Perfecting Performance Optimization: Scale Smarter, Sell Faster With Sabir Semerkant [The Opportunity Ep.177]

Most entrepreneurs are so busy chasing new opportunities that they overlook the goldmine sitting right inside their own business. That’s where eCommerce growth expert Sabir Semerkant comes in. With 25 years of experience and over $1 billion in incremental sales under his belt, Sabir knows exactly where businesses are leaving money on the table. He uses that experience to help other businesses grow through his growth mastermind curse, Growth By Sabir.In this episode, Sabir walks us through the often-overlooked opportunities that can be unlocked through performance optimization. He explains the power of consistency and compound growth, showing how a simple 1% boost in key metrics each day can lead to almost 37x growth over a year. Much of this growth can be accessed from within your business, by using the resources and data already at your disposal. Sabir explains, “You don't see librarians driving Lamborghinis. They have access to all the knowledge in the library, but they're not using it. Many entrepreneurs are the same. They have data all over the place, scattered in Shopify, Google Analytics, Klaviyo, Google ads, Meta ads, etc. But they don’t  use that data to help them grow their business.” If you’re ready to scale smarter, not harder, this episode is packed with game-changing insights. Don’t miss it! Topics Discussed in this episode: From computer scientist to eCommerce veteran (02:18) The compounding power of just 1% growth every day (14:48) The importance of performance optimization (19:57) What is a good ROAS for an eCommerce company? (29:38) Direct response marketing is a powerful tool that is often overlooked (36:09) The dangers of offering too many discounts to your customers (44:14) Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Growth by Sabir (special offer) GT Metrix Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn the power of performance optimization!

Many people talk about personal branding like it’s the golden ticket to success. But is it really the best way to grow a business?  There’s no doubt that having a strong personal brand can open doors. It helps you stand out, build trust, and connect with an audience. Entrepreneurs like Alex Hormozi have used their personal brands to create massive business opportunities. But here’s the catch—when your business revolves around you, scaling becomes a challenge. What happens when you want to step away? Or sell the business? Buyers don’t want a business that disappears when the owner does. They want systems, not personalities. In this episode, Greg breaks down the pros and cons of building a personal brand and whether it’s worth your time. He also shares alternative strategies, like focusing on building a great product or service first, as well as practical advice on how to balance personal branding with long-term business growth. If you’ve been wondering whether you need a personal brand to succeed, this episode will give you a fresh perspective. Tune in and find out how to do it the right way! Topics Discussed in this episode: Personal brands are not as important as you think (02:00) Personal brands only work if you have an interesting story (04:15) The opportunity cost of personal branding (05:50) The advantages of having a personal brand (09:33) The challenge of selling a business with a personal brand (14:39) The marketing funnel misconception (19:58) Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter The Leader Sip Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn the pros and cons of personal branding when building a business.

Is the AI boom just another bubble waiting to burst, or is it the start of a power wave of business opportunities? Well, that depends on how sustainable AI-driven businesses are in the long run.In this episode, Greg dives into the realities of AI-driven businesses—covering what makes them valuable, the risks buyers should watch out for, and whether AI businesses have long-term staying power. Greg explores how AI is being used in eCommerce, marketing agencies, and SaaS, and why some models succeed while others struggle. With rapid advancements, AI businesses can scale quickly, but they also face challenges like dependence on third-party technology, evolving regulations, and increasing competition.Thinking about selling your AI business? We cover what buyers are actually looking for—like strong recurring revenue and proprietary data. And if you’re considering buying an AI business, Greg shares tips on how to spot real opportunities and avoid risky deals. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, or just curious about the AI boom, this episode is packed with insights to help you make smart decisions. Topics Discussed in this episode: The AI business boom & overheating market (01:26) The risk of AI business obsolescence (02:46) The best strategy: build fast & sell fast (05:46) The reality of selling AI businesses (09:16) eCommerce and AI media companies as a safer business model (12:03) Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Sit back, and grab a coffee as we discuss the opportunities and pitfalls of the AI boom.

Great entrepreneurs don’t just wait for opportunities, they create them. That’s exactly what Tim Swieter did. It all started when Tim was searching for storage containers for his home workshop. He quickly realized that the Systainer market in the U.S. had a major gap. Instead of just moving on, he saw an opportunity. So, he reached out to the international owners of Systainer with a proposition - he wanted to become their U.S. distributor. Fast-forward a few years, and what started as a side hustle turned into the largest Systainer distribution business in the country. Then came the ultimate full-circle moment: Tim sold the business back to Systainer’s owners, walking away with a lucrative payday and a wealth of experience. In this episode, Tim shares the inside story—how he identified an overlooked niche, built brand recognition and trust, and scaled his business. He also opens up about the challenges of selling, the unexpected hurdles he faced, and what it’s really like to stay involved as a consultant post-acquisition. According to Tim, “If you're going to consult, you have to set boundaries and clearly outline the scope of your work. You also need to know that you really want to work with that team. If those things don't exist, you either need to really cut back on the consulting or not do it at all.” Whether you're looking to sell your business or searching for inspiration on how to build one, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Topics Discussed in this episode: From building theme park rollercoasters to running an eCommerce business  (02:08) The challenges Tim faced launching and growing his business (10:36) The marketing strategies Tim used to build trust and brand recognition (13:00) Balancing B2B vs B2C customers (20:35) How Tim became the biggest Systainer supplier in the US (23:08) How Tim ended up selling his Systainer business (27:39) Calculating a valuation for the business (32:27) The timeline of the sale - it’s always longer than you think (38:17) Tim’s new post-acquisition consulting role (40:22) Tim’s work in the SaaS world and the opportunities he found in that industry (47:12) Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Tim’s LinkedIn Systainer.store Swieter.net Pipedream Retool Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how this entrepreneur identified a gap in the market and used it to his advantage!

Marketplaces are notoriously hard businesses to run and build. We would know.Running a marketplace means constantly balancing two sides—the buyers and the sellers. If one side struggles, the whole thing falls apart.Chris M. Walker has cracked the code of this delicate dance. As the founder of Legiit, a thriving freelance marketplace for businesses, agencies, and SEOs, he’s learned how to make both sides of the equation work in harmony. In this episode, we sit down with Chris to unpack the operational challenges of running a double-sided marketplace. He shares the lessons he's learned, the mistakes he’s made, and the strategies that helped Legiit become a trusted platform for freelancers.One of the biggest takeaways? The power of company culture. Scaling a business means founders can’t do everything themselves. Chris believes a strong, well-aligned remote team is the key to keeping things running smoothly—even when you’re not in the room. He prioritizes culture to make sure his team is not just working but thriving. If you're growing a business, managing a remote team, or thinking about starting your own marketplace, you won’t want to miss this conversation. Tune in to the full episode to learn more! Topics Discussed in this episode: Chris’s origins story and how he ended up creating Legiit (02:38) Dealing with the double-sided marketplace problem (07:09) How Chris attracts customers to Legiit (09:39) Using courses as a loss-leader product (13:58) Chris breaks down Legiit’s marketing funnel (16:03) Chris’s experience at the India SEO conference and the power of conferences (21:03) How Chris structures and manages his team (27:52) Chris’s advice for managing remote teams (32:09) How freelancers can get clients and how to adjust to a larger client base (36:35) Chris’s thoughts on the impact of AI and the future of SEO (44:06) Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Legiit Chris’s Facebook Chris’s YouTube Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to grow a marketplace and build an efficient remote team!

SEO has always been a powerful way to drive online traffic, but with the rise of AI and Google algorithm updates, the game has shifted. So how do SEO agencies combat these new challenges and remain relevant? Steven Schneider, co-founder of TrioSEO, believes the secret is sticking to the fundamentals, and honing in what you’re good at. In this episode, Steven shares why he’s still a big believer in SEO, how he’s adapted his agency to make the most of modern SEO, and how AI has reshaped online traffic. Steven also gives actionable tips on protecting your site from Google algorithm updates, explaining that quality content should be your top priority. He also explains that SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. According to Steven,  “ Everyone's trying to shave off time in SEO, but that's not how it works.  SEO is a game of delayed gratification. The strategy is to build something that will last for years. And if you're thinking in months and weeks, you're already upside down from the get-go.” Whether you’re running an SEO agency or looking to boost your site’s performance, this episode is packed with practical advice and strategies you can start using today. Topics Discussed in this episode: Steven’s background and how he ended up in online business (02:05) Narrowing down a target audience for your agency (15:03) Why Steven focused heavily on content through his agency (18:35) How Steven vets his white label partners (20:54) Why communication is key to an agency’s success (23:36) Is SEO enough for most companies or is omnichannel the way to go? (32:24) SEO best practices to shield yourself from Google algorithm updates (34:33) How AI is affecting search (38:24) How Steven has incorporated AI as a tool in his business (44:19) How to maintain good quality traffic from Google despite AI (46:27) Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Steven’s LinkedIn TrioSEO Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to build a modern SEO agency.  

Bringing a new product to market is no small feat. But launching a disruptive product that has the potential to transform an industry? That’s a whole different ball game.That’s exactly what David Bean set out to do with Nira, his business that develops innovative at-home skincare lasers to fight aging. In this episode, David shares the highs and lows of launching and scaling his unusual business—how he navigated the uphill battle of finding early-stage funding, tackled the challenges of marketing something brand-new, and built brand recognition for a never-before-seen product.  David also shares practical advice on what to look for in an investor, how to prepare your business for investors, and how to remain relevant in the rapidly changing online business environment. According to David, “The online business industry  is changing so much. The best way to take advantage of great opportunities is to be nimble. To be agile and to adjust. You’ve got to constantly be educating yourself. If you can do that, then you’ll do really well.” If you’re thinking about launching a business of your own,  this episode is packed with stories, tips, and advice to help you take that first step. Topics Discussed in this episode: Moving from being an engineer to becoming an eCommerce entrepreneur (02:48) The challenges David had to overcome building his beauty company (14:00) How David launched his business after eight years researching his product (24:22) How changes in Facebook Ad algorithms have affected David’s business (30:27) David’s advice to entrepreneurs seeking early-stage funding (32:16) The characteristics David looks for in an investor (40:09) The big milestones David wants to hit with his business moving forward (46:15) David’s advice to entrepreneurs looking to bring disruptive products to market (48:28) Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Nira David’s LinkedIn Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to launch a disruptive business from the ground up!  

Growing a business to 7 figures is a huge achievement—but pushing past that million-dollar milestone can feel like hitting a wall. Scaling from $1 million to $10 million is a whole different ballgame. So, how do you navigate this tricky terrain and break through the “seven-figure desert”? Perry Marshall believes the key to unlocking exponential growth is the 80/20 principle. Perry is an experienced business strategist and the author of 80/20 Sales and Marketing. He also wrote Ultimate Guide to Google Ads, the world’s best-selling book on internet advertising. In this episode, Perry shares how applying the 80/20 rule—where 80% of your results come from just 20% of your efforts—can transform the way you approach your business. As businesses grow, so do their complexities. Perry explains that moving into the high 7-figure range means shifting your skillset from running your business to leading the people who run it. At this level, simply being busy isn’t enough to achieve success. You have to be busy doing the right things. It may surprise some entrepreneurs, but doing the right thing also includes taking time away from your business. According to Perry, “If you don't have empty space in your day,  you'll never be able to think. Your most productive time is almost never sitting in front of your computer. It's having space to think. I call it Renaissance time. You have to have space to think about your business, outside of your business.” If you want to unlock massive growth, this episode is packed with game-changing insights you won’t want to miss. Topics Discussed in this episode: How employee equity helped Perry start his first online business (02:52) The indicators that a business is ready to scale and how to prepare for growth (12:19) The five levels of 80/20 (18:48) How to apply the 80/20 principle to a business’s growth (25:47) Why you can’t build your business without ‘renaissance time’ (34:23)  Common bottlenecks that hinder growth (45:35) How to grow while avoiding the pitfalls of rapid growth (51:00) The first step to reigniting growth after hitting a plateau (55:03) Perry’s predictions on how AI will affect the future of Google in SEO and PPC (57:27) The best business advice Perry has ever received (1:04:22) Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter PerryMarshall.com/podcast  American Icon: Alan Mulally and the Fight to Save Ford Motor Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to unlock exponential growth using the 80/20 principle!  

As a business owner, your time is one of your most valuable assets. It’s easy to get bogged down by day-to-day tasks that pull you away from what really matters—growing your business. Finding ways to take back your time is key to running your business smoothly and efficiently. This is exactly the challenge Mahmoud Elsaid, founder of the content agency Content Wish, faced. Managing over 50 contractors, Mahmoud was drowning in manual tasks like processing orders, invoicing, and hiring. To fix this, he built automations that now save him more than 3 hours every single day. In this episode, Mahmoud shares how he scaled his agency using automations and AI. He opens up about the struggles he encountered along the way and walks us through the tools and processes that helped him streamline operations. Mahmoud also gives advice to fellow entrepreneurs who are looking to automate their agencies: “Before you can automate your agency, you have to fix and test your processes with clear KPIs.  If your processes don't work or don't achieve the required KPIs, there is no point in stressing over automation.” If you’re ready to reclaim your time, optimize your operations, and take your agency to the next level, this is an episode you won’t want to miss! Topics Discussed in this episode: How Mahmoud earned his first dollar online at age 15 and what he’s up to now (03:20) The catalyst that inspired Mahmoud to start his own agency (09:21) Scaling ContentWish and the critical decisions that led to growth (11:54) Adapting a content agency to thrive in the age of AI (16:18) The most common SEO issues Mahmoud’s clients encounter (20:26) The automations that transformed Mahmoud’s agency and the AI tools he used (22:24) Mahmoud’s advice to agency owners looking to automate their operations (26:03) How to ensure that automations don’t compromise personal touch (28:55) The challenges Mahmoud faced when automating his agency (31:42) Trends and opportunities in SEO and AI in the next few years (33:41) Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter ContentWish Mahmoud’s LinkedIn Make.com Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to streamline your operations using automations!  

Some of the best businesses start organically —by solving a real problem.Jordan Saniuk’s business was no different. As a realtor, Jordan had trouble selling a property and noticed a bigger issue: Realtors needed a better way to connect. So, he created a platform where they could share listings, price reductions, bonuses, and more. Realtors loved it, and within a year, Jordan’s idea grew to 500 clients and 43,000 subscribers. In our latest podcast episode, Jordan shares how he built this business from scratch and sold it for six figures—all in just 12 months. Jordan opens up about the challenges he encountered while scaling his business and the tools and techniques that helped him succeed. One of the keys to Jordan’s success was his effective use of email marketing. He found a way to connect with potential clients without overwhelming them, building trust and credibility along the way. But Jordan didn’t stop at digital marketing. He also tapped into the power of in-person networking. Jordan explains, “Lots of people want to start an online business and market it through social media and paid online ads, but there's no replacement for in-person networking. Telling people about what you're doing in real life, getting them excited about it, and having them tell other people. Real social proof of concept is much more powerful than reposting someone's story on Instagram.” This mix of online and offline efforts gave Jordan’s business the edge it needed to fuel its explosive growth. After just one year, Jordan decided to sell the business—a big move that came with valuable lessons of its own. Tune into this episode to hear how Jordan turned a simple idea into a six-figure success story. Topics Discussed in this episode: Jordan’s background and how he became a digital entrepreneur (02:13) The power of email as a growth tool (06:10) How Jordan scaled his email list to 43,000 subscribers in just one year (09:00) The challenges Jordan faced as he rapidly grew his business (18:19) Why Jordan decided to sell his business (26:55) The untapped power of direct mail (34:19) What has changed for Jordan since he sold this business (38:30) What Jordan would have done differently if he had to start again (43:11) Jordan’s advice to first-time business sellers (45:43) Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Postoff.ca Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how effective email marketing helped build a six-figure business in just one year!