Episode 1179: Shoppable Ads: The Future of Online Shopping with Heather Udo

Discover how Shoppable technology is changing online shopping, creating a seamless commerce experience across platforms and ad spaces.   In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene speaks with Heather Udo, the founder of Shoppable, who is transforming e-commerce with innovative checkout technology that lets brands and publishers create shoppable experiences everywhere. Heather shares how Shoppable came from her frustration as a consumer, aiming to cut down the 15-20 clicks usually needed to buy a product online. With more than 500 million products integrated into Shoppable’s system, her company is leading the way toward a seamless, one-click shopping experience on social media, publisher sites, and beyond.   Key Takeaways: → Shoppable technology removes the need for multiple clicks between discovery and purchase. → Shoppable has a patented checkout system that simplifies online shopping, making it more efficient. → Shoppable works with brands, publishers, and content creators to offer seamless commerce solutions. → By integrating product catalogs and checkouts, Shoppable enhances customer purchase journeys. → Shoppable uses technology to create social media ads that lead to higher conversions.   Heather Udo is the founder and CEO of Shoppable, as well as an entrepreneur and business coach. She started Shoppable 13 years ago. Shoppable provides e-commerce infrastructure that enables brands, retailers, creators, and publishers to create innovative commerce experiences—anywhere.    Connect With Heather: Website Instagram TikTok LinkedIn   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you want to learn about the marketing strategies that powered one of the most successful political campaigns, with lessons that can be applied to any business?   In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene speaks with Jack Turk, the World’s Fastest Copywriter, who uses his extensive experience with industry leaders to share key marketing insights from the 2024 Trump campaign. Jack unveils the 47 "Trump-tested hacks" that form the foundation of his new book, "Mega Marketing Secrets." He discusses the power of fun in marketing, how to build an omnipresent brand, and how entrepreneurs can use these lessons to accelerate growth.   Key Takeaways: → How to find and serve the right audience to build a thriving business. → The importance of controlling the narrative in your marketing. → How to quickly implement marketing strategies for fast results. → The power of working with a team and expanding your reach. → The role of copywriting in creating compelling, profitable marketing campaigns.   Jack Turk, known as the World’s Fastest Copywriter, helps small business owners, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders write faster, better, and more effectively. With a passion for eliminating the fear of the blank page, Jack empowers his clients to find their unique voice and craft compelling sales copy that delivers results. Drawing on decades of experience and a proven process, he guarantees his clients can quickly produce powerful messaging that connects with the people who need their products and services most.   Connect With Jack: Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn how athletes can successfully monetize their brands, plan for life after sports, and build long-term financial success through strategic business and marketing initiatives.   In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene speaks with Dr. Tywanna Smith, a former professional basketball player, best-selling author, and the co-founder of the Athletes Abroad Summit, who shares how she helps athletes transition from their sports careers into successful entrepreneurial ventures. Dr. Smith talks about her experience working with both professional athletes and young student-athletes, emphasizing the importance of preparing for life after sports and monetizing their brand. She also discusses her award-winning documentary Balling Abroad, the Athlete Abroad Summit, and her passion for empowering athletes globally.   Key Takeaways: → Why financial education for student-athletes is critical when planning for life after sports. → The rise of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) opportunities offers new ways for athletes to monetize their brand. → Mental health and cultural adjustment are key challenges for athletes playing abroad. → Athletes can leverage their platform and visibility by building a team of professionals to guide them. → How the Teen Money Box curriculum helps teach financial literacy to teenagers globally.   Dr. Tywanna Smith is an award-winning sports advisor, best-selling author, keynote speaker, and college professor. With over 18 years of experience, she has advised professional athletes across the NBA, NFL, WNBA, MLB, and FIBA. A former international basketball player and inductee into the West Memphis Sports Hall of Fame, she co-founded the Athlete Abroad Summit, the first global summit dedicated to empowering American athletes overseas. Dr. Smith also leads The Athlete’s Nexus, a firm focused on brand strategy, financial education, and career planning. She is the author of Surviving the Lights, co-director of the award-winning documentary Ballin’ Abroad, and creator of Teen Money Box, a financial literacy program for teens. Recognized for her leadership, Dr. Smith has received multiple accolades, including the 2024 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award and the Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 50 Under 40. Her work has been featured in Forbes, NBC Sports, and Ballers Magazine.   Connect With Tywanna: Website Instagram X Facebook LinkedIn   Athletes Abroad Summit: Website Instagram Facebook LinkedIn   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover how to strategically optimize Amazon ads for growth and profits with personalized ad strategies and AI-powered solutions, all while navigating the complexities of a large catalog.   In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene speaks with Elizabeth Greene, co-founder of Junglr, who shares her expertise in helping Amazon brands grow through precision-targeted advertising strategies. With years of experience in the field, Elizabeth emphasizes the importance of tailoring ad strategies to a brand’s unique goals, creating customized campaigns, and utilizing data to inform informed decisions. She also reveals the key to scaling businesses successfully with Amazon ads, all while maintaining the human touch and avoiding simple shortcuts.   Key Takeaways: → Common misconceptions about Amazon advertising and the impact on organic growth. → How Junglr helps brands balance growth with profitability by tailoring ad strategies. → Strategies for managing extensive product catalogs and variations with Amazon ads. → The value of understanding both the art and science of Amazon advertising to generate real results. → The challenges of simplifying processes without sacrificing the complexity needed for success.   Elizabeth is the Co-Founder of Junglr, a prominent firm specializing in Amazon Advertising. With a keen expertise in digital marketing and e-commerce strategies, Elizabeth has played a crucial role in shaping Junglr’s innovative approach to leveraging Amazon's advertising platform. Her background combines a deep understanding of online consumer behavior with practical insights into maximizing ad performance and ROI.  Elizabeth’s leadership and vision have been instrumental in helping brands effectively navigate the complexities of Amazon’s advertising ecosystem, driving significant growth and visibility for their clients.   Connect With Elizabeth: Website TikTok X Facebook LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn how human-centric AI is changing businesses by increasing productivity, improving customer service, and boosting employee satisfaction, all without replacing people.   In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene speaks with Mark Vange, CEO of Autom8ly, a company focused on human-centered AI solutions. Mark explains how his company is transforming business operations by using AI to enhance human work, making employees more productive instead of replacing them. From improving customer service in sectors like trucking and healthcare to enabling AI-supported marketing, Mark discusses how businesses can use AI to boost efficiency and profits while keeping the human touch.   Key Takeaways: → How collaborative AI can support businesses by enhancing employees’ productivity. → The role of AI in automating everyday tasks like email marketing. → The importance of “confidence levels” in AI, balancing accuracy with real-world usability. → The challenge of keeping up with the rapid pace of technological advancements in AI while balancing human-scale adoption. → The value of entrepreneurial partners who can visualize cases in specific industries and collaborate with AI developers.   Mark Vange brings a vision for technology, manages international teams, and has extensive experience in cloud-based delivery of mobile and social products. He also has the knowledge of building and selling several companies. At age 10, Mark met and fell in love with the Apple II computer, which led him to set aside a promising career as a violinist and dive into business and technology. He sold his first program that same year, started his first company by age 13, and entered university with 25 employees and the year’s top-selling video game under his belt. Since then, Mark has founded and sold multiple companies and has become a sought-after advisor and mentor.    Mark's first online success was VR-1, a company he helped grow into the world's largest publisher of Massively Multiplayer Games by creating a vision for MMO gaming, developing new communication protocols, and leading worldwide development efforts. Mark's most recent role was as Chief Technology Officer of Electronic Arts Interactive, which he joined through the acquisition of a company he co-founded, where he directed the development of EA's mobile, social, and online products and platforms.   Connect With Mark: Website LinkedIn   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover how a Fractional CMO can unlock your business's growth potential by providing high-level strategy and streamlining marketing efforts.   In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene speaks with Draye Redfern, CEO and founder of Redfern Media. He shares his insights into the changing role of fractional leadership in marketing. After facing the challenges of running both an agency and a CMO service, Draye explains how fractional CMOs help businesses improve their marketing efforts while giving owners the ability to stay in control and promote growth.    Key Takeaways: → The benefits of using a fractional CMO to bridge gaps in marketing expertise. → How minor adjustments in marketing can drive profound business growth. → The importance of understanding KPIs and high-level strategy in marketing. → How fractional leadership brings both strategy and accountability to a business. → The challenges and rewards of transitioning from full-service agencies to fractional support.   Draye Redfern is the CEO and founder of Redfern Media, a marketing and consulting agency that helps businesses redefine their marketing approach with systematized processes and automations, turning prospects into loyal clients and brand ambassadors. He also founded Fractional CMO, which provides executive-level marketing strategies and resources without the cost of a full-time marketing director. Over the past decade, Draye has assisted clients across various industries, including top Instagram travel accounts, personal development psychologists, and SharkTank entrepreneurs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, his success led him to create the Recession Flywheel™, a 7-step framework that helps businesses improve their mindset, security, offer, team, marketing, sales, and financials.   Connect With Draye: Website Facebook LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn how FastWill went from a simple digital will service to a full-fledged SaaS platform revolutionizing estate planning for financial advisors and clients alike.   In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene speaks with Zach Tsakiris, founder of FastWill.com. He shares how he expanded his digital estate planning platform into a successful SaaS business that now serves thousands of clients. Starting in the financial services sector, Zach saw the need for an affordable and efficient estate planning solution for mid-tier clients and professionals. He discusses building a SaaS platform for financial advisors, insurance brokers, and clients, offering an easy way to create wills and trusts. Zach outlines the key decisions, partnerships, and strategies that have fueled FastWill’s growth and success in a competitive market.   Key Takeaways: → The initial inspiration behind turning FastWill into a SaaS platform. → Key challenges business founders face when scaling and how to overcome them. → The value of a seamless user experience in attracting both clients and professionals. → Why FastWill’s SaaS model is a game-changer for estate planning professionals. → The importance of constantly evolving your product to meet user needs and market demands.   Born in Dallas and based in Manhattan, Zach Tsakiris became a top financial advisor in estate planning. He founded FastWill to simplify the process for clients and advisors. As the world goes digital, he envisions estate planning’s future online and aims to make FastWill the industry leader.   Connect With Zach: Website Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is your sales team underperforming? Before blaming the team, it might be time to consider the bigger picture. Learn how building trust and aligning marketing with sales can produce significant results.   In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene speaks with Geoff Ketterer, an 8-Figure Sales Trainer & CRO. He shares his journey from being a chef to building a successful sales consulting business. After helping over 150 businesses grow, Geoff explains how to transform sales teams, the importance of internal culture, and how to use a hybrid social engine to attract better leads. His approach moves away from traditional sales tactics, focusing instead on building a sustainable and motivated team. Geoff’s insights are valuable for CEOs looking to improve their sales teams and scale without burning out.   Key Takeaways: → The most prominent misconceptions CEOs have about sales team struggles. → Why culture is the key to a high-performing sales team. → How skepticism in the market is affecting sales conversions. → How to align sales and marketing teams to achieve better results. → Strategies for scaling businesses without overloading the sales team.   Geoff Ketterer is the guy CEOs call when their sales teams are underperforming and they're tired of wasting money on disconnected strategies that don't work. With years of experience working alongside top-tier companies like 7th Level and Closers.io, Geoff knows how to fix broken teams and transform them into high-performing sales powerhouses. As a fractional CRO, he has helped over 150 businesses scale with his no-nonsense approach to aligning sales and marketing into one unstoppable revenue machine. He scaled Functional Medicine Academy from $7K/month to SIM/month in just 9 months, and he's done it for countless others since.   Connect With Geoff: Website Instagram TikTok LinkedIn   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mastering the art of referral partnerships can propel your business to new heights, transforming how you connect, collaborate, and scale.   In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene speaks with Brandon Barnum, CEO of HOA.com and bestselling author. He shares his inspiring journey from a struggling single dad to a successful entrepreneur who grew multiple businesses through raving referrals. With over 5 million business professionals impacted, Brandon now focuses on helping homeowners and businesses build lasting relationships through powerful referral networks. Listen as he reveals his secrets to creating thriving partnerships and how anyone can achieve exponential growth by leveraging trust and community.   Key Takeaways: → Why HOA.com is on a mission to connect professionals with homeowners in trusted local partnerships. → The role of AI and automation in scaling businesses and maintaining effective communication. → The difference between networking and referral partnerships, and why referral partnerships are more effective. → Insights on how real estate professionals can turn vendors into proactive partners to maximize their referral potential. → The importance of identifying and nurturing relationships with people already serving your idea clients.   Brandon Barnum is a serial entrepreneur and referral-marketing expert best known as CEO of HOA.com—the platform bringing together all 375,000 U.S. homeowner associations under the banner of “Unity Through Community.” Over three decades, he has launched and expanded multiple tech ventures and referral networks that serve over 5 million business professionals worldwide. Through his bestselling Raving Referrals books, practical workshops, and a national network of certified trainers, Brandon helps real estate agents, home-service professionals, and purpose-driven entrepreneurs increase their income, influence, and impact.   Connect With Brandon: HOA.com RavingReferrals.com X Facebook LinkedIn   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Want to land meetings with decision-makers who seem out of reach? How to break through the noise with a personal touch that delivers results.   In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene speaks with Stu Heinecke, a Wall Street Journal cartoonist, Hall of Fame-nominated marketer, and best-selling author of Get the Meeting. Stu is the creator of the concept known as contact marketing. This strategy utilizes personalized, creative outreach to secure meetings with anyone, including the most difficult-to-reach decision-makers. From sending custom cartoons to using AI tools, Stu shares how entrepreneurs can make their outreach stand out in an age of digital noise. He also discusses his new AI-enhanced version of his book, How to Get a Meeting with Anyone, and how he has kept his marketing fresh, human, and engaging over the years.   Key Takeaways: → How personalized cartoons can break through the noise in marketing. → Why AI plays a huge role in the future of contact marketing. → Why effective delegation is the most critical skill for entrepreneurs. → How to find and leverage your niche in the digital marketing world. → The power of humanization in your outreach strategies.   Stu Heinecke is a bestselling business author, a Hall of Fame-nominated marketer, and one of The Wall Street Journal’s cartoonists. In How to Get a Meeting with Anyone (2016), he introduced the world to “Contact Marketing,” which uses micro-focused campaigns to connect with critically important accounts and prospects. Using the twenty categories of contact campaigns outlined in the book, readers have achieved explosive growth in their careers, businesses, and lives. In Even More Outrageous Ways to Get a Meeting with Anyone (10-2019), Heinecke adds more techniques, tips, and strategies, more than sixty illustrated case studies, an updated Contact Marketing model that sets a new response baseline—at 100%—and introduces “Pocket Campaigns” as a replacement for business cards.   Connect With Stu: Website Facebook LinkedIn   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices