

The Unofficial Shopify Podcast
Kurt Elster, Paul Reda
NEW EPISODES EVERY TUESDAY, SUBSCRIBE FOR UNBEATABLE ECOM RECON – Every Tuesday since 2014, host Kurt Elster shares the Shopify success stories that nobody tells you about, straight from the entrepreneurs living it. Subscribe for a raw look at what it really takes to succeed on Shopify.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 31, 2022 • 44min
SEO & Content Strategy Simplified
Long time SEO expert and Shopify Partner Rhian Beutler returns to the show with updates to tell us...the SEO & content strategy every store should employthe right approach to Meta title & description tagsHow to take advantage of Google's Natural Language Processing pushPlus an update on the global supply chain.Show LinksMozCopyAIOpenAI’s API for GPT-3Double Your WDWOtter.aiGoogle Search ConsoleShopify SupplyMVMTGovalorhianbeutler.comSponsorsFree 30-day trial of Zipify OCU - To get an unadvertised gift, email help@zipify.com and ask for the "Tech Nasty Bonus".Back up your store with RewindTry Bold Product Upsell, free trialPrivy: The Fastest Way To Grow Sales With Email & SMSNever miss an episodeSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsJoin Kurt's newsletterHelp the showAsk a question in The Unofficial Shopify Podcast Facebook GroupLeave a reviewSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsWhat's Kurt up to?See our recent work at EthercycleSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelApply to work with Kurt to grow your store.

May 24, 2022 • 50min
Q&A: Shopify Feature & Strategy Update
In this Ask Us Anything episode, we discuss new features and answer your burning questions.What's new at Shopify:AudiencesDelivery DatesSFN + DeliverrAnd your questions:When to upgrade your planThe importance of being a HYPE BEASTMetafields impact on SEOConversion Rate FactorsAnd moreShow LinksShopify AudiencesEstimated Delivery Dates at CheckoutShopify acquires DeliverrShop PromiseSponsorsFree 30-day trial of Zipify OCU - To get an unadvertised gift, email help@zipify.com and ask for the "Tech Nasty Bonus".Back up your store with RewindTry Bold Product Upsell, free trialPrivy: The Fastest Way To Grow Sales With Email & SMSNever miss an episodeSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsJoin Kurt's newsletterHelp the showAsk a question in The Unofficial Shopify Podcast Facebook GroupLeave a reviewSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsWhat's Kurt up to?See our recent work at EthercycleSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelApply to work with Kurt to grow your store.

May 17, 2022 • 43min
Understanding Influencer Product Seeding
In today's episode, we learn a sane and accessible influencer marketing strategy that has worked for brand and big small: product seeding.We're joined by Cody Wittick, Co-Founder and Co-CEO at Kynship, an influencer marketing agency.Prior to co-founding Kynship, Cody worked at QALO, the brand that created the silicone wedding ring, where he built out a robust influencer program of 500+ influencers, all through the foundation of seeding. This included contracting thousands of micro-influencers in a variety of industries to produce monthly UGC and organic posts, while also working with household names such as Lebron James, Jason Aldean, Mike Trout, and Dale Earnhardt Jr.Show LinksKynshipQALOMeta for CreatorsTikTok Creator MarketplaceMightyScoutRevKapwingKynship App: Influencer SeedingKynship's Influencer CourseSponsorsFree 30-day trial of Zipify OCU - To get an unadvertised gift, email help@zipify.com and ask for the "Tech Nasty Bonus".Back up your store with RewindTry Bold Product Upsell, free trialPrivy: The Fastest Way To Grow Sales With Email & SMSNever miss an episodeSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsJoin Kurt's newsletterHelp the showAsk a question in The Unofficial Shopify Podcast Facebook GroupLeave a reviewSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsWhat's Kurt up to?See our recent work at EthercycleSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelApply to work with Kurt to grow your store.

May 10, 2022 • 39min
Tools to Get Your Money Right
In this episode, we hear how Shopify merchants can better manage their business finances, and increase conversion at checkout.Our guest today is Tui Allen, a Product Director at Shopify, overseeing financial solutions for entrepreneurs and businesses.This includes Shopify Capital (available to merchants in the US, UK, and Canada) which provides merchants with timely access to funds to help their businesses grow, simplifying the tedious processes found at traditional banks. Since its launch in 2016, Shopify Capital has provided more than $3 billion in funding to merchants worldwide.With over 20 years of experience in the software and technology sector, Tui Allen has a track record of leading product development not just for Shopify, but also global financial ERP, CRM and payment solutions for several Fortune 100 companies.Show LinksShopify BalanceShopify ProtectShopify CapitalAccelerated checkouts / dynamic checkout buttonsShop PayShopPay InstallmentsSponsorsFree 30-day trial of Zipify OCU - To get an unadvertised gift, email help@zipify.com and ask for the "Tech Nasty Bonus".Back up your store with RewindTry Bold Product Upsell, free trialPrivy: The Fastest Way To Grow Sales With Email & SMSNever miss an episodeSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsJoin Kurt's newsletterHelp the showAsk a question in The Unofficial Shopify Podcast Facebook GroupLeave a reviewSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsWhat's Kurt up to?See our recent work at EthercycleSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelApply to work with Kurt to grow your store.

May 3, 2022 • 41min
Undoing Headless
In episode 400, we heard from veteran ecom investor Drew Sanocki that he'd acquired oVertone Haircare along with ecom powerhouse influencer Ezra Firestone.In today's episode, our recent hire Tom Siodlak talks us through the behind the scenes experience of working with Ezra and the oVertone team on migrating the site from headless back to native Shopify with a custom theme. He reveals the premium theme we used as a framework, his thoughts on developing custom Shopify themes, design process, Online Store 2.0's impact, and more.Show LinksoVertone HaircareFocal by MaestroooTurbo Theme by Out of The SandboxEthercycleCrowdfunderSponsorsFree 30-day trial of Zipify OCU - To get an unadvertised gift, email help@zipify.com and ask for the "Tech Nasty Bonus".Back up your store with RewindTry Bold Product Upsell, free trialPrivy: The Fastest Way To Grow Sales With Email & SMSNever miss an episodeSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsJoin Kurt's newsletterHelp the showAsk a question in The Unofficial Shopify Podcast Facebook GroupLeave a reviewSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsWhat's Kurt up to?See our recent work at EthercycleSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelApply to work with Kurt to grow your store.

Apr 26, 2022 • 55min
Custom Theming a Multimillion Lifestyle Brand
In episode 235, we heard how SHITI Coolers started with $400 in parody stickers back in 2016 and by 2019 had grown into a seven-figure lifestyle brand.Today, they're back on the show to discuss their next phase of growth, beginning with a custom theme and rebranding effort. Not just any custom theme, when we built with them and launched less than 24 hours before recording this episode.Show Linksshiticoolers.comSponsorsFree 30-day trial of Zipify OCU - To get an unadvertised gift, email help@zipify.com and ask for the "Tech Nasty Bonus".Back up your store with RewindTry Bold Product Upsell, free trialPrivy: The Fastest Way To Grow Sales With Email & SMSNever miss an episodeSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsJoin Kurt's newsletterHelp the showAsk a question in The Unofficial Shopify Podcast Facebook GroupLeave a reviewSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsWhat's Kurt up to?See our recent work at EthercycleSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelApply to work with Kurt to grow your store.

Apr 19, 2022 • 42min
Easy Mistakes to Avoid When Starting a Business
We discuss the top mistakes to avoid early in your entrepreneurial journey. Look, when you start something new, you don't know what you don't know. It's easy to make a lot of mistakes early on that become obvious to you only later with experience. I know this because I've been through it. I've engaged in all of the mistakes we're about to discuss.Show LinksoVertoneGovaloAMP by Shop SheriffPost Pilot - The Godfather offer! They'll build the first campaign for you and send them.SponsorsFree 30-day trial of Zipify OCU - To get an unadvertised gift, email help@zipify.com and ask for the "Tech Nasty Bonus".Back up your store with RewindTry Bold Product Upsell, free trialPrivy: The Fastest Way To Grow Sales With Email & SMSNever miss an episodeSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsJoin Kurt's newsletterHelp the showAsk a question in The Unofficial Shopify Podcast Facebook GroupLeave a reviewSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsWhat's Kurt up to?See our recent work at EthercycleSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelApply to work with Kurt to grow your store.

Apr 12, 2022 • 52min
Lessons from 20 Years of Ecommerce
Serial entrepreneur Drew Sanocki shares his career learnings after starting, buying, running, or selling numerous ecommerce businesses.Notable quotes:"You make most of your money on the exit.""Buying a business reduces the risk... its the ultimate shortcut""Valuations change over time. Growing ecommerce businesses can sell for 5-8x EBITDA"We discuss:Selling furniture as one of the earliest dropshippers in 1999The specifics on buying oVertone Haircare with Ezra FirestoneWhat makes a business attractive as a purchaseThe importance of retention marketingShow LinksoVertoneAutoAnythingDuoPlanePowerful by Patty McCord#341 - RFM Segmentation with Juliana JacksonPost Pilot - The Godfather offer! They'll build the first campaign for you and send them.SponsorsFree 30-day trial of Zipify OCU - To get an unadvertised gift, email help@zipify.com and ask for the "Tech Nasty Bonus".Back up your store with RewindTry Bold Product Upsell, free trialPrivy: The Fastest Way To Grow Sales With Email & SMSNever miss an episodeSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsJoin Kurt's newsletterHelp the showAsk a question in The Unofficial Shopify Podcast Facebook GroupLeave a reviewSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsWhat's Kurt up to?See our recent work at EthercycleSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelApply to work with Kurt to grow your store.

Apr 5, 2022 • 48min
AMA: What's Working in 2022
In this Ask Me Anything episode sourced from our listeners, we discuss...Alternatives to Shopify and Google AnalyticsTikTok StrategyWhat do successful brands do differently?Is SEO still viable?What's one thing around the corner no one is talking about yet?Which 3 eComm strategies that just don't work like they used to?Meta Shops (FB/IG)... Should Shopify merchants have checkout on their owned Shopify store, or, Meta Checkout (In-app checkout)?The NEW Shopify Customers View sectionsGoogle PageSpeed FalloutReturn Management AppsShow LinksShopify FlowoVertoneKno CommerceTriple WhaleBetter ReportsReport PunditShopify Customer SegmentationShopify Email MarketingLoop ReturnsAftershipNarvarPost PilotSponsorsFree 30-day trial of Zipify OCU - To get an unadvertised gift, email help@zipify.com and ask for the "Tech Nasty Bonus".Back up your store with RewindTry Bold Product Upsell, free trialPrivy: The Fastest Way To Grow Sales With Email & SMSNever miss an episodeSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsJoin Kurt's newsletterHelp the showAsk a question in The Unofficial Shopify Podcast Facebook GroupLeave a reviewSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsWhat's Kurt up to?See our recent work at EthercycleSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelApply to work with Kurt to grow your store.

Mar 29, 2022 • 49min
Becca Davison of UnbuckleMe
We're joined by Becca Davison, co-inventor of UnbuckleMe, an innovative, patented tool that makes it easy to open kids’ car seat buckles. She's a Shark Tank alum who experienced the most unusual event in the Shark Tank: all five Sharks were interested in investing in and partnering with UnBuckleMe.When Becca's mom Barb offered to help out with childcare, they identified a problem, and Barb was uniquely positioned to solve it. Fast forward 5 years later, UnbuckleMe is a top selling product on Amazon with over 6k reviews, available at Target, Walmart, buybuyBABY and loved by parents & grandparents across the country.Show LinksUnbuckleMe - Take 15% off with code podcast15Kickstarter: UnbuckleMeSafe in the SeatKlaviyoAttentiveSponsorsFree 30-day trial of Zipify OCU - To get an unadvertised gift, email help@zipify.com and ask for the "Tech Nasty Bonus".Back up your store with RewindTry Bold Product Upsell, free trialPrivy: The Fastest Way To Grow Sales With Email & SMSNever miss an episodeSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsJoin Kurt's newsletterHelp the showAsk a question in The Unofficial Shopify Podcast Facebook GroupLeave a reviewSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsWhat's Kurt up to?See our recent work at EthercycleSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelApply to work with Kurt to grow your store.