EP 87: eCommerce Growth Strategies with Bulk Reef Supply’s Jeff Cash In Episode 87, Tyler and Jon bring us a double feature for in the news, starting with Facebooks acquisition of Giphy. Tyler and Jon dive into the relevance of utilizing gifs in an online marketing setting while reminding listeners of the complications that can come with it. With the majority of gifs made up of popular IP’s and celebrities, licensing issues abound.    Shifting gears, Tyler brings up the “new” delivery pizza chain, Pasqually’s, and its true identity. Dealing with the current climate, companies like Chuck E Cheese and Hooters have resorted using different names in order to bring in customers via delivery services like Grubhub. But Tyler and Jon warn of the down sides of a marketing strategy hinging on bait-and-switch tactics. Also, Jon makes sure to note that he ONLY goes to Hooters for the burgers.    After some humorous back and forth discussion on twitter and emails, Tyler introduces Jeff Cash of Bulk Reef Supply. They dive into the Jeff's experience in the hobby industry and the rise in sales in the current climate. Jeff details the importance of marketing on sites like YouTube, where Bulk Reef Supply uploads over 5-7 videos each week. Jeff emphasizes the importance of being an authority in your niche and helping your customers realize how your products help fulfill their dreams. He states that when people can see the final product, they can imagine it in their own space as well. Jeff also gets into their independence from third party marketplaces like Amazon. While Jeff speaks highly of Amazon, he wants to cultivate the most personal and beneficial experience for their consumer base through DTC or brick and mortar distribution. To wrap up the interview, Jeff leaves us with his key take away: to always maintain a culture of testing. He reminds us that what works today may not work tomorrow and it never hurts to acquire more data.   Jon gives us this episode's Words of Twisdom from @12thcross saying, “Advertising is saying you're good. PR is getting someone else to say you're good.” Tyler and Jon highlight the importance of leveraging PR, especially in a times like these.    Looking for a Strategic Marketing Partner to support your brand? Be sure to head over to Fidelitas Development and drop us a line!   Timestamps   00:17 - Intro 01:12 - In the News: Facebook's Acquisition of Giphy, Hooters and Chuck E. Cheese Take Up Delivery 15:46 - The Permanence of Email Addresses 18:06 - Featured Guest | Jeff Cash 20:33 - Bulk Reef Supply’s Strategies in Today's Climate 22:37 - Brand Loyalty 25:33 - Leveraging 3rd Party Sales Channels 28:29 - Selling the Dream 29:28 - Most Effective Channels for Bulk Reef Supply 30:46 - Being a Source Of Authority for your Customer Base 34:05 - Bulk Reef Supply's SEO Strategy 34:50 - Believing in What You’re Selling 40:03 - Tailoring A Message to Bulk Reef Supply's Diverse Customer Base 44:31 - Underrated Marketing Strategies 50:04 - Being Competitive In Fulfillment 51:29 - 3rd-Party Financing as a Conversion Optimization Tool 52:31 - Biggest Marketing Opportunities Today 55:55 - Words Of Twisdom 56:00 - Outro Featured Guests | Jeff Cash LinkedIn What's In the News  Facebook acquires Giphy Lion’s Share Marketing Podcast Learn More About Tyler & Jon www.tylersickmeyer.com  Need Marketing Help?  www.FidelitasDevelopment.com Music Intro Music – Colony House – Buy “2:20” on iTunes Outro Music – Skillet – Buy “Lions” on iTunes