3.
Email marketing is a must for most eCommerce businesses. But setting up your own email campaigns can raise a lot of questions.
Beyond one-off promotional emails and newsletters, you can set up automated emails, like abandoned cart reminders and welcome emails for new subscribers, to generate value for your business in the background while you work on attracting more traffic, subscribers, and customers.
But because emails are restricted to the inbox, email marketing strategies can be quite opaque.
With MailCharts (free plan) you can see what emails a brand is sending to its customers, along with frequency, subject lines, and promotional mix to inspire your own strategy.
mailcharts email marketing analytics
There is also a gallery where you can filter by specific email types (order confirmation, Black Friday Cyber Monday, etc.), which are even rated based on their effectiveness.
A thorough competitive analysis can make comparison your friend, helping you understand the landscape so you can chart your own path forward.
You can start yours by using our free competitive analysis template, which includes key points of comparison—from price to target audience—to jot down as you research your competition.
Free Competitive Analysis Template for Your Business
4. Don't be afraid to ask for help
Resourceful people are often skilled canadian email address list at solving problems on their own, but it's not the only way forward. Social skill is an option that is often forgotten due to the pressure to be individualistic.
But seeking advice or support from others is a form of intelligence, not weakness.
There are countless online communities and resources, many of them free, where you can connect with other entrepreneurs or helpful advisors. You can even form your own mastermind group comprised of like-minded friends who are embarking on similar journeys and are ready to support each other.
Five hands fist bumping in the center of the frame
Here are some ways to be resourceful in business for those times when you get stuck:
Take advantage of customer service. Most of the tools you use to run your business will have customer service representatives who could help you navigate your issues. Service calls for technical issues can end with good business advice on what to do next. It doesn’t hurt to ask. Shopify service advisors are available 24/7 to talk about your business and selling with Shopify.
Attend virtual meetups. Connecting with other entrepreneurs can provide you with some of the most valuable contacts you’ll ever make. These are people just like you who “know what they’re talking about.” Some of them have even been where you are now, or vice versa. Shopify Meetups regularly host virtual events that you can attend and connect with other like-minded entrepreneurs.
Hire an expert. If you’re struggling with a critical area of your business, such as store design or paid marketing, you can hire an experienced Shopify Expert to help you out. Delegating may mean stepping outside your comfort zone, but it’s a clear example of good initiative.
Ask for help on forums. People gather on forums like Reddit and Quora around common interests and questions, making them a great place to find answers. See if anyone has already asked your question. If not, you can ask it and hopefully find an answer. The Shopify Community is our official forum for all things Shopify.
Participate in online communities. There are dozens of specialized online communities you can join. Even if you're just watching, listening is always good. And whenever you have a question or want feedback on an idea, you can ask the group. Try searching through Facebook groups to find one that's relevant to you.
Often, achieving goals is easier when done together. Building community can offer a lifelong resource for entrepreneurs. Lina, owner of Sooala, found hers through an entrepreneurship camp.