Maximizing Ecommerce

Building your own ecommerce store is tough.  Sure it sounds great having your own store and not paying commissions to a marketplace or having to confirm to a strict terms of service.  Plus you get to control the customer experience.

The challenging part is that you have to figure out your own design and how to lay it out.  AND unfortunately, you have to get people there.  

So how do you setup your own store for success?

I am excited to have on Kurt Elster from Ethercycle and the host of the Unofficial Shopify to discuss how to create a successful online store.  We focus on Shopify, and much of what we talk about can be applied to just about any shopping cart platform.

• Jay Leno’s Garage
• Shopify
• Klaviyo
• Kurt’s Blog
• Ethercycle
• Kurt’s Podcast (Unofficial Shopify Podcast)

• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• Instagram

• https://www.instagram.com/maximizingecommerce/
• https://www.youtube.com/maximizingecommerce
• https://www.facebook.com/maximizingecommerce
• https://twitter.com/maxecom

Get on the priority list for exclusive training on how you can build your own international selling empire on Amazon.  Simply sign up at:

• https://maximizingecommerce.com/expand

Subscribe to Maximizing Ecommerce on

Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, PlayerFM

There truly is a power in connecting with other like-minded people.  In this episode, I am excited to have on Athena Severi who is great at networking and helping others connect with each other.

She is the co-founder of Seller Events and China Magic, and we met at Brand Accelerator Live.  Since we both have event planning (specifically ecommerce events), I brought Athena on to discuss a wide variety of topics including events, time management, masterminds, connecting with like minded people, and what separates the successful from the unsuccessful.

Enjoy our conversation!

• Seller Events
• China Magic
• Brand Accelerator Live

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• Instagram

• https://www.instagram.com/maximizingecommerce/
• https://www.youtube.com/maximizingecommerce
• https://www.facebook.com/maximizingecommerce
• https://twitter.com/maxecom

Subscribe to Maximizing Ecommerce on

Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, PlayerFM

It is hard to believe, but it has now been a little more than a year since I left my job.

My side hustle has become my full-time gig, and it is awesome!

Ever since leaving my job to become a full-time entrepreneur, people have been asking what it is like.

In this episode, I put together some thoughts about my first year as a full-time entrepreneur, and I give you the good, the bad, and the ugly.

• 12 Quotes on Entrepreneur Burnout And Depression, From Those Who’ve Walked The Pah (Blog Post on Medium)
• E-Myth Revisited
• YouTube Video on Healthcare Options for Entrepreneurs
• Liberty Healthshare
• Brand Accelerator Live

• https://www.instagram.com/maximizingecommerce/
• https://www.youtube.com/maximizingecommerce
• https://www.facebook.com/maximizingecommerce
• https://twitter.com/maxecom

Get on the priority list for exclusive training on how you can build your own international selling empire on Amazon.  Simply sign up at:

• http://expandinternationally.com/

Subscribe to Maximizing Ecommerce on

Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, PlayerFM

What works when selling on Amazon?  That is the magical question.

Everyone wants to know what the latest hack or trick is to build their business.

Strategies and tactics are great, and Amazon is an ever changing marketplace.  That makes it critical to stay on top of what the latest and greatest ways are to build your business.

With that said, tactics, hacks, or whatever you want to call the latest shing object strategy are more likely the decorations in the house.

What is most important is the foundation.  Without a solid foundation, the rest of the house could topple over at any minute.

In this episode, Jeff Lieber from Turnkey Product Management and host of the Playbook for Amazon podcast comes on to share some of what he has learned of how to setup your business for long term success on Amazon.

Jeff’s clients combine for over 8 figures in sales.  That means he gets to see a lot of what works (and what doesn’t).

We talk about some important pieces like listing copy, product images, and video, and then we get into some of the latest tactics and new features on Amazon that are working today.

• Turnkey Product Management

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn

• https://www.instagram.com/maximizingecommerce/
• https://www.youtube.com/maximizingecommerce
• https://www.facebook.com/maximizingecommerce
• https://twitter.com/maxecom

Get on the priority list for exclusive training on how you can build your own international selling empire on Amazon.  Simply sign up at:

• http://expandinternationally.com/

Subscribe to Maximizing Ecommerce on

Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, PlayerFM

Selling on Amazon in the US (and the UK) is a great opportunity, and in this episode of the Maximizing Ecommerce, I am excited to have Michael Veazey.

Since Michael lives just outside of London, he has a unique perspective on selling on Amazon (from outside the US) and how things work within the UK.

Michael started as a music coach and branched into selling on Amazon, built his own brand, and now runs a mastermind for successful Amazon sellers, and we talk about what works to be successful on Amazon these days.

“Imperfect action beats perfect inaction everytime”

Oftentimes we overcomplicate things, and in his perspective, VAT is simpler to understand than the complexity of US sales tax.  I can certainly see where he is coming from.

We talked about how starting in international marketplaces does not have to be a huge risk.  You can start with small portions of the orders you are already placing as a test.

His take is that adding another Amazon marketplace is considerably less work than sourcing new products (and less risk)

One of the differences he notices between the US and the UK is that the UK less competitive and he explains why he believes you can go after broader markets than in the US.

A benefit of selling on international marketplaces is that by adding diverse revenue streams, you can make the numbers work out so that your product is a success because it will help you sell through your inventory faster than just remaining in the US.

Hire people to fill in the gaps where you are not sure what to do and shorten the learning curve.

Michael has found that a common trait of successful sellers is that they tend to take calculated risks (not gamble and waiting on the sidelines).

His biggest takeaway is to go after markets (or sub/niche markets) that you can dominate.  The key to success is never enter a fight you can’t win.

• John Cant 
• Star Principle by Richard Koch 
• Scaling Up by Verne Harnish 
• Jim Collins - Fire Bullets, Then Cannonballs 

• Amazing FBA 
• Michael on LinkedIn
• Michael on Twitter

• https://www.instagram.com/maximizingecommerce/
• https://www.youtube.com/maximizingecommerce
• https://www.facebook.com/maximizingecommerce
• https://twitter.com/maxecom

Get on the priority list for exclusive training on how you can build your own international selling empire on Amazon.  Simply sign up at either:

• http://expandinternationally.com/

Subscribe to Maximizing Ecommerce on

Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, PlayerFM

Selling on Amazon’s international marketplaces is one of the simplest (yet overlooked) ways to grow your business if you are already selling on Amazon.

In simple terms, there are three ways to grow your business:

1. Selling more to the same customers
2. Reaching new customers
3. Selling new products

All of these ways of generating sales should be part of your overall growth strategy.  In my experience, one of the simplest ways to grow your sales is to offer your existing products to customers on Amazon’s international marketplaces.

This international strategy gives you access to new customers (and new sales) that you would not get if you did not sell in those international marketplaces.

What holds people back from doing this is not understanding the process of how to get started and fear of foreign currency (and foreign governments).

In this episode, I walk through the steps to help make the process of launching in another country more simple.  Plus my goal is put to rest some of the doubts of selling internationally.

At the end of the day, offering your products in another country is good for not just you but also the people who have now access to buy your product and Amazon because you are helping make their catalog bigger.

Just remember this…. If you do the things others will not do, you will get the results others can’t have.

Definitely listen to this episode to learn more about how to sell internationally, and if you would like to continue the learning, get access to our exclusive training.

Get on the priority list for exclusive training on how you can build your own international selling empire on Amazon.  Simply sign up at either:

• http://expandinternationally.com/
• http://maximizingecommerce.com/Expand

• https://www.instagram.com/maximizingecommerce/
• https://www.youtube.com/maximizingecommerce
• https://www.facebook.com/maximizingecommerce
• https://twitter.com/maxecom

Subscribe to Maximizing Ecommerce on

Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, PlayerFM

In this episode, we talk about how Trent Dyrsmid built a 7 figure wholesale business using effective Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s).  While building this business, he delegated himself out of the operation within six months when the business was in growth mode. 

Trent attributes much of his success on his focus on working “on” the business instead of “in” the business.

Part of his success, he setup processes for the business to run on autopilot by documenting what he was doing along so that he could delegate that task and wouldn’t have to do it again.

Trent’s equation for Effective Processes:

2D Equation = Documentation and Delegate

The key to success with writing good SOP’s for your business - have steps that include the what to do and how to do it.

Keep steps short.  Better to have a lot of short steps than have a LONG step with lots of instructions (which could be better broken down into more steps).

These are just a few of the tipa we discussed in the interview.  Hit me up on social to let me know what takeaways you got from this interview...

• Dan Meadors
• Kevin on Trent’s Podcast

• Bright Ideas Podcast
• Flowster.app
• International Selling SOP on Flowster
• Trent on LinkedIn

• www.instagram.com/maximizingecommerce
• www.YouTube.com/maximizingecommerce
• www.Facebook.com/maximizingecommerce
• www.Twitter.com/maxecom

Subscribe to Maximizing Ecommerce on

Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, PlayerFM

Many sellers, including myself, are so focused on growing a brand that we lose sight of the potential for selling other people’s products.

To help us explore the opportunity selling with the wholesale model, I am excited to have on Dillon Carter.

The upside of selling wholesale is that it is fairly simple and the barriers to entry are low.  The bad news is that it is easy for others to get started as well, and unfortunately, many suppliers don’t want to work with Amazon sellers.

Dillon comes on to share share tips for getting approved for wholesale accounts.  He is a self professed automation geek, but his advice to go old school and pick up the phone and call.  Doing what doesn’t scale can be what gets you to learn what works.

In addition to share a lot of great information on the wholesale model, Dillon shares his tips on mindset.  One of his biggest cautions is in chasing after “enough information” when the missing ingredient is experience (not information).

We also discuss strategies for getting the Buy Box (might even help get more impressions to your private label listings as well).  

• Selling Family     
• Wholesale Inspector
• Scan Unlimited     
• Aura
• Vendrive

• Wholesale Made Easy Podcast
• Dillon’s Blog

• www.Instagram.com/maximizingecommerce
• www.YouTube.com/maximizingecommerce
• www.Facebook.com/maximizingecommerce
• www.Twitter.com/maxecom

Subscribe to Maximizing Ecommerce on

Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, PlayerFM

In this episode, Pat Flynn from Smart Passive Income comes on to talk about his experience with diving into the world of ecommerce.  Pat and his partner, Caleb, created a new video camera stand called a Switchpod.

Pat talks about the process of inventing the product from idea conception, to getting feedback, and utilizing an army of “superfans” to help him launch it on kickstarter.  

• Smart Passive Income
• Prouduct 
• Superfans
• Switchpod
• Bonjoro

• Pat Flynn’s personal blog

• www.instagram.com/maximizingecommerce
• www.YouTube.com/maximizingecommerce
• www.Facebook.com/maximizingecommerce
• www.Twitter.com/maxecom

Subscribe to Maximizing Ecommerce on

Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, PlayerFM

Do you ever feel overwhelmed?  Like you have more things to do than time to do it? The truth is you are not alone.  The workload of an entrepreneur is non-stop. It never ends, and you can not get more hours in a week (no matter how hard you try).

That is where Nathan Hirsch comes in.  He founded a company called FreeeUp that helps ecommerce entrepreneurs find vetted freelancers to outsource some of their workload to.

In this episode, we discuss some tips for outsourcing and things Nathan has learned entrepreneurs must avoid.  What it all comes down to is communication.  

Whether you are thinking about offloading a task in your business for the first time or you are growing your team, this episode is a must listen to…

• FreeeUp 

• Twitter
• Instagram

• www.instagram.com/maximizingecommerce
• www.YouTube.com/maximizingecommerce
• www.Facebook.com/maximizingecommerce
• www.Twitter.com/maxecom

Subscribe to Maximizing Ecommerce on

Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, PlayerFM