The Ecwid E-commerce Show

In this podcast episode, hosts Jesse and RichE dive deep into the crucial process of selecting the perfect domain name for your online presence.  Tune in to the podcast as they discuss an exciting new Ecwid feature that allows you to get your dream domain name right from the Ecwid admin.  Why a Domain Name Is Important A strong domain name is crucial for online business success. It represents your brand and aids customers in remembering and finding you online. Buying an Online Store Domain with Ecwid The hosts recognize the challenge of setting up a domain, especially for beginners, given the complexities of DNS records and registrar backends.  That's why the new Ecwid feature of buying a custom domain directly from the Ecwid admin is a game-changer. Business owners can easily purchase and connect their own domain to their online store with just a few clicks. Tips for Choosing a Domain Name The podcast hosts suggest aiming for a short, memorable name that is descriptive of your brand, preferably ending with .com. You may need to consider alternatives, such as adding a location or product-related keyword if your desired name is taken. Listen to the full podcast episode for more tips on choosing a domain name and the importance of having a unique online presence.   More about buying a domain with Ecwid: ecwid.com/domains Ecwid Podcast on Ecwid: www.ecwid.com/blog/podcast Ecwid Social Profiles: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ecwid Instagram: www.instagram.com/ecwid/ Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/EcwidTeam Twitter: twitter.com/ecwid Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/ecwid/ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@ecwid Jesse Ness Social Profiles: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jesseness/ Richard "RichE" Otey Social Profiles: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/richardotey/ Twitter: twitter.com/RichardOtey

Selling online is no longer limited to just your own website. The landscape has evolved, and now it's crucial to have a presence on various platforms, including marketplaces and social media. To shed light on this topic, we have invited a special guest, Mayon from Channable, who is an expert in the field of multichannel selling. Streamline Product Feeds with Channable Product feed management is at the core of Channable. This involves optimizing and transforming product data to ensure it is ready for platforms like Amazon, Google, Facebook, and more. With Channable, sellers can easily manage their feeds and adapt their product information according to each platform's requirements. Simplify Your Amazon Selling Journey For first-time Amazon sellers, the process of launching an Amazon store can be overwhelming. Channable simplifies this by allowing sellers to manage basic features within their existing Ecwid store while more complex specifics can be filled in directly within Channable. From Amazon to Niche Platforms Amazon is a massive marketplace that covers a wide range of product categories, but there are also smaller niche marketplaces specializing in specific industries. Platforms like Decathlon, Leroy Merlin, and Wayfair are mentioned as noteworthy options. Fulfillment and Shipping Strategies Across Continents The discussion then shifts to business owners trying to break into new markets, such as North American merchants targeting Europe. Fulfillment becomes a significant consideration, and Amazon's fulfillment network is often leveraged by European merchants selling in the US.  Connect Your Ecwid Store to Channable The Ecwid and Channable integration provides you with a seamless experience in managing orders, fulfillment, and stock synchronization across different platforms. Find Channable in the Ecwid App Market and connect your store to it easily: ecwid.com/apps/featured/channable Channable: channable.com Ecwid Podcast on Ecwid: www.ecwid.com/blog/podcast Ecwid Social Profiles: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ecwid Instagram: www.instagram.com/ecwid/ Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/EcwidTeam Twitter: twitter.com/ecwid Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/ecwid/ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@ecwid Jesse Ness Social Profiles: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jesseness/ Richard "RichE" Otey Social Profiles: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/richardotey/ Twitter: twitter.com/RichardOtey

In today's fiercely competitive business landscape, delivering exceptional customer service is absolutely crucial for achieving success. That's why we had a chat with Kaia Madalińska from Text (formerly LiveChat) to get some valuable insights into the latest features in the customer service industry that help business owners deliver top-notch customer support. From Live Chat to Text Live Chat, a trusted customer service platform for over 20 years, recently rebranded to Text. This change signifies their evolution from a single-product company to a comprehensive suite of products such as a live chat, chatbot, help desk, knowledge base, and open widget. It is expected to enable businesses to provide even better customer service. The Importance of Multi-Channel Support Text offers seamless integration with popular channels like Instagram, WhatsApp for business, and Facebook for business. This integration allows businesses to consolidate all customer messages in one place, eliminating the need to switch between different tabs or apps. Enhancing Ecommerce with Greetings and Personalization For ecommerce businesses, Text offers a range of features designed to enhance the shopping experience and drive sales. One standout feature is greetings, which empower businesses to personalize interactions with website visitors.  Proactive Chats with Shoppers Kaia introduces the "traffic section," which provides real-time data about website visitors, including pages visited, time spent, and interests. This data can be used to personalize interactions with visitors.  Enhancing Emal Marketing Kaia highlights that Mailchimp integration offered by Text is one of the most popular email marketing software integrations available. The integration allows businesses to harness the lead-generating power of Text by enabling customers to subscribe to campaigns and newsletters while filling out the pre-chat survey.  Text for Ecwid Stores If you run an Ecwid store, you can quickly connect it to Text to provide customer service and proactively promote your products and services to site visitors. Go to the Ecwid App Market and install the app: https://www.ecwid.com/apps/featured/live-chat-inc  Kaia Madalińska's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaia-madalinska/ Text (formerly LiveChat): http://text.com/ Ecwid Podcast on Ecwid: www.ecwid.com/blog/podcast Ecwid Social Profiles: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ecwid Instagram: www.instagram.com/ecwid/ Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/EcwidTeam Twitter: twitter.com/ecwid Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/ecwid/ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@ecwid Jesse Ness Social Profiles: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jesseness/ Richard "RichE" Otey Social Profiles: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/richardotey/ Twitter: twitter.com/RichardOtey

In this podcast episode, our show hosts Jesse and RichE interview Ricardo Lasa, CEO and co-founder of Kliken, a marketing solutions provider for ecommerce stores. Ricardo discusses the exciting advancements in AI technology and how it is transforming the advertising industry. How AI Transforms Advertising Ricardo explains that AI has traditionally been used for optimizing campaigns, such as selecting keywords and determining the best places to advertise. However, with the advent of new AI technology, advertisers can now create more compelling and creative ads. AI-Generated Images for Ads Ricardo explains that AI can generate complete ads using stock photos or custom-made images that intrigue customers. AI in Audience Targeting Ricardo highlights how AI helps identify the most relevant target groups for different products.  While AI helps generate ads and recommendations, the final approval lies with the merchant.  A Special Offer for Ecwid Stores If you're one of the merchants generating at least 20 sales per month, you're eligible for a complimentary trial of Kliken. Experience it for two weeks, priced at just one dollar. Ecwid Podcast on Ecwid: www.ecwid.com/blog/podcast Ecwid Social Profiles: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ecwid Instagram: www.instagram.com/ecwid/ Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/EcwidTeam Twitter: twitter.com/ecwid Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/ecwid/ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@ecwid Jesse Ness Social Profiles: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jesseness/ Richard "RichE" Otey Social Profiles: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/richardotey/ Twitter: twitter.com/RichardOtey

Joining us today is Jim Huffman, a renowned expert in the field and CEO of GrowthHit, a growth marketing consultancy specializing in direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands. Jim also hosts the popular podcast "If I Was Starting Today" and has written the Amazon best-seller, The Growth Marketer's Playbook, a book that even dethroned Seth Godin from the #1 spot for 72 hours. In this episode, we dive into key tactics and approaches that fuel eccommerce growth, helping brands make the most of Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales events. Tailor Messaging to Different Groups of Holiday Shoppers By understanding and tailoring messaging to different groups, such as early adopters and fast followers, brands can effectively communicate their value proposition and drive engagement.  Explore Community-Based Marketing Options Jim also emphasizes the power of community-based marketing. Leveraging influencers and brand ambassadors can greatly extend a brand's reach and tap into new audiences.  Tap Into Referral Programs Jim mentions the importance of referral programs, where satisfied customers are incentivized to refer friends and family.  Provide Great Customer Service to Retain Holiday Shoppers By delivering exceptional experiences and going above and beyond, brands can create loyal customers who will not only continue to purchase from them but also recommend them to others. Experiment with Viral Content Brands should focus on producing content that resonates with their target audience and compels them to share it with their networks.  The Importance of Staying Agile Throughout the podcast, Jim stresses the need for continuous optimization and experimentation. He advises ecommerce brands to constantly test and iterate their strategies to find what works best for their specific market and audience.  Follow Jim Huffman on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JimWHuffman GrowthHit website:  https://growthhit.com/ Ecwid Podcast on Ecwid: https://www.ecwid.com/blog/podcast Ecwid Social Social Profiles:  Ecwid Podcast on Ecwid: www.ecwid.com/blog/podcast Ecwid Social Profiles: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ecwid Instagram: www.instagram.com/ecwid/ Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/EcwidTeam Twitter: twitter.com/ecwid Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/ecwid/ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@ecwid Jesse Ness Social Profiles: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jesseness/ Richard "RichE" Otey Social Profiles: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/richardotey/ Twitter: twitter.com/RichardOtey

Join us on the latest episode of the Ecwid Ecommerce Show as we dive deep into the sizzling topic of utilizing AI for businesses. Our special guest, Matt Wolfe from Future Tools, shares invaluable insights.  Getting the Best Results with Prompts Matt shares his perspective on prompt engineering when using AI in ecommerce. The goal is to make these tools accessible to all users by focusing on natural language interactions. Using AI for SEO Matt Wolfe talks about his experience using SEO plugins, which scan a website and suggest improvements for search engine optimization, like adding alt text to images. Ethical Debates Around AI Art Many existing AI generation tools train using databases of images not intended to be used with these tools. Matt highlights that newer models of AI generation tools are starting to be opt-in, meaning artists must consent to their work being used for training. Improving Ecommerce Images with AI Tools Matt suggests using AI-based tools to improve low-quality product pictures. Many tools are available to upscale images and improve their quality, change backgrounds, or get rid of unwanted objects in a picture.  Powering Customer Service with AI Newer AI chatbots also incorporate machine learning capabilities. They learn from human responses over time. With this level of sophistication, AI chatbots are an increasingly valuable tool for businesses looking to provide efficient customer service. Potential Use of AI in Ecommerce Data Interpretation AI can analyze the data and provide users with insights previously only accessible to data analysts. The ability for anyone to process and understand data helps businesses make strategic decisions. Listen to the full podcast and discover what AI tools Matt uses and recommends to business owners.  Matt Wolfe's website: https://www.futuretools.io/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mreflow Twitter: https://twitter.com/mreflow Ecwid Podcast on Ecwid: www.ecwid.com/blog/podcast Ecwid Social Profiles: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ecwid Instagram: www.instagram.com/ecwid/ Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/EcwidTeam Twitter: twitter.com/ecwid Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/ecwid/ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@ecwid Jesse Ness Social Profiles: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jesseness/ Richard "RichE" Otey Social Profiles: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/richardotey/ Twitter: twitter.com/RichardOtey

In a new episode of the Ecwid Ecommerce Show, we talk to Brent Spicer of Marsello, a loyalty, SMS, and email marketing platform for business owners. Tune in to the podcast to learn how unlocking customer data can help you create a smart loyalty program that automates your marketing efforts. Unlocking Customer Data & Automating Campaigns Marsello started as a loyalty program platform that unlocked customer data and researched purchasing habits. As the business grew, they started running automated email and SMS campaigns based on customer behavior. Personalization is the Key Sending a generic newsletter to everyone might result in people unsubscribing. In contrast, personalized newsletters that suggest products based on a person's previous purchases or browsing history increase engagement.  How to Smartly Personalize Campaigns Creating the most effective personalized email depends on two factors—product and timing. Marsello uses AI-powered algorithms to provide specific product recommendations to particular customers based on their buying habits. Timing is likewise important, so use customer data to send reminders at the right time. How to Differentiate Your Loyalty Program Traditional cashback loyalty programs are not effective in differentiating a business from its competitors. Businesses need to create smarter loyalty programs that make customers feel special.  One way to achieve this is through a VIP tier system. You can also provide exclusive access to limited edition products to VIP customers as another effective loyalty strategy.  Using AI to Improve Loyalty Programs Marsello is always improving by implementing more AI into the loyalty platform, which analyzes data to suggest ways to improve customer engagement.  Marketing Automation Powered by Loyalty Programs Once businesses have collected customer data through their loyalty program, they can set up triggers that automatically send targeted campaigns based on customers' buying habits or preferences.  Make more money and gain loyal customers with Marsello: https://www.marsello.com/ The Marsello app for your Ecwid store: https://www.ecwid.com/apps/featured/marsello Ecwid Podcast on Ecwid: www.ecwid.com/blog/podcast Ecwid Social Profiles: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ecwid Instagram: www.instagram.com/ecwid/ Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/EcwidTeam Twitter: twitter.com/ecwid Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/ecwid/ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@ecwid Jesse Ness Social Profiles: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jesseness/ Richard "RichE" Otey Social Profiles: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/richardotey/ Twitter: twitter.com/RichardOtey

Join us in our latest podcast episode with email marketing guru Amandine Liepmann to discover the secrets of successful email marketing.  Amandine Liepmann runs an email marketing agency ListBurst and sells pre-made templates for businesses. As a top 1% email marketer on Upwork, Amandine's insights and strategies are invaluable resources for business owners looking to improve their email marketing campaigns.  Is Email Marketing Dead? Amandine talks about the misconception that email marketing is no longer effective. In fact, it has an average ROI of $42 for every dollar invested.  Best Practices for Growing an Email List Amandine Liepmann advises entrepreneurs looking to grow their email list organically to place a signup link everywhere they can, from blog posts to social media profiles to website forms. Amandine also discusses the success of interactive popups on websites that offer discounts to visitors. Interactive popups have a 9% opt-in rate, which is significant when compared to the standard popup's 3-4%. Tools for Writing Email Copy Amandine Liepmann advises writing without fear of judgment. She recommends using AI writing assistants like Jasper and ChatGPT, as well as using Grammarly, to help with grammar and context. Must-Have Email Campaigns Welcome emails have open rates between 50-80%, which is excellent, especially when compared to a standard email's open rate of 20-30%. Amandine also suggests having a template and creating custom segments.  Abandoned carts and post-purchase follow-up emails can also be powerful. More advanced strategies, like product recommendation emails, can be implemented using customer data to suggest related products. Less Is More Amandine advises focusing on one call to action and one piece of information to keep email content concise. Interestingly, text-based emails with a succinct format tend to have the highest deliverability rates. Test the Waters with AB Testing Amandine recommends using MailChimp's AB testing feature to test different email ideas against each other. It's important to isolate one variable at a time when testing content, and A/B testing subject lines is an easy way to start. ListBurst website: https://www.listburst.com/  Ecwid Podcast on Ecwid: www.ecwid.com/blog/podcast Ecwid Social Profiles: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ecwid Instagram: www.instagram.com/ecwid/ Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/EcwidTeam Twitter: twitter.com/ecwid Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/ecwid/ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@ecwid Jesse Ness Social Profiles: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jesseness/ Richard "RichE" Otey Social Profiles: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/richardotey/ Twitter: twitter.com/RichardOtey

On this episode of the Ecwid Ecommerce Show, we have a conversation with Liz Abunaw, the founder of the Forty Acres Fresh Market. What Forty Acres Fresh Market is All About  Forty Acres Fresh Market is a grocery retailer that combats health and economic inequity by increasing access to affordable fresh food in underserved communities. Currently operating as a mobile produce market through pop-up markets and delivery services, their ultimate goal is to build a store on the west side of Chicago. Market Research In the interview, Liz highlighted the importance of market research for business owners. By doing that, she was able to identify what the neighborhood needed, what it lacked, and what it could support.  First Pop-Up Market Liz shared how her journey started with a pop-up market. Despite overbuying inventory, she was able to transform a community room into a stunning market with fresh produce displays.   Word-of-mouth began to spread, and Liz started to receive calls from others asking if she could bring the market to their location. Learning from Failures Liz shared her experience of starting small and learning from failures. For example, by conducting trial runs at a temporary retail space, she faced challenges like terrible traffic. However, the experience taught her about the community's grocery leakage, leading to a better understanding of the neighborhood's needs.  Building Trust with Customers By consistently promoting its mission and doing pop-up markets, the business built its reputation enough to expand into delivery services, which became especially successful during the pandemic.  Choosing a Subscription Service Liz tried to use PayPal to sell subscription boxes but found it difficult to automate. She then looked at other subscription services and discovered Ecwid, which was easy to use without needing a strong tech background. The quick pivot to using Ecwid a month or two before the pandemic struck was crucial to their success in gaining and sustaining new subscribers. Leveraging Ecwid Features Liz finds Ecwid especially helpful for staffing. It allows her to easily manage the business calendar to determine the number of boxes they need to pack each day and how much labor is required.  The business appreciates the usefulness of Ecwid for marketing and messaging purposes. Plus, the customer notes feature lets customers give specific delivery instructions and request certain items while noting any allergies. Working on the Brick-and-Mortar Location Liz emphasizes that having a permanent brick-and-mortar presence is key to her mission of food equity in underserved neighborhoods. Despite the challenges, there is potential for growth and profit in the grocery industry if done correctly. Learn more about Forty Acres Fresh Market and make sure to support them if you're located in Chicago: Website: https://www.fortyacresfreshmarket.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fortyacresfreshmarket/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/40acresfresh?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084716291348 Ecwid Podcast on Ecwid: www.ecwid.com/blog/podcast Ecwid Social Profiles: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ecwid Instagram: www.instagram.com/ecwid/ Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/EcwidTeam Twitter: twitter.com/ecwid Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/ecwid/ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@ecwid Jesse Ness Social Profiles: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jesseness/ Richard "RichE" Otey Social Profiles: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/richardotey/ Twitter: twitter.com/RichardOtey

In this episode of the Ecwid Ecommerce Show, we sit down with Ricardo Lasa, CEO of Kliken, to explore the exciting new advertising tool. What Is Kliken? Kliken is a marketing platform designed to help you reach more customers and increase sales by leveraging organic product listings and paid search campaigns across various platforms.  With Kliken, you can promote your products with Google ads, Google Performance Max campaigns, Google Shopping campaigns, Facebook ads, and Kliken ads on the Open Web. Kliken is integrated into your Ecwid by Lightspeed control panel, which makes ad management effortless.  What Are OpenWeb Ads? With Kliken, you can extend your reach to the open web, where you can reach a high-intent audience who might be interested in your product. Kliken ads appear on reputable sites such as news and blog sites, giving you greater visibility to your target audience.  Ad Optimization at Kliken Kliken generates intelligent ads that are tailored to shoppers' activity in your store. If they have previously viewed a product, they will see the ad with the same product. If they haven't visited your store yet, Kliken will show them the top-selling products of your store, providing an incentive to click through and learn more about the product. Kliken Offer for Ecwid Sellers If you're an Ecwid seller that receives twenty or more orders per month, you can take advantage of their offer to jump on the Kliken for just one dollar for 15 days.  Listen to the full episode to learn more about advertising best practices and jumpstarting your ad journey. And if you're qualified for the Kliken offer, don't hesitate to use it!  Ecwid Podcast on Ecwid: www.ecwid.com/blog/podcast Ecwid Social Profiles: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ecwid Instagram: www.instagram.com/ecwid/ Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/EcwidTeam Twitter: twitter.com/ecwid Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/ecwid/ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@ecwid Jesse Ness Social Profiles: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jesseness/ Richard "RichE" Otey Social Profiles: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/richardotey/ Twitter: twitter.com/RichardOtey