In this episode of the 7 Figures and Beyond eCommerce Marketing Podcast , host Greg Shuey sits down with paid media expert Kelsey O'Rourke to break down what brands need to know about Google Ads in 2025. Kelsey debunks the common misconception that Google Ads, particularly Performance Max (PMax), is fully automated and requires little oversight. Instead, she explains how many brands and agencies misuse PMax by failing to exclude brand searches, which artificially inflates ROAS while masking the true cost of acquiring new customers. She stresses the importance of structuring campaigns correctly—leveraging PMax for prospecting while using standard search and shopping campaigns strategically to ensure budget efficiency and clear data visibility. Beyond campaign structure, Kelsey highlights a fundamental mistake many brands make: failing to understand their customer lifetime value (LTV) before scaling. She explains that businesses with low LTV need to focus almost exclusively on acquiring new customers, while those with higher LTV can afford to balance prospecting with retention-focused strategies like display and YouTube ads. Without this foundational knowledge, brands risk misallocating their advertising spend and struggling to grow sustainably. Additionally, she warns against taking Google rep recommendations at face value, as their primary goal is to drive more ad spend rather than optimize for business profitability. To ensure long-term success, Kelsey emphasizes that Google Ads should be viewed as a key component of a broader omnichannel marketing strategy rather than a standalone growth engine. She points out that Google captures demand rather than creates it, meaning it works best when paired with top-of-funnel channels like Meta and TikTok. She also advises brands to avoid overcomplicating their campaigns—mastering the fundamentals of search, shopping, and PMax before expanding into more advanced strategies. Her closing message to brands: do your homework, know your numbers, and stay realistic about how performance shifts as you scale. Episode Links Greg Shuey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-shuey/ Kelsey O'Rourke LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelseycorourke/ https://www.stryde.com/smart-marketers-win-with-google-ads-2025/…

In this episode of the 7 Figures and Beyond eCommerce Marketing Podcast , host Greg Shuey sits down with Kevin Indig, a seasoned growth advisor who has worked with top brands like Shopify, Reddit, and Dropbox. Their conversation dives into the need for eCommerce brands to expand beyond Google and traditional social media, leveraging alternative channels such as YouTube, Reddit, and online communities. Kevin explains how Google’s evolving landscape has made organic growth more challenging, pushing brands to rethink their acquisition strategies. He highlights the importance of building authentic relationships within niche communities rather than relying solely on search traffic or paid ads. Kevin shares a step-by-step approach to identifying the right communities, testing engagement with paid ads, and gradually integrating into conversations as a trusted participant rather than a sales-driven outsider. He stresses that successful community engagement is about giving rather than taking—offering insights, solving problems, and sharing valuable content before introducing products. He also discusses the power of storytelling in these spaces, emphasizing that brands should focus on the problem they solve rather than aggressively pushing their solution. Transparency and patience are key, as credibility takes time to establish, and direct attribution from these channels isn’t always immediate or measurable. Looking ahead, Kevin predicts that direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands will increasingly rely on community-driven marketing to differentiate themselves and sustain growth. As performance marketing costs continue to rise and Google’s search landscape shifts, brands that actively participate in customer conversations will have a competitive edge. He also notes that AI will play a growing role in content strategy and audience engagement, requiring marketers to adapt and integrate new technologies into their organic growth efforts. The episode leaves listeners with a clear message: the brands that prioritize trust, community, and long-term relationships will be the ones that thrive in the evolving digital marketplace. Episode Links Greg Shuey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-shuey/ Kevin Indig LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinindig/ Growth Memo: https://www.growth-memo.com/ https://www.stryde.com/drive-brand-awareness-sales-from-alternative-channels/…

In this episode of the 7 and Beyond eCommerce Marketing Podcast , host Greg Shuey sits down with Anthony Morgan, founder of eNavi, a Shopify-focused conversion rate optimization (CRO) agency. Anthony shares his unconventional journey into eCommerce and why many brands mistakenly view CRO as an advanced strategy rather than a foundational necessity. He introduces the intersite funnel framework, a method for breaking down conversion steps into distinct stages—landing page to product view, product view to add to cart, add to cart to checkout, and checkout to purchase. By identifying where drop-offs occur, brands can prioritize improvements that directly impact revenue. Unlike traditional A/B testing, which requires significant traffic and budgets, Anthony advocates for a more qualitative approach, using customer interviews and post-purchase surveys to understand friction points and optimize accordingly. A key theme of the discussion is the importance of addressing fundamental usability issues before focusing on persuasion tactics. Many brands focus on tweaking button colors or adding urgency messaging when their biggest conversion barriers stem from poor mobile experiences, confusing navigation, or a misalignment between ad creatives and landing pages. Anthony highlights the effectiveness of welcome mats on product detail pages (PDPs), which provide a consistent, on-brand experience for customers arriving from paid ads. This simple change can significantly improve engagement and conversion rates by reinforcing key value propositions upfront. He also stresses that true CRO isn't about running endless experiments—it’s about deeply understanding the customer journey and making iterative improvements that remove friction and build trust. The conversation wraps up with a broader perspective on how eCommerce has evolved in recent years. As brands move away from the growth-at-all-costs mindset, the focus has shifted toward profitability and sustainable scaling. Anthony explains that brands must not only master their messaging and user experience but also align their financial strategy with their growth goals. By investing in CRO as an ongoing discipline rather than a one-time project, eCommerce businesses can achieve higher conversion rates, maximize their ad spend efficiency, and build a brand that thrives in a competitive market. The episode leaves listeners with a clear message: CRO is not an optional add-on but a core pillar of long-term eCommerce success. Episode Links Greg Shuey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-shuey/ Anthony Morgan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonycmorgan/ Enavi: https://enavi.co/ https://www.stryde.com/cro-strategies-to-convert-more-customers/…

Selling high-ticket e-commerce products is an entirely different game from traditional DTC, and in this episode of the 7-figures and Beyond e-commerce marketing podcast, Greg Shuey sits down with Rivkie Lieberman, Creative Director at Motif Studio, to break down what makes it unique. Rivkie explains that when customers are making a significant investment—whether it’s luxury furniture, premium strollers, or custom cabinetry—they’re engaging a different part of their brain than when making an impulse purchase. Instead of relying solely on product visuals and short descriptions, high-ticket brands must borrow from B2B marketing playbooks to build trust, nurture leads, and provide deep educational content that helps customers confidently make big-ticket purchases. Throughout the conversation, Rivkie shares how brands can optimize for both motivation and ease of purchase , ensuring that customers feel excited about the product while also eliminating friction in the buying process. She highlights tactics such as leveraging authority-building content, using strategic email flows, and designing a seamless website experience that guides hesitant buyers. She also discusses the power of trust signals—like video testimonials, case studies, and personalized customer interactions—to reassure buyers that they are making the right decision. And for brands wondering whether AI plays a role, Rivkie shares how AI-powered tools are revolutionizing image generation, streamlining content creation, and improving customer support in ways that enhance high-ticket e-commerce strategies. As the discussion wraps up, Greg and Rivkie touch on the patience required to sell high-ticket items successfully . Unlike low-ticket DTC, where sales can happen in minutes, high-ticket brands need to embrace longer sales cycles, lead nurturing, and consistent engagement across multiple touchpoints . Rivkie shares real-world examples of how brands can gently guide buyers toward conversion rather than pushing for immediate purchases. If you're selling high-ticket products online or looking to refine your approach, this episode provides actionable insights into how to sell the dream, reduce friction, and create a conversion-optimized strategy tailored for big-ticket purchases . Episode Links Greg Shuey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-shuey/ Rivkie Lieberman LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rivkie-lieberman-%F0%9F%AB%80%F0%9F%A7%A0-a0a803146/ Motif Studio: https://motif.studio/ https://www.stryde.com/selling-high-ticket-ecommerce/…

Navigating the complexities of selling on Amazon is no small feat, and in this episode of Seven Figures and Beyond: E-Commerce Marketing Podcast , host Greg Shuey welcomes Amazon expert Robyn Johnson to unpack the challenges that sellers face. With over a decade of experience in e-commerce, Robyn shares how compliance issues and inventory mismanagement can derail even the most promising Amazon strategies. She explains that while Amazon may look like a traditional search engine, it operates with a singular focus: driving sales conversions. Unlike Google, which values fresh content and engagement metrics, Amazon’s ranking algorithm prioritizes products that consistently sell well. This means that any disruption—whether it’s a compliance violation or an inventory stockout—can cause a seller’s hard-earned ranking to plummet, leading to significant revenue loss and the need to rebuild from scratch. Beyond algorithm mechanics, Robyn dives into recent Amazon policy shifts that have tightened restrictions on compliance. Sellers now face more stringent product classification requirements, making it crucial to avoid misleading keywords or product attributes that could trigger a listing suspension. For example, using the term "doll" in a product title or claiming antimicrobial properties without an EPA registration number can result in immediate suppression. Furthermore, Amazon's changes to UPC validation mean brands must ensure their barcodes match their registered trademark on GS1, or risk having their listings blocked. Robyn emphasizes that Amazon is no longer the wild west of e-commerce; sellers must be meticulous in adhering to regulations, as violations can lead to costly delistings or, in extreme cases, business closures. Robyn also provides insights on the critical role of inventory management in sustaining Amazon success. Running out of stock is one of the fastest ways to lose organic ranking, as Amazon’s algorithm penalizes listings that can’t consistently fulfill customer demand. To mitigate this risk, sellers should maintain at least 4-6 weeks of inventory at Amazon fulfillment centers and proactively adjust ad spend and pricing strategies when stock levels run low. She also discusses the balance between Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) and merchant fulfillment, advising that while FBA increases conversion rates, Amazon’s new reimbursement policies may make it risky for high-cost or luxury items. Ultimately, Robyn stresses that winning on Amazon requires not just great products, but also careful planning, compliance diligence, and strategic execution to sustain long-term growth. Episode Links Greg Shuey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-shuey/ Robyn Johnson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robynjohnsonaz/ Marketplace Blueprint: https://marketplaceblueprint.com/ https://www.stryde.com/avoiding-amazon-pitfalls/…

Website performance isn’t just a technical concern—it’s a game-changer for eCommerce success. In this episode of the Seven Figures and Beyond eCommerce Marketing Podcast , host Greg Shuey sits down with Jono Alderson, a leading technical SEO consultant, to unravel the complex yet critical role of site speed in driving conversions and improving search engine rankings. Jono shares fascinating studies demonstrating how mere milliseconds in page load times can influence customer behavior, detailing how faster websites capture more attention and drive higher revenue. He also introduces listeners to Google’s Core Web Vitals, explaining how these benchmarks offer a clear, actionable path to enhancing site performance. Jono takes a deep dive into the most common culprits of slow websites, like unoptimized images, excessive fonts, and bloated tracking scripts, while providing practical strategies to address each issue. From choosing the right image formats to implementing better tag management systems, he lays out a roadmap for eCommerce brands to deliver lightning-fast user experiences. The conversation also covers the importance of balancing visually stunning designs with performance goals, helping brands make informed trade-offs that maintain both functionality and speed. Beyond the technical details, this episode emphasizes the broader business and ethical benefits of a faster site. Jono highlights how speed enhances brand perception, fosters customer loyalty, and even reduces the environmental impact of data transmission, aligning with sustainability goals. Whether you’re a brand owner or a marketing manager, this episode is packed with valuable insights and actionable tips to help you outpace competitors and thrive in a crowded digital marketplace. Episode Links Greg Shuey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-shuey/ Jono Alderson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonoalderson/ https://www.stryde.com/website-performance-for-conversions-rankings/…

In this kickoff episode for 2025, Greg Shuey welcomes PPC expert Navah Hopkins to discuss how brands can thrive by understanding their buyers' online behaviors and adapting their marketing strategies accordingly. Navah, a seasoned marketer and evangelist for the PPC management tool Optmyzr, emphasizes the evolving nature of buyer habits, pointing out that platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and even ChatGPT are gaining traction as key discovery tools. This shift demands that brands rethink their approach to search, community engagement, and content distribution to stay competitive in the ever-changing digital landscape. A major focus of their conversation is the rising importance of video content. Navah explains how creating video campaigns can unlock cheaper placements and drive better engagement, especially on platforms like YouTube and TikTok. She encourages brands to embrace video despite its perceived challenges, highlighting examples of impactful yet cost-effective campaigns. Additionally, they discuss the value of engaging with audiences on forums, both login-based (e.g., Discord) and non-login-based (e.g., Reddit), stressing that authentic interaction builds trust and allows brands to gather valuable feedback. Tools like Google Alerts, SparkToro, and Microsoft Clarity are presented as practical ways to monitor and analyze audience behavior across platforms. As the conversation concludes, Greg and Navah reflect on the importance of resetting expectations for 2025. They encourage brands to experiment boldly, focus on a few core channels, and prioritize authentic, human-first connections with their audiences. By balancing time and monetary investments, brands can craft strategies that align with their goals and market realities. Both hosts emphasize that giving oneself grace during this period of rapid change is essential for achieving sustainable growth. Greg Shuey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-shuey/ Navah Hopkins LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/navahhopkins/ Optmyzr: https://www.optmyzr.com/ https://www.stryde.com/buyer-journey-insights-for-marketing-strategy/…

In this eposide of the 7 Figures Beyond E-Commerce Marketing Podcast focused on preparing brands for success with Meta advertising in 2025. Greg Shuey welcomed Kelsey O’Rourke, Performance Marketing Director at Stride, who shared her expertise on navigating the ever-evolving landscape of paid media. They explored the growing importance of creative strategy in light of Meta’s shift toward broader automation and reduced targeting options. With hyper-targeting increasingly restricted, brands need to rely on engaging, evergreen creative assets, including user-generated content (UGC) and video formats, to drive performance and capture attention in just seconds. A significant portion of the discussion centered on leveraging AI tools to streamline creative production and reduce costs. Kelsey highlighted tools like Creatify, which allow brands to generate high-quality ad content—static and video—at scale, empowering smaller brands to compete effectively in a crowded market. She also addressed common pitfalls in Meta ad campaigns, such as overloading ad sets with creatives, neglecting proper audience exclusions, and over-relying on ROAS as a primary performance metric. By focusing on audience-specific content and understanding metrics like thumb-stop rates and CPM, brands can refine their strategies to achieve stronger results. Beyond creative execution, the episode emphasized Meta’s role in an omni-channel marketing strategy. Kelsey explained that while Meta excels at top-of-funnel prospecting, its success relies on thoughtful campaign structures and clear audience definitions. She urged brand owners to collaborate closely with agencies, gaining insights into targeting strategies and campaign design to maximize ROI. As Meta ads evolve with AI and automation, brands must maintain control over their campaigns by prioritizing creative quality and ensuring alignment with broader marketing goals. This holistic approach positions brands for sustained growth and scalability in 2025. Episode Links Greg Shuey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-shuey/ Kelsey O’Rourke LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelseycorourke/ Creatify: https://creatify.ai/ https://www.stryde.com/ecommerce-meta-ads-trends-2025/…

In this episode of the 7 Figures &Beyond E-commerce Marketing Podcast , host Greg Shuey sits down with email and SMS marketing expert Julia Ahmet to explore how e-commerce brands can optimize their strategies for 2025. Reflecting on the past year, Julia notes shifts in consumer behavior due to economic uncertainties and rising concerns over data privacy. Despite these challenges, she highlights opportunities, such as the record-breaking Black Friday/Cyber Monday spending, which showcased the resilience of consumer demand. The conversation emphasizes the importance of ensuring email deliverability and compliance through proper authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) and maintaining clean email lists to meet evolving global regulations. Julia stresses the growing need for brands to adapt to inbox fatigue by shifting focus from high-frequency campaigns to highly segmented, personalized communications. She advocates for analyzing customer behavior to refine targeting and creating more meaningful connections with audiences without overstepping privacy boundaries. Mobile-first, accessible email designs are becoming non-negotiable, with trends like high-contrast CTAs, dark mode, and interactive features like GIFs and polls driving engagement. Additionally, she highlights the value of preference pages to empower consumers to control the frequency and type of emails they receive, ensuring a better customer experience. Looking ahead, the conversation touches on the potential for AI to enhance efficiency, particularly in segmentation, predictive analytics, and brainstorming. While Julia remains cautious about relying on AI for creative elements like images and videos, she sees its value in overcoming bottlenecks such as writer’s block. To remain competitive, brands are encouraged to experiment with unique offers, such as multi-order discounts, and embrace calculated risks in their campaigns. Ultimately, Julia and Greg emphasize the importance of staying nimble and leveraging data-driven insights to test and adapt, ensuring strategies evolve with consumer expectations and industry trends. Episode Links Greg Shuey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-shuey/ Julia Amodt LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-amodt/ Email Deliverability Tools: https://easydmarc.com/tools Email Health: https://www.litmus.com/ BIMI Authentication: https://mxtoolbox.com/dmarc/bimi/how-to-create-bimi-record Semantic HTML: https://www.semrush.com/blog/semantic-html5-guide/ European Accessibility Act (June 2025): https://www.levelaccess.com/compliance-overview/european-accessibility-act-eaa/ Email Design Inspiration https://reallygoodemails.com/ https://mailboard.com/ https://milled.com/ https://www.mailmunch.com/blog/gifs-in-email https://www.stryde.com/ecommerce-email-sms-trends-2025/…

In this episode of the Seven Figures and Beyond eCommerce Marketing Podcast , host Greg Shuey sits down with Martin McAndrew, director of the UK-based performance marketing agency Blue Thirst, to unpack the complexities of Google Performance Max (PMAX) campaigns. PMAX integrates Google's entire ad ecosystem, including YouTube, Gmail, Maps, and Display, into a single campaign format. While many marketers perceive PMAX as a “black box” due to its automation, Martin demystifies the platform by emphasizing the crucial role of high-quality data in driving success. He outlines how setting precise goals, ensuring proper data integration, and feeding the system with reliable first-party data are foundational steps for unlocking PMAX's potential. A recurring theme throughout the conversation is the importance of leveraging audience signals and high-quality creative assets. Martin explains how marketers can refine audience targeting by combining broad demographic data with proprietary customer insights from platforms like Shopify or Salesforce. On the creative front, he highlights the need for rigorous testing to identify top-performing assets, adapting strategies based on insights provided by PMAX’s asset performance reports. By balancing top-of-funnel content with conversion-driven creative, businesses can guide audiences effectively through the buying journey. Additionally, Martin discusses the use of secondary conversion events—such as tracking interactions or page views—as a powerful strategy to provide the algorithm with supplemental data for scaling campaigns. Looking ahead, Martin underscores the growing importance of automation, AI, and data warehousing in digital marketing. As platforms like Google, Meta, and TikTok continue to prioritize automated solutions, he argues that the differentiator for businesses will be their ability to collect, analyze, and utilize first-party data. Brands that invest in understanding their customer behavior and provide actionable data to these systems will maintain a competitive edge. With his actionable tips on scaling budgets, optimizing ROAS, and overcoming plateaus, Martin equips listeners with the tools to navigate the ever-evolving world of paid media. This episode is a must-listen for any marketer looking to master PMAX and future-proof their advertising strategies. Episode Links Greg Shuey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-shuey/ Martin McAndrew LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinmcandrew/ Blue Thirst: https://www.bluethirst.co.uk/ https://www.stryde.com/setup-optimize-scale-google-pmax/…

Pinterest is an underutilized yet powerful platform for D2C brands, offering unique opportunities to drive meaningful traffic and revenue. Unlike Instagram or TikTok, Pinterest operates as a visual search engine where users seek inspiration and actionable ideas. In this podcast episode, Greg Shuey interviews Natasha Chilcott, Director of Marketing and Sales at Marr Media Group, to explore how brands can harness Pinterest’s potential. Natasha highlights that Pinterest users engage with content differently, searching intentionally for solutions, which creates a distinct environment for marketers. By understanding this behavior and tailoring content to align with user intent, brands can tap into Pinterest as a significant driver of traffic and conversions. Success on Pinterest requires a well-structured and consistent approach. Natasha emphasizes the importance of creating keyword-driven boards and content categories that resonate with user searches. She explains how tools like Pinterest Predicts and Pinterest Analytics provide insights into trends and search behaviors, enabling brands to design strategies grounded in data. Consistency in pinning, ranging from 5–25 pins daily, ensures sustained visibility, while content variety—videos, stills, and infographics—fuels engagement. Natasha stresses that brands must focus on inspiration rather than promotion by showcasing products within aspirational or practical contexts, such as integrating furniture into a styled living room rather than showing standalone product images. Adaptability and testing are key to long-term success. Natasha underscores the need for brands to treat Pinterest as a dynamic platform where strategies evolve based on analytics and user feedback. Testing different content types, refining based on performance, and iterating with new trends ensure campaigns remain relevant. She advises brands to abandon static, one-size-fits-all approaches and adopt a flexible framework informed by short-term results and ongoing adjustments. Ultimately, Pinterest offers brands a stable yet evolving platform where creative, intentional, and data-driven efforts can lead to meaningful growth and engagement. Episode Links Greg Shuey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-shuey/ Natasha Chilcott LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natashachilcott/ Marr Media: https://www.marrmediagroup.com/ Pinterest Predicts: https://business.pinterest.com/pinterest-predicts/ Pinterest Presents: https://business.pinterest.com/pinterest-presents/ https://www.stryde.com/organic-pinterest-marketing/…

In this episode of the Seven Figures and Beyond eCommerce Marketing Podcast, Greg Shuey interviews Steven Schneider, the co-founder and CEO of Trio SEO, a blog writing agency specializing in driving high-intent organic traffic for B2B brands but increasingly working with eCommerce. Steven shares his evolution from a college student experimenting with Amazon affiliate blogs to a successful SEO expert managing a seven-figure blog portfolio and 400 articles per month. His approach emphasizes organic growth without paid ads or social media, a method that resonates with Greg’s own experiences in SEO-driven eCommerce success. Together, they dive into the critical elements of creating content that attracts browsers and converts them into loyal buyers. A key focus of the conversation is the importance of understanding customer intent and creating content tailored to real purchase motivations. Steven advises brands to study their customers deeply, crafting content that targets bottom-of-the-funnel keywords rather than high-traffic, top-funnel terms that may not convert. He also advocates for visually driven product pages that show rather than tell, with images and videos that allow customers to connect with the product on a sensory level. This approach can make product descriptions more engaging, cutting through the noise and enabling customers to quickly determine if a product meets their needs. Steven and Greg further explore the future of SEO for eCommerce, particularly as Google continues to evolve its search engine results pages to retain users and emphasize brand visibility. Steven suggests that with these changes, SEO will increasingly serve as a brand-building channel, focusing on creating a strong brand recall so that when customers are ready to buy, they seek out a brand directly. They discuss the importance of blending written and video content, gathering customer testimonials, and optimizing user experience, which together can foster trust and drive higher conversion rates. Episode Links Greg Shuey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-shuey/ Steven Schneider LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schneis/ TrioSEO: https://trioseo.com/ https://www.stryde.com/build-ecommerce-content-converts-browsers-buyers/…

In this episode of the Seven Figures and Beyond e-commerce marketing podcast, host Greg Shuey welcomes Chris Porteous, founder and CEO of SearchEye, to discuss the transformative role of automation in online public relations. Chris shares his unique journey from finance to digital marketing, detailing how his experience led him to build an innovative PR platform that aims to make high-quality media placements accessible to companies of all sizes. Traditional PR, often requiring extensive resources and costly relationships, has historically been a luxury reserved for well-funded brands. However, SearchEye’s automated approach enables smaller brands to scale their reach by matching them with media opportunities that would otherwise be unattainable, creating a more level playing field for brand visibility. Chris highlights the delicate balance between automation and relationship-building, noting that while technology has streamlined the outreach process, the value of authentic, human connections remains irreplaceable. SearchEye uses AI to optimize pitches and personalize them to meet publishers’ criteria, effectively increasing acceptance rates and relevance. However, as automation tools flood the PR landscape, maintaining quality and relevance is becoming more challenging. Chris explains that brands can no longer rely on a “spray and pray” approach to outreach; instead, they must focus on targeted, meaningful engagements with the right media outlets to truly stand out. The episode concludes with a discussion on the broader impact of AI and evolving consumer behavior on organic marketing. Chris believes that while the rise of AI presents new opportunities for efficiency, it also heightens competition as the volume of automated pitches surges. This shift is driving brands to invest more in their identity, building a recognizable presence across multiple channels to navigate an increasingly competitive landscape. In the face of these changes, Chris emphasizes that investing in brand-building is more crucial than ever, as a strong brand is what ultimately drives sustainable growth and customer loyalty in today’s digital world. Episode Links Greg Shuey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-shuey/ Chris Porteous LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-porteous-9594323/ SearchEye: https://searcheye.io/ https://www.stryde.com/scale-brand-reach-with-automated-online-pr/…

In this episode of the 7-Figures and Beyond eCommerce Growth Podcast, host Greg Shuey sits down with Neal Goyle, an eCommerce expert formerly at Tapcart and now with Disco, a post-purchase ad network. Their discussion centers around the necessity of diversifying customer acquisition channels for long-term brand stability and growth. Neal emphasizes that relying on a single channel, especially paid social media, is risky, as seen after iOS 14’s privacy changes disrupted Facebook’s ad targeting capabilities. This change forced many brands to confront their dependency on a single platform and highlighted the importance of adopting a multi-channel approach to reduce customer acquisition costs and increase profitability. Neal draws from his experiences at Tapcart and now Disco, where he focuses on targeting the right customers with high purchase intent. Disco allows brands to appear in post-purchase checkout experiences of other brands, offering an innovative way to reach engaged buyers at the peak of intent. This strategy not only helps brands diversify beyond traditional ad platforms but also brings in customers more likely to contribute to long-term value. Neal points out that increasing LTV is crucial for offsetting rising customer acquisition costs, and understanding customer data allows brands to better navigate this complex landscape by delivering personalized experiences that resonate with customers over time. The episode also explores the value of community-building and brand fundamentals that were often neglected in the boom of paid media channels. Neal and Greg advocate for a return to foundational marketing practices, such as investing in customer relationships and fostering a loyal brand community. They advise brands to take proactive steps in exploring new channels during periods of strong performance rather than waiting until primary channels decline. By embracing data-driven decisions, developing a prudent, forward-looking strategy, and diversifying acquisition efforts, brands can position themselves for sustainable growth, even in a challenging and evolving eCommerce environment. Episode Links Greg Shuey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-shuey/ Neal Goyal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nealgoyal/ Disco: https://www.disconetwork.com/ Tapcart: https://www.tapcart.com/ https://www.stryde.com/build-resilient-brand-channel-diversification/…

In this episode of the 7 Figures and Beyond E-commerce Growth Podcast, host Greg Shuey chats with Kristine Schachinger, a technical SEO consultant with a wealth of experience in helping sites recover from Google algorithm updates. Kristine shares her journey from web design to a specialized SEO focus, working with clients who face significant losses in traffic due to algorithm changes. Her approach centers on in-depth technical audits, distinguishing her services from traditional agencies by directly engaging with clients’ site structures and providing hands-on, custom solutions. She explains her role as a "concierge consultant," offering expertise that goes beyond standard SEO by collaborating closely with in-house teams to execute necessary improvements. During their conversation, Kristine provides essential insights on the difference between core and helpful content updates and the types of site issues that commonly trigger visibility losses. Core updates often address technical SEO problems that have been accumulating over time, while helpful content updates target content quality and can impact smaller sites disproportionately. Kristine emphasizes the importance of using tools like Sitebulb and Screaming Frog for full-site crawls, which reveal underlying issues that basic SEO reports may overlook. For e-commerce brands, she highlights the need for strong internal linking, optimized site architecture, and compressed image files, which collectively enhance both user experience and Google’s crawl efficiency. In addition to these technical recommendations, Kristine advises brands to stay patient and avoid "quick fixes" like EAT optimization, which she clarifies is a conceptual framework rather than a direct ranking factor. Recovery efforts should focus on core SEO fundamentals and be in place well before the next algorithm update to allow Google’s systems time to recognize improvements. She also stresses the value of building unique, quality links over time and staying vigilant with site structure to guard against future hits. Her pragmatic advice is clear: if a brand encounters traffic drops, prioritizing a comprehensive audit and executing fundamental changes are essential to regaining lost ground. Episode Links Greg Shuey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-shuey/ Kristine Schachinger LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kschachinger-seo/ Sitebulb: https://sitebulb.com Screaming Frog: https://www.screamingfrog.co.uk/seo-spider/ Google Incident Reporting for Ranking Issues: https://status.search.google.com Search Engine Journal/Roger Montti - How Compression Can Be Used To Detect Low-Quality Pages: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/how-compression-can-be-used-to-detect-low-quality-pages/530916/ Google Search Console (GSC): https://search.google.com/search-console Google Ranking Systems Documentation: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/ranking-systems-guide https://www.stryde.com/diagnose-recover-google-algorithm-update/…