Ecommerce Coffee Break - Helping You Become A Smarter Online Seller

In this episode of the podcast, we explore practical tips for learning to work alongside AI, a crucial skill in today's rapidly evolving landscape.

Joining me on the show today is Michael Walker, the Chief Marketing Officer at smythos.com.

He shares insights on integrating AI into various workflows and enhancing productivity. Join us as we delve into strategies that empower professionals to thrive in an AI-driven environment.

Topics discussed in this episode:  

• Why AI is changing organizations by streamlining efficiency and increasing revenue
• How AI frees up individuals to be more creative and innovative
• What valuable skills are needed in an AI-driven world, including problem-solving
• How AI assistants can tackle complex business problems as a unified system
• Why learning AI assistant building is crucial for professionals in 2025
• What examples show AI agents improving productivity in ecommerce
• What the process looks like for implementing AI agents in business
• How embracing AI helps professionals harness its power advantageously

Links & Resources

Website: https://smythos.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelwalkerii/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/smythos/

Get access to more free resources by visiting the show notes at
https://t.ly/lqUkW

Ask The Ecommerce Coffee Break → Submit your question here: https://ecommercecoffeebreak.com/ask/


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Rate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts

Enjoying this episode? Help others like you by rating and reviewing my show on Apple Podcasts! Your feedback supports more people in achieving their online business dreams. Click below, give five stars, and share your favorite part in a review!

Click here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecommerce-coffee-break-digital-marketing-podcast-for/id1567749422

And if you haven’t yet, follow the podcast to catch all the bonus episodes I’m adding. Don’t miss out—hit that follow button now!

In this episode, we explore why modern eCommerce brands are focusing more on operational success than marketing.

Joining the discussion is Mo Afshar, CEO and Co-founder of Pipe17com.

Mo shares insights on how operational efficiency is key to scaling a business and maintaining customer satisfaction, as well as how automation and AI are transforming order operations for online merchants.

Tune in to learn how to optimize your backend processes and keep your eCommerce business running smoothly.

Topics discussed in this episode:  

• Why brands prioritize operations over marketing in ecommerce 
• How operational complexity increases with multi-channel selling 
• What common operational mistakes ecommerce businesses make as they scale 
• How AI is revolutionizing e-commerce operations and enhancing efficiency 
• Why connecting disparate systems is crucial for streamlining e-commerce operations 
• What types of clients benefit most from operational optimization solutions 
• Why order-based pricing aligns with customer success in ecommerce operations 
• How AI is changing consumer buying behavior and brand creation in ecommerce 
• Why operations remain critical despite AI advancements in ecommerce 

Links & Resources

Website: https://pipe17.com/
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/pipe17
X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/pipe17inc
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pipe17official

Get access to more free resources by visiting the show notes at
https://t.ly/BHc7a   


Recommended Next Episode 

#339: The Most Important Tool to Deliver a Quality Ecommerce Experience: Search On Your Store — Arv Natarajan → https://ecommercecoffeebreak.com/shopify-ai-search-discovery/   

Ask The Ecommerce Coffee Break → Submit your question here: https://ecommercecoffeebreak.com/ask/


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Become a smarter online seller in just 10 minutes per week. 100% free. Delivered every Thursday to your inbox. No Spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at https://newsletter.ecommercecoffeebreak.com


Rate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts

Enjoying this episode? Help others like you by rating and reviewing my show on Apple Podcasts! Your feedback supports more people in achieving their online business dreams. Click below, give five stars, and share your favorite part in a review!

Click here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecommerce-coffee-break-digital-marketing-podcast-for/id1567749422

And if you haven’t yet, follow the podcast to catch all the bonus episodes I’m adding. Don’t miss out—hit that follow button now!

In this podcast episode, we explore one of the most crucial tools for a successful eCommerce experience: your store’s search function.

Joining us is Arv Natarajan, Director of Product at GroupBy Inc. Arv shares his insights on improving search capabilities to enhance customer satisfaction and conversion rates.

We discuss data catalog quality, the role of AI in search engines, and how to optimize merchandising with analytics. Tune in to learn how to boost your online store's performance with smarter search tools!

Topics discussed in this episode:  

• Why improving search quality is crucial for ecommerce success
• How product data quality impacts search performance
• What advanced search capabilities like natural language processing can offer
• Why analytics and understanding user search behavior is important
• How to balance AI-powered search with human curation and merchandising
• What types of ecommerce businesses benefit most from advanced search
• How the search solution integrates with custom ecommerce themes
• What the future of AI-powered ecommerce search and product discovery might look like

Links & Resources

Website: https://www.groupbyinc.com/integrations/shopify
Shopify App Store: https://apps.shopify.com/groupby-ai-search-discovery
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arvnatarajan/
X/Twitter: https://x.com/groupbyinc

Get access to more free resources by visiting the show notes at
https://t.ly/GECxQ

Ask The Ecommerce Coffee Break → Submit your question here: https://ecommercecoffeebreak.com/ask/


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Become a smarter online seller in just 10 minutes per week. 100% free. Delivered every Thursday to your inbox. No Spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at https://newsletter.ecommercecoffeebreak.com


Rate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts

Enjoying this episode? Help others like you by rating and reviewing my show on Apple Podcasts! Your feedback supports more people in achieving their online business dreams. Click below, give five stars, and share your favorite part in a review!

Click here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecommerce-coffee-break-digital-marketing-podcast-for/id1567749422

And if you haven’t yet, follow the podcast to catch all the bonus episodes I’m adding. Don’t miss out—hit that follow button now!

In this podcast episode, I (your host, Claus Lauter) share the 4 Conversion Rate Optimization principles you need to know to optimize your store for more sales and revenue.

Download your copy of the Conversion Rate Optimization Handbook. Instant download here: https://ecommercecoffeebreak.com/conversion-optimization-handbook/

Topics discussed in this episode:  

• Why conversion rate optimization is crucial for ecommerce businesses
• What cognitive load is and how simplifying your content can boost understanding and conversions
• How doubling conversion rates can potentially quadruple your business without additional marketing costs
• What the four key principles of conversion rate optimization are and their importance
• How minimizing visual load can improve user experience and conversions
• Why reducing motor load is essential for easier navigation and increased sales
• How decreasing memory load can prevent users from getting lost on your website
• Why providing the right information at the right moment is critical for conversions

Links & Resources

Website: https://ecommercecoffeebreak.com
Download: https://ecommercecoffeebreak.com/conversion-optimization-handbook/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clauslauter/

Get access to more free resources by visiting the show notes at
https://t.ly/RaAgq

Ask The Ecommerce Coffee Break → Submit your question here: https://ecommercecoffeebreak.com/ask/


Sign up for our free newsletter

Become a smarter online seller in just 10 minutes per week. 100% free. Delivered every Thursday to your inbox. No Spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at https://newsletter.ecommercecoffeebreak.com


Rate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts

Enjoying this episode? Help others like you by rating and reviewing my show on Apple Podcasts! Your feedback supports more people in achieving their online business dreams. Click below, give five stars, and share your favorite part in a review!

Click here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecommerce-coffee-break-digital-marketing-podcast-for/id1567749422

And if you haven’t yet, follow the podcast to catch all the bonus episodes I’m adding. Don’t miss out—hit that follow button now!

In this podcast episode, we explore how to drive organic traffic in an AI-driven world. 

Joining us is Mike Simmons, the owner of Plugin Useful. Mike shares his journey from software engineer to successful entrepreneur, leading a health tech company to significant growth before focusing on empowering Shopify entrepreneurs. 

Mike dives into the essentials of SEO, offering practical tips and insights on optimizing your store for better organic reach. Discover how to leverage AI and SEO to boost your traffic and grow your online business.

Topics discussed in this episode:  

• How AI has impacted SEO and the need to focus on fundamental best practices 
• Optimizing category pages with targeted keywords and informative content to drive organic traffic 
• Strategies for product page optimization, including using primary keywords in titles 
• Taking a long-term, compounding approach to SEO rather than expecting instant results 
• Why perfection isn't required, but pages should aim to be the best for the target keyword 
• How focused SEO work can lead to significant improvements even for stores starting from scratch 

Links & Resources 

Website: https://pluginuseful.com/ 
Shopify App Store: https://apps.shopify.com/plug-in-seo 

Get access to more free resources by visiting the show notes at
https://t.ly/hxO8l 

Ask The Ecommerce Coffee Break → Submit your question here: https://ecommercecoffeebreak.com/ask/


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Become a smarter online seller in just 10 minutes per week. 100% free. Delivered every Thursday to your inbox. No Spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at https://newsletter.ecommercecoffeebreak.com


Rate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts

Enjoying this episode? Help others like you by rating and reviewing my show on Apple Podcasts! Your feedback supports more people in achieving their online business dreams. Click below, give five stars, and share your favorite part in a review!

Click here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecommerce-coffee-break-digital-marketing-podcast-for/id1567749422

And if you haven’t yet, follow the podcast to catch all the bonus episodes I’m adding. Don’t miss out—hit that follow button now!

In this episode, we discuss how to boost your store’s revenue with effective email marketing strategies. 

Joining us is Sergey Sapelnyk, Co-owner of bedfordmarketing.co and founder of two successful eCommerce brands, Society Socks and Pearly Drinks. Sergey shares actionable tips on optimizing your email campaigns, improving mobile responsiveness, and increasing customer engagement. 

Whether you’re new to email marketing or looking to refine your strategy, this episode offers valuable insights to help grow your online business. 

Topics discussed in this episode:  

• Why mobile responsiveness is crucial for email marketing success in DTC brands 
• How to structure emails for optimal readability on mobile devices 
• What common mistakes DTC brands make with their email marketing strategies 
• How to create clear and effective call-to-actions (CTAs) in marketing emails 
• Why the frequency of email sends should increase as your business grows 
• What optimal email sending frequencies are for different business revenue levels 
• How to effectively use pop-ups to build your email list without annoying customers 

Links & Resources 

Website: https://www.bedfordmarketing.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sergeysapelnyk/
X/Twitter: https://x.com/BallinFil


Get access to more free resources by visiting the show notes at
https://t.ly/T4rjK 

Ask The Ecommerce Coffee Break → Submit your question here: https://ecommercecoffeebreak.com/ask/


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Become a smarter online seller in just 10 minutes per week. 100% free. Delivered every Thursday to your inbox. No Spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at https://newsletter.ecommercecoffeebreak.com


Rate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts

Enjoying this episode? Help others like you by rating and reviewing my show on Apple Podcasts! Your feedback supports more people in achieving their online business dreams. Click below, give five stars, and share your favorite part in a review!

Click here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecommerce-coffee-break-digital-marketing-podcast-for/id1567749422

And if you haven’t yet, follow the podcast to catch all the bonus episodes I’m adding. Don’t miss out—hit that follow button now!

In this podcast episode, we discuss how to automate your marketing and take control of your online ecosystem. We explore the impact of automation on marketing efficiency. Our featured guests on the show are Emily and Alan Braithwaite from yellowtuxedo.co.uk 

Topics discussed in this episode:  

• How to get started with email marketing automation for ecommerce beginners 
• Why email marketing should be a higher priority in your overall marketing mix 
• What information to collect when building your email list and why simplicity matters 
• How integrating design tools like Canva with email platforms can streamline your workflow 
• Why personalization is crucial in email marketing and how to achieve it effectively 
• How AI is shaping the future of marketing automation and email campaigns 

Links & Resources 

Website: https://www.yellowtuxedo.co.uk/
Website MailerLite: https://www.mailerlite.com/a/coffeebreakpodcastYT 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/yellowtuxedo/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yellowtuxedo/ 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@YellowTuxedo/   

Get access to more free resources by visiting the show notes at
https://t.ly/KuBMX 

Ask The Ecommerce Coffee Break → Submit your question here: https://ecommercecoffeebreak.com/ask/


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Become a smarter online seller in just 10 minutes per week. 100% free. Delivered every Thursday to your inbox. No Spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at https://newsletter.ecommercecoffeebreak.com


Rate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts

Enjoying this episode? Help others like you by rating and reviewing my show on Apple Podcasts! Your feedback supports more people in achieving their online business dreams. Click below, give five stars, and share your favorite part in a review!

Click here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecommerce-coffee-break-digital-marketing-podcast-for/id1567749422

And if you haven’t yet, follow the podcast to catch all the bonus episodes I’m adding. Don’t miss out—hit that follow button now!

In this episode, we explore email marketing strategies for e-commerce, focusing on Black Friday preparations. Our guest, Adam Robinson, CEO of retention.com, discusses the impact of Apple's privacy changes on Facebook ads and email remarketing. He explains how to overcome challenges like Klaviyo’s reduced cookie tracking window by using innovative methods to capture email addresses from website visitors. Adam also shares tips for warming up these new contacts to boost engagement and ensure a successful holiday sales season. 

Topics discussed in this episode:  

• How intelligent tracking prevention cut email tracking from 2 years to 7 days 
• What’s the ideal timeframe to start Black Friday email campaigns 
• Why a personal brand via content marketing is crucial for SaaS growth 
• How to warm up new email subscribers before Black Friday 
• How Dr. Squatch generated $1 million in revenue using retention.com's services before Black Friday 
• Why broad targeting ads might be more effective than hyper-niche targeting 
• How to safely integrate new email addresses into existing email lists 
• What retention.com does to avoid duplicating email addresses in your list 

Links & Resources 

Website: https://retention.com/ 
Shopify App: https://retention.com/support/integrate-with-shopify-integration-app/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/retentionadam/ 
X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RetentionAdam 

Get access to more free resources by visiting the show notes at
https://t.ly/PneSl 

Ask The Ecommerce Coffee Break → Submit your question here: https://ecommercecoffeebreak.com/ask/


Sign up for our free newsletter

Become a smarter online seller in just 10 minutes per week. 100% free. Delivered every Thursday to your inbox. No Spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at https://newsletter.ecommercecoffeebreak.com


Rate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts

Enjoying this episode? Help others like you by rating and reviewing my show on Apple Podcasts! Your feedback supports more people in achieving their online business dreams. Click below, give five stars, and share your favorite part in a review!

Click here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecommerce-coffee-break-digital-marketing-podcast-for/id1567749422

And if you haven’t yet, follow the podcast to catch all the bonus episodes I’m adding. Don’t miss out—hit that follow button now!

In this episode, we dive deep into strategies for mastering Google Ads for eCommerce stores. Our guest is Shri Kanase, founder of YoruMarketing.com and a Google Ads expert with over 7 years of experience. 

Shri shares insights on common misconceptions about Google Ads, the differences between shopping campaigns and performance max, and his systematic TPS (Testing, Profitability, Scaling) approach. He also provides valuable tips for preparing for Q4, optimizing ad accounts, and achieving scalable results. Whether you're new to Google Ads or looking to improve your existing campaigns, this episode offers actionable advice for eCommerce success.

Topics discussed in this episode:  

• Why Google Ads outperforms Facebook for ecommerce consistency 
• How the TPS (Testing, Profitability, Scaling) approach works across industries 
• What misconceptions limit Google Ads scalability 
• How to audit and restructure struggling Google Ads accounts 
• Why patience is key in Google Ads strategy 
• What pricing options exist for Google Ads management 
• Why consistent optimization schedules matter for Google Ads 

Links & Resources

Website: https://yorumarketing.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shri-kanase/
TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@shri.kanase
X/Twitter: https://x.com/EcomShri
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyQNz6Xg5FVXjvfOMj5Rj5g

Get access to more free resources by visiting the show notes at
https://t.ly/sySxj 

Ask The Ecommerce Coffee Break → Submit your question here: https://ecommercecoffeebreak.com/ask/


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Become a smarter online seller in just 10 minutes per week. 100% free. Delivered every Thursday to your inbox. No Spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at https://newsletter.ecommercecoffeebreak.com


Rate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts

Enjoying this episode? Help others like you by rating and reviewing my show on Apple Podcasts! Your feedback supports more people in achieving their online business dreams. Click below, give five stars, and share your favorite part in a review!

Click here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecommerce-coffee-break-digital-marketing-podcast-for/id1567749422

And if you haven’t yet, follow the podcast to catch all the bonus episodes I’m adding. Don’t miss out—hit that follow button now!

In this episode, we dive into strategies for boosting your online store’s average order value (AOV) through effective cross-selling. Joining the conversation is Varun Kundra, Co-founder of AfterSell.com, a Shopify app used by over 20,000 brands for upselling and cross-selling. Varun shares insights on consumer psychology, personalization, and how merchants can seamlessly integrate third-party offers to maximize profits without additional effort. 

Topics discussed in this episode:  

• Why cross-selling and upselling boost AOV in a high acquisition cost environment 
• How personalization and relevance improve upsell and cross-sell success 
• What entry points exist for upselling: in-cart, checkout, post-purchase 
• Why post-purchase offers work due to the "dopamine kick" 
• What "network offers" are and how they display third-party offers 
• What revenue potential exists for merchants using network offers 

Links & Resources

Website: https://www.aftersell.com/
Shopify App Store: https://apps.shopify.com/aftersell
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vk1/
X/Twitter: https://x.com/varkundra

Get access to more free resources by visiting the show notes at
https://t.ly/VFUA- 

Ask The Ecommerce Coffee Break → Submit your question here: https://ecommercecoffeebreak.com/ask/


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Become a smarter online seller in just 10 minutes per week. 100% free. Delivered every Thursday to your inbox. No Spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at https://newsletter.ecommercecoffeebreak.com


Rate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts

Enjoying this episode? Help others like you by rating and reviewing my show on Apple Podcasts! Your feedback supports more people in achieving their online business dreams. Click below, give five stars, and share your favorite part in a review!

Click here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecommerce-coffee-break-digital-marketing-podcast-for/id1567749422

And if you haven’t yet, follow the podcast to catch all the bonus episodes I’m adding. Don’t miss out—hit that follow button now!