Ecommerce Marketing School

Ahead of this Masterclass, we got more than 250 questions from entrepreneurs just like you. Then we boiled them down to a handful of the most-asked, and Dave and Ben went to town for 60 minutes, answering as many as possible. They break down:The channels that deserve the most attention today.How to address COVID-19 as marketers.The difference between offers that benefit you and those that benefit your customers.Why content can help you grow your email list right now.Show Notes & Links:[2:11] Which channels should you be prioritizing right now? [9:08] How should you be handling messaging right now?[12:32] How do you create offers that don’t come across as ambulance chasing?[17:10] Growing your email list right now.[23:24] How to position your brand if you’re pivoting to make essential products right now.[24:35] Dave’s 1-minute launch plan.[27:43] How can you increase conversion right now?[31:36] The art of a strong welcome offer.[38:22] Is discounting a good idea right now?The Ecommerce Marketing Show HomeShopSmallEcomm.comBen Jabbawy on TwitterDave Gerhardt on Twitter

The Good is a conversion rate optimization firm that's obsessed with turning more visitors into buyers. Jon shares:The state of ecommerce amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.What to focus on if you can’t spend $ to acquire new customers right now.Quick wins for ecommerce brands to focus on.Why channels you own are king.Show Notes & Links:[8:29] How to convert the traffic you’re already getting as quickly as possible.[10:16] How to think about messaging right now.[13:43] The right way to think about discounting.[16:28] Why you should focus on your highest value customers.[17:47] How to ensure your highest-margin product pages have the highest conversion rate.[18:48] The marketing channels that are recession-proof.[24:34] How to do customer research right now.[26:15] Why you should never delete out of stock pages.The Ecommerce Marketing Show HomeThe Good’s State of Ecommerce ReportJon MacDonald on TwitterDave Gerhardt on Twitter

Last year, Savannah managed over $10 million in Facebook, Snapchat, and Google ad spend, so she seriously knows her stuff. On this episode, she shares:Why testing your creative matters more than your targeting.How to think about what your budget should be.How to get testimonials from your customers.How to manage your ads during a time of crisis.Show Notes & Links:[4:21] Why you don’t need to be an ad guru to get started.[6:06] What should your ad budget look like?[7:32] Why Snapchat and Instagram are such great channels.[10:06] Why content that looks native to the platform is so important.[11:24] How to narrow in on the ads that are working best.[13:16] The biggest mistake brands make when it comes to creating ads.[14:33] How to get ad creative if you’re not comfortable in front of the camera.[24:15] What’s happening across your accounts due to COVID-19?[26:55] What to do if you’re not selling an essential product like hand sanitizer, toilet paper, etc.[29:52] The two things to keep an eye on right now.[31:30] How to keep your ads relevant and compassionate.[33:10] How not to run an ad right now.The Ecommerce Marketing Show HomeShopSmallEcomm.comSavannah’s site: The Social SavannahFacebook Ads Creatives Only Facebook GroupSavannah Sanchez on TwitterDave Gerhardt on Twitter

As Founder & CEO of Privy, Ben is having to make the same decisions so many ecommerce founders are dealing with right now. Is it ok to be selling? What actually matters? He shares:Why now is the perfect time to invest in building your audience.Why founders shouldn’t be concerned about reforecasting right now.The importance of being human in trying times.The channel to lean on today.Show Notes & Links[2:43] Why you need to be prepared to make quick decisions.[4:27] Why marketers should focus on building an audience.[5:33] Why your annual goals should be the last thing on your mind right now.[7:08] The opportunity a lot of brands are missing out on.[8:44] A brand that got it right: Levi’s.[10:07] Why email should be a high priority.[11:59] Is it OK to be selling right now?[13:25] What’s the right paid strategy?[21:23] Ben’s advice for other ecommerce founders.The Ecommerce Marketing Show HomeShopSmallEcomm.comBen Jabbawy on TwitterDave Gerhardt on Twitter

With the COVID-19 pandemic, we know small ecommerce businesses like yours are worried about the days ahead. We also know a lot of people out there want to support small brands instead of giant corporations; they just don’t know where to find them. That’s why we’re launching ShopSmallEcomm.com, the world’s first marketplace for small ecommerce brands.

Marketer-turned-CEO Craig Hammond can't turn off his marketing skillset, so he's still very involved in the overall strategy for Peejamas. But he's figured out how to outsource certain parts of the job to focus on the bigger picture. He shares:What to spend time on when it comes to making video content.Why they only run video ads.The importance of telling your story.Their bar for finding the right influencers.What to do about the rising cost of paid media.Show Notes & Links[3:30] The Peejamas foundational story.[5:40] When is the right time to start marketing?[7:30] How they created their first video (that people are still watching 2 years later).[14:34] How to navigate influencer marketing and find people that are the right fit for your business.[23:05] Their strategy for outsourcing certain parts of the business.[26:13] Why a well-defined funnel is critical.[32:29] What their future marketing plan looks like.The Ecommerce Marketing Show HomePeejamasCraig Hammond on TwitterDave Gerhardt on Twitter

J.M. Fabrizi has been part of a lot of Kickstarter campaigns at Coalatree. And they've all been overfunded (woah). So we wanted to get a behind-the-scenes peek at what they do to make it happen. He shares:Why Coalatree made the switch from retail to DTC.Why Kickstarter is 🔥 for introducing new products.The keys to building a successful campaign.How to keep backers engaged after they support your campaign.Show Notes & Links[1:44] The transition from 200 retail locations in 8 countries to DTC[5:24] What are the benefits of using Kickstarter?[7:30] Behind the scenes of a successful crowdfunding campaign[9:19] Why you should build a brand first[14:25] What the team looks like[18:37] Advice for your first crowdfunding campaign[23:12] How to keep the momentum going over the next several monthsThe Ecommerce Marketing Show HomeCoalatreeCoalatree’s Latest Kickstarter Campaign, a shirt made of coffee grounds ☕️7 Keys to a Successful Crowdfunding CampaignDave Gerhardt on Twitter

Wilson Hung is the Director of Growth at Kettle & Fire as well as the Co-Founder of getARPU.com, so he knows a thing or two about the world of ecommerce. As employee #2 at Kettle & Fire, he's been there through it all and shares how they've learned to use email an engine for recurring revenue. He also gets into:How 2 bloggers were responsible for 10k/month in revenue in the early days.Why they made it easier for their subscribers to skip orders.The value of using email to educate your customers.How you can use grocery stores as a way to acquire customers for your D2C business.Show Notes & Links[4:35] Wilson’s initial 30-day plan with Kettle & Fire[9:32] How retail and D2C fit together in the CPG space[12:44] How can you maximize the impact of a confirmation email? (Especially if you’re a subscription business)[20:41] How to use education to guide your customers through the journey[22:57] How to measure your onboarding success[25:10] How does your online store support retail?The Ecommerce Marketing Show HomeKettle & FireARPUWilson Hung on TwitterDave Gerhardt on TwitterDid you learn anything from this episode? If so, we'd love a review. 😊

Evelyn Hartz is the Product Marketing Manger (/Extraordinaire) at Privy. She's been working closely on Privy Text for months. And even she was skeptical about the product at first. But she's learned a lot since the idea was first mentioned. And now she's sold. She shares:Why texting customers lets you skip the line.The text flow that worked on her as a consumer.Why text is another channel like email and your website that you own fully.Why text isn’t a replacement for your email strategy.Show Notes & Links[1:53] Why were you unsure about Privy Text at the beginning?[7:07] How do you turn skeptics into believers?[9:30] Why text is a channel you own.[11:33] Why text should be used sparingly.[13:36] Why Privy Text *not* Privy SMS? (Do you know what SMS stands for?)[15:41] Text plays.The Ecommerce Marketing Show HomePrivy TextEvelyn Hartz on TwitterDave Gerhardt on TwitterIf you learned anything from this episode, let us know! Leave a review. 😊

Kenzie Hagan is the VP of Marketing for Vinebox and Usual Wines, single serving wine products. As a leader at two startups, Kenzie knows how to be scrappy. The VINEBOX Valentine's Day campaign consists of all products and packaging they already had and came together in a matter of weeks. She shares:How to test new products without pressure.How to turn slower months into growth opportunities.Tips for launching a campaign with what you already have.How they use text in the sales process.Show Notes & Links[4:02] What are the benefits of building a product before a brand?[7:32] How to map out and plan your year.[8:35] When did Valentine’s Day planning start?[10:20] Using what you already have to create a campaign.[11:38] How do you think about text vs. email?The Ecommerce Marketing Show HomeVINEBOXKenzie Hagan on TwitterDave Gerhardt on TwitterEnjoying the show? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts :)

Greg Fass begged the MeUndies CEO to bring him on as the second full-time employee seven years ago. Now he's their Senior Brand Manager. Like so many of the best marketers in the ecommerce space, Greg is completely self-taught. Their campaign strategy for Valentine's Day has evolved A LOT over the years. He shares some of their biggest learnings as well as:The role of storytelling in their brand strategy.How they tapped into their customers’ view of Valentine’s Day.How their strategy applies to other holidays.Their timeline for the whole campaign.Show Notes & Links[3:16] Storytelling and how a PR background helps with that.[6:50] How they challenge the status quo with their Valentine’s Day campaign.[11:34] How does it all start? [19:53] Advice for any budget.[24:41] How to maximize the lifespan of your content.The Ecommerce Marketing Show HomeMeUndiesGreg Fass on TwitterDave Gerhardt on TwitterEnjoying the show? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts :)

Val Geisler is the queen of onboarding teardowns, founder of Fix My Churn, and an email conversion strategist and copywriter who works with small and growing DTC brands. She's a total whiz when it comes to writing emails that'll make you more $ (and you don't have to be an expert like she is). She shares:The difference between copy and content.The basics of copywriting for ecommerce email.When and how to use text.Her dinner party email strategy.Show Notes & Links[3:20] What’s the difference between copy and content? [4:33] Why copywriting is like parenting.[6:13] Why you need to invest in a welcome sequence.[12:41] Where most companies go wrong trying to tell their story through email.[19:33] Where do you see text and email fitting together?[26:54] What’s the ideal email flow after a customer makes their first purchase?[37:17] What’s an email most brands are sending that they shouldn’t be?The Ecommerce Marketing Show HomeVal Geisler on TwitterVal Geisler on YouTubeDave Gerhardt on TwitterFix My ChurnThe Boron Letters by Gary HalbertHow to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will TalkEnjoying the show? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts :)

Who better to shed light on ecommerce marketing than our Founder and CEO, Ben Jabbawy? Over the last 8 years, Privy has helped 400,000+ ecommerce businesses grow by helping them take their marketing efforts to the next level, so he knows a thing or two about getting it right. But not to worry, this isn’t a pitch for Privy. Ben unpacks some of his major learnings along the way, including: Why most new ecommerce brands never make their first sale.The playbook for converting your first sale, including the two plays every online store should be running.The power of telling your story and why confirmation and shipping emails are the perfect place to do it.Why text messaging could be the future of ecommerce marketing.Show Notes & Links[5:05] Why email is still the best channel for building a massive audience.[8:40] DG’s Shopify experiment, Dave’s Hoodies.[9:52] What’s stopping ecommerce brands from making their first sale?[11:55] What makes some companies successful while others fall behind? [13:49] Why confirmation emails are the perfect place to tell your story.[19:31] What are the two plays everyone should be running?[21:46] What’s the abandoned cart playbook?[26:50] What’s the cross-sell playbook?[32:48] The right use case for drop shipping.[36:38] Why is text the next move for Privy?The Ecommerce Marketing Show HomeBen Jabbawy on TwitterDave Gerhardt on TwitterIf you’re loving the show and can’t wait for more, leave a quick review to let us know. And if there are experts you want to hear from, send ‘em our way! ([email protected])

This show is all about helping you learn from the best people in ecommerce, and that’s why we called up Kurt Elster for our first episode. Kurt was one of the first Shopify experts out there through his consulting business (Ethercycle) where he helps Shopify store owners discover hidden profits in their websites, and he’s also been sharing his work in public for the last five years on his Unofficial Shopify Podcast, which has been downloaded over a million times (and if you really dig into his numbers you’d find that a third of those downloads came from me in the last month if we’re being honest). Kurt breaks down:What most new Shopify store owners get wrong when it comes to marketing today.The general do’s and don’ts in ecommerce marketing, including the do’s and dont’s with website pop-ups, email, ads, and text messaging.The four key metrics every Shopify store owner should be tracking religiously if they’re serious about growing their business: traffic growth, repeat customer rate, add to cart rate, and average order value.Show Notes & Links[7:18] What do most new Shopify owners get wrong?[15:32] What other mistakes do Shopify store owners make early on?[23:21] How do you know which marketing channels to pick?[30:09] Kurt’s Do’s and Don’t for: On-site conversion, ads, email, and text.[36:31] If I hired you as my ecommerce coach, what metrics would you want me to report?The Ecommerce Marketing Show HomeKurt Elster on TwitterDave Gerhardt on TwitterEnjoying the show? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts :)

Hey and welcome to the Ecommerce Marketing Show. This show is dedicated to helping you become an expert in ecommerce marketing so you can sell more stuff and build a thriving business. Each week we’ll bring you interviews with leaders from top ecommerce brands to unpack how they did it, marketing tips you can steal ASAP for your business, and lessons learned from the 400,000+ merchants using Privy today. Here's a quick intro and trailer.