Episode 112

Seneca Hampton is an experienced e-commerce seller that has successfully grown and scaled his health and fitness brand into an absolute goliath on Amazon. David met Seneca a few weeks ago – and what was scheduled to be a 30-minute call turned into a 2-hour deep dive on all things digital marketing, developing a team, and strategies to crush it on Amazon.

Listen to Seneca to know how to grow from zero to 1 million dollars in just 3 years!

[00:01 - 10:42] Opening Segment

• Seneca Hampton talks about his motivations for selling on Amazon
• Here’s an important lesson that he learned from his previous employer
• Seneca walks down memory lane to share his first few years as an Amazon seller

[10:43 - 26:40] An Interesting Way to Start an E-Commerce Business

• How he convinced his loved ones to support him in his e-commerce journey
• Seneca gives his take about the right time to leave your day job
  • The first time he heard “passive income,” this is what he did
• Here’s the reason Seneca did not automate his business early on
  • He also deliberately did not put any system in place

[26:41 - 37:14] The “3X Rule” Before Leaving a Day Job

• Business is problem-solving according to Seneca
  • Here’s why
• Want some Amazon refunds? Check out Getida
  • Promo code: FTM400
• What aspiring entrepreneurs should know about the “3X  Rule”

[37:15 - 49:30] 5 Hours A Month Working in a Business

• Where stress and anxiety come from and how to solve them
• Seneca introduces the “Hyper Leverage Principle”
• How it helps him work for 5 hours monthly

[49:31 - 52:47] Closing Segment 

• Know more about Seneca in the Fire Round!
• Connect with Seneca!
  • Links below
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“You’re always learning because knowledge is something people can’t take away from you.” - Seneca Hampton

“[Learning is] a must. It’s not an option. No matter what you do…you should be an expert in a subject and you can learn it through doing it.” - Seneca Hampton

Resources mentioned:

• Books
  • Rich Dad's CASHFLOW Quadrant
  • Rich Dad Poor Dad

Email [email protected] or [email protected] to connect with Seneca. 

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Episode 111

On today’s show, we are joined by Nathan Hirsch. Nathan is an expert in remote hiring and eCommerce. He built and exited FreeeUp.com, a marketplace that connects businesses with pre-vetted virtual assistants, freelancers, and agencies in eCommerce. Nathan's most recent project is Ecombalance where his team focuses on eCommerce businesses selling on Amazon, Shopify, eBay, Etsy, and other marketplaces master their bookkeeping. 

Tune in now to learn to grow your business by using your financial statements the right way!

[00:01 - 05:56] Opening Segment

• Let’s get to know Nathan Hirsch
• The story behind building FreeUp

[05:57 - 15:38] Building His Own Service-based Company

• Nathan talks about how this “rebellious act” led him to entrepreneurship
• We have an interesting exchange about vegetarian diets
• The customer pain point that pushed Nathan to get out of Amazon

[15:39 - 21:04] Building Trust With Potential Buyers of Your Company

• Newbie entrepreneurs should learn this thing about outsourcing
• How to build trust with buyers if you want to sell your company
• Want some Amazon refunds? Check out Getida
  • Promo code: FTM400

[21:05 - 30:24] How to Look at Financial Statements

• The right time to hire bookkeeping services
• The right way to use financial statements according to Nathan
• Nathan gives a sneak peek at the services that EcomBalance offers

[30:25 - 36:05] The Future of Bookkeeping

• Nathan shares his outlook for the bookkeeping industry
• Are there any interesting trends in the e-commerce space right now?
• Is EcomBalance a good investment?

[36:06 - 41:41] Closing Segment 

• Know more about Nathan in the Fire Round!
• Connect with Nathan! 
  • Links below
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“One of the ways you build trust with someone buying your company is you understand your numbers and the numbers that you're telling them on those initial phone calls match up with the numbers that are actually on the documents.” - Nathan Hirsch

“You can't make business decisions just by looking at what's in your bank account and cash coming in. You have to actually see income statements, balance sheets, cash flows.” - Nathan Hirsch

Resources mentioned:

• Thrasio
• Chelsea Cohen
• SoStocked
• Book: Tools of Titans

Email [email protected] to connect with Nathan or follow him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Check out EcomBalance to master bookkeeping for your e-commerce business!

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Episode 110

Josh Dittrich is a visionary entrepreneur, seller, investor, advisor, husband, and father of five. Most recently, he built and sold two e-commerce businesses for 8 figures and was recently featured in a Business Insider article about how he did it. This has inspired him to write the book "Aggregator Navigator: The Ultimate Guide to Maximizing the Exit of Your Amazon Brand" to demystify the process of selling to an aggregator. 

He is also the founder of BrandedSeller.com, helping Amazon Sellers strategize and maximize their exit. His team also provides stunning low-cost video and listing content. 

Listen to this episode to exit your Amazon business like an 8-figure entrepreneur!

[00:01 - 06:30] Opening Segment

• Let’s get to know Josh Dittrich
  • His humble beginnings and journey to e-commerce
• The reason he decided to go full-time as an entrepreneur

[06:31 - 16:38] Eight-Figure Exit

• Josh talks about his primary fear when he left the corporate world
• The steps he took to grow a business that became an 8-figure exit
• The hardest part in starting an e-commerce business

[16:39 - 21:37] Product Development

• Josh reveals the business model that his team followed
• Why you should know your market share
• The reality about launching a new product

[21:38 - 30:35] Unique Value Proposition

• The importance of the Unique Value Proposition
• The right time to sell an ecommerce business
• Want some Amazon refunds? Check out Getida
  • Promo code: FTM400

[30:36 - 43:15] Deal Structures

• Things to consider when hiring a broker
• Here is a lesson about structuring a deal you don’t want to miss
• Characteristics of a good buyer according to Josh

[43:16 - 49:42] Max Dollars for Your Business

• Josh gives a sneak peek of book!
• He talks about his main motivation for writing the book
• Are you a good fit with Josh’s company and its services?
  • Find out here

[49:43 - 52:45] Closing Segment 

• Know more about Josh in the Fire Round!
• Connect with Josh! 
  • Links below
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“Once you figure out a system and a process that work, you have to double down on that.” - Josh Dittrich

“Rather than growing for the sake of growing, continue to focus on growing profitably.” - Josh Dittrich

Resources mentioned:

• Amway
• eBay
• Jungle Scout
• Alibaba
• Book: Good to Great

Email [email protected] or [email protected] to connect with Josh or follow him on LinkedIn. Check out their website to know more about their services. 

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Episode 109

In this episode, we talk about our experience in owning a warehouse for our ecommerce business and why you should consider building or buying one too. For instance, it offers benefits relating to Amazon FBM (Fulfilled By Merchant). If you think however that owning a warehouse is not fit for your business at the moment, you can explore a few alternatives like subleasing a big warehouse, using third-party logistics, and buying a rental property. 

Listen to this episode and grow your ecommerce business with local warehouses!

[00:01 - 04:38] Opening Segment

• We introduce our topic for this episode
• How the pandemic affected Amazon warehouses

[04:39 - 12:59] Using a Third-party Logistics

• We share our experience about using Third-party Logistics (3PL)
• How David found a warehouse for his inventory
• What ecommerce owners should realize about new racking and shelving

[13:00 - 20:11] Why Own a Warehouse for your Ecommerce Business

• We talk about the benefits of owning a warehouse
  • What does it mean to turn over an inventory?
• Ecommerce owners should know this fact about Amazon FBM
• Want some Amazon refunds? Check out Getida
  • Promo code: FTM400

[20:12 - 31:11] The Costs of Managing a Warehouse

• Why set up your shipping templates for 1-2 days
• Warehouses are not free and have associated costs
  • Here’s what to do
• The forgotten part of the house that can help an ecommerce business

[31:12 - 36:07] Alternatives for Warehouses

• We weigh in between 3PLs and warehouses
• You can explore subleasing warehouse spaces
• Real estate is another option for ecommerce owners

[36:08 - 37:49] Closing Segment 

• Connect with us!
  • Links below
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“New racking and shelving versus shelving that’s 40 years old essentially does the same thing. They hold cases as long as it’s structurally sound.” - David Schomer

“One way to [fire the man] is to pivot and be flexible and keep moving forward. Always move forward and adapt.” - Ken Wilson

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Steve Specializes in strategic planning for multi-location and franchise brands as the founder of Wiideman Consulting Group.  He also considers himself a scientist and practitioner of local and e-commerce search engine optimization and paid search advertising. He is the author of SEO Strategy & Skills, a college textbook through Stukent. Wiideman has personally played a role in the inbound successes of brands that have included Disney, Linksys, Belkin, Public Storage, Honda, Skechers, Applebee's, IHOP, Dole, and others. Many of the mentioned projects with an emphasis on strategy, planning, and campaign oversight. While serving as an adjunct professor at University of California San Diego and California State University Fullerton Steve is also building the Academy of Search, while volunteering time to help improve transparency and industry standards as an agency trainer.

[00:01 - 07:05] Steven’s Path to Becoming an SEO Expert

• From the Military to an SEO strategist
• The Wiideman Consulting Group 

[07:06 - 21:51] Where to Start for Organic Google Traffic 

• SEO Principles 101  
• Choosing the right software to manage your website
• Prioritize tech, content, visibility
• Content strategy
• Marketing content 
• The importance of user behavior signals 

[21:52 - 50:13] SEO and Website Traffic is the Long Game 

• Realistic goals for getting solid traffic
• Want some Amazon refunds? Check out Getida
  • Promo code: FTM400
• Small business owner budget allocation for website 
• Recovering a website with low authority
• Where to start

[50:14 - 53:11] Closing Segment

• Know more about Steven in the Fire Round 
• Final words
• Connect with Steven using the links below! 

Tweetable Quotes:

“Ask your customers what you can do better. Instead of asking a marketing person who doesn't know your customers, instead of asking a salesperson who is trying to close the deal. Ask your customers,” - Steven Wiideman

“You don't have to do extraordinary things to be successful, you only have to do ordinary things extraordinarily well.” - Jim Rohn 

Resources mentioned

• Tools for Marketing Content 
  • https://answerthepublic.com
• https://ahrefs.com 
• Steven’s favorite book: The Killer Angels: The Classic Novel of the Civil War by Michael Shaara
• Podcast Offer: https://courses.wiideman.com/
  • USE CODE: SEOSTEVE (complimentary access)

Connect with Steven 

Website: https://www.wiideman.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiideman/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seosteve/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/seosteve

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wiideman

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seoexpert/

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Episode 107

Eli “The Travel Guy” Facenda is a travel-loving entrepreneur based in Austin, Texas. Eli has visited 35 different countries over the last 3 year while growing two businesses and is passionate about helping entrepreneurs experience more freedom through leveraging credit. In 2021 alone, Eli has been a full-time nomad and has flown on nearly 50 flights for free, many of which have been first class. He has additionally gotten 40+ nights in hotels for free...equating to over $40,000 In free travel this year alone.

Listen to Eli and be a travelling entrepreneur as well!

[00:01 - 05:07] Opening Segment

• Let’s get to know Eli Facenda
• He shares his very first venture with entrepreneurship

[05:08 - 10:58] The Reality About Entrepreneurship

• How Eli saw freedom and opportunity in entrepreneurship
• The reality about pursuing entrepreneurship according to Eli
• Sports and military lessons we can apply to entrepreneurship

[10:59 - 20:46] How Business Credit Works

• How to leverage your business credit according to Eli
• Business owners are underutilizing business credits
  • Here’s how to address this problem
• Eli weighs in between personal and business credits

[20:47 - 29:23] Using Your Credit Points Better

• The many different ways to use your credit points
• Want some Amazon refunds? Check out Getida
  • Promo code: FTM400
• Eli shares some practical tips to systematize your spending

[29:24 - 35:58] The Best Credit Card For Entrepreneurs

• These are the cards that you can try now as suggested by Eli
• Choose the right card for you with these tips
• Benefits that entrepreneurs should look for in a card

[35:59 - 44:02] Cheap PPC in the Ecommerce Industry

• How Freedom Travel Systems supports entrepreneurs
• We talk about PPC in the ecommerce industry
• Know more about Eli in the Fire Round!

[44:03 - 46:30] Closing Segment 

• Connect with Eli!
  • Links below
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“To be able to endure that much failure…‘keep playing’ is a big part of what we all have to go through as business owners.” - Eli Facenda

“I have a vision, I’ll take the action. I’ll figure out the details later, which can be a good thing and a bad thing.” - Eli Facenda

Resources mentioned

• Books
  • Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?
  • Clarity: Clear Mind, Better Performance, Bigger Results
  • The E-Myth Revisited

Email [email protected] to connect with Eli or follow him on LinkedIn and Instagram. Visit Freedom Travel Systems to leverage your credit and create a life of freedom!

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Episode 106

Dennis Kelly is the Chief Executive Officer of Postalytics, a fast-growing software company that automates direct mail marketing, measures the results and connects it to CRM/Marketing Automation. Dennis specializes in technology, product development, sales, marketing, finance and HR. In this episode, he will give us a sneak peek into how he’s grown his business and offer us some tips to be successful in the ecommerce industry. 

Learn from Dennis how to get more reviews and customers for your business!

[00:01 - 04:31] Opening Segment

• Let’s get to know Dennis Kelly
• How Postalytics turned into a fast-growing company

[04:32 - 14:44] The Best Time Be An Entrepreneur

• Dennis talks about his fears when he decided to pursue entrepreneurship
  • Here’s how he overcame all of them
• Why Dennis thinks that entrepreneurs should start young
  • Some sacrifices will also be made
• What aspiring entrepreneurs should realize about fears

[14:45 - 24:16] Why Dennis Invested in a Declining Business

• Dennis tells us this story about selling a company
• The importance of digital calendars according to Dennis
• He explains how direct mail was the predecessor of ecommerce

[24:17 - 34:17] Generating Leads From Postalytics

• How entrepreneurs can leverage Postalytics for lead generation
• Want some Amazon refunds? Check out Getida
  • Promo code: FTM400
• Here’s a sneak peek on the backend of Postalytics

[34:18 - 47:42] How to Generate More Sales 

• How to get customers to bite your upsell and cross-sell offers
• Increase your conversion rates by following these tips from Dennis
• Product launches can also benefit from direct mails and here’s how
• How much should you allocate for direct mail? 

[47:43 - 51:41] Closing Segment 

• Know more about Dennis in the Fire Round
• Connect with Dennis!
  • Links below
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“As a startup person, I think you always have fears and you have to become comfortable with them. They’re a part of you. They’re not something you can just ignore.” - Dennis Kelly

“You have to have a feeling that you can succeed no matter what as long as you work hard enough.” - Dennis Kelly

Resources mentioned

• Book: A Soldier of the Great War

Email [email protected] to connect with Dennis or follow him on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. Check out Postalytics to grow your ecommerce business with direct mail!

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Episode 105

Take a look back at 2021. How are the goals you set at the beginning of the year? In today’s episode, Ken and David review everything; The good, the bad, the ugly, the goals that they achieved, and what lies ahead for them in the new year.  

[00:01 - 02:49] Opening Segment

• Back in episode 57, we laid our goals out for 2021
• Listen to that episode here! 

[02:50 - 18:12] 2021 Goals We Did and Didn’t Achieve 

• What we achieved
  • Ken
    • Join a new high-level mastermind
    • Focus on diversification off of Amazon
    • Build a team with the focus on removing tasks from my plate
  • David
    • Trim the fat on unprofitable products
    • To fire the man 
• What we didn’t achieve 
  • Ken: Attend 3 live conferences 
  • David: Launch a slam dunk product 

[18:13 - 31:56] Goals That We’re Carrying into 2022

• Make one acquisition or do a deep dive on 20 companies in the shopping phase
• Want some Amazon refunds? Check out Getida
  • Promo code: FTM400
• 100% top-line growth across eCommerce brands with a huge focus on driving growth profits and decreasing expenses
• Long term initiatives 
• Grow the email list to 50,000
• Focus on building an audience 

[31:57 - 36:17] 2021 Year End Review  

• Add another layer of accountability by sharing your goals 
• Goals allow you to focus your efforts. Don’t just stay busy! 

[36:18 - 37:50] Closing Segment 

• A challenge for the listeners
  • If you’ve found value in this podcast, please leave us a review 
  • Head over to Firingtheman.com and send us a voicemail about your goals for 2022
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“In sharing goals, I think whether you're sharing with your business partner, your friends, your mentor, whoever, you just add another layer of accountability.” - Ken Wilson

“I think that one thing that's held me back is discomfort. I've been waiting for discomfort to pass… And when that discomfort passes, then it's time. And I don't think I'm ever going to reach that goal, I think there's always going to be a level of risk in leaving your full time job.” - David Schomer

“If you're setting goals, and you're meeting every single one of them, then you're not setting your goals high enough or lofty enough.” -  David Schomer

Resources mentioned

• Firing The Man Episode 57: Raising the Bar with our 2021 Goals

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Episode 104

Jessica Totillo Coster is an eCommerce & Email Marketing Strategist for scrappy entrepreneurs. After 20+ years in retail, owning her own multi 6-figure brick & mortar boutique, and 3 years as the ONLY employee of a 7-figure eCommerce store, now she’s sharing everything she learned the hard way so you don’t have to. In this episode, she will specifically focus on the power of emails and why you should plan for a good email campaign regardless if it is the holiday season or not. 

Learn from Jessica the top email campaigns you can launch for your ecommerce business!

[00:01 - 05:06] Opening Segment

• Let’s get to know Jessica Totillo Coster
• Why she’s in love with ecommerce

[05:07 - 11:07] Starting a Business

• How she built Ecommerce Badassery by accident
• Not everyone knows what you know
  • Here’s how to start a business
• Jessica’s fears in starting a business and how she overcame them

[11:08 - 21:50] Making More Money for Your Business

• The 3 ways to make more money on your business
• The difference between cross-sell and upsell
• How to stay consistent with your email calendar

[21:51 - 31:19] Encouraging Customers to Buy Again

• How to think of content ideas to send to customers
• Want some Amazon refunds? Check out Getida
  • Promo code: FTM400
• How to get people to buy again without incentives

[31:20 - 41:52] Using Email Automations

• Why Klaviyo is perfect for ecommerce businesses
• The email automations to increase revenue
• How to become an ecommerce badass like Jessica

[41:53 - 47:44] Closing Segment 

• Know more about Jessica in the Fire Round
• Connect with Jessica!
  • Links below
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“[Entrepreneurship] is not a one and done. You have a few tries first before you land on the thing that really works.” - Jessica Totillo Coster

“The biggest thing for me about being an entrepreneur is being able to own all of my own success and failures.” - Jessica Totillo Coster

Resources mentioned

• SELLY
• Book: Launch (Updated & Expanded Edition)

Email [email protected] to connect with Jessica or follow her on Facebook and Instagram. Check out eCommerce Badassery to grow your ecommerce business with email marketing!

DOWNLOAD these guides that helped Jessica run a 7-figure eCommerce business!

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Episode 103

Chloe Thomas is a best-selling author, international speaker, and host of both the award-winning eCommerce MasterPlan Podcast and the brand new Keep Optimising Podcast. Chloë is one of the Top 30 eCommerce Influencers 2021 (Scurri) and her podcasts are regularly included in lists of the top eCommerce & marketing podcasts in the world. Her specialty is solving eCommerce marketing problems from tiny tactics to huge strategies.

Learn from Chloe how to utilize Facebook and Google ads while surviving the Cookie Apocalypse!

[00:01 - 06:56] Opening Segment

• Let’s get to know Chloe Thomas 
• Why she got rid of her agency and turned to ecommerce

[06:57 - 16:54] Modern Ways to Connect With Customers

• Chloe is excited about these things in ecommerce
• The unique and creative ways to connect with customers 
• A great ecommerce website has these qualities according to Chloe

[16:55 - 22:41] Tips to Start on Shopify Successfully

• Start successfully on Shopify with these tips from Chloe!
• Here’s why you should collect the emails of your customers
• The difference between organic and paid advertising

[22:42 - 27:25] Facebook Ads vs. Google Ads

• If advertising is not your strength, this is what you should do
• Want some Amazon refunds? Check out Getida
  • Promo code: FTM400
• Facebook or Google ads: Which should you choose?

[27:26 - 37:24] How to Survive the Cookie Apocalypse

• Chloe talks about the Cookie Apocalypse and how to survive it
• She shares her realizations about working in an agency
• The reasons she started her award-winning podcast

[37:25 - 45:09] Quality Podcast That Generates Money

• How to produce a quality podcast when you’re just starting out
• Monetize your podcast by niching down
  • Here’s how
• Know more about Chloe in the Fire Round!

[45:10 - 47:18] Closing Segment 

• Connect with Chloe!
  • Links below
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“Facebook and Google both get 90, 99% of their income from advertising. They’re heavily incentivized to find a way to make this work for you.” - Chloe Thomas 

“...being an entrepreneur, a business owner, it gives you lots of freedom, but if you want to exit, it’s incredibly hard.” - Chloe Thomas 

Resources mentioned

• Podcasts
  • Entrepreneurs on Fire
  • The Joe Rogan Experience
• Book: Quiet

Get in touch with Chloe by emailing [email protected] or following her on LinkedIn and Twitter. Check out eCommerce MasterPlan to grow your ecommerce business!

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