eCommerce Fastlane
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Weekly podcast and blog that provides Shopify merchants with proven marketing strategies and app recommendations to accelerate growth. Hosted by Steve Hutt (Shopify expert and former Merchant Success Manager) sharing insights from top DTC founders and tech partners
Recent Posts
News•Jan 30, 2026
How To Improve and Optimise Core Web Vitals on Shopify – Eastside Co
In this episode, Eastside Co breaks down Core Web Vitals (LCP, CLS, and INP) and explains why they’re crucial for Shopify store performance, SEO, and conversions. The host walks listeners through how Google measures these metrics using field data, how poor scores can hurt rankings and ad spend, and which tools—Search Console, PageSpeed Insights, Lighthouse, and CrUX—should be used to monitor them. Practical optimisation tactics are shared, such as preloading hero images, setting explicit dimensions to prevent layout shifts, and trimming JavaScript and third‑party apps to boost interaction speed. The episode emphasizes a continuous, performance‑first mindset and recommends professional services for deeper code tweaks.
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 30, 2026
Why Your Headless Commerce Investment Isn’t Solving Your Omnichannel Problems (And What Actually Will)
The episode explains why headless commerce alone can’t solve omnichannel challenges, emphasizing the need for a robust orchestration layer that connects front‑end speed with back‑end operations. While headless architecture delivers fast, personalized shopping experiences, it fails at inventory visibility, order...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 30, 2026
What Is Local Ecommerce? How To Market Your Store Locally
The episode explains local ecommerce—selling online while targeting a defined geographic area—and outlines a six‑step framework for launching and scaling such a business, from market identification to high‑quality local customer service. It highlights the growing consumer preference for supporting local...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 30, 2026
Inventory Velocity: Formula To Calculate + How To Improve It
The episode explains inventory velocity—a metric that measures how quickly ecommerce businesses sell through stock—and why it’s vital for cash flow, storage costs, and competitive fulfillment speed. It walks listeners through the simple formula (units sold ÷ time period) and...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 30, 2026
Upgrading E-Commerce Client Bolster with Salesforce Involvement Cloud
The episode explains how Salesforce Experience Cloud can transform e‑commerce support by creating a unified, self‑service portal that integrates orders, cases, and CRM data. It highlights the benefits of reduced support costs, personalized omnichannel experiences, and secure customer or partner...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 30, 2026
Best Post-Purchase Survey Questions: 2026 Guide
In this episode, Emily Manley explains why post‑purchase surveys are a critical source of zero‑party data and outlines how to design them for maximum response. She shares best practices—keeping surveys to 1‑3 questions, timing them around checkout and delivery, and...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 30, 2026
9 Best UI Design Tools for 2026
The episode walks listeners through the nine top UI design tools for ecommerce, explaining how each platform—from Shopify's no‑code builder to AI‑driven Lovable—helps create attractive, conversion‑focused storefronts. It clarifies the distinction between UI and UX, emphasizing that visual design must...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 30, 2026
How To Measure Email & SMS Incrementality With Klaviyo
In this episode Ben Zettler explains how ecommerce marketers can measure the true incremental impact of email and SMS using Klaviyo, distinguishing incrementality from standard attribution. He walks listeners through setting up controlled holdout groups and program‑level suppression tests, detailing...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 30, 2026
Product Recommendation Quiz Guide: 8 Strategies For Sales
The episode breaks down how product‑recommendation quizzes can transform e‑commerce by tackling choice paralysis and harvesting zero‑party data. It walks listeners through the full quiz creation process—from defining a single goal and selecting the right quiz type, to crafting conversational...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 29, 2026
SEO and SMM: How To Use SEO and SMM for Stellar Marketing
In this episode Roxanne Voidonicolas breaks down how SEO and social media marketing (SMM) can work together rather than compete, outlining the core components of each—on‑page, off‑page, technical and local SEO versus organic posts, paid ads and influencer work. She...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 29, 2026
How To Make Iron-On Patches In 2026
In this episode, Andris Mucenieks walks listeners through the entire process of creating iron‑on patches in 2026, covering both DIY methods—using transfer paper, embroidery, or fabric paint—and the advantages of leveraging print‑on‑demand services for scalable production. He explains the science...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 29, 2026
Free Stock Videos: Unlocking Professional Quality Content Without Breaking the Bank
The episode explains how free stock videos can instantly upgrade the visual quality of marketing, educational, and personal projects without the high costs of original production. It outlines a simple workflow—selecting appropriate clips, checking licenses, customizing with brand elements, and...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 29, 2026
Why DTF Transfers Are Becoming a Competitive Advantage For E-Commerce Brands
The episode explains how Direct‑to‑Film (DTF) transfers are giving e‑commerce apparel brands a competitive edge by enabling faster product launches, on‑demand fulfillment, and consistent, durable prints across a range of fabrics. It outlines a practical workflow—printing designs onto film, quality‑checking...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 29, 2026
Amaze Expands Creator Merchandising With Plushies
Amaze Holdings announced a new creator‑powered merch line featuring customizable plush toys, enabled by a partnership with OpenWav.AI’s inventory‑light, global fulfillment platform. The rollout will begin with a limited group of managed creators and later expand to all Amaze users,...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 29, 2026
Effective E-Commerce Branding: Big Rig World As An Example
The episode dissects how niche e‑commerce brands can build strong identities and loyal communities, using truck‑parts retailer Big Rig World as a case study. It highlights the power of a deep, well‑organized catalog, clear “Hot Deals” promotions, and expert‑level content that educates...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 29, 2026
What Is A PPC Landing Page (And How To Actually Use One To Get Better Results)
The episode explains that a PPC landing page is a single‑purpose web page designed to turn ad clicks into a specific action, such as a sale, lead, or download, by matching the ad’s promise and removing distractions. It outlines the...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 29, 2026
Best Attentive Alternatives And Competitors To Consider In 2026
The episode breaks down Attentive’s niche in SMS and RCS automation and why its demo‑only, custom‑priced model suits mid‑size to large brands. It then surveys 11 alternatives, highlighting Omnisend as the top all‑round ecommerce choice with global SMS, email, and...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 29, 2026
What Helped Wild Rye Land 100+ Retailers and Raise $1 Million
In this episode, founder Cassie Abel discusses how Wild Rye transformed the outdoor apparel market by designing high‑performance gear specifically for women and embedding purpose into every decision, from sustainability certifications to social advocacy. She shares how building long‑term, trust‑based...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 29, 2026
Instagram Verification Cost in 2026: What Brands Should Know
The episode breaks down Instagram verification in 2026, explaining the two badge options—free verification for notable accounts and the paid Meta Verified subscription that any eligible user can purchase. It details pricing tiers, from $11.99/month for individuals to up to...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 29, 2026
Shopify SEO Migration: How To Preserve Organic Traffic
In this Trustpilot episode, the host walks listeners through the SEO challenges of migrating an e‑commerce site to Shopify and offers a step‑by‑step checklist to safeguard organic traffic. Key pitfalls highlighted include missing redirects, altering title tags, changing internal link...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 29, 2026
Wunderkind + Klaviyo: Turning Anonymous Traffic Into Our Next Growth Chapter
In this episode, the hosts announce Wunderkind’s integration into the Klaviyo App Marketplace, turning the former competitor into a strategic partner. The discussion explains how Wunderkind’s real‑time identity resolution and AI‑driven decisioning layer can be embedded directly within Klaviyo’s email...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 28, 2026
How Shopify Merchants Can Scale Meta and Google Ads While Maintaining High ROAS
The episode outlines a practical playbook for Shopify merchants handling 100‑3,000 orders monthly to scale Meta and Google ads while preserving high ROAS. It emphasizes limiting budget hikes to 5‑15% every two weeks, using evergreen campaign structures, consolidating product variants,...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 28, 2026
How To Use the 12-Week Year to Select the Right Goals
In this episode the host explains how to use the 12‑Week Year framework to pick the few high‑leverage goals that truly move you toward your vision. By starting with a three‑year vision, defining 2‑3 critical streams, uncovering the biggest obstacles,...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 28, 2026
Best Brands on TikTok: Tips To Optimize Your Brand Presence
In this episode Esther Vogelfanger breaks down TikTok marketing, highlighting why the platform’s authentic, short‑form video format and booming TikTok Shop make it a powerhouse for brand growth. She showcases six standout brands—Fenty Beauty, GymShark, The Washington Post, Olipop, HOKA,...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 28, 2026
Gmail Enters The Gemini Era: What Actually Changes For Email Marketers?
The episode breaks down Gmail’s new Gemini‑powered AI features and explains why they don’t upend email marketing fundamentals. While AI‑driven priority ranking and summarization will surface low‑engagement messages faster, the core rule remains: send clear, relevant emails with a single...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 28, 2026
Email Marketing Trends To Watch in 2026
The episode outlines seven key email‑marketing trends shaping 2026, from built‑in AI tools that draft copy and suggest send times, to smarter behavior‑driven automation, deeper personalization using first‑party data, and interactive, mobile‑first designs. It highlights how small businesses can leverage...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 28, 2026
How to Build an SEO Measurement Framework That Actually Holds Up in a Growth Review
The episode walks listeners through building a robust SEO measurement framework that ties every optimization to a specific business outcome, such as new‑customer revenue or conversion rate, and maps pages to funnel intent. It emphasizes starting with a single, time‑bound...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 28, 2026
The True Cost Of Starting An Online Business: Hidden Expenses To Budget For
In this episode, Julia Shelley breaks down the often‑overlooked costs of launching an online business, revealing that the average first‑year spend tops $40,000 despite the perception of low startup costs. She details hidden expenses such as multiple software subscriptions, legal...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 28, 2026
9 Practical Strategies to Align Warehouse Operations with E-Commerce Demands
The episode outlines nine actionable strategies for transforming warehouses into real‑time e‑commerce fulfillment engines, emphasizing tight ERP‑centric integration, real‑time visibility, and flexible inventory pooling across all locations. It highlights the importance of synchronizing online orders with picking, packing, and shipping,...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 28, 2026
Amaze To Sponsor SoCom 2026
Amaze Holdings announced its official sponsorship of the second‑annual SoCom Conference, a premier social‑commerce event in Venice Beach on Feb. 26, 2026. The partnership underscores Amaze’s focus on creator‑led retail as the global social‑commerce market heads toward a $5.2 trillion valuation by 2030,...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 28, 2026
Long-Tail Keywords: The Ultimate 2026 Guide
In this episode, Rana Vikramaditya breaks down the power of long‑tail keywords in 2026, explaining how they capture high‑intent searchers and outperform broad terms in conversion. He outlines practical steps to discover these phrases—from seed keywords and Google SERP features...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 28, 2026
How To Design Black Websites: Examples + Tips
In this episode Kaushiki explains how to design effective black‑background websites, outlining their advantages for brand differentiation, visual impact, and relevance to luxury, tech, and streetwear sectors. She balances this with the drawbacks—readability issues, higher cognitive load, and limited aesthetic...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 27, 2026
The Best Businesses To Start In 2026
In this episode, Andris Mucenieks outlines the top 14 business ideas to launch in 2026, highlighting low‑cost, online‑first models such as print‑on‑demand, AI‑based services, sustainable product stores, and digital offerings like courses, affiliate marketing, and VR/AR content. He backs each...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 27, 2026
Dialogue Integration With Instagram & TikTok
In this episode, Omri Katz discusses how brands can leverage Dialogue’s integration with Instagram and TikTok to deliver personalized customer experiences. He explains the technical steps for syncing product catalogs, automating messaging, and using social commerce tools to drive engagement...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 27, 2026
A Tactical Guide to B2B Ecommerce Growth: Tools, Workflows & Metrics
The episode outlines a tactical framework for scaling B2B eCommerce by focusing on five foundational pillars: clean, centralized product data; a human‑centric buyer experience; aligned sales and marketing; blended assisted‑self‑serve options; and seamless omnichannel back‑office sync. It walks listeners through...
By eCommerce Fastlane