The Unofficial TikTok Shop Podcast with Jordan West

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Impact of TikTok Shops, influencer marketing, and building high-converting storefronts from challenges of justifying budget to the evolution of software that automates influencer relationships.

In this episode, Jordan West, Kenyon Brown, and Gary Garofalo are joined by CEOs from two leading companies, Loudcrowd and CreatorCommerce, as they discuss their innovative software solutions and the changing landscape of influencer marketing. 

Listen and learn in this episode!

Key takeaways from this episode:

• The potential of influencer partnerships to drive sales through tailored website modes, particularly in different regions.
• The ease of access for creators to onboard and modify their products.
• The necessity of pairing CreatorCommerce with an affiliate platform and building high-converting storefronts, along with the willingness to partner with affiliate platforms.
• The importance of understanding and addressing shortcomings or areas where businesses do not currently serve.
• Leveraging software to automate influencer relationships and monetize creators at the bottom of the funnel.
• The alignment of landing pages with ads and the admiration for solutions offered by CreatorCommerce and LoudCrowd.

Recommended Podcast/Audiobook:
Molly Pittman: https://mollypittman.com/ 

Today’s Guest: 

Gary Garofalo, Co-Founder & CEO, LoudCrowd, a company that has been in the influencer marketing business for about 5 years. He and his co-founder, who have been friends for 15 years, started the company to solve the problem of inauthentic partnerships in influencer marketing. 

Connect and learn more about Gary and LoudCrowd:

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

Website: https://loudcrowd.com/ 

Kenyon Brown, Co-Founder & CEO, CreatorCommerce, journey began at Tapcart, where he realized the importance of meeting customers where they are and understanding their needs. He saw a missing piece in the context of sales channels and worked to fill that gap. Although Tapcart didn't initially boast huge numbers, Kenyon's vision and hard work eventually contributed to its success, leading to impressive sales figures. 

Connect and learn more about Kenyon and CreatorCommerce:

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

Website: https://creatorcommerce.shop/ 

Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

Million Dollar Offers: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

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Strategic guidance for maximizing your event presence, emphasizing the need for intentional networking, goal-driven approaches, and the art of fostering meaningful connections. 

In this episode, Jordan West and Chris George, Co-Founder and CEO of SubSummit take a deep dive into the resurgence of events and the pivotal role they play in business growth. Through their engaging discussion, they explore the value of face-to-face interactions, networking, and the power of intentional connections at events. With a focus on collaboration, the importance of faith, and the impact of subscription models, this episode is packed with valuable insights for both brands and service providers in the e-commerce industry.

Listen and learn in this episode!

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Shift from paying attention to competition to focusing on building one's own brand, emphasizing the importance of focusing on your own brand's growth rather than being overly concerned with competitors.
• The limitations of virtual meetings and the value of face-to-face interactions, encouraging attending events to network, build relationships, find solutions for business growth, and create partnerships.
• Attendees and solution providers are advised to approach events with specific goals and targets in mind, encouraging pre-event research and intentional networking as part of event preparation.

Recommended Podcast/Audiobook:

Modern Wisdom Podcast: https://chriswillx.com/podcast/ 

Seven Habits: https://www.franklincovey.com/the-7-habits/ 

Blue Ocean Strategy: https://www.blueoceanstrategy.com/books/blue-ocean-strategy-book/ 

Today’s Guest: 

Chris George, Co-Founder and CEO of SubSummit is an expert in the subscription industry, with a focus on the value of subscription models for both brands and service providers, emphasizing the importance of loyalty, membership, and subscription in building consumer relationships. With the rise of brands pivoting to subscription models, Chris and his team saw an opportunity to bring everyone together. After the challenges of COVID, Chris emphasizes the importance of face-to-face interaction, a lesson learned from the limitations of virtual meetings. He believes that nothing can replace the value of in-person connections and meaningful conversations.

Connect and learn more about Chris and SubSummit:

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

Website: https://subsummit.com/ 

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Concentrate on boosting sales for selected popular products through strategic ad campaigns, addressing potential influencer apprehensions and demonstrating market viability.

In this episode, Jordan West discusses the ins and outs of TikTok Shop and how it will impact the ecommerce market in the near future. He delves into the challenges and opportunities of getting a brand onto TikTok Shop, emphasizing the importance of meticulous preparation and the avoidance of shortcuts. 

Listen and learn in this episode!

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Understanding the potential impact of Meta rolling out the pixel for pixel copy in q3 this year and being prepared for the massive shift in the market.
• It takes a significant amount of time, effort, and paperwork to get a brand onto TikTok Shop, especially for supplement brands requiring certifications and approvals.
• The recommendation to avoid using the Shopify Connector and utilize AfterShip for better results to prevent potential issues and shutdowns.
• Influencers are more likely to engage with brands that already have sales. Boosting sales for the brand is crucial for establishing credibility.
• Starting with meta content, reusing successful content from TikTok itself, running Spark ads from the brand's page, and focusing on 3 to 5 top-selling products rather than the entire catalog.

Recommended Tools/App:

Aftership Feed: https://www.aftership.com/feed

Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

Million Dollar Offers: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

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Turning mountains of collected data into actionable steps for effective decision-making in the e-commerce space. From optimizing customer acquisition funnels to dissecting the complexities of multi-touch attribution.

In this episode, Jordan West and JJ Reynolds, share valuable insights on actionable information, avoiding analysis paralysis, and the importance of centralizing data for strategic planning. The conversation also takes a personal turn, exploring the hobbies and interests of JJ, including his recent foray into e-bikes and his approach to team building. 

Listen and learn in this episode!

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Efficiently acquiring new customers involves measuring the marketing efficiency ratio and analyzing customer lifetime value.
• Effective data management is crucial, including the centralization of data into a warehouse for better reporting and action planning across all departments. 
• Setting clear expectations and comparing them with actual outcomes is important when analyzing data. Mapping out user journeys and aligning them with observed outcomes in the data is key for effective marketing strategies.
• The importance of taking action on data and iterating, rather than blindly copying what others are doing.

Recommended Tools/App:

Notion: https://www.notion.so/ 

ClickUp: https://clickup.com/ 

Asana: https://asana.com/ 

Monday: https://monday.com/ 

Slack: https://slack.com/ 

Triple Whale: https://www.triplewhale.com/ 

BigQuery: https://cloud.google.com/ 

Recommended Podcast/Audiobook:

The New One Minute Manager: https://www.kenblanchardbooks.com/book/the-new-one-minute-manager-6/ 

Today’s Guest: 

JJ Reynolds, Founder of Vision Labs, is a seasoned professional in the world of ecommerce, lead generation, and SaaS. With a keen understanding of the importance of taking action on data, JJ specializes in managing data for clients with 7-9 figure businesses in ecommerce, lead generation, and SaaS. JJ's expertise lies in identifying the best ways to acquire customers, reporting on data effectively, and taking strategic action to drive results.

Connect and learn more about JJ and Vision Labs:

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

Website: https://visionlabs.com/ 

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Optimizing towards brand-level metrics and customer lifetime value, and the pivot towards a unisex brand positioning based on customer feedback and insights.

In this episode, Jordan West and Stephen Racano, Head of Growth at Geologie discuss the landscape of direct-to-consumer, omnichannel approach, and the potential solutions for their industry challenges. We learned about the importance of speed in agency partnerships, customer feedback driving brand evolution, and the value of TikTok Shop for brand exposure.

Listen and learn in this episode!

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Speed is crucial in the agency space, prioritizing a fast response over quality and price.
• Focus on optimizing towards brand-level metrics and lifetime value, rather than just conversion rate and cost reduction.
• Understanding customer lifetime value and brand alignment is key for successful marketing strategies.
• Rewarding and maintaining a consistent brand message across all channels, particularly through customer reviews, builds brand trust.
• Leveraging AI and customer feedback can inform pivots in brand positioning and product offerings.
• Tailoring marketing strategies to fit each channel, including DTC, retail media, and in-store strategies.

Recommended Tools/App:

Chat GPT: https://chat.openai.com/ 

Bard/Gemini: https://gemini.google.com/ 

Today’s Guest: 

Stephen Racano, Head of Growth at Geologie, is a well-rounded digital marketing professional with 15+ years of experience in executing & measuring the digital marketing ecosystem. He complements his marketing & business proficiency with a technical skill-set that ensures a strong measurement foundation for cross-channel digital strategies. Stephen help deliver 5x+ year over year growth for 2 consecutive years. Stephen loves to share his passion for analytics and marketing strategies with his team and clients.

Connect and learn more about Stephen and Geologie:

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

Website: https://geologie.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sracano/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/8CA37F82-57A5-41D1-90E3-8DF8F7DDE1E3 

Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

Million Dollar Offers: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

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Explore the dynamic strategies, game-changing tactics and groundbreaking insights for growth, including utilizing platforms like Facebook Groups, YouTube channels, and TikTok Shop.

In this episode, Jordan West and Mina Elias shared about honing in on valuable content creation to revolutionize your agency's approach. They delve into the strategies that propelled Mina's Amazon agency to tremendous success. Discover how Mina's journey from MMA fighter to engineer to supplement brand creator culminated in his thriving Amazon agency managing 185 brands. Learn about his game-changing tactics for TikTok Shop and witness how her YouTube strategy skyrocketed lead generation. 

Listen and learn in this episode!

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Emphasizing the importance of providing value to customers over self-promotion for DTC businesses.
• Implementing strategies, such as offering downloadable resources and utilizing SEO optimization tools, to increase inbound leads for an agency.
• Leveraging collaboration and community building, including targeted collaborations, UGC content, and engaging community managers, to support growth in the e-commerce space.

Recommended Tools/App:

Tinuiti: https://tinuiti.com/ 

TubeBuddy: https://www.tubebuddy.com/ 

Recommended Sites:

Jim Stoppani - JYM Supplements: https://jymsupplementscience.com/ 

MrBeast: https://www.youtube.com/@MrBeast 

Today’s Guest: 

Mina Elias, Founder of Trivium,  feeling trapped in the corporate world, Mina decided to start his own supplement brand, MMA Nutrition, focusing on electrolyte powder. As an MMA fighter himself, Mina wanted to create a product that he would personally use. He started his journey as an MMA fighter in 2013 and continues to pursue his passion for the sport while also running his successful supplement brand.

Connect and learn more about Mina and Trivium:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theminaelias/?hl=en 

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

Website: https://triviumco.com/ 

Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

Million Dollar Offers: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

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Explore the untapped potential of TikTok shops with influencer seeding and UGC content. Unleash the power of compelling visuals and influencer-driven engagement to amplify your brand's presence.

In this episode, Jordan West dove deep into the world of TikTok shops. Jordan shared invaluable insights into the nuts and bolts of TikTok shops, including eligibility, setup processes, common mistakes, and strategies for growth. He delved into the intensive work involved, the potential for brands, and even offered practical assistance for both brands and agencies looking to tap into this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 

Listen and learn in this episode!

Key takeaways from this episode:

• TikTok shop is a game-changer for ecommerce brands, driven by influencer-led social selling.
• The key to success is to embrace TikTok shop as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, leveraging its potential for massive sales growth.
• TikTok shop requires significant effort in outreach, influencer management, and scaling initiatives for sustainable success.
• Leveraging influencer content and going live are important strategies to drive organic growth on the platform.
• Brands and agencies can benefit from a fully managed TikTok shop service or an accelerator program to navigate the complexities and maximize opportunities.

Recommended Tools/App:

Refunnel: https://app.refunnel.com/

Aftership Feed: https://www.aftership.com/feed

Archive: https://archive.com/

Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

Million Dollar Offers: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

Send us a text

When selecting an agency, prioritize proven execution and strategy, and trust in your own expertise as a business owner. Look for agencies that focus on delivering execution and strategy, rather than just influence and relationships.

In this episode, Jordan West dives into the topic of why agencies don't always live up to expectations. Drawing from his experience running an agency and working with diverse clients, Jordan sheds light on the systemic issues he perceives within the agency world. He delves into the concept of misaligned incentives and highlights the need for a shift in the approach to agency-client partnerships.

Listen and learn in this episode!

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Agencies often have massive overhead to cover and must charge a certain amount to brands, leading to misaligned economics and the potential for filler work that may not be valuable to the brand.
• When working with an agency, it's important to seek high execution and strategy. 
• Business owners should trust in their own knowledge and expertise in building their brand and seek an expert to assist with execution and potentially tweak strategy, rather than assuming the agency knows more about their brand than they do.
• Business owners should look for the value gap when choosing an agency.
• While relationships with agencies are important, the focus should primarily be on getting business results rather than simply fostering a strong relationship with the agency.
• In the past, agencies have been inclined to emphasize influence and relationship-building over execution and strategy. Business owners should be mindful of this and seek agencies that prioritize the elements that lead to actual business results.

Recommended Sites:

CliftonStrengths: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/252137/home.aspx 

Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

Million Dollar Offers: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

Send us a text

Insights on various promotion strategies including organic sharing across social platforms, utilizing email and SMS lists for re-engagement, exploring partnerships with other brands, and leveraging paid ads, especially video ads, for maximum impact.

In this episode, Jordan West discusses a powerful strategy for running giveaways using a tool called King Sumo. He reveals how this strategy can lead to going viral, gaining new subscribers and followers, and driving incredible results. Jordan takes you through the step-by-step process, sharing practical tips on how to set up and promote your giveaways to achieve maximum impact. 

Listen and learn in this episode!

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Giveaways using King Sumo can help go viral and attract a significant number of new subscribers and followers.
• It's important to configure all integrations in the backend before starting a new giveaway.
• Duration for giveaways should be at least 2-3 weeks, and the prize offered should be substantial to attract attention and engagement.
• Collecting entries should ideally include asking for name, email, and phone number with consent and GDPR compliance.
• Organic promotion strategies involve sharing the giveaway on social media, reengaging with email and SMS lists, and potentially partnering with another brand for cross-promotion.
• Paid ads, especially video ads, can be highly effective for promoting the giveaway.
• Post-giveaway analysis is recommended to gather insights into the giveaway's performance and impact.

Recommended Tools/App:

KingSumo: https://kingsumo.com/ 

Facebook Pixel: https://www.facebook.com/business/tools/meta-pixel/ 

Zapier: https://zapier.com/ 

Klaviyo: https://www.klaviyo.com/ 

Chat GPT: https://chat.openai.com/  

SendLane: https://www.sendlane.com/ 

Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

Million Dollar Offers: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

Send us a text

Get insights on building productive, peer-to-peer relationships with agencies, and practical strategies for achieving positive outcomes.

In this episode, Jordan West discusses the ins and outs of working with an agency. He delves into the importance of effective communication, setting clear expectations, and avoiding toxic behaviors that can hinder the agency-client relationship. Drawing from personal experiences, Jordan emphasizes the need for self-reflection and accountability in fostering successful partnerships with agencies. 

Listen and learn in this episode!

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Overcommunicate and don't assume that the agency knows everything about your business.
• Provide specific goals and expectations instead of talking in generalities.
• Take responsibility for the agency-client relationship and look for areas of improvement within the brand if there have been issues with multiple agencies.
• Avoid bringing emotions and inflammatory language into the relationship with the agency.
• Recognize the need for personal and business development to become more effective in working with agencies.
• Utilize tools such as EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) to evaluate the agency fit and core values alignment.

Recommended Tools/App:

EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System): 

https://www.eosworldwide.com/ 

Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

Million Dollar Offers: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow