The Customer-First, Growth-Focused Ecommerce Playbook

👋 Hey Fastlane Insiders!

I've got some seriously powerful content lined up for you this week to help you unlock new opportunities for your Shopify store.

Fresh on the Podcast: Ever wonder why 70% of Amazon sellers struggle to get traction? My chat with Dylan Lam from Omirank reveals a fascinating 4-step validation process that turns conventional product launch wisdom on its head. You'll discover how to build brand presence beyond Amazon, tap into Kickstarter for community building, and capitalize on TikTok Shop's massive potential.

Knowledge Drops You Can't Miss: Want to boost your store's visibility? I've put together an in-depth guide on link equity that'll help you climb those search rankings. You'll learn exactly how high-authority backlinks work and the smart ways to build them for maximum impact. Plus, we're diving into AI-powered personalization strategies that can transform your customer experience.

Pick the topic that interests you most and dive in - each piece is packed with actionable tips you can use right away in your store.

(PS: If someone forwarded this to you, grab your own subscription to get these weekly knowledge drops directly in your inbox!)

Let's dive in...

Steve

Increase your DTC margin 4-15% with coupon protection

KeepCart: Coupon Protection partners with D2C brands like Quince, Blueland, Vessi and more to stop/monitor coupon leaks to sites/extensions like Honey, CapitalOne, RetailMeNot, and more to boost your DTC margins

Overpaid commissions to affiliates and influencers add up fast - Get rid of the headache and revenue losses with KeepCart.

Try it 14 days free - No risk, Cancel anytime

🎧 Fresh From the Fastlane

Looking to elevate your Amazon sales strategy beyond conventional methods?

In this episode, I sat down with Dylan Lam, Founder of Omirank, who shares his groundbreaking approach to Amazon selling that defies traditional e-commerce wisdom.

Dylan shares the pitfalls of over-relying on tools like Helium10 and Jungle Scout, highlighting that 70% of sellers face failure without proper validation. He introduces a comprehensive 4-step validation process essential for successful product launches. Our discussion covers:

• Building brand presence outside Amazon

• Leveraging external momentum for platform dominance

• Strategic use of Kickstarter for community building

• Managing rising PPC costs effectively

• Capitalizing on TikTok Shop opportunities

Whether you're an Amazon seller, Shopify merchant, or multichannel retailer, this episode offers valuable insights to help you validate, launch, and scale your products successfully.

Tune in to discover how to transform your Amazon strategy and achieve sustainable growth.

Listen in HERE →

Struggling with fragmented logistics and rising delivery costs?

My chat with Sean Henry, Co-Founder and CEO of Stord, reveals a solution transforming how Shopify brands handle fulfillment and post-purchase experiences. You’ll discover how Stord’s unified platform blends cutting-edge technology, data-driven insights, and a vast network of fulfillment centers to help brands deliver Amazon-like experiences.

What makes this episode a must-listen?

Sean shares how Stord is revolutionizing logistics by:

• Streamlining inventory planning and demand forecasting with predictive analytics.

• Turning logistics into a growth driver instead of a cost center.

• Eliminating inefficiencies in fulfillment, shipping, and returns management.

The best part? You’ll hear how brands reduce costs, speed up delivery times, and delighting customers—all while keeping operations scalable and efficient.

If you’re ready to learn more about optimizing your logistics, this episode is for you…

Listen in HERE →

💡 Knowledge Drops of The Week

The Future of Shopify Personalization is Here

Want to skyrocket your average order value and keep customers coming back for more?

Then you need to understand AI-powered personalization!

This week, I broke down how Rebuy Engine is making this happen for Shopify stores. We're talking about showing the right offers at the right time, leading to happier customers and a healthier bottom line.

Ready to see the power of Rebuy in action?

Click here to read the full discussion!

Your Website Has Hidden SEO Power (Are You Using It?)

This week, I cracked the code on link equity – think of it as the secret sauce for boosting your best product pages and collections in Google. Understanding how link value flows through your site means you can finally:

• Improve your search rankings without chasing endless backlinks

• Build a stronger foundation for long-term traffic growth

• Avoid common linking mistakes that hurt your store's visibility

I’ve uncovered a few overlooked tactics that can supercharge your store’s SEO—don’t miss these insights!

Read more HERE →

🔥 Trending Tool - Stop Letting Website Visitors Slip Away!

🤫 Ever wonder who those anonymous visitors are almost buying from you?

Opensend's smart tech quietly uncovers the shoppers showing real interest – even if they haven't signed up or bought yet. Imagine adding those high-intent folks to your Klaviyo list and watching your sales climb.

DTC Shopify brands are seeing serious ROI with this platform.

Ready to see who's been hiding?

Give Opensend a spin for just $1 and unlock your hidden revenue!

Perfect for Shopify stores with 15k+ monthly visitors ready to scale smarter, not harder.

We read every email, comment, and response from our community of Shopify entrepreneurs daily.

Have questions about your Shopify journey - whether you're just starting out, looking to scale, or ready to optimize your established brand? Hit reply - I personally read and respond to all messages.

Do you know another Shopify merchant or marketer who could benefit from these growth strategies? Share this newsletter with them.

Cheers!
Steve Hutt - Founder | Podcast Host
eCommerce Fastlane

P.S. Been with us since 2016 or just joined? Your success is our mission. If our weekly insights aren't helping accelerate your entrepreneurial journey, you can unsubscribe anytime.