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The Ecomcrew Ecommerce Podcast

An eCommerce podcast for store owners, hosted by 7-figure store owners Mike Jackness and Dave Bryant. We cover everything in eCommerce from Shopify, to Amazon FBA. From email marketing, to Facebook Ads. Never before has there been a podcast with store owners who are so candid. Subscribe to the Ecomcrew podcast today!
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Now displaying: Page 1
Sep 16, 2024

In this episode, Dave talks about how Temu is pressuring Amazon with its low prices, fast shipping and surge in popularity.

Ever since Temu's viral marketing ad in the Superbowl, they've grown to become one of the biggest competitors to Amazon. 

But how is Temu able to offer lower prices compared to sites like Amazon and even eBay?

It has something to do with its business model and the fact that it lacks a few key features of other e-commerce sites. But is there more to it?

In this episode, we'll talk about how Temu has disrupted the e-commerce space, how Temu keeps its products cheap, and how they cut costs. 

The Big Takeaways of Today's Episode

  • Temu has disrupted Amazon's dominance in the North American e-commerce market.
  • Temu is able to offer fast shipping times because of their logistics model that mirrors Amazon's FBA.
  • The Chinese government may be indirectly supporting Temu's growth by heavily supporting exports.

Temu Prices Episode Timestamps

  • 00:00 - Introduction to E-commerce and Temu
  • 02:54 - Temu's Disruption of Amazon
  • 05:45 - Logistics and Shipping Innovations
  • 09:03 - Pricing Strategies and Market Competition
  • 11:50 - Government Subsidies and Economic Implications
  • 15:08 - Amazon's Response to Competition
  • 18:02 - Conclusion and Future Outlook

As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested. 

Don’t forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can. 

Thanks for listening!

Until next time, happy selling!

Sep 9, 2024

In this episode, Mike Jackness interviews Michael Kaufman – the CEO of ProTuff Products. We talk about Kaufman's journey in the e-commerce industry, how he differentiates his products by offering an extended warranty and how lifetime warranties guarantees 5 star reviews.

How to Find a Profitable Product Course Open Now

Still struggling to find your next great product? The EcomCrew How to Find a Profitable Course is open now and is just $499 for one week only. We’ll cover everything from using the ‘Cockroach approach’ to developing large and bulky products, avoiding placement fees, and more. Check it out now.

How Do You Use Lifetime Warranties To Guarantee 5 Star Reviews?

As a shopper on Amazon, you've probably bought something that have warranty cards as a part of the products' insert. 

But most companies don't stand behind their warranty policy, or they just straight up have flimsy policies. 

Having a lifetime warranty means that you'll have to approve every warranty that comes in, no matter what. However, the bright side to this is that this almost always guarantees a 5-star review since you will actually be standing behind your own warranty policy. 

The Big Takeaways of Today's Episode

  • Offering a lifetime warranty can help differentiate your products and build a solid review profile.
  • Automating the warranty registration and claim process can save time and money, since you don't have to hire someone to approve warranties.
  • Selling seasonal products can be challenging, but offering incentives for early registration and extending the product's use for other purposes can help mitigate the seasonality.
  • Building a list through warranty registration is a TOS-compliant way to communicate with customers on Amazon.
  • Choosing the right warranty duration and offering additional benefits can encourage customers to register and leave positive reviews.

Lifetime Warranties Episode Timestamps: 

  • 00:00 - Introduction and Small Talk
  • 03:14 - ProTuff Products and the Pool Tools Niche
  • 11:29 - Differentiating Products with a Lifetime Warranty
  • 18:10 - Building a List through Lifetime Warranty Registration
  • 21:03 - Incentivizing Lifetime Warranty Registration and Positive Reviews
  • 26:57 - Streamlining Warranty Management

As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested. 

Don’t forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can. 

Thanks for listening!

Until next time, happy selling!

 

Sep 2, 2024

Elizabeth Corbett discusses the biggest mistakes e-commerce brands make with packaging, the opportunities they're missing out on and the easy ways you can save on packaging costs. 

 

Packaging is one of the most important aspects to improving your customers' unboxing experience.

 

Its the one opportunity you have to communicate with your customers so you should be investing quite a bit into it. 

 

That's why we've invited Elizabeth Corbett to the podcast to talk to us all about packaging, the biggest mistakes brands make, and why you should consider eco friendly solutions for packaging. 

 

Here's some timestamps to get you by: 

  • 00:00 - Introduction
  • 01:28 - Packaging Mistakes
  • 04:11 - Packaging Waste and Cost Savings
  • 07:00 - Benefits of Shipping In Its Own Container
  • 10:43 - Dealing with Porch Pirates and Returns in DTC Packaging
  • 14:41 - Considerations for Sourcing Packaging Materials
  • 18:55 - The Impact of Freight Costs on Packaging
  • 27:25 - The Growing Importance of Sustainable Packaging
  • 33:34 - Contact Elizabeth for your packaging concerns

 

As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested. 

 

Don’t forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can. 

 

Thanks for listening!

 

Until next time, happy selling!

Aug 26, 2024

In this episode, Mike and Dave evaluate the impact of Google's September 2023 Update on EcomCrew's and other websites, and talk about the new challenges that have popped up because of this update. 

Ever since September 2023, ranking on Google as an affiliate site has been harder than ever. 

We've seen websites (including ours) decline in organic views from 20% to 80%, while Reddit has started to rank for every keyword. 

If Google continue towards this trend of giving big websites all the ranking juice, what happens to affiliate websites? And by extension, what does that mean for all digital media outlets? 

Dave and I discuss all these topics and more in this episode. Here are some timestamps to help you along. 

Timestamps

  • 00:00 - Introduction
  • 01:26 - Economies of Scale and Content Sites
  • 04:20 - Google's Helpful Update and Content Sites
  • 08:07 - The Rise of Reddit
  • 19:29 - Challenges of Self-Promotion on Reddit
  • 23:36 - The Future of Content Sites and Digital Media
  • 24:06 - Conclusion

As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested. 

Don’t forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can. 

Thanks for listening!

Until next time, happy selling!

Aug 19, 2024

In this episode, Dave discusses how to reduce inbound placement fees with Amazon, how placement fees are calculated and who the winners and losers are since these fees were implemented. 

Today's episode is sponsored by Clearco, a company that provides ecommerce businesses with working capital to fund inventory, marketing, shipping and logistics, and more! Check them out today! 

It's been a few months since Amazon implemented their new Inbound Placement Fees. 

The amount of increase varies, depending on the product, warehouse location, and other factors. But the good news is that you don’t always have to pay the fees.

In this episode, we’ll explore the 3 ways you can use to avoid or reduce your Inventory Placement Fee when sending products to Amazon.

The Big Takeaways

  1. Shipping to four or more locations can help avoid placement fees.
  2. Shipping to Amazon Warehousing and Distribution (AWD) can also help avoid placement fees, although it may come with other fees such as receiving and warehousing fees.
  3. Choosing a more centralized 3PL can help minimize placement fees and partner carrier fees.

Timestamps

  • 00:00 - Introduction to Placement Fees
  • 02:20 - Amazon Warehousing and Distribution (AWD) as a Solution
  • 10:53 - Ship into AWD to Avoid Placement Fees
  • 13:48 - Consider the Location of Your 3PL
  • 17:09 - Impact of Placement Fees on Profitability

As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested. 

Don’t forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can. 

Thanks for listening!

Until next time, happy selling!

Aug 12, 2024

Mike interviews Ajoy Krishnamoorthy, the CEO of Cin7, about the importance of software in e-commerce businesses, the challenges of managing inventory across multiple channels, and the benefits of using AI to forecast inventory for your business.

 

Today's episode is sponsored by Clearco, a company that provides ecommerce businesses with working capital to fund inventory, marketing, shipping and logistics, and more! Check them out today! 

 

Branching out into another marketplace can make things more complicated than you think, inventory and accounting wise. 

 

Having an inventory management software can make things easier, but how? 

 

Ajoy Krishnamoorthy, the CEO of Cin7, an inventory management software, is on the podcast today to explain and talk about how an inventory management system can help simplify selling in multiple ecommerce platforms.

 

The Big Takeaway

  • Managing inventory across multiple channels can be challenging and requires a centralised system.
  • AI and machine learning can improve forecasting accuracy and help make informed inventory decisions.
  • Data-driven insights are essential for optimizing inventory and improving business performance.

Timestamps

  • 00:00 - Introduction & Sponsorship
  • 01:29 - Introduction to Ajoy Krishnamurthy and Cin7
  • 04:46 - Challenges of Managing Inventory Across Multiple Channels
  • 10:39 - The Importance of Accurate Forecasting in Inventory Management
  • 20:48 - Streamlining Financial Processes with Accounting Integration
  • 25:24 - AI as an Enabler for Business Growth

Resources

 

As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested. 

Don’t forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can. 

Thanks for listening!

Until next time, happy selling!

Aug 5, 2024

With Prime Day over and Amazon's Q2 earnings report revealed, Dave recaps how his Prime Day went and what does means for the future of third party sellers on Amazon. 

 

Today's episode is sponsored by Clearco, a company that provides ecommerce businesses with working capital to fund inventory, marketing, shipping and logistics, and more! Check them out today! 

 

Prime Day 2024 was touted as the biggest shopping event ever, with record sales and more items sold than any previous Prime Day.

 

But who were the real winners of Prime Day? 

 

Today, Dave talks about his personal Prime Day experience, how Amazon missed their estimates for Q2, and what that means for third party sellers. 

 

The Big Takeaway

  • Amazon's Q2 earnings showed sluggish growth in online store revenue and missed estimates for the "third-party seller services and advertising revenue" section. This might mean more fees in Q3. 
  • Prime Day 2024 was the biggest shopping event ever, but its impact on overall sales is questionable as consumers may be delaying their purchases.
  • Buy Now, Pay Later options are gaining popularity, accounting for 7.6% of all orders during Prime Day.
  • Amazon Basics was the most searched for brand during Prime Day, indicating consumers' demand for low priced products. 
  • Apparel is emerging as a strong category on Amazon, potentially due to Amazon's response to Temu and Shein. 

Timestamps

  • 00:00 - Introduction: Amazon's Q2 Earnings and Prime Day 2024
  • 03:06 - Sluggish Growth and Missed Estimates
  • 09:47 - Prime Day 2024: The Biggest Shopping Event Ever?
  • 13:02 - The Rise of Buy Now, Pay Later
  • 17:42 - Amazon Basics: The Most Searched for Brand on Prime Day
  • 21:24 - Apparel: A Strong Category on Amazon

 

As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested. 

 

Don’t forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can. 

 

Thanks for listening!

Until next time, happy selling!

Jul 29, 2024

To find out what exactly happens to these returns and where they go, Dave stuck an Apple Airtag in it and tracked it over the next 3 months.

Today's episode is sponsored by Clearco, a company that provides ecommerce businesses with working capital to fund inventory, marketing, shipping and logistics, and more! Check them out today! 

Have you ever wondered what happens to your Amazon returns?

Earlier in the year, Dave bought an Amazon Basics gym bag that he needed to return. To find out what exactly happens to these returns and where they go, he stuck an Apple Airtag in it and tracked it over the next 3 months. Here's exactly where it went and how I found it.

The Big Takeaway

  • Amazon inspects returns for their condition and might resell them to liquidators if they're not "like new". 
  • 80% of customers mark items as "wrong item sent" to avoid return shipping charges.
  • There is a huge reseller market for Amazon returns.

Timestamps

  • 00:00 - Introduction: Tracking an Amazon Return
  • 08:05 - The Reseller Market for Amazon Returns
  • 13:17 - Buying Back the Returned Item
  • 17:05 - The Environmental Consequences of Returns

As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested. 

Don’t forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can. 

Thanks for listening!

Until next time, happy selling!

Jul 22, 2024

Dave joins the podcast today to talk about Prime Day 2024; what their early sales look like, whether Chinese Marketplaces are going to start more shopping holidays, and why this might be the worst Prime Day so far.

 

Today's episode is sponsored by Clearco, a company that provides ecommerce businesses with working capital to fund inventory, marketing, shipping and logistics, and more! Check them out today! 

 

Prime Day 2024 has been nowhere close to what we've seen in sales the year before. 

 

Now these might be niche and brand specific, but it's worth pointing out that maybe this year hasn't been as great as last year, where we saw 2.5x to 3x the number of sales. 

 

From a mixture of the early results and an overall negative perception of the shopping holiday, here's why Dave and I think this might be one of the worst Prime Days since its inception. 

 

Big Takeaways

  • Prime Day sales boosts might not be felt by everyone - it could vary depending on brand and niche.
  • If you aren't trying to spread brand awareness, it might not be worth it to sell your products at a loss.
  • Chinese competitors like Temu and Shein might start to challenge Amazon's dominance on Prime Day and create their own shopping holidays in the US.

 

Timestamps

  • 00:00 - Introduction and Sponsor
  • 02:17 - Early Results of Prime Day
  • 02:39 - Feelings about Prime Day
  • 04:17 - Why this might be the worst Prime Day
  • 06:32 - Pent-up demand and scouting orders the day before
  • 09:57 - The Negative Perception Around Prime Day
  • 12:41 - Will chinese competitors hop on the same trend?
  • 14:17 - Predictions: More shopping holidays are coming
  • 18:10 - Casual stories with Mike and Dave

 

As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested. 

 

Don’t forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can. 

 

Thanks for listening!

 

Until next time, happy selling!

Jul 15, 2024

Dave and I discuss the reasons why e-commerce valuations have significantly decreased this year, Mike's run at the World Series of Poker event, and the potential valuation of content websites. 

Today's episode is sponsored by Clearco, a company that provides ecommerce businesses with working capital to fund inventory, marketing, shipping and logistics, and more! Check them out today! 

It's been almost a year since I last sold off one of my e-commerce businesses. 

Since then, a lot has changed.

Amazon's new fees were implemented, interest rates have skyrocketed, and FBA Aggregators are few and far between. 

I invited Dave over today to discuss how Amazon may or may not have had a hand in directly affecting the valuations of e-commerce businesses, and why the market hasn't recovered from 2 years ago. Here are some of the big takeaways from this episode: 

The Big Takeaways

  • E-commerce valuations have decreased mainly due to the uncertainty caused by Amazon's fees and policies. Who knows when Amazon will come out with more fees that'll impact profitability? 
  • Google's latest algorithm update has hit a LOT of content websites, leading to decreased traffic for everyone involved which directly impact its valuations. 
  • If your e-commerce business is sold at a 2x multiple, it might not be enough for you to retire. Wouldn't it be better to hold onto your business instead? 

Timestamps

  • 00:00 - Introduction and Sponsor
  • 02:56 - Mike's Run at the World Series of Poker
  • 08:13 - E-commerce Valuations
  • 20:07 - Valuations for FBA Businesses
  • 21:06 - Valuations for Off-Amazon Brands
  • 22:01 - Uncertainty in Content Site Valuations
  • 28:14 - Decision to Hold onto a Profitable Business
  • 31:08 - Dave's Funny Story 
  • 34:21 - eBay's Attempt to Change

As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested. 

Don’t forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can. 

Thanks for listening!

Until next time, happy selling!

Jul 9, 2024

Brandon Eley joins the podcast to talk about his entrepreneurial journey, the challenges and opportunities of picking a complex product for private labelling, and why the road less travelled can be the better option when picking a product. 

Today's episode is sponsored by Clearco, a company that provides ecommerce businesses with working capital to fund inventory, marketing, shipping and logistics, and more! Check them out today! 

Complexity can be an opportunity. 

You've probably heard me say it multiple times if you're a loyal podcast listener. 

But today's episode is a prime example of this phrase. 

Brandon Eley sells shoes at his company, 2 Big Feet. What sets his business apart from other shoe stores is that he only sells shoes for US sizes ranging from 15-25. 

Now you must be thinking: "How big is his target market?" 

Don't worry, I asked him the same question. Here's some timestamps below if you want to skip directly to it: 

Timestamps

  • 00:00 - Introduction and Sponsor
  • 01:28 - Starting Too Big Feet and Meeting the Demand
  • 07:12 - Challenges in the Shoe Industry and the Evolution of Too Big Feet
  • 14:15 - The Journey of Manufacturing Shoes
  • 19:06 - Creating Affordable Options for Customers
  • 27:40 - Quality Control and Addressing Manufacturing Defects
  • 36:13 - Success and Growth of Michael Ellis Footwear

Takeaways

  • Starting an ultra-niche ecommerce business can be successful, especially if there is a demand for a specific product or service.

  • Manufacturing shoes is a lot more complex than you think. It involves designing patterns, selecting materials, and working with factories to create the final product.
  • Offering affordable options for customers with specific needs can help differentiate a brand and attract a very loyal customer base.

  • Investing in quality control and addressing manufacturing defects early is key to maintaining customer satisfaction.

As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested. 

Don’t forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can. 

Thanks for listening!

Until next time, happy selling!

Jul 1, 2024

In this episode, Dave shows 10 ways you can reduce stupid PPC Spend and maximise efficiency just in time for Prime Day. 

Today's episode is sponsored by Clearco, a company that provides ecommerce businesses with working capital to fund inventory, marketing, shipping and logistics, and more! Check them out today! 

Prime Day 2023 saw people spend up to $12.9bn alone. 

Obviously, everyone wants a piece of the pie. You can expect competitors to increase their ad spend 2x or even 3x more just for the possibility of more sales. To prepare for this year's Prime Day, there are some ways you can maximise the efficiency of your ad spend.

However what these sellers fail to notice is that it's all about maximising efficiency of your running ads. 

That's why my partner-in-crime, Dave Bryant, is on the podcast today to talk about the 10 ways you can maximise your efficiency and reduce ad spend.

Timestamps

  • 00:00 - Introduction and Sponsor
  • 01:28 - Topic: Reducing PPC Spend on Amazon
  • 03:51 - Optimizing Targeting Options in Auto Campaigns
  • 05:16 - Optimizing Targeting Options in Manual Campaigns
  • 07:37 - Using Dynamic Bids Down Only and Avoiding Broad Match
  • 10:30 - Avoiding Ads in Other Countries and Turning Off Sponsored Display
  • 13:52 - Unclicking Expanded Product Targeting and Using Exact Match
  • 17:44 - Conclusion and Call to Action

The Big Takeaways

  • Increasing conversion rates can lower ad costs and improve ROAS.

  • Turn off loose match targeting in auto campaigns and optimize targeting options in manual campaigns.

  • Use dynamic bids down only and be cautious with broad match keywords.

  • Don't let Amazon set up ads in other countries and consider turning off sponsored display campaigns.

  • Lowering prices may be a better option than increasing PPC to improve profitability.

As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested. 

Don’t forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can. 

Thanks for listening!

Until next time, happy selling!

Jun 24, 2024

Aaron Hughes makes his second appearance on the Ecomcrew Podcast to talk about all things Tiktok Shop, and why people should start leveraging the platform for their ecommerce businesses. 

Today's episode is sponsored by Clearco, a company that provides ecommerce businesses with working capital to fund inventory, marketing, shipping and logistics, and more! Check them out today! 

During my last eCommerceFuel Live Trip, the one common topic that frequently came up was  about was how good Tiktok Shop was for their businesses. 

Unfortunately, ice packs don't really have a passionate audience, so I brought in someone who's products have had a significant uplift from TikTok Shop alone. That's why I've invited Aaron Hughes on the podcast today! 

Aaron Hughes is no stranger on the podcast but he's back to talk about how Tiktok Shop has performed for his business, the impacts the platform has had on his business, and a few tips for people who haven't bit the bullet yet. 

Timestamps

  • 0:00 - Intro 
  • 0:33 - Sponsor Segment 
  • 1:43 - Recording Issues 
  • 3:03 - TikTok Shop for E-commerce Marketing
  • 7:59 - Getting Set Up on TikTok Shop 
  •  
    9:17 - The TikTok Ban
  • 12:00 - Aaron's Strategies for Tiktok Shop
  • 15:33 - How long did it take to start being successful? 
  • 17:32 - Top 3 Tips for TikTok Shop
  • 20:25 - Leveraging Controversial Topics
  • 21:53 - Building a Foundation on TikTok 
  • 23:00 - Aaron's New AI Listing Tool
  • 27:32 - Mike's Last Question 

The Big Takeaways

  • Don't discount your products' potential performance on TikTok Shop, whether they're a commodity or not. 
  • TikTok has become what everyone thought Walmart was going to be. 

Aaron, thank you again for coming on the podcast. If you guys want to learn more about Listbutler or hiring from India, you can contact him directly at aaron@listbutler.ai.  

As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested. 

Don’t forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can. 

Thanks for listening!

Until next time, happy selling! 

Jun 17, 2024

In today's episode, Joshua George shares the 5 biggest SEO-related mistakes that he's noticed after countless discovery calls with ecommerce entrepreneurs made through his agency, ClickSlice. Mike and Joshua also talk about the many SEO challenges that business owners have been facing from recent Google updates. 

Joshua George is the founder of ClickSlice, an award-winning SEO agency based in London. He's also a regular speaker who focuses on spreading SEO education. 

I've invited him over to the podcast to pick his brain about what the current SEO landscape is shaping up to be, and whether the challenges that I'm personally facing right now are just a symptom of Google's newest core update or if they're a serious issue. 

The Big Takeaways

  • Backlinks are the most challenging, but most rewarding factor to contribute to your SEO rankings. 
  • There's a hidden opportunity to get your collection pages ranked on Google! 
  • Sub-collections and separate URLs for certain categories of products can actually help your SEO rankings. 

Timestamps

  • 00:00 - Introduction and Sponsor
  • 01:57 - Joshua's Background and Experience with SEO
  • 03:25 - The Impact of Google Updates on SEO
  • 08:42 - The Importance of Long-Tail Keywords and Transactional Intent
  • 10:08 - The Value of SEO and the Common Mistakes Brands Make
  • 13:19 - Mistake 1: Not Doing Enough Keyword Research
  • 14:17 - Mistake 2: Not Adding Content on Collection Pages
  • 21:24 - Mistake 4: Not Leveraging Blogs Properly
  • 25:35 - Mistake 5: Not Building Quality Backlinks
  • 29:24 - Where to Find ClickSlice and Closing Remarks

Joshua, thank you again for coming on the podcast! It was nice chatting with you, and picking your brain about my SEO challenges. I look forward to meeting you in person soon!

You can find Joshua George through his agency's website, ClickSlice. If you have any inquiries about how you can boost your SEO rankings, book a free discovery call! I highly recommend putting more time and effort into SEO in general. You can also find Joshua George on Twitter, or LinkedIn. 

If any listeners would like to have a discussion about this, let me know by emailing us directly at support@ecomcrew.com.

Also, if you have any questions or any topics you’d like us to discuss on the podcast, you can email us directly as well! We would really appreciate it if you would leave us a review on iTunes

Thanks for listening!

Jun 10, 2024

In this episode, Mike and Dave discuss Ecomcrew's new feature, the trending products tab on Amazon. They list out some of the top opportunities found, and why they may or may not be a very good idea. 

The conversation covers a wide range of trending products and niche opportunities, including the impact of the pandemic on consumer behavior, the rise of hyper-seasonal trends, and the potential for creating brands around products you wouldn't normally think of. 

Jun 3, 2024

Adam Craft, founder of Elevated Craft, joins Mike Jackness on the EcomCrew podcast to discuss his personal journey in building a brand.

Adam shares his approach to product differentiation in a saturated market, and how building a strong brand was the first priority for Adam. This meant that learning the basics of Amazon wasn't his priority. It was all in the hands of agencies. 

Eventually, Adam learned about the challenges of relying on agencies and how much better it would be to learn and implement marketing strategies yourself. Adam also shares his experience with using Kickstarter, and how his upbringing impacted his business mindset. 

May 27, 2024

In this episode, Chris and Julia Tunstall share their journey of building a successful brand in the cocktail industry, what it's like to have your spouse as a business partner and a few tips on how they make it work. 

 

Chris and Julia Tunstall are the owners of the brand, A Bar Above, and have been friends of mine in the industry for longer than I can remember.

 

I've invited them on the podcast today to find out their entrepreneurial story, and how they manage to stay business partners together through 10 years of being in the business together. 

 

Spoiler alert: it takes a whole lot of effective communication, trust, and a clear list of roles and responsibilities between each other. Ultimately, they emphasize the importance of finding a system that works for both partners and playing to each other's strengths.

 

The Big Takeaways

Here's a few of the big key points from this episode: 

  • Creating a high-quality experience for your customers, whether a physical or a digital product, can lead to customer loyalty and repeat purchases.
  • If you sell B2B, you'll know that there's a problem if they make a complaint. 
  • Focusing on customer satisfaction and providing exceptional products can lead to long-term success.
  • Clear roles and responsibilities are crucial for a successful partnership, especially if you're working with your spouse. 
  • Effective communication and trust are key to navigating the dynamics of being both business and life partners.
  • Understanding and respecting each other's working styles can help create a harmonious working relationship.

 

Timestamps 

  • 00:00 - Introduction and Background
  • 03:09 - Transition from Education to Physical Products
  • 07:23 - Expanding Product Line and B2B Market
  • 12:23 - Innovative Experiences for Consumers
  • 19:08 - Customer Satisfaction and Future Growth
  • 20:32 - The Impact of Reviews on Product Success
  • 21:23 - The Importance of Consistent Branding
  • 22:16 - The Evolution of Launch Strategies
  • 23:26 - Appreciating Well-Designed Websites
  • 24:41 - The Challenges of Working with a Spouse
  • 28:12 - Navigating the Dynamics of Being Business and Life Partners
  • 30:48 - The Pressure of Being the Sole Income Provider
  • 32:34 - Understanding and Respecting Different Working Styles

 

Chris and Julia, thank you again for coming on the podcast! It was nice catching up with you again, and I look forward to meeting you both in Vegas soon.

 

If any listeners would like to have a discussion about this, let me know by emailing us directly at support@ecomcrew.com.

 

Also, if you have any questions or any topics you’d like us to discuss on the podcast, you can email us directly as well! We would really appreciate it if you would leave us a review on iTunes

 

Thanks for listening!

May 20, 2024

In this episode, Mike and Dave dissect Amazon's latest announcement regarding Return Fees, how this will affect sellers starting on June 1st, and a possible option to combat these fees. 

Another day, another fee gets announced. It seems like third-party sellers are getting hit left and right lately with new fees, the latest one being Return Fees. In this episode, Dave and I are going to dive into the latest announcement regarding Return Fees, what this means for sellers, and how you can possibly combat these fees. 

The Big Takeaways 

If you're in a hurry, here's a few of the big key points from this episode: 

  • Starting June 1st, Amazon will start charging sellers $2-$4 extra dollars to process returns. 
  • This will only affect SKUs that have surpassed the return threshold in their category. The specific thresholds have been listed by Amazon here. 
  • To check for your product's return rate, check out Amazon's SKU Economics Dashboard which is available in Seller Central. 
  • Take into account your product's return fees, and double check if your products are still profitable. 
  • If you're over the Return Threshold for your product, increase your price. 
  • Turning on the "Returnless Returns" option for your most returned products can be a viable way to combat these extra charges. 

Timestamps 

  • Podcast Start - 0:00
  • Looking at return rates and return thresholds - 0:35 
  • The return fees announcement - 1:22 
  • The published thresholds for categories - 2:21
  • How return fees affect your products profitability - 3:30
  • All the new fees to think about - 4:54
  • Tip: The SKU Economics Dashboard - 5:20
  • How the Return Rate Thresholds are calculated - 6:08
  • What sellers should do - 6:56 
  • Mike's most returned product - 7:05
  • Tip: How to "possibly" combat these return fees: turning on returnless returns - 7:47
  • Dave's most returned products - 10:33
  • People taking advantage of Amazon's return policy - 11:26
  • The automotive category's return threshold - 14:11
  • The silver lining: being forced to double check operational costs - 15:39 
  • Return fees will be charged for units above the threshold - 19:12
  • How return fees compare to storage fees - 20:46
  • Return fee predictions - 21:43 
  • Catching up on Hockey with Dave - 21:57

Links to Tools Mentioned: 

  • Link to Amazon Return Thresholds 
  • Link to the SKU Economics Dashboard 
  • Link to Helium10 

Dave, thanks again for coming on the podcast! It was nice catching up with you again, and I look forward to the follow-up episode we'll do about returns soon. 

If any listeners would like to have a discussion about this, let me know by emailing us directly at support@ecomcrew.com.

Also, if you have any questions or any topics you’d like us to discuss on the podcast, you can email us directly as well! We would really appreciate it if you would leave us a review on iTunes

Thanks for listening!

May 13, 2024

Kevin Williams is on the podcast today to talk about his entrepreneurial journey. From founding brands like Brush Hero to appearing on Shark Tank and finally, to diving deep into AI, we cover the lessons that he's learned through each brand and venture. 

Kevin Williams is the founder of MadBrains AI, a company that specializes in AI literacy and training. With an extensive background in ecommerce, Kevin consistently provides practical tips to digital marketers on how to leverage AI for their brands.

Kevin and I met quite a while back in 2015, where Kevin held a presentation on the importance of product validation before marketing, and that's when I had an epiphany — if no one is interested in your product before you go to sell, it's not worth it.  

After years of friendship, I've decided to get him on to catch up with him and get a background of his experience as an entrepreneur. Here's some timestamps: 

Timestamps: 

  • Podcast Start - 0:00
  • Mike's Reason for Getting Friends on the Podcast - 0:30 
  • Kevin's Product Validation Presentation and Business Model - 1:30 
  • Traffic is 4x more expensive now - 2:44 
  • Kevin's Patent Concept - 4:17 
  • The Origins of Brush Hero - 6:28 
  • Importance of Storytelling - 7:26 
  • How Counterfeits Destroyed Brush Hero - 8:41
  • Being CEO of Balls.co - 11:48
  • "What happened to Balls.co?" - 13:59
  • Diving into AI - 20:14
  • "What's one thing that I should have asked?" - 28:26

If you're in a hurry, I've listed a few of the big takeaways I personally found to be the most impactful:  

  • Traffic is so way more expensive now. In 2015, it would cost 25c - 50c to buy traffic on Facebook Ads. Currently, it costs $3-$4 to buy traffic. If you want to start buying ads, it might be more cost-efficient to use a cheaper social networks like TikTok. 

  • Being granted a patent is a bucket list item for most tinkerers and engineers. However, a lot of people don't go beyond that point. Partnering with a patent holder can be a good way to find products to sell on Amazon. 

  • Storytelling boils down to three main points: 
    1.  Man - your brand or product 
    2.  Mountain - the big problem 
    3.  Getting Over Mountain - how your product solves your problem

  • Online reviews have a big impact on offline sales. If your product is available in a brick and mortar store, shoppers will normally try to price-match by checking your product on Amazon and they'll run into your negative reviews. 

  • Running a business that's based overseas while having staff that's based in a separate country can be very physically and mentally taxing. 

  • Getting shadowbanned on your advertising account is more common than you think. It's a term that describes getting really poor performance on your advertising account, without explicit notice from the platform. 

  • Balls.co suffered from their success in the influencer marketing. After receiving a lot of traffic from their influencer marketing, they were starting to be seen as an entertainment company instead of a product company. This meant that they werent getting much sales from their marketing efforts.

  • All of the Fortune 10,000 companies are concerned about the implications of AI, but only 5% of them have training in place. 

  • You should be leveraging AI to automate customer service. There is no reason for you to be doing first-contact customer service anymore as a business owner and AI can make this a lot easier for you. 
  • Taking the previous point a step further, you can use AI to sift through previous chatlogs,  emails and reviews for practical information that you can use in your marketing, customer service and product development. 

  • You need to be checking your SEO and keyword rankings almost daily. AI generated content is really finnicky as of now, and it can affect your keyword rankings on Google by a huge margin. 

 

Kevin, thanks for coming on the podcast! It was nice seeing you again, and I hope our paths cross again before the next eCommerceFuel Live. 

If any listeners would like to have a discussion about this, let me know by emailing us directly at support@ecomcrew.com. You can find Kevin on LinkedIn, where he publishes practical AI tips every week. You can also find him through his company MadBrains.  Thanks for coming on to the podcast Kevin! 

Also, if you have any questions or any topics you’d like us to discuss on the podcast, you can email us directly as well! We would really appreciate it if you would leave us a review on iTunes

Thanks for listening!

May 6, 2024

Jeff Oxford joins us on the podcast today to talk about the most recent Google Update, who the winners were, and how search is going to look like with AI in the horizon.

 

Jeff Oxford is the Founder and SEO Director of 180 Marketing, a marketing agency that specialises in SEO strategies which cover everything from keyword research to webpage optimization.

 

Today, he's on the podcast to talk about the most recent Google update that happened in March. Specifically, we'll dive into the criteria that Google uses to rank websites, the winners of the most recent update, and why brand metrics plays an important role in search. 

 

The big takeaway here is that no matter what, keep playing the long game. When it comes to content, it's only a matter of time until your content starts making its way through the algorithm and to the audience that you're targeting. 

 

It really is just a matter of time. It might be an overnight viral success, or it might be a crawl towards the goal, but it's a matter of when it happens instead. 

 

Timestamps: 

  • Podcast Start - 0:00
  • Catching up with Jeff - 0:31
  • Google's March Core Update - 2:14 
  • Why Mike was excited for this update - 4:30 
  • Playing the long term game - 6:03
  • Google's update patterns - 7:40
  • Mike Jackness History Lesson - 9:31 
  • How Google finds cheaters - 12:23 
  • Why Reddit and Quora won the last update - 14:43 
  • Why Brand Metrics matter for SEO - 15:58
  • How do you get started in building your SEO? - 18:13 
  • Stick with it! - 20:31 
  • What is Search going to look like moving forward? - 22:38
  • How will Google incentivise making good content with AI in the future? - 28:11
  • Learn more about Jeff Oxford - 30:39

 

Jeff, thanks for coming on the podcast! It was nice seeing you again, although through a virtual screen instead of in person but we'll take what we can get! 

 

If any listeners would like to have a discussion about this, let me know by emailing us directly at support@ecomcrew.com

 

Also, if you have any questions or any topics you’d like us to discuss on the podcast, you can email us directly as well! We would really appreciate it if you would leave us a review on iTunes

 

Thanks for listening!

Apr 29, 2024

In the world of ecommerce, opinions on starting a dropshipping business really differ. Some people say it's an unprofitable business model while others swear by it. 

 

Well, dropshipping is still very much around. But as Amazon moved into a position of dominance, its appeal has waned. The fact that some so-called “gurus” who sell dropshipping as an “easy” way to earn millions hasn’t helped either.

 

However, there are those who own sustainable dropshipping businesses. 

 

Pat Haggerty, owner of Right Channel Radios, is one of them.

 

I’ve asked Pat to join me in this podcast episode to talk in detail about his business, Right Channel Radios

 

I hope our discussion didn’t only prove informative but encouraged you to look at dropshipping businesses in a different, albeit more positive light.

 

Pat, thank you for accepting the invite to record a podcast together. I really appreciate it, and I look forward to seeing you again in the next events. 

 

If any listeners would like to have a discussion about this, let me know by emailing us directly at support@ecomcrew.com

 

Also, if you have any questions or any topics you’d like us to discuss on the podcast, you can email us directly as well! We would really appreciate it if you would leave us a review on iTunes

 

Thanks for listening!

Apr 22, 2024

Dana Jaunzemis joins the EcomCrew podcast today to talk about how she evaluated businesses before purchasing them, why she chose to sell her businesses, and ultimately chose to retire. 

 

Dana Jaunzemis and I met for the first time years ago during my eCommerce speaking circuit and has since become a great friend of mine. She's the killer combination of having a really interesting background, while also being incredibly intellectual business-wise and philosophically too. 

 

She's been a good friend that's always been helpful when I've run into troubles of my own, especially those regarding burnout, identity and the end goal as an entrepreneur. 

 

Today, I wanted to pick her brains on the podcast about what it's like to have been recently retired from eCommerce, how she still finds a sense of fulfilment and the factors she considers before buying a business, which may or may not have been on my mind lately.

 

"E-commerce, while easy, is the highest risk type of business [in my opinion]."

- Dana Jaunzemis

 

Timestamps: 

  • 0:00 - Podcast Start
  • 0:31 - Introduction
  • 2:49 - Dana's Career Timeline
  • 4:54 - The Appeal of E-Commerce for Introverts
  • 6:28 - Is E-Commerce Difficult? 
  • 9:19 - The Difference Between Successful and Failing Businesses
  • 11:44 - How lessons in life can apply to your future
  • 15:40 - Factors to Consider When Buying A Business
  • 16:31 - Factor #1: Profitability
  • 16:46 - Factor #2: Where Your Skillset Fits In
  • 24:24 - Why Dana chose to sell her business
  • 30:01 - Risks of e-commerce
  • 31:41 - Factor #3: Inventory Costs 
  • 34:19 - Finding Fulfilment in Retirement
  • 38:14 - Knowing when 'enough' is enough
  • 41:53 - Moving Goalposts 
  • 46:30 - What was it like buying a business with friends? 

 

Dana, thank you for accepting the invite to record a podcast together. I really appreciate it, and I look forward to seeing you again in the next events. 

 

If any listeners would like to have a discussion about this, let me know by emailing us directly at support@ecomcrew.com

 

Also, if you have any questions or any topics you’d like us to discuss on the podcast, you can email us directly as well! We would really appreciate it if you would leave us a review on iTunes

 

Thanks for listening!

Apr 15, 2024

John Di Giacomo joins us on the podcast today to talk about the most common lawsuit claims that he's personally seen in the past few years in the ecommerce industry, and how you can avoid them. 

 

John Di Giacomo is the founding partner of Revision Legal, a law firm with expertise in Internet law, copyright & trademark law, and related areas. 

 

Today, he's on the podcast to talk about the most common cases that have been on the rise recently. Specifically, we'll be talking about ADA Cases and CIPA claims, and how ecommerce sellers can protect themselves from these claims. 

 

The big takeaway here is to make sure that you're protected from these false claims

 

Because it's not a matter of if it happens, but a matter of when it happens. The best way to protect yourselves is to take preventive action before these claims ultimately kill your business, because it can definitely happen. 

 

John, thanks for coming on the podcast! It was nice having you back on after several years since your last episode and I hope to hear good news from you in the future. 

 

If any listeners would like to have a discussion about this, let me know by emailing us directly at support@ecomcrew.com

 

Also, if you have any questions or any topics you’d like us to discuss on the podcast, you can email us directly as well! We would really appreciate it if you would leave us a review on iTunes

 

Thanks for listening!

Apr 8, 2024

Dave and I discuss the delays to the New "Low Inventory" fees, how you can be exempted from those fees, and the impending FTC Investigation into Amazon.

 

After months of complaints over the new fees, it seems like Amazon's heard (or read, in this case) the message that people aren't happy about being charged for having too little in FBA Warehouses. To gain some brownie points, they've decided to delay the effectivity date of these new fees. But what does this mean in the big picture? 

 

We all know that Amazon's being investigated by the FTC for their monopolistic practices. With that being said, why would Amazon choose to apply new fees that effectively erodes profit margin from third party sellers? 

 

We discuss that, and more in today's episode. Here's some timestamps below to get you started: 

  • Intro - 0:00 
  • Going to China and experiencing sandstorms - 0:31 
  • The Great Wall of China - 1:53
  • Big Amazon News & Official Announcement - 2:46 
  • Exceptions for AWD Users - 5:46 
  • "There are nuances to every business..." - 6:55 
  • Amazon's Monopoly - 8:59 
  • Investigating Overseas Sellers on Amazon - 10:52 
  • FTC's Investigation into Amazon - 13:03 
  • Why would Amazon announce new fees while being investigated by the FTC? - 16:32 
  • The FANG Companies vs. TikTok - 22:02
  • Making sure you're still profitable - 26:04

The big takeaway here is to make sure that you're still profitable

 

Go into your Amazon account, check out how much you are going to be charged in April for these fees, and adjust your pricing accordingly to make sure that you're still having a healthy and profitable business. 

 

If any listeners would like to have a discussion about this, let me know by emailing us directly at support@ecomcrew.com

 

Also, if you have any questions or any topics you’d like us to discuss on the podcast, you can email us directly as well!

 

Also, we would really appreciate it if you would leave us a review on iTunes

 

Thanks for listening!

 

Apr 1, 2024

Neil Twa from High Voltage Business Builders joins us on the podcast to drop some massive value bombs. He breaks down how you can increase brand awareness on Amazon, his approaches to Product Development, and how you can restart the Honeymoon Period on Amazon. Listen in for some great lessons from Neil! 

 

Amazon's only getting tougher and tougher. 

 

It seems like the laundry list of things that you need to do to ensure success keeps getting longer and longer after each year, but what exactly are the things to do? 

 

I've asked Neil Twa to join me on the podcast today to talk about this very topic. Neil has actually given me a lot of high value thoughts during this recording that I think you should probably listen to on repeat over and over, as there are some things that just come off as surprising. 

 

Here are just a few: 

 

Lesson #1: Below the $50 retail price point, you'll be competing against a lot of brands. There isn't as much increase in competition in the price point of $50 - $150 retail. 

 

Lesson #2: Get more than 1 manufacturer just so you don't have all your eggs in one basket. 

 

Lesson #3: Never get started with electronics. 

 

If you want to skip to certain parts of today's episode, here are some timestamps!

  • 0:00 - Intro
  • 0:32 - Neil's Podcast 
  • 1:20 - What you need to do to be successful on Amazon 
  • 2:06 - Con #1: Platform Risk  
  • 2:56 - Con #2: Increased competition 
  • 4:38 - How to Increase Brand Awareness on Amazon
  • 8:43 - How to approach Product Development 
  • 12:46 - Why oversized products have to be priced correctly
  • 14:54 - Never start with electronics
  • 15:45 - Neil's product rules 
  • 16:38 - How to increase your product's perceived value 
  • 24:03 - How to restart the Honeymoon Period 
  • 24:49 - Google Cosmo 
  • 29:15 - How would you start an ecommerce business today?

 

Neil, I can't thank you enough for coming on the podcast. It was great having you on and these lessons are surely going to be valuable for a ton of listeners. 

 

If you guys want to hear more from Neil, check out the High Voltage Business Builders podcast! 

 

Don’t forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions or any topics you’d like us to discuss on the podcast, you can now email us directly at support@ecomcrew.com! Also, we would really appreciate it if you would leave us a review on iTunes

 

Thanks for listening!

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