285: The Most Powerful Marketing Activity

When someone asked, “Which marketing activity actually moves the needle?” we knew we had to talk about it. Because the answer isn’t what you think. In this episode, Susan and Melissa (Inner Circle coach and owner of Bike Pretty)  unpack why your store needs multiple touchpoints—and how to simplify without sacrificing growth. What You’ll Learn: ✔️ Why customers rarely buy after just one click ✔️ The truth behind “this isn’t working” ✔️ How to use your Shopify conversion paths to find what’s really bringing in sales ✔️ The easiest way to keep showing up (without reinventing the wheel) ✔️ What to repeat—and what to fix—when sales are slow   RELATED LINKS: Should You Hire Someone to Make Your Reels? https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/should-you-hire-someone-to-make-your-reels-episode-277/ The ‘Marketing First’ Strategy That Grew This Business to 4.6M Views https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/the-marketing-first-strategy-that-grew-this-business-to-4-6m-views-episode-257/ What happens when you put Marketing First https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/what-happens-when-you-put-marketing-first-episode-198/ The Stress Free Content Plan That Built A Huge Audience:  https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/the-stress-free-content-plan-that-built-a-huge-audience-episode-190/

If your ecommerce sales have hit a plateau around $2K/month, and you’re wondering why it’s not growing, this episode is for you. We’ll break down the one core reason most stores get stuck—and how to shift your strategy so you can grow without sacrificing profit. This isn’t about running a sale or throwing money at ads. It’s about fixing the root problem—and building a business that’s sustainable, scalable, and aligned with your goals. What You’ll Learn: Why your business is likely out of alignment—and how to fix it The problem with chasing growth before your offer is clear The 3 questions every potential customer needs answered How to grow past $2K/month without running discounts or promos The most profitable thing you can do before you invest in more traffic   RELATED LINKS: 2 Simple Steps To A Better Conversion Rate https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/2-simple-steps-to-a-better-conversion-rate-episode-268/ What to Do When You Have More Time Than Money in Your Business https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/what-to-do-when-you-have-more-time-than-money-in-your-business-episode-262/ This Will Get You Unstuck https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/this-will-get-you-unstuck-episode-233/ How to Create Profit Goals https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/how-to-create-profit-goals-episode-209/

Today, I’m sharing something that pushed me out of my comfort zone—and it might just do the same for you. I sat down with Suzi Dafnis of HerBusiness to talk about the power of stepping away, creating space, and taking a leap toward your next chapter. 💡 In this episode, you’ll learn: What a business retreat really looks like—and why it’s not just a vacation Why Suzi designed the Trailblazers Retreat for established business owners ready for a shift What past attendees say they’ve walked away with: clarity, connection, and confidence How stepping away on purpose can help you reconnect with your next big move Want to join us in Crete this October? CLICK HERE!

Tired of relying on paid ads? This episode is for you. Susan Bradley and Sarah Williams share the two most powerful (and doable!) strategies they’ve used to generate consistent organic growth for ecommerce brands—without spending a fortune. What you’ll learn: The simple, repeatable collaboration strategy one business owner used to grow her email list by 1,600+ people Why the quality of your leads matters more than the quantity How to use a subscription waitlist and email funnel to add 50–100 customers monthly The real reason collaboration partners don’t need to match you in size or niche Why your future customers need to be “primed” before they’re ready to buy    RELATED LINKS: Join me for Brand Collab Bootcamp Sept 8-12, CLICK HERE!  Join Subscription Box Week (Sept 28–Oct 3) — Learn how to build and launch an evergreen waitlist funnel that sells on repeat. Also $15 and packed with step-by-step guidance. Click HERE!** The free strategy that got 1600 leads and 34 new customers https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/the-free-strategy-that-got-1600-leads-and-34-new-customers-episode-281/ Massive Growth Organically? Yes, you can! https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/massive-growth-organically-yes-you-can-episode-62/ **This podcast episode link may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through my links, at no additional cost to you. Please read the full disclosure page for more information. Click HERE for our full disclosure statement.

Have you hesitated to use Collaborations as your strategy for organic growth? If you haven’t tried a few collaborations yet, what you learn in this episode will make you eager to get started. Here’s the backstory: Tina Bar On is our Member Success Coach, AND she owns a small online shop that she runs on a very part-time basis. Early last year, Tina decided that she was going to focus on Collaborations as her growth strategy for 2021. She committed to doing a Collaboration every month and finished out the year with 10 Collabs under her belt. I’ve been talking about the value of Collaborations to anyone who will listen for ages. So when Tina decided to do a “Year of collaborations” I made her promise to share her results in a case study. Listen in and you’ll learn: Details about the Collaboration Events Tina ran Her best strategy to find Collaboration Partners The results of her “year of collaboration” Tina’s best tips on how to make Collaboration Events easy and repeatable! Ready to collaborate and fast track your organic growth? https://classroom.thesocialsalesgirls.com/brand-collab-bootcamp ______________________ Are you constantly asking yourself how to make your website better or questioning your prices? Do you wonder if you're missing something? If you have made sales in person or on a site like Etsy, I know you can sell more on your site. Get my FREE mini-course that will show you our step-by-step process to grow your sales without spending a fortune on risky ad strategies or discounting your products here: https://learn.thesocialsalesgirls.com/conversion-school/ “Insightful, actionable and engaging! I learn so much every single time I listen. I can’t believe this information is free!" - If you feel like this too, I’d love it if you would leave us a review. Reviewing the show will help us reach even more store owners, so we can help them grow their sales. Click here, tap to rate with 5 stars and select “Write a review”. Let us know what you find most helpful about the podcast! Also, if you haven't already make sure to follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode! Follow here!    

If you’re ready to hire help—or have tried and been burned—this episode is your roadmap. Susan and Melissa walk you through the full process of hiring, training, and managing help that actually helps. You’ll learn how to outsource without frustration, and how to build systems that make delegation (and growth) sustainable. You’ll learn: ✅ How to prep before you hire (and why it’s the key to success) ✅ What to document before you bring someone on ✅ Where to find the right people—and what to ask before hiring ✅ How to create smart SOPs and clear expectations ✅ The #1 thing most people skip when they hire (and regret later)   Links Mentioned: Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell https://www.buybackyourtime.com/ Fiverr https://www.fiverr.com/ Episode #63 – Finding the Right Help https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/what-to-do-when-you-need-new-customers-episode-263/

Thinking about scaling your store? This episode is your checklist. Susan and Inner Circle coach Melissa Davies break down what most store owners get wrong when they try to grow—and the five things you need to do before you scale. If you’re not profitable now, scaling won’t fix it. It’ll just magnify the problem. Tune in to hear how to prepare your business to grow without burning out or running out of cash. You’ll Learn:  ✅ Why your first step isn’t marketing—it’s accounting ✅ How to know if you’re really ready to scale ✅ What to look for in a bookkeeper (and how to know if they’re doing it wrong) ✅ How to calculate your cost to acquire a customer ✅ How to set aside a “growth fund” so you’re not scaling on fumes Mentioned in This Episode: Episode 167 – Price to Maximize Profit https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/pricing-to-maximize-profit-episode-167/ Episode 165 – How to Scale Your Sales https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/how-to-scale-your-sales-episode-165/ Episode 262 – What to Do When You Have More Time Than Money https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/what-to-do-when-you-have-more-time-than-money-in-your-business-episode-262/ Episode 187 – What It Costs to Get a Customer https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/do-you-even-know-what-it-costs-to-get-a-new-customer-episode-187/ ______________________ Are you constantly asking yourself how to make your website better or questioning your prices? Do you wonder if you're missing something? If you have made sales in person or on a site like Etsy, I know you can sell more on your site. Get my FREE mini-course that will show you our step-by-step process to grow your sales without spending a fortune on risky ad strategies or discounting your products here: https://learn.thesocialsalesgirls.com/conversion-school/ “Insightful, actionable and engaging! I learn so much every single time I listen. I can’t believe this information is free!" - If you feel like this too, I’d love it if you would leave us a review. Reviewing the show will help us reach even more store owners, so we can help them grow their sales. Click here, tap to rate with 5 stars and select “Write a review”. Let us know what you find most helpful about the podcast! Also, if you haven't already make sure to follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode! Follow here!  

We all love a good book recommendation—but some books are more than a great read. They change the way you think, work, and lead. In this episode, Susan shares the three books she’s read (and reread) that have had a lasting impact on her business growth, financial mindset, and personal leadership. These aren’t long reads, but they pack a punch—and they’re worth coming back to again and again. What You’ll Learn: ✔️ The one book Susan re-reads every year—and why it’s always relevant ✔️ What she did differently after reading Profit First (and how it changed her stress levels) ✔️ Why “Let Them” became her go-to mindset reset ✔️ How each book supports ecommerce owners in totally different, but equally powerful, ways ✔️ Why these books are better tools than any trending tactic Books Mentioned: 📘 The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan 📗 Profit First by Mike Michalowicz 📕 The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins ______________________ Are you constantly asking yourself how to make your website better or questioning your prices? Do you wonder if you're missing something? If you have made sales in person or on a site like Etsy, I know you can sell more on your site. Get my FREE mini-course that will show you our step-by-step process to grow your sales without spending a fortune on risky ad strategies or discounting your products here: https://learn.thesocialsalesgirls.com/conversion-school/ “Insightful, actionable and engaging! I learn so much every single time I listen. I can’t believe this information is free!" - If you feel like this too, I’d love it if you would leave us a review. Reviewing the show will help us reach even more store owners, so we can help them grow their sales. Click here, tap to rate with 5 stars and select “Write a review”. Let us know what you find most helpful about the podcast! Also, if you haven't already make sure to follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode! Follow here!  

Feel overwhelmed by video content? Wish you could just hire it out? In this episode, Susan and Melissa talk about the real reasons ecommerce store owners get stuck—and why hiring someone to “just make your Reels” isn’t the quick fix you think it is. You’ll hear simple, practical ways to start creating videos that connect with your audience, showcase your products, and drive results—without showing your face or hiring a production team. What You’ll Learn: ✔️ Why hiring out content creation often backfires ✔️ The one thing you must know before outsourcing any role ✔️ Easy, no-face video ideas that still convert ✔️ Why B-roll and slideshows are smarter than you think ✔️ The key ingredient to live video success ✔️ How to turn your customer questions into high-performing content RELATED LINKS: Sign Up for Brand Video Bootcamp Episode 162 – How to Make a Brand Video Episode 106 – The TikTok Strategy That Exploded Sylvie’s Sales Episode 276 – The 3-Part Video Funnel Strategy Emails That Sell Guide  

Video is one of the best ways to build trust and grow your ecommerce sales—but without a clear strategy, it can feel overwhelming or like a waste of time. In this episode, we’re sharing the 3 types of videos every store owner needs to grow awareness, increase clicks, and drive conversions—without burning out. You’ll hear what each video should include, when to use it, and how to measure success (spoiler: it’s not just views). What You’ll Learn:  ✔️ The one video every store owner should start with ✔️ What to say in your brand video (even if you hate being on camera) ✔️ How to use video to drive real clicks to your product pages ✔️ Why live video works best when everything else is already in place RELATED LINKS: Birdmoss Brand Video Birdmoss Product Video Sew Hungry Hippie Live Video Strategy Brand Video Bootcamp Waitlist - sign up now! Build a Massive Audience with a Brand Video — Episode 162 How to Get 1M Eyeballs on Your Product Every Month – Episode 244