Monthly Archives: November 2024

A Big Fat Sloppy Wet Thank You with Extra Cheese

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My annual THANK YOU!

Let’s start with the Big thanks. Thank you God. I appreciate the opportunity you’ve given me with this life and I’ll try to use your gifts wisely. Not sure what the plan is, but I’m okay with that. You do you, I’m your ride or die buddy. Actually ride and die, though no rush, we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. 

Fat thanks go to Pudge, my rescue pup who greats me each morning with the enthusiasm of a teenage Beatles fan. At 120 lbs, the Vet assured me that even though he looks great for an eight year old Bernese Mountain Dog, he will soon be crushed by the extra seven pounds he’s gained, live a shorter life and be plagued by joint pain. I covered Pudge’s ears and explained to the vet that fat shaming a plus-size person’s pet might not have the impact he was hoping for. 

Sloppy thanks go to all the excess belongings in my life. Your Swedish death cleaning moment is nigh, but I’ve really enjoyed having you along for the ride. Those of you who have been in the family for generations and don’t fit in the attic, don’t get too nervous. I’ve been saying this for a while and progress remains slow. I know I don’t need an antique fencing foil right now, but I might take it up again. You never know. It’s good exercise.

Wet thanks go to my Mom, who passed in February. Last week I found time to review some of the Stylaquin data, noticed that one of the stores had gotten truly amazing results and I thought “I have to tell Mom, she’ll love it!” I did, but it wasn’t the same. 

And now for some extra cheese. I am honestly grateful for so many people who make my life interesting, fun, curious, exhausting, enlightening, and fascinating. I’m blessed, and I hope I’m giving back as much as I’m getting. Thank you!

All the best,
Sarah

You’ll love the power of the 1% rule

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Being 1% better is all it takes to crush your competition

When one of Stylaquin’s customers—a Shopify store selling equestrian supplies—noticed a significant increase in their organic traffic, they knew something was working. With just 5% of their customer base regularly using Stylaquin, this small but impactful change helped move the needle in a big way. And honestly, it wasn’t surprising.

As James Clear, author and marketing expert, explains:

“Over time, those that are slightly better end up with the majority of the rewards. Those that are slightly worse end up with next to nothing.”

This phenomenon is known as the 1% Rule—the idea that tiny, incremental advantages can have an outsized impact on success.

How the 1% Rule Can Transform Your Shopify Store

The concept behind the 1% Rule isn’t new. In fact, it stems from the Pareto Principle, first observed by economist Vilfredo Pareto in the 1800s. Pareto discovered that when pea plants had even a slight edge—like more sunlight or better soil—they produced significantly more pods than their peers. He then noticed this pattern everywhere: wealth distribution, land ownership, and even athletic success.

Today, algorithms like Google’s search engine are governed by this same principle. Websites that are just a little better at meeting user expectations—faster load times, longer user engagement, or a more interactive experience—get rewarded with higher rankings and more traffic.

As Clear notes:

“The difference between these options can be razor-thin, but the winners enjoy massively outsized rewards.”

For Shopify store owners, this means that small improvements in user experience can push you past competitors and bring in a steady flow of organic traffic.

Best Tools for Increasing Conversions on Shopify

The best part about the 1% Rule? You don’t need to overhaul your entire site or invest in costly campaigns to see results. Small, strategic changes can give you the edge you need.

For example, Stylaquin’s tools are designed to create an interactive, magazine-style browsing experience that keeps users engaged. Shoppers using Stylaquin’s Look Book or Idea Board stay on sites longer, view more products, and ultimately convert more often. These incremental improvements—like a slight increase in time spent on site—signal to Google that your store is worth ranking higher.

Here’s how small improvements like these can have a massive impact:

  • Time on Site: Even a 10% increase can help Google prioritize your store in search results.
  • User Engagement: Features like Stylaquin’s interactive browsing tools make shopping enjoyable, giving your store a unique edge over competitors.
  • Conversion Rates: Engaged shoppers are more likely to purchase, and even a small bump in conversions can compound over time.

How to Achieve the 1% Advantage

If your Shopify store already has the basics in place—great products, solid SEO, and an attractive design—you’re ready to focus on the small tweaks that can make a big difference. Here’s how to get started:

  1. Enhance the Shopping Experience: Tools like Stylaquin’s Look Book and Idea Board give your customers that “extra something” that keeps them coming back.
  2. Focus on Engagement Metrics: Boosting time on site or reducing bounce rates signals to Google that your store delivers value.
  3. Leverage Technology: Apps and tools built for Shopify can give you the incremental gains that compound into long-term success.
  4. And if you’re using a different platform or a custom-built site? Contact us! We’d love to see how we can help you gain your edge.

Outsized Rewards Are Just a 1% Improvement Away

The 1% Rule shows us that small, deliberate changes can lead to massive gains over time. You don’t need a 25% increase in time on site to rank higher or boost sales. You just need to be slightly better than the competition. That’s where Stylaquin can help.

So, whether you’re ready to implement tools to enhance your Shopify store or want advice on gaining a competitive edge, let’s start your journey to the top. Remember: being 1% better is all it takes to crush your competition.

Sheesh—ChatGPT doesn’t understand women either

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AI has a big old blind spot

I was thinking about doing a post about the key variables needed to create a really targeted customer profile so, of course, I headed over to ChatGPT to see what the robots say. The list below does a good job of laying out the basics, with one glaring omission—there was nothing about whether the customer likes browsing or just buys. That’s actually a pretty huge behavior to miss. Under Demographics, in the gender section, it does mention that shopping behaviors often vary by gender, but it doesn’t explain how they differ, or why. 

Take a moment to ponder that. Think about how differently women and men shop. I mean, It’s not that I NEVER see a man in Home Goods, it’s just that I see WAY more women. Women love to browse, shopping is a hobby, and women can have a great shopping day without buying anything. I guess it’s like fishing, you don’t need to catch anything to enjoy the experience. 

Okay, so we all know that AI isn’t infallible, but since most of AI has been designed by men, there’s a pretty high likelihood that AI doesn’t understand women any more than men do. This is creating a huge blindspot for marketers who want to harness the power of AI if their customers are women.

1. Demographics

•Age: Online shopping preferences vary widely by age, with younger generations often more digitally engaged and older generations having different spending patterns.

•Income Level: Income affects spending power and can guide product pricing and promotional strategies.

•Gender: Especially relevant for stores targeting specific products, as shopping behaviors often vary by gender.

2. Geographics

•Location: Country or region is critical for understanding shipping logistics, tax considerations, and seasonal marketing. Some locations may also have specific cultural or legal considerations.

•Urbanicity: Online shoppers in urban areas may prefer fast shipping, while suburban or rural audiences may respond better to offers that mitigate shipping times or costs.

3. Psychographics

•Lifestyle & Interests: Online stores can benefit significantly from knowing customer interests (e.g., fitness, fashion, eco-consciousness) to personalize product recommendations, tailor marketing campaigns, and choose relevant social media channels.

•Values: Knowing if customers prioritize things like sustainability, luxury, or budget-friendly options helps in positioning and marketing.

4. Behavioral Factors

•Buying Behavior: Understanding frequency, timing, and average order value is essential for promotions and email marketing, especially to target repeat purchases or maximize average cart size.

•Shopping Preferences: Knowing if they prefer mobile shopping, desktop, or specific payment methods can guide user experience optimization.

•Brand Loyalty: Identifying brand loyalty levels helps in determining how much to invest in retention efforts versus acquisition strategies.

5. Technographic Variables

•Device Usage: Knowing if the audience shops mainly on mobile or desktop helps optimize the store for the right device experience.

•Preferred Channels: Essential for targeting the audience on the right platforms, whether it’s social media, email marketing, or search engines.

•Digital Engagement Level: Some customers engage more with email, while others are more active on social media or have a high trust in online reviews. This affects where and how to market.

6. Needs & Pain Points

•Convenience Needs: For online shoppers, convenience is often paramount. Insights on shipping expectations, easy returns, and quick customer support can drive conversions.

•Price Sensitivity: Determines if the target audience prefers discounts, installment plans, or premium experiences.

•Product-Specific Pain Points: Knowing pain points related to the product type (e.g., sizing issues in fashion or reliability in tech) allows the store to address these directly in product descriptions and support.

7. Influences & Motivations

•Social Media Influences: Online shopping is highly influenced by social proof and recommendations from social media, making this a priority for building brand trust and generating conversions.

•Motivations for Purchase: These include reasons like self-care, lifestyle enhancement, productivity, or gift-giving. Tailoring marketing messages to resonate with these motivations can increase sales.