#156 HTE - Bill Gates Joins AI Squad: The Battle Against Metaverse 👀

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🕸 Bill Gates Joins AI Squad In The Battle Against Metaverse and Web3 Tech

🛒 Ways To Improve Online Customer Retention For E-Commerce

🥇Brand Of The Week - Bombas

📢 Shopify Provides Merchants With Data For Tailored Advertising Campaigns

💻 TikTok Battles For Growth With Cheaper Ad Rates Than Rival Social Media Platforms

🏷 Scale Profitably With Better Attribution Data: Northbeam 

☁️ Google Cloud Introduces New Retail AI Tools In Front Of NRF 2023

📕 Top Reads Of The Week

⚙️ Plenty Of Jobs Await You!

So, scroll down to THE VERY END & read up on what’s yet to come your way!

Bill Gates Joins AI Squad In The Battle Against Metaverse and Web3 Tech

Hey folks, you know Bill Gates, that dude who helped create Microsoft? Well, he recently shared his thoughts on some of the cool new technologies like Web3, the metaverse, and AI.

And you know what he said? He said AI is like the internet in 2000! In other words, it's gonna be a total game-changer. But don't worry, Web3 and the metaverse are still pretty neat too. But according to Bill, AI is a really revolutionary technology.

Bill Gates, the tech legend behind Microsoft, had some exciting things to say about AI. He's really impressed with how fast it's improving and thinks it's going to change the world in a big way.

But when it comes to cryptocurrency, he's not as thrilled. He even warned people to be careful if they don't have as much money as Elon Musk. But he's all for the virtual world, he thinks virtual meetings are the future, not just boring 2D screens.

Even though he's not with Microsoft anymore, the current CEO, Satya Nadella, is just as excited about AI. In fact, Microsoft is thinking about investing a massive $10 billion in OpenAI, the company behind the super cool ChatGPT AI bot that you're talking to right now.

That would give Microsoft almost half of the company, showing how serious they are about being a leader in the AI industry.

Ways To Improve Online Customer Retention For E-Commerce

Don't let your customers slip away! Keep them coming back for more with these eight tips for boosting online customer retention for e-commerce. Trust us, it's way cheaper to keep your current customers happy than it is to constantly hunt for new ones. Plus, a steady stream of returning customers means more consistent sales for your business. Win-win. 

• Get email-savvy and keep your customers connected! Welcome new customers with a friendly email after their first purchase, and don't forget to offer upselling and cross-selling options. If a customer hasn't made a purchase in a while, send them a sweet "We miss you!" email with a discount code to entice them back. Email marketing is a super effective way to engage and retain your e-commerce customers.

• Step up your social media game to keep your customers loyal! A strong social media presence is key, especially if you're targeting younger demographics. Make sure to respond to questions and concerns, and show appreciation for customers who share positive things about your brand. Monitor interactions and get creative with humor to keep things interesting Having a solid social media strategy is crucial for retaining customers in the e-commerce world.

• "Shop 'til you drop" takes on a whole new meaning with a rewards program! Customers will be more likely to keep coming back and racking up those stars, points, or dollars if it means they'll get closer to snagging a free product or discount. It's a simple way to give customers an extra incentive to keep buying from you.

Brand Of The Week - Bombas

Feeling fresh and clean is a game-changer, and Bombas is here to help. Their socks, underwear, and t-shirts are made with comfort in mind, and for every item you purchase, they'll donate a matching item to someone in need.

With the help of their customers and Giving Partners, Bombas is on a mission to spread the love (and clean clothes) to everyone who needs them.

At Bombas, they're all about the details. They've spent years perfecting their socks, underwear, and t-shirts, putting them through rigorous testing to ensure they're super comfortable and durable.

And they're not stopping there – they're always on the lookout for ways to improve and innovate. After all, when your clothes are top-notch, you feel ready to tackle just about anything. Quality obsessed? You bet they are!

Shopify Provides Merchants With Data For Tailored Advertising Campaigns

Shopify, the e-commerce platform that's been helping retailers sell their stuff online, is now helping them sell their ads too! They've teamed up with Meta and Google to help retailers find their perfect customers.

According to the Financial Times, Shopify's new tool, called Shopify Audiences, will let retailers upload their customer data to Meta's advertising platform, which will then use the information to allow marketers to target their ads to consumers who have purchased similar products from other sources.

"Especially right now, merchants want to be able to find more customers,” said Shopify President Harley Finkelstein. And who can blame them? With consumer spending slowed down by economic uncertainty and rising inflation, every little bit helps.

When Shopify Audiences launched in May, they said it provided a new, cost-effective way to reach those who are ready to buy. "Buyers who purchase from our merchants are some of the highest quality customers on the internet," said Shopify Senior Product Lead Jonathan Zhao in a blog post.

For Shopify, this tool is a key opportunity because eCommerce sales have been slowing. But some retailers might be hesitant to share data that will be pooled and used by other merchants, who could include their competitors. But they also see their participation in Shopify Audiences as a way to reach new potential customers.

In an email to PYMNTS, a Google spokesperson said there aren't any new abilities for Shopify merchants than they already had with their Google Ads accounts, noting that Shopify merchants can only use their store-specific customer lists, also known as first-party data, which customers have given permission for that merchant to use, and that Shopify merchants still must comply with Google policies to upload data to Google Ads.

“There’s always going to be some apprehension about sharing data,” Finkelstein said. “But that’s often offset by net, am I making more money, am I selling more?” And really, isn't that what it's all about? Making money and selling more? It's like Shopify is the matchmaker of the eCommerce world, helping retailers find their soulmate customers.

TikTok Battles For Growth With Cheaper Ad Rates Than Rival Social Media Platforms

TikTok is shaking up the social media world with its super cheap ad rates, making it the hot new spot for advertisers to get their message out there. Brands, advertisers, and industry associations have been flocking to TikTok because not only are the ad rates cheaper than platforms like Twitter and Instagram, but the engagement levels are way better.

TikTok, which is owned by Chinese company ByteDance, has taken the social media world by storm with over 1 billion users worldwide and it's only getting bigger. They first started running ads in 2019 and now they're undercutting their rivals at a time when marketing budgets are shrinking.

According to figures from New York-based media agency VaynerMedia, getting 1,000 video ad impressions on TikTok is nearly half the price of Instagram Reels, a third cheaper than Twitter, and 62% cheaper than advertising on Snapchat. And it's not just the cost that's attracting advertisers, TikTok's engagement rate is also much higher than Instagram's.

TikTok quickly emerged as a place to attract new, younger consumers, leading rivals to launch their own short video offerings such as Instagram’s Reels and YouTube’s Shorts.

Advertising on TikTok boomed in the fourth quarter of last year, the top 1,000 advertisers in the US increased their spending on the viral video platform by 66% to $467 million from September to October 2022.

TikTok is the ultimate playground for advertisers looking to get their message out there. Not only are the ad rates cheaper than other platforms like Twitter and Instagram, but the engagement levels are off the charts.

Advertisers can pay to promote their own videos, buy ad spaces to appear between users' videos, pay influencers to create ad content on their behalf, or create a "branded hashtag challenge" to encourage users to post content around their brand.

A study by ad design platform Creatopy found that the same video advertised across platforms got almost three times more impressions on TikTok than on Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts.

But the best part? You don't have to be a big-shot advertiser to make it happen. TikTok is a budget-friendly option for brands to create amazing ads and reach a wider audience. So what are you waiting for? Let's get creative and make some killer ads on TikTok!

Scale Profitably With Better Attribution Data: Northbeam 

Are you tired of playing the guessing game with your digital marketing efforts? Let Northbeam be your wingman! Their universal attribution platform uses top-notch data models and machine learning to give you the ultimate edge in media buying decisions. 

Their pixel is like a secret agent, collecting data from every channel, touchpoint, and conversion. And their algorithms? Think of them as the masterminds behind creating a centralized hub of performance dashboards and data visualizations that will blow your mind. 

Northbeam advanced machine learning models will give you the power to attribute revenue to ad spend with ninja-like accuracy, even across omnichannel customer journeys. 

With Northbeam, you'll know exactly which metrics, campaigns, and goals are driving performance, so you can confidently spend and grow profitably, faster. Say goodbye to the guessing game and hello to growth with Northbeam.

Google Cloud Introduces New Retail AI Tools In Front Of NRF 2023

The National Retail Federation's NRF 2023, the retail industry's greatest event, kicks off on Monday at the Javits Convention Center in New York City.

However, in advance of what is known as "Retail's Big Show," Google Cloud today announced a number of new and updated artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to assist retailers in increasing in-store inventory shelf-checking, improving online shopping, providing more personalized search, and providing better recommendations.

Since the pandemic, buyers demand a more fluid and natural buying experience online, according to Amy Eschliman, general director of retail solutions at Google Cloud.

"Before the pandemic, 80% of global transactions were in-store, but the change to digital was gradual; COVID flicked the switch overnight," she told VentureBeat via email. "While in-store buying has undoubtedly resumed, the shopper has been irrevocably altered."

Making internet purchasing more personalized and user-friendly 

Eschliman noted that the new AI-driven customization capabilities customize the results a customer receives when searching and browsing a retailer's website in order to suit the new consumer expectations.

It analyzes a customer's online behavior, such as clicks, carts, purchases, and other data, to determine shopper tastes and preferences. For tailored and relevant results, the AI then moves products that match those tastes up in search and browse rankings.

"We know buyers want this kind of personalized experience today more than ever," she said. She went on to say that according to Google Cloud-commissioned research, 75% of buyers prefer brands that customize interactions and reach out to them, and 86% want a brand that understands their interests and preferences.

📕 Top Reads Of The Week

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Inflation moderated in December, giving retailers some hope

New Lands’ End CEO wants to grow customer base, open stores

Lowe’s in-houses retail media operations in efficiency play

Rent the Runway teams up with Amazon Fashion in quest for growth

⚙️ Plenty Of Jobs Await You!

Director E-Commerce - CyberCoders

Technical Lead - L'Oreal

Technical Product Manager - DISH

Ecommerce Specialist - SNI Companies

Head of E-Commerce - Harnham

CHOOSE SUCCESS below and have a great weekend! Get that D2C business runnin’.