eComFuel Podcast

Growing your business alone can be a daunting task; one thing that entrepreneurs can do to alleviate the stress of the workload is outsource different aspects of their operation. From hiring freelancers to hiring a warehouse to store and ship your products, outsourcing can become a huge part of your business. While I outsource a large amount of my business, I have learned, as most entrepreneurs will over time, that some things just have to be kept in-house. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1JfYBIk

Ben Camerota joins me today to share his experiences with the B2B sales world, both in the traditional, corporate world and in his own businesses. We take a deep dive into the nuts and bolts of B2B sales and get an inside look at how to set up your business and your team for business-to-business sales. In today’s episode, Ben shares his methods of harnessing the potential that B2B brings to ramp up your order size, overall volume and profits. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1UOwmHw

Debt. As an eCommerce business, that word can either be singularly the most terrifying word or a powerful business tool. Depending on your beliefs and willingness to take on extra debt, you can learn to harness it to grow your business faster than ever before. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1LbAxrM

Drew Sanocki joins me to talk about how to pick a service agency to help you run and expand your business. We have both had the good, the bad and the downright ugly experiences in the past and have learned some hard lessons. We share our methods of finding, evaluate and hiring an agency that will become one of the greatest investments you have ever made in your eCommerce business. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1JsBP3z

I knew that I had to talk with David after hearing his story in the forum, not only as a vagabond but as a formidable eCommerce entrepreneur. He was able to create a huge Facebook following, along with several successful eCommerce stores. David shares his tips for creating a strong, engaged audience and talks about how he runs his businesses while seeing the world has to offer. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1PssRot

In the world of Amazon Prime, free shipping has become an expected standard for most online shoppers. For most of the bigger retailers, this does not pose any significant threat to their bottom line. But how can the smaller eCommerce owners compete in that environment? Shipping has been a topic that we've discussed briefly in the past, but today, we are talking about how you can offer free shipping as a merchant, without absolutely murdering your profitability. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1gKQgGa

China... Just the mention of China can bring up varied reactions from most people. A lot of people may think of China as over-populated where most of their products comes from and culturally, as a bit of an enigma. But to those of us in the eCommerce world, China is incredibly relevant, with boundless opportunities for growth in your business. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1W34LFY

If you are a part of our private forum or have been thinking about joining up, then you may have wondered just how we review and accept new members. Also, if you are a fan of our community and blog and have been wondering just how to emulate our copy, then this episode is for you. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1Jxawqt

Drew Sanocki joins me to talk about our experiences with making decisions based on our intuition, as well as both of the instances where we got it right and wrong. Find out why you need to pay attention to the little things, get outside perspective and take your time before jumping into any significant decisions. With our help, you can learn to use your intuition to make judgement calls that will help you reach your long and short-term goals with ease. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1IfiLC4

Every entrepreneur, at one time or another, has thought about transitioning to working full-time on their business. Coming up with the right strategy for this transition, for you and your business, can be a daunting task. Do you quit your job to work on your business, or do you work on your business as a side project while still working full-time? And, if you take the latter route, when do you finally make the leap, if ever? Bill D'Alessandro, and I answer these and other related questions as we share our experiences with making the leap to full-time entrepreneurship. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1dUBfzZ

Regardless if you are new to eCommerce or have been running a successful online business for a few years, most entrepreneurs worry about how to continue growing their business once they plateau. For many companies, this happens once they hit the high six to low seven figures. If your business has plateaued and you can't seem to move the needle and experience growth, there are six questions you need to ask yourself to determine your next step. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1eIT85E

eCommerceFuel veteran Ezra Firestone, of SmartMarketer.com, returns to talk about social media and paid traffic. Ezra has become a paid traffic guru, focusing on the multitude of ways to drive traffic to your website using different channels available today. Ezra explains the best method to determine your strategy specific to your business and budget. With our help, you will be armed with the information you need to finish 2015 with a plan that will drive traffic to your site through the roof. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1QH70cy

Today, Drew Sanocki and I share our experiences with coupons, our successes, and our horror stories. Find out the best ways of offering coupons to entice your customers to come back time and time again, without losing money in the process. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1fipSDa

Hopefully, you were able to make it to the IRCE (Internet Retailer Conference and Exhibition) this past month in Chicago with us. But if you weren’t able to attend, then you are in luck! Bill D’Alessandro joins me today to discuss the events of the conference. We talk about our biggest takeaways, the challenges and some surprising insights we gained from the world’s largest eCommerce conference and exhibition. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1NrCovF

If you are like me and many other entrepreneurs, one of the biggest perks of owning your own business is being able to be completely mobile. You may have an office that you work out of, but if you need to, you can unplug and work on your laptop from anywhere in the world with ease. But did you know, that that convenience can come at a price to your health? You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1IbO1qy

Joining me to explain the differences in mastermind experiences, is Taylor Pearson. Taylor shares his expertise and talks about why so many masterminds fail the entrepreneurs within the group. From the structure to member selection, we dive into how to create an efficient and impactful mastermind that will revolutionize your business. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1KO4piv

Unless you have been living under a rock, you have heard the phrase “laughter is the best medicine” at least once in your life. But did you also know that laughter can also help your business grow and prosper? In the world where a majority of entrepreneurs are constantly fearful of offending their customers (or potential customers), there is one man who is successfully blazing the trail of using comedy to sell. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1RmyWVf

Finding the right domain for your business can be a long process and one that you should create a strategy for. Should you find an exact match domain? If that domain is already claimed, should you try and buy it? What is the best method to search for and purchase a domain? Is there a difference between spammy domain names and exact match domain names? You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1EZ7nsz

As an entrepreneur, it is very easy to get caught in the trap of saying yes too often in an effort to chase down opportunities and the desire to help everyone who asks for it. However, if you are honest with yourself, you know that by adding another task or responsibility to your plate, you are postponing more important tasks and burning yourself out. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1KHG9Lk

Most entrepreneurs, at one time or another, have faced ups and downs that come with living in their area. From networking opportunities and potential investors to income tax rates, entrepreneurs should be thinking about what their business needs to optimize their success. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1JRHh26

eCommerceFuel Forum alumni, Miracle Wanzo, joins me today to discuss the process of building a fashion brand. We talk everything fashion from how she created her own line of lingerie, to how she has been able to combine her own line with brand name fashions. Miracle also discusses the methods she found to harness Facebook ads to increase traffic to her site without spending tons of money. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1DD4Nrm

Traditionally, most eCommerce owners have thought that creating original content is what is needed to improve their search engine optimization (SEO) and increase their Google rankings. But what if that is not entirely correct? In this data-driven world, innovative content alone is not enough to ensure the success of your brand. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1Ou9teO

So you decided to make the jump and own your own warehouse. You found the ideal location, built it out according to your specifications, finished stocking it, and your first order just came in. Uh oh, now what do you do? How do you accurately keep track of your stock, your employees, and know what the status of ALL of your orders is at any given time? You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1HsDKok

Warehouse guru Aaron Rubin joins me in a two-part series about warehouses. From how to determine the right time for acquiring your own warehouse, to the necessary addition to your lease contract, we cover everything you need to know to set up and run a successful, efficient warehouse. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1G9Gsk6

Taxes. The one word that most entrepreneurs dread even thinking about, let alone going through the process of filing. If unprepared, a business owner can feel like taxes are this huge, monstrous cloud looming over them. However, there are multiple, completely legal ways that entrepreneurs have found to not only reduce the amount of taxes they need to pay, but also the time spent organizing and preparing them You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1JNxGXo

Often, eCommerce business owners get caught in the trap of considering Amazon to be one of their biggest competitors; they spend too much time and money fighting against the tide of loyal and secure Amazon customers. However, what many business owners don’t realize is what an incredible resource Amazon can be to get your brand and products known. So, instead of fighting the powerhouse that Amazon is, entrepreneurs everywhere are learning to harness the name and reputation of the billion dollar company. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1HJWcY1

On this episode of The eCommerceFuel Podcast, Drew Sanocki joins me on the show to talk exits. After selling a business he built from the ground up, Drew now helps others to buy and sell businesses. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1yqOFIi

This time, on the eCommercefuel podcast, eCommerce guru Bill D’Alessandro is back to discuss different metrics that you, as a business owner, should be tracking. These metrics can be anything from how much traffic you actually get from mobile vs browser, how many people who visit your site come back, and how much each one of those clicks are worth. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1FKMTJG

Today, we are talking about how to run your business and still be a good parent and spouse. One of the biggest hurdles for entrepreneurs when they have kids, is transitioning from the 24/7 entrepreneur, working whenever you would like, to a parent AND an entrepreneur. So Drew and I are here to help! We discuss the big hacks we have found for good fathers and keeping our businesses running, along with several reality changes we have come to understand as fathers. If you have small children, or have planning on having one soon, you do not want to miss this episode! You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1Cv3a4S

Listen in as Bill and I analyze the big predictions that Scott made in his video and in turn share our own predictions. We tackle everything from Amazon and Apple, to Facebook and Uber, talking about the changes that have happened and what we see on the horizon. You do not want to miss this informative and insightful look at the future of eCommerce! You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1EBaMTA

On this episode, I am talking about why I decided to do our site redesign, the huge changes you will find (one of which you will have to order something to receive), and the results we are already experiencing after these changes. Listen in to learn about the possible results that you can expect from a site redesign, as well as any hiccups and issues I experienced along the way. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1aMbelr

Listen in as Bill and I share not only what we feel was our biggest successes are, but how we were able to achieve them and how you too can achieve similar wins in your business. From finally utilizing email marketing, to raising prices and getting your products on Amazon Prime, you do not want to miss this episode’s tips and tricks that can help you double your profits (in some cases, within days). You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1Fr0Zfo

Here, on The eCommerceFuel podcast, we have often discussed exporting goods from other parts of the world and even running our businesses from anywhere with an internet connection. From episode 57 with Andrew Henderson of NomadCapitalist.com to episode 47 with Austin Brawner of eCommerceInfluence.com, this is a topic we have explored thoroughly. My guest today, however, is one that has acted upon these ideas and made them a reality. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1E4s0XT

Bill D’Alessandro is joining me this week to review the biggest stories of the past month in the eCommerce world. Bill and I also spend some times discussing how OrderCircle is progressing and Bill’s latest eCommerce acquisition. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1uH9en7

Returning to the eCommerce Fuel Podcast for the first time since Episode 4 (way back in August of 2013 - wow!), is Steve Chou. Steve is one of those rare entrepreneurs who, through a ton of hard work from both him and his wife, was able to replace her salary of $100K within one year, making it possible for her to quit her job to stay home and raise their kids. Since then, Steve has branched into just about everything, from a course to a podcast and affiliate marketing, all while running his eCommerce store AND working his 9-5 job. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1zT7VUw

Once again, flying solo, I am talking about what I have learned since starting my first eCommerce business and my biggest regrets along the way. Anytime a new venture is started, there are bound to be mistakes and regrets, but moving forward and learning from past mistakes is how great companies are created. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/15RyZX0

Listen in as I talk about 10 of the best books I have read in 2014, what I have learned from each one, and why you should read them as well. Also, I dive into how I am able to go through so many books (Audible is definitely something you should check out!) and one of my New Year’s resolutions that I hope to use to help me to drive home the incredible lessons I learn from each book I read. Before we get started though, please comment below or Tweet me your favorite fiction reads that I can check out! You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1GsuNgC

Are you a business owner who is working hard to get your business off the ground, but keep thinking about starting new one? Is your plan to split your days between two businesses and have your staff do the same? Well listen up, because this episode is all about when it is the right time is to start a second or even third business and still experience incredible success. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1swrdeV

Xiaohui Wang or X, as he is more commonly known as, is an email marketing genius. He burst on to the eCommerceFuel forum not too long ago and through his informative and actionable content, quickly earned a reputation for being the expert, the go-to email guy. Listen in to learn how X makes email work for you, regardless of the size of your business and your budget. With tips on platforms and the simple changes you can make that can drastically improve your revenue, this episode is one you can’t afford to miss. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1tI91KG

Drew Sanocki joins me today to talk about one of the hardest parts of owning a business - managing people. We discuss the 5 big problems that we have encountered and how we strive every day to walk the tightrope of management to ensure both our and our employees' success. If you have employees, or are thinking about hiring, you need to listen up! You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1AbCYro

Bill D’Alessandro of Rebel CEO is back on the show to delve into just how to increase your productivity and decrease the distractions that seem to constantly pop up. Bill and I share our tips and tricks that we have developed over the past few years from working mostly solo, and we learn some new ones from each other! If you use these, or have found other tactics that work for you, please comment and share them below! You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1x9JqxY

This week, I am flying solo, for the first time in a while, to continue our discussion about site redesigns and adding my own spin on it. Currently, with my Right Channel Radio site, we are undergoing a massive overhaul to completely redesign the website. Drawing on some of the information in my past episodes, I break down all of the steps I have taken to prepare for this time (and money) consuming project. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1wJ42wK

Drew and I discuss three of the most interesting threads from the eCommerceFuel forum as well as share some of your opinions and our take on each of the topics. Listen in to learn how you can take advantage of our breakdowns of what has happened and what we foresee happening in the next month. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1ID6HOQ

Justin Cook is the co-founder and owner of EmpireFlippers, a safe and fast way to buy and sell profitable businesses of any size. Together with his business partner Jon, Justin relaunched their website in August of 2014 after a five figure, multi-month site update achieving incredible success! Listen in as Justin shares valuable insight that will help you plan, design and execute a website redesign that will help you streamline the process and get it right the first time. You do not want to miss this episode! You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1vkfTSS

On this episode of the eCommerceFuel podcast, Bill D’Alessandro and I discuss all of our favorite tools that we use to make our lives as eCommerce entrepreneurs easier. We share the apps, websites and tools that we have found to help increase our productivity and reduce the time spent on daily tasks. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/15aAtLk

I invited Drew Sanocki back to the show to talk about how the lessons we have learned from our collective experiences in the corporate and military world. We talk about how what we have learned has shaped who we are as entrepreneurs and how you too can take those lessons and apply them to your business. You do not want to miss this episode's easy-to-follow steps for setting your business up for success. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1uCE9iu

Today, Bill D’Alessandro and I dive into how we have sold our products wholesale in the past, drawing upon Bill’s expansive experience in setting up those types of deals. We share our hacks on how to find potential retailers, set up profitable deals and give your product and business greater exposure than ever before! You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1tRxCyG

Drew Sanocki is back on the eCommerceFuel podcast today to talk about the insecurities that most business owners experience. We talk about each of our own personal insecurities and how we strive every day to overcome them. Listen in as Drew and I share our tricks and tactics we have found to work for us and countless other business owners for overcoming these insecurities and experiencing incredible success. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1y6D4yb

This week on the eCommerce Fuel podcast Bill and I talk about how we deal with competition, from starting a new business to buying an existing one. We dive into many different constructive and destructive ways that competition can affect you and your online venture. You do not want to miss this episode's time and money-saving advice that will give you a good understanding of how to harness competition to your benefit. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1wEtX7o

This week, Drew and I examine the multiple options available to you that can help you ensure that you, like us, never pay for personal travel again. We explain each of our unique approaches to using credit cards to rack up miles and how we calculate just how much our miles are worth. Listen in, as Drew and I give our tips, tricks and hacks that have helped us not only not pay for flights but much more. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1wjnsYz