Things are changing every day in eCommerce. For one, we just lived through 2020. But eCommerce has always operated and breakneck speed, which means you need to keep up to keep selling.
Whether you’re just breaking into eCommerce now and are trying to learn your basics, or whether you’re a veteran keeping an eye out for the next optimization, there’s always going to be a mountain of new data.
By continually developing your eCommerce skills, you can make sure you stay ahead of your competitors and optimize for conversions.
11 Learning resources for eCommerce sellers
From podcasts to blogs and Facebook groups, there’s a plethora of places to go to for educational resources. Make sure you check out the following places if you want to sharpen your eCommerce skills and stay at the forefront of the online industry.
1) Deliverr (Blog)
I’m heavily biased toward this one, since I run content marketing at Deliverr. But that means I can honestly say if you’re an eCommerce seller, you should be reading the Deliverr blog.
Diversification is key in eCommerce; more sales channels means more money and stability, in case something happens to one of your revenue streams.
Deliverr’s blog covers all the topics multi-channel sellers need to know to succeed everywhere they sell. We introduce new concepts like the 14:1 rule on Walmart and using category relativity to figure out where to sell next.
We show merchants how to succeed on individual marketplaces, and also as multi-channel sellers who must have efficient, effective processes to ensure an error-free experience while coordinating multiple marketplaces and websites.
Deliverr offers end-to-end fulfillment solutions for multi-channel eCommerce sellers. The Deliverr blog is overflowing with strategies, advice and case studies to help you leverage the benefits of multi-channel eCommerce.
Read: Are your delivery standards slipping? Are your cart abandonment rates going up, and conversion rate and visibility going down? Are you ready to expand, or growing too quickly to keep up with demand? It may be time to switch from in-house to outsourced fulfillment.
2) Teikametrics (Blog, eBooks)
As an entrepreneur, you may already be aware of the flywheel effect. Coined by Jim Collins, the “flywheel effect” is what happens when all of your combined efforts work together and gain momentum to spin the flywheel.
Once a flywheel gets going, it becomes easier to keep up the speed with minimal input, creating a self-sustaining, conversion-generating machine.
The Teikametrics blog offers insights into the flywheel effect and eCommerce metrics to make your efforts go further. Their website also contains a library of useful content for eCommerce business owners. This includes eBooks, webinars, brand performance matrix, and case studies that you can learn from to increase your profits.
Read: If you want to get ahead of your competitors with Amazon Ads, this Amazon Ad Types Cheat Sheet is one for you. Save this article and reference it when setting up your Amazon Ads to help you maximise your advertising return on investment.
3) My Wife Quit Her Job (Podcast)
Sometimes the best way to learn is to go along for the ride in someone else’s story.
On the My Wife Quit Her Job podcast, Steve Chou interviews other small business entrepreneurs who have bootstrapped their businesses and started their own ventures. In this podcast, Steve and his guests reveal the strategies that led to their business success.
Listen: The “How To Rank An Ecommerce Store In Search” podcast episode with Jeff Oxford is a great listen for any eCommerce business owner wanting to secure the top spot in Google search results.
4) Web Retailer (Blog and website)
If you want to learn how to grow your eCommerce business, Web Retailer is a great starting point. Their website contains all of the information and resource you need to successfully sell online. Web Retailer is passionate about helping eCommerce business of all sizes find success in the online industry.
Read: Harness the power of multi-channel sales by reading Web Retailer’s 9 eBay Alternatives: The Best Seller-Friendly Marketplaces To Consider. This article shares a list of seller-friendly marketplaces to help you get your eCommerce business up and running.
5) JungleScout (Blog)
If you’re in eCommerce, you’re probably on Amazon in some capacity. Make sure you keep up-to-date with the latest JungleScout articles.
Jungle Scout is an all-in-one platform for Amazon product research. Through the Jungle Scout blogs, both beginner FBA sellers and seasoned Amazon experts will be able to expand their eCommerce knowledge.
Read: We love this “Why Sell on Amazon?” blog post for understanding why your competitors choose Amazon, and the reasons why they quit their eCommerce journey.
6) Helium 10 (Blog, webinars, podcast)
Helium 10 is a product research tool for eCommerce sellers. Offering insights into keyword research, product listing optimization, and more, the Helium 10 website is full of great learning material for business owners with Amazon stores.
Along with their blog, Helium 10 also has several free tools to help you get a competitive advantage over other sellers.
Watch: Your keyword strategy is critical for being seen by high-intent shoppers. In their webinar on How To Crush The Competition With Keyword Research, Helium 10 breaks down how to optimize for the right keywords to outshine the competition.
7) Shopify Masters (Podcast)
Selling online isn’t all about Amazon. Direct-to-consumer (D2C) is an excellent option that gives you more control over your channel, audience, and platform. You set your own rules and get a direct line to your customers, stripping out any mention of the competition (unlike in marketplaces, where you’re showcased side-by-side).
The Shopify Masters podcast, although designed for Shopify store owners, is a great learning tool for anyone in the eCommerce industry.
Every week on Tuesday, the Shopify Masters podcast invites an eCommerce business founder to talk about their business, share the lessons they’ve learned, and offer helpful resources. This podcast offers an ideal learning opportunity for any eCommerce owner.
Listen: Your dreams of starting an eCommerce business may stem from an idea of wanting to work on something you are passionate about. This Shopify Masters Turning Your Passion Project Into a Seven-Figure Business episode is one to listen to if you have ever dreamed of making money from your passion project.
8) eCommerce Growth 7 & 8-Figures Mastermind by AdKings (Facebook group)
You can learn a lot from joining Facebook Groups; and the AdKings mastermind on Facebook is no exception to that rule.
The AdKings Facebook group will teach you how to leverage social media ads for eCommerce sales. With approximately 2,000 members, the group gives you the opportunity to connect with other eCommerce sellers, share your experiences and learn how to grow your business.
9) Payability (Blog)
Sometimes the best way to learn is through experience. Payability showcases case studies of one of their eCommerce funding products, showing sellers how to smartly utilize their capital for inventory and marketing.
The Payability blog also offers great advice for sellers looking to level up their eCommerce sales. Stay tuned into the Payability blog for the latest eCommerce news and insightful Payability case studies.
Our top pick: We loved reading the Payability Case Study with Go Buddha. In this case study, Josh Ingraham talks about his experience growing the Go Buddha business through Payability Instant Advance. If you’re interested in learning more about funding for eCommerce businesses, this case study offers some interesting insights.
10) Sellbrite Ecommerce Blog
In order to succeed in the eCommerce industry, you need to sell across multiple sales channels. The Sellbrite resource center encourages you to reap the benefits of multi-channel sales through their exhaustive supply of educational materials.
The Sellbrite blog offers everything you need to know about multi-channel selling. With resource guides on how to sell smarter across various channels to in-depth eCommerce blog posts and insightful webinars, Sellbrite is a must-follow. Their blog covers topics such as retail trends, multi-channel operations, and growth strategies.
Read: It’s not just omnichannel sales that’s important; you should also think about having an omnichannel marketing strategy. In this article, Sellbrite shares 7 Omnichannel Marketing Strategies to Boost eCommerce Sales.
11) BigCommerce (Blog)
BigCommerce is an SaaS eCommerce platform designed to make your eCommerce journey as stress-free as possible. Their blog is loaded with educational articles and actionable insights for growing your D2C eCommerce business.
Read: If you’re just starting out in the eCommerce industry, the 5 Essential Steps for How to Start a Dropshipping Business contains everything you need to know about starting your own dropshipping business.
There are of course so many more resources out there to learn about eCommerce, but those are the websites I personally use and subscribe to for keeping up with the industry!