eComFuel Podcast

This Fall we hosted "ECF Week", where community members in 20+ cities across the globe got together to connect. I couldn't make all the events but I did my best and joined 8 meetups in 9 days. It was a roadtrip and the likes of which I've never attempted before.  You can find show notes and more information by clicking here:  http://bit.ly/2zBZimU  

Learn how to calculate your customer lifetime value and how to use it to grow and improve your business. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here:  http://bit.ly/2lx8t1E

Andrew Egenes and Phillip Naples from Unbrokerage.com join me to talk what types of eCommerce insurance store owners need to protect themselves. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2lAnzDI  

Earlier this year I came close to buying a mid 7-figure business with a team of 15 people. At first, it looked like a diamond in the rough.  A business I could purchase relatively cheaply, spend a short time improving and systemizing and then step back to enjoy significantly improved profitability.   But after doing my diligence and talking with others I realized it ultimately wasn't the right opp...

Our discussion recorded while camping covers his time working with Zappos founder Tony Hsieh, travel, and (of course) lessons learned from making numerous investments in the eCommerce space. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here:  http://bit.ly/2hLQAHt

John Cavendish joins me today to share his experience growing an FBA Amazon Europe business and discuss the ins-and-outs of what you need to consider if you want to be successful. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2hA9gtI

We dive deep about the ins-and-outs of raising money, building company culture and how to screen for pro-active employees when hiring.  You can find show notes and more information by clicking here:  http://bit.ly/2y3Byql

Over the last nine months I've been a total slacker. The previously weekly podcast got cut back to one flimsy episode a month while I took a sabbatical to take a little time off and figure out what I wanted to do next. Well I'm thrilled to announce that the podcast is returning to its weekly schedule and I've finally  figured out what I want to do with my life.   (Spoiler: Decided against the full...

In the second episode of our SEO series, SEO expert and founder of 180Marketing Jeff Oxford explains how to optimize your internal links to generate more traffic. While internal linking is not the most important SEO factor, solid internal structure will make it easier for Google's crawlers to index your pages. Jeff explains whether old SEO strategies like PageRank, sitemaps, and domain authority a...

You can boost your on-page SEO with some simple fixes that together create big results, and our eCommerce Fuel Forum expert Jeff Oxford can tell you how. Jeff talks about recent improvements to search engine algorithms that have changed the SEO factors you should be focusing on. We talk about branding, how to handle meta tags, headings, and paragraphs, and why content is still king. Jeff also rank...

Andy Bedell joins us to share some inside knowledge and tips for using Facebook, Amazon, and other resellers to sell and market products effectively. He also shares his own captivating copywriting process and some investment ideas and inspiration. We also talk about CRAP products, Amazon leakage, how Facebook ads work, how to properly vet a reseller, and plenty more. You can find show notes and mo...

Amazon's BOOST Event was the first annual FBA (Fulfilled By Amazon) conference for sellers on the platform. Long overdue guest Bill D'Alessandro joins us to give us his five biggest takeaways from BOOST, including new developments in international selling, protecting your brand on Amazon, multichannel fulfillment, and much more. Bill learned that Amazon is focusing on international expansion and m...

With several Hong Kong exhibitions coming up, it's important to make the most out of the opportunity to meet with factories and directly source products. Cameron Walker is the President of Gifts, Home, and Hardware Group at Global Sources and explains how to get what you want out of these massive events.  You can find show notes and more information by clicking here:  http://bit.ly/2sffbL1  

It can be tricky to write copy that's both funny and effective. I thought I'd ask Dave Munson of Saddleback Leather, who's a pro at striking this particular balance, for his tips. Dave also talks about how he harnesses video in his business, and what he's learned from running an eCommerce business.  You can find show notes and more information by clicking here:  http://bit.ly/2rtgaVV  

On the show today, our resident Importing and China expert Dave Bryant shares what he learned from his experience working in an Amazon warehouse.  Dave kicks off the episode by talking about the recent sale of his business, which opened up the chance for him to do a temporary stint at an Amazon warehouse for oversize products. We talk about what it looks like on the floor, how they track productiv...

We're trying something a little different on this episode of eCommerce Fuel: instead of our normal interview, I've invited Noah Kagan and Dave McGeady to talk about Dave's business Wyldsson.  Dave, Noah and I talk about the inexpensive, quick, and impactful changes that Wyldsson could make in the next thirty days to boost its sales and improve its conversion rate. We also discuss why Dave should s...

Entrepreneurs that make money off of intellectual property - like artists and eCommerce storeowners Meredith Keller and Matt Snow - know that protecting your IP is an uphill battle. Meredith and Matt join us to talk about how they've dealt with counterfeiters stealing their ideas, and ways we could improve IP and international shipping policy to better support small businesses in the US. You can f...

100xing your business in three years might sound impossible, but one of our best new eCommerce Fuel contributors - Daniel Parker - is here to share the story of how his company did just that. After being recruited to MyChoiceSoftware in 2013, Daniel and his partner used clever marketing and stellar customer service to drive their business. You can find show notes and more information by clicking h...

Welcome to the first episode of 2017! Today I'm chatting with Brad Bernhart, a fellow Montana business owner and the craftsman behind the awesome tools over at Earlywood Designs .   Brad talks about his recent experience handling an unexpected rush of orders, thanks to a press release over the holiday season that depleted his inventory and left him shorthanded in the workshop.  An unanticipated sh...

If you've been listening for the past few weeks, you already know I'm stepping away from the podcast in 2017 to focus on some new projects. Today I'm filling you in on those plans, which include getting back to writing fresh blog content for you all. The last three years of podcasting have been an awesome experience, and I'll still be recording new episodes every month or so. And, the eCommerceFue...

X and I dig into some specifics about email deliverability best practices, including what makes up your email reputation. We talk about how to come back from being put on a blacklist and if it's possible to make it past Google's "Updates" tab into your customer's main inbox. X also shares several tools for managing email lists and avoiding spam traps that can immobilize your business email. You ca...

Drew Sanocki of Nerd Marketing shares an episode of his podcast with us, all about how to utilize discount ladders in your business. Drew then answers some of my questions, including how to know a customer's average time to purchase and how to develop an even more nuanced approach to discounts. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here:  http://bit.ly/2hqIxBT  

In this episode, Taylor Pearson and I talk about knowing where to invest your time, and how to choose the right area of expertise for your skillset. Taylor also shares his thoughts on the popular publishing platform Medium , as well as his top 3 must-read books for entrepreneurs.  You can find show notes and more information by clicking here:  http://bit.ly/2fwOpYj  

Stephan Jacob is the co-founder of Cotopaxi , a high-end outdoor apparel manufacturer. Backed by ventured capital, he's creating a larger operation that genuinely incorporates social initiatives into all aspects of their business operation. Stephan shares the challenges he's faced managing a company that has experienced rapid growth. We also discuss how to cultivate fierce brand loyalty, locate an...

We've got a quick but extensive accounting lesson for you today from Catching Clouds co-founder Scott Scharf.  As an eCommerce accounting expert, Scott gets to see the inner workings of dozens of eCommerce businesses -- and he's here to tell us what separates the good from the great. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here:  http://bit.ly/2fLg7BN