The Ecomcrew Ecommerce Podcast

In this episode of the EcomCrew podcast, I’m joined by Michael Epstein, one of the co-founders of PostPilot, a company that helps e-commerce businesses by using direct mail marketing to create memorable customer experiences to increase sales.   We also discuss how PostPilot started and the idea behind going back to physical postcards to advertise products, discounts, and services. We also talk about how companies have been faring after subscribing to their services.   Timestamps: 2:07 — Introduction  6:37 — Inspiration behind PostPilot  8:40  — How to reacquire customers who churned 10:16 — New features PostPilot’s been working on  14:24 — Internal benchmarks to measure for future campaigns 17:48 — Tactics/incentives to reacquire old customers 24:15 — How to use lookalike audience attributes to refine ROAS 27:17 — Abandon cart win-back campaigns 29:15 — Minimum threshold for companies before hitting a benchmark 30:38 — PostPilot’s exclusive offering to EcomCrew members   Thank you so much to Michael for doing this week’s podcast episode with me after I had his co-founder Drew on the podcast a few years ago and learned so much about the growth of their business and their plans for the future.   He was also so kind for giving EcomCrew members freebies in their first few months when they sign up on PostPilot.   If you want to learn more about their business, you can check them out on PostPilot.com.   Don’t forget to leave us a review over on iTunes if you enjoyed this episode. Until the next one, happy selling!

The first Under The Hood episode of the year is finally here! Today I'm joined by Gary Guenst, one-half of the founders of ToothShower, a water flosser powered by your own shower.    If the brand sounds familiar, you might’ve heard it from one of my previous Under The Hood episodes where I chatted with Gary’s wife, Lisa.    Here are some of the questions me and Gary went back and forth with from this episode: Does the MFN inventory automatically back up FBA inventory if current FBAs run out? - 5:14 Is there a general rule of thumb for running coupons? - 9:25  What's a realistic ROS on Amazon? - 14:10 Are there more businesses leaving Amazon? - 19:48  What kind of businesses should list their products on Walmart? - 21:41 What are the best platforms to find keywords? - 24:18  What companies benefit most from using Helium 10 and Jungle Scout? - 26:26 What is the best way to leverage selling eBooks on Amazon? - 29:29  Which generates higher conversions? Driving customers through listings or to a brand store? - 32:27  How frequently should businesses update backend keywords, brand content story, listings, and a+ content? - 34:37  How do you set a budget for the performance of Amazon ads? - 36:27  Why should a business care about B2B customers in transaction downloads when Amazon sends updates on the number of B2B customers? - 39:39  Is 14 days enough time to generate reasonable data on Amazon ads? - 42:03  How often should a business post on Amazon? - 42:15  Are there any updates on Amazon's liquidation program? - 43:46  Do you have any tips for businesses in the process of launching a downsized product? - 45:27    Gary and I also went over how ToothShower has done since last appearing on the show and their plans to scale their business in the future by using ads and automated tools, on top of their main goal of downsizing some of their products    As mentioned in the episode, here’s a link to one of the best tools to find keywords on Amazon.     If you want a free hour of coaching to help you navigate all the hiccups you’ve been experiencing in ecommerce, we’d love to have you on our next Under The Hood Episode. If you liked this week’s episode, we would appreciate it if you leave us a review on iTunes. As always, happy selling and we’ll see you in the next one!

Nirav Sheth and Mike Jackness dive into Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) strategies. Our guest,  the founder and CEO of Anata, sheds light on the significance of CRO and its optimal timing for business enhancement.    We focus on often overlooked aspects of e-commerce management, highlighting the importance of a user-friendly checkout experience, the influence of distractions on mobile users, and the role of data-driven decision-making in e-commerce.    Additionally, the episode uncovers the power of influencer-led channels, effective landing page optimization, and the psychology behind podcast advertising.    Nirav provides his expert take on traditional CRO and why more impactful, focused testing could yield better results than a high volume of minor ones.   Timestamps: 00:25 - Introduction 01:41 - Embracing Best Practices for CRO 07:50 - Ensuring a User-friendly Checkout System 09:56 - Comprehending Mobile User Behavior 11:22 - The Role of Usability Testing 14:47 - Understanding E-commerce Benchmarks 19:18 - Exploring Conversion Rates in E-commerce 20:31 - Harnessing the Potential of Influencer-led Channels 27:41 - The Limitations of Traditional CRO 31:49 - The Impact of AI and Personalization on CRO   I wanna thank Nirav for the value-packed conversation today, and we’ll definitely employ the tactics learned in our own businesses.    If you want to get featured on an Under the Hood segment, be sure to head over to ecomcrew.com/underthehood to sign up. We’re excited to hear about your ecommerce journey!    Speaking of ecommerce journey, Dave and I would not have gotten this far without all the help from the amazing people we met along the way.    Don’t forget to leave us a review over on iTunes if you enjoyed this episode. Until the next one, happy selling!

Today, my guest is Kelcey Lehrich, a prolific entrepreneur running a thriving portfolio of ecommerce enterprises. We dissect the opportunities and hurdles in operating multiple ecommerce ventures, extending hands-on counsel and strategic guidance to listeners.    We delve into the key attributes of a successful business, the significance of revenue quality, and the untapped potential within distressed assets.    This episode reveals essential facets about business expansion, creating competitive edges, and strategizing future objectives, providing a comprehensive overview of the e-commerce landscape. We also talk about the start of Holdco Conference, an annual gathering aimed specifically at multi-business operators.   Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:38 - Personal Experiences as an FBA Aggregator 01:47 - Deep Dive into Kelcey's Strategy 03:11 - Journey and Growth of Kelcey's Holding Company 04:42 - Striking a Balance between Aspirations and Capitalization 07:05 - Guidelines for Business Expansion 08:01 - Identifying High Quality eCommerce Businesses 10:34 - Tactical Approaches for Business Growth and Exit Strategy 12:59 - Valuable Lessons Learnt from Running eCommerce Businesses 26:45 - Holdco Conference: A Premier Event for Multi-Business Owners   Kelcey shares a few nuggets of wisdom about managing multiple e-commerce businesses. His experiences provide a unique perspective for those keen on owning multiple business, underscoring the balance between aspirations and resources, the maturation of a holding company, and the prerequisites for business scaling.    Although owning multiple businesses presents its unique challenges, the payoff and rewards at the end of the road can be life-changing.   Kelcey stresses how important it is to learn from acquiring businesses that have survived the early startup phase. Learning specifically about optimizing business structures, managing costs, and leveraging existing vendor relationships for building a lucrative eCommerce venture can be the most useful lessons to learn.

Mike reflects on the podcast as we hit our 500th milestone episode by exploring the profound power of time. In this special solo episode, Mike delves into the importance of time in various aspects of life, including investment, business, and personal growth.    Welcome to this special milestone episode of the EcomCrew Podcast as we celebrate our 500th airing. Today, I’m putting on my philosophical hat to look back on the podcast and to guide you through my podcasting journey since the show started back in November 2015.    In this solo episode, I delve into the profound power of time, which can be both a potent tool for positive change and a formidable obstacle. It can be short, or it can be longer than you think, but in the end, we’ll never know how long our time on Earth will be. However, it’s important to maximize the time we have as much as possible. It’s incredibly important never to rush, especially in investment, business, and personal growth.    I'll share my own personal experiences with how it’s been the backbone of my stock and real estate investments, my businesses and content creation, showing the significance of long-term commitment and consistency. I'll also explore some of my favorite books that have shaped my thinking and business approach.   Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:33 - Postscript  03:17 - Exploring the power and challenge of time. 05:20 - Importance of investing early and the magic of compounding interest. 07:10 - Experience on navigating competition in the e-commerce podcast realm. 09:13 - Persistence and consistency: Keys to long-term success. 14:10 - Sticking with one venture for long-term success 17:07 - Time as a finite resource: Why proper management is critical. Drawing from my journey with the EcomCrew podcast, there were times where I wanted to quit but consistency was key. Success is never an overnight event, but a product of relentless efforts invested over time.   I can’t help but stress the importance of consistency, long-term dedication, and effective time management. It’s important for listeners to foster a long-term perspective in their business goals, steering clear of the “shiny thing” syndrome.    Don’t forget to leave us a review over on iTunes if you enjoy content like this.    Happy selling and we’ll talk to you soon!  

Mike interviews ecommerce lawyer Steven Weigler, who shares his expert knowledge on the legal aspects of starting, growing, and exiting an e-commerce business. We delve into the importance of legal protection, due diligence, and having the right processes in place for e-commerce businesses.    Topics covered include intellectual property, privacy policies, product packaging, and governance, as well as the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and the value of having a skilled lawyer by your side.    I wanted to get Steven on today to help listeners learn how to avoid potential issues that can negatively impact the value of their businesses and delay the sale process.   Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:25 - Steven's background in law and entrepreneurship, and the role of lawyers in e-commerce businesses 01:58 - Legal aspects and the importance of a clean legal strategy for e-commerce businesses 03:48 - Legal pitfalls to avoid and the significance of trademarks 07:23 - Key elements for developing a legal strategy, such as intellectual property and privacy policies 13:12 - Understanding different business stages and appropriate legal operations 14:19 - Importance of building a strong relationship with an attorney 16:24 - Clearing your brand name to avoid future costly issues 19:15 - Navigating business divorces and the need for proper governance 20:53 - Legal protection and good processes for e-commerce businesses in larger deals 25:47 - Mitigating risks and challenges in e-commerce through a good lawyer and a strong network 28:20 - Preparing for inevitable legal issues in business 29:51 - Steven Weigler's law firm, Emerge Console, and resources on LinkedIn   This podcast episode features valuable legal advice and strategies provided by Steven Weigler to help e-commerce businesses succeed and avoid costly legal problems.    By engaging a lawyer early on, maintaining a clean legal strategy, and being proactive in legal matters, entrepreneurs can better position their companies for potential exit events or acquisitions.    Furthermore, understanding the legal aspects and due diligence processes required to protect their business value can enable business owners to implement a strategic approach to intellectual property, privacy policies, product packaging, and governance, minimizing potential issues and maximizing their value during the sale process.   This episode serves as a valuable resource for e-commerce entrepreneurs seeking to strengthen their legal foundation and safeguard their businesses.  

The focus on today's episode is on the challenges faced by Amazon sellers, particularly from Chinese companies and sellers who engage in these practices.    Karl from Stonington Global joins the discussion to shed light on the lobbying efforts to educate lawmakers about these issues and advocate for a fairer e-commerce environment.    This episode highlights the importance of creating a level playing field for all e-commerce sellers and the impact of unfair trade practices on consumers.   Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 02:36 - Unfair trade practices on Amazon 03:00 - Lobbying efforts by tech giants 06:21 - Amazon's public relations efforts and challenges for small businesses 08:59 - Consumer impact and importance of domestic manufacturing 12:25 - Vulnerabilities of global supply chains 14:07 - Government crackdown on Amazon and challenges for US businesses 15:44 - Draft legislation and the proposed FTC study 18:54 - Karl's personal story on dealing with Amazon 21:16 - Encouragement to share stories and put pressure on Amazon 23:48 - Support for Karl's cause and spreading the message   As the e-commerce industry continues to grow, the need for a level playing field becomes increasingly important.   Unfair trade practices, particularly those perpetrated by Chinese companies and sellers, present a significant challenge for Amazon sellers and have a wider impact on consumers.    However, by advocating for change and educating lawmakers, we can work towards creating a more equitable e-commerce environment.   This episode encourages listeners to support Karl's cause, and work together to create a better future for all e-commerce sellers and consumers.    Visit EcomCrew for more content and e-commerce courses, and until the next episode, happy selling!

In this EcomCrew Podcast episode, Daniel and I delve deep into the world of email marketing and retention marketing in the e-commerce industry. We share our their experiences and insights on why email marketing remains an essential tool for businesses, despite predictions of its decline.   We also touch on the importance of building community and trust with customers, and show successful examples of companies using email and SMS marketing effectively, as well as the potential of loyalty programs to drive business growth.   Timestamps: Intro - 00:00 Daniel's e-commerce and email marketing journey - 01:14 Email's continued effectiveness despite claims of its decline - 04:05 The rise and fall of Messenger chatbots - 06:06 Differences between consumer and business owner email inboxes - 07:26 Decreasing open rates in MailChimp's report - 08:35 Generating revenue through trust and community-building content emails - 10:19 Engaging customers with community photos, tips, and tricks - 11:11 Good email marketing's impact on small businesses - 14:36 A lack of good e-commerce email marketing examples - 16:16 Measuring time between first, second, and third orders - 20:37 The potential of SMS marketing - 22:41 Generating additional revenue through loyalty programs - 26:29 Learning from big brands with effective loyalty programs - 33:55   Email marketing has proven to be a powerful tool in the ever-evolving landscape of e-commerce.   It is crucial for businesses to create engaging content and focus on building trust, community, and lasting relationships with their customers. With that being said, companies should also concentrate on customer retention and repeat purchases by leveraging effective email and SMS marketing strategies and implementing well-designed loyalty programs.    Successful loyalty programs not only boost customer engagement and sales but can also significantly raise the company's valuation. Businesses should look to learn from the successes of established brands with effective loyalty programs and adapt their strategies accordingly.   I want to thank Daniel for taking time out of his busy schedule to discuss the landscape and future of email marketing.    If you want to know more about Daniel and his business, check out the links on his site and his podcast below.  Budai Media  The Ecom Show Podcast Lastly, don’t forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoyed this episode.   Until the next one, happy selling! 

In today's episode, Jake is back to discuss the findings from their annual State of the Amazon Seller Report; on topics like Amazon Seller Profitability, the effect of tariffs and freight costs on sourcing decisions, the changing landscape of Amazon advertising, and the importance of diversifying your online presence.   This comprehensive report surveys more than 2,000 Amazon sellers, providing critical insights into the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the industry.    Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction and overview of the State of the Amazon Seller Report 01:25 - Importance of the report and how it helps sellers benchmark their performance 03:35 - Discussion on the trend of sourcing from China vs. the United States 07:32 - The impact of tariffs, COVID, and logistics on sourcing decisions 09:37 - Challenges in finding US-based suppliers and potential business opportunities 11:32 - Strong profit margins reported by Amazon sellers 12:37 - Comparing the profit margins of Amazon sellers to small businesses in the US 13:25 - The challenges of running an Amazon-only business vs. an off-Amazon brand 15:39 - The benefits of selling on Amazon, including ease of customer acquisition 17:30 - The learning curve associated with starting an Amazon business 18:38 - Interest in tracking the trend of net profit for Amazon sellers 19:33 - Increase in profitability for surveyed sellers 20:18 - The challenges and additional costs of running an e-commerce business 23:43 - Challenges with Amazon fees and the need to pivot 24:18 - Shifts in advertising spend across platforms 25:17 - Using influencers for advertising and video creation 27:24 - Trends in Amazon advertising and FBA fees 29:05 - Exploring Google ads for more cost-effective advertising 30:42 - Benefits of off-Amazon advertising and organic search rankings 32:47 - Top product categories and market trends 35:40 - Discussing changing product categories in the report 37:20 - Top challenges for Amazon sellers 38:14 - Issues with optimizing product listings 38:49 - Introducing AI Assist for Jungle Scout 40:23 - Productivity benefits of using AI Assist 42:42 - Main topic: Top concerns for Amazon sellers 43:17 - Increasing cost of goods and its impact on sellers   I want to thank Jake for joining me for this very insightful episode. If you want to dig deeper, check out the full 2023 State of the Amazon Seller Report here.  Lastly, don’t forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoyed this episode. Until the next one, happy selling!   

With Seller Summit 2023 coming up in May, Mike and Steve Chou reflect on the value of events, revisit some of their favorite memories, and how its impacted their lives in more ways than one.    Masterminds are one of my favorite segments of a live event. Whether it be EcommerceFuel, Seller Summit, or whatever event that takes place, Masterminds give everyone an opportunity to voice out their problems and get actionable advice from a like-minded group of people.    Steve and I first met during Andrew Youderian's event, at a Mastermind where Steve asked the table for a critique of his website, and we've been friends ever since then.    This episode is more of a fun recap rather than an actionable advisory, but there's a few takeaways to learn from this episode. You'll learn about The costs of cranking up, and keeping your work burner as high as possible.  How opening up and trusting like-minded individuals can be more valuable than you think.  Why it's good to have a group of friends that can't relate to your entrepreneurial lifestyle.   Timestamps:  Intro - 00:00   An overview of what Seller Summit is, and how it's different - 2:42  How Mike and Steve Chou met for the first time - 5:06  TAKEAWAY #1: Masterminds give you the advice you need to hear, without the fluff - 7:33 How Steve Chou got into selling on Amazon - 9:58  How Steve Chou got marital advice at a Mastermind - 12:22  How Steve Chou saved Mike's marriage - 14:08 How Steve Chou made $60k in 90 minutes - 18:03 How Mike deals with old friends who aren't in eCommerce - 20:51 Why venture backed businesses are a different gamble - 23:40  Steve and Mike's experience investing on an eCommerce business together - 25:15  Why it's important to surround yourselves around those who trust you - 27:55 How events during the pandemic weren't the same - 33:55 Seller Summit 2023 details - 36:08   Lots of thanks to Steve for doing this episode with me. If you're thinking about going to Seller Summit, here's a link with a special discount code for Ecomcrew listeners. You can check out all of Steve's other awesome stuff over on mywifequitherjob.com.    If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to leave us a review on iTunes. Until the next one. Happy selling!