Top 19 Free Ecommerce Resources, Tools and Ebooks

Ecommerce is a rapidly growing industry, and with that growth comes a wealth of ecommerce resources, tools, and ebooks to help you succeed. But with so many options available, it can be tough to know where to start. That's why we've put together this list of the best 19 free ecommerce resources, tools, and ebooks for brands and owners.

Whether you're just starting out or you're looking to take your business to the next level, these resources will help you with everything from marketing and SEO to product development and customer service. So whether you're a seasoned pro or a complete beginner, we encourage you to check out these resources and see how they can help you grow your ecommerce business. 

Business development

1. Shopify Learn

New to starting a business? Then you might want to check out Shopify Learn’s business courses. They’re taught by experts from various fields, from supply chain management, product development all the way to marketing. 

2. Unbounce Resources

Unbounce's library of resources is a one-stop shop for marketers, business owners, and Unbounce customers of all skill levels. Whether you're looking for help with the basics of design and copywriting, or you're interested in learning more about campaign strategy and AI-powered optimization, Unbounce has the resources you need to get more leads, sales, and signups from your marketing campaigns and landing pages.

3. Relo’s DTC Repeat Revenue Cheat Sheet

Repeat revenue is basically the endgame for many ecommerce/DTC brands. Why? That’s because increasing repeat revenue allows you to create a more sustainable business model. Rather than depending on getting new customers each time which can be very costly, Relo’s cheat sheet, as it suggests, gives you every successful method tried by best-in-class ecommerce brands to increase your repeat revenue.

4. TripleWhale University

Triple Whale University is a resource for ecommerce businesses of all sizes. It offers a variety of courses, tutorials, and resources to help businesses improve their data insights, marketing strategies, and overall performance.

Website Optimization

1. Oddit

Oddit provides a free audit of a page on your ecommerce website. The team will redesign a key section of the page to be conversion optimized and provide the rationale behind the changes for free! If your product pages aren’t seeing the “add-to-cart” clicks, you might want to get some advice from the Oddit team!

2. Shogun Guides and Resources

Shogun's landing page builder for Shopify & BigCommerce lets brands design stunning storefronts in no time. Their resources page includes how-to guides, videos, and webinars on everything from Page Builder basics to delivering high-converting ecommerce experiences. 

Automation

1. AlloyAutomation Playbook

Automation can eliminate repetitive tasks and automatically send data between systems in real-time. This can save time and resources, freeing up employees to focus on more creative and strategic tasks. For example, automation can be used to:

• Run reports and send them to team members on a schedule.
• Log into multiple systems to check on analytics.
• Process orders and send shipping notifications.
• Manage inventory levels and track customer orders.

This Ecommerce Automation Playbook includes how to automate email marketing, SMS marketing, shipping and fulfillment, and more processes for ecommerce brands to easily do so. ReferralCandy’s automation tips are also included in this ecommerce ebook! 

SMS Marketing

1. Attentive’s SMS Directory

Attentive is a marketing platform that helps businesses send personalized text messages to their customers. On their "Texts We Love" page, Attentive showcases some of the most successful text message campaigns that their customers have run.

These campaigns range from simple reminders to more complex loyalty programs. But they all have one thing in common: they are all designed to engage customers and drive sales. If you’re looking for inspiration for design and copy, why not check out Attentive’s SMS Directory?

2. PostScript SMS Marketing Calendar

PostScript’s monthly SMS campaign planning resource is essential for strategic SMS marketers. It includes dozens of text-worthy holidays, events, and happenings for every single month of the year. Having this means being on top of all possible ways to engage your customers, especially during special occasions!

Email Marketing

1. Really Good Emails

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ReallyGoodEmails is a library of actual emails that have been sent out by companies and ecommerce brands across the world. You get a glimpse into the tactics of amazing email marketing and what appeals to specific target audiences. It’s easy to filter through the content of the emails as well, whether you’re looking for examples of abandoned cart emails or more technical customer service emails, everything’s available for you to browse through on this site. 

2. Daniel Budai’s YouTube Channel

Through Daniel’s YouTube, you can learn about the ecommerce retention marketing strategies and tactics that top entrepreneurs use to scale their ecommerce businesses and become market leaders. If you’re thinking about email marketing, SMS marketing, and loyalty strategies, he’s your go-to man. 

3. Omnisend Academy

Whether it's sign-up forms, automation workflows, or designing and sending your first email campaign—Omnisend’s Academy has got you covered. It’s filled with all sorts of goodies to help any ecommerce brand learn how to be great at omnichannel marketing automation.

Social Media Marketing

1. Buffer Resources

Buffer’s library of resources includes free tools to help you create engaging content, reach a bigger audience, and save time. From must-have tools like social media scheduler for your content marketing campaigns to a customizable link in bio generator. 

2. Klaviyo Ecommerce Marketing Calendar

Holidays and seasonal events can be difficult to keep up with especially in the ecommerce space with new "shopping holidays" popping up every now and then. And it only takes one missed opportunity to realize you could’ve better prepared your marketing strategy.

With this ecommerce marketing calendar, you'll get insights into the holidays with the highest consumer spending, plus tips and examples to help your subscribers stay engaged with your brand.

Customer Retention

1. Calashock’s Expert Guide

Customer retention is the process of keeping customers coming back to your business. It is vital to the long-term success of any ecommerce business. While attracting new customers is important for healthy business growth, retaining existing ones can be even more profitable. With Calashock’s Expert Guide, you’ll gain insights into what experts from various spaces in the ecommerce industry have to share about customer retention.

2. Stamped Inspiration Gallery

Stamped’s Inspiration Gallery showcases real examples of industry-leading brands that are using the product. Any ecommerce brand that’s struggling to decide how to best design their reviews on their website, should definitely take a look at this! 

Subscription Commerce

1. Recharge Ecommerce Membership Advantage Guide

The cost of getting customers back to make another purchase is higher now than ever before. According to research, customer acquisition costs have increased 222% since 2013.1 Meanwhile, repeat purchase rates for ecommerce brands hover around 28%.

One thing is certain: Retention is more imperative now than ever. Subscriptions are valuable tools for retaining customers, but not all products are suitable for this model. Companies should evaluate which products are suitable for a subscription model and which are not. They should also focus on providing customer service that stands out from the competition and offers unique value, such as personalized experiences or exclusive offers. This can help retain customers for the long term. 

Membership programs are becoming a key strategy for subscription and non-subscription brands alike to retain and attract customers. A membership program allows customers to access exclusive benefits and rewards immediately by paying a fee (either once or monthly). Learn exactly what you need to know about membership programs before you get started, with Recharge’s Ecommerce Membership Guide.

Shipping & Delivery

1. Aftership’s Free Tools

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Aftership created 14 different tools for ecommerce brands to fully make use of in their day-to-day operations. There’s an AI-powered delivery date calculator plugin that offers shoppers accurate delivery date predictions based on live weather, holidays, shipping volume, and more. As well as a simple order lookup widget where customers can easily track their own orders. 

Analysis

1. Motion’s Creative Analysis

Motion’s Creative Analysis course is a free resource to help you get acquainted with how to use creative analysis to improve your advertising campaigns. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced marketer, you'll learn everything you need to know to take control of your creative ad process and become a key player in your team and grow your brand.

Ecommerce tools are everywhere

In conclusion, the ever-growing ecommerce industry presents abundant opportunities for businesses to thrive. However, navigating this landscape can be challenging without the right guidance and tools. Fortunately, a plethora of free ecommerce resources are available to assist brands and owners in their journey toward success.

The highlighted ecommerce resources provide a wealth of knowledge, tools, and strategies to empower brands and owners in the ecommerce industry. By leveraging these valuable resources, businesses can enhance their marketing strategies, optimize their websites, streamline operations, and ultimately achieve growth and success in the competitive ecommerce landscape.