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Shopify is a powerhouse in the eCommerce industry, with merchants running more than 1,000,000 businesses on the platform.
But Shopify is more than just a product listing tool. It offers thousands of apps and integrations to help you build a profitable eCommerce business.
In this episode, we’re joined by Chris Singleton, the founder of Style Factory Productions, a site that provides in-depth reviews and comparisons of key business apps to hundreds of thousands of readers.
Chris reveals the ‘hidden’ Shopify features that many merchants overlook.
From Shopify’s SEO tools and blogging features to its free email marketing tool and abandon cart feature, Shopify has a full toolkit to help you grow your business beyond a simple eCommerce store.
Chris also highlights the power of YouTube for eCommerce sellers. According to Chris,
“YouTube is a key SEO strategy for Shopify merchants. The benefit is that you're dealing with two search engines because your video appears in the Google search results and on YouTube. The quickest SEO win at the moment is publishing content on third-party platforms like YouTube, Pinterest, LinkedIn, etc, and using that platform to drive traffic back to your store.”
If you're an eCommerce seller, then this is an episode you don’t want to miss!
Topics Discussed in This Episode: The most common pain points Shopify merchants face (02:15) Why Shopify merchants tend to focus on paid ads over traditional SEO (03:40) Why eCommerce SEO is easier than affiliate SEO (05:43) Quick SEO wins for Shopify (09:45) Hidden Shopify features that many merchants aren’t aware of (12:23) Shopify’s free email marketing tool (18:18) Creating an effective abandon cart structure in Shopify (22:25) Integrating apps into your Shopify store and which apps you should use (27:03) Why merchants should choose Shopify over other eCommerce platforms (29:44) How Chris has seen eCommerce evolve in the last 10 years (31:47) Mentions: Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Style Factory Chris’s LinkedIn Podcast about scarcity and behavioral marketingSit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to take your eCommerce business to the next level with Shopify’s integrated apps and tools.
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Selling a business for millions of dollars is a dream that many entrepreneurs chase, but only a lucky few ever achieve.
Oliver Palmer is one of those entrepreneurs. He founded a mobile technology business and sold it for an impressive $85 million.
In this episode, Oliver takes us behind the scenes of his multi-million dollar exit. From the disappointments of a failed acquisition to the high of finding the perfect buyer.
He also explains the many benefits of using an advisor during an exit. According to Oliver,“The best thing we did when selling our business was engage an advisor. It allowed us to position ourselves in front of acquirers we'd never even heard of. An advisor also brings legal advice and puts the sale together in a way that’s ideal for a buyer. If everything's all lined up, it's so much easier to get to a yes. You can't put a price on that.”
Oliver also reveals the common problem his new firm, DQ Ventures solves by helping entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses from scratch without risking their day jobs.
Topics Discussed in This Episode: Oliver’s background and how he founded his venture studio (02:19) A behind-the-scenes look at Oliver’s $85 million exit (03:48) The benefits of using an advisor or broker when exiting a business (14:59) The big thing that surprises entrepreneurs when exiting a business (19:53) How Oliver’s life changed after his multi-million dollar exit (24:31) What Oliver’s venture studio offers to startup entrepreneurs (28:13) The criteria Oliver looks for in a business to fund (37:50) The deal structure that Oliver offers startup companies he helps build (42:19) Oliver’s take on the secret to starting a successful business (51:20) Mentions: Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter DQ Ventures Oliver’s LinkedIn Profile James Green’s LinkedIn Profile
Whether you're a budding entrepreneur with a big idea or an experienced business owner aiming for a major exit, this episode has something for you. Enjoy!Sit back, grab a coffee, and get a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to sell an $85 million business!
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Expanding into omnichannel sales is a great way to grow your eCommerce business, but it also results in a more complicated supply chain.
That’s why working with a logistics partner who has their finger on the pulse of the industry is so important.
In this episode, we chat with Taylor Smits, co-founder of MyFBAPrep, the largest Amazon prep and eCommerce fulfillment network in the US.
Taylor joins us to explain how to optimize your supply chain without hindering growth and expansion.
He outlines the common logistics pain points Amazon sellers face, how to ace your inventory forecasting, and how to remove redundancies in your supply chain to boost your bottom line.
Taylor also reveals the best growth opportunities emerging in the eCommerce industry today. According to Taylor,
“We're seeing a halo effect from TikTok shop. For every sale you make on TikTok shop, you can assume two or three increased sales on Amazon, because people go to Amazon to check if the brand is legitimate. Now, you can use your FBA inventory to fulfill TikTok. That's one more reason to get on TikTok as a seller and get that halo effect.”
Whether you sell on one platform or many, this episode is packed with practical tips to help you streamline your logistics and grow your eCommerce business.
Topics Discussed in This Episode: A brief overview of MyFBAPrep and its origins (01:58) How the Airbnb model of logistics works (05:39) The common supply chain bottlenecks for Amazon sellers (15:20) The current state of Amazon fees (19:48) How TikTok Shop is shaking up the eCommerce industry (25:26) The core pillars of an optimized supply chain (31:29) The best approach to inventory forecasting (36:53) The easiest way to boost your bottom line (42:21) An inside look at Taylor’s Preptopia platform (47:09) Mentions: Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter MyFBAPrep Podcast with Roland FrazierSit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to optimize your eCommerce logistics to boost your bottom line!
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Most digital agency owners start their own businesses to be their own bosses and have more control over their time.
However, they often find themselves overwhelmed with sales calls and meetings, working harder than ever.
After falling prey to this pitfall himself, Frankie Fihn noticed that most sales calls and meetings follow the same script, with clients asking the same questions over and over.
To solve the problem, Frankie created a system of pre-recorded videos that address common questions and issues that clients raise, eliminating the need for most meetings.
In this episode, Frankie joins us to explain his framework for a phoneless, meetingless digital agency.
Frankie highlights common obstacles agency owners face and shares the key steps they need to take to stop trading time for money. According to Frankie,
“A common pain point agency owners struggle with is being too wide. They believe anybody with a credit card is a good fit. This dilutes both your messaging and your ability to deliver at scale because you're just doing too much. Just because you can do it for everybody doesn't mean you should.”
By renting out their services, most agency owners are the product. Instead, they should create leverageable assets out of their tools and systems.
This mindset shift will save you time and allow you to grow your agency exponentially.
If you want to learn how to create a streamlined and profitable digital agency without being tethered to a phone, then this episode is for you.
Topics Discussed in This Episode: Frankie's background and his approach to building an agency (02:00) The common pain points agency owners experience (04:00) The importance of streamlining your work and building repeatable systems (10:27) How Frankie automates sales calls (13:41) Frankie’s tips on tasks that should and shouldn’t take up your time in an agency (27:07) Identifying when to use white-label partners to help you grow (32:57) When to outsource and when to bring services in-house (39:19) The key to not trading time for money (48:10) The best piece of business advice Frankie has ever received (1:01:29) Mentions: Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Beyond the Agency Box (Frankie’s book) Beyond Agency Profits Facebook CommunitySit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to build a phoneless, meetingless digital marketing agency!
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When running an online business it’s easy to fall prey to the mindset that everything should happen online.
But sometimes, to really grow your online business, you need to step away from the screen and connect with people face-to-face.
Take Steven Khanna, for example. He’s the Head of English Markets at White Press, a global link-building and marketing agency. Steven used in-person networking to skyrocket his success, generating over $500K per month for White Press.
In this episode, Steven shares how attending conferences and actively networking played a crucial role in his success.
Attending just one conference helped Steven grow his monthly recurring revenue (MRR) from $5K to $50K!
Steven also dives into the important role that link-building plays in a modern SEO strategy. According to Steven,“People keep saying that links are not an important ranking factor, but if you look at the backlink profiles of big, successful websites, they’re still building links. Even in troubled times, link-building will never lose its value. Links will always be one of the most important ranking factors for driving traffic and leads.”
Steven goes on to provide useful tips, tricks, and advice on how to optimize your link-building to ensure you are generating the right kind of traffic.
This conversation with Steven shows the power of adaptability and perseverance in online business. It’s a reminder that it’s never too late to make your mark!
Topics Discussed in This Episode: An introduction to White Press and its rapid growth (02:46) Steven’s background and how he ended up in SEO (05:49) The benefits of international expansion (12:26) Behavioral differences across different countries and cultures (17:33) How Steven builds trust with his clients (22:04) The important role conferences play in Steven’s acquisition strategy (29:23) How Steven uses affiliates to grow White Press (41:50) The most common myths people believe about link building (50:53) Mentions: Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter White Press Senuto Steven’s LinkedInSit back, grab a coffee, and learn the power of in-person networking and the importance of link-building in modern SEO!
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There are roughly 88,000 digital marketing agencies in the US and Hawke Media is the fastest-growing amongst them.
What is the secret sauce to this kind of growth?
Well, according to Erik Huberman, Hawke’s founder and CEO, it all boils down to working harder than everyone else and actually delivering on your promises.
In this episode, Erik walks us through the origin story of Hawke Media, from its almost accidental beginnings, to how he scaled the business to its current value of over $150 million.
He reveals the challenges he faced while growing the business, how he sustains Hawke’s rapid growth, and how he motivates his team to keep innovating. According to Erik,“Most people won't push themselves to the limit versus getting pushed. That’s why every major athlete wants a coach and trainer. It's not like Kobe didn't know how to do a workout. But having that outside push and that outside perspective is really helpful. And as the owner of the business, that extra push has to come from you."
Erik also sheds light on one of his key growth strategies; acquiring other agencies. He explains the benefits of this strategy, and how he integrates those agencies and their owners into Hawke’s existing ecosystem.
Topics Discussed in This Episode: Erik’s background and what led him to create Hawke Media (02:05) What Erik did to help Hawke Media become the fastest-growing consultancy (10:02) How Erik sustains his agency’s rapid growth (14:30) The biggest challenges Erik faced when growing Hawke Media (16:23) Why Erik started acquiring other agencies (20:11) There’s always a deal to be made (27:46) Mentions: Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Hawke Media
If you’re looking for first-hand knowledge on how to scale an agency to a 9-figure valuation, then look no further.Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn what it takes to scale your digital agency to the moon.
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Why start from scratch when you can leverage an existing business’s traction and capitalize on its untapped potential?
That is the power of entrepreneurship through acquisition.
Mike Swigunski, a skilled entrepreneur and globe-trotting author, discovered this for himself while building his portfolio of profitable online businesses.
In this episode, he walks us through one of his most profitable acquisitions, a SaaS business that he grew to 4x in revenue in just a year.
Mike walks us through the acquisition from start to finish, from uncovering the business’s rare potential to the creative deal structure he negotiated and seizing low-hanging fruits for post-acquisition growth.
Mike also shares his expert insights into the online business industry, including the lucrative gap in the market he spotted when it comes to acquisitions. According to Mike,
“The 500K - 750K range of online businesses seems to be like no man's land. It’s often too big for solopreneurs, and too small for portfolio buyers. It’s a sweet spot that can offer buyers a bit of strategic leverage to negotiate a good deal. Sellers are often more motivated and more open to seller financing and creative deal structures.”
Mike’s firsthand experience and expert knowledge offer a roadmap to successfully acquiring and scaling online businesses. Don’t miss a minute of this insightful episode!
Topics Discussed in This Episode: Mike shares his background and his entrepreneurial journey (02:17) A look at of one Mike’s most successful acquisitions - a $500K SaaS business (07:47) The creative deal structure that Mike negotiated (13:57) The dynamics of buying a business in partnership with another entrepreneur (16:36) Finding the right developer to work on a new SaaS acquisition (18:22) Mike's unique due diligence process for this acquisition (24:42) How Mike 4x’d his revenue by capitalizing on low-hanging fruit post-acquisition (26:59) Mike's growth strategies and future goals for his SaaS acquisition (37:57) An overview of Mike’s business portfolio (45:52) Mike’s productivity tips for digital entrepreneurs (51:06) Mentions: Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Mike’s site (with links to his socials) Copy Sharks Fast Food Spaghetti blog post Rize productivity app TrelloSit back, grab a coffee, and get the inside scoop on how to source and scale a SaaS acquisition!
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Two of the fastest ways to grow your business are to increase your customer base and improve your offering to attract higher-value customers.
What if I told you there was a way to expand your customer base exponentially and enhance your offering in one clever move?
That is what Josh Springer does through the power of acquisitions. Josh is the Head of Corporate Development at Hawke Media, a powerhouse marketing agency.
Josh specializes in acquiring other agencies and merging them into Hawke’s existing ecosystem. This not only enhances Hawke's services but also brings in a ready-made customer base overnight.Now they have a more powerful team and a larger pool of clients.
In this episode, Josh joins us to explain his approach to acquisitions, from sourcing potential targets to sealing the deal.
He explains the different types of deal structures he negotiates, his growth strategies post-acquisition, and the key to smoothly merging a new agency into Hawke Media’s framework.
One of the key areas that Josh prioritizes is employee retention. According to Josh,“The value behind an agency is the people that it comes with. If you start cutting people, you start losing clients, you start messing with culture, then all of a sudden you're left with a shell that doesn't really resemble what you were trying to buy in the first place.”
If you're hungry for rapid business expansion, this episode lays out the blueprint for scaling up through strategic bolt-on acquisitions. Don’t miss it!
Topics Discussed in This Episode: Josh’s background and how he ended up working in M&A (02:26) Assessing the right time to acquire a new agency as a growth play (05:10) The key to employee retention during an acquisition (08:15) How Josh integrates acquisitions into Hawke Media’s existing structure (10:46) How Josh sources his acquisitions (14:36) The profit margins agencies should aim for at different valuation levels (23:36) The quick growth levers that Josh has learned to pull on his agency acquisitions (25:48) The types of deals Josh negotiates and structures (30:03) How Josh measures the success of his acquisitions (38:38) The lessons Josh has learned from all of the acquisitions he has overseen (42:55) Mentions: Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Hawke Media Josh’s LinkedInSit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to scale your business through mergers and bolt-on acquisitions!
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The customer is always right.
If this is true, then understanding consumer’s opinions and preferences is the secret sauce to success.
But how do you ask the right questions to the right people in order to gather this feedback?
That’s where John Li comes in. John and his co-founder Justin were scratching their heads over this very question while trying to get feedback for their own business.Being savvy software developers, they created PickFu – a market research and consumer feedback platform that allows businesses to gather in-depth feedback from real people in minutes.
In this episode, John joins us to discuss how conducting meaningful consumer feedback can drastically improve your business.
He explains that it is never too early to start communicating with your audience.
Gathering feedback can help you pre-validate your products before they’ve even launched by testing logos, packaging, mottos, etc. This can be the difference between a lukewarm introduction to the market, and a rocket-fueled burst onto the scene.
In fact, John helped a business 10x their profits by doing just this.
But collecting feedback isn’t all you should be doing. According to John,
“It's so important to connect with and listen to your audience. Run surveys, bounce ideas, have conversations, etc. But it’s also important to do market research. There might be a whole different set of people that you aren’t targeting that could open up an entirely new area of the market for you. So it's important to get feedback from both sides.”
Of course, there's an art to asking for feedback. John explains which types of questions you should ask, the different types of experiments you can conduct, and the ideal audience size for collecting usable feedback.
You don’t have to fly blind. This episode will light the way and teach you how to use feedback to fuel your business growth.
Topics Discussed in This Episode: John’s background and the origins of PickFu (02:20) The importance of market research and collecting consumer feedback (06:03) How often should you be doing market research? (10:31) The different types of consumer research experiments you can run on PickFu (15:54) How to encourage feedback and gather the best feedback from consumers (18:05) The most common myths about consumer feedback (25:28) The ideal audience size for meaningful consumer feedback (27:34) Managing negative feedback from consumers (30:23) How consumer feedback can save a business from failure (35:18) John’s goals for PickFu moving forward (37:44) Mentions: Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter PickFuSit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to gather consumer feedback that will elevate your business to new heights.
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Buying an existing online business is great in theory, but what is the experience actually like in reality?
In this week's episode, we chat with Landon Greenhalgh, an entrepreneur who recently took the plunge and acquired his first eCommerce business.
Landon walks us through his eCommerce journey so far, from tracking down the ideal business and doing his due diligence to identifying and pouncing on post-acquisition growth opportunities.Landon sheds light on common pitfalls that often catch first-time buyers off guard, such as fixating on the 'perfect' opportunity or overlooking the value of existing employees. According to Landon,
“You can make or break an acquisition by how you treat the [existing] employees.
If you come in with a ‘my way or the highway’ type mentality, it can ruin a lot of what made that company great. Humility, and recognizing that the employees probably know way more about the company than you do, is a very important aspect of an acquisition.”
The journey from acquiring an existing business to turning it into a thriving brand isn't just for the Bransons and Musks of the world.
As Landon's story shows, everyday people like him – and like you – can achieve remarkable success in the online business arena by simply purchasing a scalable business.
Topics Discussed in This Episode: Landon shares his background and entrepreneurial journey (01:42) Why Landon decided to purchase an existing eCommerce business (03:09) Landon’s due diligence tips for first-time buyers (09:29) Alerting existing employees about the acquisition (15:37) How Landon has capitalized on growth opportunities in his acquisition (19:39) Landon explains how his high-ticket business model works (22:32) The top strategies that have helped Landon grow his brand (24:15) Time management and avoiding burning out (30:18) Landon’s supply chain and forecasting demand (32:15) Landon’s take on the future of eCommerce (36:28) Mentions: Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Landon’s LinkedIn pageSit back, grab a coffee, and learn what it takes to buy and scale an existing eCommerce business.
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Unlocking success on Facebook goes beyond the simple act of launching an ad campaign and hoping for sales to flood in.
It’s an art. A magic that only a few Facebook advertising wizards know how to truly unlock.
Vincent Nguyen is one of those wizards.As the founder of Growth Ninja, Vincent manages a solo-run, multi-six-figure Facebook ads agency. He works his magic on a carefully selected group of clients, having breathed life back into three seemingly doomed multi-million dollar ad campaigns in just the past few months alone.
In this episode, Vincent joins us to reveal the secrets to crafting Facebook ads that can catapult your business to new heights.
He shares some interesting case studies from his client, busts common advertising myths, and breaks down the anatomy of a successful Facebook advertising campaign.
He also explains the rookie mistakes that many people make when setting up their campaigns. According to Vincent,
“Step one when setting up your Facebook ads is to set up some sort of attribution system because Facebook ads reporting is not very accurate.If you can't trust your data, then you shouldn't spend money at all. That's just throwing money away and you're going to scale things that shouldn't be scaled.”
Topics Discussed in This Episode: Vincent's background and how he grew his own Facebook Ad agency (01:56) How Vincent successfully revived and scaled a million-dollar ad campaign (07:17) The anatomy of a high-converting sales page (13:55) Why Vincent is selective about his clients as a solopreneur (17:32) Vincent’s go-to formula for ad campaign success (29:30) Adding the right images, copy, and create elements to ad campaigns (35:38) Common Facebook Ad myths that people still fall for (45:11) Vincent’s winning bidding strategies (56:01) Why this metric is the most important measurement of your success (57:42) Vincent’s predictions for the future of Facebook advertising (1:05:33) Mentions: Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Growth Ninja
If transforming your Facebook ads from average to utterly ad-dictive is your goal, then every moment of this episode is a must-listen!Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to create Facebook ads that actually convert!
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2023 was a whirlwind year for Amazon FBA industry as the ripple effects of the 2020-2021 bubble bursting were felt by sellers and consumers alike.
Perhaps the largest of these ripple effects was the demise of the Amazon FBA aggregators whose rampant spending and operational shortcomings finally caught up with them.In this week’s episode, Amazon expert Mina Elias is back to help us unpack the rollercoaster of changes, surprises, and hurdles faced by Amazon FBA sellers throughout 2023.
Mina provides a snapshot of the current state of the Amazon FBA industry before walking us through the chain of events that led to the downfall of industry giants like the aggregators.
Then, Mina puts his Amazon advertising knowledge on display, revealing the top advertising and brand-building strategies of 2023, as well as tips on how to stand out in the crowded Amazon marketplace as a new seller.
Mina also reveals some juicy information about how Amazon is making gathering customer data that much easier for sellers.This episode is jam-packed with all the information you need to elevate your FBA business in 2024!
Topics Discussed in This Episode: A quick overview of Mina’s entrepreneurial journey (02:24) A look into Mina’s recent first-ever business exit (03:35) A snapshot of the FBA industry today vs the 202-2021 bubble (05:51) What caused the demise of the FBA aggregators (12:14) Clever new advertising strategies Mina has spotted in the last year (25:00) Gathering customer data as an FBA seller (31:21) How to stand out in the crowded Amazon marketplace as a new seller (36:59) Mina’s predictions on the future of the FBA industry (45:00) Mentions: Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Trivium GroupSit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to ramp up your Amazon FBA business in 2024!
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We're back with a brand new episode!
________________________________________Nothing is certain except death and taxes.
As a business owner, taxes are a double whammy—they affect both your personal and business life.Imagine working hard to build a business that’s set to change your life when you sell it, only to watch taxes eat away at your profits.
Thankfully, there are savvy tricks entrepreneurs can use to shrink taxes and pump up profits when selling their businesses.
That’s where Crystal Stranger comes in. Crystal is the Partner & COO of Cleer Tax, a company that helps US businesses and entrepreneurs navigate their taxes.
In this episode, Crystal joins us to discuss the various strategies entrepreneurs can use to reduce the amount of tax incurred when building and selling their online business.
She unpacks the most common types of taxes that businesses encounter and how to structure your business to cut down on the taxes you have to pay.
Crystal also exposes the big tax blunders many business owners make—like skipping tax filings or setting up shop in high-tax states. According to Crystal,
“A big mistake I see entrepreneurs make is using state addresses for vanity reasons, like having a California or New York address to make their business look established or cool. Some entrepreneurs also sign up for mailing addresses without specifying the location. Putting these addresses on your website, invoices or communications can create large tax liabilities in those states.”
We also dissect the differences between an asset sale and a stock sale, with Crystal explaining how a stock sale can save non-US business owners massive amounts of money!
You might not dodge taxes completely, but armed with the insights from this episode, you can certainly trim your tax bill and safeguard your hard-earned profits!
Topics Discussed in This Episode: Crystal’s background and how she ended up helping entrepreneurs with tax (02:23) The most common types of taxes that businesses encounter (06:08) The differences between LLC and C corp (09:45) Structuring your exit as an e-commerce business owner (12:23) How the Nexus tax system works for sales tax (19:26) The common tax mistakes entrepreneurs make when selling their business (31:09) Stock sale vs asset purchase (36:14) The best way to use the proceeds of your sale to grow another business (45:49) How tax applies to Hold Co businesses (51:14) How sellers can make their business more attractive from a tax perspective (54:46) Mentions: Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Cleer TaxSit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to reduce your tax liability and maximize your profits!
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How do you integrate your business into consumers’ lives and have your products playing on their minds, even when they’re not online? Today’s guest believes Pinterest is the key to deepening customer engagement.
In this episode, we talk to Kate Ahl, the founder of Simple Pin Media, a marketing agency that creates personalized Pinterest marketing strategies for online businesses. Kate also created the Simple Pin Podcast, a popular Pinterest-focused podcast that boasts over a million downloads.
Kate has a unique take on Pinterest, believing that it doesn’t fit in with the likes of Instagram and Facebook. She has often stated:
“Pinterest is very much like Google. It is not a social media platform, it is a search and discovery network.”
In this interview, Kate elaborates on this concept and explains how patience is a virtue when marketing on this unique platform – which can pay off handsomely. We also dig into what makes Pinterest users tick and how entrepreneurs can leverage Pinterest to grow their traffic and boost their brand awareness.
Kate walks us through how the pinning platform has changed over the years and the new trends that are shaping the Pinterest landscape. Taking these factors into account, Kate discusses the biggest challenges businesses face when using Pinterest and how to go about setting up a successful Pinterest marketing strategy for years to come.
If you feel like your Pinterest marketing is lacking that extra oomph, you don’t want to miss out on this episode!
Topics Discussed in this episode: How Kate got started on Pinterest and the birth of Simple Pin Media (02:04) Why Pinterest is a search and discovery network, not a social media platform (07:52) How Pinterest can supplement your SEO to bring in floods of traffic to your site (09:19) How the Pinterest ecosystem has evolved over the years (14:18) What it takes to be successful and the trends driving Pinterest today (17:27) The Pinterest Verified Merchant Program and buying intent on Pinterest (21:58) Is Pinterest the right platform for Amazon sellers? (29:03) The steps to starting a successful Pinterest marketing strategy (35:46) Kate’s biggest success story growing client’s businesses through Pinterest (44:12) The biggest challenges that businesses encounter when using Pinterest (47:03) How Kate built her Simple Pin Media team by training women in her community (51:25) What Kate’s podcast has shown her about the power of the Pinterest community (54:18) Mentions: Empire Flippers Podcast Empire Flippers Marketplace Simple Pin Media CanvaSit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to create a Pinterest marketing strategy that will shine a spotlight on your business!
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In order to be successful, eCommerce sellers need to have the ability to be flexible and pivot to meet new trends head-on.
In this episode, Kasey Luck explains how Shopify merchants can take advantage of the hype surrounding NFTs by minting and selling them through their Shopify stores.
Kasey is the founder of Luck & Co, an agency that specializes in increasing eCommerce conversion and retention rates through SMS and email marketing. She also has a YouTube channel, where she teaches valuable industry advice, helping eCommerce sellers to boost their sales.
Kasey walks us through the various use-cases for NFTs in eCommerce, the risks and rewards of branching out into NFTs, and how the crossover between eCommerce and blockchain will affect the industry in the coming years.
We also discuss what drew Kasey to the eCommerce industry, and her passion for email and SMS marketing. She explains the power that these marketing channels can provide to business owners, and reveals the most common marketing mistakes she sees sellers make. According to Kasey,
“When you start a new brand, the first thing that you should be thinking about and setting up is your traffic. If you don’t have traffic, you don’t have anything else. It’s too soon to be focusing on things like email and SMS marketing if you don’t have any idea how you’re going to drive traffic to your site.”
If you’re ready to step into the future of eCommerce and learn more about NFTs and the metaverse, then this is a conversation you don’t want to miss out on!
Topics Discussed in This Episode: Kasey walks us through her entrepreneurial journey so far (03:28) Why Kasey decided to start her own marketing agency (06:30) Why working in the eCommerce industry really resonates with Kasey (09:26) The common marketing mistakes that trip eCommerce sellers up (13:36) Kasey explains what exactly an NFT is(18:51) How NFTs are crossing over into the eCommerce world (23:45) The fundamentals Shopify owners should have in place before launching NFTs (29:15) The biggest risks associated with selling NFTs on Shopify (32:01) The advantages available to sellers who get into the NFT game early on (33:37) The changes Kasey predicts in the eCommerce industry over the next few years (34:39) Mentions: Empire Flippers Podcast Empire Flippers Marketplace Luck & Co ReallyGoodEmails.com Mailed.com Mailcharts.comSit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to take your eCommerce business to the next level by minting and selling NFTs through your Shopify store.
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In today’s world, almost everyone uses email. But many entrepreneurs still underestimate the power of email marketing and its ability to establish a meaningful connection with your customers.
This week’s guest is Greg Zakowicz, a veteran email marketer and the Sr. eCommerce Expert at Omnisend, an eCommerce marketing automation platform.
With 15 years of experience under his belt, Greg has witnessed firsthand the transformative power that email marketing can have on eCommerce businesses. According to Greg,“If you sell something online, you should probably be sending marketing emails. Otherwise, you’re leaving money on the table.”
In this episode, Greg discusses how email has evolved over time and how to set up a successful, automated email marketing strategy. He explains how to use email marketing in each step of the buyer journey and how it can plug the holes that social media marketing can’t fill.
He also walks us through how to breathe life back into a dormant email list and some of the common email marketing pitfalls that trip up eCommerce business owners.
If your list of email subscribers is simply gathering dust, you don’t want to miss out on Greg’s valuable insights!
Topics Discussed in this episode: How Greg got his start in the world of email marketing (01:16) How email marketing has evolved over time and why it remains relevant (06:49) Why email marketing is an essential tool for e-commerce businesses (14:39) The foundations of setting up a successful email marketing strategy (21:16) How to revitalize a dormant email list and reestablish a meaningful connection with existing subscribers (27:14) The common email marketing pain points that entrepreneurs encounter (34:21) What email marketing success looks like, and who is getting it right (40:58) How SMS can work hand-in-hand with email marketing (45:20) Pro tips for utilizing automations in your email marketing (51:38) Insight into any upcoming email and SMS automation trends (56:52) Mentions: Empire Flippers Podcast Empire Flippers Marketplace OnmisendSit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to leverage the power of email marketing!
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How important is SEO to your business?
Great SEO is a primary factor in many online businesses’ success. But approaching it for the first time can feel like a minefield. Between out-of-date information and seemingly constant changes to Google’s algorithm, you may think SEO is an impossible game to win.
But Kyle Roof knows it’s far from that. In fact, the SEO guru has obtained a US patent proving exactly how you can manipulate SEO to rank on search engines.
Kyle is the lead SEO at High Voltage SEO, Founder of PageOptimizer Pro, Co-founder & SEO Instructor at Internet Marketing Gold (IMG), speaker, trainer, and all-around hub of SEO knowledge.
He joined The Opportunity Podcast to dispel some of the common myths and misconceptions about SEO practices and the Google algorithm, and reveals what site owners should be doing to improve their SEO and outperform their competition.
Topics Discussed in this episode: The biggest SEO misconceptions and mistakes to avoid How to get started with SEO How to get your site to rank What to do when there’s a search engine algorithm update and how to protect your site against it Kyle’s advice for more advanced SEO practitioners Why testing is key to developing your SEO skills What the future of SEO looks like Mentions: Empire Flippers Podcast Empire Flippers Marketplace High Voltage SEO PageOptimizer Pro Internet Margeting Gold (IMG) Ahrefs MozDiscover more SEO insights and find out how to apply them to your site by listening to the full interview with Kyle.
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What if I told you that there’s a secret ingredient that can help you sell almost any business (yes, even the declining ones) in a fraction of the time?
I’m not referring to huge discounts or expert-level negotiation tactics. I’m talking about the often underestimated element of trust.
Doron Wolffberg, SEO expert and co-founder of Cliverse, has built and sold many content sites and has made buyer-seller trust the central focus of deals.
In this week’s episode, Doron shares how transparency and trust helped him sell a content site at a full listing price to a first-time buyer in just one day! He explains how this tactic not only preserves your reputation as a seller but also equips the buyer with the necessary information to take your business to the next level.
Doron also dives into the key focus areas for building a successful content site and reveals how to prepare your site for a speedy and profitable sale. According to Doron,
“Before you sell your site, make sure that you fix any faults from a technical standpoint. When buyers look at your site, they look at things like page speed. So even though it’s not a huge ranking factor, if buyers see your site has a low score, it might turn them down a bit.”
If you’re looking for ways to scale your content site or tips on how to market your site to sellers, this is the episode for you!
Topics Discussed in this episode: How Doron got his start in the online business world (01:58) Doron breaks down the sites in his portfolio and his current projects (03:11) The benefits of being in the content site industry (04:12) Details about the business Doron recently sold on Empire Flippers (06:08) The importance of seller transparency during an acquisition (11:54) How to market a flawed business fairly (16:09) A common factor that buyers neglect to think of during the sales process (19:22) Why quality should be the core focus for content site owners in 2022 (22:03) Mentions: Empire Flippers Podcast Empire Flippers Marketplace CliverseSit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to set your content site up for a profitable, and fair, sale.
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Spotting a promising acquisition is just the beginning. Figuring out how to make that acquisition thrive is a whole new challenge.
Dom Wells has cracked the code for both. Dom is the founder of Onfolio, a company that specializes in buying and nurturing profitable online businesses.
Since Dom's last appearance on the podcast in October 2022, shortly after Onfolio went public, the company's revenue has surged from $1.2 million to nearly $6 million.
In this episode, Dom returns to discuss how his acquisition strategy has evolved. He's shifted away from content sites and instead focused on acquiring agencies, WordPress plugins, and digital courses.
Why the change? Content sites are excellent traffic assets, great for cultivating audiences and communities, but they come with a notable drawback—the vulnerability to AI and algorithm shake-ups.
To mitigate this risk, Dom advises content site owners to pivot beyond SEO and affiliate revenue. They should explore innovative ways to build their audience and convert it into a thriving community or media brand. One effective approach is to channel traffic toward additional revenue streams like newsletters, digital courses, or eCommerce stores.
Dom also walks us through how he goes about acquiring businesses, from the characteristics he looks for in a business to his preferred deal structure and how he sources CEOs to run those businesses.
Finally, Dom shares his insights on current market conditions for sellers.
He believes the market is unlikely to return to the high valuations of 2020/2021 any time soon. Therefore, entrepreneurs who have a large chunk of their net worth invested in their businesses are shouldering enormous risk by delaying selling their businesses in the hopes of waiting out the market.
Don't miss this episode packed with valuable insights into the world of acquisitions and the evolving landscape of online business!
Topics Discussed in This Episode: A brief breakdown of Onfolio's business model and history (02:26) The characteristics Dom looks for when acquiring businesses (05:05) Mitigating the risks of running a content site through diversification (08:37) The benefits of buying an agency (17:00) The metrics Dom looks at when valuing an agency (22:45) How Dom sources quality CEOs to run his businesses (29:13) Dom’s approach to CEO onboarding (37:20) The characteristics of a good CEO (41:00) Dom’s ideal deal structure when acquiring businesses (45:34) Dom shares his outlook on the current sellers' market (47:53) Mentions: Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Dom’s previous Opportunity podcast interview Onfolio Dom’s X (Twitter) Greg Eisenberg's X (Twitter)Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how an acquisition pro approaches growing his portfolio!
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Sometimes, our talents are immediately recognizable. Other times, we accidentally stumble across things we end up being incredibly good at.
This is what happened to James Dooley. Initially, he worked as a project manager, seeking a reliable way to generate leads for the business he was part of. He had a website created for that business and stumbled upon the world of SEO. What followed was a whirlwind of success.
Today, James boasts a staggering portfolio of over 800 clients in more than 650 diverse industries, making him a prominent figure in the rank and rent industry. He's taken things a step further by investing in many of the businesses he provides leads to.In this episode, James joins us to reveal the secrets to his success. He discusses the importance of testing and research when it comes to SEO and ranking, and the crucial role his team has played in the growth of his business. James explains,
“The best investment I’ve made is in the people that work with me. Forget the content, the backlinks, the websites, the businesses we work for. If you get good quality people around you, you encourage them and give them enough space to let them grow and do their own thing, they will do everything for you.”
James offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how he builds trust with clients and leverages directories to attract leads. He also debunks common SEO myths and errors while unveiling the SEO strategies he believes yield the best results. According to James,
“Parasite SEO is great for getting instant wins. Quickly build a site on a high DR domain, and hit it with a couple of tier-two backlinks. At present, that's the best way of generating quick traffic.”
If you’re thinking of getting into the rank and rent or lead generation game, or simply aiming to supercharge your existing business, this is one conversation you don’t want to miss!
Topics Discussed in This Episode: James briefly touches on how he has elevated the rank and rent model (04:06) A look at James’ background and how he got into the world of SEO (06:03) The importance of R&D and how James’s team is structured (12:12) James debunks common SEO myths and mistakes (15:02) How James acquires and maintains clients for his rank and rent business (20:24) James explains how he uses directories to attract leads (29:00) Building trust in a pay-per-performance business model (37:18) Why James decided to invest in many of the businesses he works with (43:46) How James attracts and retains talented employees (49:16) Mentions: Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter James Dooley.com Screaming Frog MarketMuse Surfer SEO AutoBloggingSit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to take your rank and rent business to a whole new level!
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