The Unofficial TikTok Shop Podcast with Jordan West

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From navigating advertising and payment processing challenges to the power of kindness in business, and the bittersweet experience of selling business.

In this episode, Jordan West and Sarah Todd, former Co-owner of 420 Science, a cannabis-related company that saw remarkable growth before ultimately exiting the industry in 2022. They delve into the importance of celebrating victories as entrepreneurs, the benefits of implementing the EOS system in businesses, and the impact of mind-opening experiences. 

Listen and learn in this episode!

Key takeaways from this episode:

• The benefits and challenges of implementing the EOS system in businesses, and the resistance to change within organizations.
• The role of kindness in business negotiations and problem-solving, and the value of focusing on positive outcomes in business activities.
• The significance of good design, modern aesthetics, exceptional customer service, and product curation in the ecommerce industry.

Recommended Podcast/Audiobook:

Dan Sullivan: https://www.audible.com/author/Dan-Sullivan/B003ZFP2L4

Recommended Apps/Tools:

Zendesk: https://www.zendesk.com

Sendlane: https://www.sendlane.com/

EOS System: https://www.eosworldwide.com/eos-model

Today’s Guest:

Sarah Todd, the former co-owner of 420 Science,  has a wealth of knowledge in navigating the challenges of advertising cannabis-related products online. Her expertise extends to business negotiation, problem-solving, and the importance of design and exceptional customer service in e-commerce.

Connect and learn more about Sarah:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-todd-7759892/

Email: [email protected]

Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

Million Dollar Offers: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

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Discover how vulnerability, humility, and the power of personal connections play a pivotal role in building a successful e-commerce brand. 

In this episode, Jordan West and Taylor Sanford, Premier Spike delve into topics such as start-up culture in the direct-to-consumer industry, the importance of passion in business, and the challenges of manufacturing, distribution, and marketing. 

Listen and learn in this episode!

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Embrace passion and vision for product success.
• Build trust by delivering high-quality products.
• Leverage personal experiences and genuine connections in marketing.
• Embrace openness and vulnerability for personal and business growth.
• Seek knowledgeable partnerships for business growth.

Recommended Podcast/Audiobook:

Spiked Lemonade: https://www.spikedlemonade.live/

Roundnet: https://open.spotify.com/show/2IZsNS5eLyBmTJ86sMzW1a

Today’s Guest:

Taylor Sanford, Founder & CEO of Premier Spike, is a passionate advocate for Spikeball. For the past five years, Taylor has been one of the biggest ambassadors for the game, running tournaments in Utah and across the western region. Not content with just promoting the game, Taylor has also been instrumental in helping others start similar organizations in different states and countries. In 2022, Taylor decided to embark on a new venture, creating the first premium RamNET equipment for Spikeball. This marks a significant milestone in Taylor's ongoing dedication to the game and its community.

Connect and learn more about Taylor and Premier Spike: 

Website: https://store.premierspike.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-sanford/

Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

Million Dollar Offers: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

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Influencer seeding is a powerful strategy to get your product into the hands of potentially influential people. By sending products without expecting anything in return, you can leverage the law of reciprocity for incredible results.

In this episode, Jordan West unveiled the first part of his 2024 D2C new customer acquisition strategy, and it's a game-changer. He dives into the power of influencer seeding and how it can significantly impact your brand's visibility and customer base. He shared practical tips on leveraging this strategy to its fullest potential.

Listen and learn in this episode!

Key takeaways from this episode:

• The concept of influencer seeding is a natural progression of building real-life relationships and leveraging the law of reciprocity.
• The significance of monitoring brand mentions and utilizing tools like Archive and Refundnel for aggregating and managing mentions.
• The importance of creating buckets to categorize and engage with individuals who have mentioned the brand and created content.
• Ways to engage with influencers on platforms like TikTok Shop for potential collaboration.
• Utilizing resources such as Shopify Collabs and Social Snowball for identifying and engaging with influencers.

Recommended App/Tool:

Archive: https://archive.com/

Social Snowball: https://socialsnowball.io/

Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

Million Dollar Offers: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

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Discover the true purpose of attending conferences and events, and learn how to extract actionable strategies instead of enduring endless sales pitches.

In this episode, Jordan West and Chris George, CEO of SubSummit,  discuss the ins and outs of growing a successful ecommerce brand. They dive into the importance of creating value for customers, the impact of subscriptions on business models, and the necessity of consistent effort in building sustainable success. 

Listen and learn in this episode!

Key takeaways from this episode:

• The value of subscriptions for Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) brands, focusing on value, convenience, and access.
• Doubling down on what you're good at in business and overcoming the fear of other people's opinions.
• Understanding and doubling down on customer attention, being consistent and organized, and knowing customer lifetime value and acquisition costs are essential for business scaling.
• Diversifying product lines and offering integrated solutions to meet different customer needs and serve as a one-stop shop.

Recommended App/Tool:

Hubspot: https://www.hubspot.com/

Recommended Audiobook/Podcast:

Gary Vee: https://garyvaynerchuk.com/podcast/

Simon Sinek: https://simonsinek.com/podcast/

Jay Shetty: https://jayshetty.me/podcast/

Seth Godin: https://www.akimbo.link/

Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

Million Dollar Offers: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

Today’s Guest:

Christopher George, CEO and Co-Founder of SubSummit, an accomplished operator who played a key role in building the largest event in the world for consumer subscriptions. His dedication and passion have made him an influential figure in the world of consumer subscriptions and e-commerce.

Connect and learn more about Chris and SubSummit: 

Website: https://subsummit.com/

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

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From unearthing the challenges of working with agencies to dissecting the pivotal role of data in marketing decisions, they shine a light on the critical components that underpin successful e-commerce expansion. 

In this episode, Jordan West and Steven Sisskind, CEO of RealDose Nutrition, dive deep into the world of digital marketing and direct-to-consumer businesses, focusing on data-driven decision-making and implementing the EOS system. They take a closer look at funnel marketing for supplements and health products, the power of long-term customer value, and the impact of back-end marketing strategies. 

Listen and learn in this episode!

Key takeaways from this episode:

• The benefits of implementing the EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) in their businesses, including transparency and visibility within the organization.
• The importance of choosing agencies that understand the business sector and have the required skills, experience, and capabilities in areas such as funnel marketing, creative content creation, media buying, and data analytics.
• Bottlenecks in operations, such as inventory and data management, emphasizing the need for efficient processes.
• Focus on long-term customer value and back-end marketing to create a lifetime value through repeat purchases and subscriptions.

Recommended App/Tool:

Workflowy: https://workflowy.com/

Slack: https://slack.com/

Zoom: https://zoom.us/

Google Workspace: https://workspace.google.com/

Clickup: https://clickup.com/

Monday: http://monday.com/

Recommended Audiobook/Podcast:

Founders: https://www.founderspodcast.com/

Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

Million Dollar Offers: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

Today’s Guest:

Steven Sisskind, CEO  of RealDose Nutrition, an entrepreneur who co-owns a direct consumer Internet online business, with four brands in the supplement and digital information product markets.  They drive traffic to their brands via cold traffic from platforms like Facebook and YouTube, as well as affiliate traffic and native email marketing. Their business also includes up sells and down sells within their sales funnels.

Connect and learn more about Steven and The Hero Company: 

Website: https://theheroco.com/

Email: [email protected]

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

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Discover real-life strategies for segmentation, creating scarcity, and generating FOMO to drive conversions. 

In this episode, Jordan West and Nikita Vakhrushev, CEO of Aspekt,  dive into the intricacies of product launches, emphasizing the power of personalization in communication and the impact of strategy and tactics in achieving e-commerce success. 

Listen and learn in this episode!

Key takeaways from this episode

• The value of not stopping client acquisition, especially for agencies, as churn is inevitable and pausing it can have negative ripple effects.
• The significance of building and maintaining great relationships with clients to improve retention rates.
• The caution against using false scarcity and urgency in offers aims to maintain customer trust.
•  The importance of segmentation in marketing and using multiple messages and emails to excite a product launch.
  
  

Recommended App/Tool

Sendlane: https://www.sendlane.com/

Woocommerce: https://woo.com/

Klaviyo: https://www.klaviyo.com/

Figma:https://www.figma.com/

Bit.ly: https://bit.ly/

Recommended Audiobook/Podcast

Alex Hormozi: https://open.spotify.com/show/6YNopzKDGDwf0auIpPTIID

Dan Sullivan: https://10xeasierbook.com/

Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

Million Dollar Offers: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

Today’s Guest:

Nikita Vakhrushev, CEO/Founder of Aspekt, has helped dozens of DTC/Ecom brands across multiple industries increase sales, generate leads, build online audience and improve brand engagement all while maintaining a positive ROI- return on investment. 

Connect and learn more about Nikita and Aspekt here: 

Website: https://aspektagency.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@NikitaVakhrushevTV

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikita-v/

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The importance of choosing the right 3PL, the impact of staff turnover on business accuracy and consumer satisfaction, and the evolution and restructuring of companies to avoid bloating and middle managers.

Jordan West and Izzy Rosensweig share insights on the challenges and opportunities in the e-commerce and fulfillment industry. From the impact of shipping regulations and logistics on cross-border commerce to the importance of efficient 3PL partnerships, they dive into key strategies for success. 

Listen and learn in this episode!

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Recognizing scalability as a key factor and addressing unrealistic claims of unlimited scale and overly optimistic projections.
• Utilizing tools such as HubSpot for B2B, integrating Slack with tickets and CRMs, and leveraging email reminders for business operations.
• Highlighting the importance of customer experience and effective communication with 3PL providers, emphasizing the significance of immediate communication and problem-solving for efficient business operations.

Recommended App/Tool:

Sendlane: https://www.sendlane.com/

Hubspot: https://www.hubspot.com/

Notion: https://www.notion.so/product

Recommended Audiobook/Podcast:

All in: https://www.allinpodcast.co/

Same As Ever: https://www.audible.com/pd/Same-as-Ever-Audiobook/B0C1HS5WG1

Today’s Guest:

Izzy Rosenzweig, CEO of Portless, is a veteran of the DTC industry for over 10 years. After opening his China-based fulfillment center to improve customer experience, Izzy recognized an opportunity to assist other DTC brands with direct shipping to their customers, leading to the birth of Portless. 

Connect and learn more about Izzy and Portless here: 

Website: https://www.portless.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/izzy-rosenzweig-13653846/

X: https://twitter.com/IzzyRosenzweig

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With increased customer acquisition costs (CACs) and the potential impact of inflationary pressures, reassessing marketing spend and embracing a full-funnel marketing approach is essential for brands to thrive.

In this episode, Jordan West and Brent Cooke, former CMO at MVMT, tackles about the evolution of direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands and the challenges they face. They discuss the catalyst for brand bankruptcies and the importance of full-funnel marketing. They share insights on repositioning a DTC brand and adapting to the post-privacy era. 

Listen and learn in this episode!

Key takeaways from this episode:

• The DTC landscape has evolved, and brands need to focus on full-funnel marketing and repositioning to stay relevant.
• The post-privacy era requires brands to adapt their marketing strategies and invest in first-party data.
• Direct mail and TikTok can be effective acquisition channels for brands.
• Struggling brands should focus on creating quality content and leveraging inexpensive platforms to reach their target audience.
• In a rapidly changing market, brands need to be agile, embrace experimentation, and make data-driven decisions.

Recommended App/Tool:

Slack: https://slack.com/

Midjourney: https://www.midjourney.com/

Canva: https://www.canva.com/

Recommended Book:

I, Human: https://www.audible.com/pd/I-Human-Audiobook/B0BVPCFJM3

Today’s Guest:

Brent Cooke, former CMO of MVMT, has an extensive experience designing and executing clearly defined marketing and communications strategies that drive customer-centric growth for industry leaders and leading national brands. Proven track record of managing challenging business situations and executing turnaround and growth initiatives to achieve revenue and profitability goals, stakeholder buy-in, and customer needs. 

Connect and learn more about Brent:

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://.linkedin.com/in/brent-cooke-mktg/

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It's crucial to recognize when you need the right expertise and equipment to achieve amazing outcomes.

In this episode, Jordan West and Wayne Richard, COO of Bean Ninjas, shared their insights into the world of entrepreneurship and finance. They discussed everything from managing cash flow effectively to the tactical aspects of long-term investments. 

Listen and learn in this episode!

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Importance of solving a problem that concerns customers and understanding the impact of financial decisions on the business.
• Bookkeeping and accounting play a significant role in helping founders make prudent decisions based on current financial data.
• Understanding contribution margin and its importance in marketing and scaling.
• Impact of high-interest loans on brands and advice on debt management.
• Strategies for brands struggling with high repayment rates and suggestions for seeking alternative financial solutions.

Recommended App/Tool:

Quickbooks: https://quickbooks.intuit.com/

Xero: https://www.xero.com/

Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/

A2X: https://www.a2xaccounting.com/

James Clear Newsletter: https://jamesclear.com/3-2-1

Recommended Book:

Atomic Habits: https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits

Psychology of Money: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Psychology-of-Money-Audiobook/B08D9TXF3H

Today’s Guest:

Wayne Richard, COO of  Bean Ninjas is a former corporate climber with experience working in financial planning and analysis for Hewlett Packard. He led teams focused on forward looking projection models and comparative analysis. He's helping founders understand the basics of financial planning and how their decisions were impacting their businesses.

Connect and learn more about Wayne and Bean Ninjas:

Website: https://beanninjas.com/

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

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Relying solely on optimized traffic to be a good marketer isn't the way forward. Marketers need to be vigilant and skilled in analyzing ad performance beyond just platform optimization.

In this episode, Jordan West shared why he believes that cost per click is a crucial metric for ad performance, and why relying solely on optimized traffic doesn't cut it. It's a heated debate worth listening to, with strong opinions flying around. With real-world examples and hard-hitting truths, Jordan leaves no stone unturned as he delves into the heart of this contentious issue.

Listen and learn in this episode!

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Understanding the relationship between cost of traffic, conversion rate, and cost per acquisition is crucial for effective advertising.
• When using 7-day click and one-day view attribution window on Facebook, the platform optimizes for conversions rather than just clicks.
• Marketers should pay attention to their click to purchase rate as a more meaningful metric for ad success, alongside keeping in mind the importance of CPCs.
• The significance of CPCs in determining the effectiveness of advertising and the performance of ad content.
• Emphasizing the importance of being a proficient and strategic marketer, rather than solely relying on platform optimization.

Twitter Link:

https://twitter.com/zachmstuck/status/1730594775806419110