SMS has become what email marketing used to be for eCommerce brands - a trusted, high-response rate channel that, when used correctly, can boost all of the important metrics for D2C brands. Ben Billups joins the pod to tell us how it works.

Join Mike on this special episode of Happy Hour as he recaps the Phoenix eCommerce Summit event. Learn what vendors and brands are focusing on, worrying about, and excited for in 2024 via interviews from the event.

In part 4 of this 6-part series covering the Customer Journey of eCommerce, Mike & Nevin cover the big shiny stage - the lead singer of the band - the Purchase Stage. Time to make some money.

In part 3 of this 6-part series Mike & Nevin cover the Consideration stage of the Customer Journey in eCommerce. This is where you take that audience you built in the Awareness stage and start giving them reasons to pick your product over others.

Hey Weekenders! It's your host here with a quick recap of our latest episode where we dove deep into the consideration phase of the customer journey. We cracked open a cold one and shared some insights on how to navigate this crucial stage in e-commerce marketing.

Thanks for joining us, and a special shout-out to the Weekenders who stick with us to the end. Until next time, keep learning and growing with us in the world of e-commerce!

Key Takeaways:Episode Highlights:Next Steps:

Amazon is the king of the walled garden in eCommerce. Learn how brands can use the insights and automations of ZonGuru to outperform the competition and grow sustainably.

Episode Summary: The Intersection of PPC and Organic Growth on Amazon with Jon Tilly

Welcome back, weekenders! In this episode, we had the pleasure of chatting with Jon Tilly, the CEO of Zonguru, a company that provides a suite of tools for Amazon sellers to optimize their listings and grow their businesses. We dove deep into the world of e-commerce, particularly focusing on Amazon's marketplace and how sellers can navigate the ever-changing landscape.

As we wrapped up the episode, we expressed our appreciation for Zonguru's contribution to our organic Amazon strategies. Jon extended an invitation to listeners to reach out to Zonguru for support and shared his LinkedIn for direct contact.

Remember, if you've made it through this episode, you're officially a weekender! Stay tuned for more insights and discussions on e-commerce and PPC strategies. Don't forget to engage with us on social media and visit finch.com/podcast for more content.

Until next time, keep optimizing and innovating, and cheers to your e-commerce success!

In part 2 of this 6-part series Mike & Nevin dig into the Awareness stage of the Customer Journey. How do you get your brand in front of a large, interested audience without blowing through budgets? Also, what's happened to the Snoop Dogg/Solo Stove partnership?

Episode Summary: The Importance of Brand Awareness in Marketing

In this episode of our marketing miniseries, we delve into the crucial first stage of the customer buying journey: awareness. We discuss the significance of brand owners and decision-makers understanding how to differentiate their brand in the market.

We explore the customer journey map and its relevance across various marketing types, emphasizing the importance of speaking the same language as clients, marketing teams, and partners. The episode recaps the five phases of the customer journey, highlighting why each phase is vital.

The focus then shifts to the awareness phase, where we explain the need for potential customers to become aware of a brand's existence and the solutions it offers. We touch on market education and the challenges of introducing new products with unique features or materials.

We stress the importance of messaging and using various mechanisms to communicate what makes a product stand out. The conversation also covers the pitfalls of overspending during the awareness phase and the importance of targeting the right market to avoid diluting the effectiveness of subsequent marketing efforts.

The episode further discusses the role of brand marketing in the awareness phase and the delicate balance required between broadcasting a brand story and capturing attention spans. We emphasize the need for creativity and the challenge of delivering a succinct message in a world of diminishing attention spans.

We also examine the potential pitfalls of big branding campaigns, using the example of Solo Stoves' campaign with Snoop Dogg, and the importance of having a plan to convert the audience generated by such campaigns.

The mechanics of broadcasting a brand message are explored, with a focus on the flexibility and power of Demand Side Platforms (DSPs) for targeting and testing different sets of creative. We debate the effectiveness of TikTok for brand awareness and suggest that it might be better suited for the consideration and conversion phases of the customer journey.

Finally, we conclude by reiterating the importance of measuring reach metrics rather than conversions during the awareness phase and the necessity of testing everything, including unconventional ideas, to see what resonates with the audience.

Listeners are encouraged to engage with us on social media platforms and visit our website for more content.

Remember, without awareness, potential customers can't discover your brand, and without discovery, there can be no conversion.

In this episode, Nevin and Mike kick off a 6-part series discussing the customer journey for eCommerce marketing. It's the engine that fuels sustainable growth for brands.

Finch CEO, Lee Roquet, joins the pod to kick off 2024. We take a look at some of the lessons learned in eCommerce in 2023 and make some predictions about what we expect to see in 2024.

Mike went to an event in Nashville called eCommerce Summit. He runs through the main topics and some key takeaways as Nevin validates and adds on-the-ground evidence to evaluate the claims.

Part 2 of the BFCM/Q4 eCommerce prep series. Mike & Nevin discuss how you should by thinking about promotions and segmentation to encourage higher margins and volume.

According to the episode, it is crucial for brands to ensure that customers feel confident in their choice of choosing their brand, not just during the Q4 period, but throughout the year. The episode emphasizes that the experience customers have with a brand is the key driver of their lifetime value and encourages repeat purchases. To create this positive experience, brands should have a dedicated team of individuals who are willing to assist and resolve customers' issues. Additionally, having a customer-friendly return policy is essential in making customers feel well taken care of. The episode suggests that when customers feel satisfied with their decision, they are more likely to have a positive sentiment towards the brand and recommend it to others, even if their own experience wasn't perfect. Overall, the episode highlights the importance of making customers feel valued and satisfied, as this can lead to increased loyalty and positive word-of-mouth recommendations.

According to the episode, the experience customers have with a brand is what drives repeat business and increases lifetime value. The transcript emphasizes the importance of providing a dedicated team of individuals who are willing to assist and resolve customers' issues. It also highlights the significance of having a customer-friendly return policy. The episode suggests that customers want to feel confident in their choice, and this feeling can be achieved by providing a solid customer experience throughout the entire process. Additionally, the transcript mentions the importance of creating a VIP program and implementing a strong loyalty program to address lifetime value and encourage repeat purchases. By rewarding loyal customers and providing them with opportunities to engage with the brand, a self-perpetuating cycle of customer loyalty can be established. Overall, the episode emphasizes the idea that the experience customers have with a brand plays a crucial role in driving repeat business and increasing lifetime value.

In the episode, the speaker emphasizes the importance of having a dedicated team of individuals to resolve customer issues and a customer-friendly return policy. They explain that while promotional and advertising strategies are important, what ultimately drives customer satisfaction and loyalty is the experience they have with a brand.

The speaker highlights the need for a team of dedicated individuals who are willing to assist and resolve customer issues. This means having knowledgeable and empathetic customer service representatives who can address customer concerns and provide solutions. By having a strong support system in place, customers will feel valued and taken care of, leading to a positive experience and potentially repeat business.

Additionally, the speaker emphasizes the significance of a customer-friendly return policy. They suggest that a return policy should make customers feel like they haven't lost anything if they choose to return a product. While it is important to have certain restrictions in place, such as specific return windows, the speaker advises that the policy should be more lenient than that of a brick-and-mortar store.

The episode also mentions the potential role of AI in improving customer experience. While not elaborated on in detail, the speaker suggests that exploring how AI can assist in customer support and problem-solving could be beneficial for brands.

Overall, the episode highlights the importance of prioritizing customer satisfaction through effective customer support and a favorable return policy. By making customers feel valued and taken care of, brands can enhance customer sentiment, drive repeat business, and ultimately build a positive brand reputation.