The Ecom Show

Maximize Your ROI with Facebook, Google, and User Generated ContentMaximizing your ROI is all about knowing how to use your digital marketing tools. And there are a lot of them! We’re going to keep it simple this week by focusing on Facebook, Google, User Generated Content (UGC).Well...and a little bit of Tik Tok. As the Founder of OXG Media, Jonathan has increased the ROI for a ton of brands, including Hollywood Mirrors, EATs, SKYN.io, and many, many more. Jonathan’s MO is getting a baseline income of $50 - $500k a month for his clients. We’re very excited to welcome Jonathan to the Ecom Show. Tune in to hear Jonathan and our podcast host and CEO, Daniel Budai discuss:✔️ Making a Facebook Ad That Converts✔️ Collecting UGC ✔️ What Does a High Converting Google Ad Look Like?✔️ How to Advertise on TikTok✔️ Jonathan’s Advice for the Rest of the YearMaking a Facebook Ad That Converts Jonathan’s advice: “Tell people what they want to hear.”The first step is conveying clearly how your product will meet their needs. The second step is removing the risk of disappointment. Finally, end your offer with a guarantee. Sounds simple right? It’s all about making your offer as strong as it can be. As Jonathan points out, basic and vague photo or even video ads simply don’t cut it any more. Jonathan favors longer story-based copy. If you’re telling a story, you’re selling on emotion. Try not to rely solely on product features alone. No one can quantify a price on emotion or experience, so this is an especially useful tactic for products that are on the more expensive side of things. And if you can launch a video ad, do it! Video is a very important part of ecommerce because people want to see the product they’re buying and hear reviews and testimonials for themselves. A video with 6 - 7 customer testimonials is a fantastic way to utilize UGC. Not only do you sell powerful experiences or emotive stories, you provide proof that your product delivers results.  Jonathan recommends using snippets of several testimonials on your Facebook ads, and putting the complete video with every testimonial in full on your landing page. Collecting UGCSo how do you go about collecting customer testimonials? Jonathan says to hit that email list! Sort by customer lifetime value, and reach out to your repeat customers for a recorded testimonial. Make sure to provide incentives such as a discount or giveaways to really sweeten the deal. As these are your most loyal customers, they’ll probably be more than happy to provide a testimonial. Even better, organize a Zoom call with the customer and company Founder. Not only does this show respect to your best customers, it gives you a lot of video material to work with. What Does a High Converting Google Ad Look Like?You don’t need to reinvent the wheel to create a successful Google Ad. Again it’s all about differentiating yourself from the competition. Make sure to research data and trends, but keep that irresistible offer. Jonathan’s best advice is to take full advantage of Display Remarketing. Google’s remarketing feature lets you customize your ad campaigns for people who have previously visited your site but have not yet converted. This is invaluable for building brand familiarity and reminding potential customers of the pain point or need that drove them to your site in the first place. How to Advertise on TikTok  Now we can’t talk about video marketing without mentioning TikTok. Heck, we can’t even talk about the internet generally without talking about TikTok! Jonathan reasons that while the traffic on TikTok is super cheap, not every product is going to be a hit. Products that work best on TikTok tend to be direct to consumer (DTC), and very visually appealing. DTC products that tend to do well on Facebook tend to work well on TikTok. If this applies to your brand, head on over there! If your product is expensive and difficult to explain, TikTok may not be the platform for you. So, What’s Jonathan’s Advice for the Rest of the Year?Facebook continues to be the best social media platform for driving traffic to your brand, so don’t be afraid to use it.And, “you better do email!” Email is the best way to analyse customer behaviour and get to that all-important customer lifetime value. Figure out your value ladder, what people will buy, how much they’ll buy, and what your next upsell is. Generate organic traffic as much as you can.  TL;DR Collect UGC, sell stories and emotions, and know your customer! Follow Jonathan on LinkedIn and visit OXG Media to find out more about taking your ROI to the next level.Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedIn Daniel's Facebook  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#68 How To Turn Your Brand Into A Household NameBecoming a household name is all about building an emotional connection with your customers. And the best way to do that? Storytelling. Benton Crane is the CEO of the Harmon Brothers, the multiple award-winning marketing agency behind groundbreaking ad campaigns for Squatty Potty, FiberFix, and Orabrush, and many more! Their ads have been seen over 1.4 billion times and driven over $500 million in sales.We’re honored to welcome Benton to The Ecom Show for a fantastic conversation with our CEO and podcast host, Daniel Budai about:✔️ The Harmon Brothers: What’s Their Story?✔️ Which Ad Formats Work?  ✔️ Effective Storytelling✔️ The Best Ads Out There ✔️ What You Need for Video Advertising✔️ Turning Your Brand into a Household Name - Benton’s Advice The Harmon Brothers: What’s Their Story?Benton says that the Harmon Brothers’ “Genesis event” occurred in 2006, when Google bought YouTube. Prior to 2006, YouTube lacked any business application. Google, of course, had visions for turning YouTube into an advertising platform.Benton’s partners, in particular, Jeffrey Harmon, was one of the very first creators to put an ad on YouTube. When Jeffrey was working on an ad for Orabrush, he chose what his colleagues considered to be a really odd ad length: two and a half minutes long. At the time this was unheard of: TV spots were usually 30 - 60 seconds and infomercial spots were 20 - 30 minutes long. But Jeffrey persisted. He reached out to YouTube and asked them if they could give him a “Skip Ad” button, so that those who want to watch the ad could do so and those who didn’t, well...they can skip it!No one knew what a big deal the “Skip Ad” button was at the time. It was a giant shift in power from advertisers to viewers. Since the viewer was first given this choice 15 years ago, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok news feeds evolved and continue to operate on the same principle: if you don’t want to watch something, you scroll right past it. “Everything we’ve ever done since then has been all based on the principle of giving the viewer something that they actually want and something that they can really enjoy.”As Benton points out, a lot of people have not heard of the Harmon brothers, but almost everyone has heard of their clients. After Orabrush came Poo-Pourri, which, with help from the Harmon Brothers, grew from about $7 million per year to $30 million per year. Then came Squatty Potty which grew from $4 million per year to $30 million per year. Then Purple Mattresses which grew from $3 million per year to over $100 million per year, then Chatbooks, then FiberFix. The Harmon Brother’s most recent client is Lume Deodorant, starting off with $1.5 million earnings in 2018 to breaking $40 million in 2021.It’s safe to say that the Harmon Brothers know how to scale. Every campaign operates on the same principle of adding value to viewers. This helps brands on their journey from what Benton calls their “poop to gold journey”. Taking them from obscurity where all entrepreneurs start, and helping to build trust over time to turn them into a household name. Which Ad Formats Work? Benton advises that ads need to be “as long as it needs to be, but not a second longer.” The Harmon Brothers are very careful about getting rid of fluff. It’s all about getting the rhythm right. When it’s a good ad, your viewer could watch a five minute long ad without even realizing how long it is. A 30 second ad, however, if lazily done, can drag on and on because it’s boring. The longest ad the Harmon brothers have ever created was 11 minutes, and their ads range all the way down from there. They also make shorter 15 to 30 to 60 second versions of two to four to five-minute ads. On average, Benton says a successful ad usually runs from two to four minutes. Great, that’s the timing down, so what about the formats? One of the most effective but easiest to implement ad formats is what Benton refers to as the “explainer testimonial ad”. It starts with your elevator pitch: one - two sentences about what your product is and why it’s different, or why it matters to the customer. Then it’s a very simple case of providing five - eight customer reviews. Your customers essentially write the ad for you! You just need to go in and find ones that are compelling, entertaining, and make sure to include some variety. This can be as simple as putting dynamic typography over images, or product shots. Or product shots while a narrator is reading your reviews. Or, if you want to make things really authentic, you may want to feature your customers actually giving their reviews on camera. An explainer testimonial ad the Harmon Brothers created for Lume Deodorant was phenomenally successful, driving $3 million in direct trackable sales. Another simple but fantastic ad format is a product demonstration video. A stop motion video of a product in use is a c

#67 iOS 15 Will Drastically Change Email Marketing. Here’s What to Do. Apple’s upcoming iOS 15 update is going to change the way in which ecommerce owners communicate with their customers. And us email marketers need a change of strategy. Valentina Rasello is an absolute champion at email marketing. With extensive experience in outreach strategy, lead generation, content creation, building marketing campaigns, and more, we’re very fortunate to have her as an Account Manager at Budai Media. Valentina always has her eye on the ever-changing world of ecommerce, so has she done her research on the upcoming iOS changes. We’re delighted to welcome Valentina to The Ecom Show for an expert’s guide to iOS15 and how it affects email marketing. Valentina and our CEO and podcast host, Daniel Budai discuss: ✔️ Valentina’s Psychological Approach to Marketing ✔️ What is the iOS 15 Update✔️ How Should Ecommerce Owners Prepare for this UpdateValentina’s Psychological Approach to Marketing Aside from her linguistic interest and prowess in Italian, Spanish, English, and Chinese, Valentina has always been interested in psychology. How the brain works, and why people make some choices and not others. This evolved into an exploration into why people choose to buy and why they don’t. Always one for learning new things, Valentina took a deep dive into the world of marketing, taking online courses on content creation, lead generation, outreach…you name it! So began Valentina’s journey into marketing, eventually leading to her current position as Account Manager at Budai Media. Valentina loves what she describes as her “dynamic” job, especially enjoying the many opportunities it provides to analyze customer behaviour.What is the iOS 15 Update?Apple’s iOS 15 update is set to be released this Fall. It’s going to impact two main areas: email marketing and ecommerce. iOS 15’s Mail Privacy Protection feature will allow users to hide their IP address. This means that senders will not be able to see whether Apple Mail users have opened their email or not, impacting the effectiveness of A/B testing in all areas. Valentina warns against catastrophizing, however. This change only applies to those with Apple devices, who use Apple Mail, and have decided to opt in to Mail Privacy Protection. Mail Privacy will not be in effect on other email apps, such as Google Mail, even if accessed on an Apple device. The next iOS feature to think about is ‘Hide My Email’. Users can use ‘Hide My Email’ to direct marketing emails to an Apple generated randomized email. In other words they can create a ‘burner’ email.  So How Should Ecommerce Owners Prepare for this Update?Focus especially on open rates, as they will be most affected by iOS 15’s Mail Privacy Protection Feature. Also test subject lines, previews, send times, pretty much everything before the update is implemented. A/B test like there’s no tomorrow. Also make sure to clean that email list! When the iOS 15 updates arrive, it will be more difficult to know who is opening emails and who isn’t. We generally recommend list cleaning once a month, but now is a better time than any to remove unengaged customers from your list. Following A/B tests and list cleaning, ecommerce owners need to begin shifting their focus to other metrics. Valentina recommends closely analyzing click rate and shipping recency and frequency. Get a microscope on customer behaviour. How often they buy, how they interact with your brand, what their favourite products are. All the good stuff. This will be instrumental in creating targeted campaign plansTL;DR - Don’t panic! But make sure to A/B test, clean your list, and focus on click-through rate and customer behaviour. Connect with https://www.linkedin.com/in/valentina-rasello-770954168/Valentina on LinkedIn if you’re looking for digital marketing or linguistic expertise. Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedIn Daniel's Facebook  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#66 Crack the Code: Facebook Video Ads Facebook is changing. The emergence and rapid growth of TikTok and the disappearance of 3rd party data calls for a shift in marketing strategy. The CEO of BlitzMetrics, Dennis Yu, argues that there’s no better time to run Facebook ads than now. It’s just about putting out the right content. As an internationally recognised lecturer in digital marketing with over 20 years of web analytics experience, Dennis knows ecommerce, and he knows how to teach it. We’re very excited to welcome Dennis to the Ecom Show for a deep dive into Facebook Video Ads and what makes them successful. Dennis and our CEO and podcast host, Daniel Budai discuss: ✔️ Dennis’s Unusual Introduction to Ecommerce ✔️ The Rise of TikTok and Why it Matters to Ecommerce ✔️ How to Advertise Successfully on Facebook ✔️ The Importance of Storytelling to Customer Acquisition and RetentionDennis’s Unusual Introduction into EcommerceDennis describes himself as a “maths person”. Web analytics have been an integral part of Dennis’s career development. Over 20 years ago, Dennis built Yahoo’s internal analytics. “Behind business, success, and the algorithm, there’s always maths to figure out what’s going on.” And in an ecommerce world of marketing, sales, and business people, Dennis brought a different perspective to the table. Dennis works to bring the connection between maths and human psychology to the heart of marketing. The Rise of TikTok and Why it Matters to Ecommerce So why has TikTok seen such a rapid rise of popularity over the last few years? Short answer - its highly sophisticated algorithm.Dennis says that while TikTok engineers won’t reveal their algorithm, it’s clear that they’re willing to collect a lot more data based on user activity, including image recognition. Dennis recalls a TikTok made at YouTuber Jake Paul’s house. TikTok recognised Paul’s house and showed the video to his fans. Facebook and Instagram, Dennis points out, are not going to get to that level of image recognition anytime soon. Beyond this, TikTok recognises when a user watches a video multiple times, collecting data even on where they stop watching their current video and return to previously viewed content. TikTok has incredible potential for ecommerce owners. The traffic is cheap and conversion is great if you have the right kind of content. TikTok adverts are all about entertainment and personality based selling.How to Advertise Successfully on Facebook Facebook is one of many social media channels, including not only TikTok, but also Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat. If we’re talking about video ads, ecommerce owners also have YouTube to contend with. So why Facebook?Facebook is the number 1 online platform for generating sales. Advertising on Facebook is simply a different ballpark to what it used to be. Brands can no longer rely on 3rd party data, so their video content has to be primed for conversion. Dennis advises:Use a short form ad structure. The average watch time on Facebook is 6 seconds. So make those first 6 seconds captivating and keep your ad 15 seconds to a minute long.Repurpose your Facebook content. If you keep your ad short, you can use it on TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram.Use vertical video.Don’t use your phone’s built in microphone. Make sure your speaker is properly miced up. Add captions.Only batch test 3 - 4 ads at a time. When you find a ‘winning’ ad, it’s time to pump more money into that rather than waste your budget on new ads. When a winning ad works, it works time and time again. Spend 80% of your budget testing and improving your winner. Have a storyline: what’s the hook, what’s the pain you’re reigniting, how do you introduce your solution, and what’s your CTA? And Dennis’s number one piece of advice? Collect customer stories. “Customers write the best copy.”Your number one job with Facebook ads is to collect user-generated content (UGC) and fine tune it into an ad. The Importance of Storytelling to Customer Retention and Acquisition Dennis cannot emphasise enough the power of customer storytelling. To put it simply, a good Facebook ad is a video featuring your customers. It isn’t a testimonial, it’s a story about how they feel about your product. People convert because of the why.When reaching out to your customers, ask their story via video. Find out what inspired them to buy and how your product made them feel. Dennis maintains that if you’re the face of the company that you need to personally collect UGC from your best customers. In a video interview you build rapport, create more energy, and have the freedom for follow-up questions.If you have thousands and thousands of customers, it is not, of course, possible to get on the phone with every single one, but you can do it with a few hundred and have virtual assistants help you out with the rest. Consider sending your customers fun gifts with hand written notes. This will encourage them to create their own content and engage with their brand.

Facebook Advertising - What’s the Key to Success? Facebook Advertising is changing. At a time when data analytics are becoming increasingly uncertain due to the upcoming iOS15 update, the quality of creatives (creative advertising) is more important than ever. Sufian Asghar is the Founder of SZN Media, an agency that boosts ecommerce growth with ROI (Return on Investment) driven advertising. Its team of Facebook specialists dramatically scale their clients' customer acquisition through creative advertising. Sufian has a lot of wisdom to share about Facebook creatives!We’re delighted to hear Sufian and our CEO and podcast host Daniel Budai discuss:✔️ How Sufian Became a Founder✔️ The iOS15 Data Changes ✔️ Branding That Works✔️ The Key to Facebook Advertising Success How Sufian Became a FounderSufian began looking for new ways to make money in his final year of university as a newly married man. As he was starting out with no capital, a business model that required as little start-up investment as possible made the most sense. So Sufian began offering marketing services to local businesses. Initially working for free, a make-up brand started paying once they saw his amazing CRO (conversion rate optimization) results. This turned into a string of referrals to Sufian, which enabled him to start hiring. To this day SZN acquires clients almost solely from referrals and social proof.The iOS15 Data ChangesNow you can’t work in Facebook advertising without being acutely aware of the upcoming iOS15 changes. Sufian points out that Facebook is pretty quiet about the data they own because they don’t want to raise concern, but the reality is they currently have data on several million people. So how are the iOS15 data changes going to affect this? The question remains as to the long-term implications for the iOS changes, but the update could entail a huge loss of data for Facebook if its users opt-out of data tracking. This means the Facebook algorithm will get a lot less sophisticated at finding relevant customers for its ads. The solution? Daniel and Sufian agree that the quality of creatives needs to be amped up more than ever before. As ecommerce has to rely less and less on Facebook data tracking, marketers need to really take advantage of the creative control they have over their own branding. Branding that Works A key problem that Sufian finds in ecommerce and Facebook advertising is a lack of congruency. Sufian cannot stress enough the importance of having a consistent brand voice across ads, your website, emails, and customer communication. If you have several different voices for multiple channels, it will become near impossible for your customers to connect with your brand because they will not know what to expect from you.Branding is not an entity in itself, it's the feeling your customers get when they resonate with your brand because their principles align with yours. GymShark, Sufian provides as an example, was founded on the basis of providing high-quality and stylish gym clothes. Even with their huge expansion, they haven’t lost touch with their initial incentive. And that’s been key to their success. So know your brand principles. Without them, it will be difficult to communicate effectively with your employees, partners, and customers. They may gradually evolve over time but make sure that your brand stands clearly for something.The Key to Facebook Advertising SuccessSo aside from consistent and confident branding, what’s the key to Facebook advertising success?Sufian shares a research technique SZN uses that he recommends anyone who wants to get into Facebook advertising to do:Every day SZN’s in-house designers do at least one hour of Facebook ad library research. Use keyword research to see what your competitors are doing. Then scroll through Facebook’s ad library to see what active ads have been running for a long time. If you see an ad that has been running for at least 2 months, you know that it’s effective. That ad will provide great inspiration for your ads and content. After conducting this research, SZN’s in-house designers share their concepts with the team to get feedback. This means that the entire team learns more every day about what makes a good Facebook ad and designers get to make tons of content to test and qualify.TL;DR: Consistent branding + competitor research + good creatives = successful Facebook Advertising. For more fantastic advice on Facebook Advertising, reach out to Sufian on LinkedIn, follow him on Instagram @sufian.asg, or visit https://szn-media.co/.Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's Facebook  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ecommerce and Retail - Can You Do Both? It’s no secret that ecommerce has absolutely skyrocketed over the last couple of years. But what about retail? As shops are opening up again, more and more customers are craving that in-person shopping experience. International retail executive and consultant, Stephen Rector, has extensive experience leading merchandise strategies in both retail and ecommerce. In 2017, Stephen helped establish Macy’s supply chain in China, creating a multimillion-dollar international expansion business. Now he works with several startups to accelerate growth for digital and in-store businesses. It’s safe to say that Stephen knows how to scale!We’re very excited to welcome Stephen to The Ecom Show. Our CEO and podcast host Daniel Budai chats to Stephen about: ✔️ Stephen’s Journey into Retail and Ecommerce✔️ Ecommerce Retail ✔️ Building Brand Awareness ✔️ Breaking Into Retail Stephen’s Journey into Retail and EcommerceLike many marketers, Stephen didn’t study digital strategy and marketing at university. Instead, he studied Political Science and International Relations at the University of Missouri - Columbia. Writing papers and preparing and delivering presentations, although unrelated to retail and ecommerce, proved invaluable to Stephen’s communication skills. Stephen says that he’s been utilizing the skills he acquired at university throughout his entire career. Whilst in university, Stephen worked full time in retail as a Manager in a music store. When he graduated, his experience attracted companies in...you guessed it, retail! Since then, Stephen has worked in merchandising, branding, sourcing, and pricing, swiftly honing his skills in retail to ecommerce in the 2000s Ecommerce RetailHuge ecommerce stores have an interesting relationship with retail. Amazon, for example, implements ecommerce tactics for data collection in all their physical stores. Cameras and shelf stock collect buyer data, behaviour, and conversion rates. Stephen also points out that many Amazon stores across the US don’t have a checkout. Instead, customers are automatically charged when they add items to their basket. Amazon isn’t alone in its efforts to enter the world of retail. The Founder of Gymshark, Ben Francis, speaks openly on his YouTube channel about opening physical stores with gyms where customers can work out and try on clothing. If you’re thinking about moving your ecommerce store to retail, make sure to continue using all that valuable data you’ve been collecting!Building Brand Awareness Stephen points out that it’s harder to get brand awareness in-store than it is online because retail is saturated with brands that so many people are familiar with. Stephen advises that the vast majority of sellers need to build brand awareness online before even thinking about trying to get into a retail store. And brand awareness building doesn’t stop once you get to retail. Stephen praises Casper Mattresses for having a fantastic ecommerce strategy and partnering with Target and Bed, Bath and Beyond. In order to scale, it’s clear that you need as many eyes on you as possible both online and offline. Breaking Into RetailDaniel and Stephen agree that building brand awareness online is the first step towards breaking into retail. Other than this, Stephen identifies the 2 biggest challenges of doing business with retailers: Breaking through the wall to get through to themManaging costs correctlyGetting through to retailers isn’t a walk in the park. Aside from online branding, use your network as much as you can. If you have anyone with retail connections - get in touch! You can also find specialists on how to enter retail relationships or partnerships on LinkedIn. Evaluate how much it costs to make your merchandise before meeting your retailer. Your retailer will be aggressively pushing down costs on their end as much as possible. Know your stuff, and know your profit margin. Take a look at your competitors in your chosen store, their price point and category. What’s your differentiation? It’s all about presentation and profit. TL;DR - If you’re thinking about going into in-store retail, your first step is ecommerce. For more advice on retail, ecommerce, and merchandising strategy, reach out to Stephen on LinkedIn.Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's Facebook  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Follow These 3 Steps to Succeed in Ecommerce Innovation is the go-to word in ecommerce. Not only do ecommerce brands have to adapt to changing marketing trends, they also need to stay up to date with rapid technological progress. Damiano Raveenthiran knows a thing or two about innovation. As the Founder and CEO of Startup Slang, Damiano has worked with design development services for over 2000 merchants including brands such as Dyson, Panasonic, and Glu. We are delighted to welcome Damiano to The Ecom Show. Tune into episode 63 to hear our podcast host and CEO, Daniel Budai, and Damiano discuss:✔️ Damiano’s Entrepreneurial Journey ✔️ Choosing the Right Marketing Agency ✔️ Using Innovative Technology ✔️ Startup Slang’s Checkout Boosters ✔️ 3 Steps You Need to Succeed in EcommerceDamiano’s Entrepreneurial Journey Like most entrepreneurs, Damiano began freelancing. He’s always been interested in websites and technology, but it was only after he finished school that he began seeing how he could create a career in ecommerce.After Damiano describes it as a ‘lot of trial and error’, he joined Fiverr as a freelancer in 2016. From learning how to build Shopify stores on YouTube, to developing his skills and experience on Fiverr, Damiano began earning 6 figures in his first year of joining the platform. Damiano says he’s very grateful to Fiverr for getting him to where he is today. In 2017, he founded Startup Slang. What began as a design services platform evolved into the ‘full stack’ ecommerce agency it is today. Choosing the Right Marketing AgencyThere is a heck of a lot of marketing agencies out there. There are pros and cons of those who offer more specific services and those who have a more generalist approach.Damiano says that any agency that has the full ecommerce supply chain will have some services that are better than others. Startup Slang, for example, began with design and development, so naturally, their design and development is the strongest in their stack. Coupled with Damiano’s focus on automation, Startup Slang had strong foundations for its evolution into a growth package for startups.Damiano’s advice is to look at company structure. It’s not about knowing if something is ‘better’ or ‘worse’, it’s more about discerning whether their strengths are channeled towards the processes you’re looking for. Using Innovative TechnologyOne of Damiano’s proudest ventures involves a furniture store. Furniture ecommerce, Damiano explains, is one of Startup Slang’s strengths. Once you solve problems for one store, you’ve solved most of the problems for the others. Startup Slang connected one of their furniture stores in the US with a mobile game where users can design their own home decor. This allowed players to purchase in-game furniture using in-game currency. The app has about 3 million players per day, so it’s been a fantastic extra source of revenue for Startup Slang’s client.Damiano’s case study gives a clear message to any merchants looking for agencies: look for agencies who have an innovative approach. Thinking outside the box in terms of marketing channels and technology really pays off. Startup Slang’s Checkout BoostersTalking of innovation, Damiano chats to Daniel about Startup Slang’s new checkout boosters. When you run a marketing campaign, you’re going to have a lot of people that don’t go through the entire funnel. That is, there are a lot of abandoned carts. Damiano noticed that many of his clients had millions of dollars waiting in abandoned carts. An ecommerce store has the option to send out abandoned cart flows via email and SMS, but that’s usually where the touchpoints stop.Startup Slang experimented with calling up customers who abandoned their carts. An abandoned cart call generally had 3 outcomes: Return to cart and completion of the transaction Customer is upselledThe customer doesn’t wish to complete their transaction but they offer a reason for doing so.Even if a customer didn’t complete their transaction, their reason for not doing so offered great data for sales funnel improvement. Startup Slang saw fantastic results for their merchants, even doubling conversion rates in many cases. Watch this space for StartupSlang’s upcoming Abandoned Cart Caller app! 3 Steps You Need to Succeed in EcommerceOver the last 3, Damiano has worked with over 2000 merchants. It’s safe to say he knows startups, and he knows ecommerce. Damiano advices that failed ecommerce startups miss 3 crucial steps:Knowing Your Product If you don’t figure your product out, you’re doing a disservice to your brand and customers. Don’t start with anything else, not even your website, until you know your product.Content Once you know your product. Make sure your content - videos, photographs, text, design etc is top-notch. Use everything necessary to talk to your audience.Conversion Now we could talk about CRO until the cows come home. Once you’ve done the initial work of making sure that your customer/product experience i

Your Ecommerce Needs to Address the Seeker, Not the Customer In the ever-evolving world of ecommerce, it’s time to go beyond customer satisfaction. You need to understand what your customer is seeking. This is the philosophy behind Raj De Datta’s best-selling book, ‘The Digital Seeker: A Guide for Digital Teams to Build Winning Experiences’. Raj is the Co Founder and CEO of Bloomreach, a leading Digital Experience Platform for ecommerce. Bloomreach combines unified customer data with AI predictive decisions to create a winning digital experience for ecommerce customers, or should we say, seekers. We’re very excited to hear Raj and our podcast host Daniel Budai discuss:✔️Bloomreach ✔️Understanding What the Customer is Seeking✔️The Effect of COVID-19 on Ecommerce ✔️Using Customer Data Effectively and Responsibly What is Bloomreach?Raj Co-Founded Bloomreach in 2009. What began as a data-driven search engine evolved into a platform that utilizes the full spectrum of ecommerce data and customer personalization. Raj splits Bloomreach’s multiple features into three pillars of the customer journey: Engagement Inspiration DiscoveryThe engagement pillar focuses on personalized marketing campaigns. Bloomreach uses first-party data to personalize every email, SMS, and brand-customer interaction.Next comes inspiration. Bloomreach inspires customers to buy. This is all about content - creating beautiful creative ads that seek to address deeper customer motivation.The third pillar, discovery, is aimed at navigation. Once a customer has decided to buy a particular product, a couch, for example, Bloomreach helps them discover the right one for them. Essentially, Bloomreach addresses what the customer is seeking. Understanding What the Customer is Seeking As a CEO of a company that powers nearly 25% of all ecommerce in the US and UK, Raj often has digital entrepreneurs call him and ask, “So what makes the winners win, and what makes the losers lose.”So he wrote a book about it! The Digital Seeker is number 4 on The Wallstreet Journal’s business bestseller list. It’s safe to say that it's fantastic insight into what it takes to win at ecommerce.Its thesis? Successful ecommerce and the best digital experiences are built for the seeker, not the customer. Winners don’t stop at customer satisfaction, they ask the question, “What is the customer seeking?”. People don’t buy dresses for the sake of buying dresses, they’re interested in expressing their style. If someone wants to buy some wood, it’s not for the sake of owning wood. Among many reasons, it could be to build a deck to entertain their friends, for example.Ecommerce winners, Raj argues, study the underlying motivations behind customer conversion and build their digital experiences around them. The Digital Seeker is a guide on how to do exactly that. And of course, Bloomreach designs the customer experience around these principles.The Effect of COVID - 19 on EcommerceIt’s no secret that the COVID -19 pandemic has had a huge impact on ecommerce. Daniel and Raj discuss both its immediate impact and long term implications for ecommerce. Raj describes the first few months of the outbreak as an era of ‘complete panic’ for ecommerce. People were worried about team members getting COVID, supply chains were breaking down, websites were crashing, international deliveries were seriously delayed, and ecommerce owners began to wonder what was going to happen to their cash flow.In late Spring to earlier Summer 2020, Raj observed that people were beginning to realize that ecommerce was really taking off. Everyone was going online and ecommerce was struggling to keep up with this burst of customer interest and conversion.As the pandemic continued, consumer behavior changed rather rapidly. At one phase, for example, everyone seemed to be interested in toilet paper, at another phase, it was egg and milk, at another, it was hair cutting equipment. The rapidly shifting spurts of interest were somewhat difficult to track. Two things seemed to define ecommerce during 2020: growth and unpredictability.Daniel and Raj believe that the COVID-19 pandemic pushed ecommerce forward by 5 - 7 years. As of Summer 2021, we still don’t know when things will return to normal. One thing we can be sure of, however, is that ecommerce is here to stay. Not only has the industry seen incredible growth, but its sustainability has been well and truly established. Using Customer Data Effectively and ResponsibilityNow we can’t talk about ecommerce change without talking about Apple’s upcoming iOS 15 update. Raj for one is very excited about it. Raj points out that the new update is not forbidding ecommerce stores to collect data, they’re stopping them from collecting data without permission and using it for spam. In other words, the iOS 15 update is one element in an ecommerce future that relies almost wholly on 1st party data. Daniel and Raj agree that third party data is ineffective data. People don’t want to

Choosing the Right Attribution Model for Your Ecommerce Store Attribution Models are becoming an increasingly popular way to track the customer journey and conversion rates. Due to the upcoming changes in data privacy, it’s crucial to understand and implement every tool in your digital marketing arsenal.We’re delighted to welcome Sofía Vargas Sandoval onto The Ecom Show podcast to tell us all about Attribution Models and how to use them. With over 7 years of experience as a Digital Marketing Consultant, Sofía has managed digital marketing strategies for teams all over Latin America, the US, and Australia. We’re very happy to say that Sofía is also Budai Media’s Senior Account Manager! Join Sofía and our CEO, Daniel Budai, for episode 61 of The Ecom Show for a discussion on:✔️Attribution Models✔️Google Analytics✔️ Understanding Email Marketing and Conversion✔️ Facebook Messenger Marketing  So What Exactly is an Attribution Model? An Attribution Model is a rule or set of rules that determine the customer touchpoint for conversion. For example, if you’re using Klaviyo and a customer arrives at your store within 5 days of opening an email campaign or flow, their conversion is credited to Klaviyo. Every Attribution Model is of course adaptable; some businesses will attribute conversion to Klaviyo when a customer arrives at their store up to 60 after opening their email. Sofía advises that narrowing attribution windows does not make your conversion data more accurate. It’s unusual for a customer to convert as soon as they see one form of advertisement. It’s likely that they’ve seen your product or brand across several different channels before arriving at your store. Daniel and Sofía agree that choosing the right attribution model for your ecommerce store is an ‘art’. Unfortunately, we can’t always attribute conversion to your customer’s ‘last click’, nor can you simply choose a random model and stick with it. Take a deep dive into your data and analytics across your marketing channels before trying out different Attribution Models. It’s a long process, but it’s worth it. Talking of analytics…Tracking Omnichannel Marketing on Google AnalyticsGoogle Analytics supports most ecommerce apps and cross-channel data tracking, making them a fantastic resource for understanding assisted conversions. Sofía observes that when people monitor conversions on Google Analytics they go to their Conversion Tab without noticing that there’s an option called ‘Assisted Conversion’, where you can set up and test different Attribution Models.Here you can play with different scenarios, compare your customer’s first click with their last click, evaluate time decay, and more. There are tonnes of options available for tracking customer data and analyzing their journey. Understanding Email Marketing and ConversionNow, it’s been made very clear that we can’t get enough of email marketing and Klaviyo at Budai Media. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t take a holistic approach to digital marketing. If you only use Klaviyo analytics, you’re not going to get a full picture of your customer journey which won’t help you select the right attribution model. Still use Klaviyo analytics - they’re great! But take a look at your other traffic sources too. Sofía observes that a few years ago the conversation around marketing revolved around inbound vs outbound marketing. Now, the conversation is about how you merge and sync outbound traffic strategies and sources for a holistic retention marketing strategy. Facebook Messenger Marketing With the upcoming iOS 15 update and data protection changes, Sofía highly recommends Facebook Messenger Marketing and ReCart. Sofía says that the open rates for Facebook Marketing Messages are “amazing”. It’s easy for customers to subscribe with a simple click, and what’s more, Instagram will start allowing sponsored messages this year. If you want to maximize your conversion rates, keep your finger on the pulse for this one.And the best part is? ReCart integrates with SMSBump and Klaviyo for that all-important holistic approach. Connect with Sofía on LinkedIn or visit her website to find out more about Attribution Models and understanding conversion rates. Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's Facebook  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Supercharge Your CRO With Octane AI Ecommerce is changing. Recent changes in data privacy, such as the upcoming iOS 15 update, mean that ecommerce store owners need to adapt quickly to keep up to date with their customers.  Introducing Octane AI. The all-in-one platform for direct data collection and CRO via Shop Quiz, personalized Messenger and SMS automation, and Opt in tools. Octane AI is transforming the customer and merchant journey.  Ben Parr is the President and Co-Founder of Octane AI. Thousands of Shopify and Shopify plus merchants use Octane AI to engage, convert, and retain customers through innovative data collection and a personalized shopping experience. We’re delighted to hear Ben and our podcast host Daniel Budai discuss CRO, personalizing your customer journey and:✔️ Octane AI’s Origins ✔️ Octane AI’s Key Features✔️ Engaging Quizzes for your Ecommerce Store ✔️ Getting Attention to your Ecommerce Store Where did Octane AI Begin? Ben Co-Founded Octane AI in 2016. Initially, Octane AI was primarily concerned with Messenger chatbots. Five years down the line, Octane AI’s main focus is now Zero Party Data.Ben maintains that Octane AI’s founding principles remain the same:“Helping customers and brand owners communicate is at the core of everything we do.” Messenger Chatbots are still very important to Octane AI, but so are Shop Quizzes, personalized SMS automation, and omnichannel marketing. Like any digital entrepreneur, Ben is all about adaptability and evolution. What does Octane AI do?Octane AI does two main things: Collects Data Leverages Data Octane AI uses Zero Party Data. That is, it collects data directly from customers via Shop Quiz, Messenger, and SMS communication. Ben warns against relying on third-party data. You don’t own third-party data, and it could be taken from you at any time. When you quiz customers on what products they’re looking for, you engage them in brand communication and collect direct data.Octane AI then leverages this data to personalize the customer experience. Octane AI works perfectly with Klaviyo to segment your customers according to Octane AI’s data collection. This allows you to run targeted marketing campaigns. Ben and Daniel agree that retaining customers is even more valuable than gaining customers. In Ben’s experience, the lifetime value (LTV) of customers who take quizzes usually goes up anywhere between 10 - 50% depending on the brand.Shop Quiz Sounds Amazing - How do I Make My Questions Engaging?Both Daniel and Ben say: Keep it Simple. Your Shop Quiz doesn’t need to be 10 - 15 questions long. Keep it short and sweet. Ben’s advice is to imagine your ecommerce store as a physical store. When a customer walks in, what are they going to ask? If you own a shoe shop, for example, it’s likely that your customers will ask about shoe size, width, material, or brands. So if you own an ecommerce shore store, it makes sense to quiz your customers on what shoe size, width, material, or brand they’re looking for. It’s really as simple as that!Just one question can make all the difference. Ben gives another example of an ecommerce pet store asking its site visitors, “Cat or Dog?”. Just that one question drastically streamlines the customer’s journey towards conversion.Getting Attention to Your Ecommerce StoreBen has written an entire book about the science and psychology of capturing people’s attention: Captivology. So if you want a deep dive into grabbing your customer’s attention, we recommend checking it out!Unfortunately, there’s no silver bullet for capturing attention. But Ben does have a couple of tips for us:✔️ Know what attention stage you’re atIf you’re just starting out in your ecommerce business, capturing attention is a different ballpark to someone who already has brand attention and wants to cast their net wider. If your aim is to attract new customers, your strategy will be different to the aim of capturing and keeping the attention of existing customers. Capturing attention will also vary according to different sub-sects of customers. That’s why it’s so important to segment your marketing strategy using detailed customer data.✔️ Know your product Your marketing will vary according to your product and buyer persona. Beauty brands, for example, tend to really benefit from influencer marketing. If you’re selling high-end furniture, on the other hand, your focus would be better honed in on SEO and online ads. Don’t try to capture attention from everywhere. Know where you’re going to get it first. So What’s Next for Octane AI? Ben is always alert to new trends in ecommerce. He says it’s not long before we see the end of 3rd party cookies. Octane AI is paving the way for Zero Party Data and innovative data collection and customer personalization tools.Octane AI is always evolving. On the 14th of July 2021, Octane AI announced a brand new feature: Conversational Pop-ups. These integrate with Octane AI’s Shop Quiz tool to create an interactiv

ReConvert: The Best App for Post-Purchase CROShopify’s post-purchase thank you page has a 100% open rate. Not only that, it doubles up as an order update page. That means that your customer is very likely to return to this page several times to check their order status. A great page right? Imagine all the post-purchase optimization you can do on that! The trouble is, that you can’t edit this page on Shopify by default.That’s where ReConvert comes in. Ruth Even Haim is the Co-Founder of StilyoApps and Creator of ReConvert, an app that allows you to customize your thank you page for personalized post-purchase optimization. Ruth has revolutionized the way we think about customer retention. We’re very excited to hear Ruth and our podcast host Daniel Budai discuss customer retention, upselling, and: ✔️ ReConvert’s Origins ✔️ ReConvert’s Key Features ✔️ Using Pop-Ups Correctly ✔️ Maximizing Multiple Marketing Channels ✔️ Ruth’s upcoming projects Where did ReConvert Begin? StilyoApps began as a small family business at the end of 2018. Ruth, and her brother Eric, both had their own Shopify store and noticed something: their thank you pages weren’t being optimized. As Shopify thank you pages are also used as order-update pages, they saw a lot of wasted potentials. They decided to change this. In comes ReConvert. Ruth and Eric created an app that allows you to edit your post-purchase page any way you like. Add upsells, product recommendations, pop-ups, post-purchase surveys, and even videos!It’s no surprise that Shopify quickly picked ReConvert as one of its star picks. The rest, as they say, is history! Ruth says that every happy customer is another great milestone for ReConvert. ReConvert’s Features: Let’s Break it DownReConvert’s features fall into three categories1. Communication with Customers These include text, images, and videos. These act as branding tools to build customer trust and retention. You’re free to add personalized thank you messages and creative ads.2. Receiving Information from CustomersHere you can collect customer data. Add a post-purchase and product comment widget for immediate feedback. You’re also able to collect customer birthdays and sync this data to Klaviyo, SMSbump, and a range of different marketing platforms.3. Upselling This is by far ReConvert’s most popular feature. Upsell and cross-sell with recommended products, customizable Call-To-Action buttons, and pop-up discounts with timers.Talking of PopUps - How do I Use Them?Ruth and Daniel both love a good popup - when they’re done well.Getting too carried away with upselling and popups can ruin your customer’s experience and put them off your brand entirely. Ruth says that whilst you don’t want a popup every second you also don’t want to waste their potential. Daniel ran a popup A/B test with one of his clients last year. He found that if a customer sees a popup immediately upon arriving at your site, they’re not going to be receptive to your offer. If a pop-up appears, later on, they’re far more likely to check it out. Ruth and Daniel agree that finding out the average time a customer spends on your website is a great way to figure out when your popup should appear. As for exit-intent popups? They’re a no-brainer: go for it. Your customer is leaving your site anyway so there’s nothing to lose from giving them one last chance to convert. Maximizing Multiple ChannelsSo if you’re using ReConvert, do you need to bother with Email, SMS, and Facebook Messenger Marketing?Ruth and Daniel couldn’t be more confident with this one: YES. Ruth says that customer retention is crucial to brand success. So you shouldn’t limit yourself to one marketing channel. ReConvert isn’t a replacement for Email, SMS, and Facebook Messenger Marketing, it is a fantastic addition. It’s very rare to make a sale from one channel. People use multiple devices and platforms. Your customer may have converted at your website because they saw your brand in social media ads, emails, SMS, and Facebook Messenger. Successful branding is all about creating patterns of familiarity. Don’t rely on one channel: concentrate on integration. Omnichannel marketing is your best friend. So What’s Next for Ruth? Ruth doesn’t want to stop at ReConvert. Now she wants an app for the top of the funnel. This will run complementary to ReConvert to complete your sales funnel. Its focus? Upselling before that thank you page. And boy does Ruth know her popups and upselling! We’re definitely keeping an eye out for this one. ReConvert is a powerful yet easy-to-use tool that does wonders for your conversion rates. We couldn’t recommend this app enough. On the next episode of The Ecom Show, we’re welcoming another fantastic guest to tell us all about Octane AI. So stay tuned!In the meantime, check out our other episodes to find out more about branding, conversion, omnichannel marketing, and much much more.Connect with Ruth on LinkedIn and download ReConvert to revolutionize your CRO.Follow Daniel

Selling on Amazon in 2021. What’s Changed?  Amazon is the largest online marketplace. According to Statistica, Amazon reached 200 million paying Prime members in the first quarter of this year. With 1.6 million active sellers, selling on Amazon is a whole different ballpark to Shopify, BigCommerce, or WooCommerce. What can we learn from someone who’s earned millions of dollars for several ecommerce brands on Amazon? Liran Hirschkorn is the Founder and CEO of Incrementum Digital, an Amazon Focused Marketing Agency. He’s been working closely with Amazon for the past 7 years. A lot has changed since 2014, and Liran has a lot of wisdom to impart.We’re delighted to hear Liran and our podcast host Daniel Budai discuss the importance of data-driven selling, adapting quickly to changes in ecommerce, as well as:✔️ How Amazon has changed✔️ How to stand out in Amazon ✔️ Using other ecommerce stores with Amazon✔️ Developing a connection with Amazon customersAmazon’s Fast-Paced ChangesLiran says that the Amazon sellers of today are a heck of a lot more sophisticated and knowledgeable than those of 2014. While advertising on Amazon wasn’t really important in 2014, you can’t do without it now. In 2016 Amazon stopped allowing incentivized reviews. Even if your customer states that they received your product for free in exchange for their honest review, Amazon simply doesn’t allow it. This really mixed things up for Amazon marketers, because, as Liran points out, reviews are fundamental to making sales.We all saw how Amazon sales absolutely sky-rocketed with the onset of COVID-19. Amazon gained 50 million new Prime customers and ecommerce soared.It’s no surprise that Liran can’t overstate the importance of adaptability and knowing your data. Reviews on Amazon: Are They Everything?Short answer: Not quite, but they are important. The more positive reviews you have, the more protection you have over your competitors. Of course, this depends on what you’re selling. If you have lots of competitors selling similar products to yours, reviews are going to be a lot more important than those for an original product.But there are other ways to stand out. Liran says that creatives - specifically good images with infographics - are great for sales. Customers are unlikely to read a wall of text about your product, so highlight (in a few keywords) its best features in your images.Talking of keywords that sell - make sure you know them. And we’re not just talking about one or two here, Liran wants an extensive list. Daniel and Liran strongly agree that Amazon is used as a search platform much like Google, so SEO couldn’t be more crucial. Knowing Your GoalsWhen you decide to sell on Amazon, your 1st goal should not be to generate profit immediately. It should be maximizing sales velocity, engaging your customers, and working to generate enough reviews for people to consider your product. A fantastic way to develop a relationship with your Amazon customers is to put inserts in their products thanking them for their purchase and providing incentive for them to leave a good review and/or head to your landing page. This could be an email or text sign-up to a coupon, giveaway, or a limited-time offer, whatever works best for your brand. Selling Your Product on Multiple ChannelsIf you’re a Shopify seller, you might feel worried about launching a product on Amazon. Don’t be. You just need to do your research. Some products won’t do as well on Amazon as they do on Shopify, some will do even better! It’s just a matter of knowing which. There are 200 million Prime customers who do most of their shopping on Amazon. At the same time, there are lots of people who don’t shop at Amazon at all. Being on multiple channels gives you the opportunity to appeal to different customer bases. With the right strategy, this will do wonders for your sales. Selling on Amazon in 2021Amazon favors new products. So make your first sale count. Liran cannot emphasize enough the importance of product research and knowing your data. Liran recommends Helium 10’s tool X-Ray for checking branded traffic, understanding the best keywords to use, and digging into competitor data. There’s still so much to learn about Amazon. Liran’s podcast, Ecommerce Mindset is filled to the brim with fantastic advice for succeeding on Amazon and Shopify. Check it out on Spotify and iTunes.And while you’re on a podcasting kick, why not take a look at our other episodes for more expert advice on ecommerce? The Ecom Show has well over 50 episodes now, so you’re certain to find something perfectly suited to your business goals.Connect with Liran on Linkedin and visit Incrementum Digital to keep up to date with Amazon’s latest advertising strategies. Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's Facebook  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Think Small to Think Big: Developing a Growth Strategy that WorksTo say Aistis is an expert in ecommerce growth would be an understatement.Aistis Matulaitis, the Co-Founder and CEO of Kandy Agency, got into digital marketing when he was just 15 years old. What began as a side hustle turned into a passion. He now channels his digital marketing expertise into Kandy Agency. Kandy Agency helps ecommerce businesses diversify their streams of income, improve customer retention, and increase their revenue to 7 and 8 figures!We’re very excited to hear Aistis and our podcast host Daniel Budai discuss how to build an effective ecommerce campaign using:✔️Cost-efficient creative video marketing✔️Offer testing ✔️Competitor research✔️A good product-market fit Research and Brainstorming Kandy Agency is all about research. Data mining, review mining, competitor mining, the works. This is crucial to those all-important brainstorming sessions where marketing strategists propose different ideas and strategies for their client’s video ad. Then comes the fun part - the shoot! Kandy Agency chooses their locations, models, color palette - everything, with the client’s buyer persona in mind. When it comes to the final cut, Kandy Agency hones in its focus by referring back to their proposed strategies for edits and re-edits.Test, test, and test again!Putting out different video ads is essential to A/B testing. When you don’t know what works best, you’re not going to be able to scale your ecommerce, simple as that. Kandy Agency A/B tests several video ads per client. When they see what works best, it’s back to brainstorming.Aistis says the biggest challenge in video marketing is not the shoot itself, or even the editing, it’s entering the first step of the marketing funnel: research. Once you’ve mined your data, narrowed your focus and come up with the best ideas for your videos, the rest is relatively simple. If you’re advertising on Facebook, you’ll get some great data on what works and what doesn’t that you can use to advance your digital marketing strategy.TikTok vs FacebookWe’re all aware that TikTok is a massively expanding platform. With 1 billion users, it’s no surprise that Kandy Agency has started launching TikTok ads for their clients.Aistis notes that creating TikTok ads requires a different approach to creating video content on Facebook. For starters, you have more stylistic freedom in Facebook video ads. TikTok ads, on the other hand, have a very distinct style. Keeping up with music trends, for example, is far more important to getting noticed on TikTok ads than it is to Facebook ads. If an ad works on Facebook it’s not going to necessarily work on TikTok, and vice versa.The plus side to running video ads on TikTok is that all you really need is an iPhone. TikTok favors simple editing already built into the platform.The Blue Ocean Strategy Both Daniel and Aistis are massive fans of the Blue Ocean Strategy - creating an uncontested marketing space. Creating and capturing new demand is one of the most effective ways to scale your ecommerce. One of Aistis’s favorite examples of a product that utilized the Blue Ocean Strategy is the false magnetic eyelash. Magnetic false eyelashes took a popular product (false eyelashes that are glued on) and modified its features. It appeals to people who already wear false eyelashes and to those who don’t because they find them difficult to glue on. By modifying one feature of an already popular product a whole new product was made - one that not only appeals to an existing audience, but also creates an entirely new one. Aistis and Daniel agree that your product needs to be unique; it needs to be a problem solver, and it needs that ‘wow’ factor for your buyer persona. Kandy Agency it’s all about narrowing focus so that their clients are presented with exactly what works. Your ecommerce strategy should be no different. Daniel’s best advice? “Dig into your niche as much as you can.” If you try appealing to everyone, you’ll appeal to no one. In other words, scaling your ecommerce is about narrowing your focus.Digital marketing can seem like an absolute maze of emails, video content, and website optimization, but Aistis assures that these are all strongly grounded in three principles:“When you have a good product, good content, and a good offer, you have every piece in place.”We couldn’t have put it better ourselves Aistis! Make sure to connect with Aistis on LinkedIn and check out Kandy Agency to discover even more ways to scale your ecommerce.Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's Facebook  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Branding is fundamental to marketing yourself and your business. For this episode of The Ecom Show join Graphic Designer and Design Consultant Jerry Bravo and Daniel Budai to hear all about: ✔️ What branding is✔️ What branding isn’t ✔️ Branding elements✔️ Strategizing long-term brand growthThe Cambridge Dictionary defines branding as “the act of giving a company a particular design or symbol in order to advertise its products and services.” Jerry disagrees. This may have cut it two years ago, but as branding develops, so does its definition. That’s why Jerry prefers Tom Goodwin’s definition of branding:“Brands are essentially patterns of familiarity, meaning, fondness, and reassurance that exist in the minds of people.” Branding is not about logos, jingles, and slogans - it’s about what the customer feels when all these elements and more come together.Map out your best branding marketing strategy with Jerry’s best advice on: Brand Substance - The Essence of the Brand PurposeWhy the brand or the product exists VisionImage of the brand for the futureMission What the brand is known forThe purpose, vision, and mission are the core assets for any brand. Brand Positioning - How the Brand is Positioned in the Market and for the Consumer ValuesGuiding the behavior of the brand - its speech, marketing, and moralsAudience PersonaCreating the most detailed audience persona. This will guide every aspect of your brand development.Brands can have multiple audience personas. If they sell multiple products, for example, they may want to develop different personas for each product.Competitor ResearchThis is crucial to positioning your brand. It’s very important to understand what your competitors are doing and where they are in your industry. DifferentiationThis comes hand in hand with competitor research. Differentiating yourself from your competitors. Creating a unique brand affirms your position in the market. Positioning StatementThis goes hand in hand with your vision, mission, and statement.A concise statement that gives the brand direction.ArchetypesBased on Carl Jung’s 12 personality archetypes. Jung created 12 archetypes to describe innate models of personality that guide behaviors and human identity. Every brand will fall into one of these archetypes and use it to guide its brand substance and positioning. Disney, for example, uses the ‘magic’ archetype. Nike uses the ‘hero’ archetype in all its marketing. They address the consumer as a ‘hero’, the main character.Brand Persona PersonalityComes hand in hand with archetypes. How your brand speaks and behaves in the market.How your brand addresses its consumers.Defining the personality of the brand enables you to use all its assets effectively. LanguageFormal or informalThis should be consistent with your brand. If you have an informal brand, you don’t want a formal voice, and vice versa. This creates a dissonance in the minds of your audience persona and your brand.Tone of Voice This speaks to the core of your audience persona. Are you playful or serious? Poetic or blunt? The tone of voice is very important to developing a close relationship with your audience. Brand Communication NameYour front-line. Your name is the first thing your consumers will see and memorize the more they’re exposed to it.This has to be memorable and consistent with your branding assets. TaglineNot all brands use taglines, but this is a good element to consider. Much like a catch-phrase. For example, Nike’s ‘Just Do It’.The more you use your tagline, the more your target audience will associate it with your brand without even needing your logo or your name. Key Messages Define your key messages and how you will be using all your brand assets.Brand Identity StorytellingOne of the most useful assets for constructing your brand - it creates an experience for your audience.Your brand’s journey.Storytelling to engage your audience persona. Its genre depends on your audience persona and your brand’s communication style. LogoThis is not a synonym of branding.A graphic representation of the brand.Based on your audience persona. Typography Formal or informal.Very important to define as this will be in every aspect of your brand. This will influence your brand’s character and image. Brand Persona ColorOften influenced by Color Theory - the theory that certain colors evoke certain emotions.If you put all brands into a color spectrum, you’ll often find that they’re grouped into certain colors in accordance with their brand substance and identity. For example, medical brands often fall into the blue spectrum, and this color is associated with cleanliness, formality, and trust.Color is very important to consider, as using an unusual color for your brand puts it at risk of being associated with a different industry.Image StyleEstablishing an image style for every representation of your brand establishes consistency. Branding is all about consistency so as to make your brand familiar and memorable to your t

Agile and Adaptable Ecommerce: The Power of Omnichannel Marketing and the Nurturing of Customers Across a Variety of PlatformsWhat can we work from the marketing genius behind one of America’s fastest-growing cosmetics brands?Margaux Vallino Reese has helped her company, Colorescience, reach new heights over the last few years, masterfully navigating through the perils of COVID in 2020 to not only stay afloat but thrive as well!We’re thrilled to hear from both Margaux and our podcast host Daniel Budai to discuss the importance of adapting to circumstances that are out of our control, as well as:✔️ The effects of COVID in ecommerce✔️ Shopify vs. custom websites✔️ Consistency in an omnichannel strategy✔️ When to use an agency vs. when to hire in-house✔️ Succeeding in the second half of 2021The Rise of EcommerceFor most online brands, COVID-19 brought with it a wave of new customers, including millions of first-time shoppers who were completely new to online shopping. Due to the nature of Colorescience’s business model, it was tougher to make things work despite having an online presence.Colorescience sells many dermatological products with the help of physicians they partner up with, which was obviously disrupted with more and more people confined to their homes. Margaux explained the importance of “staying agile” and adapting to the circumstances, which was why they chose to pivot into more online sales during 2020 while still supporting their partners and giving them access to the same deals.Choose Your WebsiteWith the rise of platforms like BigCommerce or Shopify, brands no longer need to expend endless time, money, and other resources to maintain their website. Margaux realized that switching over from a custom website to Shopify would ultimately save time, make it easier to add integrations, and address the costly bottleneck of website issues that often occur with custom websites.Now Colorescience is in complete control with their new Shopify website, which allows them to allocate their time for better use elsewhere on the creative side instead of fretting about website issues. Shopify also makes it a whole lot easier to optimize for mobile, which is essential when brands like Colorescience receive upwards of 80% of all traffic on mobile.Omnichannel ConsistencyColorescience is unique in that it has various channels, including offline partnerships with doctor’s practices across the United States. It’s a careful walk along the razor’s edge to keep these partners happy when prioritizing the growth of their online presence and not cannibalize the business of these doctors helping sell their products.Maintaining consistency in voice, style, and deals across all channels is crucial for big ecommerce brands, especially if you want to hold the trust of your community and partners.Agency vs. In-HouseAside from media buying, Margaux and her team prefer to keep all reactive marketing in-house. A company needs to take ownership over its voice, brand, and creatives because, ultimately, no one knows the brand better than them.You can hire for specific channels and use agencies to scale accordingly, but the true essence of a company comes from within!Thrive in 2021We’ve heard it before, but it never gets old… knowing your customer is the most important thing you can do as a business. If you don’t take the time to learn about your customers, you can expect they will eventually jump to other brands.With the rise of customer acquisition, it’s more important than ever to focus on retention. Run surveys, give incentives, and never be afraid to ask the customer what they expect and want from your brand. The answers will make or break you!Reach out to Margaux on Linkedin, or check out Colorescience for incredible skincare products!Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's Facebook  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Immutable Management Principles to Grow a Team of 80We’ve spoken to plenty of ad buyers and agency owners, but never before have we gotten such good insight into team building!We’re blessed to welcome Scott Seward into the mix this week as he sits down with our Budai Media CEO and podcast host Daniel Budai!From poker player to ecommerce brand owner to master marketer and co-founder of Right Hook Media, there is plenty we can learn from a talented person like Scott like:✔️ How ecommerce has changed over the last decade✔️ Unconventional paths to ecommerce✔️ Finding Talent✔️ Figuring out who is and isn’t suitable for your team✔️ Advice for ecommerce for the rest of 20212011 vs 2021Scott has been around for ages, so he’s got enough experience to recognize the ever-changing landscape of ecommerce. Back in the day, Facebook Ads were just creative posts checked for basic stats by savvy marketing minds; Engagement was driven before data could be attributed. Email marketing was also crucial for building lists of leads and bringing in traffic.Now things have come full circle, at least with email marketing! Despite the constant worries that email marketing is dying, this media channel hangs around! Now it’s more important than ever to get on multiple channels instead of just buying Facebook Ads.How to Get StartedA common theme in ecommerce is that there are lots of bold, savvy entrepreneurs starting businesses. Scott got his start after linking up with some poker friends into affiliate marketing and studying it early in the morning before heading to work.That studying has paid off for Scott, but there is no reason why more people can’t follow in his footsteps. Now he is a significant marketing maverick at a lucratively successful company, so don’t lose sight of your goals and never rest until you see progress.Talent AcquisitionWe always talk about customer acquisition, but no one ever talks about finding talent! Both Scott and Daniel agree that you shouldn’t just post job openings as they roll in. Instead, see what they can do and judge accordingly.Suppose you find someone with undeniable talent (especially somewhere where there isn’t much intelligence, bring them in. You can also make room and see how it goes if you want to add someone truly special, but there is a time and a place for everything.Team LimitationsGot a Head of Culture? That’s great! It pays to set a great working culture within the company, but what should you do if you’ve hired the wrong person for a position?Hire slow and fire quickly is the conventional advice! You can tell a lot by someone based on their work ethic, learning abilities, etc. Still, there is one thing that is important among all companies, and that is being motivated and free enough to achieve your goal without taking energy from your boss. If Scott doesn’t see that, it’s likely they won’t be with Right Hook Digital for too long.Rest of the YearIOS is changing the landscape this year thanks to Apple, and with a renewed focus on security, people want to complain about how hopeless the project will be. Finally, Scott believes you shouldn’t grow too obsessive over the past data, because there is no need for you to get the whole picture from a limited data pet. Don’t ever be too proud to take advice or listen!Reach out to Scott Seward and Right Hook Media on both Facebook and their own website!Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's Facebook  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Evolution of Ecommerce Platforms: From the Early Days of the Internet and Bespoke Websites to Easy to Use Software like BigCommerceEver wonder what the early days of ecommerce looked like?Jim Herbert from BigCommerce is one of the original online marketers from back in the day when bespoke ecommerce websites were the only way for merchants to establish a web presence!From coding as a youngster to studying computer science in university to owning an agency and becoming the Vice President at BigCommerce for the entire Europe and Middle East regions, it’s safe to say there aren’t many people more qualified in the world to discuss the nuances of ecommerce.Join our loveable podcast host and CEO, Daniel Budai, and our fantastic guest Jim as they discuss topics like:✔️ Evolution of ecommerce✔️ BigCommerce origin story✔️ The difference between ecommerce platforms✔️ Importance of partnerships and integrations✔️ What’s next for BigCommerceThen and NowBack when the internet was relatively new, Jim Herbert was already working on the bleeding edge of ecommerce! Without ecommerce platforms readymade for shop owners, early “digital marketers” were more like coders.Today’s marketers stand tall on top of the shoulders of these early internet pioneers like Jim, allocating a lot less time on tech and focusing more energy on building their brand. Now, the price of hosting and building an online ecommerce shop is a tiny fraction of what it once costed, leveling the playing field and making the dream of owning an online business that much more accessible.Birth of BigCommerceIn 2009, Eddie Machalaani and Mitch Harper saw a need for an all-encompassing platform that would enable business owners and merchants to run their stores online. Since then, BigCommerce has grown into a multi-national company, moved its headquarters to Texas in the USA, grown its team to over a thousand people worldwide, and flourished in the ecommerce space!Aside from helping countless merchants establish their brand online and giving them the tools to succeed, BigCommerce had its IPO back in 2020 to become publicly listed, all but guaranteeing it’s here for the long haul.BigCommerce vs. CompetitorsWhen it comes to “competitors,” Jim has a unique thought process. While Shopify is a household name and admittedly larger than BigCommerce, there is no need to compete with one another in the classical sense.Shopify is fantastic with great software and easy to use interface for customers, which is why BigCommerce has opted to go in a different direction. They’ve managed to keep the process as simple as possible while still providing tons of freedom and options to choose their payment methods, apps, and other features for their store.Integrations and PartnershipsOne of the main differences between BigCommerce and Shopify? The amount of available third-party apps. BigCommerce believes in a more closed ecosystem with heavily vetted, high-quality apps for its users to choose from. Only the best tools and additions can be leveraged on BigCommerce, while Shopify allows its users to choose from an endless array of apps with varying levels of quality.It might sound like an advantage to have a wide variety, but Shopify doesn’t guarantee the quality of all the third-party apps available. At the same time, BigCommerce makes the decision as pain-free as possible.What Lies Ahead?The world is constantly changing, so it’s impossible to map out the next 5 years or a major company, but Jim and his team have their eyes on the future of ecommerce. That means better understanding how users interact with online platforms, figuring out what technology will be relevant in a few years, offering more native language services in different countries, and improving core features like SEO or UI/UX so customers can improve their conversion and average order rates.If you’re eager to start your brand off on the right foot or switch to a different platform, check out BigCommerce or reach out directly to Jim via email at [email protected]!Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's Facebook  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Secrets of Scaling an Ecommerce Business and the Three Most Important Metrics to Focus on He’s been in scaling up companies in the ecommerce space for years now, and we’re thrilled to welcome Chase Clymer on to The Ecom Show!From marketing agency to ecommerce agency, to Shopify specific ecommerce agency, Electric Eye has been growth hacking brands for long enough to know the secrets to unlock maximum potential and raking in more dough in a sustainable way.You can hear all about the origins of Shopify over twenty years ago, or the three pillars of scaling straight from our company founder and podcast host Daniel Budai, and our esteemed guest Chase in addition to:✔️ The secrets of scaling✔️ When to focus on acquisition✔️ The importance of a strong conversion rate✔️ Building a Content Machine✔️ Most important metrics to focus onThree Pillars of Scaling UpAt Electric Eye, they aren’t afraid to tell the customer they’re wrong. After all, why would you hire an expert only to say to them what to do?Often times Chase and his team are given instructions, and they’re used to telling their clients no. Using the Socratic Method, you can quickly uncover the motivations and ambitions of a brand owner and deduce what they are after. The answer is usually always the same: to make more money!It’s essential to make sure all your affairs are in order before you even considering bringing in a marketing agency, so be sure to take care of that low-hanging fruit first!Is it Time?Chase has heard it all before… Especially clients begging to push the “magic button” and help bring lots of traffic to their store. The thing is, focusing on the acquisition of customers is a lot like setting your cash on fire if your store isn’t equipped to deal with the customer’s needs!Chase recommends fine-tuning the website and improving the customer experience before you ever purchase a single social media ad because that money won’t be put to good use otherwise. Waiting until the opportune moment is the move, and at that point, your website is poised to take off into the stratosphere.Convert, Convert, ConvertIf you think of your website as a machine, and your conversion rate as your output for a given amount of time, would it make sense to keep giving that machine more to do when it’s clearly broken?If you can’t manage to find a healthy conversion rate for your ecommerce brand, new customer acquisition should take a backseat! Focus on low-hanging fruit like website speed, layout, graphics, photos, and other simple ways to improve the customer experience. You can theoretically double your business size just by doubling that conversion rate, so every business owner should be focusing on that!Start From ScratchIf you’re starting from nothing at the very beginning of your ecommerce journey, Chase has a simple piece of advice for you.Pump out high-quality content regularly, depending on your size. A small company can afford to release monthly content that is engaging and trust-building, while significant brands should be doing this daily!That means high-quality creatives, advertisements, articles, and other engaging content to bring more value to customers. Building content on a repeatable cadence is a lot of work, but it’s more than worth it. The brands refreshing their creatives and pumping out 20x more content are making a heck of a lot more money than the brands neglecting to do so.Fewer Words, More MeaningAOV, Conversion Rate, and Sessions are critical indicators for success in ecommerce, and we also can’t forget about Lifetime Customer Value either. Average order value is a fantastic barometer for success, while lifetime customer value hets you know how much you should be spending on advertising and acquisition.If you can manage to rein these items in, there’s no telling what you can achieve with an influx of traffic spurred on by some Facebook or Google ads.Check out more on Chase’s LinkedIn or his podcast, Honest Ecommerce.Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's Facebook  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Multilayered Marketing: How to Solve Algorithms, Track Data, Listen to Your Audience, and Combine the Magic of Online Marketing with Offline MarketingWhat’s better than one brilliant digital marketer with a podcast?Two brilliant digital marketers with a podcast having an epic discussion that you get to hear for free!On the latest episode of The Ecom Show with our beloved host and company founder, Daniel Budai, we’re extending a warm welcome to Ciaran Rogers from the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom.Ciaran spent a great deal of his life working for non-profits and in sales positions before he found his true calling as a marketing master, and we’re so thankful for that! It’s an honor to hear Ciaran and Daniel sit down and focus on:✔️ Going with the flow✔️ The multilayered marketing approach✔️ Winning with great CRO✔️ Writing with a purpose✔️ The marketer’s toolkitStay on Your ToesThe best marketer is the marketer that can adapt easily. The industry changes at a breakneck pace and what worked yesterday might (and probably) won’t work tomorrow. Tools change, platforms restructure, and algorithms evolve so staying ahead of the game is a game in itself.Ciaran noticed that marketing is coming full circle again, and with the demise of intrusive tracking programs online, data is becoming more of a mystery which obviously makes it harder to repeat successful strategies of the past since there is no way to attribute it anymore.Real World vs. Digital WorldMost of the attention these days is placed on digital channels, but you should never neglect the real world. Word of mouth still reigns supreme, and real-life events have a tremendous impact on digital data, like the time Ciaran saw a client’s rates explode after one mention in the daily newspaper. Since much of the world is still very much analog, it’s impossible to accurately track traffic across channels, which can be frustrating for those trying to improve.The best approach, according to Ciaran, is a multilayered approach, supplement the real-world marketing you are doing with the web or vice versa. Send out an actual letter campaign in real life to coincide with your online strategy.Don’t Neglect Conversion RatesConversion rate optimization is a big deal, or so we’ve been hearing from practically all our guests. If you can manage to double your conversion rates whether you run an ecommerce store or an agency, you will essentially double the size of your business!Searching for low-hanging fruit is a great starting point, small actionable tips and an overarching hypothesis on how to improve are crucial if you’re aiming for success. Ciaran even mentioned Making Websites Win, a favorite book of his and an impactful guide on creating a high-converting masterpiece of a website.Fewer Words, More MeaningUnfortunately, we live in a time where people hardly read anything. According to Ciaran, more people listen to podcasts than ever, and fewer people are reading articles or blog posts. That’s why he’s paying more attention to the first few words of everything because if you can’t hook someone’s attention with those, there’s no point in finishing your sentence!Apps like Hemingway and Grammarly are invaluable for Ciaran, helping to cut down on unnecessary words that detract from the message to better serve information to those that need it. It also helps to focus on the pain point, agitate the reader a bit, and suggest a solution!Tools and Tricks of the TradeThe best advice our guest has to offer: never stop reading or listening or learning and always stay curious. It doesn’t matter how you learn, but you should never settle!If you’re looking for some other great resources, https://www.targetinternet.com/ has an array of great tools that Ciaran has picked up over his illustrious podcast hosting career. You can take a test and learn what kind of marketer you are (along with how to improve), and listen to tons of great podcast episodes while you’re at it!You can also find our friend Ciaran on his LinkedIn profile while you’re at it!Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's Facebook  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Compound Effect: How to Scale Up and Find Success with Agencies, Software Companies, or Ecommerce StoresWe’re thrilled to announce our 50th episode of The Ecom Show, hosted by none other than Budai Media’s founder and CEO, Daniel Budai!To match the excitement of this occasion, we’re lucky to welcome Martyn Cook this week on our show. This serial entrepreneur has proven time and time again that he can handle any industry, business model, and marketing strategy, evident by the several successful business ventures he’s launched in his career.Writing + publishing books, creating traffic, starting software companies, and running an ecommerce empire…It’s a pleasure to listen to Daniel and Martyn speak about:✔️ Early days of Facebook✔️ Choosing the right business model✔️ Expensive lessons in business✔️ Conscious and ethical entrepreneurship✔️ Legend of the Compound EffectBefore Facebook Ads...Back when Facebook was in its earliest incarnation, Martyn noticed the potential for something massive. He saw pages with large amounts of engagement and a slowly developing marketplace for proven pages with active communities. Flash forward to 2021, where Facebook Ads are king, and the platform is heavily monetized with countless businesses depending on the traffic they can generate on the social media site.After pouring in all his hard-earned money and purchasing several Facebook pages, Martyn realized he had stumbled on gold with the ability to drive traffic to any site he pleased.Agency, Ecommerce, or Sofware?He’s done it all, and there are admitted advantages to pursuing one of these unique business models, according to Martyn. Agency models are great because they require low overhead, scale relatively quickly, and let you grow at your own pace. These are the people that sell the tools to the ecommerce gold rush participants!The ecommerce strategy is a viable one as well, and it allows you to invest in a product that grows in value each day. You have complete autonomy to do what you please and develop a brand, which is why Martyn believes building your own business is the best investment you can make!Software is competitive, but it’s different in that it’s all about keeping a customer as opposed to bringing in new customers all the time.Biggest MistakesThere’s no rush quite like hitting major milestones while owning an ecommerce business, but it pays to set the infrastructure up right before you choose to scale.Within 90 days of starting, Martyn and one of his companies hit a million dollars in revenue, and with little data available to inform him, he stormed on and scaled aggressively. After being let down by the postal service and high shipping volume, he had to refund a quarter-million dollars in goods, which definitely qualifies as learning the hard way!Good For the WorldWe’ve heard this on our show before, but it gets repeated for a reason. You should always have a goal aside from making money when you start your business. For Martyn and his nootropic company, Noobru, it’s all about helping malnourished and impoverished people supplement their diets so they can get the nutrients they need.In addition to feeling good about yourself, donating to a cause creates goodwill, builds loyalty, and gives you an additional value proposition to advertise!1% SecretMartyn is a massive believer in the “Compound Effect,” which is why he wrote his book The 1% Secret. It’s meant to address both personal and business problems with real actionable tips to employ each day.The Compound Effect is all about doing what you can each day with small goals and developing. You won’t see changes overnight, but the slow, gradual change is the goal. This also rings true for businesses. Don’t worry about the first purchase being lots of revenue. Work on getting them to come back again and again… That’s where the real money is made!Read The 1% Secret, check out Noobru, learn more at Smarterdestiny.com or connect with Martyn on LinkedIn!Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's Facebook  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Going Glocal: Bringing a European Ecommerce Brand from 0 to 50 Million Euros in Annual Revenue Using Both Vertical AND Horizontal ScalingJure Knehtl is no stranger to scaling ecommerce brands in Europe, and we’re no strangers here at Budai Media to having exceptional guests with a whole lot to teach us what they know!That’s why we’re ecstatic to bring on Jure, who has years of experience starting and scaling ecommerce companies and agencies in a multitude of different markets around Europe.If you’ve ever wondered how to grow your business, or the differences between horizontal and vertical scaling, join us on the latest episode of The Ecom Show with Daniel Budai to hear about:✔️ Scaling in different markets✔️ Going Glocal✔️ Selecting clients that are a good fit✔️ Figuring out content creation✔️ Best tools, tricks, and advice for scaling in 2021Choose Your Market!Should you start in your own country? Choose a bigger foreign market? Aim for the United States or Europe?Each market has its quirks, and it’s up to you as a business owner to know them before you launch. That’s why Jure started in his home country, Slovenia, where he could take advantage of knowing the culture, laws, and language before testing out other markets.Starting in the USA has its advantages because it’s a massive market, and you only need to create content in one language for the most part, but in Europe, it takes time to dip into new markets when you horizontally scale. Just remember to know your market and how to speak to your potential customers!Go GlocalAt the core of Jure’s philosophy is “going glocal,” which essentially means taking the localized strategy and appealing to markets worldwide. Suppose you can take that same careful approach, tailor your message to each market, and speak both the literal and figurative language of the customer. In that case, you’ll set yourself up for success in every market you enter.Going global with a local approach also means taking your time in each new market and not being too eager to jump ship to the next. You should build trust and treat every market differently when you scale to becoming a truly global brand.The Best ClientsKnowing when to get rid of a client or which sort of customer to take on in the first place is a valuable skill to have. You should align not just on the surface but with long-term goals and values for the best results!Jure and his team constantly change their criteria as the formula for the perfect client doesn’t yet exist. And they will never take on a client that just cares about making money. Knowing if they have plans for years in the future or if they’ve ever worked with an agency are essential questions to ask before you onboard a client, but ultimately it’s up to you to make that decision!The Secret to Content CreationFirst, they tried sending products and outsourcing content creation for ads to companies in the US. It took too long and was highly inefficient, often involving planning a month or more ahead of time. Then they tried to create content in-house, which worked great until it didn’t. Conversion rates went south as content became more formulaic and stale.Now Jure entrusts his network of influencers to help with content creation, giving them free rein to let their creativity out! This has had unbelievable results so far, and it cuts down on the resources needed to produce quality content that sells.Tips From an Ecommerce Expert in 2021Someone like Jure could surely talk all day about game-changing strategies to implement and the best tools to use like, but he was able to sum it all up in a few words masterfully…Multichannel/omnichannel marketing is the approach every business should be taking these days because you can never entirely rely on one platform or marketing channel. Expanding to more platforms and taking the time to learn is crucial if you want to succeed!Get in touch with Jure or work with the WeScale Agency, feel free to connect on Linkedin or at their official agency website!Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Demystifying Conversion Rate Optimization and Data Analysis to Maximize Your Store's Profit and PotentialAll the way from Kenya, we’re proud to welcome Ann Njuguna, a data analyst, web developer, and conversion rate optimization specialist with a keen eye for detail.We’re even more proud to say that Ann is one of our team members at Budai Media, making this episode of The Ecom Show a special in-house episode!You’d be shocked to know just how many businesses are entirely neglecting CRO these days, even though it’s more important than ever to get on board with this ever-growing field.Sit down and listen in as Budai Media’s founder Daniel Budai, and our very own CRO expert weigh in on a variety of topics like:✔️ How data collection and CRO have evolved in the last several years✔️ Which businesses should start thinking about CRO ✔️ Optimizing for mobile or desktop✔️ The best tools for data analysis✔️ Are there quick hacks for better CRO?Then and NowBefore Ann got her start in CRO, she specialized as a web developer. In the six years since she chose to focus on CRO, lots have changed!We see more ecommerce businesses and companies in general focusing on data collection. Before, it was also quite tricky to find an ideal customer for CRO because not many people understood its value, but Ann has noticed this is rapidly changing. People are starting to wake up and understand its importance.Right for Your Business?Should my business be focusing on CRO just yet? That’s an important question to ask with an easy answer to give: Yes! Regardless of what product you sell, Ann says that any webpage with a goal in mind, whether it’s a video to be watched or a button to click, you should be thinking about CRO.To dive deep and figure out what issues plague your website’s conversion rate, it’s essential to have enough reliable data to make an informed hypothesis and decision. If you haven’t received enough traffic to your website, you can still make note of trends you see and try to figure out why certain things are or aren’t working.Desktop vs. MobileWhich one should you optimize for? The easy answer is both, but that isn’t always feasible for companies depending on money, human resources, and time. The more complicated answer is that you should truly consider the nature of your product and your audience before you make this decision.Ann gives the example of a logo or graphic design company that creates graphics and says that their clients are most likely using desktops due to the nature of their work and the software they will use when they receive their order. On the flipside, fashion brands usually receive more casual shoppers on mobile devices, so it pays to think this through!Right Tools for the JobGoogle Analytics does a great job delivering a well-rounded arsenal for data analysts and CRO-focused individuals, but it’s hardly the only thing you should be using. For optimization and data collection, Ann recommends Google Optimize for more basic stuff, while Optimizely and Visual Web Optimize are more high-tier tools.Segment, Heap Analytics, and Mixpanel are also excellent tools to have in your arsenal, while for testing and heat maps, Hotjar, Crazy Egg, and Usertesting.com are incredibly useful.Easy Hacks and Quick Fixes?It might not be what you wanted to hear, but there are no quick hacks in CRO!The best bet is to follow the process because what works for one store might not work for another. Instead, collecting data and identifying leaks in your customer journey is vital, along with testing your theory multiple times.The thing with CRO is that it is a never-ending process, so don’t get too comfortable if you’ve seen a boost in your numbers. Competition is always nipping at your heels, so if you don’t think it’s crucial to improve your user’s experience constantly, other companies will swoop in and take your customers!If you would like to work with Ann and see how she can help you fine-tune your website to produce better results, feel free to contact us!Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's Facebook  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Build Trust, Improve Customer Lifetime Value, and Foster Familiarity with Conversational SMS Marketing and Stellar Customer SupportFrom medical school to ecommerce merchant, to tech startup co-founder…Like most marketers, Lisa Popovici has had an interesting career, even before she helped found Cartloop. This exceptional up-and-coming company hopes to revolutionize customer service, and the way companies interact with people.In this exciting episode of The Ecom Show with Budai Media’s founder Daniel, we get a crash course on SMS marketing in addition to:✔️ Building customer relations✔️ Automation vs. People Power✔️ Exciting Cartloop features✔️ Integrations✔️ Tips from a marketing masterIt’s All About the CustomerCartloop doesn’t just believe in customer support when there is an issue… They’ve got real people walking shoppers through the entire buying experience, giving them tips and advice, so it’s no surprise that this idea is taking off.Neither an agency nor an app, this innovative company believes in real-time support and the fact that customer service can be both a viable channel and an extension of the sales team at the very same time!Who Does it Better?We’ve interviewed and recommended SMS marketing providers before on our show, but Cartloop adds an exciting new wrinkle to the mix. Instead of sending out automated flows, Lisa and her team have found that hiring and training real customer-facing professionals can do a world of good for any ecommerce brand.With real people working the phones and interacting with shoppers, they can do a whole lot more than conveying automated responses to customers… They can collect real-time feedback and use it to inform business-wide decision making too!Special FeaturesLike any good retention marketing tools, Cartloop has its own robust abandon cart, cart recovery, and other commonly used flows in SMS and email marketing. You can also find two-way campaigns, branded links, unique discount codes, popups, dedicated customer service, and lots of other impressive features when utilizing this remarkable platform. Works Well with OthersIn this industry, the software is only as good as its integrations and Cartloop is well aware of that. They’re planning on integrating with Shopify, Woocomerce, and even Klaviyo in addition to many others. What does this mean for ecommerce owners? More accessibility and easily shared data between channels. Omni-channel marketing depends on the seamless interaction between channels and linking up your SMS, emails, and online store is all but essential at this point in time.What Comes Next?Lisa’s best advice? Learn who your customers truly are! Cartloop was founded on the principle that listening to your customers is more than necessary to have a healthy, thriving business. You can have the best product in the industry but if you can’t connect with people, you won’t succeed in selling it! Talk to your shoppers, ask them why they shop with you, segment them accordingly, and watch as your conversion rates soar (along with your ROI)!If you’d like to work with Cartloop, or get in touch with Lisa, you can find her on Twitter or LinkedIn. Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's Facebook  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Build a Diverse Customer Acquisition Strategy, an In-House Marketing Team, and an Incredibly Unique Value PropositionRunning the marketing for an entire company is no easy task, no matter the industry. Steven Krinberg from Helix started as a one-man marketing machine outsourcing to agencies before reigning it in and building himself a fully-functioning, in-house marketing team.So what can we learn from this innovative, consumer-focused mattress brandOn this episode of The Ecom Show, our podcast host and Budai Media founder Daniel gets a chance to chat 1-on-1 with a true marketing professional to discuss things like:✔️ Finding your value proposition ✔️ Building an in-house marketing team from scratch✔️ Ways to generate website traffic✔️ Using retention marketing to nurture customers✔️ Significant challenges for scaling companiesWhat Do You Bring to the Table?Steven can name dozens of mattress brands and their value propositions, but there isn’t anything quite like Helix Sleep. Tailor-made shopping experiences, high-quality materials, eco-friendly mattresses, and a helpful sleep test have all contributed to Helix’s success, which is easy to do once you’ve figured out where your brand fits in.Customization and customer happiness also play a prominent role, which is why Helix listened to their customers and offered them more choices after initially “taking the decision making out of the shopping experience.”Building a Super TeamWhat are the benefits of building your marketing division in-house? You can save money, have more control over your brand’s direction and voice, and have greater transparency!Relying on some agencies is nerve-wracking when you don’t know what to expect, and it can be more challenging to coordinate. Helix tests out agencies for new channels and sees how it goes, and if everything works well, they plan on bringing it in-house to add to their marketing team.The Best Channels for Acquisition? No matter the preferred marketing channel of choice, any experienced marketer can tell you that it is wise to diversify your traffic streams. Using Facebook or Google ads is fine, but don’t get too comfortable with all your “eggs in one basket” if you can help it!Helix has successfully tried Facebook, Google, Twitter, Youtube, Instagram, Affiliate programs, influencer marketing, direct mail, and even TV ads in the quest to bring more customers to their brand. Never stop testing, and don’t be afraid to try new channels!Changing the Way You Send Emails and SMS Since people don’t buy mattresses very often, Steven figured it doesn’t make much sense to try and “sell to people” via emails or SMS messages.Instead, they’ve changed how they use retention marketing channels at Helix and have instead focused on customer nurturing. They realized that people don’t like salesy emails or content, so they refrained from being invasive and merely concentrate on maintaining a relationship with their customers, which lead to people buying more mattresses when the need to do so arose.What Comes Next?Marketing for a mattress brand has its unique challenges, like establishing Lifetime Customer Value metrics that make sense. Since people only buy mattresses every few years, it doesn’t make sense to sell too much.Instead, Helix has branched out and used its successful business model in other areas like sofas and other home furniture. Steven also notes that once you hit a certain level, it becomes necessary to bring your data centralization and storage in-house to have complete control over it and dictate precisely how you will use it going forwards!If you’d like to get in touch with Steven, feel free to drop him a line on his LinkedIn or check out Helixsleep.com!Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's Facebook  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Myths, Tips, and Tricks of SEO: How to Stay Ahead of the Constantly Changing AlgorithmsMuch like football or boxing, SEO has changed considerably over the last 20 years while the fundamentals still remain the same. The competition has grown, the algorithms have gotten smarter, and it’s no longer enough to stuff keywords into a page and hope for the best!In this episode of The Ecom Show, Budai Media’s own Daniel Budai and Craig Campbell discuss the tips, tricks, and myths of SEO and effectively rank on search engines like Google.Craig is an SEO expert with nearly two decades of experience helping clients catapult their website to the top of Google’s rankings, which is why we’re eager to hear him speak about:✔️ How SEO has changed ✔️ Hard coding vs. Apps✔️ Easy issues to solve in SEO✔️ Diversifying your platforms✔️ Building authorityEvolution of SEOTwenty years ago, you could get away with poorly written content stuffed with keywords, and Google’s top spot would go to the one with the most links. Nowadays, it’s not that simple!Craig mentions that much like Football or boxing, SEO’s core fundamentals still remain the same, although certain aspects changed significantly. There is more competition, more strict rules, very advanced algorithms, and more ways than ever to improve your SEO ranking.If you want to do well, you’ll have to prioritize quality over quantity these days because search engines prioritize engagement and the same can be said for all social media platforms too.Automate or Delegate?The functionality of your brand’s website is also a big part of SEO, and shaving seconds off your loading speed can be the difference between a 1% and 3% conversion rate. Craig mentions that you shouldn’t obsess too much over your speed, as anything under two seconds is more than enough!If you’re in dire need of some website fine-tuning, apps and plugins usually are 10x cheaper and 10x quicker than hiring someone to do it manually. It doesn’t make sense to pay someone for all that work if you can get an automated program to do it for you.Low Hanging FruitPlenty of things get overlooked in SEO, like broken links or pages, for example. Simply redirecting traffic for old or outdated products that aren’t in stock can save you lots of headaches in the future. There are different tools you can use to achieve this, like a 301 redirect. If your broken links are being indexed, they will ultimately cannibalize your website traffic.Google needs to be shown what you want it to see, so don’t waste time or space trying to rank every page. It doesn’t make sense to have a different URL for every shoe size, for example, when you can just organize it better in one page to save attention for your product page or main page.Diversity is Your FriendIt may sound strange coming from an SEO expert, but don’t put all your eggs in the SEO basket! Craig thinks that having a healthy presence on multiple platforms is crucial if you want to be taken seriously because one slip up on your primary platform could be the difference between succeeding or going out of business.Utilize Facebook, email marketing, Tik Tok, Bing, LinkedIn. It doesn’t matter, really, as long as you’re pulling in customers from a wide range of places. SEO works best when you have a healthy presence across multiple platforms anyways!Expertise, Authority, and TrustNowadays, it’s all about building authority with Google and having lots of engagement, of course!The E.A.T. acronym is an excellent reminder of how critical it is to establish your brand on multiple channels with external publications, podcasts appearances, and a whole range of other helpful boosters. Google doesn’t want uninformed people telling others about health, such as why it has implemented this system.If you would ever like to speak with Craig or learn from his experience, CraigCampbellSEO.com is an incredible resource for any digital marketers or brand owner. You can also find him on Youtube, where he has over 500 educational videos!Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's Facebook  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Swiss-Army Knife of Digital Marketing: Utilizing Google's Impressive Arsenal With SEO, Shopping Network, and YoutubeWe’re pleased to announce that we’ve been joined by a real force in the marketing world, Jarod Spiewak, who has been teaching himself the secrets of marketing since he was 14 years old!From graduating high school and university early to working in corporate marketing, Jarod was unsure of his career path until the fateful day he joined Upwork and became a one-man marketing machine.Since then, Jarod has mastered the art of SEO, Google Ads, and a whole arsenal of other Google-affiliated tools to deliver an unparalleled experience to his clients, which is precisely why we’re excited to have him on The Ecom Show!Grab a pen and paper and listen in as podcast host Daniel Budai and Jarod talk about:✔️ Comparing corporate marketing and digital marketing✔️ When to start utilizing Google✔️ Google vs. Facebook✔️ The great PPC & SEO debate✔️ Underutilization of YoutubeOld vs. NewIt doesn’t take long listening to Jarod to understand why he couldn’t stand corporate marketing. Conventional strategies, toxic work culture, office politics, and a failure to utilize digital marketing strategies all led Jarod to leave the corporate world behind and start his own business.Going it alone isn’t easy, but picking up skills and committing to learning digital marketing is a viable career path now, even for those who never received a college degree.Is It Right For You?When should you hop on the Google train? Once you hit six figures? After you’re raking in seven figures? If you’re doing well on your current platforms and want to grow rapidly, Google is the number one search engine on the planet, after all, so you can’t go wrong there.The truth is that there is no one-size-fits-all plan for brands, and it depends entirely on what you are looking for and at what stage of your sales funnel you want to use ads for.Facebook vs. GooglePeople are quick to choose sides when talking about online advertising titans, but there can only be one king. Facebook is undoubtedly good for some things, but there is no denying that Google is a powerful force with a whole toolset at its disposal.Google is also a much more stable platform than Facebook, which routinely bans accounts for no reason and has limited analytics. There is nothing wrong with using Facebook for your marketing, but it’s no secret who Jarod prefers!Choose Your StrategyYou can ask a hundred marketers about this and get a hundred different opinions. The ultimate question is how much should you focus on SEO and how much you should spend on PPC?There is no easy way to determine the right answer for your brand, but you shouldn’t feel bad about testing different ways out. Jarod personally recommends letting your keywords shine while using PPC for other keywords that don’t necessarily do well for you, creating a well-rounded strategy for your brand.The Power of YoutubeLost in all the mix is the fact that Youtube is the world’s second-biggest search engine, and Google also owns it! Youtube is massively underserved because there is a high perceived entry barrier for people who aren’t confident they can make video content.Ironically the best performing video ads on Youtube aren’t exactly high quality, which ties in nicely with Jarod’s theory: If it would work as an ad on TV, it won’t work on Youtube! If you can figure out how to segment your audience and connect with them via video, there’s no limit to what you can do!If you would love the opportunity to reach out to Jarod, you can find plenty of information about him on Google, which is quite fitting! You can also check out his agency, Cometfuel.com, for more information!Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's FacebookFollow Jarod Spiewak:Jarod's LinkedIn Jarod's website Jarod's YoutTube channelJarod's InstagramJarod's TwitterJarod's Facebook  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Bring in High-Quality Traffic and Figure Out What Marketing Channel Works Best for Your BrandWe’re proud to announce another epic panel discussion with some of the brightest minds in marketing on this episode of The Ecom Show.Join in as we answer all your questions about website traffic and customer acquisition with experts from different marketing channels like Facebook, Google, Pinterest, and Youtube like:Csaba Borzasi - Founder of Game of Conversions Sandeep Kumar - CEO and Founder of ROI MindsBryan Fuentes - Owner of 2DG MediaJoanna Szewczyk - Founder and CEO of PinMeAppDaniel Budai - Founder and CEO of Budai MediaIf you’ve got a killer product or an exciting brand but you’re struggling to bring people to your site, there’s plenty you could be learning about, such as:✔️ “Wild West” of advertising on Youtube✔️ The power of Google advertising in ecommerce✔️ Organic marketing strategies with Pinterest✔️ Importance of creatives and testing on FacebookThe Awareness Funnel and Maximizing Youtube’s PotentialOur friend Csaba says that you’ve only got a few seconds to pull someone’s attention, which is why only the best scriptwriters succeed. Scriptwriting edges out production value in terms of importance, with some of the most successful videos featuring seemingly low value, laidback imagery, and a well-designed script.If you can utilize Csaba’s great H.E.R.O technique when marketing, you’ll achieve incredible results too. Since Youtube is an action-based platform where people are already searching for knowledge or solutions to problems, it’s a natural bet for people looking to sell products online!The World’s Best Search EngineGoogle is also quite powerful, especially when you consider how many people use it and how it works similarly to Youtube. If you’re asking a question on Google, chances are you in some stage of the customer journey, whether you know it or not.When specific keywords are entered into Google, it’s captured in the data, and it’s a whole lot easier to target certain people based on their search. If you can figure out who your customers are and find out what buying stage they are in, Sandeep thinks it’s simple to pull in large numbers of people to your ecommerce store.Start Slow. Set it Up Right. Pinterest is massively underutilized to this day, considering it has over 400 million users and that 30% of people that go on Pinterest are coming from Google searches. Joanna says it’s essential to start with other channels before you experiment with Pinterest, but once you’ve developed a brand identity, you can start tinkering with it. First, you need to start slow and build a page without your product to earn the trust of customers and show them you are a vital resource for their favorite niche.Once you are established, you can display your products organically and attract a million views based on a few hundred subscribers to your page.The Power of CreativesBryan says there are plenty of factors that determine whether a Facebook ad is excellent or not, but one factor takes the cake. Creativity is absolutely necessary if you want eyes on your ads and money in your pocket.If you have less than 1% click-through rates, it isn’t your product that is the problem…It’s your ad and your offer!Well-written copy that pulls at the heartstrings is a fundamental theme no matter the channel, along with testing your ads to inform how you will proceed to advertise going forward. It helps to throw a few bucks into several different ad sets getting started, so you can have “skin in the game” while also learning what works best and what doesn’t work at all.Bringing in traffic can be done in various ways, but the biggest takeaway is that no one channel should be carrying the load. You must integrate and connect and overlap to make an omnichannel strategy so you can flourish on all platforms and confidently pull in new customers all the time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Incorporating SMS Into Your Omnichannel Marketing Strategy and Sharing Data Between Platforms for Maximum PersonalizationSMS marketing is one of the most overlooked marketing channels for the time being, but did you know it averages over 40x ROI?On this episode of The Ecom Show with our host Daniel Budai, we get to hear from Elena Kostova, one of the marketing masterminds behind SMSBump, a company we are proud to partner with!SMSBump is part of the Yotpo ecosystem, which has great marketing tools like loyalty programs, review apps, and more, which is why it’s more important than ever to make sure your tools are integrated and ready to share data with one another and ensure customers have the most personalized experience possible. Tune in and hear Elena and Daniel discuss:✔️ Implementing SMS for the first time✔️ Collecting subscribers from different channels✔️ Mixing channels together synergetically✔️ Big things in store for SMSBump and Yotpo✔️ Best tips for succeeding with SMS marketingGetting StartedUnsurprisingly, our knowledgeable guest is quite familiar with getting brands started in SMS. Elena says most people aren’t aware that SMS marketing is a viable channel and one of the most lucrative ones with the best ROI. If you’re just getting started, it helps to know who you are speaking to, local and national regulations (there are many laws in Europe and the USA), and start with the most successful automation like Abandon Cart first.Build Your SMS Subscriber List“You’re only as successful as the number of customers you can reach,” according to Elena, and this rings true especially for SMS marketing. If you put out quality content and highly personalized messages, it won’t matter if your subscriber list is small.It’s recommended that you have several platforms to bring in SMS subscriptions, pulling in different audiences from TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, etc. You can use special offers to entice people into signing up and tailor that offer to the average demographic on any given social media channel.Synergetic IntegrationBy itself, SMS marketing won’t accomplish much. It works much better alongside several other potent marketing channels like Facebook Ads, loyalty programs, email marketing, etc. Fortunately, Yotpo has a whole arsenal of excellent tools that all integrate with SMSBump, so you can share data between all of them to learn as much as you can about your customers.Suppose you can apply what you learn about your audience on SMS and plug it into Shopify or Klaviyo. In that case, you’ll be that much better at personalizing, segmenting, and ultimately bringing in more revenue.What’s Next for SMSBump?Since SMSBump now operates in the Yotpo ecosystem, it helps them offer a complete “360” all-encompassing tool that allows marketers and brands to succeed in all areas. They are getting better at sharing data and creating strong customer profiles that can be used on any channel. If you can connect 1-on-1 with a customer and make them feel appreciated and noticed, there is no limit to what your brand can accomplish!Best Tips for SMS MarketingElena could indeed talk all day about sharing advice, but she mainly mentions focusing on a few select things. For instance, you should get comfortable with delivering your messages with as few words as possible. There is a character limit!Also, study up the regulations of each country. Some require double opt-in confirmation, and there is a vast cultural difference between the USA and Europe when it comes to receiving SMS marketing messages.The key theme we’re seeing this year with all our guests on The Ecom Show is personalization is the next big thing moving forward. Elena mentions that conversion rates jump up 54% with more personalized messages, so capturing data and leveraging it between all channels is critical!Feel free to check out more great resources, tips, templates, and content at SMSBump.com or send Elena a message at [email protected] Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's Facebook  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Finding a Winning Product, Scaling Up and Adapting to Facebook Ads UpdatesAll the way from Scotland is ecommerce growth hacker Fraser Brien! In just 3 years, Fraser has gone from an inexperienced marketer to one of the industry’s most knowledgeable accelerated growth marketers, specializing in Facebook Ad buying and horizontal scaling to other countries throughout Europe.It doesn’t matter which country or culture he’s appealing to. Like a real marketer, Fraser can adapt and find a way to communicate with any audience.On this episode of The Ecom Show, Daniel Budai, our multitalented CEO and podcast host, talks shop with Fraser Brien about:✔️ How to know when you have a winning product✔️ Common problems when scaling too fast✔️ Adapting to the Facebook Ads updates ✔️ Knowing your market✔️ The best tips and tools for growing and scaling horizontallyFinding Your Product and BrandGreat marketing won’t save you from a bad product or brand. When choosing the item you plan on selling, you should always consider the lifetime value of each customer. If they shop with you one time and have anything less than a stellar experience, you can assume they won’t return. Having a problem that allows customers to keep buying is key.It’s also essential to give people a powerful brand because all the marketing in the world won’t help if you don’t have a following, an audience, or a soul underneath it all. He can’t choose a product for you, but Fraser does note that if your core concept and product are solid, you’ll make it a lot easier on yourself when you market it!Growing PainsIf you want to expand to other countries, there are plenty of things you need to consider. If you’re going to sell products in Canada, for example, you’ll need to account for the customs and taxes on an item because people won’t leave great reviews if they need to pay expensive fees on top of the money they already spent.It also helps to know the legality of selling in other countries and do your due diligence when it comes to admin. The “under the road” infrastructure, as Fraser calls it, is the foundation for a successful move to another market!Weighing in on the Apple vs. Facebook WarThe IOS update from Apple was thought to have crippled Facebook Ads, but the marketers can adapt and overcome! Ultimately, Fraser doesn’t think the update will be a bad thing, but for now, people have to get used to finding a new way to collect data and track their spending on ads.You also can’t expect to throw a lot of money at ad buying on Facebook and hope to see results anymore, so it pays to capture your data and know how to use it properly!Catering to Different Cultures and CountriesFraser noted that expanding into other countries is trickier in some than others. If you want to hit the Danish or Dutch markets, you can feel it out with English copywriting due to local language proficiency. However, French, German, and Spanish people are less likely to engage, so it helps to have a translated website and copy that isn’t just translated word for word.It’s important to know what the local culture is like, what social media platform they like best, how they engage, what is ok or not acceptable to say, and other cultural differences that could come into play. Some cultures are more diverse so studying your market is critical.Advice for All MarketersWith significant IOS changes, it’s more important than ever to learn how to compile data, form a hypothesis, and test it. Google Analytics is one of the best tools a marketer can know how to use, and it’s completely free! Knowing how to use this proficiently could make a whole world of difference, especially in the post-IOS update world.There are, of course, many platforms at your disposal when it comes to marketing to your audience, but it is necessary to know what roles they can play and where your brand’s customers typically hang out. Some younger brands may resonate more with TikTok, while Pinterest takes longer to grow but pays off with much more quality leads.Find Fraser on LinkedIn:Fraser’s LinkedInYou can also follow Daniel Budai here:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's Facebook  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Importance of Owned Data, Attribution Models and Omnichannel Marketing to Scale Up Your Ecommerce BrandHow does someone who got into ecommerce “by accident” become one of the most respected and successful ecommerce business owners in the entire industry?On this episode of The Ecom Show, we have the privilege of hearing from Colin McGuire, the CEO of Boomn, a phenomenal group of marketers that does whatever it takes to incubate ecommerce brands and accelerate their growth.Listen in as our agency founder and podcast host Daniel Budai sits in with Colin McGuire as they harken back to the olden days of ecommerce and recount how the industry has changed rapidly over the last ten years.You can also hear from Colin about:✔️ Ecommerce in 2011 vs. 2021✔️ Attribution models and owned data✔️ Importance of omnichannel marketing✔️ What it takes to go from 7 figures to 8 or 9 figures✔️ Valuing and purchasing an existing ecommerce brandFrom Taboo to Dream JobEarly on, Daniel and Colin discuss the early days of ecommerce, back when “dropshipping” and “print-on-demand” weren’t even a thing yet.Colin began buying stuff from overseas and shipping it to his apartment, where he would package and send it out himself. Not many respected his line of work, and he says it even felt taboo at times, but now the script has flipped, and everyone wants a piece of the ecommerce pie. Competition has also increased dramatically, but that isn’t a problem for innovators and early adopters like Colin and his company!Data is Your FriendNumbers may not lie, but we sure as heck can misread them! In some instances, you can get away with doing something “good,” but in this case, good is the enemy of great, as Colin likes to put it. Big companies crush the competition because they have a profound understanding of their attribution models and have organized it down to a T.With recent Facebook updates, it’s harder to track where traffic is coming from, which further adds to the importance of owning your data. If you have to rely on other channels and platforms to keep track of your acquisition numbers, it’s a lot more complicated.Marketing on One Channel is a Thing of the PastThere’s no sense in throwing all your money into one channel these days. You simply won’t make a splash.To compete with the big dogs, you’ll need to construct a fully-integrated cross channel strategy on multiple platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, etc. Boomn owes a lot of its success to its ability to master any channel with its expert crew of marketers.It’s even better if you can build them up alongside one another to complement each channel and help capture people from vastly differing audiences and areas of the web.How to Grow a Brand Beyond 8 FiguresMaking mistakes is always a big thing in the beginning. How you use these mistakes will guide your future going forward, so be ready to learn from them and move on. Again, data is the secret to unlocking extra zeros at the end of your revenue, and you have to get creative when it comes to deploying new strategies.Colin mentions being one of the early movers innovation-wise over the years, adopting Facebook and Google Ad spend way before anyone else thought to. He even attributes 30 percent of his revenue from SMS marketing last year, which is quite impressive in its own right! Don’t OverpayBoomn is planning on buying a few existing brands this year, as it is “easier to get off the ground” if everything is established. Colin prefers poorly run brands with great winning products because his team can slip right in and clean it up.One thing he warns of is overpaying for a brand. If you are getting into ecommerce and want to buy a brand, make sure to do your due diligence and remember that many people are overcharging. Try offering a deal to companies that aren’t for sale, and only go for companies that are a few years old.It may not be easy to get to the level that Colin is at currently, but it is easy to reach out to him on:Colin's LinkedInColin's InstagramYou can also follow Daniel Budai here:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's Facebook  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 10 Commandments of High-Converting Email CampaignsWe’ve got a special guest lined up for this episode of The Ecom Show, and you might have heard his name before…If you were hoping for a crash course on how to build out your email marketing strategy for an ecommerce brand, you’re in luck!Our founder and CEO, Daniel Budai, is taking a break from being the podcast host this time around and instead joins us as a featured guest with lots to share.You can hear the sacred Ten Commandments of Emails and other fascinating stuff like:✔️ Automated flows vs. Email campaigns ✔️ Why segmentation is an integral part of ecommerce email marketing✔️ Defining your brand’s voice and style✔️ Finding a balance of content and sales promotions✔️ Winning big with monthly sales eventsKnow the DifferenceThe two major types of email categories are automated flows which are triggered by actions like purchases or abandoning a cart, and email campaigns which can be sent out manually at any time for any reason.Daniel chose to focus on campaigns because brands usually create them on an ongoing basis. Flows are the backbone of your retention marketing strategy, while campaigns raise the ceiling and provide people with relevant information all the time.Segment! Segment! Segment!Segmentation is your best friend. It doesn’t matter if you are splintering your lists based on language, country, gender, purchase history, email open rate, or anything else.What does matter is that you know how often to send emails to certain subscribers. Limit yourself to one email a month for your least engaged subscribers, and make sure you take note of repeat buyers and include them in special events, deals, and discounts.Know Your Voice, Find Your StyleIf you don’t know your brand, you can’t expect graphic designers and copywriters to know it. The best thing you can do is figure out what really makes people listen. Do your customers pay more attention to well-written copy, or do crisp photos of products drive them wild?Once you get a handle on the situation, keep rolling with whatever voice, content, photos, or anything else resonates with your community! A clearly defined brand guide works wonders, especially if you plan on working with others to build your brand’s marketing strategy!The Golden RatioShort term or long term? That is the question…You should plan according to your budget, but it usually is advantageous to think ahead and build your brand early. However, most new companies can hardly afford to focus on anything other than sales.Laying off the sales promotions and offering up content can help warm up your community and build trust, helping in the long run and making you more money. That being said, there is no real wrong way to do it, although everyone should be wary of burning out their email lists and scaring off potential customers with too many sales pitches and not enough substance.Every Month Deserves a Sales EventWhether it’s the saturated month of November or the relatively uneventful month of January, there is always a reason to have a sale!We’ve seen brands get pretty creative and hold sales on random holidays, with some companies completely inventing their own holiday to have an event. It doesn’t matter why you hold the sale, but it does matter that you build hype and give your community reason to celebrate each month! A happy customer means more revenue down the line, so it’s in your best interest to drum up excitement for your subscribers!When Budai Media founder Daniel isn’t busy guiding brands to the retention marketing promise land, he’s happy to connect on social media:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's FacebookDaniel's presentation  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Personal Videos, Connecting with Customers, and Boosting Lifetime ValueOn this episode of The Ecom Show, podcast host and Budai Media founder Daniel has an intercontinental call with Matthew Barnett, the “Papa Bear” over at Bonjoro in Sydney, Australia!Bonjoro is an innovative SAAS company specializing in personalized videos for customers, which has proven to provide a massive boost to all major KPIs in all areas, including ecommerce.It’s getting more and more competitive in the online world each day. Since Bonjoro has changed the entire industry for ecommerce brands, it made sense to pick Matthews brain and get some helpful insights about:✔️ Connecting with customers ✔️ Figuring out which high-value customers to target✔️ Acquiring customers with your reviews✔️ Lifetime value and subscription services✔️ The importance of utilizing your own dataKeep the Connection!Bonjoro works well because it utilizes one obvious principle. People want to feel special, and that is exactly what they feel when they receive a personalized video during their customer journey.Studies have shown that sending a personalized video like you can with Bonjoro has tripled conversion rates and lifetime value, thanks to the data they collect and send to their clients. Delivering a stellar customer experience will encourage people to come back again and tell their loved ones about your brand.Work Smarter Not Harder Despite the success that Bonjoro has found, Matthew acknowledges that no business can afford the time and energy it would take to send a video to everyone. If you want to retain that authentic feel, you can target specific customers that bring lots of value, make groups of people to send videos to or even send new videos each day that feel real and special.  You don’t even need to mention people’s names or locations in the video to make them feel like they are part of something special. Some companies even hire video representatives or pay their warehouse staff to make personalized videos each time an order is placed! Reviews are your FriendPersonalized videos don’t just help with making sales. Matthew was kind enough to mention his review platform strategy that helped one client of his become the number one rated men’s fashion brand in Denmark on Trustpilot.Depending on your niche and location, some sites work better for others, but you should always encourage happy customers to leave you a review. This will only make it easier and cheaper to bring in new customers down the line!Focus your attention on a significant site and try to overcome the odds, or target up and coming, less competitive sites where it is a lot easier to rank higher early on.Bringing the ValueBoth Daniel and Matthew notice that too often in ecommerce, attention is given to the wrong KPIs. Lifetime Value is arguably the most critical for success.Understanding that a customer who buys your most expensive item isn’t necessarily better than a customer buying a cheap or mid-tier item is a concept most don’t understand. It makes more sense to target customers that will keep buying from you for ten or more years rather than a wealthy customer that will buy one thing and never return.Your churn rate relates to the fact that any non-repeat customer is essentially a lost customer, which sounds bad when you put it that way. Figuring out how to not lose customers is half the battle, but that’s where personalized videos and retention marketing work wonders.Trust the MathWithout data, none of Bonjoro’s techniques would be as effective. The longer you are in business, the better your data gets. It’s essential to figure out what the numbers are telling you and building your strategy around it!Listen to the data you gather, and fic wholes in your customer journey or sales funnel accordingly. A customized video can be the best thing to get it done!Follow Matthew:Bonjoro.comVerbate.comMatthew “Papa Bear” Barnett’s LinkedInFollow Daniel: Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Preaching the Supply Chain Gospel: Winning with Better Products at Cheaper PricesWe were lucky to score a 2-for-1 special for this episode of The Ecom Show, with Nick Christie and Nick Andreas from Stacked SCMS, who got their start in ecommerce several years ago when they both operated successful stores on eBay and Amazon.Now both Nicks leverage their knowledge of targeted ads, customer retention, and most importantly, the magic of setting up a winning supply chain to rake in money for their own businesses and the ecommerce brands of their clients!From logistical breakdowns and broken supply chains to vertical integration and a massive network of ecommerce owners, it’s incredible to hear the story of Nick Christie and Nick Andreas.These two have lots to share with our The Ecom Show’s host Daniel, like:✔️ What to focus on once you hit six figures a day in ecommerce✔️ The power of networking✔️ Ecommerce trends of 2021✔️ How supply chains can make or break your business✔️ Understanding ecommerce from all anglesTo Each Their OwnWhen you scale up your revenue, you also scale up your problems too! One mistake that might cost you a few hundred dollars, in the beginning, could end up costing you a hundred thousand dollars once you grow much larger.Logistic problems are a nightmare for ecommerce business, which is why both Nicks preach winning through your supply chain! At a massive scale, every penny you can save on sourcing products is thousands of dollars in potential profit.Network = NetworthRight from the get-go, these guys realized how important it is to surround yourself with like-minded entrepreneurs. You can learn a great deal from others doing the same thing after all!When both Nicks put their heads together and started living with several other brand owners, they found seemingly obvious solutions to their problems and were able to grow their businesses more.A strong network reaching around the globe also means great connections with manufacturers, suppliers, shippers, and ultimately, happy customers. 2021 for EcommerceWith big changes to Facebook algorithms and analytics, brands have to change the way they advertise. Ultimately though all the headaches of the algorithm changeover, Nick and Nick believe the new Facebook Ads will help better brands reach their warm audiences easier. Since the guys at Stacked SCM have always practiced the “vortex approach” when it comes to the top and bottom of their funnels, they won’t have a painful transition like many other ecommerce businesses. Engaging people on a multitude of channels and tracking their movement between them all is key to targeting and retargeting customers.May the Best Supply Chain WinIt’s funny how a logistical nightmare for the Nicks turned into a business idea. Leverage their combined volume of orders for themselves and others in their network to bring down product sourcing costs. Now they help others dominate their niche with the cheapest, highest quality products. Once they have found something that works and tweaked it, they can scale up and outspend everyone on advertising. Having vertical integration with fulfillment, manufacture, and advertising means lots of success! Knowing the Entire IndustryOur friends at Stacked SCM have a massive advantage with their business since they are also ecommerce brand owners. They understand each facet of the industry so well that they can truly put themselves in their customer’s shoes. During the pandemic, any logistical supply chain problem has been no sweat for them since they’ve seen it all before and managed to find a solution for most issues plaguing other brands. It goes to show how important it is to branch out and learn different areas instead of just sticking to what you are good at.Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's FacebookFollow Nick Christie and Nick Andreas: Stacked SCM  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Scale Up Your Ecommerce Business in 2021Our very first webinar is also an informative, action-packed episode of The Ecom Show, thanks to Budai Media’s founder and podcast host Daniel, and his lovely guests:Allie Guertin, Channel Customer Success Manager at Klaviyo Ben Erdelyi, Senior Account Manager at Budai Media Erik Huberman, CEO & Founder of Hawke MediaKevin Urrutia, Founder of Voy Media Soma Arnold Toth, CEO & Founder of RecartWe wanted to host a learning opportunity for all community members and beyond to evolve our understanding and learn new methods that will help us Scale-up Businesses in 2021.Pull up a seat and listen as we discuss:✔️ SEO and how it helps you control the brand narrative✔️ The cost of retaining customers vs. acquiring customers✔️ Exciting developments with Messenger and other channels in 2021✔️ The skyrocketing price of ad spend during the rise of ecommerce✔️ Building a community and getting better lifetime customer valueWhat is Your Story?As an agency owner, travel luggage merchant, and cleaning company founder (and a former podcast guest on The Ecom Show), Kevin Urrutia says that SEO is how he is able to find success. Paid Ads can help, but SEO truly puts the power of “controlling your brand narrative” in your own hands. This goes for Instagram, Google, Youtube, or affiliate bloggers/reviewers too. Put as much content as you can online because people are already searching for your brand, whether you know it or not. Make it easier for them!Retention is a Theme in 2021Allie knows better than most just how important it is to retain customers due to her work at Klaviyo. In 2021 it will be more important than ever to make sure your automations are in place to “make you money overnight.” Got a coffee brand or food product you are selling? Why not send an automated flow after seven days to ask them if they need a refill at 10% OFF?You should make your customers feel like more than customers. It costs 7x more to acquire new customers than it does to retain the ones you already have!More Ways to Engage Recart’s CEO, Soma, mentioned some exciting developments happening this year, as the combining of the Facebook Messenger and Instagram DM platforms along with their potent backend analytics. On another note, there are so many new channels to utilize in the coming year, especially for automations, shipping details, and customer service flows, that can be integrated in various ways both on and off your website.Change the Way You Do BusinessAfter the pandemic hit in 2020, Baby Boomers spending online jumped 300%. Ecommerce is here to stay, and as it gets more competitive, Erik says customer retention grows more important. With ad spend skyrocketing, it is crucial to focus on merchandising, customer satisfaction, and your business’s foundation. Solid companies were able to weather the storm just fine in 2020, while the pandemic crushed lots of bad companies that weren’t set up sustainably. You want people to keep buying with you, so what are you doing to make that happen?Convenience and CommunityOur own senior account manager Ben was quick to point out the recurring theme of the webinar. “How can you keep customers coming back for more?”. Content emails did better than ever over the last year because, as Allie suggested, people were “inside and bored and willing to read anything.” Ben thinks that building a community has been crucial for email marketing, with some of Budai Media’s most successful clients really thriving with their new content emails.He also suggests utilizing the subscription model, which all but ensures that customers come back on a monthly basis while using helpful software like Recharge to smooth out the process.Best in the IndustryWe’re genuinely proud to call these companies our partners, and we’re excited to see what they have in store for 2021. In the ever-changing, rapidly evolving ecommerce industry, it’s more important than ever to stay on your toes and adapt to the times. Each of our guests gave some solid wisdom for how we can scale up businesses in 2021 and take advantage of the situation rather than just “make do with what we have.”Above all, our webinar was a big hit with those that we’re able to RSVP a seat, so we are incredibly excited to promote and organize more in the future!Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedIn Daniel's Facebook Follow Allie from Klaviyo:Allie's LinkedIn Klaviyo website Follow Ben from Budai Media:Ben's LinkedIn Ben's Facebook Budai Media website Follow Erik from Hawke Media:Erik's LinkedIn Hawke Media website Follow Kevin from Voy Media:Kevin's LinkedIn Voy Media website Follow Soma from Recart:Soma's LinkedIn Recart website  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Explore and Make the Most of Ecommerce Email Marketing in 2021What’s better than hearing from one retention marketing and email expert that founded their own agency? Listening to a discussion between two of them!In our latest episode of The Ecom Show, friends and “friendly competitors” Mark Milutin and our host Daniel Budai talk about how they employ the newest retention marketing methods to drive results and make their clients happy!Learn the secrets of both Bread Loaf and Budai Media in addition to:✔️ Running and organizing an agency✔️ The most valuable assets a business has✔️ The importance of client education✔️ Building passionate communities✔️ How to take Q1 from boring to excitingTo Each Their OwnWhile Budai Media and Bread Loaf essentially operates in the same way, there are plenty of noteworthy differences. Bread Loaf has both an American office with an in-house creative studio and a European office in Ukraine. At Budai Media, we have people from every continent collaborating remotely.Both agencies can agree on how to structure each project, with any given client working with a specialized copywriter, designer, account manager, Klaviyo expert, and quality assurance agent.Data is EverythingIf you want to sell your business, you have to ask yourself, “What is your biggest asset”? Most people think it’s the product or the personnel, but really your subscriber list and your data bring the most value. People don’t care about your logo or copywriting when they are looking to buy. They just want to know what they are getting with your analytics and all the email addresses, phone numbers, and statistics you have fought so hard to collect.You can never predict platforms like Facebook or Google, so it makes sense to own your own data! Don’t rely on other websites to collect this data. Email is the best channel for this because it lets you control your platform without having to answer to anyone!R.E.S.P.E.C.TDaniel and Mark have both worked with demanding clients, and while everyone wants to see good results, sometimes there are disagreements. Expectations and boundaries should be set in the beginning, and agencies should position themselves as coaches and collaborators instead of servants. Educating clients is half of the job because it’s up to an agency to convince the client that they know what works and what doesn’t, or else they wouldn’t hire you!Mark also mentions that if he detects a lack of respect for himself or his team, he will quickly cut ties with a client. There is no room for this!Find the Soul and Build a CommunityLarge companies with countless shareholders are at a significant disadvantage, and small businesses are starting to capitalize on it. When you start small and organically, you can cultivate a community of people and build trust easier. If you sell wetsuits, create a surfing community. Selling offroading parts? Start a Jeep owners community. There is even a way to monetize this if you want people to join an exclusive club tailored to their passion. You always want that passion and soul to shine through in everything you do and in every channel you use. People are taking notice, and this is undoubtedly set to become a big trend soon!Surviving and Thriving in Q1Sure the first three months of the year might feel dreary for some, but this is the time to innovate, test, and set the foundation for the year. Even the slower months can provide value down the line, and it’s up to you to build habits and create a strategy for the entire year ahead.Work harder earlier, and challenge your customers to create a product launch/promo calendar so you can plan with a purpose! Take the opportunity to learn and innovate while you have time to breathe in January!Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's FacebookFollow Mark Milutin:Bread Loaf's website Mark's website Retention Lab's website  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Copywriting is one of the core skills associated with marketing, so naturally, we had to invite one of the best copywriters we know to The Ecom Show!Both our host (and Budai Media’s CEO) Daniel, and this episode’s guest, Dennis Demori, got their start in copywriting before evolving their skills and adapting to the changing landscape of marketing.In addition to being a fantastic copywriter, Dennis has mastered the art of promotion, engaging his subscribers, selling courses, building strategies for his clients, and picking up new skills every day!Skip the episode if you don’t want to hear from two direct response marketing experts as they discuss:✔️ The key ingredients to becoming a great copywriter✔️ How ecommerce brands can build more tempting offers✔️ The magic of preselling✔️ Thinking like a consultant and picking up skills✔️ Being patient and thinking strategicallyDo You Have What it Takes?It’s a recurring theme on our podcast, but just about every copywriter never imagined becoming a copywriter until they sort of “fall into it,” as Dennis puts it. Dennis started several years ago in content writing before shifting his focus to the email marketing realm. He never shied away from asking questions, seeking out mentors, or joining Facebook groups to learn from others. He suggests reading marketing books before you ever think about copywriting. Having that background is so important in the long run. No B.S. Marketing by Dan Kennedy and The 1-Page Marketing Plan by Allan Dib are some of his favorite books to recommend to beginners. How Ecommerce Brands Can ImproveEcommerce brands have a lot to learn about marketing, especially from other industries like SAAS, info products, and coaches. When you have a product like sunglasses, you know what you will get when you order a pair, and you are aware of the competition.If you stop relying only on discounts that destroy your margins and instead become more creative with how you present, bundle, and package your product, you can better stand out from the crowd. Software and ebooks are more abstract, so you have to market them as such and do a good job representing the value it can bring to people that buy them!Preselling 101Preselling is “just another word for marketing.” Far too often, ecommerce brands drop a promotion the day before or the day of a product release, when it’s too late to do anything. You should think more strategically, at least 30 days ahead, to deliberately promote a product and start selling it before it’s even finished!Authors and Hollywood directors have no problem promoting a book or movie years before it ever releases, so why not do the same for new products in your pipeline? Don’t Limit YourselfIf you want to succeed in the long haul as a marketer or even a copywriter, you need to adjust your mindset. Many people can write basic copy, and AI is already starting to get the hang of subject lines for emails. If you can position yourself as a consultant and handle more than the writing of an email, you will become priceless to a company. Learn to make a strategy, don’t be afraid to ask tough questions, and collaborate with clients instead of just working for them. Dennis recommends studying for at least 30 minutes a day and get used to picking up skills to bring added value to both you and your customers all the time!Patience is a VirtueOne big mistake most brands make is rushing a sale. The experience from beginning to the end of a sales funnel is delicate, and sometimes people need time to do their own research, figure out they have a problem, and actively search for a solution. Copywriters who can figure out what stage of the sales process their audience is in will be best at what they do!For those interested in learning from, speaking to, or working with Dennis Demori, you can Google him and find him on most social media channels or his website. Be sure to subscribe to his email list, an invaluable source of knowledge for everybody!Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's FacebookFollow Dennis Demori:Dennis' Newsletter Dennis' Telegram Channel Dennis' Facebook Dennis' Instagram Dennis' Twitter Dennis' website  Dennis' books and courses Work with Dennis  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TikTok and Pinterest Marketing: Why You Should Care More About These Channels in 2021Everyone’s heard of Facebook, Youtube, and Instagram, but are there other lucrative channels your ecommerce business is forgetting?In this exciting episode of The Ecom Show, our friendly host and Budai Media founder Daniel meets with Joanna Szewczyk, a brilliant marketing guru from Poland!Before leaving her job working in IT at a big bank in New York City, Joanna had plenty of free time in her office and not enough work. She searched for side projects and business ideas before realizing just how promising the Pinterest platform could be in the right hands, and she never looked back.If you’ve ever wondered about alternative ways to promote your brand and drive huge web traffic, you’ll enjoy hearing Daniel and the CEO & Founder of PinMeApp discuss:✔️ The difference between social media and search engines✔️ Who should use Pinterest, and how it can drive web traffic✔️ Going viral on Tik Tok and why it’s different than the rest✔️ The right and wrong time to worry about conversion rates✔️ Staying ahead of the curve and adaptingKnow the DifferenceTo understand how Pinterest works, Joanna says it’s critical to change your understanding of the platform. Pinterest works more like a search engine in the vein of Google or Youtube, with incredible search mechanisms and recommendations. Facebook and Instagram are for people to consume media and promote themselves, while Google only shows you what you search for.Pinterest combines the best of both social media and search engines, giving you a feed for those you follow, ads, and recommendations for trending media.Is it for You?Most people don’t even consider Pinterest when building their brand, but they might not realize how much potential money and exposure they are missing. Joanna was first inspired to work with Pinterest when she saw a travel blogger earning over 100k a month with affiliate marketing and advertisements thanks to a robust influx of traffic from Pinterest. If you put in the work and post to the right public boards, you can build a following on Pinterest and leverage it to whatever service, coaching, or product you provide. Joanna also mentions that any business can benefit from Pinterest and Tik Tok accounts to build trust and exposure.It’s Easier than EverBuilding a following on Instagram or Facebook can be frustrating, even with top-notch content and some algorithm luck. To even see your content on Instagram, you have to have a certain amount of followers already.Tik Tok has revolutionized the game according to Joanna, who had a simple video of her apartment go viral despite only having a few hundred followers. Tik Tok is more democratic and allows most people to follow trends and make their mark no matter their audience, which is great for new brands. Forget What You Know About KPIsOnline marketers are obsessed with their metrics like conversion rates and impressions, but Joanna says you have to ditch this way of thinking on Pinterest or Tik Tok. You don’t “walk through a city looking at billboards and go right to the store once you see something you like”. The same might ring true for Pinterest, which is meant to introduce you to products and build exposure. Ultimately the conversion rate cannot be truly counted on, so Pinterest and Tik Tok work best to gain exposure and build an audience.Ready to AdaptMarketers also know that you need to be quick on your feet. You can have Facebook Ads, or Instagram algorithms figured out, and you’re on top of the world, and the next day it all comes crashing down when they tweak some metrics or codes.Joanna created her own app, PinMeApp, to help people automatically build a massive presence on Pinterest, and for a few years, it worked well. Now Pinterest has excluded third-party apps like hers, so she has morphed her business into a Pinterest Management firm that offers courses for those wanting to learn her secrets of the trade.Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's FacebookFollow Joanna Szewczyk:Joanna's Facebook Joanna's Pinterest firm  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Build an Elite Team of 50+ Ecommerce MarketersIn this episode of The Ecom Show, Daniel reconnects with Bostjan Belingar, a fellow agency owner and master of email marketing!Not only is Bostjan a great mind to pick when it comes to retention marketing and growing a successful agency…Daniel and Bostjan are good friends and former flatmates at the Hustle House since meeting at a Klaviyo Conference in Boston a few years back, and now they are “friendly competitors.”If you’d like to learn from the respective founders of Budai Media and Hustler Marketing about how to grow a successful marketing agency of your own, listen in and hear these successful business minds speak about:✔️ Knowing when to build a team✔️ Where to find the right people✔️ Creating an efficient hiring system✔️ Building a healthy work culture and limiting employee turnover✔️ Questions to ask yourself when you own your own companyIs it for You?Both Bostjan and Daniel hardly expected to start their own agencies back when they both got their start as copywriters. They wrote and learned from mentors before feeling the need to take on additional team members to lighten the workload. Before Bostjan knew it, he had 10-15 people working for him and over 60 people currently employed at Hustler Marketing.At a certain point, you have to choose between scaling up and building a company or charging more money and becoming a highly paid specialist that works alone. Creating an agency is a lot of work, but it pays off in the long run if you are patient enough to wait.In Search of TalentAfter initially recruiting his first hires through Facebook and Instagram, Bostjan moved on to Upwork, where he found limited success. The quality of people on there was all over the place. Linkedin Hiring became his new best friend, and now his appointed “Head of Culture” uses it for every hire they make.Linkedin Hiring is relatively cheap, and it lets you filter by country, experience, and more when looking for the perfect candidate. It doesn’t hurt to have a handy hiring/HR consultant to help guide you through interviews and the hiring process!What’s Your Hiring Process?Bostjan wisely says that “the quality of your work and employees is directly proportional to the quality of your hiring process.” You should leave emotion out of it, and don’t show up to an interview without any questions for your potential hire thought out already.You should implement a funnel system and enter candidates into an excel spreadsheet. Ask them questions before you ever speak to them, make them take a competency test, and meet with the 5-10 best candidates that make it that far.Keep Your Team HappyIt isn’t enough to hire the right people… You want to keep the right people working with you too! Talk to your employees, give them great feedback, see what your team thinks of each other with 360 feedback sessions, and develop a way to keep track of team morale and satisfaction if you can. You should also find a way to track data like hires, resignations, employee turnover, and any other stat you can think of to make your company more efficient. Bostjan even employs a therapist to run workshops and help his team cope better during the week, which is quite revolutionary in this day and age. What is Important to You?The most important thing you can do as a business owner is to keep your goals and your dreams in sight at all times. Would you rather make a modest sum of money each month while working 25 hours a week, or make much more but have no free time and no weekends off?Bostjan is happy to offer equity to his employees as long as he stays the majority owner. He prioritizes growth over money in his pockets because he is playing the long game. It isn’t all about revenue after all! It’s also essential to keep that winning mindset to stay motivated long-term with your business!Most businesses fail, so take pride in what you are doing, work with the right people, and enjoy what you do. If you can’t enjoy what you do, find something you like to do better!Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's FacebookFollow Bostjan Belingar:Bostjan's website Bostjan's LinkedIn  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everything You Need To Know About Video In EcommerceWe’ve touched on it before in a previous episode, but video creation for ecommerce is just too important to ignore!In this episode of The Ecom Show, we’re honored to welcome Allan Glanfield from Canada, an accomplished video marketing strategist at Bellwether X.If you take a look at their website, you’ll see impressive visuals, engaging content, and top-notch music to go with it as it becomes increasingly more apparent that these guys are damn good at what they do!Sit in as Daniel and Allan discuss what it takes to craft a story and everything you need to know about video in ecommerce in addition to:✔️ The importance of storytelling✔️ Evolution of video advertising✔️ The right time to start thinking about videos for your business✔️ How to get started in the video marketing world✔️ Subtle differences and helpful hacks for creatives in Q4It’s All About the StoryWe heard it from our good friend Ian Garlic a few weeks back, and Allan drives the point home this time. You can have the best equipment and actors, but if your product and your story aren’t good you won’t succeed even with the best in the business. It can even be frustrating when a simple concept out-performs a “million-dollar idea,” but that's the nature of the trade!Don’t get caught up in the best technology. Just learn lightning basics, help people learn about the product so they can make an informed decision, and above all else, tell a compelling story!The Times are ChangingBack in the day, a room full of writers would painstakingly develop a winning idea for a television commercial, with one shot to make it work. These days, it makes more sense to create lots of videos and test them to see what performs best.You could even argue that the conventional advertisement has been completely replaced by “viral videos,” unboxing videos, customer video testimonials, and simple videos. People also think these videos are only suitable for social media, but you can find them on landing pages, product pages, and even email flows post-purchase!Are You Ready?People often wonder when they should start thinking about creating engaging video content or hiring someone to do it for them. Allans says that you should worry about that right out of the gates! It’s never too early to start thinking about content, and without beautiful images, captivating videos, and other content, your website will be just an unremarkable framework!You actually save yourself a headache in the long run if you map out your creatives early on, even if you have a tight budget to start.Breaking Into the IndustryVideo marketing gurus come from all different backgrounds, so there’s no wrong way to get going if you think it might be your calling! Allan mentioned that comedians make for great writers, and having a sense of humor is a must if you want to create compelling advertisements that move people to action!You can also start as a videographer or photographer like Allan and build up years of experience learning strategy, marketing, data analytics, and the other essential aspects of media buying, but it takes time.Q4 vs. Rest of YearSurprisingly, the story takes a back seat this time of year to more concise, simple product-focused videos. It’s buying and gifting season, so people are more worried about seeing a product and learning about it and less about the brand it comes from.It’s also important to capture attention in the first few seconds of a video because there is lots of competition during November and December. Use nifty camera angles, engage the audience directly with gestures, and make sure you get some eyes on that video you’ve worked so hard to create!Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's FacebookFollow Allan Glanfield:Bellwether X websiteBellwether X Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Retain the Customers you Acquired in 2020In this episode, Budai Media’s founder Daniel hosts a round table discussion for Budai Media’s 30th Episode of The Ecom Show, featuring some of the titans of marketing, including one of our own account managers and some former podcast guests too! Take a listen and hear from some of the best minds in the industry like:Ben Erdelyi, Senior Account Manager at Budai MediaCharlie Lawrance, Founder & CEO of Gecko SquaredFiona Stevens, Head Of Marketing at LoyaltyLionMartina Cronin, Agency Partnerships Manager at Octane AIMihail Stoychev, Founder & CEO at SMSBumpJoin up and take part in a Retention Marketing Panel and learn about:✔️ How this year’s Q4 was different from any other year✔️ Most and least successful ecommerce niches of 2020✔️ What ecommerce trends to expect in 2021✔️ Tips for retaining customers next year✔️ What’s next for these incredible companies?One of a Kind YearEveryone can agree that this year’s Q4 was the strangest in recent memory, with a pandemic affecting the ecommerce landscape. Black Friday and holiday sales started much earlier, and brick-and-mortar businesses focused on building an online presence.Facebook Ads became much more competitive, and people mainly opted to stick with companies they were familiar with rather than jump at the best discounts. Thrivers and SurvivorsDue to the year’s volatility, companies have had to adapt or risk falling by the wayside. The niches that performed the best this year were childcare products, household items, health and wellness gear, art/hobby supplies, and home appliances. Food, consumables, and skincare products also did quite well this year, but one noteworthy casualty of COVID was the outdoor gear/survivalist industry, which has fallen on hard times. Major companies also took some time to worry less about sales and more about their community building and audience engagement!What’s Happening Next Year?Aside from obvious developments in 2021, like the subscription model’s continued growth and success, there are some other trends you can bank on. Fiona and Martina both agree that the focus on the customer journey will increase, with personalized messages and heavy segmentation to engage the right people.Charlie mentioned that Facebook ads would become a lot less expensive next year due to becoming a lot more difficult to use! The way Facebook Pixel captures data will shift drastically, so ad agencies are scrambling to get their back-end analytics figured out to brace for the coming changes.Answering the Biggest Question...The reason we rounded up this group of experts was to figure out and share the best ways to keep our hard-earned customers in 2021, and the answers did not disappoint! Ben mentioned that delivering on expectations and promises like shipping times and refund policies was critical if you want to keep your customers long-term.Engaging with customers and asking them what they are looking for or sending them useful content was another helpful tip shared by Mihail. Charlie mentioned cross-selling, upselling, and syncing ads with email campaigns to build brand unity, while Martina kept stressing the importance of personalization. Fiona brought up an interesting point that being authentic practicing what you preach will attract people who believe in the same causes.Cutting Edge Ideas From Our PartnersEach of the five companies involved has big things in store for their customers in 2021, like Budai Media’s new CRO service, for instance. SMSBump and Octane AI will work on their products and improve their integration with other apps. At the same time, Loyalty Lion has an eye on building a more comprehensive data analytics system to further help their clients. Charlie and Gecko Squared are hard at work focusing on in-house creative production and DIY training programs for brands seeking to run their own Facebook ads. We’re leaving the gift of wisdom and experience under your tree this Christmas, so don’t forget to unwrap it! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Succesful Dropshipping Companies Grow in the Long TermAnyone can start a dropshipping store online, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to stand out in a highly-saturated industry these days…Which is where our next guest on The Ecom Show, Joseph Ianni, comes in!Joseph is a podcaster extraordinaire from Canada, and a brand ambassador for one of Budai Media’s partners, Debutify. Debutify touts itself as the world’s best free Shopify theme, but it’s so much more than that!Joseph and The Ecom Show’s host Daniel sit down and discuss what it takes to succeed in ecommerce these days along with:✔️ The perks of using Debutify✔️ How important it is to build a community in any niche/business✔️ The ever-changing world of Podcasting✔️ Is Dropshipping dead?✔️ Long-term goals for dropshippersDebutify = Game ChangerDebutify is much more than a template, essentially allowing busy ecommerce store owners to focus their attention on marketing while they handle the conversion rates. With 28 add-ons and counting, it’s constantly adding more helpful tools to convert better and make more money.Joseph mentioned that aside from the friendly free trial that you can test right now, there are multiple plans, with the most basic costing $19 a month. The highest tier plan gives subscribers access to product research for winning items, a community to bounce ideas off, and a mentor to help you evolve!Community Building 101Whether you are crafting customized email campaigns or launching your podcast, Joseph says you need to cultivate your community. The best podcasts and brands have in-jokes, community discourse, and audience engagement to let people know they are part of the process.Aside from that, people in ecommerce and dropshipping come from all different backgrounds with even more personal interests, so it’s up to us to figure out our specific audiences and learn how to talk to them.How Podcasting has ChangedJoseph always enjoyed video game podcasts, but he never imagined that his love of video games would catapult him towards his true passion: hosting his own podcasts!Since he first got started several years ago, the landscape in podcasting has changed dramatically. It was once seen as an extension of radio and only audio-centric, but now there are podcast videos, and it has become more mainstream in general. His own podcast for Debutify, Ecomonics is a fantastic resource for aspiring ecommerce business owners, with knowledgeable guests (like our very own founder Daniel) covering various topics!Dropshipping is Alive and Well“Is dropshipping still alive?” The answer is an emphatic YES. According to Joseph, the only thing that has changed is that dropshipping is more saturated with a lot more competition now, which is why it pays to have services like Debutify on your side.You can still compete these days, but you need to evolve with the industry and do a better job than your competitors. He says that nothing really dies. Radio never died despite what others believe, it just adapted and evolved, and that is precisely what we are seeing from dropshipping now.Life After DropshippingFrom everyone Joseph and Daniel have spoken to, it seems that no one ever wants to stay a dropshipper for the rest of their life. Some get burnt-out, some go on to open marketing agencies to capitalize on their self-taught skills, and some opt to start ecommerce brands with their own products. Most people just dropship to raise some capital for future endeavors, while others like to kick back, automate, and travel the world while the money comes in each month! The point is that you can learn lots from dropshipping and ecommerce, even if becoming a merchant isn’t your endgame!Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's Facebook Follow Joseph Ianni:Joseph's LinkedIn Joseph's podcast Joseph's website (Debutify)  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Create High-Converting Ecommerce Videos For Different ChannelsThere are many ways to engage your audience and build enthusiasm for your brand, but nothing comes close to videos!It doesn’t matter the audience, channel, or product, our next guest on The Ecom Show, Ian Garlic, can figure out a way to make a high-converting marketing video for anything!This video guru from Florida has launched several websites (like AuthenticWEB.media and Storycrews.com), and worked with some of the biggest names in marketing, with no sign of slowing down!Take a seat and listen in with Budai Media founder, Daniel, and master “storyteller” Ian to learn about:✔️ Why videos are the most engaging form of marketing✔️ Hiring and working with video creators.✔️ The formula for great video ads✔️ Knowing the different video ad channels✔️ Q4 advice, tips for beginners, and inspiration A Picture Tells a Thousand Words…Even a short video contains hundreds of captured images, and some even say that one minute of video is as good as well over a million words. While great copywriting or audio can do the trick, video is still the king (until we have 3D hologram marketing, that is!).According to Ian, color, sounds, movement, and voices all trigger a different part of our brains, and that’s why video remains the most efficient way to tell a story.Video Creators vs. Videographers Ian is quick to distinguish between the two terms, noting that videographers can only do their job if they are handed a script, storyboard, and a whole bunch of information. If you are looking to take your agency to the next level, you need a videographer with a marketing background.Ian has seen some of the most captivating and visually pleasing videos from others, but if it doesn’t call you to do something or buy something, it isn’t doing its job! The world’s best novelist might struggle to write excellent sales copy for the same reason, so no matter who you hire or work with, it’s crucial to get someone with a knack for marketing.Creating the Perfect Video AdDespite what we’ve heard, the script is not the most essential part of a video. Ian claims plenty of effective ads don’t have a script, like “man on the street” interview videos or Apple’s famous iPod and iPhone commercials that have no dialogue in them at all.Instead, the format and the storyboard are critical elements of a great ad. Still, the ability to tell a story is the single most crucial part of making a high-converting video. They are the most engaging way to work the algorithms on Facebook or Instagram, and they are much better at keeping attention than any other form of advertising!Intention vs. AttentionNot all video channels are the same, according to Ian. For instance, Facebook and Instagram are attention-based, designed to capture your attention while doing other things, and reel you in to begin your customer journey. Linkedin or Youtube is more intention-based for people aware of their problem and actively searching for a way to remedy their situation.Knowing who you are talking to and making videos for them will help you choose the right video length, marketing channel, and format for maxim success!Tricks of the Trade and MoreIan wants to remind people interested in learning the trade not to stress buying the best camera on the market. Learn proper lighting, sound, and basics before you get that new camera. It also pays to study marketing, read books, and think like a marketer. For example, in this Q4, people feel isolated more than ever, and he recommends creating hyper-personalized videos for certain buyers or customers to help them feel connected. It will cheer people up and increase conversions!Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's FacebookFollow Ian:Ian's YouTube channel Ian's LinkedInAuthenticweb.marketing Storycrews.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Perfect Copywriting Formulas for Your Email MarketingFor this episode of our podcast, The Ecom Show, we’re focusing on one of the essential cornerstones of great marketing... copywriting!This week we’ve got the privilege of speaking with one of our own all-star copywriters at Budai Media, Nick Marshall from Bournemouth, England!From teacher to content writer, and then journalist to copywriter, Nick has plenty to share with aspiring writers. And ecommerce business owners alike. He likes to focus more on marketing psychology and how people behave in groups to get great results and perfect his craft. Have a listen as Budai Media’s founder, Daniel, and self-proclaimed “behavior economist” Nick discuss:✔️ How to get started as a copywriter✔️ AI and copywriting automation✔️ Tried and true templates vs. experimentation and creativity✔️ Who should hire a copywriter?✔️ Great resources for understanding how to write compelling copyWhere to BeginTen years ago, Nick had no idea what copywriting even truly was. He didn’t know any of the overused abbreviations like CTA or what a sales funnel was! People often misunderstand what it means to be a copywriter, and there is no correct way to set yourself up to become one. Nick spent most of his professional career as a journalist and a content creator, which he says often involves presenting information “as clearly as possible.” As a copywriter, he’s learned to shift his focus to evoking an action or response, whether it be a sale or a page visit.Humans vs. MachinesThere’s plenty of careers being automated in this day and age, but Nick says that “creativity is the last great advantage we have.” For example, automated software algorithms programmed to scan and replicate content can sometimes strike gold, especially with things like email subject lines. But they will never understand the deeper context, according to Daniel, or create something unique and original.In a career where you’re supposed to connect on a human level with your audience, it feels like copywriter’s jobs are safe for now!Learn the Rules to Break the RulesNick has read plenty of books, taken courses, listened to lectures, but he thinks this will only take you so far. To be a true copywriter, you need to venture off on your own and experiment. If you do what is statistically proven to work every time, you might lose your audience’s attention!It pays to break the rules once and a while. So long as you stick to the brand’s character and voice, there is truly no limit to what you can do as a copywriter or advertiser. Get Yourself a Copywriter If...People often think they can write websites or email copy themselves and are surprised when their conversion rates are awful. It can be hard to relinquish your brand and enlist others to help serve as the “custodian of the brand,” as Nick puts it, but if you have a 5-star restaurant and your menu is riddled with spelling mistakes, will anyone actually take you seriously?If you manage to have the budget for a copywriter, the product pages and basic email flows are a top priority! Leave it to a professional, and don’t assume copywriting is easy, just like you wouldn’t assume graphic design or coding is easy.Top Resources for CopywritersNick thinks it’s best to have 2-3 resources you check every day, and even if you learn something, you always have to go back and rehash it every so often. He recommends sites like:Copy Hackers Very Good Copy Marketing Examples Have a Word Game of Conversions DaveTrott The best thing Nick recommends is simply to become more aware of the copy all around you. You’re bombarded by advertisements each and every day, and Nick believes you can even learn something by sifting through your spam inbox and picking apart the worst emails you can find!We try to focus on a different aspect of ecommerce and advertising each week, and there is no denying how valuable copywriters like Nick are in this industry!Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's FacebookFollow Nick:Nick's Facebook Nick's email   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How has Facebook Advertising Changed During COVID and Further Through Q4At The Budai Media, we specialize in retention marketing, but on this episode of The Ecom Show, we get a chance to sit down with an expert in customer acquisition!Just in time for Black Friday, we’ve got the scoop from Arthur Freydin, the CEO and Owner of BASIC Creative. This impressive Facebook & Instagram Ad agency offers ROI Driven Social Media Advertising for ecommerce brands, with in-house creatives for their clients and comprehensive ad strategies to scale them up.Take a seat and have a listen while The Budai Media founder Daniel and this week’s podcast guest Arthur take on lots of topics and answer your questions about:✔️ How to cope with Facebook Ad shutdowns and account bans✔️ Latest trends for Creatives✔️ What niches are perfect for Facebook and Instagrams Ads and which ones aren’t✔️ Tools, apps, and automation for ad creation✔️ Social media advertisements in Q4Know the DifferenceDon’t fret if you’ve ever had your Facebook Ads account shutdown. “It’s practically a right of passage” for ad agencies, according to Arthur! It’s essential to understand the distinction between having your account shut down vs. banned, with the latter of the two far more severe (and harder to come back from).Regardless of what happens, it’s normally Facebook’s mistake 9/10 times, and there is a way to reinstate your account in most instances. Facebook’s customer service is not very helpful or responsive, but there are ways around even an account ban (if Facebook doesn’t like your company, business model, or product).Creating the Perfect CreativeIt’s part of Arthur and his company’s job to stay ahead of the latest trends in creatives, and he notes that in 2020 video ads have taken a back seat to static images and GIFs. He mentions that 2020 has been a very dynamic year, with new trends surfacing each month. Between the elections in the US and the COVID-19 pandemic, different brands have thrived and suffered at different times of the year depending on lockdowns, shutdowns, and other current events.The key takeaway is that every brand has different things that work for them, so it’s important to test everything!Is Social Media Advertising Right for You?It’s really not for everyone, and Arthur will be the first to tell you that certain stuff simply won’t work on Facebook, like CBD oil or firearms. Even if your product doesn’t violate Facebook’s terms, you will find that heavily commoditized items won’t ever perform well on Facebook because these sorts of ads work differently than Google Ads.On Instagram or Facebook, you disrupt the scrolling experience, so you have to keep it visually appealing and relative. Food, supplements, subscription boxes, and fashion; all of these things do quite well!The best tools for ad creationOn the ad-running side, Arthur prefers to keep it simple. You can’t truly automate ads because the ever-changing Facebook algorithm is unforgiving. There are a few tools you can use, but Facebook normally buys them out and adds them to their backend anyway.On the creative side, BASIC Creative uses tools like Canva, Photoshop, Adobe Premiere Pro, and VideoLeap. He even lets us in on the secret that all you need is a dependable phone and great lighting to get high-quality photos and videos for your creatives!Crushing in in Q4: Advice from the ExpertsArthur isn’t shy about giving his advice for Q4; it’s the most crucial time of the year for him and his team too!The most important principle he preaches is: Stay Agile. Things are constantly changing throughout the year, and even more so during Q4, so you have to be alert and ready to switch it up at a moment’s notice. Pre-approve your ads ahead of time, don’t ever increase or decrease spending by more than 30% in one day, spend according to your previous day’s revenue, and stay flexible with Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's FacebookFollow Arthur:Arthur's emailBASIC Creative's website  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why Website Conversion Optimization Is The Hidden Gem Of EcommerceFor this week’s podcast episode, we’re joined by Conversion Rate Optimization expert Justin Christianson from Texas, who’s been in the digital marketing realm for over 20 years! Now he’s a bestselling author and co-founder of his own agency, Conversion Fanatics. Despite only offering CRO as a service for the last seven years, he’s truly seen everything there is to see with regards to ecommerce. Sit down and listen in to learn about the biggest mistakes business owners make with their websites, so you can skip the suffering and find your own success much quicker and much easier!You can gain insight into:✔️ The best tools and apps for CRO✔️ Qualitative vs. Quantitative approach to Conversion Rate Optimization ✔️ Last-minute CRO tips for a successful Q4✔️ The best ways to set up your Shopify store✔️ Avoiding gimmicks, listening to the customers, and thinking long termTools of the TradeEveryone has their preferences, but Justin has been in the game a lot longer than most. Over the years, he’s preferred to use Convert.com as his primary diagnostic tool. Google Optimize doesn’t play so nicely with Shopify, so he appreciates Convert.com’s data and its arsenal of tools.As far as apps go, Justin thinks simplicity is critical. If he had the time, he would custom code his own programs to avoid the pitfalls of popular apps that overcomplicate things. Too many apps can crash a site or do more damage than good, but he does mention that Justuno and Klaivyo are two notable exceptions everyone should use.One Size Does Not Fit AllIf you own a brand making six-figures annually, you shouldn’t be deep-diving into the data just yet; there simply isn’t enough to study early on! Justin recommends taking a qualitative approach early on instead, focusing more on the customer experience. Listening to your customers can be the most valuable thing you ever do. Exit polls, surveys, and heat maps are your best friends!If you are making seven or eight figures per year, you can start thinking about optimizing your website to bring up conversion rates and increase your Average Order Value. CRO is only effective for brands with lots of traffic and over 300 orders per month, the bare minimum to start taking a quantitative approach.CRO Tips for Q4Simply put, CRO is not like any other form of marketing. Buyer behavior and buyer experiences change drastically in Q4, so Justin says you can throw everything you know out of the window. Your best bet is to make sure your site is ready to take on heavy traffic, help it run smoothly, and trust in the process. Justin also notes that if you want to build trust, don’t try to make a quick buck with gimmicks or “grey hat” tricks. Customers will be scared off by fake countdown timers and lies about product scarcity.Simplicity is BetterJustin stresses the importance of simplicity, opting to use powerful imagery rather than wordy texts. When people ask him what the best Shopify theme is, he says the free one you get right out of the box, of course!Daniel and Justin also mention that the product page is the most important part of your store, and it’s where brand owners tend to lose most of their traffic. Since most ecommerce shoppers are browsing on mobile, you really only have six inches of screen to impress them, so don’t waste space with credit card logos, security icons, or other unhelpful items.Think Long TermConversion Fanatics won’t even work with shortsighted ecommerce owners hellbent on making a quick buck. He rolls his eyes when he sees countdown timers or overused discounts being offered. It’s not easy to see the big picture, but your business will benefit from it if you can think long-term. Be patient, trust your product, and above all else, listen to your customers!Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's FacebookFollow Justin:Justin's Social Media Justin's website  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Master Retention Marketing for Q4 Sales EventsQ4 is here, and we wanted to dedicate a whole podcast episode to it!Join in on the fun as Budai Media founder Daniel discusses various topics with two of our own agencies’ rising stars, giving us the lowdown on how to maximize potential profits during November and December!We can’t help but get excited for this week’s episode of The Ecom Show with our hard-working, superstar account managers Zsófi and Ben. These two have already been featured before, but they always have some valuable information to contribute!Tune in and learn about:✔️ Key differences between Black Friday/Cyber Monday and Christmas promotions✔️ Pre-launch email campaign series for Black Friday and Cyber Monday✔️ Figuring out the best time to have your Q4 sales events✔️ Taking charge of your retention marketing using the 80/20 principle✔️ Subscription business models and the best Shopify apps for itKnowing the Difference Dan, Ben, and Zsófi spend a decent chunk of time differentiating between the different holiday promotions and shopping opportunities you have probably heard of by now. Ben notes that Black Friday and Cyber Monday promotions usually only occur for one day because these days are known for their discounts in anticipating the holiday season.On the other hand, Christmas promotions can be held anywhere between Black Friday and the end of December, depending on your product, shipping times, and strategy. You can also opt to have two sales during December for Christmas!Preparing for Success in Q4Both Zsófi and Ben highlight a few excellent ways to warm up your audience and get them ready for the shopping season. One technique is to let your best customers know a day early that you are holding a promotion or extending it by one day. People love to feel like insiders, and this is a tried-and-true tenant of marketing psychology.This time of year also allows businesses to use scarcity to their advantage because it is entirely believable that inventory could possibly run low with so many potential shoppers. Letting customers know that they shouldn’t put off shopping for another day and miss out on an item they want is a powerful incentive. Zsófi also mentions that you should be offering a better discount than you usually do during Black Friday or Cyber Monday to highlight how special the occasion is.Choosing the Right Time to StrikeBen, Zsófi, and Daniel know quite well by now when to hold holiday promotions, after years of studying, testing, and perfecting the art of holding sales events. If you have a product with a ten-day shipping period, you should be offering your best discounts more than ten days before Christmas, so people get their gifts on time! You don’t want to disappoint your customers or have them leave for more reliable companies.Zsófi even recommends adding a week for delayed shipping times because logistics companies are overloaded with shipments during November and December.Take Charge and Utilize the Pareto PrincipleBen is a massive fan of the Pareto Principle, which basically states that 80 percent of the consequences come from 20 percent of the causes. If you aren’t already working with a retention marketing agency like Budai Media, you can still take matters into your own hands for now!By putting in a little work and making some simple email campaigns for Q4, you can see significant results. You can use Klaviyo to send out 3-4 emails between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, at least until you can afford to hire professionals to handle it for you!Is the Subscription Model Right for You?The subscription model is the next big thing, and with a little creativity and Recharge app Subscriptions, you can upgrade your bus iness to utilize this strategy. Daniel suggests combining your product with some sort of service that you can offer as a subscription, pointing to the massive success of Amazon Prime.If you are serious about making money during Q4 of 2020, take our advice and reap the benefits down the road!Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's FacebookFollow Ben:Ben's LinkedInBen's FacebookFollow Zsófie:Zsófi's LinkedInZsófi's Instagram Zsófi's website  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Build a Subscription-Based Fashion Business from ScratchWe don’t want to brag, but this is one of our best episodes yet on The Ecom Show!This week our new friend Matt Bird from the UK dishes out some helpful secrets while telling us his story and how it helped him develop his formula for success in the fashion industry!From moderately successful ecommerce menswear brand to a massively successful subscription-based fashion company, you can listen in and learn about Matt Bird and the success of his company The Shirt Society while he sits down with Budai media founder Daniel to discuss:✔️ Building a fashion brand from scratch✔️ The beauty of subscription-based businesses✔️ Learning from your customers✔️ Finding loyal customers for life✔️ When to look for outside investorsWhat it Takes to Make it in FashionAlthough Matt has seven years of experience in the men’s fashion space, he says anyone can develop an idea and run with it. Sure it helps to have the experience, but in the world of ecommerce, anything is possible.Matt never had aspirations to own a physical retail shop for men’s clothing. Ecommerce and online shopping have enabled him to become a business owner with almost nothing to start with (aside from an idea, a basic Shopify store, a logo, and a well-written organic post on Linkedin).Subscription Models are the FutureDaniel and Matt both agree that subscriptions give you the peace of mind and stability you won’t find with regular ecommerce shops. Matt first dreamed up The Shirt Society when he realized that people were only buying shirts one or two times a year, so sales were not consistent enough.He thinks it’s better to have 3000 customers paying 20 pounds a month for a new shirt than having 10,000 customers purchasing a shirt one time and never returning. It helps to plan for the future and scale up accordingly.Customers are the KeyIt might come as a surprise that The Shirt Society was the brainchild of Matt and his first businesses’ customers. After reaching out to people who purchased shirts from him, he realized people’s pain points in the industry. Men don’t want to shop for shirts, they don’t like figuring out where to shop, and they were the ones to suggest a subscription model!If Matt hadn’t listened to his customers, he would have never known how to improve his services and retain his customers longer! You should never be too stubborn to listen to the people supporting your business because you would have nothing without them.Customer Lifetime Value vs. RevenueEveryone has their favorite metrics to serve as a barometer for their business, but Matt is a keen advocate for Customer Lifetime Value. You can have months with big revenue, but the next month you might disappear. Some brands look tremendous and fall apart in the blink of an eye because they aren’t inconsistent.Matt’s business isn’t just about selling shirts. They seek to make their customer experience better, listen to what they have to say, and keep them engaged, so they stick around. That’s the real product!Finding Investors that are a Good FitOnce you have proof of concept and you organically grow your business, you might attract investors. Matt says that after a twenty-minute meeting, he secured an agreement to inject capital into his business and help with connections and expertise. Having passion, enthusiasm, and a multi-year vision for where you want to go is essential if you dream of bringing in investors.It is also important to note that you shouldn’t do this lightly and sell too much equity right off the bat to raise funds. You are better growing slowly and taking your time!Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's FacebookFollow Matt:Matt's LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Design Your Shopify Store to Make It High-ConvertingIn this episode of The Ecom Show hosted by our own Daniel Budai, we get a chance to learn from another master of retention marketing in the ecommerce world!Blended Commerce co-founder and CEO Adam Pearce tells us of his journey, bouncing around between management, consultant, and even teaching jobs before realizing he was interested in ecommerce (and pretty great at figuring it out too!).Both ecommerce shop owners and marketers can learn a whole lot from Daniel and Adam this episode, with great topics like:✔️ The best Shopify apps✔️ Expert design tips for ecommerce stores✔️ Beautiful aesthetics vs. conversion rates✔️ Latest Shopify design trends✔️ When you should consult a design expertThe Tools Experts TrustEvery great marketer has their trusted apps, and Adam is no exception. He mentions Klaviyo taking the crown from Mailchimp a few years back to become one of the very best apps you can use. It does much more than set up email campaigns, essentially giving business owners complete control over their valuable data!Recharge is another prominent app, great for recurring purchases and subscriptions. Octane AI is an exciting quiz app for ecommerce shops to personalize the experience and pitch specific products to shoppers. At the same time, Reviews.io is the perfect way to get user-generated video reviews, which can boost your sales!Three Crucial Design Tips What Adam and Blend Commerce can be pretty complicated at times, but he gave us a few simple tips for all businesses to utilize. While getting started, he recommends having a large budget for product photos and videos, as quality videos and 360-degree photos can up your conversion rate by 70%!Being consistent with color, shapes, fonts, and photos goes a long way to build trust with prospective customers. Having your “Call to Action” prominently displayed at the top of the landing page is more effective than a large, flashy hero image or text. Be sure to put social proof, mentions of free shipping, and other vital information close to the CTA to make a choice even easier.Beauty Does Not Equal SalesIf it were just about making beautiful ecommerce landing pages, it would be a piece of cake for Adam and his agency. But he says knowing your audience is the most critical part of owning an ecommerce brand. Some of the top-performing pages are quite ugly, while some of the sleekest, futuristic designs yield hardly any sales! Both Daniel and Adam mention websites catered towards older crowds needing to be less flashy, more informational, and less distracting. In contrast, sites catered towards younger demographics can go with more aesthetic designs. “Make it beautiful for the type of people you want to attract!”Ecommerce Trends of 2020Ecommerce is exploding right now, with 54% of traffic attributed to new shoppers since COVID-19 started. Although the traffic was once evenly distributed between desktop and mobile users, Adam says that around 80% of traffic comes from mobile these days.People are also prioritizing web speed more lately, with studies showing that improving your loading speed by just 1 second can net you 7% higher conversion rates! There has even been an increase in Shopify stores with digital products as well.Do it Yourself or Ask an Expert?Lots of the stuff Blended Commerce does for their clients, you can also do for yourself. Adam says, don’t worry about hiring someone when you have less than 1000 visitors per month because there simply isn’t enough data to sift through and come to a conclusion.You can use design templates, Google Analytics, Hotjar (a helpful heatmap to analyze your site), and more before consulting an expert. It is a lot more useful to tell them precisely what you want rather than saying, “make my shop beautiful, please.”Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedIn Daniel's Facebook Follow Adam:Adam's LinkedIn Adam's website  Adam's podcast   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Secret Sauce of Salesgenomics to Grow an Ecommerce Brand from Zero to HeroOctober is rolling along, and The Ecom Show is staying strong!For our 21st episode, we welcome SalesGenomics co-founder Matt Panek for a sit-down.Despite wanting to be a scientist who would one day discover a cure for aging, fate had other plans for Matt. Now he heads an Ecommerce Growth Hacking Agency that works with brands to maximize their potential, eliminate costly inefficiencies, and scale up to become a significant force in the digital marketplace!Cozy up with a cup of coffee and listen in as Matt and Budai Media’s founder Daniel talk about:✔️ Holistic business model approaches✔️ How to scale efficiently scale your ecommerce business up ✔️ Choosing the right time to hire and the best possible people✔️ The best performing creatives for ecommerce brands✔️ Learning to crunch the numbers before making a strategyEverything is ConnectedSalesGenomics brings a holistic approach to every client they take on. What works for one business might not necessarily be the best for another. Matt’s agency has worked with Facebook Ads, Google Ads, email marketing, SMS, social media influencers, creatives, and they have lots of other tools at their disposal. After screening a potential client and auditing their business, Matt can figure out how to address pressing issues and scale up the company quickly using any of the channels and tools available to his team.Grow Your Ecommerce Brand If you have an ecommerce business making 4 or 5 figures per month, what are the best ways to grow your revenue?Matt says there is no one-size-fits-all approach to this question, but the first thing one should consider is the amount and quality of website traffic. If most of your traffic is organic, you are poised to do well and scale considerably. Focusing on product development, delegating to the right people or agencies, and budgeting the right amount of money to scale up are crucial parts of any ecommerce journey.Surrounding Yourself With the BestFinding the right people for a company is vastly important for any business owner. Matt mentions the two main questions he asks himself when hiring: “Do they have the right attitude to be part of this team?” and “Do they have the aptitude for learning quickly and growing as part of this team?”. You can even hire an HR representative or a consultant to advise you, or as SalesGenomic calls it, a Head of People and Cultures. Cultivating the right atmosphere for your team to mesh together and bring innovation from every level is key.Create the Perfect CreativesThe four essential components to making the ultimate creatives are organic, uniqueness, virality, and the principle of direct response. Your ad should look as if it is just an average social media post, so people will let their guard down and willingly look at the advertisement. The creative should also stand out while fitting in, so it remains memorable. Each advertisement should have the potential to go viral, whether that means it tells a great story, offers helpful information, makes people feel like insiders, or is newsworthy. Finally, you need a strong call to action, ownership benefits, and information on how the product is used to make the ideal ad!Dive Into the DataSalesGenomics doesn’t just offer to dive into the data for their clients; they make it a non-negotiable part of their contract. If you ignore the treasure chest of data at your disposal, you won’t succeed in the ecommerce game. Matt also says it helps that he has started three ecommerce companies to understand how it feels to manage an entire brand. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, his company even made 1.6 dollars in 56 days selling face masks!This fascinating discussion is full to the brim with musings from an ecommerce expert who knows the industry from all angles.Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's FacebookFollow Matt:Matt's LinkedIn Matt's Facebook SalesGenomics Facebook group SalesGenomics YouTube channel SalesGenomics website  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Skyrocket an Ecommerce BusinessWe are proud to welcome the founder of several companies this week on the 20th episode of The Ecom Show.From New York City, Kevin Urrutia started as a programmer, moved to Silicon Valley, started several ecommerce businesses, developed his own marketing skills, and now runs a marketing agency and several successful brands!Gather round and listen in as Budai Media founder Daniel and Voy Media founder Kevin discuss a wide variety of topics like:✔️ Getting started in ecommerce✔️ The link between product development and marketing✔️ Becoming more than a one-product ecommerce store✔️ Importance of organic marketing strategies✔️ Learning from your setbacks and failuresBuild An Ecommerce Brand From the Ground UpIt can be tricky in an already saturated online marketplace to get started, but the product is what you should focus on first. Kevin says he came up with his company Chester Travels, just by researching popular keywords on Google.By letting the market tell him what it wanted, he was able to create a popular luggage company for travelers even though he never considered selling luggage bags before. It is also crucial to have a strategy from the beginning, whether that means Facebook Ads, Amazon listings, or collaborations with social media influencers.The Evolving Connection Between Product Development and Marketing“I used to think that if you made an awesome product, people would somehow find it eventually,” says Kevin.He now knows this couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, he has come up with several solid business ideas only to see them fall apart due to a lack of digital marketing strategy. You can have the best product in the world, but you can’t sell a thing if no one knows about it!Now you can piggyback off marketing and figure out your next product idea based on what other people are searching for, so never before has product development and marketing been so closely linked together.From One-Product Shop to Ecommerce EmpireMost ecommerce brands start out with one tried and tested product. It is so rare to find success if you stay a one-product shop that leans too heavily on your “hero product.” Never stop innovating and questioning how you can improve or make more revenue.Kevin pitches some great ideas, like creating online content such as classes or loyalty programs, to keep money flowing in. If you can have recurring payments or subscriptions, it’s even better! Remember that Amazon started selling books, and now they have a listing for every object you could possibly imagine!Organic Marketing 101If you think Facebook Ads or Google Ads will do all the heavy lifting for you from the getgo, think again! Kevin mentions excellent tips like contacting influential bloggers and reviewers to send them your product for review or reaching out to influencers and giving away products in exchange for brand awareness photos (which really come in handy down the line!).Reviews are the most important thing you can have initially, so start the conversation about your product as early as you can!Every Mistake is a Lesson LearnedDon’t ever be afraid to fail. Kevin started several businesses before he got one to stick, but he learned some valuable information to begin future business endeavors each time.Experience truly is the best teacher, and that’s how Kevin has learned how to market, what products sell the best, or why you should always have someone working during the holidays in case a website goes down (Don’t lose out on millions in sales during Black Friday Sales!)If you are looking for an intellectually stimulating interview jampacked with goodies, don’t forget to take in the latest episode of The Ecom Show.Follow Daniel Budai:Daniel's LinkedInDaniel's FacebookFollow Kevin:Kevin's LinkedIn Kevin's Twitter Kevin's email Kevin's website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.