Secrets To Scaling Your Ecommerce Brand

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We're celebrating our 600th episode—a special milestone featuring four brilliant minds and the evolution of our strategy that took us to astonishing growth. Dive deep into discussions of cultural shifts and generational shopping behaviors. 

In this episode, Jordan West gets into a dynamic discussion featuring a star-studded lineup of "the awesome pod guys" (ASOM): Jon Roman, Amir, Brian, and Jimmy Kim. Our focus? The controversial rise of TikTok Shop and the broader landscape of social commerce. We'll explore how this platform is reshaping consumer behavior, its implications for DTC brands, and its potential to rival established marketplaces like Amazon.

Listen and learn in this episode!

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Adapting to Social Commerce: Brands must embrace TikTok Shop and similar platforms within the next 6 to 18 months to stay competitive as social commerce grows rapidly and resembles marketplaces like Amazon.
• Challenges for SaaS and DTC: Platforms dominated by social commerce create hurdles for SaaS companies lacking email integration.
• Influencer Leverage: Influencers hold significant power over brand strategies due to their commission structures, resembling MLM models, which can impact companies' approaches to social commerce.
• Differing Regional Success: Social trust and ecosystem development contribute to Asia's success in social commerce, contrasted with Western skepticism.
• Generational Shopping Shifts: Younger consumers lean towards platforms like TikTok, while older demographics prefer Meta, showing distinct behaviors shaped by age.
• Content and Brand Strategy: ASOM's growth strategy underscores the success of social media engagement, consistent content, and adapting to platform dynamics.
• Risks of Platform Dependency: Over-reliance on social platforms and influencer presentation autonomy pose risks, highlighting the need for adaptive strategies.
• Challenges in Advertising: Mobile game ads face hurdles in e-commerce with user experience issues, akin to the challenges of Google display ads.

Today’s Guests: 

John Roman, Founder of Battle Box, is well-versed in ecommerce, particularly direct-to-consumer (DTC) models. He offers insights on the state of social commerce both in the U.S. and internationally.

Bryan MacDonald, is an ecommerce expert who brings attention to the operational challenges of social commerce, such as varying influencer commissions.

Jimmy Kim, is involved in the Commerce Roundtable, a platform that brings together eCommerce leaders to discuss trends, strategies, and innovations. This initiative provides events and resources for the direct-to-consumer (DTC) community​

Amer Grozdanic, is a professional with experience in managing and scaling e-commerce operations.  He discusses logistics, supply chain, and operational strategies for e-commerce businesses.

Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

Million Dollar Offers:

In this episode's sponsor is Revenued - is a financial technology company that provides businesses with revenue-based financing solutions. Instead of relying on credit scores or collateral, Revenued offers funding based on a company's revenue. This allows businesses to access capital quickly and repay it as they generate income.

Learn more here: Revenued

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We explore how creators are reshaping enterprise brands and why giving up control can catalyze viral trends. Whether you're a big brand or a rising startup, understanding this evolution is crucial. 

In this episode, Jordan West gets into the transformative world of social commerce, with a special focus on TikTok Shop. I'll be sharing our three-phased approach at Upgrowth Commerce, a strategy that's been opening eyes and revolutionizing how brands adapt to this dynamic landscape. In this episode, we'll explore how enterprise brands are navigating the shift, the role of creators in driving viral trends, and why embracing social commerce is not just beneficial but essential for the future.

Listen and learn in this episode!

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Shift to Social Commerce: Social commerce is becoming a necessity as it is expected to dominate shopping habits in the next 5-10 years.
• Enterprise Challenges: Larger brands struggle with social commerce due to reluctance to cede creative control to creators, a shift that is crucial for success.
• Creator Freedom: Brands need to allow creators the freedom to innovate, which is leading to successful, viral content.
• TikTok Shop Leadership: TikTok Shop demonstrates the potential of integrating products into social media feeds, setting trends in consumer behavior.
• Emerging Platforms: Anticipate social-commerce elements on platforms like YouTube Shopping, Meta Shops, and potentially Amazon.
• Advantage for Smaller Brands: Smaller brands are excelling in social commerce, representing an opportunity for significant growth.
• Three Phased Approach:
  • Phase 1
    : Validate product appeal on TikTok Shop.
  • Phase 2
    : Scale operations and partnerships with creators.
  • Phase 3
    : Establish as a major player for exponential growth.
• Market Growth Potential: The Southeast Asian social commerce market is projected to hit 1.3 trillion, potentially doubling Amazon's size.
• Accelerator Program Invitation: Brands and agencies are encouraged to join future accelerator programs to better leverage TikTok Shop.

Recommended Tools/Apps:

Reacher: https://reacherapp.com/ 

Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

Million Dollar Offers: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

In this episode's sponsor is Revenued - is a financial technology company that provides businesses with revenue-based financing solutions. Instead of relying on credit scores or collateral, Revenued offers funding based on a company's revenue. This allows businesses to access capital quickly and repay it as they generate income.

Learn more here: Revenued

Send us a text

The power of the CPR pitching method, and her philosophy of generosity in business. We dug deep into the evolving landscape of PR and discussed how small businesses can break into big media without hefty budgets. 

In this episode, Jordan West with Gloria Chou, a small business PR coach who is redefining how brands approach public relations. They dive into the world of social commerce, touching on Jordan's successful agency work with billion-dollar brands on platforms like TikTok, and explore Gloria's unique approach to PR for small businesses. Gloria shares her non-traditional PR methods, the significance of building strong relationships with journalists, and the power of a well-crafted pitch.

Listen and learn in this episode!

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Diversify Perspectives: Highlighting the need for more female entrepreneurs in the ecommerce space to balance the male-dominated industry.
• Personal Branding: Emphasizes the lasting impact of personal branding, advising founders to utilize PR to craft effective pitches and build recognition.
• Accessible PR for Small Businesses: Gloria proposes non-traditional PR methods to make it accessible for small businesses, focusing on strategies that don’t require large budgets.
• Effective Pitching: The CPR method (Credibility, Point of View, Relevance) is recommended for enhancing media outreach success. Include purchase details and affiliate links in pitches.
• Building Journalist Relations: Stresses long-term relationship building with journalists, who seek more diverse products than large brands alone.
• PR vs. Other Marketing: PR is seen as impactful, particularly for SEO and credibility. Direct engagement with journalists is vital.
• Outreach Strategy: A well-crafted pitch is key, aiming for 50 outreach attempts with some degree of personalization. Tools like HARO can aid in finding journalists.
• Generosity in Business: Shifting from a scarcity mindset to generous giving has a positive impact on client relationships and retention.
• Digital Tools and Inspiration: Leveraging tools like ChatGPT can aid in marketing efforts, with strategic inspirations from readings.

Today’s Guest: 

Gloria Chou, a small business PR coach who emphasizes non-traditional PR methods. Gloria is well connected in the ecommerce industry, particularly with successful female entrepreneurs, including many women of color. Her expertise lies in providing actionable PR strategies for small businesses that typically view traditional PR as inaccessible or a scam. 

Recommended Tools/Apps:

Chatgpt: https://openai.com/index/chatgpt/ 

Claude.ai: https://claude.ai/login?returnTo=%2F%3F 

Recommended Audiobooks/Playbooks:

10x is Easier than 2x: https://10xeasierbook.com/ 

Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

In this episode's sponsor is Revenued - is a financial technology company that provides businesses with revenue-based financing solutions. Instead of relying on credit scores or collateral, Revenued offers funding based on a company's revenue. This allows businesses to access capital quickly and repay it as they generate income.

Learn more here: Revenued

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Discover how Maxx turned setbacks into stepping stones, overcoming supply chain woes and financial turmoil, only to emerge with Madison Braids—a brand that skyrocketed to a $3 million triumph. Imagine having the insights to double, even triple your ROI with laser-focused strategies; this episode holds the keys to that paradigm shift.

In this episode, Jordan West with Maxx Blank, a cofounder of Triple Whale, as he shares the incredible evolution of his ecommerce ventures. Our conversation navigates through Maxx's early days launching boutique operations like Ivy and Fig, to his current success with Triple Whale, a game-changing analytics platform for Shopify merchants. Join us as we explore Maxx's lessons learned from navigating supply chain challenges, leveraging Facebook ads, and developing cutting-edge solutions for the future of social commerce.

Listen and learn in this episode!

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Ecommerce Opportunities and Challenges: The initial phase (2015-2016) offered great opportunities in ecommerce via platforms like Facebook, but also brought challenges with supply chain and marketing.
• Targeting Niche Markets: Madison Braids' success shows the value of focusing on niche markets and how expanding to broader audiences can drive scalability.
• Robust Data Platforms: Triple Whale's evolution from a dashboard to a comprehensive data platform highlights the importance of meeting real business needs, especially in ad attribution and real-time analytics.
• Leveraging AI for Insights: The development of "Mobi" showcases the benefits of using AI tools to generate data insights and automate workflows, aiding effective business decisions.
• Adaptability: Maxx emphasizes staying flexible and skeptical of absolute predictions, which is crucial for navigating business changes and consumer shifts.
• Community Engagement: Events like the Whalies play a key role in building brand loyalty and recognition within the industry through community engagement.
• Pandemic-Induced Shifts: The ecommerce boom during COVID spotlighted the necessity for businesses to adapt strategies in response to external shifts.
• User-Driven Growth: Triple Whale's growth illustrates the power of user engagement in product development, leading to organic expansion.

Today’s Guest: 

Maxx Blank, cofounder of Triple Whale. Maxx is highly connected to the ecommerce industry, particularly in data analytics and marketing strategy. He is an expert in developing platforms that provide comprehensive analytics solutions for ecommerce businesses, addressing challenges like ad attribution, and evolving products to support multi-touch attribution and real-time data visualizations.

Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

Million Dollar Offers: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

In this episode's sponsor is Revenued - is a financial technology company that provides businesses with revenue-based financing solutions. Instead of relying on credit scores or collateral, Revenued offers funding based on a company's revenue. This allows businesses to access capital quickly and repay it as they generate income.

Learn more here: Revenued

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With rising costs and constrained capital availability, we discussed the shift from pursuing "unicorn" startups to a keen interest in consistently profitable businesses.

In this episode, Jordan West with Jake Lerner gets into the unique and dynamic world of business financing. Together, they explore the intricacies of managing cash flow in the current economic climate and the shift away from traditional funding models. Discover how Revenued's innovative lending approach caters to businesses by focusing on revenue and performance guarantees, rather than personal credit scores.

Listen and learn in this episode!

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Immigration and Societal Reflection: The discussion highlights the multicultural dynamics of Toronto, emphasizing the significant Haitian and Jamaican communities. It also touches on concerns about modern educational systems and societal norms regarding gender identity.
• Entrepreneurial Financing Challenges: Many entrepreneurs face lower credit scores due to their business-building efforts, affecting their ability to secure traditional loans.
• Revenu's Financing Model: Revenu offers a unique lending approach focused on fixed weekly repayments, allowing businesses to manage cash flow without personal credit reporting or collateral. This model minimizes personal financial risk and offers lower fees compared to other fintech options.
• Impact of Business Debt on Personal Credit: Business debts can negatively affect personal credit. Revenu's products are structured to avoid reporting to personal credit bureaus, reducing the risk to individual credit scores.
• Fintech vs. Traditional Lending: Revenu provides more flexible and accessible funding solutions compared to traditional banks, which often require extensive criteria and have lengthy decision-making processes.
• Economic Climate and Funding: Despite rising costs in daily operations, venture capital is limited, and lenders are less willing to extend credit to small businesses post-SVB collapse. There's a noticeable shift towards acquiring consistently profitable businesses over chasing high-risk "unicorn" startups.
• Advice for Business Owners: It's crucial to separate personal and business credit liabilities, minimize positive account balance costs with potential financing, and explore different financing models to manage cash flow effectively.
• Trends in Ecommerce Financing: The discussion includes the evolving landscape of business financing, especially with the increasing interest in performance-focused profitable enterprises.

Today’s Guest: 

Jake Lerner, CEO of Revenued- a digital fintech lending company. His expertise lies in cash flow management and supporting business financing beyond traditional credit score assessments. 

Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

Million Dollar Offers: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

In this episode's sponsor is Revenued - is a financial technology company that provides businesses with revenue-based financing solutions. Instead of relying on credit scores or collateral, Revenued offers funding based on a company's revenue. This allows businesses to access capital quickly and repay it as they generate income.

Learn more here: Revenued

Send us a text

In the dynamic landscape of online business, scaling your brand isn't just an ambition—it's an art. If you've achieved the remarkable milestone of 6 to 8-figure sales, you're on the brink of something even bigger. Your story is already impressive, but imagine where it could lead with the right guidance.

In this episode, Jordan West with Mina Elias gets into the fascinating world of personal branding and the revolutionary impact of TikTok Shop on ecommerce. We'll explore the critical importance of building a personal brand and how it can open doors to incredible business opportunities. We'll also touch on essential strategies for account security, the evolving landscape of influencer marketing, and how companies are navigating challenges and seizing opportunities in the ever-changing digital marketplace. 

Listen and learn in this episode!

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Personal Branding: Essential for building trust and reducing traditional sales needs. It's crucial for business growth and opportunities.
• Account Security: Importance of secure practices like two-factor authentication, shared through personal experiences of account issues.
• TikTok Shop Potential: Offers significant brand exposure despite fulfillment challenges. Impactful marketing focus over precise tracking.
• Talent Management: Prioritize hiring top talent and improving team performance. Understand weaknesses before outsourcing.
• Shifting Lead Platforms: Post-pandemic shift toward YouTube and LinkedIn over podcasts for lead generation.
• Marketing Strategies: Effective use of influencer and user-generated content marketing for brand growth.
• Strategic Partnerships: Be selective with partnerships to protect brand reputation and ensure impactful collaborations.
• Operational Challenges: TikTok Shop's fulfillment needs improvement for enhanced performance on other platforms like Amazon.

Today’s Guest: 

Mina Elias, Founder & CEO of Trivium - is connected with Trivium, where he provides resources and assistance for Amazon sellers. He is a chemical engineer with a master's degree, an MMA fighter, and an expert in ecommerce, particularly in leveraging platforms like Amazon and TikTok Shop for business growth.

Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

Million Dollar Offers: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

In this episode's sponsor is Revenued - is a financial technology company that provides businesses with revenue-based financing solutions. Instead of relying on credit scores or collateral, Revenued offers funding based on a company's revenue. This allows businesses to access capital quickly and repay it as they generate income.

Learn more here: Revenued

Send us a text

Innovate your gifting strategy by offering influencers incentives based on post impressions using tools like Refundnel. This ensures your investment translates into measurable visibility.

In this episode, Jordan West gats into the essential tools to dominate your Black Friday sales strategy with a focus on influencer seeding and gifting. We're diving into practical, strategic approaches for maximizing your influencer collaborations without breaking the bank. Discover the innovative ways to utilize Social Snowball's AI platform for influencer identification, Refunnel's groundbreaking pay-per-impression incentive, and effective gifting strategies.

Listen and learn in this episode!

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Influencer Seeding and Gifting Strategy: Jordan explains the importance of influencer seeding and gifting as a strategy to enhance reach and engagement, especially during events like Black Friday.
• Challenges with Influencer Gifting: Acknowledges that a common issue with influencer gifting is that many influencers do not post the gifts they receive.
• Influencer Selection Tools: Introduces tools like Social Snowball and Join Brands. Social Snowball’s AI-powered tool is highly recommended for identifying suitable influencers for gifting and seeding.
• Gifting Strategy and TikTok Shop: Emphasizes a strategy involving influencers purchasing products from TikTok shop, with the option to reimburse them later to stimulate revenue on the platform.
• Innovative Use of Refundnel: Explains how Refundnel gamifies influencer engagement by offering a pay per impression incentive, boosting influencer motivation and resulting in higher post visibility.
• Seamless Workflow with Refundnel: Refundnel’s direct checkout integration with Shopify simplifies the process of sending out gifts by automatically creating a gifting order.
• Post-Engagement Follow-up: Encourages follow-up with influencers to invite them into ongoing affiliate partnerships and offering better incentives based on their performance.
• Gamification of Influencer Engagement: Suggests creating a competitive atmosphere among influencers with gamified incentives for achieving high sales or engagement numbers.
• Use of Communication Platforms: Recommends using platforms like WhatsApp or Discord to manage and engage influencer groups effectively.

Recommended Tools/Apps:

Refunnel: https://www.refunnel.com/ 

Joinbrands: https://joinbrands.com/ 

Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

Million Dollar Offers: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

In this episode's sponsor is Revenued - is a financial technology company that provides businesses with revenue-based financing solutions. Instead of relying on credit scores or collateral, Revenued offers funding based on a company's revenue. This allows businesses to access capital quickly and repay it as they generate income.

Learn more here: Revenued

Send us a text

We'll unpack recession-proof strategies and the importance of mentorship to avoid costly mistakes. Plus, explore the role of spirituality and belief in driving innovation and personal growth.

In this episode, Jordan West with guest Edwin Carion, a self-described "god made millionaire." Together, they unravel the intricacies of building a life that balances business success with deep personal fulfillment. The importance of spiritual belief in achieving success, and the value of mentorship in navigating financial setbacks. Edwin shares lessons learned from his own journey, including overcoming bankruptcy and scaling multiple businesses, and offers practical advice for making your business recession-proof.

Listen and learn in this episode!

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Collaboration and Belief in Spirituality: Success is often achieved through collaboration and having a belief in something greater, which enhances self-worth and capability.
• Balancing Career and Personal Life: It's important to structure businesses around personal life to achieve long-term satisfaction, emphasizing the role of family and achieving work-life balance.
• Core Values from Military Experience: Values like honor, courage, and commitment from the military can significantly impact business practices and decisions.
• Mindset Matters: A "millionaire mindset" focusing on self-belief and facing challenges without fear is crucial for scaling a business to a multimillion-dollar level.
• Learning from Financial Setbacks: Bankruptcy and economic challenges serve as crucial learning experiences, teaching the importance of financial preparedness and avoiding being overleveraged.
• Value of Mentorship: Investing in mentorship can prevent costly mistakes, promoting accountability and providing guidance to navigate business pitfalls.
• Recession-Proof Strategies: Being prepared for economic downturns is vital for business sustainability and growth, as learned from past recessions.
• Trust but Verify: Verify business partners to avoid repeating past mistakes, ensuring trustworthy and reliable collaborations.
• Engagement and Resource Utilization: Encourage asking questions and leveraging available resources, particularly via social media, to facilitate business growth.
• Building a Vision and Overcoming Limitations: Address self-limiting beliefs by believing in oneself and aligning business goals with personal aspirations.

Recommended Books:

10x Is Easier Than 2x: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63338662-10x-is-easier-than-2x 

Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

Million Dollar Offers: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

In this episode's sponsor is Revenued - is a financial technology company that provides businesses with revenue-based financing solutions. Instead of relying on credit scores or collateral, Revenued offers funding based on a company's revenue. This allows businesses to access capital quickly and repay it as they generate income.

Learn more here: Revenued

Send us a text

Identify your top 3 SKUs and run targeted ads to increase sales. Building up the GMV on these SKUs is essential before engaging with mega affiliates.

In this episode, Jordan West gets into the world of TikTok Shop. Whether you're just getting started or looking to scale your presence, his here to share valuable insights on creating a successful strategy. At Upgrowth Commerce, they’ve helped brands achieve phenomenal results, including a standout moment with one brand generating over $110,000 in a single day on TikTok Shop.

Listen and learn in this episode!

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Phased Approach: A high-level phased approach is advised for TikTok Shop:
  • Phase 1
    : Establish a solid foundation with good quality, marketplace-type images for your store.
  • Phase 2
    : Focus on generating sales on the top 3 SKUs by creating content and running ads.
  • Phase 3
    : Engage with affiliates only after proving substantial sales and GMV on your store, using social proof and highlighting successful collaborations.
• Content Creation: Upgrowth Commerce uses in-house creators to produce content which is then used for ads, helping promote specific SKUs.
• Affiliate Strategy: Affiliates are more inclined to work with brands that show they can generate revenue. Demonstrating past successes with influencers can be persuasive.
• The Importance of FOMO and Social Proof: These marketing strategies are crucial when reaching out to affiliates, utilizing them to create a sense of urgency and opportunity.
• Becoming Desirable to Affiliates: The end goal is to have a reputation strong enough that affiliates seek to collaborate with you.
• LinkedIn Issue: Jordan shares a personal note about being locked out of his LinkedIn account and communicates alternate ways to connect with him.
• Audience Appreciation: Jordan thanks the podcast listeners for their support and encourages them to continue sharing the podcast.

Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

Million Dollar Offers: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

In this episode's sponsor is Revenued - is a financial technology company that provides businesses with revenue-based financing solutions. Instead of relying on credit scores or collateral, Revenued offers funding based on a company's revenue. This allows businesses to access capital quickly and repay it as they generate income.

Learn more here: Revenued

Send us a text

The transformative power of cutting-edge apps designed to enhance your Shopify store's performance. Whether you're running a budding new venture or a massive brand, these tools are tailored to meet your needs.

In this episode, Jordan West gets into showcasing an app that stands out for its innovative approach to loyalty and targeted marketing. After getting introduced to this app a few months ago through consulting work, I've seen firsthand its game-changing potential for Shopify stores making over $1 million. We'll explore its cutting-edge features like AI-driven gift with purchase campaigns and tailored customer offers that can elevate your brand's performance.

Listen and learn in this episode!

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Focus on Effective Apps: The episode emphasizes the importance of identifying the right apps and software to optimize eCommerce operations, especially during high-stake events like Black Friday.
• AI-Enabled Solutions: AI-enabled software is highlighted as a critical tool for increasing efficiency and achieving better results.
• Innovation in Loyalty Programs: Traditional loyalty programs are scrutinized, and the episode introduces Raylion, an app that offers a modern approach to customer loyalty using AI to predict customer behavior and tailor offers.
• Gift with Purchase Feature: Raylion's solution to the "gift with purchase" feature is showcased as a significant innovation, allowing stores to automate these promotions and target different audiences using AB testing.
• Inventory Management: Using excess inventory for promotional purposes like gifting with purchase is recommended over discounting, to avoid brand devaluation.
• Personalized Offers: The importance of personalized and intelligent offers is stressed, utilizing customer data to optimize sales without resorting to blanket discounts.
• Integration and Compatibility: The episode underlines the app's seamless integration with existing systems like Shopify and Klaviyo.
• Broad Applicability: The Raylion app is advocated as suitable for both small stores and massive eCommerce brands due to its scalability and effectiveness.

Recommended Apps/Tools:

Raleon: https://raleon.io/ 

Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

Million Dollar Offers: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

In this episode's sponsor is Revenued - is a financial technology company that provides businesses with revenue-based financing solutions. Instead of relying on credit scores or collateral, Revenued offers funding based on a company's revenue. This allows businesses to access capital quickly and repay it as they generate income.

Learn more here: Revenued