The Ecomcrew Ecommerce Podcast

With the recent sale in the rear view mirror, Mike talks about the plans he has for the future and what business he's thinking of getting into next to focus 100% of his attention on. Today, Dave and I are diving into some events this year that have led to me ultimately choosing to let go of all my brands. We discussed a little bit on the last podcast episode, but Dave and I also discuss the rest of my plans for the future and moving towards embodying The One Thing. Here's a few specific questions that Dave tossed out: Were your other businesses being negatively impacted while you were a CEO for this previous project? What's the maximum amount of businesses should a person have while giving a reasonable amount of attention to? What's the next business for Mike? Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 01:35 - Reflecting on the recent sale of our business 03:09 - Lessons learned and evaluating decisions 09:21 - Balancing multiple projects and finding focus 20:54 - The Benefits and Challenges of Multiple E-commerce Brands 22:19 - Focusing on a Single E-commerce Brand 25:44 - The Decision to Sell Off Brands and Find the One Thing to Focus On 27:24 - Vision for the Future and Buying a Business 33:04 - Reflecting on the Frustration of Selling the Previous Business 36:44 - Changing Business Landscape 39:11 - Excitement for a New Business Venture So stay tuned, as we continue to explore this ever-evolving industry together! I hope you took away some valuable insights from this episode that you can use to sort out your business goals for this year. Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. Happy selling and I'll see you on the next one!

Mike Jackness talks to Chris Duty of Quiet Light Brokerage to dive into the challenges that they faced when trying to sell one of Mike's most recent business acquisitions, and the string of bad luck that Mike faced along the way. After 3 years, I'm glad to announce that I've sold one of my businesses. Joining me today is the broker that helped me with the transition, Chris Duty from Quiet Light Brokerage. Chris and I explore the process of selling a business that I, alongside investors from ECF Capital, acquired in late 2020, and what transpired along the way (which includes some unfortunate events). One of the key takeaways from this episode is that the process isn't over until it's over. Some roadblocks might pop up along the way, but it's always important to move onto the next step until the whole process is complete. If you're considering on selling your business, or if you want to hear the fun (or unlucky) details of my journey in trying to sell this business, today's episode is definitely one to save. Here's today's main points 00:00 - Introduction 01:50 - Ground rules of today's discussion 03:04 - The backstory of our sale 08:39 - Today's main takeaway: It's not done until it's done. 14:41 - How Chris approaches a business sale 16:28 - Building trust and credibility with buyers 24:18 - Tax returns and SBA pre-qualification 31:05 -The impact of having your priorities in order 33:43 - Finding the right buyer who recognizes the long-term value of the business 42:38 - The importance of early preparation for selling your business We hope today's episode was useful to you. If you want to get in touch with Chris you can find him at Linkedin or you can check out the company at QuietLight.com. If you want to check out how Mike planned to grow this ecommerce business back in 2021, you can check it out here. If you have any questions or anything 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!

Welcome to today's episode where we delve into the transformative power of AI in the realms of e-commerce and search engine optimization (SEO). With the ever-increasing integration of AI technologies, businesses and content creators must understand the implications and opportunities that lie ahead. Join Jeff and I as we unravel the impact of AI on the customer journey, the future of search queries and content creation, and the role of large language models like Chat GPT. The world of e-commerce is evolving, and it's time to explore the possibilities that AI brings to the table. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 02:13 - The Changing Customer Journey and the Rise of AI 05:15 - The Future of Search and Content Creation 08:42 - Middle and Bottom of the Funnel Keywords 17:29 - The Challenge of Shaky Search Results 18:50 - The Role of AI in Content Generation 21:00 - The Future of Video Content 30:14 - The Mind-Blowing Capabilities of AI 30:45 - The Adoption Curve of AI 31:06 - Seizing the Opportunities with AI As we wrap up today's discussion on the influence of AI on e-commerce and SEO, we find ourselves at the precipice of an exciting yet uncertain future. The rapid progress of AI technologies presents both challenges and opportunities for businesses and content creators. Adapting to this changing landscape requires a proactive approach and a willingness to embrace new AI tools and strategies. While the future may bring uncertainties, we believe in the enduring value of SEO and the importance of staying informed and open-minded. By harnessing the power of AI as our ally, businesses can thrive in the evolving digital world. We encourage our listeners to remain curious, keep exploring, and seize the potential that AI offers in reshaping e-commerce and SEO. Thank you for joining us, and until next time, stay curious and embrace the power of AI.

Prime Day is fast approaching and Jake Zaristian from JungleScout is back on the podcast to talk about it. Together, we'll be talking about the strategies that you should be doing before, during and after the biggest shopping holiday of the year. With the biggest Amazon shopping holiday quickly approaching, Jake is back on the podcast to talk about some tips and strategies that you can incorporate and start assimilating into your business. Timestamps: Defining your goals - Being profit-driven or growth-driven? - 2:39 How Mike would personally approach Prime Day - 4:04 Why it's important to know your profitability for Prime Day - 5:41 Strategy #1: Start your strategies now! - 7:40 Strategy #2: Comparing last year's sales data - 8:55 Strategy #3: Acquiring new customers during Prime Day - 11:27 The results from these pre-planning strategies - 12:47 Hack #1: Running Lightning Deals AFTER Prime Day - 17:29 Why Increasing Ad Budgets on your best keywords WORK - 20:38 What JungleScout expects to see this year - 23:37 Amazon Live and Influencers - 26:12 I want to say thank you again to Jake Zaristian from JungleScout for coming on the podcast. If you're interested in subscribing to JungleScout and want to use our affiliate link, click here. I hope you enjoyed this latest installment of the podcast. As always, feel free to leave a comment below. If you think this episode has been useful to you, please take a moment to leave us a review on iTunes. Happy Selling!

Our guest, Alex Oxford from TaxValet, shares his expertise in Sales Tax, exploring its complexities and implications for entrepreneurs, offering valuable insights and strategies to help you go through the challenging world of sales tax compliance. While it may not be the most thrilling subject, understanding your obligations and options is crucial for your business's success. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 03:09 - The Complexities of Sales Tax Compliance 06:46 - The Louisiana Sales Tax System 09:19 - The Case of Colorado and Home Rule Jurisdictions 13:31 - Setting up sales tax obligations for clients 14:33 - Determining the next state to register for sales tax 17:34 - Amazon's role and its impact on sales tax risk 25:04 - Sales Tax Nexus 27:54 - State Enforcement and Audits 28:50 - States to Watch Out For The podcast emphasizes the need for fair and accountable sales tax regulations, particularly in the context of Amazon and its marketplace practices. Government intervention and realistic thresholds are necessary to level the playing field and protect e-commerce sellers. It is crucial for businesses to understand their sales tax obligations, make informed decisions, and seek professional assistance, such as that provided by Tax Valet. By engaging with lawmakers, sharing experiences, and advocating for change, we can work towards a more manageable and equitable sales tax system. Join us next time for more valuable insights on growing your profitable e-commerce brand!

In this episode of the EcomCrew podcast, I'm joined by Michael Epstein, one of the co-founders of PostPilot, a company that helps e-commerce businesses by using direct mail marketing to create memorable customer experiences to increase sales. We also discuss how PostPilot started and the idea behind going back to physical postcards to advertise products, discounts, and services. We also talk about how companies have been faring after subscribing to their services. Timestamps: 2:07 — Introduction 6:37 — Inspiration behind PostPilot 8:40 — How to reacquire customers who churned 10:16 — New features PostPilot's been working on 14:24 — Internal benchmarks to measure for future campaigns 17:48 — Tactics/incentives to reacquire old customers 24:15 — How to use lookalike audience attributes to refine ROAS 27:17 — Abandon cart win-back campaigns 29:15 — Minimum threshold for companies before hitting a benchmark 30:38 — PostPilot's exclusive offering to EcomCrew members Thank you so much to Michael for doing this week's podcast episode with me after I had his co-founder Drew on the podcast a few years ago and learned so much about the growth of their business and their plans for the future. He was also so kind for giving EcomCrew members freebies in their first few months when they sign up on PostPilot. If you want to learn more about their business, you can check them out on PostPilot.com. Don't forget to leave us a review over on iTunes if you enjoyed this episode. Until the next one, happy selling!

The first Under The Hood episode of the year is finally here! Today I'm joined by Gary Guenst, one-half of the founders of ToothShower, a water flosser powered by your own shower. If the brand sounds familiar, you might've heard it from one of my previous Under The Hood episodes where I chatted with Gary's wife, Lisa. Here are some of the questions me and Gary went back and forth with from this episode: Does the MFN inventory automatically back up FBA inventory if current FBAs run out? - 5:14 Is there a general rule of thumb for running coupons? - 9:25 What's a realistic ROS on Amazon? - 14:10 Are there more businesses leaving Amazon? - 19:48 What kind of businesses should list their products on Walmart? - 21:41 What are the best platforms to find keywords? - 24:18 What companies benefit most from using Helium 10 and Jungle Scout? - 26:26 What is the best way to leverage selling eBooks on Amazon? - 29:29 Which generates higher conversions? Driving customers through listings or to a brand store? - 32:27 How frequently should businesses update backend keywords, brand content story, listings, and a+ content? - 34:37 How do you set a budget for the performance of Amazon ads? - 36:27 Why should a business care about B2B customers in transaction downloads when Amazon sends updates on the number of B2B customers? - 39:39 Is 14 days enough time to generate reasonable data on Amazon ads? - 42:03 How often should a business post on Amazon? - 42:15 Are there any updates on Amazon's liquidation program? - 43:46 Do you have any tips for businesses in the process of launching a downsized product? - 45:27 Gary and I also went over how ToothShower has done since last appearing on the show and their plans to scale their business in the future by using ads and automated tools, on top of their main goal of downsizing some of their products As mentioned in the episode, here's a link to one of the best tools to find keywords on Amazon. If you want a free hour of coaching to help you navigate all the hiccups you've been experiencing in ecommerce, we'd love to have you on our next Under The Hood Episode. If you liked this week's episode, we would appreciate it if you leave us a review on iTunes. As always, happy selling and we'll see you in the next one!

Nirav Sheth and Mike Jackness dive into Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) strategies. Our guest, the founder and CEO of Anata, sheds light on the significance of CRO and its optimal timing for business enhancement. We focus on often overlooked aspects of e-commerce management, highlighting the importance of a user-friendly checkout experience, the influence of distractions on mobile users, and the role of data-driven decision-making in e-commerce. Additionally, the episode uncovers the power of influencer-led channels, effective landing page optimization, and the psychology behind podcast advertising. Nirav provides his expert take on traditional CRO and why more impactful, focused testing could yield better results than a high volume of minor ones. Timestamps: 00:25 - Introduction 01:41 - Embracing Best Practices for CRO 07:50 - Ensuring a User-friendly Checkout System 09:56 - Comprehending Mobile User Behavior 11:22 - The Role of Usability Testing 14:47 - Understanding E-commerce Benchmarks 19:18 - Exploring Conversion Rates in E-commerce 20:31 - Harnessing the Potential of Influencer-led Channels 27:41 - The Limitations of Traditional CRO 31:49 - The Impact of AI and Personalization on CRO I wanna thank Nirav for the value-packed conversation today, and we'll definitely employ the tactics learned in our own businesses. If you want to get featured on an Under the Hood segment, be sure to head over to ecomcrew.com/underthehood to sign up. We're excited to hear about your ecommerce journey! Speaking of ecommerce journey, Dave and I would not have gotten this far without all the help from the amazing people we met along the way. Don't forget to leave us a review over on iTunes if you enjoyed this episode. Until the next one, happy selling!

Today, my guest is Kelcey Lehrich, a prolific entrepreneur running a thriving portfolio of ecommerce enterprises. We dissect the opportunities and hurdles in operating multiple ecommerce ventures, extending hands-on counsel and strategic guidance to listeners. We delve into the key attributes of a successful business, the significance of revenue quality, and the untapped potential within distressed assets. This episode reveals essential facets about business expansion, creating competitive edges, and strategizing future objectives, providing a comprehensive overview of the e-commerce landscape. We also talk about the start of Holdco Conference, an annual gathering aimed specifically at multi-business operators. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:38 - Personal Experiences as an FBA Aggregator 01:47 - Deep Dive into Kelcey's Strategy 03:11 - Journey and Growth of Kelcey's Holding Company 04:42 - Striking a Balance between Aspirations and Capitalization 07:05 - Guidelines for Business Expansion 08:01 - Identifying High Quality eCommerce Businesses 10:34 - Tactical Approaches for Business Growth and Exit Strategy 12:59 - Valuable Lessons Learnt from Running eCommerce Businesses 26:45 - Holdco Conference: A Premier Event for Multi-Business Owners Kelcey shares a few nuggets of wisdom about managing multiple e-commerce businesses. His experiences provide a unique perspective for those keen on owning multiple business, underscoring the balance between aspirations and resources, the maturation of a holding company, and the prerequisites for business scaling. Although owning multiple businesses presents its unique challenges, the payoff and rewards at the end of the road can be life-changing. Kelcey stresses how important it is to learn from acquiring businesses that have survived the early startup phase. Learning specifically about optimizing business structures, managing costs, and leveraging existing vendor relationships for building a lucrative eCommerce venture can be the most useful lessons to learn.

Mike reflects on the podcast as we hit our 500th milestone episode by exploring the profound power of time. In this special solo episode, Mike delves into the importance of time in various aspects of life, including investment, business, and personal growth. Welcome to this special milestone episode of the EcomCrew Podcast as we celebrate our 500th airing. Today, I'm putting on my philosophical hat to look back on the podcast and to guide you through my podcasting journey since the show started back in November 2015. In this solo episode, I delve into the profound power of time, which can be both a potent tool for positive change and a formidable obstacle. It can be short, or it can be longer than you think, but in the end, we'll never know how long our time on Earth will be. However, it's important to maximize the time we have as much as possible. It's incredibly important never to rush, especially in investment, business, and personal growth. I'll share my own personal experiences with how it's been the backbone of my stock and real estate investments, my businesses and content creation, showing the significance of long-term commitment and consistency. I'll also explore some of my favorite books that have shaped my thinking and business approach. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:33 - Postscript 03:17 - Exploring the power and challenge of time. 05:20 - Importance of investing early and the magic of compounding interest. 07:10 - Experience on navigating competition in the e-commerce podcast realm. 09:13 - Persistence and consistency: Keys to long-term success. 14:10 - Sticking with one venture for long-term success 17:07 - Time as a finite resource: Why proper management is critical. Drawing from my journey with the EcomCrew podcast, there were times where I wanted to quit but consistency was key. Success is never an overnight event, but a product of relentless efforts invested over time. I can't help but stress the importance of consistency, long-term dedication, and effective time management. It's important for listeners to foster a long-term perspective in their business goals, steering clear of the "shiny thing" syndrome. Don't forget to leave us a review over on iTunes if you enjoy content like this. Happy selling and we'll talk to you soon!