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Level Up Your Shopify Game: SEO, Instagram & Brand Protection

This week, we dive into protecting your intellectual property, mastering Instagram's hidden features, implementing winning SEO tactics, and optimizing ad campaigns like industry giants.

In partnership with

👋 Hey Fastlane Insiders!

Quick question: Are you tired of watching your competitors dominate search rankings while your Shopify store struggles to get noticed?

Or maybe you're wondering how major brands protect themselves from counterfeiters eating into their profits?

This week's drops are all about giving you the upper hand.

We're diving into battle-tested SEO strategies that actually move the needle and exploring how to shield your brand from digital pirates. Plus, I'm sharing some game-changing insights on ad optimization from the folks behind Burberry and L'Oréal's success.

Fresh on the Podcast: Two power-packed episodes featuring legal expert Stanley Ference on brand protection strategies and the brilliant minds behind Shirofune sharing their incredible approach to ad optimization that's saving brands 70% of their manual work. (that’s not a typo!)

Let's cut through the noise and get you some real, actionable strategies you can implement today.

Steve

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🎧 New Podcast Episodes!

Protect Your Brand From Counterfeiting

This week, I sat down with Stanley Ference, Founding Principal Attorney at Ference and Associates, who shares his battle-tested strategies for safeguarding your intellectual property in today's digital marketplace.

Stanley draws from 35+ years of IP law experience, starting with US Marshal raids in NYC and evolving to combat sophisticated online counterfeiters. He reveals why traditional brand protection methods fall short and shares proven strategies that work in today's fast-moving digital landscape.

Our discussion covers:

  • Smart strategies for early IP protection before counterfeiters strike

  • Tactical approaches to shut down marketplace fraudsters

  • Proven methods to combat social media "rep talk" promoters

  • Cross-border enforcement strategies that get results

  • Real-world success stories like the NEG egg peeler case

Whether you're a startup founder or an established brand owner, you'll discover actionable steps to protect your intellectual property and maintain brand integrity across all digital channels.

Burberry & L'Oréal's Secret Ad Weapon

I also chatted with Mitsunaga Kikuchi, Founder and CEO of Shirofune, and Rocco Baldassarre, VP of Account Strategy, who share their amazing approach to ad optimization that's transforming how brands manage their digital campaigns.

Mitsunaga and Rocco share why traditional AI-powered tools often fall short, highlighting how their human-first approach has helped major brands like Burberry and L'Oréal achieve extraordinary results. They introduce Shirofune's innovative system, built on 20,000+ hours of coding to mirror human expertise.

Our discussion covers:

  • Automating campaign management to save 70% of manual work

  • Mastering omnichannel budgeting across Meta, Google, and TikTok

  • Leveraging lifetime ROAS for sustainable growth

  • Integrating with attribution tools like Triple Whale

  • Optimizing ad spend for long-term profitability

With an impressive 91% market share in Japan and trusted by industry giants like Dentsu and Rakuten, Shirofune now brings their proven automation expertise to North American advertisers.

💡 Knowledge Drops of the Week

Instagram's Growth Secrets: What's Really Working in 2025

Want to know why some Shopify stores are crushing it on Instagram while others struggle to get noticed? I've analyzed the latest algorithm changes and discovered what's actually moving the needle right now.

Here's a peek at what you'll learn:

  • The 3-second hook that's driving 23% higher engagement in Reels

  • Why fewer hashtags are getting better results (and which ones to use)

  • How smart brands are using AR filters to slash return rates

The most surprising finding? Instagram's now favoring raw, authentic content over those perfectly curated feeds we're all used to. Plus, with new AR try-ons and AI shopping features, the platform's completely changing how customers discover and buy products.

I'm sharing the exact playbook that's helping many clients stand out and drive real sales - including some powerful tactics most stores haven't caught onto yet.

Ecommerce SEO Secrets: Updated 2025 Guide

Ever feel like your Shopify store is stuck in the shadows of bigger brands?

After working with hundreds of successful ecommerce brands, I've gathered the most effective SEO strategies that are driving actual results right now. I'm excited to share these insights with you.

This isn't your typical SEO guide - it's packed with practical techniques you can implement today. From quick technical wins that boost your store's visibility to content frameworks that turn browsers into buyers, you'll get the exact playbook that's working for top-performing Shopify stores.

Ready to stop losing sales to your competitors in search results? Click below to unlock your roadmap to SEO success. Your competition definitely doesn't want you reading this one ;)

🔥 Tool of the Week: Turn Window Shoppers Into Buyers

Tired of watching potential customers browse your store and disappear forever?

Here's something game-changing: Opensend is helping Shopify brands identify and connect with their most interested visitors - even before they make a purchase.

Think about all those people who spend time browsing your best-sellers or checking out multiple product pages. They're interested but not quite ready to buy. Now you can add these high-intent shoppers directly to your Klaviyo lists and nurture them into customers.

If your store gets 15,000+ monthly visitors, you're sitting on a goldmine of untapped revenue. The best part? You can test it out for just $1 and see exactly who's been window shopping on your site.

🤘 That's a wrap for this week's edition!

Thanks for being part of our community of Shopify entrepreneurs. I'm here to help you win - got questions about scaling your business? Hit reply, I personally read and respond to every message. Seriously, try me!

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Keep crushing it,

Steve Hutt