100. 100 Episodes, One Pattern: What the Top 1% of E-Commerce Businesses Are Doing Differently

106. AI for Small Business: A Real Conversation with AI Expert Em Gee

In this episode, Chontelle Fossey sits down with AI marketing expert Em Gee to unpack what's really working when it comes to using AI in small business right now. From the Claude versus ChatGPT debate to building an "AI brain" for your business, Em Gee shares the practical, no fluff approach she teaches her own students. Em Gee shares her own pathway from teaching into AI marketing, why she burnt down a six figure mastermind to go all in on AI, and how she now runs her business with Claude handling everything from daily priorities to social media performance summaries. Key Takeaways * Claude currently outperforms ChatGPT for small business use, particularly for ease of setup * Start with your bottlenecks, not the tool. Work out what's taking your time before choosing software * AI needs your brand voice and story to sound like you, not a generic robot * Always check AI output before it goes out. The mistakes happen in the 10 percent you skip * Only sign up to AI tools monthly. The landscape moves too fast for annual contracts What You'll Learn * Why Claude is currently the better option for small business owners over ChatGPT * How to identify the real bottlenecks in your business before choosing an AI tool * Practical ways Em Gee uses Claude day to day, from morning briefings to content ideas * How to train AI to sound like your actual brand voice, not a generic AI tone * The biggest mistakes business owners are making with AI right now * Why building your own AI knowledge base will protect you as tools change Connect with Chontelle on Instagram @chontellefossey [https://www.instagram.com/chontellefossey/] Connect with Em Gee on Instagram @thereal_emgee [https://www.instagram.com/thereal_emgee/]

105. This One Thing is Sabotaging Your Business Growth

Shiny object syndrome is sneaky. It creeps in disguised as excitement and makes the harder days feel fun again - but it's one of the fastest ways to sabotage your growth. In this episode, Chontelle breaks down why entrepreneurs are wired to chase new strategies, what it's actually costing them, and how to know whether you've found a strategy worth committing to. Key Takeaways * Shiny object syndrome is not a character flaw, it's how your brain is wired * Strategy hopping is the thing slowing you down most, not the algorithm or your product * The question is never "does this strategy work?" It's "does this strategy work for me?" * Alignment matters more than perfection - a strategy you resent won't get results * Mastery requires repetition, and repetition requires patience What You'll Learn * Why entrepreneurs are naturally drawn to new strategies and how to catch yourself falling into the trap * The real cost of jumping from one approach to the next before mastering anything * How to identify whether a strategy is genuinely wrong for you, or whether you just haven't given it enough time * The difference between a strategy that works and a strategy that works for you * How to audit your current approach and get honest about where your focus is going * The three questions to ask yourself this week to stop the cycle and commit to a path Your Action Step This Week Grab a pen and answer these three questions honestly. What strategy am I currently pursuing, and have I genuinely given it a real chance? Is this strategy aligned to my values, budget, and capacity? And what have I been distracted by lately - what's the shiny object? Name it, write it down, and take its power away. Connect Got something this episode brought up for you? Chontelle would love to hear it. Drop into her DMs on Instagram at @chontellefossey [https://www.instagram.com/chontellefossey/] and let her know what resonated.

104. The 6 Step System to Scale Your Ecommerce Sales

In this episode, Chontelle breaks down her signature six-step system for scaling e-commerce sales in a predictable, reliable way. Using her road analogy, she explains why most founders are sending customers down the wrong path and what it actually takes to build a system that converts traffic into sales, without showing up manually every day. Whether you are just starting to think about email marketing or have pieces in place but aren't seeing results, this episode will help you identify exactly where the gaps are. Key Takeaways * Most e-commerce founders are sending customers down a one-way road with no way back * Returning website visitors convert at a higher rate, so you need less traffic to make more sales * Your foundations and automations need to be in place before you drive traffic * Consistency in the inbox builds the know, like, and trust factor that converts browsers into buyers * You should only scale once your system is optimised, not before What You'll Learn * The road analogy and why it explains most e-commerce sales problems * The six steps required to systemise and scale sales predictably * Why skipping to ads before your foundations are in place is costly * How automations do the selling while you're living your life * Why nurture campaigns are about more than just selling * When ads actually belong in the strategy, and when they don't Connect with Chontelle Find her on Instagram at @chontellefossey [https://www.instagram.com/chontellefossey/], book a free roadmap call [https://www.chontellefossey.com/CHAT], or watch this episode on YouTube [https://youtu.be/EeSPzqfyZuQ].

103. Why I'm No Longer 'Anti' Ads

Summary In this episode, Chontelle Fossey gets candid about a shift in her messaging and what she now believes it truly takes to scale an e-commerce business. She revisits the formula at the heart of every product-based business, traffic, conversion rate, and average order value, and explains why most founders are focusing on the wrong part of it. This is an honest, practical episode for any e-commerce owner who feels like they're doing all the things but still not seeing consistent results. Key Takeaways * E-commerce growth comes down to three metrics: traffic, conversion rate, and average order value * More traffic without the right foundations is wasted spend * Email automations are the system that converts traffic into repeat buyers * One-size-fits-all advice doesn't work — your stage of business determines your focus * Systems replace manual effort and give you your time back What You'll Learn * Why the e-commerce formula is simpler than most people think * What the "conveyor belt" analogy reveals about your website visitor experience * Why strong foundations must come before scaling traffic * How email automations do the heavy lifting of getting subscribers back to your website * The three types of Meta ads Chontelle teaches and when each one applies * What Chontelle wants to be known for and how her coaching program has evolved Save your seat at the upcoming Implementation Day: Click here [https://www.chontellefossey.com/branditbuilditsendit] Connect with Chontelle on Instagram: @chontellefossey [https://www.instagram.com/chontellefossey/] or book a no-obligation Roadmap Call  [https://www.chontellefossey.com/CHAT]

102. Your Competitors Aren't Doing This - But You Should!

Summary In a crowded market, the brands that win are the ones that make customers feel something. In this episode, Chontelle shares a handful of practical, low-cost strategies that any product-based business owner can start using this week to stand out, build genuine connection, and turn one-time buyers into loyal advocates. None of these require a big budget or a big following, just a willingness to do what most businesses won't. Key Takeaways * Connection converts - the small, personal gestures create the loyalty that keeps customers coming back * You don't need to discount to stand out; you need to make people feel seen * Most businesses default to what everyone else does, and that is exactly why standing out is easier than it looks * Surprise and delight doesn't have to be expensive; it just has to be thoughtful * Gratitude is a growth strategy What You'll Learn * Why personal voice notes to new followers can build faster trust than any automation * How a handwritten thank you card to your top customers can drive more repeat purchases than a discount * What to include in your orders to create a genuine surprise and delight moment * How to use a personalised video on your email sign-up success page to stand out from the first touchpoint * Why publicly thanking your community on social media builds brand advocates fast * How replying personally to reviews and engaging with repeat supporters creates a brand people actively choose over competitors Connect with Chontelle Connect with Chontelle on Instagram @chontellefossey [https://www.instagram.com/chontellefossey/] and share what strategies you try, or any ideas this episode sparked for you. She will share your ideas in her stories and tag your business. And if you want to grab one of those 15 limited spaces for Brand it. Build it. Send it. In school hours - reach out on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/chontellefossey/].