In this episode of the Product Growth Lab podcast, hosts Andrew George and Melissa Pikul delve into effective strategies for driving traffic to your store without relying on paid ads. They discuss the importance of leveraging organic traffic sources, such as social media, Pinterest, Google SEO, and email marketing. The hosts emphasize quality over quantity in social media posts, the long-term benefits of SEO, and the unique advantages Pinterest offers as a hybrid social/search platform. This episode is packed with actionable insights to help creative product-based business owners grow their ventures sustainably and effectively.

00:00 Introduction to Product Growth Lab Podcast

00:32 Episode Introduction: Driving Traffic Without Ads

01:13 The Four Buckets of Traffic

02:59 Best Organic Traffic Sources for Handmade Businesses

03:26 Why Avoid Paid Ads?

05:05 Focus on Pinterest for Long-Term Traffic

12:05 Google Search and SEO Strategies

16:24 Effective Social Media Strategies Without Burnout

23:12 The Importance of Email Marketing

24:46 Conclusion and Next Week's Preview

Join hosts Andrew George and Melissa Pikul in this episode of the Product Growth Lab podcast as they discuss the importance of expanding handmade businesses beyond Etsy. They explain the hidden downsides of relying solely on Etsy, such as not owning your audience, high fees, arbitrary policy changes, and competition. Andrew and Melissa advocate for transitioning to platforms like Shopify, which offer lower fees and greater control over customer data and brand experience. Listen in for practical strategies on setting up a high-converting website, driving traffic organically, utilizing email marketing, and scaling your business sustainably. Subscribe for more actionable insights and real-life stories from successful business owners and experts.

Resources Mentioned:

Facebook Group

Flash Sale in a Snap Workbook

00:00 Welcome to the Product Growth Lab

00:31 Why You Need to Expand Beyond Etsy

02:05 Hidden Downsides of Relying on Etsy

11:48 Benefits of Having Your Own Website

24:48 How to Transition from Etsy to Your Own Website

26:34 Conclusion and Next Steps

In this episode of the Product Growth Lab podcast, Andrew and Melissa discuss strategies and insights for maximizing the effectiveness of email marketing in 2023. They emphasize the importance of analytics for focusing efforts and understanding traffic sources. They bring attention to the significance of sending regular emails, segmentation, maintaining a good sender reputation, and employing automation. The conversation includes tips on using platforms like Klaviyo, the role of AI in email content, and best practices for ensuring email deliverability. They wrap up by motivating listeners to experiment with flash sales and encouraging community engagement for more personalized support.

Resources Mentioned:

Facebook Group

Flash Sale in a Snap Workbook

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:40 Technical Difficulties and Podcast Beginnings

01:25 Importance of Reviews and Analytics

03:49 Email Marketing Strategies for 2025

08:10 Automation and Optimization in Email Marketing

17:57 Segmentation and Reputation Management

30:46 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Offers

In the first episode of 2025, Andrew George and Melissa Pikul discuss emerging trends in the e-commerce industry. They dive into the role of AI in business, the rise of live shopping experiences, and the importance of sustainability. They also explore subscription models, local and micro-community marketing, and the benefits and challenges of multi-channel sales strategies. This episode offers valuable insights and actionable tips for creative product-based business owners looking to grow their businesses in the coming year.

Resources Mentioned:

Facebook Group

Flash Sale in a Snap Workbook

Membership Waitlist

00:00 Welcome to the Product Growth Lab Podcast

00:35 2025 Trends and Opportunities for E-commerce

01:20 The Impact of AI on Business

05:45 Live Shopping Experiences

10:23 Sustainability in Business

12:44 Subscriptions and Membership Models

17:41 Localized and Micro Community Marketing

19:49 Multi-Channel Sales Strategies

27:30 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Avoiding Common Giveaway Pitfalls for Business Growth

In this episode of the Product Growth Lab podcast, hosts Andrew George and Melissa Pikul dive into the topic of giveaways and reveal common mistakes to avoid. They discuss why giveaways are effective for list growth, brand awareness, and sales, but also caution against errors such as choosing the wrong prize, overcomplicating the entry process, ignoring legal guidelines, failing to promote the giveaway, and neglecting follow-up. The hosts provide actionable tips and share real-life examples to ensure that listeners can run successful and effective giveaways for their product-based businesses.

Resources Mentioned:

Facebook Group

Flash Sale in a Snap Workbook

00:00 Welcome to the Product Growth Lab Podcast

00:35 Introduction to Today's Topic: Giveaways

01:19 Common Pitfalls of Giveaways

01:58 Choosing the Right Prize

05:52 Simplifying the Entry Process

11:05 Legal and Platform Rules

14:29 Promoting Your Giveaway

18:09 Following Up After the Giveaway

22:50 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Finding Winning Products Your Customers Actually Want

In this episode of the Product Growth Lab podcast hosted by Melissa Pikul, creative product-based business owners learn how to identify and develop products that resonate with customers. Highlighting actionable strategies and real-life examples, the episode covers understanding target audiences, analyzing market trends, and leveraging customer feedback. Listeners also get tips on innovating to solve customer problems and validating product ideas through small-scale testing. The show wraps up with a promotion for a flash sale guide to boost sales quickly.

Resources Mentioned:

Facebook Group

Flash Sale in a Snap Workbook

00:00 Welcome to the Product Growth Lab Podcast

00:31 Finding Winning Products Your Customers Want

01:15 Understanding Your Target Audience

02:40 Engaging with Your Audience for Feedback

07:06 Analyzing Market Trends and Competitors

12:45 Starting Small and Testing Products

19:36 Leveraging Customer Feedback and Data

23:47 Innovating to Solve Customer Problems

27:56 Conclusion and Next Steps

Reflecting on 2024: Wins, Challenges, and Trends for Creative Entrepreneurs

In the final episode of 2024, hosts Andrew George and Melissa Pikul reflect on the journey of the Product Growth Lab podcast and share key lessons learned throughout the year. They discuss the rollercoaster of events in the business world, the rise of AI, the ongoing shift towards privacy, personalized consumer demands, and the increasing focus on sustainability. The episode also covers challenges like supply chain issues and rising ad costs, and emphasizes the importance of simplifying strategies, focusing on a single customer, and producing high-quality content. Listeners are encouraged to rest, reflect, and prepare for a successful 2025 while staying excited for what's to come in the new year.

Resources Mentioned:

Facebook Group

Flash Sale in a Snap Workbook

00:00 Welcome to the Product Growth Lab Podcast

00:31 Reflecting on 2024: Podcast and Business Highlights

04:07 The Impact of AI on Small Businesses

06:54 Privacy Trends and First-Party Data

09:21 Personalization in E-commerce

11:19 Sustainability and Ethical Consumerism

17:43 Supply Chain Challenges and Adaptations

21:20 Ad Costs and Competition Challenges

22:52 The Shift in Advertising Strategies

25:29 Focusing on Organic Traffic

27:04 Lessons Learned in 2024

29:30 Simplifying Business Strategies

30:28 The Importance of Customer Focus

32:49 Avoiding Shiny Object Syndrome

33:30 Taking the Leap and Overcoming Procrastination

41:18 Reflecting on 2024 and Looking Ahead to 2025

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Turning First-Time Customers into Loyal Buyers

In this episode of the Product Growth Lab podcast, hosts Andrew George and Melissa Pickle discuss strategies for turning first-time customers into loyal repeat buyers. They emphasize the importance of providing exceptional first purchase experiences, utilizing post-purchase follow-up emails, and personalizing interactions. They also cover the benefits of offering incentives and maintaining excellent customer service to foster loyalty. The episode provides actionable tips and real-life examples to help business owners create lasting customer relationships.

Resources Mentioned:

Facebook Group

Flash Sale in a Snap Workbook

00:00 Introduction to Product Growth Lab Podcast

00:32 Turning First-Time Customers into Loyal Buyers

02:50 Providing an Exceptional First Purchase Experience

09:16 Follow-Up Post Purchase Emails

12:50 Building Loyalty Through Personalization

15:05 Encouraging Loyalty with Incentives

20:09 Maintaining Excellent Customer Service

25:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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