Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & Growth

How do you determine the percentage of revenue that goes toward your ad spend? In this episode, Andrew answers this question he received recently on Twitter. “This is a crucial question for any business. For ecommerce in particular, advertising is the key way you’re driving traffic to your site.”

Show Notes:

- Get started with Wayflyer ecommerce financing: https://bit.ly/3arbACq

- Use the Unit Economics calculator: https://bit.ly/3P2DPWI

Retention is king right now, so what’s your strategy? In this episode, Andrew is joined by Yotpo Product Marketing Manager Judith Zhu where they discuss how to generate revenue with subscriptions for any type of business. “One of the most powerful levers you can pull is having subscriptions as a meaningful part of your business.”

Show Notes:

- Connect with Judith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judithkayzhu/

- Try Yotpo subscriptions:

https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

https://www.yotpo.com/platform/subscriptions/

What’s your greatest challenge right now? In this episode, Andrew talks through a problem he’s having trouble solving, and what he’s doing about it. (Spoiler: the key is breaking the problem down into smaller problems). “Despite the current macroeconomic moment, I still have to figure out how to help this client grow.”

The market decline is real — but is there hope? In this episode, Andrew casts a positive outlook for the future, and suggests this is the time to invest in growth. “There is a moment right now to capitalize amid all the doom and gloom in the ecommerce space.”

Show notes:

- Get started with YotPo subscriptions: https://bit.ly/YotpoSubscriptionsEcommPlaybook

- Statlas: https://bit.ly/3MV23AP

- Andrew’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewjfaris

- Mehtab From Karta: https://twitter.com/MehtabKarta

- Fan Bi: https://twitter.com/lifeofbi

At the center of what you’re selling, what’s the most important? In this episode, Andrew talks about getting as clear as possible on the marketing messaging for your product. “You have to know what you are selling with total clarity, and in order to sell it well, you have to communicate that one thing more and better than everything else.”

Show Notes:

- Bambu Earth’s success: https://bit.ly/3xHG8ch

- Get started with YotPo subscriptions: https://bit.ly/YotpoSubscriptionsEcommPlaybook

What’s on your mind as an ecommerce owner or operator? This episode, Andrew and special guest Common Thread Collective CEO Taylor Holiday cover 10 trending and top-of-mind ecommerce topics. “We’ll go big, we’ll go broad, we’ll go bitter and angry Twitter wars.”

Show Notes:

Subscribe to the Data Newsletter: https://content.commonthreadco.com/ecommerce-data-newsletter

Mehtab's Twitter Account: https://twitter.com/MehtabKarta

It is a fact that brands are pulling back on Facebook spend. They shouldn’t be. In this episode, Andrew explains why the return on Facebook ads is better than you think, where your money is going, and how your growth is happening. “When you start buying traffic of any kind, it affects all your channels. A steady decline in Facebook spend produces a steady decline in organic and paid. And, ultimately, creates significant revenue decline.”

Show Notes:

- https://bit.ly/3LHNobF - Statlas, CTC's data tool Andrew referenced on the show.

- https://bit.ly/38eHjWr - CTC Weekly Data Newsletter from ~220 stores comprising $5B in GMV.

- https://bit.ly/3lDBtB6 - Explore CTC's "Expert Strategy" program for your brand.

- https://bit.ly/39QCh2K - View the graphs and charts Andrew mentions.

“Get really good” might seem like unhelpful advice, but there’s a principle behind it. In this episode, Andrew emphasizes the need to be great at some aspects of your business, and why doing so will set your brand apart from the rest. “The brands that are winning have some feature or element of their business that make them uniquely good. They’re great at something.”

Looking to scale your business in this unique climate? Get personalized ecommerce training from a team of experts, free for a limited time. Visit http://www.youradmission.co/

If you aren't happy with your business, it’s probably time to make some changes. In this episode, Andrew draws from his experience as a consultant coming in with a fresh perspective on a brand and its problems. “When I look at businesses, my only goal is to win for them. So I ask, ‘Why not do the thing that’s going to make you more money?’”

Quantity alone isn’t always better than quality. In this episode, Andrew does a deep dive into Facebook ad creative strategy. “It’s not just about the volume of ads, but the quality of ads. I believe you need both to be successful.”