It is possible to travel or do whatever else brings you joy, while still running a profitable ecommerce business, says Bas Urlings. In today’s connected world it’s easier than ever. 

Bas has a virtual team. But to truly achieve the financial and time freedom you want, that’s just the start of the changes you have to make to your business model and mindset.

We get into all the details, including…

• The best research tools to figure out what products to sell online
• Practical ways to mix travel with running your ecommerce site
• The most overlooked and undervalued element of ecommerce
• Dos and don’ts of working with a business partner
• The importance of sticking to your core values

In 2016, David found himself thinking when he saw an opportunity to assist small-medium sized enterprises, startups, and entrepreneurs who were struggling with quality management issues and sourcing from China.

It was at this point that he launched Global TQM, under the Global Regency umbrella— offering educational and mentoring products and a done-for-you service that business owners can’t seem to get enough of. 

“There’s just so many things that can go wrong,” says David, as he talks about why having an on-the-ground presence is essential to your success while doing business in China.

We’ll go into more detail on that, as well as…

• The two critical barriers when you’re looking for Chinese manufacturers or suppliers
• Unspoken rules to follow when you do business in China
• Keys to success when dealing with suppliers
• The pros and cons of moving your manufacturing to China
• How clear and concise communication and instruction can save you a lot of heartache in your manufacturing

Leon Lewis, eCommerce and digital marketing lead, and the other folks at REBBL which creates herb-infused beverages, consider themselves to be on a cause to bring awareness about human trafficking and uplift at-risk communities around the world.

Their mission extends to sustainable packaging and more. But they’re also cutting-edge when it comes to digital marketing strategy to build the ecommerce side of the business. 

It can be a challenge, says Leon, to communicate their mission while marketing their product. But it’s essential. One way they do that says Leon: Keep the customer in mind at all times.

We get into that in detail, as well as…

• The importance of product pages – what to include, what to leave out
• Why Amazon isn’t a great platform for their product – and what they’re doing about it
• How they’ve leveraged the subscription model
• The importance of maintaining a consumer perspective
• And more

We talk about how you can leverage all the capabilities Facebook offers to laser target your ideal customers, and why you do have to spend a bit to actually see results.

But social marketing strategy is just the start. 

Linda also shares her thoughts on the best way to protect your business from copycats, other ways to stay ahead of the competition, and…

• How you could be making it hard for your customers to find the right product
• Dealing with the coming wave of AI in marketing
• The biggest challenges – and misconceptions – in digital marketing today
• What you should be spending to acquire new customers
• And more

He and his colleagues have come up with a formula, using a group of key numbers from your business, that can pinpoint where to make changes to take your venture to the next level. 

Does your business measure up? Ian walks us through the benchmarks you should look at… and where they should be for a business of your size. Often, he says, working on the low hanging fruit first can yield huge improvements.

He says that conversion rate optimization is often the last thing to look at in this effort. We talk about that, as well as…

• The power of the Market Square Test
• How to figure out where exactly you’re losing customers
• Why most companies can ignore today’s eCommerce industry trends
• The most important metrics too many eCommerce entrepreneurs ignore
• And more

Ecommerce veteran Luke Peters says the big marketplaces are the way to go for several reasons. But he often recommends that his clients avoid the biggest one – Amazon – and goes into detail why it’s not a great fit for many startups.

We talk about how to make sure your product listings get ranked highly on these platforms, including strategies like influencer marketing – but not like you think.

We unpack all that in our talk, as well as…

• Why he likes products that are “difficult” to sell 
• The top ecommerce sites that will probably surprise you
• 5+ ways to boost sales velocity
• Strategies for getting your products to page 1 on ecommerce sites
• The implementation of the still-underutilized method of Youtube influencer marketing

To be successful, these two groups should approach the business with very different strategies, says Tom De Bondt, director of IT and digital at Overstock Home and X2O in Belgium. 

For example, bricks and mortar brands should consider their ecommerce presence as a “showroom” for their products. It might seem counterintuitive, but in Tom’s research he’s found that with these brands more people browse online… then buy in the store.

Tom goes over some other unexpected truths many ecommerce companies don’t know about which may bestalling their growth, as well as…

• Where to focus your marketing if you sell expensive products
• A post-sale activity that is extremely important to your success
• The two key factors of thriving “pure” ecommerce retailers
• The unexpected findings that come with testing (if you do it right) – and why you should never stop
• The importance that encouraging and learning from failures has to personal and professional growth

Turns out a lot of entrepreneurs are leaving plenty of money on the table without realizing it. Or, they’re wondering where all the money goes at the end of each month, even though their sales are great.

The key, says Adam, is to identify the metrics driving your business, figure out what they’re telling you about the health of your business, and then make appropriate changes. It’s all about being a good business owner, not just being good at you do.

Tune in to find out…

• Two things you can do this month to improve cash flow – and why you must
• The main reasons small businesses fail– including the one you might not expect
• Why more traffic and more sales can’t save an eCommerce business 
• What an accountant or bookkeeper can and can’t do for you (most owners get this wrong)
• And more

But his roots are in eCommerce. In fact, he was one of the pioneers in this industry and continues to innovate top strategies used by online retailers and marketers today. 

As a thought leader, he keeps an eye on all things digital marketing, media, and more. 

He says a lot has changed over the years in eCommerce… but a lot has stayed the same too… as far as what attracts customers and what makes them buy, as well as how to make sure your online business scales up and increases profits in a sustainable way.

We talk about that, as well as…

• The biggest challenge to eCommerce conversions today – and how to overcome them
• What the “mobile gap” is and a strategy to bridge it
• How the fields in your checkout process could be sabotaging conversions 
• The first two ways to improve your site to boost conversions
• And more

This is one of the most impactful ways this digital marketing agency is able to help clients get a better handle on key business indicators to figure out which levers to pull to get better results, using technology to find the right tools for the job. 

The goal: aligning digital marketing strategy with business and revenue targets in a constantly changing landscape where what worked yesterday might not work today.

They’re not afraid to move out of the digital marketing realm either in order to make successful campaigns for their clients. And within the company they’re not afraid to give every team member a say in important business decisions.

We unpack all that and also talk about…

• The myth of the entrepreneurial mindset
• How omnichannel marketing stacks up against ROPO – and vice-versa
• Why they don’t sell “hours” to their clients
• Ways retailers measure online revenue incorrectly 
• And more

You have to track inventory, account for different methods of fulfillment, maintain an effective supply chain, control the price, and have the correct content when each eCommerce platform has different rules and requirements.

It’s a very complex issue, especially for high volume sellers, and a person can’t make those decisions at the speed and volume required. Automation, says Michael, is the key. We get into all the details behind that, as well as…

• The power of “distributed order management”
• Creating a single source of truth – and why it’s vital 
• The most critical element in maintaining brand integrity
• The biggest obstacles to scalability and automation – and how to overcome them
• And more

Graham says there is one part of the sales process in particular that poses the biggest challenge – and the biggest opportunity to increase conversion rates for their clients. Some of what he recommends is quite outside the box.

We go into detail on that challenge and the strategies they use to turn it into more revenue, as well as…

• The right format for follow up emails to send to prospects
• How they convert interested customers who didn’t buy the first time
• A surprising way GDPR fits in with their marketing strategies
• The role of mobile marketing in boosting conversion rate 
• Best practices for cross-sell and upsell emailing

She talks about strategies you must adopt to draw people to your product lists… and make the sale. There are a lot of misconceptions out there, says Rachel, that are sabotaging businesses – and the owners have no idea. 

Another issue with many Amazon sellers is that they forget the fundamentals… and waste the time of marketing as a result. We dig deep into that, and also talk about…

• The three most important metrics to watch with your Amazon business
• Unexpected keyword tips that get you ranked highly – and it’s affordable
• How to make sure you attract only the “right” customers
• The habits she learned at Amazon – beyond the technical stuff – that she still uses today
• And more

With his track record of bringing in $34 million in additional sales for his clients, Pawel Ogonowski is a man to listen to on this subject. He focuses on using data to improve the user experience – making it easy for customers to buy.

He walks us through the conversion rate optimization strategies he uses, as well as…

• What you can learn from how their interactions with clients differ from traditional agencies (and get better results)
• An easy way to determine your true value proposition
• Identifying the “bottlenecks” stopping your prospects from buying
• An unlikely source for some of the most valuable intelligence about your products
• And more valuable tips and methods on how to gather pertinent data and implement it to enhance  your business’ conversions and revenue

It’s not surprising. Ecommerce business owners might be good at what they do… but they’re not experts in niche techniques like Google Ads, so they are unsure how to gauge their agency’s performance.

It doesn’t have to be that way, says Alex, who shares how you can zero in on the quality providers in a sea of bad ones.

We also talk about…

• Keyword strategies that focus on revenue… not traffic
• The one question a digital marketing agency should answer to clients – or get fired
• The single biggest mistake ecommerce stores make with Google Ads
• Keyword categories to avoid with Google Ads (it’s not what you think)
• And more invaluable and up to date insights which will illuminate the path to profitable advertising for your ecommerce business

By focusing on email marketing strategy, Will Evans and his team at SellerFlows help clients increase lifetime value and average order value. When you get the same customers to buy again and again, you reduce your marketing costs and increase profits.

Will shares how he gets results for his clients through automation, as well as other techniques and tricks. If you have a Shopify store especially you’ll want to tune in to find out all about the email marketing tool that integrates perfectly with that platform.

We’ll also talk about…

• The must-have email flow for any ecommerce business
• Why marketing automation isn’t “set it and forget it”
• The automated email series with a 15% to 20% conversion rate 
• How post-purchase emails can boost lifetime value
• Up-to-date methods and pro tips on how to create optimized email flows which boost conversions in today’s ecommerce environment

Instead Bill looks at five other metrics that show if your brand has staying power or not… and whether it makes an attractive acquisition target if you choose to sell your business in the future for a big payday. In this episode we discuss:

• The types of products that keep customers coming back
• Why he won’t sell food or fashion – and other product categories to avoid
• A simple calculation for determining the value of your business
• What you must do now to sell your business for maximum profit 
• How to use what Bill calls your “contribution margin” to pragmatically keep track of your revenue versus your profits and to keep your team involved, informed and motivated

By linking people to their past… their heritage… his company’s marketing helps people connect to their products in a very potent way. The result is a target audience that feels more like a community than just a customer base. We talk about exactly how they do that, as well as…

• An email sequence that results in tremendous conversion rates
• The biggest mistake he made in hiring
• Why he’s concentrating on this marketing channel instead of Google or Facebook ads
• The types of emails that build long-term customer relationships
• And more invaluable tips regarding niche targeting to establish bonds with your customers that are sure to endure

But effective customer service is about much more than simply providing an 800 number or sending out surveys. The whole company has to be involved in enhancing the experience of buying and providing help if there are issues – not just a dedicated customer service department.

We unpack how to do just that, as well as explore…

• Simple things you can do now to boost your customer service
• What you can learn from honest customer feedback
• Chatbot dos and don’ts 
• One of the biggest mistakes ecommerce companies make with their customers
• Invaluable tips on how to stay ahead of the competition and truly become awesome

Arnout outlines what many businesses are doing that prevents them from ranking highly in the search results, and losing potential customers midway through the shopping experience. The focus of the conversation is SEO – myths and best practices.

Tune in to find out…

• A quick way to check if your SEO efforts are ineffective
• How to avoid crawled but not indexed blog content
• Why marketing A/B testing can negatively impact your SEO efforts – and how to avoid it
• The hidden danger of JavaScript
• Invaluable insights into optimizing your web page ranking and standing apart from the crowd

We discuss the key changes he made to his company internally that brought those results. It wasn’t a simple matter of a new marketing strategy or tweaking the product line-up. 

The changes were more fundamental, which is why they had such an impact, says Scott.

Tune in to get all the details on that transformation, as well as…

• What should influence every business decision you make
• The 3 people you should speak to about improving your company’s strategies and processes
• The importance of honest communication – and what that actually looks like
• The first questions you should ask during a job interview
• And more

He wanted to see if there was a market first, and he found it on Instagram. And from that beginning he was able to grow Patrick Adair Designs to the powerhouse it is today.

But he’s moved beyond Instagram. First, to YouTube, where he attracted even more of a following. And now to another social network that he says has radically changed his marketing approach over the last year or so. 

Patrick tells us about the power of that network (which has actually been around quite awhile), as well as his bootstrap startup strategies that got him to where he is today.

Tune in to find out…

• The best technique for tweaking your marketing and product lineup
• How to use the Less Profit Loss Leader Approach
• The hardest part of creating a YouTube channel – and how to overcome it
• Strategies for pricing your products for maximum profitability
• And more

Instead he believes he’s selling confidence and making his customers feel good about themselves by helping them keep their beard, hair, and body in good shape.

That belief guides the company’s marketing and every business decision, from the manufacturers they work with to where they make their products available online.

Eric talks about how he and his team started the company from scratch with a blog and YouTube channel and how many of the same strategies they used in their early days are still working today.

We also chat about…

• A free, easy, and very effective marketing tactic perfect for startups 
• Red flags to watch for in potential business partners
• The importance of core values – and how to make sure they’re not just words
• Why they don’t sell on Amazon – and have never looked back
• And more

Worse yet, says Tal Rotman, head of the partnerships and development team at Namogoo, most online businesses haven’t taken steps to prevent this threat from draining their profits. In fact, even if their security teams look for it… they won’t find it because this specialized-type of malware isn’t actually on their ecommerce site at all.

If it sounds complicated… it is. But Tal offers a clear explanation of what this malware is, how it works, and how to block it, which actually turns out to be quite simple.

Listen in to get all the details, as well as…

• The one line of code that you need to prevent your site from being hijacked
• How to boost conversions 2% to 5% when you deploy this solution
• The most common ways this malware can impact your business
• The browsers and devices most at risk
• And more

For one, Joris says you don’t have to increase traffic. In fact, he says you can boost your profits with the traffic you have right now if you take certain steps. He outlines his data-driven approach that makes it possible.

Of course, it’s not just about collecting data. Joris shares the right ways to collect that data… and then evaluate it so that you truly understand your customers and can take the right actions to get them to buy... and more often.

Tune in to find out…

• Why the technology you use is this last thing to worry about for attracting new customers
• The only 4 levers you can use to grow revenues
• What you must optimize beyond your website to have a real impact 
• The right and wrong ways to conduct A/B testing (many folks are wasting time and money)
• And more

He shares eight key factors to look for in a quality acquisition. We also talk about the key element you must have in place to grow revenues and why at one point he chose to sell off parts of his business, as well as…

• The biggest disadvantage to drop shipping 
• Why you should create an environment for your employees to thrive
• How to recognize when you haven’t set the bar high enough
• The best way to organize your team to run a multi-brand business
• And more

But he made enough bad hires along the way that he was inspired to create Freeeup.com, a freelancer marketplace like no other. It specializes in connecting ecommerce companies with highly qualified remote workers quickly and efficiently.

We chat about the type of person you should hire first, his favorite type of worker to outsource, as well as…

• Why he was hesitant to hire his first employee – and how he got over it
• The biggest obstacle to hiring effective virtual assistants who will help you grow your business
• How they vet potential applicants – and skill is just part of the equation
• 3 levels of remote workers and which ones can help you in each part of your business
• The best way to communicate with remote workers
• And more

Automation that seems to make things easier could actually be sabotaging sales, says Dennis. He talks about what to keep a close eye on to make sure that doesn’t happen, as well as…

• How you can leverage the latest trends in Google Ads
• The low-down of the new smart shopping campaign features
• Where Google hides results and conversion stats
• The best way to show clients the results you get for them
• And more…

These days, he also helps other entrepreneurs find success by including the three systems that are a must-have for any ecommerce business. Another key element: remembering that you’re selling benefits… not products. 

We take a deep dive into that concept, as well as… 

• The marketing channel that can get a $97 return on $1 investment
• The 5+ autoresponders you must send to your email list 
• Why virtual assistants usually don’t work out – and what to do instead
• How to use influencer marketing today and make it worth it
• And more

He was breaking new ground; there was no roadmap to success. So he learned the business as he grew the business, letting it grow, as he puts it, organically.  

He explains what he learned along the way, as well as…

• Why too many ideas – even great ones – can be dangerous
• The 3 Ps you need in place for your business to succeed
• How to survive the administrative growing pains that come after the startup phase
• The biggest problems in managing remote employees – and the processes to put in place to overcome them
• And more

It’s a great example of seeing a problem in the market (that, in this case, nobody else had recognized), understanding the solution, and then seizing that opportunity. Since his startup days, Sam says a lot has changed in ecommerce… but a lot has stayed the same, too.

We talk about the tactics he uses to boost retention, and why he doesn’t worry as much about acquisition. He also reveals why he radically changed his business and product offering early on… and accelerated growth as a result.

Tune in to find out… 

• The biggest mistake he made with his company’s finances (and how you can avoid it)
• The way follow-up email campaigns can go wrong
• How giving away things for “free” pays off in the end
• Ways to cut through the clutter of a packed inbox
• And more

Edward considers customers first with nearly every decision, and he says profits usually follow. A big part of that is the relationships he’s been able to form with his customers. It’s an essential part of how he’s able to compete with the big online retailers like Amazon.

We also chat about…

• How to attract early adopters when you create a new product category
• The best platform for new ecommerce businesses
• A simple equation for growing your company beyond the startup phase
• Why more traffic isn’t the solution when profits have plateaued
• And more

Along the way they went viral and More Labs went from 0 to $1 million in sales in their first few months

But soon they discovered that their product wasn’t what they thought it was… and their ideal target market was actually completely different.

Sisun explains how this has changed their business and how they’re using these new insights to take things to the next level.

Tune in to discover…

• The surprising things customers can tell you – that you might not want to hear
• Why they used Indiegogo for their crowd funding campaign
• The elements of marketing that are most important to increase sales
• The #1 ecommerce principle you must understand to build a sustainable business
• And more

It has to do with how you interact with your audience in the age of the nameless, faceless Internet. Steve breaks down his approach, and we also talk about…

• The wrong question to ask about success and failure
• A huge red flag to watch for when hiring digital marketing agencies
• The pre-Web origins of ecommerce
• How bad shoes are impacting your whole body health
• And more

Neal Oddens, founder and CEO of one of the fastest growing ecommerce companies in the Netherlands, reveals a way to get specialist help without having to pay them money you don’t have. 

Neal also talks about two of the biggest mistakes he made in the early days (which many entrepreneurs make) and how he was able to come out of it with a stronger company.

Listen in to find out…

• 4 keys to growing ecommerce businesses (including one many people forget)
• The jobs freelancers shouldn’t do
• A clause you must include in contracts for every business partner
• The unexpected role of conversion optimization in ecommerce
• And more

Listen now…

Joris has developed a scientific, data-driven method for unraveling those choke-points – he calls them conversion killers – and then developing a conversion optimization strategy to double or triple revenue… without adding new traffic.

Listen in today to get a taste of that formula and how the Ecommerce Excellence Podcast will help you transform your business. 

You’ll discover…

• How traditional advertising fits in conversion optimization
• Innovative ways to solve business problems – straight from the source
• The Dexter Method for finding growth opportunities
• The 5+ disciplines you must master to boost conversions
• And more