Feeling overwhelmed trying to plan your Black Friday and Cyber Monday strategy this year? You're not alone.

Should you be discounting?
Who should you send your offers to?

How much should you be spending on paid ads (heck, should you even bother????)

From deciding how much to discount to figuring out the right marketing channels, there are so many moving pieces that it can make your head spin 😵‍💫

You know that I’m committed to giving YOU the latest info on what’s working and what’s not.

That’s why I’ve put together this BF/CM series, to give you the behind the scenes, first hand info.

In this episode, Yotpo’s Rad Mitic (Head of Brand Advocacy) and Rob Hewetson (Senior Engineer) pull back the curtain on the strategies top brands are using to stand out from the competition.

You'll discover:

• How to effectively segment your customer base and craft personalized promotions (beyond just discounting)

• Innovative loyalty program ideas that go way beyond points - and actually drive sales

• Yotpo's game-changing "multi-message campaign" feature that can automate your email and SMS marketing

• Plus, Yotpo have been kind enough to share with you, their Ultimate Black Friday Email Marketing Guide - download it for free here

Whether you're struggling to decide where to focus your efforts or just feeling lost in a sea of Black Friday/Cyber Monday options, this episode is packed with actionable insights that can make a real difference for your business.

--------

Introduction and Background of Salena Knight 0:02

Introduction of Guests and Their Backgrounds 2:43

Yotpo's Innovative Approach and Team Dynamics 7:16

Challenges and Strategies for Black Friday Cyber Monday 14:59

Practical Strategies for Email and SMS Marketing 31:19

Final Tips and Encouragement for Business Owners 40:44

Full article: https://salenaknight.com/the-insider-strategies-top-brands-use-to-dominate-black-friday-cyber-monday-with-rad-rob-from-yotpo/

As we hurtle towards the biggest retail event of the year, I knew I couldn't just give you my opinion. You need the insider scoop from the experts who are in the trenches, day in and day out. That's why I sat down with Toby Cumpstay, Shopify's Senior Merchant Success Manager for the APAC region, to get his no-holds-barred advice on how to leverage Black Friday and Cyber Monday to drive serious sales and growth for your retail or e-commerce business.
Toby's been there and done that - he founded and grew a hugely successful retail and e-commerce business before it was acquired. So he knows firsthand the challenges, the strategies, and the opportunities that come with navigating the Q4 madness. In this episode, we dive deep into:

• Proven pre, during, and post-BFCM strategies to maximize your results
• How to reverse-engineer your goals and budgets to avoid getting caught out
• The power of segmenting your customer list and offering tailored promotions
• Innovative "anti-pattern" BFCM campaigns that build brand loyalty (think Patagonia and REI)
• Toby's #1 Shopify app recommendation to boost revenue

If you're ready to dominate this holiday season and set your business up for an incredible 2025, you won't want to miss a single minute of this episode. Strap in, because Toby and I are about to take you behind the scenes of Black Friday and Cyber Monday like never before.

If you're overwhelmed with putting together a BF/CM campaign, this program I created can help you put it all together in a weekend.

----------

Introduction and Overview of the Podcast 0:02

Toby's Journey into Retail and E-commerce 2:52

Challenges and Decisions in Building the Business 8:35

Scaling the Business and Customer Experience 10:37

Marketing Strategies and Customer Engagement 15:38

Pre, During, and Post Black Friday Strategies 18:23

Reverse Engineering and Customer Acquisition Costs 29:27

Anti-Patterns and Brand Differentiation 33:33

Final Recap and Key Takeaways 40:54

Favorite Shopify App and Closing Remarks 41:21

Full article: https://salenaknight.com/shopifys-insider-secrets-to-crushing-black-friday-cyber-monday-toby-cumpstay/

I'm always on the hunt for the latest strategies and tactics to help ecommerce brands drive sales and revenue.

And let me tell you, my latest podcast guest John Garguilo from Ready Set Digital Agency did not disappoint.

John has worked with some of the biggest names in e-commerce, and he's seen firsthand what it takes to win big during the critical Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping season.

In this episode, he pulls back the curtain and shares his insider secrets, including:

• The importance of creative diversity and testing your ads WAY ahead of time (don't wait until the last minute!)

• How to leverage AI-generated content to scale your video ads without killing your team (his new platform Airpost is fascinating)

• Proven ways to take care of your best customers and keep them coming back, even when the discounts are flowing

If you're an ecommerce brand looking to dominate Q4 and maximize your holiday sales, you won't want to miss this episode. John drops so many valuable insights that you can implement in your business right away.

-----------

John Garguilo's Career Journey 0:02

Challenges in the Restaurant Business 3:20

Transition to Tech and AI 4:50

Introduction to Airpost and Its Purpose 6:18

AI's Role in Airpost 14:18

Concerns About AI and Realness 25:30

Insights on Black Friday and Cyber Monday 25:45

Sleepless.ai and Additional Resources 34:47

Final Thoughts and Future Outlook 35:40

Full article: https://salenaknight.com/creating-content-that-sells-john-gargiulo/

Ever felt like the marketing you're doing bears an uncanny resemblance to that phrase "throwing spaghetti at the wall to see if it sticks?"

I can relate.
For me, it looked like this:
Eleventy billion ideas (that's a real number btw),
not enough time,
and the budget? Well, that’s a whole other story.

But despite slogging away, it can sometimes seem like nothing moves the needle.
Or if that needle is moving, it’s ever so slowly.

It's taken me many years to work out how that you can't afford to throw 'marketing spaghetti' at the wall, UNTIL, you've got consistent sales and revenue coming in.
It's just not financially doable otherwise.

If you've ever felt like YOUR marketing doesn't work, here's how to fix that.
Even better, you can get through this episode quicker than it takes to boil a pot of noodles.

----------

Marketing Challenges and Business Metaphors 0:02

Identifying Successful Strategies 3:08

Reflecting on Past Campaigns 4:16

Analyzing and Reverse Engineering Obstacles 7:06

Planning and Executing Effective Campaigns 8:10

Focusing on Core Business Activities 9:33

Final Thoughts and Call to Action 10:10

Full article: https://salenaknight.com/feel-like-your-marketing-is-more-miss-than-hit-heres-your-fix/

If you're looking to get more sales, more customers, and master your e-commerce marketing, this episode is a must-listen.

I sit down with e-commerce expert and Strategy Coach here at The Retail Academy, Kerry Clark, who shares the surprising #1 thing holding most online businesses back.

And it's not what you think!

Fix this one critical issue, and you could unlock higher conversions and more revenue.

In this value-packed discussion, you'll discover:

• The free tool Kerry uses to instantly audit website speed (and how to improve it)

• The hidden mistakes in your product taxonomy that are frustrating customers

• Why hiring an e-commerce manager is one of the best investments you can make

• The mindset shift Kerry says is crucial for e-commerce entrepreneurs to make

If you want to take your online store to the next level, you can't afford to miss Kerry's top tips.

Tune in now to get the insights that could transform your business.

---------

E-Commerce Essentials and Kerry Clark's Introduction 0:02

Kerry's Journey into E-Commerce 3:04

Common E-Commerce Obstacles and Quick Wins 4:41

Website Speed and Optimization Tools 7:38

Navigational and Taxonomical Challenges 13:27

Understanding Product and Customer Journey 15:50

The Role of E-Commerce Managers and Email Marketers 24:23

The Importance of Long-Term Vision and Delegation 31:38

Overcoming Control Freak Tendencies 32:10

Final Thoughts and Advice for Business Owners 44:36

Full article: https://salenaknight.com/an-ecom-experts-top-tips-for-a-higher-converting-website-kelly-clark/

When you’re in the thick of running a business, it’s easy to feel like you’re the first/only person going through a particular problem.

Trust me. I’ve seen it all. After auditing literally thousands of retail/ecom/product businesses, I know that there are a handful of hurdles, brick walls, and cliffs that you’re likely to encounter.

Instead of me sharing what I think those are, I invited Daniel, one of my Strategy Coaches, to come on the show and share with you, firsthand, the obstacles he sees in so many of the businesses we work with.

Daniel is no ordinary business advisor and strategy coach. He's a serial entrepreneur who's built multiple successful 7-figure companies, from a hearing protection brand for kids to a thriving pickleball equipment business.

I asked Daniel to come onto the podcast and share the biggest obstacles he’s seen with the retail and e-commerce brands we work with, and of course, how we’ve solved them.

One of the biggest takeaways for me was how focused Daniel is on empowering business owners to understand their numbers. As Daniel put it, "knowledge is power" when it comes to the financial health of your business. Too many business owners get caught up in the day-to-day and lose sight of the bigger picture.

But Daniel showed how diving deep into your profit and loss statements, inventory levels, and other key metrics can unlock a whole new level of growth. It's not about being a math genius - it's about having the courage to face those numbers head-on, understand them, and USE them to drive strategic decisions.

He also went through several other areas (you’ll have to listen to find out what they are) and perhaps most importantly, Daniel emphasized the power of having the right support system around you. As he put it, "Being a business owner is a very unique journey" - one that's filled with both highs and lows.

Surrounding yourself with other people who "get it" can make all the difference. Whether it's a trusted mentor, a mastermind group, or even just a few like-minded peers, tapping into that collective wisdom and experience can be a total game-changer.

Honestly, I could go on and on about the insights packed into this episode. But the bottom line is, if you're a retail or e-commerce business owner looking to take your company to the next level, you need to give this a listen.

Daniel's story is a testament to the power of persistence, resilience, and a willingness to take calculated risks. And his advice could be the missing piece that helps you break through to new heights of success.

So what are you waiting for? Click here to tune in to the full episode now. Your business will thank you.

Want Sal, Daniel, and the rest of the Retail Academy Team to work with you to scale YOUR business?
Click here to speak with us and see if we can help.

----------
Introduction and Purpose of the Podcast 0:02

Daniel Gibney's Background and Business Journey 4:07

Challenges and Common Issues in Retail and E-commerce 8:23

Importance of Agility and Adaptability in Business 14:33

Overcoming Financial and Marketing Challenges 18:37

The Role of Mindset and Perspective in Business Success 35:50

Implementing KPIs and Targets for Business Growth 41:16

The Importance of Networking and Support in Business 46:58

Final Advice and Encouragement for Business Owners 48:29

Full article: https://salenaknight.com/challenges-our-retail-ecom-business-owners-are-facing-right-now-and-how-to-solve-them-daniel-gibney/

As an e-commerce business owner, there's nothing more frustrating than discovering your website or product images have been cloned and are being used to scam your (potential) customers.

It's a nightmare scenario that's all too common in today's digital landscape - I even ended up almost being scammed myself!

In this eye-opening episode, I sit down with Steven Weigler, an experienced IP attorney from Emerge Consult, to discuss strategies for protecting your brand online. You'll learn:

• The key legal tools every e-commerce entrepreneur needs, including trademarks, copyrights, and domain protection
• How to quickly take down clone websites and counterfeit product listings on platforms like Amazon and Shopify
• The importance of having a proactive IP protection strategy in place before issues arise
• Tips for working with an IP attorney to build a cost-effective legal foundation for your business

As I discovered firsthand, website cloning, and product counterfeiting are major threats that can do serious damage to your brand and bottom line. But with the right knowledge and preparation, you can fight back and protect what you've worked so hard to build. Don't wait until it's too late - tune in and learn how to safeguard your e-commerce business today.

----------
E-Commerce Website Cloning and Initial Reactions 0:02

Legal and International Challenges in Intellectual Property 2:48

Building a Strong Brand Identity and Protecting It 5:27

Trademarks, Copyrights, and Patents: Tools for Protection 12:31

Dealing with Infringement on E-Commerce Platforms 14:45

Strategies for Addressing Infringement and Protecting Assets 28:00

The Role of Platforms in Intellectual Property Enforcement 28:48

The Importance of Early Action and Prevention 32:46

Final Thoughts and Actionable Steps 33:01

Resources and Contact Information 33:13

Full article: https://salenaknight.com/ecom-store-cloned-by-scammers-heres-what-to-do-steven-weigler/

Are you feeling overwhelmed, bored, or disconnected from your business? Feel like no one can do things as good as you ever could?
Maybe, your business just misses you, and it's crying out for attention, just like a toddler after nap time.
In this eye-opening episode, I'll share my personal journey PLUS my steps to help you take back control of your business and reignite your passion.
Discover how to identify the current "season" of your business and make strategic shifts to maximize your upcoming peak sales period.
Learn the mindset shifts and team management tactics that will transform your business from a source of dread to a fulfilling venture.
And how to embrace the challenges, to take away stress and overwhelm (and even the boredom).

----------
Preparing for Q4 and Peak Season 0:02

The Importance of Business Seasons and Control 3:42

Tina's Story and Business Overwhelm 5:29

Reclaiming Control and Business Reflection 9:14

Challenges and Changes in Business 13:51

The Role of Challenges and Team Dynamics 17:35

Taking Action and Reflection 18:13

Final Thoughts and Call to Action 21:38

Full article: https://salenaknight.com/your-business-misses-you-and-how-to-find-your-way-back/