The Ecommerce Roadmap

Jen Cura has done what most makers only dream of—she's built a 12-person team that helps her produce one of the most personal, high-touch products you can sell: keepsake "memory" bears made from sentimental clothing. In this episode, Jen walks us through the framework she used to break down her process, delegate tasks without losing quality, and build a team she trusts—so she could step out of pro...

Have you heard of an SEO Funnel? We talk about the Sales Funnel all the time, but we haven't talked about how you can create an SEO Funnel. Until now. Investing time into SEO can be beneficial for any ecommerce business, and you can use a content-based funnel strategy to grow traffic and sales without advertising.  Most of us understand the sales funnel where we've got our cold, warm, and hot traf...

When Katie hit $100K in sales, she thought the hard part was behind her. But real growth didn't come until she changed her role, stopped trying to do everything herself, and built a business designed to scale. In this episode, Katie shares what happened when she outsourced embroidery (spoiler alert- it was a disaster), how she hired her first employee—and then her second—and how she grew her subsc...

Most store owners never feel fully in control of their sales. But Natalie Santini is one of the rare ones who figured it out. In this episode, she shares how she built Sew Hungry Hippie into a multi-seven-figure business—not by running ads, but by showing up live for two years straight, creating simple bundles her customers love, and building a system that reliably brings in sales week after week....

Raquel Rose had the dream scenario—her lead ads were bringing in nearly 900 new subscribers a week, and her email marketing was already converting well. So she leaned in and spent more on building her list. But when she finally built a report to track where her new customers were coming from, what she found changed everything. In this episode, Raquel breaks down how she set up the backend tracking...

If your customers are asking the same questions over and over—it might be time to start charging for the answers. That's exactly what Lindzee Barrera did. As the founder of Birdie Girl Golf, she noticed her audience needed help building confidence on the golf course. So she created a $39 digital bootcamp to guide them—and now that one simple product brings in over $5,000 a month on autopilot. In t...

What if you could make $14,000 in 10 days—without touching a single product? In this episode, artist and Inner Circle member Elizabeth Wade shares exactly how she pulled off a wildly successful, low-effort, high-return promo using print-on-demand. She sold 367 blankets in just 10 days using clear messaging, waitlist strategy, and zero up-front investment. What You'll Learn in This Episode: ✔️ Why...

If you've ever had a sneaky suspicion that your conversion rate could be better—you're probably right. In this episode, we're sharing two things you can do today to start turning more of your traffic into paying customers. Plus, we reveal the ONE conversion killer we see on nearly every ecommerce homepage. What You'll Learn in This Episode: ✔️ The little detail most stores skip—but that can double...

Thinking about taking on debt to grow your business? Before you sign that loan agreement (or take out another credit card), listen to this episode. Susan sits down with inventory and money coach Ciara Stockeland to break down the 5 types of debt, how to know if you actually need one, and how to avoid the biggest mistakes store owners make when borrowing. What You'll Learn: ✔️ The 5 types of debt—a...

Come behind the scenes of a multi-7-figure ecommerce business with Bethany Wysolmerski, founder of Rubi & Lib. In this candid conversation, Bethany shares what she'd do differently if she were starting today—and the hard decisions she's made to keep her business profitable. From building a team to shutting down a second brand, this episode is packed with real-life, high-level strategy you can appl...

 When things feel uncertain— tariffs, rising costs, economic shifts—it's easy to spiral or freeze. But uncertainty doesn't mean failure. In this episode, we're sharing a grounded, step-by-step process for staying focused and making smart decisions in your business, even when the path ahead isn't clear. Listen in and learn: ✔️ Why uncertainty leads to decision fatigue (and how to stop spinning) ✔️...

Jen is a maker who runs her business with minimal help—and she's already a multi-six-figure store owner. But last year, her sales started slipping. In this episode, Susan and Jen walk through the exact plan she's using to hit $20K months and build toward a $250K year—without working more hours or sacrificing her handmade model. What You'll Learn in This Episode: Why a high returning customer rate...

Getting new customers shouldn't feel like throwing spaghetti at the wall. In this episode, we're digging into a repeatable, long-term strategy you can use to consistently bring new people into your store—without burning out or guessing what to do next. If you've been relying on loyal customers for too long and you're ready to grow, this one's for you. What You'll Learn in This Episode: How to know...

 When you're wearing all the hats in your business, it's easy to hit a point where you wonder: Should I be hiring help? Or should I just figure it out myself? That's exactly where Inner Circle member and ceramic artist Sara found herself. In this real-time coaching call, we talk through how to make smart decisions when your budget is tight, your to-do list is long, and everything feels important....

I'm sharing one of the smartest (and simplest) ways to grow your ecommerce sales—without a big ad budget. But be warned: this strategy only works up to a point. If you miss the signs that it's time to shift, your sales could stall. Tune in to learn the 3 things every store owner needs to understand to grow a profitable, sustainable business—plus how to use your Shopify data to know exactly what to...

Episode 260: Do This If You Aren't Reaching Your Goals If you've ever felt like everyone else is growing while you're stuck, this episode is for you. You're not failing—but the way you're setting your goals might be. In this episode, I'm sharing a simple 4-step process to help you set realistic goals, stick with them, and actually see results—without the constant second-guessing or starting from s...

What if you could grow your email list, create viral content, and sell more—without spending on ads? That's exactly what jewelry designer Trisha Flanagan did with a brilliant product tester campaign inspired by our previous guest Jane Hamill (ep 236). In this episode, Inner Circle coach Melissa Davies chats with Trisha about how she built a high-intent email list, collected user-generated content,...

I still remember how I felt when I was growing my first Ecommerce business, Wee Squeak. For a long time, I was frustrated because I just couldn't figure out what I was missing — what it was that was stopping me from getting the sales I wanted.   I just wrapped up some live sessions with new students on zoom. And listening to them describe their situation brings me right back to when I felt that I...

Are you a Marketing First store owner? I always say that Marketing First store owners will get more sales than store owners who don't make their marketing a habit. It does not have to take up a lot of time, but it does need to be a regular part of your business activities.   In today's episode, we're bringing you a real-life success story that embodies the essence of being a marketing-first store...

In this episode, we're learning from Wendy's incredible journey of doubling her sales within a year. After a motivating comment in our Inner Circle group, we invited Wendy to break down her success into actionable steps that we can use in our own businesses. Tune in for a detailed breakdown of Wendy's successful strategies and learn: 📈 How Wendy crafted a step-by-step plan to meet her goals. 📚 H...

Susan shares the 7 habits that are the best predictors of an online store's success. These are habits that can be practiced by store owners at any level of business, from mindset to practical tips for overcoming any obstacle.    Tune in and find out if you've got these 7 habits that predict success! RELATED LINKS: Want Better Results? Do This First. https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/want-better-resu...

Reliable Revenue is a once-a-year intensive course focused on building a long-term conversion system to maximize customer lifetime value through email marketing strategies and automations. It does not cover traffic, ads, or SEO but ensures businesses are set up to convert effectively. The program is designed around  Klaviyo and Shopify , though Klaviyo integrates with other platforms. A free mini-...

Susan and Bonnie Christine discuss how surface pattern design helps businesses stand out through custom branding. Bonnie, a self-taught designer, turned her passion into a career by taking small, consistent steps. Surface design applies to products like fabric, wallpaper, and stationery, offering income through licensing or sales. Bonnie's free workshop,  Your Pattern Playbook  (Feb 10–19, replays...

Getting your products featured in gift guides can be a game-changer for your business. It builds credibility, boosts sales, and gets your brand in front of the right audience—all without paying for ads. In this episode, I sit down with Gloria Chou, a PR specialist who teaches small business owners how to land media coverage without hiring an expensive PR agency. She shares exactly how to find the...

In this episode, we're talking with Jane Harbison, a talented fashion designer and business owner with a clear goal: to 10x her sales this year. Jane specializes in digital sewing patterns for boys and men, and she's sharing her journey of balancing creativity with business strategy. We cover the exact steps Jane is taking to grow her revenue sustainably, the challenges she's tackling, and the les...