two Steps

 

Links and Resources Mentioned

Thank You For Listening & A Simple Request

To get more awesome Ecommerce Influence content sent directly to your device and into your ears as they become available, you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher! Also, ratings and reviews on iTunes (hopefully 5-stars!) help us tremendously a we’re very grateful for them. We do read all of the reviews and we’ll answer your questions or comments on future episodes.

Cheers,

Austin & Chad!

Direct download: EI018_Candid_Conversation_Lead_Magnet_and_Tripwire.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am CDT

Avinash Kaushik is a best selling author of two books on web analytics; Google's digital evangelist; and co-founder of Market Motive, the leading curriculum publisher of online marketing training. He writes regularly on analytics, startups, and business building on his blog Occam's Razor.

The way people imagine possibilities in the world is very finite, his job is to work with some of the largest companies on the planet to help them imagine possibilities for commerce, influence, and relationships by leveraging the power of digital and by building new frameworks and ideas for engaging customers.

He has won multiple awards for analytics, including Most Influential Industry Contributor from the Web Analytics Association.

Avinash speaks at many conferences throughout year including Search Engine Strategies, at major universities like Stanford, and he speaks at huge corporations such as IBM, Toyota, Google, and more.

He puts a common sense framework around the often-frenetic world of web analytics and today he's going to help us understand that framework as it pertains to ecommerce.

Topics Discussed Throughout This Interview

  • The two things you need to focus when growing your ecommerce company to $10 million plus
  • Optimizing your site for the entire journey; what that means and how to do it
  • Getting started with the Digital Marketing and Measurement Model
  • The difference between between a large and small business and when it comes to data analysis
  • Giving your visitors the Fours Seasons Hotel experience at a fraction of the cost
  • Plus a lot more!

 

Links and Resources Mentioned

 

Follow on Twitter:

Follow @chadvanags

Follow @a_brawn

 

Thank You For Listening & A Simple Request

To get more awesome Ecommerce Influence content sent directly to your device and into your ears as they become available, you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher!

Also, ratings and reviews on iTunes (hopefully 5-stars!) help us tremendously a we're very grateful for them. We do read all of the reviews and we'll answer your questions or comments on future episodes. Cheers, Austin & Chad!

Direct download: EI017_-_Avinash_Kaushik_Googles_Digital_Marketing_Evangelist.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am CDT

There has been quite a debate in the past few years when it comes the email opt in practices. In this episode we will cover the pros and cons of both the double and the single opt in as it pertains to ecommerce.

We will also comapre a few different email providers, explain why some email providers strongly encourage the double opt in, and we go over a case study that breaks down the numbers when choosing one opt in style over the other.

Topics Discussed Throughout This Interview

  • Overview of Double, Single, and Confirmed Opt Ins
  • Why email marketing providers encourage double opt in
  • Email provider comparisons
  • Pros and cons of both single opt in and double opt in
  • Statistical breakdown of advantages/disadvantages of double/single opt in
  • Differences between hard and soft bounces
  • What you option you should choose
  • Plus a lot more!

Links and Resources Mentioned

Thank You For Listening & A Simple Request

To get more awesome Ecommerce Influence content sent directly to your device and into your ears as they become available, you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher!

Also, ratings and reviews on iTunes (hopefully 5-stars!) help us tremendously a we are very grateful for them.

We do read all of the reviews and we will answer your questions or comments on future episodes.

Cheers, Austin & Chad!

Direct download: EI016_-_Candid_Conversation_Double_vs._Single_Opt_In.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am CDT

Eric Bandholz and his team launch Beardbrand on January 28th, 2013 with only 3 products and no established sales. They have since grown from $1000 in sales per month to now generating over $120,000 per month in sales.

Beardbrand a company that provides the tools and strategies men need to take care of their beautiful beards.

Their products are of the highest quality and made from all natural ingredients. They are designed for men who find value in quality, service, and experience and they are for men that are passionate about life.

Simply put, Beardbrand provides Style for the Urban Beardsmen.

Eric attests that Beardbrands success comes from his focus on building a community-based ecommerce site and that you should consider building one, too.

Topics Discussed Throughout This Interview

  • How he built a community of loyal followers before having a product to sell.
  • His path from $1k per month in sales to $120k per month in less than 18 months.
  • Why content creation is his number priority and why it should be your number one priority as well.
  • What types of content he puts the most focus on.
  • How you can start building a community-based ecommerce site today.
  • Plus a lot more!

Links and Resources Mentioned

Thank You For Listening & A Simple Request

To get more awesome Ecommerce Influence content sent directly to your device and into your ears as they become available, you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher!

Also, ratings and reviews on iTunes (hopefully 5-stars!) help us tremendously a we’re very grateful for them.

We do read all of the reviews and we’ll answer your questions or comments on future episodes.

Cheers, Austin & Chad!

 

Direct download: EI015_-_Eric_Bandholz_Beardbrand.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am CDT

This Candid Conversation is an overview on how you can begin structuring your ecommerce analytics account in a way that will save you from the oncoming flood of data that is produced by your analytics account, and, more importantly, how you can use that data to significantly increase profits and even save you thousands of dollars and hours of time on bad marketing campaigns.

We'll take you through the 5 step process of creating structure around your analytics data that covers the most important areas of acquisition, behavior, and outcomes.

Topics Discussed Throughout This Interview

  • The right way to look at Google Analytics for Ecommerce
  • The most important step in getting started with Google Analytics for Ecommerce
  • Why your data is actually the second most important thing
  • Sample insights of actual client analysis
  • The 3 buckets, or categories, your analysis must cover
  • The 5 steps to creating your first Digital Marketing & Measurement Model
  • Plus a lot more!

 

Links and Resources Mentioned

 

Thank You For Listening & A Simple Request

To get more awesome Ecommerce Influence content sent directly to your device and into your ears as they become available, you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher! Also, ratings and reviews on iTunes (hopefully 5-stars!) help us tremendously a we’re very grateful for them. We do read all of the reviews and we’ll answer your questions or comments on future episodes. Cheers, Austin & Chad!

Direct download: EI014_-_Candid_Conversation_DM3.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am CDT

Ezra Firestone is a partner and head of digital marketing for BOOM! by Cindy Joseph, a cosmetic line designed from women of every generation. Hes also the founder and creative director of Smart Marketer, a site packed to gills with information for do-it-yourself entrepreneurs.

Most importantly, hes an ecommerce business owner just like you, running 6-figure drop shipping businesses, seven-figure manufacturing and importing businesses, and he has multiple physical products ecommerce stores.

Hes a world-renowned leader in Ecommerce and hes the first person the big boys reach out to when looking for the latest and greatest trends that are happening in ecommerce.

Direct download: EI013_-_Ezra_Firestone_Smart_Marketer.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am CDT

In this episode we talk about a simple little lead capture and email sequence you can use to get your prospects to convert in the first 48 hours, even if they are leaving your website.

Here is the 4 step process we use for lots of clients, getting upwards of a 5.7% conversion rate on visitors who were leaving their site and how you can start implementing today.

Topics Discussed:

  • Actual results current clients are getting from this simple system
  • Creating an irresistble offer
  • Getting visitors to opt-in to your sequence
  • Setting up the email campaign
  • Segmenting your list
  • Plus a lot more!

 

Direct download: EI012_-_Candid_Conversation_Email_Marketing.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am CDT

Steve Chou is the founder of Bumblebee Linens, an e-commerce site that sells handkerchiefs and linens for special occasions. Steve and his wife started this store so that his wife could quit her job to stay home with their first child. They were able to take their store from $0 to over $100,000 in profit in just one year.

Steve also runs an extremely popular blog, which also makes over $100,000, where he produces insightful and detailed information about his ecommerce success and failures, and "how you can start your own online store today.”

He’s been featured in the New York Times, Huffington Post, ABC, MSNBC, and his small business podcast has been topping the iTunes podcast charts for weeks.

Topics Discussed Throughout This Interview

  • His journey from $0 to $100k in profit in under one year
  • How he’s doubled his mobile site conversions
  • A little trick to help you improve your Facebook ads conversions
  • Why your unique value proposition is the first thing you should be testing
  • Plus a lot more!

Links and Resources Mentioned

Thank You For Listening & A Simple Request

To get more awesome Ecommerce Influence content sent directly to your device and into your ears as they become available, you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher!

Also, ratings and reviews on iTunes (hopefully 5-stars!) help us tremendously a we’re very grateful for them.

We do read all of the reviews and we’ll answer your questions or comments on future episodes.

Cheers, Austin & Chad!

Direct download: EI011_-_Steve_Chou_Bumblebee_Linens.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am CDT

You have 8 seconds to make an impression on a site visitor and your unique value proposition is the number one thing that will determine if your store visitors will continue reading about your product, or if they leave your site never to return. Your unique value proposition is the driver of your conversion rate potential, and in this episode of Candid Conversation we discuss how to create one using both good and bad examples we have seen to guide you along the way.

Direct download: EI010_-_Candid_Conversation_Unique_Value_Proposition.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Sam founded Greenvelope back in 2008 in his college dorm room after raising initial funds from pressure washing driveways and delivering pizza, and he put $50,000 towards his dream of disrupting the electronic invitation industry. In this episode, Sam talks to us about how he bootstrapped Greenvelope from his dorm room into a successful ecommerce business and what he's learned along the way, how to have personable, yet automated, customer service that brings in raving reviews, a split test that gave him a 10% sales boost, plus a lot more.

Direct download: EI009_-_Sam_Franklin_Greenvelope.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

In this Candid Conversation we talk about the cart abandonment epidemic that plagues nearly all ecommerce companies and results in a total industry loss of about $18 BILLION dollars each year. We will show you the basics on how to properly implement a cart abandonment recovery program that can recover 8% to 15% of your sales while building goodwill with your customers.

Direct download: EI008_-_Candid_Conversation_Abandoned_Carts.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Andy Fallshaw is CEO of Bellroy Wallets where they design and produce wallets that are elegant, functional, delightful to use, and, they're designed for an active lifestyle. Andy's background includes heading up two major division of global surf-wear empire Rip Curl, starting an investment group, and a few other businesses. He's a seasoned ecommerce exec that loves to travel and knows how to make things happen and he chats with us about some incredible life hacks to be more productive, what you can do to start forming better habits in your business, and why you shouldn’t be looking for your passion.

Direct download: EI007_-_Andy_Fallshaw_Bellroy_Wallets.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Andrew Youderian is the owner of eCommerce Fuel and the host of the wildly popular eCommerce Fuel Podcast, where he helps eager entrepreneurs 'start a store, and change their lives'. He owns multiple ecommerce businesses and will be chatting with us today about his journey from the corporate world to selling his first commerce store, a current split test case study, one of his biggest eCommerce failures and how you can avoid the same mistake, his most profitable marketing campaign ever, and much more.

Direct download: EI006_-_Andrew_Youderian_eCommerce_Fuel.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Brad Kam is the VP at Curebit, where they acquire new customers for some of the most well known ecommerce brands, including Diamond Candles, Bonobos, Toms, and Serena and Lily. They are partly responsible for helping Bonobos double their customer base year-after-year, and in 2012 Curebit helped Bonobos drive over 25% of their new customers. Today we’re going to talk about how you can build a strong referral marketing program for your company, and how to avoid the mistakes most business owners make when setting it up.

Direct download: EI005_-_Brad_Kam_Curebit.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am CDT

Austin talks with us today about the Canton Fair. It is the largest trade show in all of Asia where foreign importers go to find products produced in China to be brought to their own market whether it's in the US, Europe, Australia, Africa, etc. It's a chance to see thousands of potential products in a 5-day period. Austin talks with us about what to expect, how to prepare, and how to make it a successful trip.

Direct download: EI004_-_Austin_Brawner_Canton_Fair.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:30am CDT

In this episode Grant is going to provide the information, tools, and resources you need to help you use pay per click advertising to acquire more customers...or as he likes to say, "print leads and print money." If you're new to pay per click or need to sharpen your skills when it comes to pay per click, this is the episode to listen to.

Direct download: EI003_-_Grant_James_Lead_PPC.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:36am CDT

Evan tells us how to prepare your website and your marketing to generate the highest amount of sales for your business from high traffic events. Evan spent two months preparing his website and his marketing for the hit show Shark Tank. His preparation for such a high traffic event led to a 14.97% sales lift and annualize wins of $143,365. In this episode he'll teach you how he did it.

Direct download: EI002_-_Evan_Mendelsohn_Tipsy_Elves.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:30pm CDT

Blake tells us how he attracted 27,000 followers on Instagram and built a rabid following and loyal customer base on little to no marketing budget, and why he thinks Facebook is on the decline when it comes to acquiring customers for ecommerce stores.

Direct download: EI001_-_Blake_Jensen_Blenders_Eyewear.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:33pm CDT

It's here! The first episode of The Ecommerce Influence Podcast! In this quick introduction episode we talk about why we created the podcast, our vision for it moving forward, and how it's going to help you convert more of your visitors to paying customers. Our podcast interviews the most successful ecommerce CEO's and online marketing experts that are shaping the trends in ecommerce to help you succeed. You'll be able to hear this episode and all that follow on iTunes, Stitcher, and on our blog. Make sure to subscribe so that you're able to automatically receive all future episodes. Your commerce success awaits!

Direct download: Ecommerce_Influence_Introduction.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:12pm CDT