Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & Growth

In this special Halloween episode Taylor and host Richard dive into the spooky truth behind Election Week’s impact on ad campaigns. With an unprecedented wave of political spending flooding digital platforms, advertisers need to prepare for shifting CPMs, reduced conversions, and increased competition—especially in swing states.

From understanding the effects on Meta and Google ads to insights on how to handle performance dips, we’ve got the data and strategies to help you weather the storm. Don’t panic! Taylor and Richard walk through what to expect, how to adapt, and why staying the course is critical for keeping your ads on track as we approach Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

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The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at [email protected] to ask us any questions you might have about the world of ecomm

Are you struggling to keep your ecommerce business profitable? In this episode of the podcast, we dive deep into Common Thread Collective’s Profit System—the tried-and-true method helping ecommerce brands achieve predictable, consistent growth. Join host Richard and our sales experts, Matt and Peter, as they walk us through the key steps to building a data-driven strategy for profitability, even in challenging markets.

From data integrity and customer acquisition models to marketing allocation and performance tracking, we cover every essential part of this system that’s transforming brands and helping them not just survive but thrive in 2024 and beyond. 

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In this month's State of the Industry, we tackle some of the biggest questions facing ecommerce brands in 2024. Why are 7-figure stores seeing a slowdown in growth? How are political ad spending and shifting consumer behaviors affecting your bottom line? And most importantly, what can you do about it heading into the critical Q4 period?

Join our panel of experts as we break down the data behind the Direct-to-Consumer Confidence Index (DTCCI) and explore theories on why revenue growth is stalling. We’ll discuss the impact of the upcoming election, the growing trend of value driven consumers waiting for bigger discounts, and how large ecommerce brands are adjusting their strategies in a tighter, more competitive market. Plus, we’ll dig into what this means for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and your holiday sales.

If you’re navigating the complexities of ecommerce right now, this episode is packed with insights to help you adjust your strategy and drive profitability. Don’t miss these critical discussions on the future of DTC brands!

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Want to dominate this Black Friday and Cyber Monday? In this episode Richard and Luke reveal the top 5 essential strategies that will supercharge your sales and help you maximize profits during the busiest shopping season of the year!

From crafting irresistible offers to optimizing your media spend, we’re giving you a proven game plan to stand out from the competition and make sure your business ends the year with a bang. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just getting started, these tips are critical to your success.

Here's what we cover:

Don't miss these must-do strategies – your Black Friday success depends on it!

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In this episode, Taylor shares his biggest critique of cost controls in digital advertising.

Join Richard and Taylor as they explore the limitations of cost controls, including the challenges of relying on human logic and consistency in a constantly evolving ad landscape. They dive into the role of AI in ad management, the struggle to trust automation, and the emotional hurdles that often lead to poor decision-making.

Taylor also shares insights on how to optimize campaigns for long term success by balancing human creativity with machine driven precision. This episode is a must watch for anyone interested in digital marketing strategy, campaign optimization, and the future of AI in ecommerce!

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Get ready for the holiday season with expert SEO insights designed to help you maximize organic traffic and boost revenue! In this episode Richard sits down with Travis Bichelle, CTC’s Director of SEO, to break down essential SEO strategies tailored for Q4 and holiday promotions in 2024.

From understanding organic search declines to building robust metadata, schema markup, and leveraging Google Merchant Center, we dive into actionable steps to ensure your ecommerce site captures holiday shoppers and increases conversions. Plus, we share a sprint checklist to optimize your site’s performance before Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and beyond!

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In 2024, working with over 67 eight-figure ecommerce brands gave us an insider view of what it really takes to produce sustainable profit in today’s competitive landscape. These brands not only achieved significant revenue but also balanced it with strategies that drove genuine profitability—no easy feat in the current market climate.

In this in-depth video, we’re sharing the hard truths, pivotal insights, and key takeaways we learned from these standout brands. From high-level strategic decisions to the day-to-day tactics that drive success, we’ll cover it all, including:

If you're a brand founder, marketer, or ecommerce leader looking to build a profitable business, this video is packed with invaluable insights directly from the front lines of profitable ecommerce. Learn the tactics and mindset shifts that are helping the industry’s top players win in 2024—and discover how you can apply them to your own business.

Hit play to dive into these powerful strategies, and don’t forget to subscribe for more industry insights, success stories, and actionable tips for profitable growth in ecommerce.

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In this episode, we look at the cultural transformation that took place at Common Thread Collective, shifting from an employee-centric approach to a standards-centric model. Join us as Taylor and Dane Sanders, CTC's VP of Employee Development and Performance, discuss how rethinking company culture can drive profitability, enhance team performance, and reduce turnover. Learn how CTC balanced high standards, accountability, and employee engagement to create a thriving workplace where people are empowered to perform at their best.

Whether you’re a leader looking to boost your company’s culture or an employee interested in understanding what makes high-performing teams tick, this episode offers valuable insights and actionable steps for building a resilient and results-driven culture.

Tune in to discover:

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Looking to boost your holiday sales? In this episode, Richard and Tommy Lamb, Director of Email and SMS at Common Thread Collective, break down the key email and SMS strategies you need for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the holiday season.

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Whether you're running a small business or a large ecommerce store, these expert tips will help you maximize sales during the busiest time of the year!

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In this episode Richard and Taylor, dive deep into the often overlooked challenge of business goal setting and shareholder value. Why do so many entrepreneurs fail to pay themselves, even when their businesses are thriving? Taylor shares his insights on the cultural norms, financial misconceptions, and psychological traps that keep business owners stuck in a cycle of reinvestment, constantly betting it all on growth.

Learn why many business leaders unknowingly give away their profits to external parties like advertisers and suppliers, and why it’s crucial to shift your mindset from scaling at all costs to actually realizing financial value. If you're an entrepreneur struggling with how to take money out of your business or wondering why your efforts aren't leading to personal wealth, this episode is for you.

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