eCommerce Fastlane: Shopify Growth Strategies—Where AI Efficiency Meets Human Connection

Are you feeling like your Shopify brand could be doing more—maybe you’re struggling to connect the dots between your channels, or you know you’re not getting the most out of your existing customers?You’re not alone. So many brands sense there’s untapped growth, but with commerce evolving so quickly, it’s tough to know what to prioritize or how to fill those expertise gaps.That’s why I’m excited to welcome Dennis Yao, co-founder of The Other Group and my former lead at Shopify, to the show. Dennis has spent over 20 years in retail, wholesale, SaaS, and digital marketplaces—he’s helped mid-market and enterprise brands drive billions in revenue, and now he’s on a mission to help omnichannel brands execute smarter and grow faster.What You'll LearnOmnichannel strategy: How to move from buzzwords to practical execution across retail, DTC, wholesale, and marketplaces.Retention as a growth engine: Why nurturing “raving fans” is the smartest way to boost profitability and customer lifetime value.Social vs. video commerce: What’s working now on TikTok Shop and with shoppable video, and how to resource it.Real-world AI adoption: Where Gen AI is actually shifting the game for brands—think content, support, and the future of SEO.Bridging the execution gap: How to spot and fix missing pieces in your tech stack, strategy, or team.Building authentic community: Simple ways to use content and loyalty to create long-term customer value.Check out his YouTube channel here for more strategies!Reach out to us! We welcome questions and comments about this episode. Connect with us here or through our socials — your feedback is always welcome.TwitterLinkedInFacebookFor more ecommerce, marketing, and growth strategies, check out the eCommerce Fastlane Insights Blog. 

Are you frustrated by unpredictable ROAS and rising Facebook ad costs that make scaling your Shopify brand feel impossible? You’re definitely not alone. Many brands see their first customer acquisition barely break even—or even lose money—forcing them to rely on retention just to stay afloat.In this episode, I’m joined by Manel Gomez, CEO and founder of Meta Scaling Accelerator. Since 2016, Manel has managed over $25 million in Facebook ad spend, helping e-commerce brands break through the noise and actually scale profitably. He’s not just another ad guy—he’s the creator of the “Wave Surfing” methodology, a proven system for maximizing your ad spend during peak performance windows while minimizing risk.We dig into:How to spot your brand’s natural conversion peaks using Shopify AnalyticsWhy testing customer motivations (“angles”) beats endless audience tweaksMatching creative formats to how your customers really shopEmbracing ROAS ups and downs—and how to ride those waves for profitUsing AI for faster creative production (without losing your strategic edge)Building an ad account structure that can handle real growthIf you’re ready for actionable strategies and a fresh perspective on Facebook ad scaling, you’ll love what Manel has to share.Check out his YouTube channel here for more strategies!Reach out to us! We welcome questions and comments about this episode. Connect with us here or through our socials — your feedback is always welcome.TwitterLinkedInFacebookFor more ecommerce, marketing, and growth strategies, check out the eCommerce Fastlane Insights Blog. 

Are conflicting data points between Shopify and Google Analytics 4 (GA4) undermining your marketing decisions? You’re not alone—and it’s likely costing your business more than you realize. Many Shopify brands struggle to establish a reliable source of truth for their marketing performance, leading to wasted ad spend, inaccurate reporting, and missed growth opportunities.In this episode, we sit down with Josh Lauer, a marketing intelligence expert specializing in Google Analytics, data warehousing, and empowering ecommerce brands with clarity and confidence in their data. Josh shares how to bridge the gap between platform analytics (like Shopify) and marketing analytics (like GA4) to create a unified, trustworthy view of performance.With firsthand insights into the frustrations caused by data discrepancies and the transition from Universal Analytics to GA4, Josh outlines actionable strategies to help you implement robust data solutions that drive smarter decisions and scalable growth. Reach out to us! We welcome questions and comments about this episode. Connect with us here or through our socials — your feedback is always welcome.TwitterLinkedInFacebookFor more ecommerce, marketing, and growth strategies, check out the eCommerce Fastlane Insights Blog. 

You’re not alone. Many e-commerce brands are feeling the "margin crunch" as shipping costs skyrocket. Carrier rate hikes, hidden surcharges, and complex contracts can feel like unavoidable profit killers, making it harder to stay competitive and profitable.Today, we’re talking with Michael Moriarty, a strategic partner at Schooley Mitchell, an independent cost reduction consulting firm that has saved businesses over $1 billion. They specialize in uncovering savings in complex expense categories, with a strong focus on helping e-commerce brands slash their shipping costs.Michael and the Schooley Mitchell team deeply understand the intricacies of carrier contracts (FedEx, UPS, etc.) and work solely on behalf of their clients – not the carriers – to find savings and optimize shipping spend. Reach out to us! We welcome questions and comments about this episode. Connect with us here or through our socials — your feedback is always welcome.TwitterLinkedInFacebookFor more ecommerce, marketing, and growth strategies, check out the eCommerce Fastlane Insights Blog. 

Struggling to Find Marketing Channels That Deliver? Drowning in Rising Ad Costs? There's a Better Way.You're not alone. Many e-commerce brands are feeling the squeeze of rising ad costs and cutthroat competition. Finding profitable ways to reach new customers is getting tougher.Today, we're talking with Michael Cole, the Senior Vice President of Marketing for Everflow, a company behind a powerful partner marketing platform that empowers brands to track and scale their affiliate programs effectively.Michael brings a wealth of experience to the table, particularly from his early involvement with Shopify and BigCommerce. He deeply understands what makes these programs tick and how to leverage them for maximum impact. Reach out to us! We welcome questions and comments about this episode. Connect with us here or through our socials — your feedback is always welcome.TwitterLinkedInFacebookFor more ecommerce, marketing, and growth strategies, check out the eCommerce Fastlane Insights Blog. 

Sam Piliero, Founder and CEO of The Moonlighters, shares his extensive experience in media buying for Shopify brands. He delves into the skyrocketing costs of Facebook and Google ads and introduces the M3 method for optimizing ad strategies. Sam emphasizes the power of authentic marketing and effective customer engagement. He discusses the shifting dynamics of digital advertising, the impact of strategic placements like during the Super Bowl, and the importance of nurturing product quality to ensure sustainable growth in e-commerce.

Are your email marketing efforts falling flat? Struggling to create engaging campaigns that actually convert? What if there was a way to make your emails stand out—without spending hours coding or designing?In this episode of eCommerce Fastlane, we welcome Dmytro Kudrenko, the founder and CEO of Stripo, an innovative email design platform helping brands create high-performing emails with ease. Dmytro has revolutionized email marketing by eliminating technical roadblocks, allowing marketers to design interactive and gamified emails without touching a single line of code.  Reach out to us! We welcome questions and comments about this episode. Connect with us here or through our socials — your feedback is always welcome.TwitterLinkedInFacebookFor more ecommerce, marketing, and growth strategies, check out the eCommerce Fastlane Insights Blog. 

Are you a Shopify store owner struggling to get noticed in a crowded marketplace? Tired of throwing money at ads with unpredictable results? Have you ever wondered how to get featured in top-tier publications like The New York Times or Vogue without breaking the bank on a costly PR agency?In this episode of eCommerce Fastlane, we welcome Gloria Chou, an award-winning PR strategist and former US diplomat, to unveil her proven framework for landing media coverage and building brand credibility. Gloria shares her expertise in helping entrepreneurs get featured in top-tier publications without the traditional expense of PR agencies. Reach out to us! We welcome questions and comments about this episode. Connect with us here or through our socials — your feedback is always welcome.TwitterLinkedInFacebookFor more ecommerce, marketing, and growth strategies, check out the eCommerce Fastlane Insights Blog. 

Are you a Shopify store owner struggling to find the right marketing agency? Have you been burned by agencies that overpromise and underdeliver? Are you lost in a sea of marketing options, unsure where to turn for expert guidance?In this episode of eCommerce Fastlane, we welcome Behdad Jamshidi (aka “Bee”), founder of CJAM Marketing, to shed light on a critical (and often frustrating) aspect of growing an online business: finding the right marketing partner. Bee, a seasoned marketing connector, shares his unique approach to matching merchants with agencies that truly align with their needs and goals.  Reach out to us! We welcome questions and comments about this episode. Connect with us here or through our socials — your feedback is always welcome.TwitterLinkedInFacebookFor more ecommerce, marketing, and growth strategies, check out the eCommerce Fastlane Insights Blog. 

Are you tired of juggling disconnected tools and struggling to gain a complete view of your B2C customers? Do you want to power a new era of growth with smarter customer relationships?In this episode of eCommerce Fastlane, we welcome back Jake Cohen, VP at Klaviyo, to unveil their latest innovation: Klaviyo B2C CRM, the only customer relationship management platform built specifically for consumer brands. Discover how this all-in-one platform unifies marketing, service, and analytics to empower businesses to build more loyal customer relationships, increase engagement, and drive revenue.  Reach out to us! We welcome questions and comments about this episode. Connect with us here or through our socials — your feedback is always welcome.TwitterLinkedInFacebookFor more ecommerce, marketing, and growth strategies, check out the eCommerce Fastlane Insights Blog.