Episode 222: Build Your E-Commerce Site Right: How to Turn Browsers into Buyers

The Smart Marketer Podcast

Episode Description

Your website is more than a digital storefront—it’s the heart of your brand. In this episode, John Grimshaw, Ezra Firestone, and Kurt Elster unpack the proven strategies behind high-converting e-commerce sites. From the pitfalls of homepage design to the power of mobile-first thinking, they reveal how to turn casual visitors into loyal customers. If you want to build a brand that lasts (not just a business that sells), this is your roadmap.

"Get out of your own way. Your customers don't care how pretty your site is—they care how easy it is to buy." — Kurt Elster

You Will Learn:

• Why relying solely on marketplaces limits your growth—and how to take back control.

• The #1 metric that matters when building an e-commerce site.

• How to structure your homepage for maximum impact (hint: it's not about looking like Apple).

• The mobile-first mindset that can double your conversions.

• The quick fix that boosted conversion rates by 24%—without redesigning the whole site.

Links & Resources

• Omnisend – Use code SMART for 50% off your first 3 months.

• Smart Marketer

• Kurt Elster

• Smart Marketer Live

Timestamps (Chapters)

• 00:00:48 – Ezra’s Top Tool for Email & SMS: Omnisend

• 00:02:10 – Why You Must Build Your Own Website (and Not Just Sell on Marketplaces)

• 00:05:17 – The #1 Goal for Your Website: Capture Information

• 00:06:27 – The Secret to High-Converting Sites? Convenience

• 00:07:07 – Homepage Design: Your Site’s Table of Contents

• 00:11:05 – Skip the Pretty Graphics: Why Your Hero Image Might Hurt Sales

• 00:12:38 – The #1 Mistake in E-Commerce: Ignoring Mobile-First Design

• 00:14:50 – Your Menu is the Map: How to Structure Navigation for Sales

• 00:15:55 – How We Boosted Conversion Rates by 24% With One Simple Fix

• 00:17:21 – Competing with Amazon: Why Relationships Win

• 00:19:28 – Final Takeaways: Build for Your Audience, Not Your Ego

• 00:20:19 – Thanks for Listening & Next Steps

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