The Ecommerce Roadmap

December doesn't have to be a slow month—or a stressful one. In this episode, Susan and Melissa share a simple, ready-to-use plan that helps you finish the year strong, stay visible, and still take time off for the holidays. You'll learn: How to pick your holiday shipping cutoff date Why visibility matters after Black Friday How to schedule four email campaigns that sell while you rest Why the "second send" email often performs best What to include in your holiday emails (no discounts needed!) Easy post-cutoff ideas like gift-card and treat-yourself campaigns RELATED LINKS: Join The Inner Circle & Get Sales In December https://classroom.thesocialsalesgirls.com/inner-circle-leads Do this One Thing and get sales in December https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/do-this-one-thing-and-get-sales-in-december/ Do this to max your sales this month and beyond https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/do-this-to-max-your-sales-this-month-and-beyond/ Make your business run without you. Here's how. https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/make-your-business-run-without-you-heres-how-episode-201/

In today's episode, I'm chatting with one of our incredibly generous Inner Circle members, Linda Gernert, who is sharing her genius marketing strategy that has her audience coming back every single week. Linda's approach is repeatable, scalable, memorable, and most importantly—profitable. Here's what you'll learn in this episode: ⚒️ A Repeatable and Profitable Marketing Tool: Learn how Linda created a weekly event that keeps her audience engaged and consistently visiting her store, using scarcity and urgency to drive high conversions. 🔑 Consistency is Key: Discover how Linda's commitment to consistency and repetition has made her marketing efforts memorable and highly effective. 🕜 Time vs. Money: Linda talks about the important lesson every entrepreneur faces—whether to invest time or money—and how she's balanced both to build her business without relying on ads. ❤️ The Power of Community: By sharing her $5 Friday strategy with other Inner Circle members, Linda helped another business owner find success. Tune in to hear how Linda has created a marketing system that delivers results week after week! RELATED LINKS: Find Crop-A-Latte HERE: https://cropalatte.com/ Or on social media: https://www.facebook.com/CropALatte www.instagram.com/cropalattetogo Episode 62: Massive Growth Organically? Yes You Can https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/massive-growth-organically-yes-you-can-episode-62/ Episode 145: How To Get Reliable Sales Every Day https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/how-to-get-reliable-sales-every-day-episode-145/ Episode 146: Double Sales Without Spending More https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/double-sales-without-spending-more-episode-146/

Black Friday doesn't need to be stressful — or even complicated. In this episode, Susan and Melissa share what actually works for small ecommerce stores during the busiest shopping season of the year. You'll learn: Why your sale doesn't have to happen on Black Friday How to keep your campaign simple and effective The one-message strategy that consistently wins How to build a high-converting early access list What to offer (and what to skip) this season RELATED LINKS: The Most Valuable Subject Line You'll Ever Use https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/the-most-valuable-subject-line-youll-ever-use/ Your November Marketing Plan In 3 Simple Steps https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/your-november-marketing-plan-in-3-simple-steps/ A $14K Pop-Up Shop Promo https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/a-14k-pop-up-shop-promo-using-pod-episode-269/ Have You Done The Planning To Have Your Best November On Record? https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/have-you-done-the-planning-you-need-to-do-to-have-your-best-november-on-record/

When business feels hard, it’s not because you’re doing it wrong — it’s because you’re human. In this episode, Susan and mindset coach Krista Williamson talk about the patterns that keep store owners stuck — and how to shift them so you can think clearly and make better decisions. You’ll learn: Why frustration with ads or slow results is normal How to pause before reacting (and actually solve the problem) Why hiring help isn’t a “set it and forget it” move How to separate facts from feelings when business feels discouraging Why you can’t buy a solution — but you can learn to lead yourself RELATED LINKS: Stop Ignoring Your Mindset https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/stop-ignoring-your-mindset-its-a-powerful-tool-episode-289/ Ditch your decision fatigue. I’m giving you my framework. https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/ditch-your-decision-fatigue-im-giving-you-my-framework-its-brilliant-episode-186/ Stop spinning and get more done! https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/stop-spinning-and-get-more-done-episode-114/ The 3 Books That Changed My Life https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/the-3-books-that-changed-my-life-episode-278/

If sales are trickling in, and you’re tempted to start running ads, this episode is for you. Susan and Inner Circle coach Melissa Davies walk through how to decide if you’re ready for ads—and what to focus on first if you’re not. You’ll learn: The real cost of getting a sale from an ad How to know if you have a traffic problem or a conversion problem The 3-part sales funnel every store owner should track Simple, organic strategies to increase sales before you spend a cent When to add ads—and how to do it strategically without wasting money RELATED LINKS: The Powerful Work That Will Get You To Your Goals Behind the Scenes of a Six-Figure Sales Funnel Build A Massive Audience With A Brand Video How To Use Collaborations To Get Traffic and Sales Make your website a lead generating machine

In this first episode of our Mindset Mini-Series, I sit down with my longtime coach Krista Williamson to talk about what mindset really is—and how it quietly shapes your day-to-day business decisions. This isn’t about manifesting or “just being more positive.” It’s about interrupting the patterns that keep you stuck and creating new ones that help you move forward. You’ll learn: ✔️ Why your brain is wired to keep you “safe”—not successful ✔️ How to spot the stories that are sabotaging your progress ✔️ Why the problem you think you have… might not be the real problem ✔️ The one belief Susan carried for years that nearly tanked her marketing ✔️ A practical 4-step mindset framework you can start using today Get Krista’s Cheat Sheet: https://krista-williamson.kit.com/mindset RELATED LINKS: Stop spinning and get more done! https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/stop-spinning-and-get-more-done-episode-114/ Ditch your decision fatigue. I’m giving you my framework. It’s brilliant. https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/ditch-your-decision-fatigue-im-giving-you-my-framework-its-brilliant-episode-186/ The 3 Books That Changed My Life https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/the-3-books-that-changed-my-life-episode-278/ I’m Doing Something Scary https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/im-doing-something-scary-episode-283/ _______________________ Are you constantly asking yourself how to make your website better or questioning your prices? Do you wonder if you're missing something? If you have made sales in person or on a site like Etsy, I know you can sell more on your site. Get my FREE mini-course that will show you our step-by-step process to grow your sales without spending a fortune on risky ad strategies or discounting your products here: https://learn.thesocialsalesgirls.com/conversion-school/ “Insightful, actionable and engaging! I learn so much every single time I listen. I can’t believe this information is free - If you feel like this too, I’d love it if you would leave us a review. Reviewing the show will help us reach even more store owners, so we can help them grow their sales. Click here, scroll down, tap to rate with 5 stars and select “Write a review”. Let us know what you find most helpful about the podcast! Also, if you haven't already make sure to follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode! Follow now

This week’s episode is a little different—it’s a conversation straight from our weekly marketing team meeting. We started with one question: Why are some store owners seeing big growth this year while others feel stuck? The answer? It’s not more work. It’s better focus. In this episode, you’ll learn: ✔️ Why strategic planning (not just tactics) is the difference-maker ✔️ What top-performing store owners do before asking for help ✔️ How to identify the one metric that moves your business forward ✔️ Why showing up with clarity gets you better coaching ✔️ The “front door product” strategy that’s driving real growth RELATED LINKS: Growth Strategies from my Mastermind (Part 1) https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/growth-strategies-from-my-mastermind-part-1-episode-151/ Growth Strategies from my Mastermind (Part 2) https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/growth-strategies-from-my-mastermind-part-2-episode-152/ Golden Advice from a Multi-6 Figure Maker https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/golden-advice-from-a-multi-6-figure-maker-episode-273/ Jen’s Coaching call: The plan for $20K months https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/jens-coaching-call-the-plan-for-20k-months-episode-264/ How Natalie Built Her Multi-7 Figure Shop https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/how-natalie-built-her-multi-7-figure-shop-episode-272/

It’s so normal to feel a little helpless when your sales are down. But here’s what I know: You have more control over your results than you think. Today I’m giving you a strategy you can use to take control, get out of your slump, and avoid this happening again. You’ll Learn: The 3 metrics that always reveal the real problem Why feelings aren’t facts—and what your Shopify data actually says How to stop comparing month-to-month and get real context The simple weekly tracking habit that will change your business How to ask better questions (and get better support)

Wondering why your sales are stuck—even though you’re doing “all the right things”? In this episode, Susan and Melissa walk through how to use your own Shopify and Klaviyo data to figure out if your traffic is the problem… or if it’s something else entirely. Here’s what you’ll learn: ✔️ How to tell if your store’s traffic is the problem ✔️ What your add-to-cart rate really means ✔️ Why your popup submit rate is the secret signal you’re overlooking ✔️ The most common mistake store owners make when diagnosing slow sales ✔️ How to use Klaviyo’s “sales from signup forms” report to make smart changes RELATED LINKS: How To Get Affordable, Quality Traffic https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/how-to-get-affordable-quality-traffic-episode-235/ 2x Your leads from the traffic you have https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/2x-your-leads-from-the-traffic-you-have-episode-139/ Do you have the wrong traffic? A quick way to tell https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/do-you-have-the-wrong-traffic-a-quick-way-to-tell-episode-50/ Are you leaving $ on the table? Here’s what you MUST know about Popups https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/are-you-leaving-on-the-table-episode-27/

When someone asked, “Which marketing activity actually moves the needle?” we knew we had to talk about it. Because the answer isn’t what you think. In this episode, Susan and Melissa (Inner Circle coach and owner of Bike Pretty) unpack why your store needs multiple touchpoints—and how to simplify without sacrificing growth. What You’ll Learn: ✔️ Why customers rarely buy after just one click ✔️ The truth behind “this isn’t working” ✔️ How to use your Shopify conversion paths to find what’s really bringing in sales ✔️ The easiest way to keep showing up (without reinventing the wheel) ✔️ What to repeat—and what to fix—when sales are slow RELATED LINKS: Should You Hire Someone to Make Your Reels? https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/should-you-hire-someone-to-make-your-reels-episode-277/ The ‘Marketing First’ Strategy That Grew This Business to 4.6M Views https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/the-marketing-first-strategy-that-grew-this-business-to-4-6m-views-episode-257/ What happens when you put Marketing First https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/what-happens-when-you-put-marketing-first-episode-198/ The Stress Free Content Plan That Built A Huge Audience: https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/the-stress-free-content-plan-that-built-a-huge-audience-episode-190/

If your ecommerce sales have hit a plateau around $2K/month, and you’re wondering why it’s not growing, this episode is for you. We’ll break down the one core reason most stores get stuck—and how to shift your strategy so you can grow without sacrificing profit. This isn’t about running a sale or throwing money at ads. It’s about fixing the root problem—and building a business that’s sustainable, scalable, and aligned with your goals. What You’ll Learn: Why your business is likely out of alignment—and how to fix it The problem with chasing growth before your offer is clear The 3 questions every potential customer needs answered How to grow past $2K/month without running discounts or promos The most profitable thing you can do before you invest in more traffic RELATED LINKS: 2 Simple Steps To A Better Conversion Rate https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/2-simple-steps-to-a-better-conversion-rate-episode-268/ What to Do When You Have More Time Than Money in Your Business https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/what-to-do-when-you-have-more-time-than-money-in-your-business-episode-262/ This Will Get You Unstuck https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/this-will-get-you-unstuck-episode-233/ How to Create Profit Goals https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/how-to-create-profit-goals-episode-209/

Today, I’m sharing something that pushed me out of my comfort zone—and it might just do the same for you. I sat down with Suzi Dafnis of HerBusiness to talk about the power of stepping away, creating space, and taking a leap toward your next chapter. 💡 In this episode, you’ll learn: What a business retreat really looks like—and why it’s not just a vacation Why Suzi designed the Trailblazers Retreat for established business owners ready for a shift What past attendees say they’ve walked away with: clarity, connection, and confidence How stepping away on purpose can help you reconnect with your next big move Want to join us in Crete this October? CLICK HERE!

Tired of relying on paid ads? This episode is for you. Susan Bradley and Sarah Williams share the two most powerful (and doable!) strategies they’ve used to generate consistent organic growth for ecommerce brands—without spending a fortune. What you’ll learn: The simple, repeatable collaboration strategy one business owner used to grow her email list by 1,600+ people Why the quality of your leads matters more than the quantity How to use a subscription waitlist and email funnel to add 50–100 customers monthly The real reason collaboration partners don’t need to match you in size or niche Why your future customers need to be “primed” before they’re ready to buy RELATED LINKS: Join me for Brand Collab Bootcamp Sept 8-12, CLICK HERE! The free strategy that got 1600 leads and 34 new customers https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/the-free-strategy-that-got-1600-leads-and-34-new-customers-episode-281/ Massive Growth Organically? Yes, you can! https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/massive-growth-organically-yes-you-can-episode-62/

Have you hesitated to use Collaborations as your strategy for organic growth? If you haven’t tried a few collaborations yet, what you learn in this episode will make you eager to get started. Here’s the backstory: Tina Bar On is our Member Success Coach, AND she owns a small online shop that she runs on a very part-time basis. Early last year, Tina decided that she was going to focus on Collaborations as her growth strategy for 2021. She committed to doing a Collaboration every month and finished out the year with 10 Collabs under her belt. I’ve been talking about the value of Collaborations to anyone who will listen for ages. So when Tina decided to do a “Year of collaborations” I made her promise to share her results in a case study. Listen in and you’ll learn: Details about the Collaboration Events Tina ran Her best strategy to find Collaboration Partners The results of her “year of collaboration” Tina’s best tips on how to make Collaboration Events easy and repeatable! Ready to collaborate and fast track your organic growth? https://classroom.thesocialsalesgirls.com/brand-collab-bootcamp ______________________ Are you constantly asking yourself how to make your website better or questioning your prices? Do you wonder if you're missing something? If you have made sales in person or on a site like Etsy, I know you can sell more on your site. Get my FREE mini-course that will show you our step-by-step process to grow your sales without spending a fortune on risky ad strategies or discounting your products here: https://learn.thesocialsalesgirls.com/conversion-school/ “Insightful, actionable and engaging! I learn so much every single time I listen. I can’t believe this information is free!" - If you feel like this too, I’d love it if you would leave us a review. Reviewing the show will help us reach even more store owners, so we can help them grow their sales. Click here, tap to rate with 5 stars and select “Write a review”. Let us know what you find most helpful about the podcast! Also, if you haven't already make sure to follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode! Follow here!

If you’re ready to hire help—or have tried and been burned—this episode is your roadmap. Susan and Melissa walk you through the full process of hiring, training, and managing help that actually helps. You’ll learn how to outsource without frustration, and how to build systems that make delegation (and growth) sustainable. You’ll learn: ✅ How to prep before you hire (and why it’s the key to success) ✅ What to document before you bring someone on ✅ Where to find the right people—and what to ask before hiring ✅ How to create smart SOPs and clear expectations ✅ The #1 thing most people skip when they hire (and regret later) Links Mentioned: Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell https://www.buybackyourtime.com/ Fiverr https://www.fiverr.com/ Episode #63 – Finding the Right Help https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/what-to-do-when-you-need-new-customers-episode-263/

Thinking about scaling your store? This episode is your checklist. Susan and Inner Circle coach Melissa Davies break down what most store owners get wrong when they try to grow—and the five things you need to do before you scale. If you’re not profitable now, scaling won’t fix it. It’ll just magnify the problem. Tune in to hear how to prepare your business to grow without burning out or running out of cash. You’ll Learn: ✅ Why your first step isn’t marketing—it’s accounting ✅ How to know if you’re really ready to scale ✅ What to look for in a bookkeeper (and how to know if they’re doing it wrong) ✅ How to calculate your cost to acquire a customer ✅ How to set aside a “growth fund” so you’re not scaling on fumes Mentioned in This Episode: Episode 167 – Price to Maximize Profit https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/pricing-to-maximize-profit-episode-167/ Episode 165 – How to Scale Your Sales https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/how-to-scale-your-sales-episode-165/ Episode 262 – What to Do When You Have More Time Than Money https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/what-to-do-when-you-have-more-time-than-money-in-your-business-episode-262/ Episode 187 – What It Costs to Get a Customer https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/do-you-even-know-what-it-costs-to-get-a-new-customer-episode-187/ ______________________ Are you constantly asking yourself how to make your website better or questioning your prices? Do you wonder if you're missing something? If you have made sales in person or on a site like Etsy, I know you can sell more on your site. Get my FREE mini-course that will show you our step-by-step process to grow your sales without spending a fortune on risky ad strategies or discounting your products here: https://learn.thesocialsalesgirls.com/conversion-school/ “Insightful, actionable and engaging! I learn so much every single time I listen. I can’t believe this information is free!" - If you feel like this too, I’d love it if you would leave us a review. Reviewing the show will help us reach even more store owners, so we can help them grow their sales. Click here, tap to rate with 5 stars and select “Write a review”. Let us know what you find most helpful about the podcast! Also, if you haven't already make sure to follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode! Follow here!

We all love a good book recommendation—but some books are more than a great read. They change the way you think, work, and lead. In this episode, Susan shares the three books she’s read (and reread) that have had a lasting impact on her business growth, financial mindset, and personal leadership. These aren’t long reads, but they pack a punch—and they’re worth coming back to again and again. What You’ll Learn: ✔️ The one book Susan re-reads every year—and why it’s always relevant ✔️ What she did differently after reading Profit First (and how it changed her stress levels) ✔️ Why “Let Them” became her go-to mindset reset ✔️ How each book supports ecommerce owners in totally different, but equally powerful, ways ✔️ Why these books are better tools than any trending tactic Books Mentioned: 📘 The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan 📗 Profit First by Mike Michalowicz 📕 The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins ______________________ Are you constantly asking yourself how to make your website better or questioning your prices? Do you wonder if you're missing something? If you have made sales in person or on a site like Etsy, I know you can sell more on your site. Get my FREE mini-course that will show you our step-by-step process to grow your sales without spending a fortune on risky ad strategies or discounting your products here: https://learn.thesocialsalesgirls.com/conversion-school/ “Insightful, actionable and engaging! I learn so much every single time I listen. I can’t believe this information is free!" - If you feel like this too, I’d love it if you would leave us a review. Reviewing the show will help us reach even more store owners, so we can help them grow their sales. Click here, tap to rate with 5 stars and select “Write a review”. Let us know what you find most helpful about the podcast! Also, if you haven't already make sure to follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode! Follow here!

Feel overwhelmed by video content? Wish you could just hire it out? In this episode, Susan and Melissa talk about the real reasons ecommerce store owners get stuck—and why hiring someone to “just make your Reels” isn’t the quick fix you think it is. You’ll hear simple, practical ways to start creating videos that connect with your audience, showcase your products, and drive results—without showing your face or hiring a production team. What You’ll Learn: ✔️ Why hiring out content creation often backfires ✔️ The one thing you must know before outsourcing any role ✔️ Easy, no-face video ideas that still convert ✔️ Why B-roll and slideshows are smarter than you think ✔️ The key ingredient to live video success ✔️ How to turn your customer questions into high-performing content RELATED LINKS: Sign Up for Brand Video Bootcamp Episode 162 – How to Make a Brand Video Episode 106 – The TikTok Strategy That Exploded Sylvie’s Sales Episode 276 – The 3-Part Video Funnel Strategy Emails That Sell Guide

Video is one of the best ways to build trust and grow your ecommerce sales—but without a clear strategy, it can feel overwhelming or like a waste of time. In this episode, we’re sharing the 3 types of videos every store owner needs to grow awareness, increase clicks, and drive conversions—without burning out. You’ll hear what each video should include, when to use it, and how to measure success (spoiler: it’s not just views). What You’ll Learn: ✔️ The one video every store owner should start with ✔️ What to say in your brand video (even if you hate being on camera) ✔️ How to use video to drive real clicks to your product pages ✔️ Why live video works best when everything else is already in place RELATED LINKS: Birdmoss Brand Video Birdmoss Product Video Sew Hungry Hippie Live Video Strategy Brand Video Bootcamp Waitlist - sign up now! Build a Massive Audience with a Brand Video — Episode 162 How to Get 1M Eyeballs on Your Product Every Month – Episode 244

Jen Cura has done what most makers only dream of—she’s built a 12-person team that helps her produce one of the most personal, high-touch products you can sell: keepsake “memory” bears made from sentimental clothing. In this episode, Jen walks us through the framework she used to break down her process, delegate tasks without losing quality, and build a team she trusts—so she could step out of production and into the CEO role. What You’ll Learn: ✔️ How she broke her handmade process into scalable pieces ✔️ The reason she hired task-specific roles instead of general helpers ✔️ The questions that helped her spot red flags early ✔️ Her training system that builds consistency across her team ✔️ Why this works even if you’re not a maker—and even if you’re hiring your first VA RELATED LINKS: The Patchwork Bear Golden Advice from a Multi-6 Figure Maker https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/golden-advice-from-a-multi-6-figure-maker-episode-273/ The $500/Hour Job You Should Be Doing https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/the-500-hour-job-you-should-be-doing-episode-226/ Make your business run without you. Here’s how. https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/make-your-business-run-without-you-heres-how-episode-201/ ______________________ Are you constantly asking yourself how to make your website better or questioning your prices? Do you wonder if you're missing something? If you have made sales in person or on a site like Etsy, I know you can sell more on your site. Get my FREE mini-course that will show you our step-by-step process to grow your sales without spending a fortune on risky ad strategies or discounting your products here: https://learn.thesocialsalesgirls.com/conversion-school/ “Insightful, actionable and engaging! I learn so much every single time I listen. I can’t believe this information is free!" - If you feel like this too, I’d love it if you would leave us a review. Reviewing the show will help us reach even more store owners, so we can help them grow their sales. Click here, tap to rate with 5 stars and select “Write a review”. Let us know what you find most helpful about the podcast! Also, if you haven't already make sure to follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode! Follow here!