eCommerce Badassery

By Jessica Totillo CosterBusiness Entrepreneurship Marketing Management

eCommerce Badassery episodes

May 12376. Why Your Online Store is Boring to Shop
Most online stores are convenient. Fast. Functional. And... kind of boring.
According to a survey from Criteo, 76% of consumers say online shopping lacks surprise or delight, and 73% call it "practical, but not exciting." That's a problem if you're trying to build a brand people actually want to come back to.
This week I'm breaking down exactly how to close that gap. We're talking about recreating the in-person shopping experience online, from the discovery moments that keep customers browsing to the surprise-and-delight strategies that turn one-time buyers into loyal fans. If your store feels more like a catalog than a boutique, this one's for you.
Why 76% of shoppers say online shopping is missing something (and what that something actually is)
The "discovery moment" strategy that makes shoppers feel like they stumbled on something special
How to reduce overwhelm without reducing your product selection
Why video is no longer optional if you want to recreate the in-store experience online
Simple surprise-and-delight moves that cost almost nothing but build serious loyalty
How to use customer data for personalization without being creepy about it
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Full Episode Show Notes
http://ecommercebadassery.com/376

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Learn With Me
Work with Me 1:1
https://ecommercebadassery.com/ecommerce-help/
https://ecommercebadassery.com/email-marketing/

Courses & Membership
https://ecommercebadassery.com/membership
https://ecommercebadassery.com/programs

_______

Let's Connect
Website: http://ecommercebadassery.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/ecommercebadassery
Membership: http://ecommercebadassery.com/membership

_______

Rate, Review, & Subscribe
Like what you heard? I’d be forever grateful if you’d rate, review and subscribe to the show! Not only does it help your fellow eCommerce entrepreneurs find the eCommerce Badassery podcast; but it’s also valuable feedback for me to continue bringing you the content you want to hear.

Review Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecommerce-badassery/id1507457683
22 min
May 05375. Is Your Marketing Getting Ignored? Try These 3 Tweaks
What if your marketing isn’t broken… it’s just being ignored? You’ve done the work. You know your customer. You’ve got solid products, decent emails, consistent content…
So why does it suddenly feel like no one’s paying attention?
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: it’s probably not your product. It’s your messaging. What resonated with your customer a few months ago, might be resonating today.
In this episode I'm breaking down 3 simple tweaks to can make to your marketing message to keep you relevant and relatable.
The messaging shift that can change everything
What your customers are really buying
The thing hiding in plain sight that could instantly improve your copy
Why your “consistent” marketing might actually be the problem
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Full Episode Show Notes
http://ecommercebadassery.com/375

_______
Learn With Me
Work with Me 1:1
https://ecommercebadassery.com/ecommerce-help/
https://ecommercebadassery.com/email-marketing/

Courses & Membership
https://ecommercebadassery.com/membership
https://ecommercebadassery.com/programs

_______

Let's Connect
Website: http://ecommercebadassery.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/ecommercebadassery
Membership: http://ecommercebadassery.com/membership

_______

Rate, Review, & Subscribe
Like what you heard? I’d be forever grateful if you’d rate, review and subscribe to the show! Not only does it help your fellow eCommerce entrepreneurs find the eCommerce Badassery podcast; but it’s also valuable feedback for me to continue bringing you the content you want to hear.

Review Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecommerce-badassery/id1507457683
16 min
April 28374. Badass Basics: Optimizing the eCommerce Post-Purchase Experience
What you do in the 48 hours after a customer hits "buy" might be the difference between a happy repeat customer and a return request rolling into your inbox.

This is the final episode of the Badass Basics series, and I'm closing it out with the piece of the customer journey most product-based stores completely overlook. I'll tell you the story of how I figured this out by accident, what a recent viral TikTok moment proved about it, and the one question that changes how you think about what happens after the sale.
The story of the product that taught me this the hard way
The one question to ask yourself about every product you sell
What a viral TikTok moment reveals about what most stores are getting wrong
The "but it's already on my website" objection (and why it falls apart)
Why the customer's first experience matters more than your next sale
Where this fits into a real retention strategy
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Full Episode Show Notes
http://ecommercebadassery.com/374

_______
Learn With Me
Work with Me 1:1
https://ecommercebadassery.com/ecommerce-help/
https://ecommercebadassery.com/email-marketing/

Courses & Membership
https://ecommercebadassery.com/membership
https://ecommercebadassery.com/programs

_______

Let's Connect
Website: http://ecommercebadassery.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/ecommercebadassery
Membership: http://ecommercebadassery.com/membership

_______

Rate, Review, & Subscribe
Like what you heard? I’d be forever grateful if you’d rate, review and subscribe to the show! Not only does it help your fellow eCommerce entrepreneurs find the eCommerce Badassery podcast; but it’s also valuable feedback for me to continue bringing you the content you want to hear.

Review Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecommerce-badassery/id1507457683
10 min
April 21373. Badass Basics: The Importance of Trust & Credibility When Selling Online
Your customer can't touch, smell, or try on what you're selling. They're handing money to a screen and hoping you're legit. Every trust signal on your site is doing the job their senses would do in person. In this episode, we're breaking down how to build the credibility that gets hesitant shoppers to click buy.

Week five of the Badass Basics series is all about trust and credibility. With a trust recession happening across the internet, especially now with AI flooding everything, your site needs to work harder than ever to earn the sale. In this episode I'm walking through the specific trust signals that move the needle, from your contact info to your policies, your About page to the tiny credibility markers most store owners overlook. Plus the truth about generous return policies and why they actually increase conversions.
Why trust is cumulative and how to stop chipping away at your own credibility without realizing it
What every contact page needs if you want shoppers to actually reach out
The pricing and return policy truth that can double as your secret weapon
How to write an About page that sells without making it all about you
The small credibility markers that scream "abandoned site" to first-time visitors
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Full Episode Show Notes
http://ecommercebadassery.com/373

_______
Learn With Me
Work with Me 1:1
https://ecommercebadassery.com/ecommerce-help/
https://ecommercebadassery.com/email-marketing/

Courses & Membership
https://ecommercebadassery.com/membership
https://ecommercebadassery.com/programs

_______

Let's Connect
Website: http://ecommercebadassery.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/ecommercebadassery
Membership: http://ecommercebadassery.com/membership

_______

Rate, Review, & Subscribe
Like what you heard? I’d be forever grateful if you’d rate, review and subscribe to the show! Not only does it help your fellow eCommerce entrepreneurs find the eCommerce Badassery podcast; but it’s also valuable feedback for me to continue bringing you the content you want to hear.

Review Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecommerce-badassery/id1507457683
15 min
April 14372. Badass Basics: Building Your eCommerce Average Order Value
If you've been trying to grow your revenue by chasing more traffic and more customers, you're doing it the hard way. The fastest, cheapest way to make more money? Get the people who are already buying to spend a little more while they're at it.

This is week four of our Badass Basics series, and today I'm breaking down how to increase your average order value using cross-sells, upsells, and bundles. I'm covering where to put them, how to price them, what to offer, and the real-world examples from my own brick-and-mortar boutique that'll make all of this click.
Why AOV is the lowest-effort, lowest-cost growth lever in your business
The difference between a passive cross-sell and an active one (and why that matters)
How to choose cross-sell products based on actual customer shopping behavior, not guesses
The pricing sweet spot for cross-sells so you don't scare buyers off at checkout
Where to place cross-sells on your product pages vs. in the cart vs. post-purchase
Why post-purchase cross-sells convert so well (hint: dopamine)
How upsells actually work for physical products and where to implement them
The strategic differences between forced bundles, inventory movement bundles, and curated bundles
Why build-your-own bundles can backfire if you're not careful
How to use email to deliver a cross-sell right after someone places an order
How to layer cross-sells, upsells, and bundles together as a system
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Full Episode Show Notes
http://ecommercebadassery.com/372

_______
Learn With Me
Work with Me 1:1
https://ecommercebadassery.com/ecommerce-help/
https://ecommercebadassery.com/email-marketing/

Courses & Membership
https://ecommercebadassery.com/membership
https://ecommercebadassery.com/programs

_______

Let's Connect
Website: http://ecommercebadassery.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/ecommercebadassery
Membership: http://ecommercebadassery.com/membership

_______

Rate, Review, & Subscribe
Like what you heard? I’d be forever grateful if you’d rate, review and subscribe to the show! Not only does it help your fellow eCommerce entrepreneurs find the eCommerce Badassery podcast; but it’s also valuable feedback for me to continue bringing you the content you want to hear.

Review Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecommerce-badassery/id1507457683
23 min
April 07371. Badass Basics: Your eCommerce Product Page
Your product page is the closest thing you have to a one-on-one conversation with your customer... without either of you actually saying a word. It's doing the job of a sales associate, answering questions, building confidence, and closing the sale. And if it's not pulling its weight? You're losing people who were ready to buy.
This is week three of the Badass Basics series, and we're breaking down every element your product page needs to do that job well... from the photos that make the first impression to the descriptions that seal the deal, and everything in between that either builds trust or quietly kills conversions.
The subtle signal your product photos are sending about the quality of your business (and what to do if it's the wrong one)
Why most product descriptions are written backwards... and the simple flip that makes them sell
Where to find the exact copy your customers are already writing for you
How to structure a product page that works for the person who reads every word AND the one who skims in three seconds
The objections sitting in your customer's head right now, and where they should be answered before they ever have to ask
What actually builds trust on a product page
The one piece of information that, if it's missing, will send someone straight to checkout… at a competitor's store
When a regular product page isn't enough, and what to build instead for your top sellers
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Full Episode Show Notes
http://ecommercebadassery.com/371

_______
Learn With Me
Work with Me 1:1
https://ecommercebadassery.com/ecommerce-help/
https://ecommercebadassery.com/email-marketing/

Courses & Membership
https://ecommercebadassery.com/membership
https://ecommercebadassery.com/programs

_______

Let's Connect
Website: http://ecommercebadassery.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/ecommercebadassery
Membership: http://ecommercebadassery.com/membership

_______

Rate, Review, & Subscribe
Like what you heard? I’d be forever grateful if you’d rate, review and subscribe to the show! Not only does it help your fellow eCommerce entrepreneurs find the eCommerce Badassery podcast; but it’s also valuable feedback for me to continue bringing you the content you want to hear.

Review Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecommerce-badassery/id1507457683
17 min
March 31370. Badass Basics: Your eCommerce Navigation Menu
This is week two of the Badass Basics series, and I’m breaking down two things that can make or break your customer’s shopping experience: your navigation menu and your collection filters.

I’m walking you through how to organize your nav, what belongs at the top level vs. tucked into a subcollection, and how your filters and navigation should work together so every shopper finds what they came for.
Why your nav menu and filters are basically a sales associate (and how to tell if yours is the good one or the bad one)
The surprising amount of overlap your navigation and filters should have
A rule of thumb that clears up 90% of the "nav vs. filter" confusion
How the size of your product assortment changes everything about your top-level navigation
The business case for promoting a subcollection to a top-level category
What to do when your products refuse to fit into neat little categories
How to tell when a subcollection is actually creating friction instead of helping
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Full Episode Show Notes
http://ecommercebadassery.com/370

_______
Learn With Me
Work with Me 1:1
https://ecommercebadassery.com/ecommerce-help/
https://ecommercebadassery.com/email-marketing/

Courses & Membership
https://ecommercebadassery.com/membership
https://ecommercebadassery.com/programs

_______

Let's Connect
Website: http://ecommercebadassery.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/ecommercebadassery
Membership: http://ecommercebadassery.com/membership

_______

Rate, Review, & Subscribe
Like what you heard? I’d be forever grateful if you’d rate, review and subscribe to the show! Not only does it help your fellow eCommerce entrepreneurs find the eCommerce Badassery podcast; but it’s also valuable feedback for me to continue bringing you the content you want to hear.

Review Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecommerce-badassery/id1507457683
17 min
March 24369. Badass Basics: Your eCommerce Home Page Set Up
Your home page has about 3 seconds to convince someone to stick around. So why are most eCommerce home pages doing the absolute most... and saying the absolute least?

This is the first episode in the new Badass Basics series, where I'm breaking down the foundational stuff that every eCommerce store needs to get right.

Today, I'm walking through what actually belongs on your home page, from the hero banner down to your email signup, and how to set it up so people stop bouncing and start shopping. There's also a benchmark I want you to check that'll tell you if your home page is actually doing its job.
The brick-and-mortar concept that should dictate what goes in your hero banner
The one non-negotiable your hero banner needs on desktop (most stores get this wrong)
What to feature in your hero when you're not running a campaign
Static banner vs. slideshow — a rule of thumb that makes the decision for you
A 2-minute check that tells you if your home page is pulling its weight
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Full Episode Show Notes
http://ecommercebadassery.com/369

_______
Learn With Me
Work with Me 1:1
https://ecommercebadassery.com/ecommerce-help/
https://ecommercebadassery.com/email-marketing/

Courses & Membership
https://ecommercebadassery.com/membership
https://ecommercebadassery.com/programs

_______

Let's Connect
Website: http://ecommercebadassery.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/ecommercebadassery
Membership: http://ecommercebadassery.com/membership

_______

Rate, Review, & Subscribe
Like what you heard? I’d be forever grateful if you’d rate, review and subscribe to the show! Not only does it help your fellow eCommerce entrepreneurs find the eCommerce Badassery podcast; but it’s also valuable feedback for me to continue bringing you the content you want to hear.

Review Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecommerce-badassery/id1507457683
15 min
March 17368. Amazon Doubling Down on Shop Direct & Buy for Me Programs - What You Need to Know
Amazon just made it even easier for merchants to hand over their product catalog, customer data, and sales to the world's biggest marketplace. And they're calling it an "opportunity."

Yeah… we need to talk about this.

In this episode, I'm getting into Amazon's Shop Direct and Buy for Me programs — what actually changed last week, why this is back in the spotlight, and the stuff Amazon ISN'T saying about why they want your product feed. Whether you're fired up or tempted by the free traffic, you're gonna want to hear this before you make any decisions.
The difference between Shop Direct and Buy for Me; and why one is way more problematic than the other
What actually happened to merchants during Q4 when this rolled out without their knowledge
The new announcement that changes the game for how merchants can participate (and what it really means)
The two words that explain what Amazon actually gets out of this; and it's not what they're telling you
Why "free" is the most expensive word in Amazon's vocabulary right now
The honest argument I keep going back and forth on (and why I'm genuinely conflicted)
What you can do if you don't want your products showing up on Amazon at all
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Full Episode Show Notes
http://ecommercebadassery.com/368

_______
Learn With Me
Work with Me 1:1
https://ecommercebadassery.com/ecommerce-help/
https://ecommercebadassery.com/email-marketing/

Courses & Membership
https://ecommercebadassery.com/membership
https://ecommercebadassery.com/programs

_______

Let's Connect
Website: http://ecommercebadassery.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/ecommercebadassery
Membership: http://ecommercebadassery.com/membership

_______

Rate, Review, & Subscribe
Like what you heard? I’d be forever grateful if you’d rate, review and subscribe to the show! Not only does it help your fellow eCommerce entrepreneurs find the eCommerce Badassery podcast; but it’s also valuable feedback for me to continue bringing you the content you want to hear.

Review Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecommerce-badassery/id1507457683
16 min
March 10367. 5 Marketing Lessons from the Staples Baddie
A 22-year-old Staples employee with zero marketing training just outperformed an entire corporate marketing team. Her personal TikTok has 10x the followers of the official Staples account. And there are some seriously good lessons in here for your eCommerce business.

In this episode, I’m breaking down the viral “Staples Baddie” phenomenon... how one print specialist named Kaeden started making TikToks on her break and accidentally became the most effective marketing campaign Staples has had in decades.

I’ve been following her content for a few weeks now, and once the story crossed over to CNN, Fast Company, and Inc., I knew I had to talk about it... because there are five specific lessons here that every product-based business owner needs to hear.

We’re getting into why her content connected so hard, what Staples did right (and what other stores are already getting wrong trying to copy it), and how you can apply these same principles to your own store... even if you never make a single TikTok.
The real reason the Staples Baddie blew up — and why it has nothing to do with luck or the algorithm
Why your audience is probably ignoring your best products right now (and it's not their fault)
The counterintuitive move that's worth more than any ad campaign you could run
How to sell more without ever feeling like you're pitching
_______
Full Episode Show Notes
http://ecommercebadassery.com/367

_______
Learn With Me
Work with Me 1:1
https://ecommercebadassery.com/ecommerce-help/
https://ecommercebadassery.com/email-marketing/

Courses & Membership
https://ecommercebadassery.com/membership
https://ecommercebadassery.com/programs

_______

Let's Connect
Website: http://ecommercebadassery.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/ecommercebadassery
Membership: http://ecommercebadassery.com/membership

_______

Rate, Review, & Subscribe
Like what you heard? I’d be forever grateful if you’d rate, review and subscribe to the show! Not only does it help your fellow eCommerce entrepreneurs find the eCommerce Badassery podcast; but it’s also valuable feedback for me to continue bringing you the content you want to hear.

Review Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecommerce-badassery/id1507457683
25 min

About eCommerce Badassery

From the publisher's feed

Ready to grow your product-based eCommerce business without burning out? The eCommerce Badassery Podcast delivers real-world strategies to boost product sales, grow your online store, master email…

marketing, and build a thriving, profitable eCommerce business.

Jessica Totillo Coster, a 25+ year retail veteran and manager of a 7-figure eCommerce business, shares actionable steps and strategies to grow the traffic, sales, and profit in your online retail store.

After building her multi-six figure brick + mortar clothing boutique and working with the top experts in SEO, Web Development, Email, and Digital Marketing, she’s spilling all the secrets like the straight-talking no bullsh*t New Yorker she is.

Every Tuesday, hear from Jessica and the occasional guest to learn what it takes to take your eCommerce business to the next level. Each episode is delivered workshop-style and packed full of actionable takeaways that you can implement in your business right away.

WHAT WE’LL COVER ON THE ECOMMERCE BADASSERY PODCAST:

- Email Marketing Strategies for eCommerce Businesses
- Social Media Strategies for product-based businesses to attract new customers
- Technical training for eCommerce industry platforms like Shopify + Klaviyo
- Social Media and Email Marketing Content ideas for product-based business owners
- Stories from other eCommerce business owners who started at their kitchen tables to build multi-7-figure eCommerce businesses
- Guest experts to share the latest strategies for marketing your eCommerce business
- The latest Shopify Apps, AI marketing tools, and software to help you run your eCommerce business
- How to use data to make educated decisions in your business and how to determine YOUR best next steps
- How to increase conversion and average order value on your eCommerce website
- How to do SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for eCommerce websites
- and a whole lot more!

If you’re ready to step into your role as the CEO of your eCommerce business with actionable steps and strategies and enjoy a little tough love to get things done, you’re in the right place.

WANT MORE SUPPORT GROWING YOUR PRODUCT-BASED BUSINESS?

Check out Jessica’s courses and programs at eCommerceBadassery.com, including:

- Email Badassery: Create a high-converting email automation system & make money while you sleep
- SEO Badassery: Get found online and drive organic traffic without spending money on ads or time on social
- Shopify Badassery: Master your Shopify store and backend
- The Lounge Membership: Access ongoing marketing & paid ad support. Includes live coaching.