#164 HTE - Shopify Launches Exciting New Blockchain Tools for Online Merchants 💸

February 11, 2023 • Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes

Good Morning Readers!

Wow, the weekend is finally here! Time to kick back, relax, and soak in some knowledge about DTC brands.

If you're a DTC brand, or just curious about the world of direct-to-consumer, then you're in luck because we've got some awesome tips to share with you. We'll be serving up a heaping helping of insider info that will take your brand to the next level.

So grab a cozy blanket, make yourself a cup of your favorite beverage, and let's dive into the world of DTC branding!

💸 Shopify Unveils Bounty of Blockchain-Powered Tools for Merchants to Revolutionize Their Online Business

🔮 Ditch the Crystal Ball and Get Your Marketing Game on Point with Northbeam!

💕 2023 Valentine’s Day Marketing Tips

🥇Brand Of The Week - Three Ships

📱 Facebook Faces New Competition from Amazon's Ad Power

🎁 Brand Deals Of The Week

📕 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!

Shopify Unveils Bounty of Blockchain-Powered Tools for Merchants to Revolutionize Their Online Business

Shopify, the e-commerce giant embracing the world of cryptocurrencies, has just unleashed a new suite of cutting-edge blockchain commerce tools to take their Web3-focused stores to the next level!

In a tweet announcing the exciting news on Feb. 9, Shopify's blockchain team designer @ryancreatescopy exclaimed, "Get ready to build token-gating apps like a pro with our fresh set of tools for Shopify merchants!"

Merchants can now rejoice as they can take advantage of expanded crypto wallet connect features and powerful "token-gating" API tools. This groundbreaking feature, which has been in beta mode since June 2022, has finally been made available to all Shopify merchants after previously being limited to a select few.

With token-gating, Shopify merchants have the power to control access to exclusive products, NFT drops, and benefits, all verified through a connected wallet. This is the ultimate tool for NFT merchants who want to reward their loyal users or add a touch of exclusivity to their products.

Shopify has teamed up with the Ethereum Foundation and the Ethereum Name Service (ENS) to bring you the coolest new way to sign into your crypto wallet - the Sign-in with Ethereum (SIWE) protocol!

Gone are the days of worrying about your private information falling into the wrong hands - SIWE keeps your personal details safe and sound. No more revealing your name, phone number, or address to just anyone.

And for those who may have had a less-than-pleasant experience with Shopify in the past, fear not! The company is taking a big step to make sure you can enjoy their services without worrying about data leaks. In 2020, there was a big hiccup with a data leak and some users weren't too happy about it. But with SIWE, Shopify is saying goodbye to those issues and hello to a bright, secure future!

The crypto world just got a whole lot more exciting with the announcement of the Shopify and Sign-in with Ethereum (SIWE) protocol integration! And who broke the news to the world? None other than the coolest community advocate around, @sadaf.eth from ENS Labs!

@sadaf.eth took to Twitter on Feb. 9th to share the big news with the Ethereum community and even included developer docs for all the tech-savvy folk out there, so they can easily integrate SIWE into their Shopify stores.

Needless to say, the Ethereum community was over the moon with this news and couldn't wait to get their hands on this super cool tool!

Ditch the Crystal Ball and Get Your Marketing Game on Point with 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.

2023 Valentine’s Day Marketing Tips

Feeling the Love? Your Customers Are! Let's Cash in on the $23.9 Billion Valentine's Day Craze with These Marketing Ideas!

1. Love's in the Air Sale Alert!

It's time to spread some love! Offer your customers a sweet deal by promoting a Valentine's Day sale. Get creative with discounts or a "love-ly" 2-for-1 deal to get your partners gifting. Just make sure to spread the word early enough so that your customers receive their gifts in time for the big day. Follow the lead of DKNG designs and get ready to shower your customers with love!

2. Celebrate Being Single!

Who says you need a partner to have a good time? Embrace the single life this Valentine's Day and promote self-love! Indulge in some self-pampering and show yourself some love.

Lovers + Friends got the memo and created an ad just for all the single ladies and gents out there. They're encouraging you to get all dressed up, even if you don't have a date, just because it feels good. So go ahead, treat yourself!

3. "Gal Pals Unite! Celebrate the Best Holiday Yet with a Little Galentine's Love 💕 Show some love to your girl gang with the perfect gifts, just in time for Leslie Knope's favorite holiday 🎉"

4. "Get your love shopping sorted! Make V-Day gift hunting a breeze with our super helpful gift guide. Know your boo's likes and get gifting like a pro! From shopping by interests to price filters, we've got you covered. Let the love fest begin!"

Brand Of The Week - Three Ships

Three Ships is the natural skin care brand that's on a mission to take over the beauty world! They are all about being the most effective and transparent brand out there. No more cluttered routines and mystery ingredients, we believe in keeping it simple with fewer products for maximum results.

And, the best part? Their customers are the real stars of the show! They call their loyal fanbase, The Fleet, and they're their biggest ambassadors. They're the ones spreading the word and inviting their friends and family to join in on the Three Ships experience. And, as a little thank you, they even get to give out exclusive discount codes!

So, come aboard and join The Fleet, they are ready to set sail towards a brighter, clearer, and more beautiful future for your skin.

Facebook Faces New Competition from Amazon's Ad Power

Matthew Hassett, the mastermind behind the smart alarm clock company Loftie, has unlocked the secret to holiday shopping success! Despite a sluggish U.S. economy and whispers of a recession, Loftie saw its busiest holiday season yet - all thanks to one savvy move.

Hassett decided to shake things up with his marketing budget and decrease spending on Facebook, instead committing those ad dollars to Amazon for the first time. And boy, was it a smart choice!

"Everyone and their grandma starts their shopping on Amazon," says Hassett. "So if you want to be where the people are, you gotta be on Amazon."

Turns out, Loftie is just one piece of a larger trend taking place in retail that's causing major waves on Wall Street and Madison Avenue. Amazon's increased advertising offerings and Facebook's decreased targeting capabilities (thanks to Apple's privacy changes) are causing a seismic shift in the digital ad market.

Just a year ago, Amazon kept the size of its advertising business under wraps, leaving analysts and investors to make educated guesses. But now, the company's ad division is a whopping $38 billion annual business, with 19% YoY growth in Q4, reaching $11.6 billion.

Meanwhile, Facebook's parent company Meta reported a 4% decline in annual revenue for Q4, marking the third consecutive period of shrinking. Google has been a little less affected by the Apple iOS update, but the ad business is still feeling the pinch from the economic slowdown. Alphabet, Google's parent company, reported 1% growth in revenue to $76 billion.

While Amazon may not be quite as big as the digital ad giants Google and Facebook, the e-commerce giant has been making serious strides in the ad world! According to Insider Intelligence, Amazon now holds a cool 7.3% of the digital ad market, which is nothing to sneeze at. But don't worry, Google and Facebook are still the top dogs with 28.8% and 20.5% respectively (with Facebook's number including Instagram).

For smart alarm clock company Loftie, the shift in the digital ad market has been a game-changer. Last holiday season, Loftie's CEO Matthew Hassett made a bold move by reallocating his marketing budget and giving Amazon a slice of the pie for the first time. And it paid off! Hassett explains that so many people start their shopping on Amazon, so it only makes sense to be there.

However, while Loftie still spends more money on Facebook than Amazon, the balance has certainly shifted. Around Black Friday, Hassett allocated 10% of his budget to Amazon (up from zero the previous year), while Facebook and Instagram saw a decrease to 40% of the budget (from a whopping 71% the year before). The rest of the budget went to Google, with spending increasing from 29% to 50% over the holidays.

Why the shift away from Facebook? Hassett cites the iOS update from 2021 as the culprit. With more consumers opting out of app tracking, the pool of potential customers has become much smaller, and Facebook ads just aren't as effective anymore. In fact, Hassett says Facebook has to target a larger pool of people to find the same customers it did before, and that just ends up being more expensive.

As for Facebook parent company Meta, finance chief Susan Li reported a decline in growth during last week's earnings call. Despite a slowdown in the decline of the online commerce sector, Li remains uncertain about any significant rebound in the near future. But who knows, maybe Amazon will continue to surge and shake things up in the digital ad world!

Top Reads Of The Week

IN NEED OF A JOB?  WE'VE GOT PLENTY AWAITING YOU!

CyberCoders - Director E-Commerce

Cognizant - E- Commerce Lead

Josmo Shoes - Ecommerce Manager

E-Commerce Catalog Director - MSI

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