MegaMinds | eCommerce Growth + Personal Development

Today, Evan is joined by Arjun Shukla, CEO of Megaphone USA whose fascinating journey has seen him oversee dozens and dozens of Black Friday and Cyber Monday campaigns and glean a truckload of invaluable insights as a result.

As we approach the most crucial time of the year, knowing where to focus our attention and how to maximise the hype is paramount to success. With that in mind, today’s discussion tackles themes like:

Software mentioned:

Bitclout, Unicorn Ads, Ads Library, Telegram

Jun’s favorite book:

Lessons of History by Ariel Durant and Will Durant)

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We hope you enjoy the conversation! Want to join the discussion? Join our Facebook Community: MegaMinds (E-commerce growth community). We'd love to chat with you! We'd love to chat with you! You can also message Arjun and Evan on LinkedIn.

Thinking about getting some advice on how to scale your business? Get in touch with Megaphone for a free strategy session.

The key to a good scroll-stopper? "Bright, condensed, colourful, a bit of movement, product in first frame, contrast, human element." — Jai Howitt, Brand Boostr.

Having produced 1500+ video ads for e-commerce brands, generating over $40 million in sales in the last year alone, Jai Howitt is a wizard when it comes to crafting creatives that convert. Through his growth agency, Brand Boostr, he's helped to scale brands by developing data-backed strategies, focusing on fundamental conversion principles, and testing like crazy.

Full of gold from Jai (and Max and Evan), the conversation dives into:

- The changing landscape of video creatives

- How to stay up to date with trends

- Differentiating yourself with UGC in a saturated market

- Hooks, scroll-stroppers and sparking curiosity

- Key metrics for successful campaigns

Software mentioned: Adobe Creative Suite

We hope you enjoy the conversation! Want to join the discussion? Join our Facebook Community: MegaMinds (E-commerce growth community). We'd love to chat with you! We'd love to chat with you! You can also message Max, Jai and Evan on LinkedIn.

Thinking about getting some advice on how to scale your business? Get in touch with Megaphone for a free strategy session.

"It’s better to do it, learn, fail and try again, that to not do it."

Max Hertan and Ben Goodman have taken Silvi to 7 figures in revenue in a matter of months — expanding distribution channels, product range, and team along the way. Today, the co-founders reflect on their journey to date. They unpack the ups and the downs, the secrets to success, and the tactics that helped facilitate rapid growth.

Full of actionable insights, the conversation explores concepts like:

- Major tactics missed by most e-commerce owners

Software mentioned:

Books mentioned:

We hope you enjoy the conversation! Want to join the discussion? Join our Facebook Community: MegaMinds (E-commerce growth community). We'd love to chat with you! We'd love to chat with you! You can also message Max, Ben and Evan on LinkedIn.

Thinking about getting some advice on how to scale your business? Get in touch with Megaphone for a free strategy session.

Following up last episode's deep dive into the wacky and wonderful world of life hacks with efficiency master, Max Hertan, today's discussion explores efficiency in the context of the workplace. How can you optimise your routine? How can you achieve more in your work day and crush your to-do list? What can be delegated and automated, and where should you hone your attention?

— The most efficient way to test creatives at scale

— The importance of putting strong processes in place (and when not to)

— Efficient hiring practices (but why you shouldn't rush)

— Focusing on things to do now that will save time in the future

— Why delegation is critical, and how to do so effectively

We hope you enjoy the conversation! Want to join the discussion? Join our Facebook Community: MegaMinds (E-commerce growth community). We'd love to chat with you! We'd love to chat with you! You can also message Max and Evan on LinkedIn.

Thinking about getting some advice on how to scale your business? Get in touch with Megaphone for a free strategy session.

A self-proclaimed efficiency master, Max Hertan only eats 2-minute meals, cuts his own hair, can learn any skill in a month, and follows a 14-criteria self-reflection spreadsheet.

In today's fun-filled discussion, Evan quizzes Max about his fascinating journey of optimising his day-to-day efficiency — from sleeping to eating, crushing distractions, and everything in between.

Full of learning from trying every trick in the book to hack his life and his time, Max dives into intriguing themes like:

— Trying to 80/20 everything in life

— Developing highly action-orientated routines

— What to avoid; rather than what to add in

— Leading the healthiest possible life

— The #1 actionable when chasing efficiency: According to Max, it’s the conscious removal of stimulants that are toxic to your brain.

We hope you enjoy the conversation! Want to join the discussion? Join our Facebook Community: MegaMinds (E-commerce growth community). We'd love to chat with you! We'd love to chat with you! You can also message Max and Evan on LinkedIn.

Thinking about getting some advice on how to scale your business? Get in touch with Megaphone for a free strategy session.

**Resources mentioned:**

— Try Now (Shopify)

"Move to a 3PL as fast as possible." - Max Hertan

Today in the Megaphone studio, Max and Evan explore the behind-the-scenes world of shipping, unpacking the options, processes, and research needed to best optimise your delivery experience.

Leveraging Max's first-hand experience with rapidly scaling e-commerce brand, Silvi, plus years of overseeing clients' good and bad shipping habits as Megaphone's Director, the boys get stuck into topics like:

— When to use a 3rd Party Logistics (3PL) company VS. When to run shipping in-house

— Streamlining shipping processes with 3PLs (& how to choose the right one)

— Creating the optimal customer experience

— How much shipping should cost relative to the product?

— The right and wrong circumstances to offer FREE shipping.

— Opening local, interstate and international distribution centres

— Testing and validating new markets before committing to international distribution.

**Resources mentioned:**

— Black Cart, Return Magic (for refunds), Gem Pages

We hope you enjoy the conversation! Want to join the discussion? Join our Facebook Community: MegaMinds (E-commerce growth community).  We'd love to chat with you! You can also message Max and Evan on LinkedIn.

Thinking about getting some advice on how to scale your business? Get in touch with Megaphone for a free strategy session.

"Worry more about quality, less about margins." — Max Hertan

In today's deep dive with Max and Evan, this episode explores the world of manufacturing, noting what to look for — as well as what to avoid — in order to give your business the greatest chance of long-term success.

Having dealt first-hand with 20+ manufacturers, Max talks about:

— The red flags and dealbreakers of prospective manufacturers 

— What to do BEFORE approaching any manufacturer

— Debt and financing; when, how, and how much?

— What to negotiate, and what NOT to negotiate

— Why Max chose to AVOID Alibaba

— Intellectual property

We hope you enjoy the conversation! Want to join the discussion? Join our Facebook Community: MegaMinds (E-commerce growth community). We'd love to chat with you! We'd love to chat with you! You can also message Max and Evan on LinkedIn.

Thinking about getting some advice on how to scale your business? Get in touch with Megaphone for a free strategy session.

**Resources mentioned:**

— Clearbanc, WayFlyer

"We push as hard as we can to get as much content as possible from influencers" — Ed Hodge

MiHigh - Australia's #1 infrared sauna blanket - reached $1 million in revenue in 4 months, continuing to rapidly expand ever since. So, how'd they do it?

In this jam-packed episode, Megaphone Director Max Hertan sits down with MiHigh Co-founder, Ed Hodge. Ed explains how MiHigh leveraged a pre-sale campaign to guarantee success, discusses the advantages of launching with a single-SKU store, shares some of his complex criteria for finding a successful product, and truckloads more.

Full of actionable value, the boys talk about:

— Dealing with a high AOV of $700

— Using the 80/20 method in business processes

— Creative testing on FB as the main driver of sales

— Influencer qualification processes

— Going international from the outset

— Omnichannel marketing to build credibility

— Grin (influencer marketing for e-commerce)

— Borderless (3PL)

— Influee

— Common Thread Collective (Twitter)

We hope you enjoy the conversation! Keen to join the discussion? Join our Facebook community: MegaMinds (E-commerce growth community). We'd love to hear from you! You can also message Max Hertan and Ed Hodge on Instagram. 

Thinking about getting some advice on how to scale your business? Get in touch with Megaphone for a free strategy session.

What's the most important aspect of any business? People.

In the Megaphone studio with Max and Evan, this episode dives into the essential - yet often overlooked - world of hiring. Max has run nearly 500 interviews for both Megaphone and Silvi in his time, with a wealth of knowledge about finding the right (and avoiding the wrong) people to help grow your business.

We dive into areas like who to hire, how to hire, and when to hire; the importance of culture and personality; outsourcing VS in-house roles; salary expectations; training; candidates' red flags and green flags; management structure; interview tips; common hiring mistakes and so much more.

Want to join the discussion? Join our Facebook Community: "MegaMinds (E-commerce growth community)". You can also message Max (Maxwell Hertan) and Evan (Evan Bryce) on LinkedIn.

Thinking about getting some advice on how to scale your business? Get in touch with Megaphone for a free strategy session (megaphonemarketing.com.au).

**Resources mentioned:**

“The fight is in people’s News Feeds. That’s where you need to attract awareness.” — Marc Abrahams

In this fascinating discussion, award-winning entrepreneur Max Hertan sits down with Erstwilder Owner, Managing Director and Creative Director, Marc Abrahams, unpacking the business' unmatched ability to grow by leveraging its community.

Marc explains why Erstwilder's mission is critical in every decision, dives into the transition from wholesale to DTC, and shares secrets about continuous customer engagement (including during COVID and post-purchase).

Here's what to expect:

— How to “launch a product and have stock in customers' hands the next day”

— Creating content programs focused on entertainment

— Why we should use a "Rewards Club"

— Successful product diversification

— Marc's preferred marketing channels: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok 

— How Erst Wilder gets a 2X return on TOTF (top of the funnel) campaigns

HELPFUL TOOLS MENTIONED:

— Later for social media scheduling

We hope you enjoy the conversation! Keen to join the discussion? Join our Facebook community: MegaMinds (E-commerce growth community). We'd love to hear from you! You can also message Max Hertan and Marc Abrahams on LinkedIn.

Thinking about getting some advice on how to scale your business? Get in touch with Megaphone for a free strategy session.