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Thinking about starting a software company? This week’s guest is giving you a behind-the-scenes look at exactly what to expect. Michael Facchin is the ultimate bootstrapper. His digital marketing career started in freelance, then he built an agency, Search Scientists, but soon came to a daunting realization: His business wasn’t future proof. With the rise of AI and Facebook Ads becoming more intuitive, he knew manually pulling the levers for his clients’ ad spend wasn’t going to last forever. Thus, Ad Badger - a software tool designed to optimize Amazon PPC - was born.  It’s been over two years since Michael was last on the show and I’m so excited to have him back. Not only is Michael one of my closest friends, but he’s an expert at PPC and in today’s episode he’s sharing the ins and outs of starting a software company, the pros & cons of bootstrapping vs joining an accelerator, having VC funding, and a few key insights he’s learned on his entrepreneurial journey. If you’ve ever considered starting a software company, this episode is for you. Enjoy! Episode Highlights 5:38 Mike’s journey from biology teacher to ads agency owner 8:03 Growing a business as a result of the rise of AI 12:11 Why Amazon has the best ad platform for direct response marketing 15:12 A bootstrappers mentality vs the accelerator mentality  18:45 How to determine if an accelerator is a good idea for you 21:05 The metrics Michael focuses on most to move his business forward 23:23 Mike’s unique perspective on retirement 26:19 How Michael is evolving his workhorse mentality and detangling himself from entrepreneurship 31:27 The motivation behind diving into entrepreneurship 34:55 The hardest part about starting a software company 41:01 How Michael and his team use the scrum methodology and why they are moving away from Slack 46:27 What Michael wishes he could tell his younger self 48:28 The number 1 thing every entrepreneur should have on their entrepreneurial journey 50:54 Michael's favorite book on entrepreneurship that changed his leadership style for the better 53:14 Is Ad Badger right for you? Links and Resources: Michael Facchin on LinkedIn Ad Badger Search Scientists PPC Den Podcast Ad Badger on YouTube Reboot by Jerry Colonna TechCrunch Crunchbase  Podcast 115: How Retargeting Will Improve Your Business’ Results @a_brawn on Twitter Brand Growth Experts Review or subscribe on iTunes

If you primarily rely on pixels or cookies for conversion tracking, you need to know about Facebook's new Conversions API, or else you'll be facing some serious data tracking challenges every soon. With the increasing pressure to provide more privacy to consumers, businesses like Apple are making strides to limit consumer information and Google has announced they'll be removing the ability to use 3rd party browser cookies by 2022.  This means that eCommerce business owners who rely on pixels for conversion tracking are going to need to find new ways to stay ahead.   In today's episode, Andrew Foxwell and I talk about Facebook's new Conversions API, why you need to install it on your site, how it's been shown to increase conversion reporting by 30% and what you can do with that new information.  Enjoy! Episode Highlights 3:09 Why you need to install Facebook's Conversions API on your Shopify site 6:23 Common mistakes that prevent pixels from properly tracking 7:32 The impact of tracking all conversion events  10:39 What a 30% increase in conversion reporting can do for your business 13:49 The direction of conversion tracking and customer information 17:15 How to implement Facebook’s Conversion API onto your site Links and Resources: Foxwell Digital Blog: Facebook’s Conversions API (CAPI) and How to implement it with your Shopify site The Social Dilemma  Brand Growth Experts The Coalition Foxwell Digital andrew@foxwelldigital.com @a_brawn on Twitter @andrewfoxwell on Twitter Review or subscribe on iTunes

Feeling discouraged by a slow start to your business? Mister Jones Health was in the same boat until they unlocked explosive growth that grew the business by 800% in one year. Jason Daemar spent ten years climbing the corporate ladder only to realize one day that he had enough. Since then, Jason and his wife created Mister Jones Health - an ecommerce brand that has hit an astonishing inflection point over the last year even after having a not-so-glamorous start. In this episode, Jason talks about finding their first 1,000 customers, a few marketing and Facebook advertising secrets you should know about, being a customer-centric business, and building a team. If you’re an ecommerce business owner or work in the marketing space, you are going to get a lot out of this episode. Enjoy!  Episode Highlights 6:08 The idea behind Mister Jones Health 12:32 Experimenting with marketing channels to find their first 1,000 customers 14:28 The #1 overlooked thing by Facebook advertisers  16:29 Mindsets for having a customer-centric business and building empathy 20:28 The insight Jason unlocked to grow Mister Jones Health by 800% in one year 24:49 Two mindset shifts for continued growth and a strong culture 26:27 Why you should spend time learning the language of your industry 30:02 The problem with a founder being in the present 31:22 Jason’s resources for becoming a leader in your organization 33:29 Mister Jones Health is hiring! 37:00 One thing Jason wishes he knew prior to starting his business and his advice to new entrepreneurs Links and Resources: Mister Jones Health Mister Jones Health on Instagram Careers at Mister Jones Health Traction by Gino Wickman The Lean Startup by Eric Ries The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey The E-Myth Revisted by Michael E. Gerber Brand Growth Experts The Coalition @a_brawn on Twitter Review or subscribe on iTunes

The reality is most entrepreneurs won't reach the singular exit that retires them for life. So why is their strategy to build wealth rooted 100% in their business? It's common for entrepreneurs to feel the urge to go all in and invest 100% in their business. But spoiler alert: Running a business is hard and selling your business for enough to spend your retirement at the Four Seasons with a pina colada in hand is even harder. In today's episode, Andrew Foxwell and I talk about how entrepreneurs can build wealth outside of their business by focusing on three different buckets of investments, why a diversification strategy is something to consider, and how we are preparing for looming financial issues that are on many people's minds.  Episode Highlights 6:27 Establishing what financial freedom looks like for you 9:27 The three buckets of investments 10:38 How Austin and his wife got into real estate investing 16:08 Austin and Andrew's stock market strategy to build wealth 19:18 Protecting yourself from an inflation event 22:09 Views on cryptocurrency and how to create a hedge for yourself 24:12 Austin's business strategy to build wealth 2840 How to build a $100M asset without having a $100M business 30:48 Leveraging the skills you have to create outsized returns 34:04 The importance of having a net worth progress tracking system Links and Resources: Allegra’s Website Factora Wealth Wealthfront I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi Brand Growth Experts The Coalition Foxwell Digital andrew@foxwelldigital.com @a_brawn on Twitter @andrewfoxwell on Twitter Review or subscribe on iTunes

Who is truly at the center of your business, your customers or your profits? Tim O'Brien's supplement company, Find Your Healthy Place, is relentless in its pursuit of customer-centricity. After in-store sales started to tank during the onset of COVID-19, Tim knew that making their customer's online experience just as personalized and memorable as the one they had in store would be critical to their survival. Today, Tim's online sales are up from 3% to 26%, and the pivots they continue to make are remarkable.  Tune into this episode to learn why Tim feels a customer first strategy works best for his business, how to create personalized experiences online and the key metrics he focuses on as his business continues to grow. Episode Highlights 5:07 How Tim got started in the wellness industry 10:00 The effects COVID has had on Tim’s brick-and-mortar and Ecommerce sales 14:19 How Tim is applying his customer first strategy online 18:55 Building your competitive advantage into your onboarding process 21:59 Choosing to double down on what works 23:31 The most powerful metric Tim’s team focuses on  25:44 Hard lessons Tim has learned about himself in his entrepreneurial journey 28:47 A perspective on what to do when you make the wrong hire 30:36 Tim’s approach on local and digital advertising 35:31 The email marketing strategy that is generating thousands of dollars in sales every week 38:32 What Tim is most excited about in business right now 40:01 How you can get in touch with Tim Links and Resources: Find Your Healthy Place (Use discount code "influence" for 10% off) Wild Theory (Use discount code "influence" for 10% off) Get Found Madison Podcast 243: How To Improve Your Ecommerce SEO @a_brawn on Twitter Review or subscribe on iTunes

Many Ecommerce business owners are wondering how to reclaim their Facebook ad performance to finish on top. Ecommerce entrepreneurs saw some of their best months this spring with consumer’s response to the onset of COVID-19. However, as buying patterns started to shift, summer and fall have been incredibly challenging. In this episode, Andrew Foxwell gives us some insight into what he's learned working with a variety of clients. We dive into how user behavior has changed, what businesses across the globe are experiencing, and leave you with several tactics you can use to increase your Facebook ad performance this year.  Episode Highlights 6:27 How user behavior is impacting the current state of Facebook 10:36 A global overview of Facebook ad performance 13:59 What the Shaq Stack is and how to use it 17:12 Using bid overrides to manage volatile Facebook ad performance 19:35 User-generated content and dynamic creative testing 22:49 The All-In-One Campaign Budget Optimization when nothing else is working 24:48 Finding your unique performance formula 27:36 How long you need to run campaigns to maximize Facebook ad performance 30:30 When to ramp up your Facebook ad budget 33:13 The top 3 things working for US-based advertisers  35:23 Andrew’s Q4 prediction on Facebook ad performance Links and Resources: Podcast 272: 20 Facebook Advertising Strategies You Need To Try Right Now Canva Kapwing Brand Growth Experts Foxwell Digital andrew@foxwelldigital.com @a_brawn on Twitter @andrewfoxwell on Twitter Review or subscribe on iTunes

Ever Feel Like A Million Bucks After A $20 Haircut? Today’s Guest Knew That Feeling, And It Led Him To Create A Product That Hit More Than $1MM In Sales In Just 12 Months.  Calvin Quallis is the Founder of Scotch Porter – a 7-figure New Jersey-based men’s grooming brand now on the shelves of major retailers like Walmart and Target.  The brand’s early beginnings trace back to his mom’s barbershop where Calvin noticed men couldn’t help but walk out with an entirely new pep in their step. Since then, Calvin has been on a mission to help men feel their best. Calvin joins us on this episode to talk about what building Scotch Porter has been like, the struggles and challenges they’ve faced, marketing strategies that have worked for them, and so much more.  If you’re an ecommerce entrepreneur interested in going into retail, this episode is for you. Enjoy!  Episode Highlights 6:34 The power of a $20 haircut: What inspired the Scotch Porter brand 10:19 Creating a mission you can get behind 12:17 Laying the groundwork for Scotch Porter 15:29 The key characteristic you need to solve your startup problems  17:27 What Calvin wishes he knew before signing major retail contracts 21:29 Two things Calvin would approach differently if given another chance 23:15 The lengthy process of landing inside Playboy magazine 25:35 Scotch Porter’s marketing strategies to gain traction 27:55 How Calvin would launch a second brand with what he knows now 30:23 4 invaluable resources Calvin recommends for your entrepreneurial journey 32:26 Why Calvin will hop on a call with any entrepreneur 34:39 The benefits of bootstrapping vs being funded 36:29 How you can get in touch with Calvin and learn more about Scotch Porter Links and Resources: Scotch Porter Website Scotch Porter on Instagram Scotch Porter on Facebook Calvin Quallis on LinkedIn Calvin@scotchporter.com The Tim Ferriss Show The BoF Podcast Glossy Podcast Masters of Scale Podcast How I Built This Podcast Brand Growth Experts @a_brawn on Twitter Review or subscribe on iTunes

If you’re one of the few people who hasn’t been impacted by the recent turmoil around Facebook ads, consider yourself lucky. For everyone else, this episode is for you.  If you're an ecommerce business owner or agency who primarily drives traffic through Facebook advertising, you’re aware of the recent challenges. Between price increases, instability on the platform, and movies like The Social Dilemma that are going to bring even more transparency and scrutiny on advertising through Facebook, it’s a difficult time to grow your business using paid social.  Andrew Foxwell and I recorded two episodes back in February of 2019 where Andrew talks about 20 questions he likes to ask clients that are feeling stuck with their Facebook ads. It's still unbelievably relevant today. If you’re having challenges or are seeing a performance drop, these are the questions and strategies that you can revisit to bring new life to your ads. Enjoy! Episode Highlights 7:29 Integrating user-generated content into your creative 8:43 Leveraging reviews and social proof in ad copy 10:16 Using square video link posts 11:56 Performance differences between lifestyle photos vs product images 13:50 The problem with unanswered comments on your paid social ad 17:50 How to give first-time customers a reason to try your product 19:19 Bringing new life to an old ad set 20:36 Utilizing dynamic pixel actions to introduce new prospecting audiences 22:29 Testing broad match dynamic product ads layered with interests 23:26 Splitting dynamic product ad time windows to give your customers the best treatment 24:24 Analyzing your audience overlap to help scale your ads 27:16 Using value bidding to increase your average order value 30:23 Bid overrides, the bully method and getting exposure in a competitive space 34:58 The importance of advertising to previous customers 37:32 Trying product bundling to bring up your AOV 42:02 Remarketing to engaged users 43:24 Reading your age report breakdown and how to find it 46:22 What your Add to Cart to Purchase ratio can tell you 48:08 How to try campaign budget optimization 49:45 The importance of getting a naming convention installed Links and Resources: Podcast 173: The 5 Step Process to Optimize Your Facebook Ad Account The Social Dilemma Brand Growth Experts Foxwell Digital andrew@foxwelldigital.com @a_brawn on Twitter @andrewfoxwell on Twitter Review or subscribe on iTunes

Building an offshore business is often thought to be risky, or even illegal. However, it's now becoming a very common, and legal way, to lower your global tax rate -- as much as 42%. “Go where you’re treated best,” is Andrew Henderson’s famous tagline. A US ex-pat and founder of Nomad Capitalist, Andrew has legally lowered his global tax rate from 43% to 1%. Now he helps entrepreneurs keep more of their own money, live freely around the world, and create wealth faster through offshore strategies.   I found Andrew when searching for a way to diversify my citizenship. I quickly discovered that he's a wealth of knowledge on ways to reduce your tax burden and I’m excited for you to listen to the show.  In this episode, we talk about common misconceptions about building an offshore business, what it’s really like living a nomadic lifestyle, and the benefits it can offer to both you and your family. Enjoy! Episode Highlights 4:47 Andrew’s philosophy of viewing the world as your buffet  6:57 The history behind flag theory 9:48 Why you should be harnessing difficult countries for different benefits 13:02 The biggest misconceptions about offshore business 19:26 A case for investing in international real estate 22:46 Challenges associated with frontier markets 26:05 How families are taking advantage of global citizenship 30:21 The differences between a tax-friendly state and a tax-friendly country 33:51 What it’s like living a nomadic lifestyle 37:35 Andrew’s hypothesis on the future state of taxes 42:02 How to approach getting a second passport 47:42 Questions to ask yourself when deciding if an offshore business is right for you 52:03 Where you can get in touch with Andrew Links and Resources: Andrew’s Website Andrew’s YouTube Channel Nomad Capitalist on Facebook Nomad Capitalist on Instagram Nomad Capitalist on Twitter Nomad Capitalist Book The Golden Visa @a_brawn on Twitter Brand Growth Experts Review or subscribe on iTunes

Perfect Keto started off as a side project and then experienced massive growth -- making $100MM in just 19 months. Dr. Anthony Gustin cofounded Perfect Keto as a side project in November of 2016. He had one goal in mind: making keto easy. Within 4 hours of launching, the company made $20,000 and took off like a rocketship since. Little did he know, the creation of Perfect Keto was at the rise of one of the largest diet crazes of the past 50 years.    Anthony joins us to talk about Perfect Keto's growth, his business beliefs, and why retail is a last resort. We also discuss his experience of burnout and how entrepreneurs can best avoid it. Enjoy! Episode Highlights 4:58 The problem with copying someone else’s formula for success 7:15 Starting a multimillion-dollar company by accident 12:52 What it’s like riding the wave of one of the largest diet crazes 16:02 How to solve nearly all of the problems in your business 20:00 Perfect Keto’s science experiment approach to business 22:03 Anthony’s experience with burnout 28:31 What Anthony wishes he knew before launching Perfect Keto 32:00 Anthony’s new approach to building teams and building a solid business foundation 34:02 The next health problem Anthony is looking to solve  36:42 What business owner’s need to know about entering retail 39:25 Advice for entrepreneurs working long hours and going off the grid 44:41 A mindset shift for entrepreneurs to start enjoying the process 50:17 How you can connect with Anthony Links and Resources: Anthony’s Website Anthony’s Newsletter Anthony on Twitter Perfect Keto Equip Foods Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport Indistractable by Nir Eyal @a_brawn on Twitter Brand Growth Experts Review or subscribe on iTunes

COVID-19 Is Presenting Opportunities For Ecommerce And For This Brand, They've Contributed To 100% Year-Over-Year Growth.  Kevin Chen is the Co-Founder and President of iRestore, a company that sells laser hair growth systems. Kevin is a long time client of the Brand Guild and when I last had him on the podcast, iRestore cracked the code on paid social and turned into an 8-figure business. Since then, Kevin's role has changed dramatically within the business, and it has continued to grow, despite unforeseen COVID-19 challenges.  In this episode, Kevin talks about creating a tight-knit organization that works remotely, increasing productivity, building company culture, team transparency, and the opportunities COVID-19 is presenting for eCommerce. Episode Highlights 6:58 What iRestore’s 100% year-over-year growth has looked like 7:36 The product launch that changed the economics of Kevin’s business 12:33 The only two skills Kevin realized he needs to help the business succeed 15:18 Lessons from COVID-19 on how to future-proof your business 18:53 Creating an optimal work environment and strong company culture  21:38 The impact of working remotely on productivity 24:08 What Kevin’s team looks like today 26:19 Four things to consider when hiring an agency  29:17 How iRestore manages their paid advertising efforts 31:30 The unexpected source of fulfillment for Kevin in his business 33:55 How iRestore is creating a better employee experience 36:28 The most challenging yet critical piece to your business success  38:50 Kevin’s struggle with transparency with his team 41:02 Fortunate opportunities in an unfortunate time: What iRestore is doubling down on 44:10 The freedom COVID-19 has given iRestore 46:09 What Kevin attributes the businesses’ largest inflection points to 48:38 iRestore is hiring! Links and Resources: iRestore kevin@irestorelaser.com Kevin on LinkedIn Podcast: Episode 197: The Inside Story Of How iRestore Scaled To 8 Figures The Brand Guild The Coalition @a_brawn on Twitter Brand Growth Experts Review or subscribe on iTunes

This week we're bringing you throwback that is all about the difference between brands that scale and those that don’t. Kurt Elster interviewed me on the Unofficial Shopify Podcast and after re-listening to the episode, I wanted to share it with you. Kurt asks great questions and I outline my entire philosophy on growth. In this episode, we talk about defining a growth strategy, scaling your advertising, and how to hire the team necessary to get to the next level. I also share what I’ve learned from working with some of the fastest-growing brands in the country. Enjoy! Episode Highlights 4:30 How Austin has helped many brands scale from $500k to $1MM. 7:00 Why it's so important to do almost every job in your business before turning it over to someone else. 8:27 The big differences between the Shopify brands that scale up and those that don't. 12:00 How to remove tasks from your plate so your business can scale. 14:20 The core KPI's Austin uses to understand his client's scalability. 15:56 Understanding what your net promoter score is and why it is so valuable to ecommerce brands. 23:00 The point at which Austin regularly sees businesses die out and how you can overcome it. 30:17 Everyone wants to scale their business but it does come with a few downsides. 33:45 How PR has helped many ecommerce brands become successful. 39:34 The questions you should be asking yourself to help you define your success. Links and Resources: Unofficial Shopify Podcast Dean Jackson @a_brawn on Twitter Brand Growth Experts Review or subscribe on iTunes

Beardbrand’s approach to content marketing has resulted in 1.6 million subscribers on YouTube. On today’s episode, I am bringing back my good friend Eric Bandholz. I first met Eric in 2014 at an Ecommerce Fuel event and he was one of our early Ecommerce Influence podcast guests. Since then, he’s been continuing to build an incredible business called Beardbrand. In this episode, we talk about being on Shark Tank, what it’s like being the face of your brand as a founder, content marketing that creates superfans and so much more. Enjoy! Episode Highlights 5:11 The stressful, year-long experience of being on Shark Tank 12:23 The difference between having business partners and owning 100% of your business 14:53 How Eric has created freedom in his life and business over the last 8 years 19:44 The pros and cons of being the face of your brand 22:27 How Beardbrand showcases different facets of their brand through multiple social media channels 25:27 Beardbrand’s approach to dealing with online haters 27:55 What Beardbrand focuses on to stay ahead of their competition 29:48 An approach to content marketing that creates superfans 31:57 The lesson COVID-19 has taught businesses 34:49 What Eric wishes he had known when he first started his business 35:27 The system Eric uses to hire top-notch employees  37:29 Key roles Eric plays in the business today 39:16 Using agencies to grow your business and when to transition to in-house 43:50 Beard Brand’s approach to paid advertising 46:05 What Eric is curious about right now 48:52 The hidden world of infertility and the journey Eric and his wife have been on Links and Resources: Beardbrand.com Eric Bandholz on Twitter Podcast: Episode 15: Building An Incredibly Successful Community Based ECommerce  Eric’s Foundr Course: Blow Up Your Brand Farnam Street Newsletter Fuel Made  Traction by Gino Wickman Rocketfuel by Gino Wickman Ecommerce Fuel  Shark Tank @a_brawn on Twitter Brand Growth Experts Review or subscribe on iTunes

When I met Greg Williams in the Coalition, he told me he wanted to sell his business and be a millionaire by age 40. A year later, he’s done just that. Greg started Autoimmune Institute in 2017 with the intention to sell, and in just three years, he went from $50,000 to $2,000,000 in sales. In this episode of the Ecommerce Influence podcast, Greg shares the levers he pulled to fast-track business growth, what it actually looks like to sell a 7-figure business, and how to maximize your business’ valuation. If you’re interested in building a business with the intention to sell, this episode is a must-listen. Enjoy!

The “crush-it” culture of entrepreneurship almost led to me giving up the business I have today. After two years at a fast-growing startup, I was pushed to the edge mentally and physically. I knew I had to walk away and form a vision for what I wanted my future to look like. It took eight years for me to go from burnout to freedom by building my business into what it is today, and creating that vision involved a lot of trial and error and reinvention. In this episode I talk about some of the lowest points I’ve experienced as an entrepreneur, what it was like to close down a successful marketing agency, the trials of breaking up with a business partner, and the importance of defining success so you know what you’re actually working towards.  Episode Highlights 5:22 The early foundation of Austin’s journey as an entrepreneur 8:17 Invaluable experience gained from startup life and lessons learned from burnout 10:58 Making sales while you sleep: Austin’s introduction to ecommerce and email marketing 12:49 How the Ecommerce Influence podcast was born 14:04 The unexpected rise and intentional fall of Austin’s marketing agency 18:30 The most important thing to consider when forming a business partnership 20:32 Austin’s lowest point in his entrepreneurship journey 22:38 The lightbulb moment at a mastermind that led to the creation of a new business model 24:47 Crush it culture resurfaces: how a second round of burn out changed the direction of Austin’s business 28:50 Hiring a business coach and building a membership site 31:23 The three current revenue-drivers for Austin’s business 32:42 Austin’s huge mindset shift that led to steady and consistent growth 36:07 How to create more freedom in your life as an entrepreneur 40:20 Austin’s definition of success in business and life today 44:22 An unpopular opinion Austin has about business that many other entrepreneurs won’t agree with Links and Resources: The Doing it Different Podcast Make a Difference Asia Conference Traffic and Conversion Summit James Schramko The Coalition Brand Guild Profit Summit @a_brawn on Twitter Brand Growth Experts Review or subscribe on iTunes

Growing a team is challenging for any company. But going from two people to 90 in just 10 years with a non-traditional business model? That’s an almost unbelievable feat.   Connie Matisse, cofounder and CMO of East Fork, joins us today to talk about how she built a successful business with a 90+ person team without following the path of many traditional businesses.  Tune in to learn how East Fork created a memorable marketing engine with a self-described “laughable” budget, what they’ve found to be one of the most critical business functions that’s often ignored, and how they’ve kept their store running through the challenges of COVID-19.  Episode Highlights 4:44 How the 2008 economic recession introduced Connie to the world of craft pottery 7:00 Reinventing pottery to reach the modern household 11:16 Connie’s organic approach to content marketing and building a holistic brand 13:35 The challenge of being the voice of the brand for a fast-growing business 16:41 What East Fork leadership spends 90% of their time on to ensure successful growth 19:23 Moving from WordPress to Shopify and the effect it had on demand 21:27 How East Fork is managing production and customer expectations in a COVID-19 world 23:36 Analyzing profitability and venture capital funding for a capital intensive business  26:21 How East Fork’s leadership style has evolved during COVID-19 27:59 The many hats Connie wears as a cofounder 30:30 Connie’s process for creating honest and authentic brand collaborations 33:05 How to stop following the herd and create space for radical thinking

This Week We’re Bringing You A Throwback To One Of Our Most Popular Episodes Of All Time. In May 2018 we interviewed Jake Kassan about what it really takes to build a $100 million business. This episode has been incredibly popular, and it still extremely relevant today. Jake Kassan, founder and CEO of MVMT Watches, was one of my first clients when he was just launching the brand back in 2013. He talks about how things have changed since then, and how MVMT has grown to what it is today. MVMT strives to be a best in class brand and best in class in all-around marketing, and Jake shares the strategic approach to marketing MVMT uses to achieve those goals. He also talks about how having a strong team is essential to scaling your business and shares his experience hiring a CMO and supporting team, and what you need to know to do it. Enjoy! Episode Highlights 9:05 How building relationships with customers through direct sales online helped MVMT scale. 12:04 The best success comes in stages and this is what each stage of growth has looked like for MVMT over the last 5 years. 13:12 Jake’s #1 tip for successfully scaling a business (hint: it’s not email or Facebook ads). 15:07 What MVMT would do differently if they had to do it all over again. 19:05 As an entrepreneur, Jake believes it’s important to always be testing and working through those results to find success. 21:13 The basic math MVMT used to scale in the beginning and how they look at “spending-money-to-make-money” now. 24:18 Where MVMT is testing for acquisition and where they’re seeing success. 28:28 What you need to know when growing your team so you can successfully scale your business. 32:15 How MVMT solidified their appeal with customers through user-generated content. 35:09 What Jake loves most about building a lifestyle brand. 38:11 Every business goes through low times, here’s a few MVMT went through in order to grow. 43:09 Why Jake feels it’s so important to network with and learn from other founders. Links And Resources: MVMT Watches Hims Jake Kassan Instagram.com/JakeKassan Twitter.com/JakeKassan @a_brawn on Twitter @andrewfoxwell on Twitter Brand Growth Experts Foxwell Digital Review or subscribe on iTunes

Most companies add a second product line when they want to grow. This week’s guest decided to build a second brand instead. Ashley Merrill founded women’s sleepwear line Lunya in 2014 because she was tired of wearing her husband’s clothes around the house. Five years later, she decided to expand into menswear, but just adding a men’s line didn’t sit right with her. Tune in to find out why Ashley decided to start a second brand, how she grew her company from a startup to an established business, and lessons she’s learned about building a team. Episode Highlights:  5:16 How an ambition to solve a problem resulted in launching Lunya 8:00 How business has evolved since its unconventional 2014 launch 10:42 Why having major funding in the beginning isn’t always best, and the spending that eventually moved the needle for Lunya 13:05 The value of identifying your brand muse. 15:28 One company value that’s contributed to Lunya’s success 16:30 Hiring lessons learned growing from a start-up into an established business 21:00 How Lahgo started and why Ashley built a second brand, rather than simply adding the men’s line to Lunya 25:44 The biggest trap entrepreneurs can get stuck in 28:48 The High 5 Test and the lessons Ashley learned from getting her MBA 33:20 How non-traditional methods of getting in front of people help the brand 39:36 Ashley’s key piece of advice for business owners Links and Resources:  Lunya Lahgo Kinfolk Article featuring Ashley The High 5 Test Episode 159: The $100 Million Dollar Blueprint W/Mike Danner of Ancient Nutrition @ashley__merrill on Instagram @lunya on Instagram @lahgo on Instagram @a_brawn on Twitter @andrewfoxwell on Twitter Brand Growth Experts Foxwell Digital Review or subscribe on iTunes

One of the most challenging parts of growing a business is acquiring valuable customers who will purchase from you regularly.  Part 3 of our Profit Series gets into the nitty-gritty details of how to increase customer lifetime value. We dive straight into customer-centric versus product-centric businesses and talk about different ways to acquire more high-value customers and share proven tactics that will help you increase customer lifetime value. Episode Highlights:  3:36 The first strategic decision you must make when thinking about customer lifetime value 6:38 The best lever to focus on to increase customer lifetime value 8:03 The revolutionary changes with Facebook advertising that help you reach your best customers 10:05 The importance of product and service offerings that tailor to high-value customers  11:49 Are loyalty programs a good way to increase customer lifetime value? 13:20 The strategy that led Best Buy to boom while their competitors got wiped out 15:15 The value of subscriptions and talking to your best customers 17:58 How to build a solid referral strategy 20:10 Additional tactics to increase customer lifetime value Links and Resources:  Episode 254: Profit Series Part 2: How to Increase Your Average Order Value Episode 252: Profit Series Part 1: A Roadmap to a More Profitable and Fulfilling Company Episode 178: You Are Treating Your Customers Equally and It’s Costing You Money Episode 062: Peter Fader, Wharton School - How to Calculate Customer Lifetime Value & What Customer Centricity Really looks like Book: The Customer Centricity Playbook by Dr. Peter Fader Talkable @a_brawn on Twitter @andrewfoxwell on Twitter Brand Growth Experts Foxwell Digital Review or subscribe on iTunes

Is it possible to build a large, successful business with close to $40 million in revenue without using any paid social? Our guest, Nate Lipton of GrowersHouse, shows us how it can be done. And, in addition to not using paid ads, he’s been able to get his customer acquisition costs to zero. Nate shares the different approach to marketing that has helped him build several incredibly successful companies in the cannabis and hemp industries. He talks about exactly how you can use YouTube to establish yourself as a trusted brand and drive ad-free sales.  If you're looking for some refreshing ideas for how you can drive more revenue, this is a great episode to jog your imagination about what's possible. Episode Highlights:  5:54 Nate’s involvement in the cannabis and hemp industries via multiple different businesses 9:44 Fixing a gap in the cannabis industry: the creation of the Grower’s Network 12:18 The YouTube channel that lifted the veil on growing operations 16:37 How Nate got started in ecommerce and his number one piece of advice for beginners  20:28 What Nate would do differently if he were building his website today 22:31 The future role of video in ecommerce and common YouTube misconceptions 24:58 Using video to provide clarity around what a product actually does 30:42 One factor that will help you win more customers in the long term 32:37 How connecting with your competitors and being radically transparent can benefit your business in a major way 35:40 Other non-traditional advertising channels that Nate’s using that have resulted in zero customer acquisition costs 41:05 The questions you need to ask yourself to reframe your approach to acquiring customers 45:37 What you can do right now to increase your revenue Links and Resources:  GrowersHouse Growers Network Canna Cribs TruPotency.com nate@growershouse.com Instagram: @nate.j.lipton Magento Shopify Boredwalk Tshirts James Schramko @a_brawn on Twitter @andrewfoxwell on Twitter The Coalition Brand Growth Experts Foxwell Digital Review or subscribe on iTunes