Winning With Shopify Podcast: Ecommerce Growth for Shopify Store Owners

Nick Trueman | Ecommerce Growth, Marketing, PPC and SEO Specialist
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Oct 12, 2026 • 18min

Is AI Actually Driving Sales? 3 Places Shopify Stores Can Find The Truth

Is AI actually driving sales to your ecommerce store?There are more AI visibility and tracking tools than ever, but how much of the data are they actually measuring? In this episode of Winning With Shopify, Nick breaks down three platforms that can give ecommerce brands a much clearer picture of how AI is affecting their website, visibility, traffic and revenue.You'll learn how to use Google Search Console, Bing Webmaster Tools and Google Analytics 4 to understand what is happening across AI search – rather than relying solely on third-party visibility reports based on sampled prompts.In this episode:Why many AI visibility reports shouldn't be taken at face valueHow to use Google Search Console to understand AI-related visibilityHow to track impressions and the pages appearing in AI-driven searchesHow AI visibility varies by country and deviceWhat Bing Webmaster Tools can tell you about AI performanceWhat AI grounding queries are and why they matterHow to track AI citations and share of voiceHow to use GA4 to identify AI-driven traffic, conversions and revenueWhy AI visibility is becoming increasingly important for ecommerce brandsHow AI is changing Google Search and Google ShoppingHow to start measuring your own AI performance using data you already have access toIf you're investing time and money into AI SEO or GEO, this episode will help you move beyond simply asking whether your brand is appearing in AI answers and start looking at the data that can show whether that visibility is actually contributing to your business.Timestamps:(00:00) - Why AI Visibility Reports Can't Be Trusted(01:26) - Tool #1: Google Search Console for AI Tracking(02:04) - How to Track AI Impressions and Website Pages(03:43) - Tracking AI Visibility by Country and Device(06:17) - Tool #2: Bing Webmaster Tools AI Performance(08:33) - Understanding AI Grounding Queries(11:39) - Tracking AI Citations and Share of Voice(13:21) - Tool #3: Google Analytics 4 (GA4) for AI Revenu(14:46) - Why AI Visibility Matters for Ecommerce(16:10) - How AI Is Changing Google Search and Shopping(17:43) - Final Thoughts on AI Performance TrackingOmnisend⁠ - 30% off paid plans for three months with code WINNINGWITHOMNISEND.https://your.omnisend.com/wws⁠Ships-A-Lot⁠ - Improve fulfilment costs, shipping margins and customer experience.https://info.shipsalot.com/winning-wi...⁠Yoast⁠ - 15% off Shopify and WordPress with code WWS15.https://yoast.com/product/yoast-seo-s...⁠Inventory Planner⁠ - Free seven-day inventory bootcamp.https://info.brightpearl.com/winning-... 506 - Extended 30-day free trial on any of their three Shopify apps with code WWShttps://www.506.io/wwsFollow Winning With Shopify for practical ecommerce growth advice, AI and SEO strategies, real-world experiments and actionable tips for building and scaling online brands.
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Oct 7, 2026 • 23min

How To Build Brand Trust - Make Customers Find Like and Trust You

Why do some ecommerce brands feel instantly trustworthy, while others make customers hesitate before buying?In this episode of Winning With Shopify, Nick breaks down how ecommerce brands can build customer trust at every stage of the buying journey — from the first impression and product photography to reviews, transparency, customer support and what happens after the sale.Trust isn't just about adding a few reviews to your Shopify store. Customers need to feel confident that your products are genuine, your brand is credible, their order will arrive and you'll be there if something goes wrong.You'll learn how to:Create a stronger first impression across your entire websiteUse product photography to remove customer uncertaintyTurn customer reviews into powerful trust signalsBuild consistency across your website, social media and customer experienceProve why customers should trust your brand rather than simply telling themUse product demos and after-sales support to reinforce buying decisionsBuild trust without making your brand boringUse your community and user-generated content as social proofBe more transparent about delivery, returns and stockMake customer support easier to accessIf you're getting traffic to your Shopify store but customers aren't converting, a lack of trust could be one of the biggest barriers. This episode looks at the practical changes you can make to give customers more confidence — and ultimately turn more visitors into buyers.Timestamps:(00:00) - How Ecommerce Brands Build Customer Trust(01:13) - Fix Your Brand's First Impression(02:36) - Stop Focusing Only on Your Homepage(04:20) - Product Photography That Actually Builds Trust(07:38) - Why Customer Reviews Are So Important(09:56) - Consistency Builds Trust & Conversions(11:05) - Prove Why Customers Should Trust Your Brand(13:03) - Product Demos & After-Sales Support(14:09) - Don't Make Your Brand Boring(15:40) - Use Your Community to Build Trust(18:19) - Why Transparency Matters in Ecommerce(19:41) - Delivery, Returns & Stock Transparency(21:15) - Make Customer Support Easy to Access(21:44) - Final TakeawayExclusive listener offers:⁠⁠Ships-A-Lot⁠⁠ - Improve fulfilment costs and find hidden shipping margin leaks.⁠⁠Inventory Planner⁠⁠ - Free seven-day inventory bootcamp.⁠⁠Omnisend⁠⁠ - 30% off paid plans for three months with code WINNINGWITHOMNISEND.⁠⁠⁠⁠Yoast⁠⁠ - 15% off Shopify and WordPress with code WWS.⁠⁠⁠⁠EasyGift⁠ - Extended 30-day free trial on any of their three Shopify apps with code WWS.Follow Winning With Shopify for practical ecommerce growth advice, real-world strategies and actionable tips for building and scaling online brands.
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Oct 5, 2026 • 36min

How To Increase Conversion Rate On Shopify in 2026 - CRO Guide - Part 1

What actually happens when you change the things that matter on your Shopify store?In this episode of Winning With Shopify, Nick breaks down five real CRO tests, the results they produced and what Shopify merchants can learn from them.These aren't generic CRO tips. We're looking at changes that generated results ranging from $45K to $600K, including subscription changes, payment options, urgency, mobile navigation and search.You'll also learn why conversion rate alone can be misleading, how tools like Microsoft Clarity and heatmaps can uncover opportunities, and why CRO improvements can have an impact beyond sales — including your SEO.In this episode:How a subscription change generated an additional $45KWhy a payment change was worth $400KWhy you shouldn't blindly chase a higher conversion rateHow a simple urgency change generated $55KWhat a mobile navigation change delivered $160K in additional valueHow to use heatmaps and Microsoft Clarity to find CRO opportunitiesWhy improving conversion rate can also benefit SEOThe $600K search change and what it tells us about ecommerce UXIf you're driving traffic to a Shopify store but want to get more sales from the visitors you're already paying for, this episode breaks down where to look and what to test.Timestamps:(00:00) - 5 Real Shopify CRO Tests & Results(02:50) - CRO Test #1: The $45K Subscription Change(07:20) - CRO Test #2: The $400K Payment Change(14:30) - Why Conversion Rate Can Be Misleading(18:20) - CRO Test #3: The $55K Urgency Change(23:50) - CRO Test #4: The $160K Mobile Navigation Change(27:30) - Heatmaps & Microsoft Clarity for CRO(32:00) - Why CRO Can Also Improve SEO(38:00) - CRO Test #5: The $600K Search ChangeFollow Winning With Shopify for practical ecommerce growth advice, real-world tests and strategies for building and scaling online brands.Exclusive listener offers:⁠Ships-A-Lot⁠ - Improve fulfilment costs and find hidden shipping margin leaks.⁠Inventory Planner⁠ - Free seven-day inventory bootcamp.⁠Omnisend⁠ - 30% off paid plans for three months with code WINNINGWITHOMNISEND.⁠Yoast⁠ - 15% off Shopify and WordPress with code WWS.⁠EasyGift - Extended 30-day free trial on any of their three Shopify apps with code WWS.Adam Pearce - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shopifyexpertadampearce/https://www.linkedin.com/company/blend-commerce-shopify-cro-agencyhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ecom-collab-club/https://www.youtube.com/@blendcommerce
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Sep 30, 2026 • 14min

I Gave AI 3 Prompts To Prepare My Shopify Store For Black Friday

Black Friday is coming — but is your Shopify store actually ready?In this episode of Winning With Shopify, Nick shares three AI prompts that Shopify merchants can use to prepare for Black Friday and uncover problems before the biggest shopping weekend of the year.Rather than using AI to write another Black Friday email, these prompts are designed to make AI analyse your ecommerce data, find weaknesses and identify where you're potentially leaving money on the table.You'll learn how to use AI to:Run a BFCM Readiness Check and identify the biggest things you need to fix before Black FridayFind your biggest revenue leaks before Q4Run an Automation Stress Test to see whether your email marketing is ready for increased trafficIdentify the biggest Black Friday email mistakes brands makeUnderstand why discounting can destroy your profit even when sales and revenue increaseThink differently about the long-term value of customers acquired during Black FridayAvoid simply copying your competitors' Black Friday offersPlan what happens after the Black Friday purchaseFocus on profit rather than getting distracted by record revenueSponsored by OmnisendOmnisend helps ecommerce brands grow through email and SMS marketing, automation and segmentation. Use it to build the campaigns and automated customer journeys that can turn Black Friday shoppers into repeat customers.Find out more about Omnisend and get 30% off paid plans for three months with code WINNINGWITHOMNISEND.Exclusive listener offers:⁠Ships-A-Lot⁠ - Improve fulfilment costs and find hidden shipping margin leaks.⁠Inventory Planner⁠ - Free seven-day inventory bootcamp.⁠Omnisend⁠ - 30% off paid plans for three months with code WINNINGWITHOMNISEND.⁠Yoast⁠ - 15% off Shopify and WordPress with code WWS.⁠506⁠ - Extended 30-day free trial on any of their three Shopify apps with code WWS.Timestamps:(00:00) - 3 AI Prompts for Black Friday(01:59) - AI Prompt #1: BFCM Readiness Check(03:00) - AI Prompt #2: Find Revenue Leaks(04:14) - AI Prompt #3: Automation Stress Test(05:37) - Biggest Black Friday Email Mistakes(07:07) - Why Discounting Can Destroy Profit(07:42) - The Problem With Black Friday Customers(09:56) - Stop Copying Competitors' Black Friday Offers(10:53) - Why Post-Purchase Planning Matters(11:46) - Profit vs Revenue During Black FridayFollow Winning With Shopify for practical ecommerce growth advice, founder stories and strategies for building better online brands.
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Sep 28, 2026 • 18min

This Website App / Plug-In Has 1 Billion Downloads. Are You Using It?

Yoast has just passed 1 billion downloads. But what can Shopify merchants actually learn from one of the biggest SEO tools in the world?In this episode of Winning With Shopify, Nick is joined by Yoast to break down what Shopify brands need to know about SEO in 2026 — from search intent and technical SEO to AI search and the future of discovery.Check out the guide: https://yoast.com/help/guide-for-yoast-seo-for-shopify/SEO has changed. It is no longer just about adding keywords to pages and hoping for rankings. Search engines, AI tools and customers are becoming better at understanding brands, products and intent — meaning Shopify merchants need a stronger foundation than ever.You’ll learn:Why SEO is still one of the biggest growth opportunities for Shopify brands.What 1 billion+ downloads says about the importance of SEO foundations.Why Shopify SEO is about more than just keywords.The search intent mistake many ecommerce brands make.How Yoast helps Shopify merchants improve their SEO.How AI is changing search and what brands need to prepare for.The technical Shopify SEO issues merchants often overlook.Why URL structure matters and the Shopify problems you should fix.How to use AI to improve your SEO workflow.The SEO fixes every Shopify merchant should prioritise.Whether you are trying to grow organic traffic, improve product visibility or prepare your store for AI-driven search, this episode breaks down the practical SEO changes Shopify brands should be making now.Sponsored by YoastYoast helps Shopify merchants build stronger SEO foundations with tools that support optimisation, structured data, technical SEO and content improvements.Learn more about Yoast SEO for Shopify and how it can help improve your store’s search visibility.Exclusive listener offers:Ships-A-Lot - Improve fulfilment costs and find hidden shipping margin leaks.Inventory Planner - Free seven-day inventory bootcamp.Omnisend - 30% off paid plans for three months with code WINNINGWITHOMNISEND.Yoast - 15% off Shopify and WordPress with code WWS.506 - Extended 30-day free trial on any of their three Shopify apps with code WWS.Timestamps:(00:00) - Why Shopify Stores Need Better SEO(00:44) - The SEO App With 1 Billion+ Downloads(02:28) - Shopify SEO Is More Than Keywords(03:11) - The SEO Search Intent Mistake Brands Make(06:00) - How Yoast Helps With Shopify SEO(07:58) - AI Is Changing SEO & Search(08:53) - Technical Shopify SEO You Can't Ignore(11:18) - A Shopify URL Problem You Should Fix(13:13) - Using AI to Improve Your Shopify SEO(15:12) - SEO Fixes Every Shopify Merchant Should MakeFollow Winning With Shopify for practical ecommerce growth advice every Tuesday and Friday.About Winning With ShopifyWinning With Shopify is powered by Winning With Shopify, helping ecommerce brands grow through practical Shopify strategies, expert interviews and actionable advice.Spec Digital is a PPC & SEO agency helping ecommerce brands grow through performance marketing.
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Sep 23, 2026 • 16min

This Water Brand Built A $1.4B Business By Breaking Every Branding Rule

Water is one of the most commoditised products on the planet. So how did Liquid Death build a $1.4B business by breaking almost every branding rule?In this episode of Winning With Shopify, Nick breaks down the branding strategy behind Liquid Death and what ecommerce businesses can learn from a brand that turned something as ordinary as water into a product people recognise, talk about and want to be associated with.From its unconventional name and packaging to its influencer strategy and approach to attention, Liquid Death has built a brand that looks and behaves very differently from traditional bottled water companies.You'll learn:How Liquid Death reinvented the way water is marketedWhy their branding is so different from traditional water brandsHow packaging became a marketing channelWhy attention can be more valuable than traditional product marketingHow Liquid Death approaches influencer marketingThe evidence behind the brand's successHow to work out whether your customers actually care about your brandHow to make a boring or commoditised product excitingThe biggest branding lesson Shopify and ecommerce businesses can take from Liquid DeathThe bigger question is one every ecommerce founder should be asking: when almost anyone can copy your product, what makes customers choose your brand?Exclusive listener offers:⁠Ships-A-Lot⁠ - Improve fulfilment costs and find hidden shipping margin leaks.⁠Inventory Planner⁠ - Free seven-day inventory bootcamp.⁠Omnisend⁠ - 30% off paid plans for three months with code WINNINGWITHOMNISEND.⁠Yoast⁠ - 15% off Shopify and WordPress with code WWS.⁠506⁠ - Extended 30-day free trial on any of their three Shopify apps with code WWS.Timestamps:(00:00) - How Liquid Death Reinvented Water(01:18) - The $1.4 Billion Liquid Death Brand(02:32) - Why Liquid Death's Branding Is So Different(04:36) - How Packaging Became Their Marketing(07:36) - Attention vs Traditional Product Marketing(08:54) - Liquid Death's Influencer Strategy(11:10) - Evidence Behind the Brand's Success(12:07) - Do Your Customers Actually Like Your Brand?(14:21) - How to Make a Boring Product Exciting(15:07) - The Branding Lesson for Ecommerce BusinessesFollow Winning With Shopify for practical ecommerce growth advice every Tuesday and Friday.About Winning With ShopifyWinning With Shopify is powered by Winning With Shopify, helping ecommerce brands grow through practical Shopify strategies, expert interviews and actionable advice.Spec Digital is a PPC & SEO agency helping ecommerce brands grow through performance marketing.
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Sep 21, 2026 • 32min

TikTok Shop Is Changing Ecommerce Forever: What Brands Need To Know

TikTok Shop is changing ecommerce. Brands can now take customers from discovery to purchase without them ever leaving TikTok - creating a completely different way to acquire customers, build social proof and generate sales.In this episode of Winning With Shopify, Nick is joined by Ben from Peregrine Commerce to break down how TikTok Shop actually works, why so many Shopify brands are still ignoring it, and what brands need to know before making TikTok Shop part of their ecommerce strategy.From affiliate marketing and creator partnerships to fulfilment, Shopify integration, content and unit economics, Ben explains what it really takes to make TikTok Shop work as a serious sales channel - rather than treating it as another social media experiment.You’ll learn:Why TikTok Shop works as a flywheel and how sales, reviews and creators can compound growthWhy so many brands are still ignoring TikTok ShopHow TikTok Shop affiliate marketing works and how brands can attract creatorsWhich products are best suited to TikTok ShopWhy most brands fail when they launch on TikTok ShopHow TikTok Shop fulfilment works and how it connects with ShopifyWhen your brand should expand into TikTok ShopWhy TikTok Shop shouldn't be treated as a side projectHow to adapt your existing content for TikTok ShopHow to decide whether your target customer is actually on TikTokHow to think about TikTok Shop profit margins and unit economicsConnect with Ben & Peregrine Commerce:Email: [email protected]: Peregrine CommerceTikTok Shop: Peregrine Commerce TikTok ShopExclusive listener offers:Ships-A-Lot - Improve fulfilment costs and find hidden shipping margin leaks.Inventory Planner - Free seven-day inventory bootcamp.Omnisend - 30% off paid plans for three months with code WINNINGWITHOMNISEND.Yoast - 15% off Shopify and WordPress with code WWS.506 - Extended 30-day free trial on any of their three Shopify apps with code WWS.Follow Winning With Shopify for practical ecommerce growth advice every Tuesday and Friday.About Winning With ShopifyWinning With Shopify is powered by Winning With Shopify, helping ecommerce brands grow through practical Shopify strategies, expert interviews and actionable advice.Spec Digital is a PPC & SEO agency helping ecommerce brands grow through performance marketing.Timestamps:(00:00) - Why TikTok Shop Is a Flywheel(01:28) - Why Brands Are Still Ignoring TikTok Shop(02:51) - From Ecommerce Founder to TikTok Shop Expert(04:21) - Building an Omnichannel Ecommerce Brand(06:35) - How TikTok Shop Affiliate Marketing Works(08:19) - Why Sales & Reviews Attract More Affiliates(10:54) - What Products Actually Work on TikTok Shop?(12:04) - Why Most Brands Fail on TikTok Shop(16:40) - TikTok Shop Fulfillment & Shopify Integration(19:26) - When Should Your Brand Expand to TikTok Shop?(22:06) - Why TikTok Shop Shouldn't Be a Side Project(23:14) - Connecting TikTok Shop With Shopify(25:15) - Adapting Your Content for TikTok(27:00) - Is Your Target Customer Really on TikTok?(29:05) - TikTok Shop Profit Margins & Unit Economics
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Sep 17, 2026 • 27min

The Black Friday Discount Trap: How 20% Off Can Destroy Your Shopify Business

Black Friday can create record sales for Shopify brands — but it can also quietly destroy your profit.After 19 peak ecommerce seasons, Nick breaks down the biggest Black Friday mistake many brands make: focusing on revenue growth without understanding the true cost of discounting.A 20% discount might look like a simple way to increase conversions, but the impact goes much deeper. It affects your margins, your ROAS targets, your average order value, your fulfilment workload and even the long-term value of the customers you acquire.In this episode of Winning With Shopify, Nick uses real ecommerce maths to show why discounting can completely change the economics of your business — and why more sales doesn't always mean more profit.You’ll learn:Why a 20% discount can reduce your profit far more than expectedThe real impact of Black Friday discounts on gross marginHow Google Ads and Meta Ads costs change the maths behind promotionsWhy your usual ROAS target may no longer work during Black FridayHow discount-acquired customers can impact long-term profitabilityBetter alternatives to heavy discountingHow to create Black Friday offers that protect margin while still driving salesThe 5-point checklist every Shopify brand should complete before discountingThe biggest Black Friday mistake?Many brands assume a 20% discount means they simply need 20% more sales to make up the difference. But discounts don't just reduce revenue — they change your entire acquisition model.Once you factor in product margins, advertising costs, fulfilment and customer lifetime value, a successful-looking Black Friday campaign can actually leave your business less profitable.Nick also shares alternative strategies including bundles, rewards, tiered offers, exclusives and value-added incentives that help brands compete during peak season without simply racing to the biggest discount.In this episode:(00:00) - Why 20% Off Can Destroy Your Profit(02:26) - The Black Friday Profit Maths(05:05) - Adding Google & Meta Ad Costs(07:02) - How Discounts Affect AOV & ROAS(10:11) - How to Protect Profit During Black Friday(12:33) - The Problem With Discount-Acquired Customers(15:12) - Better Alternatives to Heavy Discounts(18:24) - Rewards, Bundles & Tiered Offers(21:20) - 3 Principles for a Profitable Black Friday(22:24) - 5-Point Black Friday Profit ChecklistFollow Winning With Shopify for practical ecommerce growth strategies, Shopify marketing advice and expert conversations designed to help brands grow more profitably.Exclusive listener offers:Ships-A-Lot - Improve fulfilment costs and find hidden shipping margin leaks.Inventory Planner - Free seven-day inventory bootcamp.Omnisend - 30% off paid plans for three months with code WINNINGWITHOMNISEND.Yoast - 15% off Shopify and WordPress with code WWS.506 - Extended 30-day free trial on Shopify apps with code WWS.About Winning With ShopifyWinning With Shopify is a podcast for Shopify founders, ecommerce leaders and marketers, covering practical strategies for growing an online store.Spec Digital is a PPC & SEO agency helping ecommerce brands grow through performance marketing.
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Sep 14, 2026 • 33min

How I Built A 7-Figure Shopify Brand With AI, Automation & Almost No Team

What if you could build a 7-figure Shopify brand without building a 50-person team?In this episode of Winning With Shopify, Nick is joined by Phil Atkinson, founder of Greenphones, to reveal how AI and automation are changing the way ecommerce businesses operate — from analytics and Google Ads to marketing, research and customer service.Phil has built a radically lean ecommerce operation, using AI as a team of specialised “employees” with different roles, access to business data and the tools needed to analyse performance and help run the business.Rather than simply using AI to write content, this episode explores what happens when you start giving AI access to the systems and information that actually run an ecommerce business — and whether one person can use AI to compete with much larger teams.You’ll learn:How to build AI employees for specific ecommerce rolesWhy Phil started using AI throughout his businessHow AI can analyse business data and improve decision-makingWhether AI can actually manage and optimise Google AdsWhat AI can replace — and what it can'tHow AI is changing the used-phone industryHow to use AI for marketing, research and advertisingWhether AI customer service is good enough for ecommerceHow Shopify brands should start implementing AIIf you're a Shopify founder, ecommerce manager or marketer trying to understand how AI can save time, improve decision-making and help a smaller team compete with much larger businesses, this episode is for you.Connect with Phil Atkinson:Website - philatkinson.comLinkedIn - Phil AtkinsonGreenphones:Website - greenphones.noInstagram - @greenphonesFacebook - GreenphonesIn this episode:(00:00) – Building AI Employees for Ecommerce(02:57) – Why He Started Using AI in His Business(03:27) – Creating AI Employees for Analytics(04:34) – Building an AI Team With Different Roles(07:44) – Giving AI Employees Access to Business Tools(09:11) – Can AI Manage and Optimize Google Ads?(11:02) – What AI Can—and Can't—Replace(17:02) – How AI Is Changing the Used-Phone Industry(21:13) – Using AI for Marketing, Research & Advertising(22:57) – The Jobs AI Still Can't Do(25:39) – AI Customer Service: Is It Good Enough?(28:37) – How Businesses Should Start Implementing AIFollow Winning With Shopify for practical ecommerce growth strategies, Shopify marketing advice, AI insights and expert conversations designed to help Shopify brands grow more profitably.Exclusive listener offers:Ships-A-Lot - Improve fulfilment costs and find hidden shipping margin leaks.Inventory Planner - Free seven-day inventory bootcamp.Omnisend - 30% off paid plans for three months with code WINNINGWITHOMNISEND.Yoast - 15% off Shopify and WordPress with code WWS.506 - Extended 30-day free trial on Shopify apps with code WWS.About Winning With ShopifyWinning With Shopify is a podcast for Shopify founders, ecommerce leaders and marketers, covering practical strategies for growing an online store.Spec Digital is a PPC & SEO agency helping ecommerce brands grow through performance marketing.
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Sep 9, 2026 • 31min

If I Had To Build A Shopify Brand From Scratch In 2026, Here's Exactly What I'd Do

If I had to build a Shopify brand from scratch today, I would do almost everything differently.Ecommerce has changed. Customer acquisition is more expensive, competition is everywhere, AI is changing how people discover products and the brands that win are no longer just the ones with the best products — they are the ones with the best systems.In this episode, Nick breaks down exactly how he would build a Shopify brand from zero in 2026, covering everything from finding the right opportunity and creating demand to building a brand that can scale profitably.This is the blueprint for building a modern ecommerce business — not just a store that generates sales, but a valuable brand with predictable growth, loyal customers and long-term potential.You’ll learn:Why you should start with the customer, not the productHow to validate demand before investing in inventory and developmentWhy distribution matters more than ever in modern ecommerceHow SEO and AI discovery should shape your strategy from day oneWhy relying purely on paid ads can make your business vulnerableHow to launch with a focused offer instead of an overwhelming product rangeWhy conversion optimisation needs to be built into your brand from the beginningHow AI can become a powerful advantage for ecommerce teamsWhy retention and customer relationships are key to profitable growthHow to build a Shopify business that someone would actually want to buyIn this episode:(00:00) - If I Started a Shopify Brand From Scratch in 2026(01:09) - 1. Start With the Customer, Not the Product(05:12) - 2. Validate Demand Before Building Anything(06:40) - 3. Build Distribution Before Inventory(09:44) - 4. Obsess Over SEO & AI Discoverability(12:04) - 5. Don't Become Dependent on Paid Ads(16:21) - 6. Launch With One Strong Hero Product(20:50) - 7. Build Conversion Into Your Brand From Day One(22:58) - 8. Make AI a Member of Your Team(25:18) - 9. Build Retention Before Chasing Scale(27:58) - 10. Build a Business Someone Wants to BuyNick also shares the mistakes he would avoid, the channels he would prioritise and the strategies he believes will separate successful Shopify brands from everyone else over the next few years.Follow Winning With Shopify for practical ecommerce growth advice every Tuesday and Friday.Exclusive listener offers:Ships-A-Lot - Improve fulfilment costs and find hidden shipping margin leaks.Inventory Planner - Free seven-day inventory bootcamp.Omnisend - 30% off paid plans for three months with code WINNINGWITHOMNISEND.Yoast - 15% off Shopify and WordPress with code WWS.506 - Extended 30-day free trial on any of their three Shopify apps with code WWS.About Winning With ShopifyWinning With Shopify is powered by Winning With Shopify, helping ecommerce brands grow through practical Shopify strategies, expert interviews and actionable advice.Spec Digital is a PPC & SEO agency helping ecommerce brands grow through performance marketing.

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