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Agency X

Agency X

By agency-x

Agency X is a podcast where we talk about our own experiences running a digital agency, Avex. We'll cover a variety of digital topics including brands, marketing technology, eCommerce and more.
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5. Post-Purchase Communication for eCommerce Brands in COVID-19 (w/ Adam Gardner at Route)

Agency XApr 08, 2020

00:00
35:22
Growing A Digital Agency: My Story and Key Things to Focus on for Success

Growing A Digital Agency: My Story and Key Things to Focus on for Success

In this episode, John Surdakowski touches on some of the core things he focused on in the early days to grow Avex Designs, an eCommerce agency, as well as provides a little background about how he got started.

Sep 18, 202331:10
Why Luxury Brands are Migrating to Shopify Plus?

Why Luxury Brands are Migrating to Shopify Plus?

We've been seeing more and more luxury brands migrate to Shopify Plus. In this episode, John Surdakowski takes an in-depth look into the rationale that drives those brands to re-platform and examines what lies ahead for the world of e-commerce.

Sep 13, 202313:58
Building Brand Awareness

Building Brand Awareness

5 years ago it was easy to grow a DTC brand with social media ads….

Today, it’s 100X more difficult. 

Here are 3 things successful eCommerce brands are doing today, that you’re probably not. 

Social media ads still need to be part of your advertising plans, but if you're not focusing on these three things, you’re leaving money (and customers) on the table.

Everyone wants an easy solution, but growing a successful brand is never easy.

The brands winning right now do these 3 things very well, and it's not a one-size-fits-all approach.

  1. Brand awareness is how familiar customers are with your brand and what it stands for. Focusing here helps you to attract new customers and build relationships with existing ones. Beyond just running branded ads, you need to focus on organic social, storytelling, and…our next point. Community.

  2. Building a community around your brand means creating a group of people who are passionate (or obsessed) about your brand and its products. A strong community will help you to build brand awareness, generate word-of-mouth, and get feedback from your customers.

  3. Brand collaborations and partnerships between two or more brands are great for reaching new audiences, cross-promoting your products, and increasing both brand awareness and community. When done well, brand collaborations can be a win-win for both brands involved.

If you’re struggling with performance marketing right now, you’ll thank yourself 5 years from now, because you started to focus on your brand.


Sep 12, 202309:02
Maximizing Conversions: 10 Expert Tips to Optimize Your Shopify E-commerce Store
May 24, 202309:59
Post-purchase Customer Experiences & Transactional Communication with Head of Marketing at Wonderment, Blake Imperl

Post-purchase Customer Experiences & Transactional Communication with Head of Marketing at Wonderment, Blake Imperl

As a Head of Marketing at Wonderment and ex-Head of Partner Community at Attentive, Blake Imperl has extensive expertise in building and scaling retention marketing programs for D2C brands.

On this Agency X episode, Blake, along with John, talks about the importance of leveraging retention marketing channels to create exceptional customer experiences: 

  • Return on Investment for transactional emails and SMS. 
  • The importance of segmentation, personalization and timing for achieving success with SMS.
  • Post-purchase touchpoints being a low-hanging fruit to build consumer loyalty and drive retention. 
  • Real-life examples of what DTC brands are doing to meet their customers' rising expectations.

     
Feb 16, 202333:35
Shopify Winter '23 Editions - "Built to Last"

Shopify Winter '23 Editions - "Built to Last"

It's that time again: Shopify just announced its 2023 Winter Editions with 100+ products and updates for merchants, developers and partners to build long-lasting relationships with their consumers.

John, Founder and CEO at Avex, shares his initial take on the released updates including:

  •  One-page Checkout
  • Shop Promise Badge
  • Signed-in Shopping with Shop
  • AI-generated store content with Shop Magic
  • Integration with content management system; Sanity
  • Drag and Drop customizations with metaobjects
    &many more ..

From building and scaling eCommerce businesses to commerce components for Enterprise brands and developer tooling to customize any commerce experience, the Shopify Winter '23 Edition is all about performance, flexibility and customization.

Feb 09, 202317:24
Global Digital Marketing Director at L'Oréal, Dhanesh Shelat, talks future-proofing DTC brands with SEO, AI, and CRM.

Global Digital Marketing Director at L'Oréal, Dhanesh Shelat, talks future-proofing DTC brands with SEO, AI, and CRM.

In this episode, John Surdakowski is joined by Dhanesh Shelat, global digital marketing director at one of L’Oreal’s leading skincare brands and a real estate entrepreneur.

Dhanesh brings years of experience in SEO and digital marketing along with a lot of interest in AI and branding to an engaging conversation that taps into:

  • How SEO has dramatically changed over the past 10 years. 
  • SEO Backlinking vs. Public Relations in eCommerce. 
  • How a brand's decision to sell Direct-to-consumers or through eRetailers should always be consumer-first; taking into consideration the consumer journey and accounting for different consumer preferences - all while owning the brand messaging, image, and identity. 
  • What does consumer loyalty really mean today and how are leading brands stressing product innovation, culture, and messaging to drive it. 
  • The role AI plays (and is expected to further play) in branding, CRM, brand loyalty, and customer experience.

We are moving towards more immersive online experiences that blend hyper-personalization, AI, metaverse, AR, and VR. Early adopters are the most to benefit. 

To get a full understanding of the new normal shaping the eCommerce industry, check out The Future is Now eBook by Avex and Shopify in collaboration with leading eCommerce partners. Now available for free on Avex Website.



Jan 23, 202353:36
Shopify's Commerce Components: The modern composable stack for enterprise retail

Shopify's Commerce Components: The modern composable stack for enterprise retail

Shopify just announced Commerce Components, the modern composable stack for enterprise retail. In this episode, I discuss my thoughts on why it's important, who it is for, and some of the benefits. 

Jan 03, 202313:51
Weekly E-commerce Update 12/22

Weekly E-commerce Update 12/22

DTC brand news, Shopify Trend Report, Direct Mail, CRO tips and featured Shopify Plus case study.
Dec 22, 202205:26
The Journey: The Lawn Care Nut, Allyn Hane builds a successful D2C brand, Yard Mastery!

The Journey: The Lawn Care Nut, Allyn Hane builds a successful D2C brand, Yard Mastery!

Allyn Hane, President & Founder at Yard Mastery (https://yardmastery.com/), brings niche brands direct to consumers on Shopify. Allyn, also known as The Lawn Care Nut, grew what started as a hobby to a +500,000 Subscribers Channel on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@Thelawncarenut)

In this episode, John and Allyn touched base intensively on exciting topics related to digital marketing, lawn care, product development, and the creator economy.

  • Monetizing traffic by leveraging experience in digital marketing, SEO, content creation and email lists. 
  • The significance of listening to the audience to build a product they need.
  • How a creator can stand out through the noise by believing in a product rather than simply promoting it?
  • Logistical decisions that affect long-term brand growth in the eCommerce space.

+ lawn care tips for all enthusiasts tuning in today!

Dec 21, 202241:06
Taking KURU Footware to Shopify Plus (Magento Migration) | Sean McGinnis

Taking KURU Footware to Shopify Plus (Magento Migration) | Sean McGinnis

Sean McGinnis is President & Integrator at KURU Footwear (https://www.kurufootwear.com). Sean has been a digital marketing leader since 2006 and has led customer acquisition and lead gen for Fortune 50 and Startup companies across a breadth of products and services. Sean is currently focused on meeting the growth targets of KURU Footwear, a  rapidly scaling D2C eCommerce company focused on building stylish shoes to fight foot pain.  


In this episode of Agency X, John and Sean discuss   

2:00 EOS and using a paid implementor  

6:00 Changes in digital marketing over the years and getting started in law, home theatre, and DVD reviews and keyword stuffing on long running pages 

16:25 Challenges within the business of growing (Magento 2) 

20:00 Going from being an IT business with Magento to an ecommerce business with Shopify 

25:45 Impact of iOS 14.5  

33:00 Impact of Google changes on SEO  3

7:00 Growing your affiliate and content network with a product that solves a problem

Dec 01, 202239:06
What Tim Richardson is doing his second time around with Fern Studios (He also cofounded We Make Websites!)

What Tim Richardson is doing his second time around with Fern Studios (He also cofounded We Make Websites!)

Tim is the founder of Fern Studios - a consultancy focused on reframing the way agency leaders think. Before that, he was a founding member of We Make Websites, a Shopify Plus agency acquired by the Born Group in 2021. In his spare time, he hosts the Your Basket Is Empty podcast and does a little angel investing.


In this episode, Tim and John break down:

- What agencies need to reframe, and the way that they think. 

- Building We Make Websites with his cofounder and former guest Alex O'Byrne 

- Growth Strategies that always work

Nov 17, 202252:02
From Actor to Director of Marketing in Ecommerce

From Actor to Director of Marketing in Ecommerce

Jon Bausman is the former Director of Marketing at Vitality, a booming athleisure brand headquartered in Denver, CO.  His 15+ year marketing career and portfolio of several outdoor brands such as Cabela’s, Columbia Sportswear, Airhead, as well as Eli Lilly & Company, DowAgro Sciences, and Super Bowl 46.  In a past life, Jon served as an Entertainment TV Host, starred in Walmart commercials, and was on several episodes of Parks and Rec. He enjoys snowboarding, hiking, camping, and believes quoting movies is his second language.  

Key moments in this episode. 

3:00 starting out as an actor and moving into marketing through the lens of a social media marketer. 

5:30 Moving into Vitality from other brands and the lessons Jon brought. 

7:50 Building community and brand 

12:30 The importance of founders communicating with customers 

 16:15 The challenges of building a community 

21:00 DTC Brands shifting their expectations with rising costs of acquiring customers 

30:00 SEO and fundamentals pay the bills 

32:00 Vitality’s approach to data driven analysis 

36:00 Is selling wholesale and in market places inevitable?

42:00 Shifting strategies to win when there is no right or wrong answer

Oct 27, 202248:47
Quick Recap of the newer, smaller Unite

Quick Recap of the newer, smaller Unite

John and Lucas do a quick post-op of Unite this year. Some faces were missing, and it was smaller than in years past, but it was still a great reunion overall.

Oct 17, 202213:02
We Make Websites Co-Founder Alex O'Byrne Shopify, Culture, Web 3

We Make Websites Co-Founder Alex O'Byrne Shopify, Culture, Web 3

Alex O'Byrne is the co-founder and managing director of We Make Websites, the Shopify Plus Agency for International Brands. He joins John Surdakowski on Agency X, part of the DTCX Podcast Universe.

Oct 13, 202245:08
ECommerce integration planning with Robin H. Smith from VL OMNI
Apr 28, 202201:00:07
Using Returns to Improve Your eCommerce Brand with E.M. Ricchini from ReturnLogic
Mar 21, 202232:19
Building a Successful CPG Brand with Chris Mahoney and Mark Stanczak from Enjoy Life
Mar 14, 202237:30
Weekly Roundup: The Supply Chain, Facebook Ads, & Netlify Graph
Feb 28, 202202:45
Weekly Roundup: Future of Commerce, NFTs, and Klaviyo Platinum
Jan 18, 202203:28
How Personalization Improves Customer Experience with Albert Liu, Channel Director at Dynamic Yield

How Personalization Improves Customer Experience with Albert Liu, Channel Director at Dynamic Yield

In this episode, John and Albert have a chat about paid loyalty programs, how eCommerce brands can get the most out of their tech stack, and when brands should incorporate a tool like Dynamic Yield. Check out the highlights and episode transcription here

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We'd like to thank Gorgias for sponsoring this podcast. They combine all your different communication channels and messages (email, SMS, social media, livechat, phone, etc.) into one platform. Learn how to level up your customer support and get a month free by speaking to their team here: https://gorgias.grsm.io/avexoffer6592

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This podcast is hosted by Avex Designs: a design, development, and growth e-commerce agency specializing in Shopify Plus.

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Connect With Us: Albert Liu, John Surdakowski

Jan 17, 202244:43
Weekly Roundup: Liquid Death, Holiday Returns, and a Site Launch
Jan 10, 202204:04
Identifying eCommerce Conversion Killers (Featuring a New Segment!)
Dec 02, 202133:46
Bonus Episode: Customer Experience and Retention Webinar
Dec 02, 202144:14
The Results Are In: Which Strategy Helps eCommerce Brands Grow the Most?
Oct 15, 202155:42
How Apple's iOS 15 Update Will Impact eCommerce Digital Marketing
Sep 24, 202129:17
Improving Customer Experience Using Product Discovery with Gina Yuter, Partnership Manager at Syte

Improving Customer Experience Using Product Discovery with Gina Yuter, Partnership Manager at Syte

This week, John had the pleasure of picking Gina's brain about all things Syte, the leading product discovery platform for eCommerce. We talk about how product discovery works, its applications, and the importance of customer experience in eCommerce. Let us know if you're interested in any of the many things Syte has to offer for your business. 

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We'd like to thank Gorgias for sponsoring this podcast. They combine all your different communication channels and messages (email, SMS, social media, livechat, phone, etc.) into one platform. Learn how to level up your customer support and get a month free by speaking to their team here: https://gorgias.grsm.io/avexoffer6592

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This podcast is hosted by Avex Designs: a design, development, and growth e-commerce agency specializing in Shopify Plus.

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Connect With Us: John Surdakowski, Gina Yuter

Sep 10, 202123:56
From Fashion to Food: How to Develop an eCommerce Brand with Tomo Delaney, Founder/CEO of Noshi

From Fashion to Food: How to Develop an eCommerce Brand with Tomo Delaney, Founder/CEO of Noshi

In this (unfortunately cut short) episode, John talks to Tomo about his journey into founding a children's food company. Noshi is a brand that sells nutritious food paint in hopes to get kids, especially picky kids, to like what they're eating. Tomo had the idea after phasing out of his job as a fashion product photographer and phasing into being a father of two. Learn about what it takes to sell DTC and through retailers by listening to the episode!

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We'd like to thank Gorgias for sponsoring this podcast. They combine all your different communication channels and messages (email, SMS, social media, livechat, phone, etc.) into one platform. Learn how to level up your customer support and get a month free by speaking to their team here: https://gorgias.grsm.io/avexoffer6592

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This podcast is hosted by Avex Designs: a design, development, and growth e-commerce agency specializing in Shopify Plus.

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Connect With Us: John Surdakowski, Tomo Delaney

Aug 30, 202127:21
Engaging Customers using UGC with Luis Espinal, Agency Partner Manager at Okendo

Engaging Customers using UGC with Luis Espinal, Agency Partner Manager at Okendo

John and Luis sit down to discuss how user-generated content, such as reviews and photos, can help build a community for DTC brands. 

Okendo is a certified Shopify Plus app used to showcase customer's experiences via their curated reviews. Let us know if you're interested in using Okendo to increase conversions and customer loyalty.

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We'd like to thank Gorgias for sponsoring this podcast. They combine all your different communication channels and messages (email, SMS, social media, livechat, phone, etc.) into one platform. Learn how to level up your customer support and get a month free by speaking to their team here: https://gorgias.grsm.io/avexoffer6592

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This podcast is hosted by Avex Designs: a design, development, and growth e-commerce agency specializing in Shopify Plus.

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Connect With Us: John Surdakowski, Luis Espinal

Jul 27, 202130:45
The Past, Present, and Future of DTC Brands with Matt Hayes, CEO & Co-Founder of The Fascination
Jul 08, 202129:17
Beating the E-commerce Summer Slump
Jun 08, 202128:13
Best Practices for Product Drops
May 25, 202134:27
How to Utilize Customizable Checkout on Shopify Plus
Apr 22, 202134:38
Subscription Cancellations & Returns Strategy with Michael Joson, Avex Project Manager

Subscription Cancellations & Returns Strategy with Michael Joson, Avex Project Manager

We'd like to thank Gorgias for sponsoring this podcast. They combine all your different communication channels and messages (email, SMS, social media, livechat, phone, etc.) into one platform. Learn how to level up your customer support and get a month free by speaking to their team here: https://gorgias.grsm.io/avexoffer6592

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Meet Michael Joson, Avex Designs' very own Project Manager! Michael's last role was with a cannabis subscription box company. In this episode, he shares his insights on the best practices for supporting subscription returns and cancellations when it comes to customer retention, especially when the products are fragile. 

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This podcast is hosted by Avex Designs: a design, development, and growth e-commerce agency specializing in Shopify Plus.

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Connect With Us: David Anzalone, Michael Joson

Apr 06, 202126:09
All About Landing Pages

All About Landing Pages

We'd like to thank Gorgias for sponsoring this podcast. They combine all your different communication channels and messages (email, SMS, social media, livechat, phone, etc.) into one platform. Learn how to level up your customer support and get a month free by speaking to their team here: https://gorgias.grsm.io/avexoffer6592

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Landing pages are a great way to create conversions for your products. In this episode, David and John explore the best practices for an efficient landing page when it comes to development, design, and copy. Also included in this episode is John's love letter to meat delivery company Butcher Box. 

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This podcast is hosted by Avex Designs: a design, development, and growth e-commerce agency specializing in Shopify Plus.

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Connect With Us: John Surdakowski, David Anzalone

Mar 29, 202126:54
Best Marketing Apps On Shopify

Best Marketing Apps On Shopify

We'd like to thank Gorgias for sponsoring this podcast. They combine all your different communication channels and messages (email, SMS, social media, livechat, phone, etc.) into one platform. Learn how to level up your customer support and get a month free by speaking to their team here: https://gorgias.grsm.io/avexoffer6592

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The process of creating the most efficient marketing stack on Shopify can be intimidating. In this episode, we break down our seven go-to apps for email marketing, displaying UGC, and other various e-commerce marketing efforts. 

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This podcast is hosted by Avex Designs: a design, development, and growth e-commerce agency specializing in Shopify Plus.

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Connect With Us: John Surdakowski, David Anzalone

Mar 22, 202139:49
When Should Your Company Upgrade To Shopify Plus?

When Should Your Company Upgrade To Shopify Plus?

We'd like to thank Gorgias for sponsoring this podcast. They combine all your different communication channels and messages (email, SMS, social media, livechat, phone, etc.) into one platform. Learn how to level up your customer support and get a month free by speaking to their team here: https://gorgias.grsm.io/avexoffer6592

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One of the most common questions we get from brands is about when the right time is to upgrade from Shopify to Shopify Plus. Our answer: it depends. We go over the most important things to consider when thinking about if upgrading is the right choice for your company. 

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This podcast is hosted by Avex Designs: a design, development, and growth e-commerce agency specializing in Shopify Plus.

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Connect With Us: John Surdakowski, David Anzalone

Mar 15, 202127:35
E-commerce Email Marketing Do's and Don'ts (w/Morgan Mulloy, our Email Marketing Manager)

E-commerce Email Marketing Do's and Don'ts (w/Morgan Mulloy, our Email Marketing Manager)

We'd like to thank Gorgias for sponsoring this podcast. They combine all your different communication channels and messages (email, SMS, social media, livechat, phone, etc.) into one platform. Learn how to level up your customer support and get a month free by speaking to their team here: https://gorgias.grsm.io/avexoffer6592

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How many emails should your brand send out every week? What are the best email practices for subscription-based brands? We answer these questions and more with the help of our guest, Morgan, who is Avex's very own email marketing manager.

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This podcast is hosted by Avex Designs: a design, development, and growth e-commerce agency specializing in Shopify Plus.

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Connect With Us: John Surdakowski, David Anzalone, Morgan Mulloy

Mar 08, 202140:58
Data-Backed UX Design Decisions for E-commerce Brands

Data-Backed UX Design Decisions for E-commerce Brands

We'd like to thank Gorgias for sponsoring this podcast. They combine all your different communication channels and messages (email, SMS, social media, livechat, phone, etc.) into one platform. Learn how to level up your customer support and get a month free by speaking to their team here: https://gorgias.grsm.io/avexoffer6592

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Do e-commerce experts know it all? Not without data! We discuss how Avex uses data such as click heat maps and performance per acquisition source to help brands make smart decisions on improving their site's user experience and overall sales.

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This podcast is hosted by Avex Designs: a design, development, and growth e-commerce agency specializing in Shopify Plus.

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Connect With Us: John Surdakowski, David Anzalone

Mar 01, 202135:02
Why E-commerce Brands Benefit from Agency Discoveries

Why E-commerce Brands Benefit from Agency Discoveries

We'd like to thank Gorgias for sponsoring this podcast. They combine all your different communication channels and messages (email, SMS, social media, livechat, phone, etc.) into one platform. Learn how to level up your customer support and get a month free by speaking to their team here: https://gorgias.grsm.io/avexoffer6592

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E-commerce discoveries are one of the newest ways Avex is helping brands in 2021. Before writing a single line of code, we understanding their business and technology needs to ensure we're recommending what's best for brands to scale and grow. Listen to find out more.

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This podcast is hosted by Avex Designs: a design, development, and growth e-commerce agency specializing in Shopify Plus.

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Connect With Us: John Surdakowski, David Anzalone

Feb 16, 202122:10
17. E-commerce Predictions 2021
Dec 31, 202041:29
16. Avex E-commerce Audits: Fire Dept. Coffee & Athletic Greens

16. Avex E-commerce Audits: Fire Dept. Coffee & Athletic Greens

Today, we conduct live audits of two e-commerce brands on Shopify and Shopify Plus: Fire Dept. Coffee and Athletic Greens. We look at how these brands leverage content, SaaS products, discounts, and merchandising to grow their business, while giving our thoughts on some opportunity areas.

Who wants us to review their site, next? Hit us up on Linkedin.

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We'd like to thank Gorgias for sponsoring this podcast. They combine all your different communication channels and messages (email, SMS, social media, livechat, phone, etc.) into one platform. Learn how to level up your customer support and get a month free by speaking to their team here: https://gorgias.grsm.io/avexoffer6592

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This podcast is hosted by Avex Designs: a design, development, and growth e-commerce agency specializing in Shopify Plus.

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Connect With Us: John Surdakowski, David Anzalone

Dec 09, 202048:48
15. E-commerce Conversion Funnel: How to Identify & Optimize (ft. Marco from Privy)

15. E-commerce Conversion Funnel: How to Identify & Optimize (ft. Marco from Privy)

The e-commerce conversion funnel of today's D2C brands is anything but linear. Consumers go through dozens of digital touchpoints across paid, organic and social channels before committing to convert. Uncovering your consumer journey, more importantly the leaks, is crucial to maximize your marketing budget and optimize those channels accordingly. How? I sit down with Marco De Paulis from Privy to discuss. 

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We'd like to thank our sponsor, Gorgias. They combine all your different communication channels and messages (email, SMS, social media, livechat, phone, etc.) into one platform. Learn how to level up your customer support and get a month free by speaking to their team here: https://gorgias.grsm.io/avexoffer6592

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This podcast is hosted by Avex Designs: a design, development, and growth e-commerce agency specializing in Shopify Plus.

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Connect With Us: David Anzalone, Marco De Paulis

Nov 10, 202050:58
14. Why E-commerce Brands Need to Double Down on Content

14. Why E-commerce Brands Need to Double Down on Content

John and David do some "live" audits on this episode. We review the content use of 3 DTC brands crushing it in e-commerce: Lokai, Thread Wallets, and Thrills.

We discuss how these brands correctly leverage content and point out a few improvement areas , all while setting some ground rules for what what truly great content is and why it has a massive impact on e-commerce sales and growth.

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We'd like to thank Gorgias for sponsoring this podcast. They combine all your different communication channels and messages (email, SMS, social media, livechat, phone, etc.) into one platform. Learn how to level up your customer support and get a month free by speaking to their team here: https://gorgias.grsm.io/avexoffer6592

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This podcast is hosted by Avex Designs: a design, development, and growth e-commerce agency specializing in Shopify Plus.

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Connect With Us: John Surdakowski, David Anzalone

Oct 29, 202054:06
13. What's the Deal with Headless Commerce?
Oct 21, 202044:46
12. Shopify App or Custom Development? The Classic Debate
Oct 15, 202043:54
11. Why DTC Brands Shouldn't Sleep on SMS Marketing
Oct 11, 202045:58
10. Leveraging Customer Acquisition & Retention for D2C Brands

10. Leveraging Customer Acquisition & Retention for D2C Brands

Jul 21, 202037:44
9. Interntional eCommerce on Shopify
Jul 01, 202033:58
8. Investing in Product Design to Solve Real Customer Problems (w/ Dustin Alper from Tracer, a VanyerX Company)
Jun 10, 202058:55