Good morning,
So it looks like the cookie apocalypse won’t be happening after all.
After pushing back the third-party cookie phaseout again, Google said, ‘You know what, never mind,’ and will bring a ‘new experience to Chrome’ instead.
But this is only a tentative plan. Google will need to get approval from regulators first to see if this is the best way forward. Stay tuned.
Here’s what you’ll find in today’s DTC:
☀️ This supplement brand’s online sales are exploding thanks to these Shopify apps in their tech stack. Take a peek below!
💰 Is Amazon really the enemy of SMBs, or is it another sales channel opportunity? We weigh the pros and cons of selling on the online marketplace.
😇 And…work smarter, not harder. Here are some ideas on how you can repurpose your existing content.
You’re reading this newsletter along with new subscribers from Timepieces USA, Bell Media, and Cradle & Tonic. 👋
☎️ Are Your Texts Telling Your Customers NOT To Buy From You?
DING! The notification chimes. 📲
Are your customers thinking:
Is your brand sending too many texts? The answer isn’t as black and white as you might think…
Written by Jeremy Horowitz, "Message Delivered: Yotpo’s 2024 SMS Benchmark Report On Strategies that Deliver" analyzed over 700 stores across eight verticals.
The report will help you identify where you might be overdoing it and, more importantly, where you’re missing out on key opportunities to connect with your customers. 🤝
Dive into the report and see how your SMS strategy stacks up.
*Sponsored
* sponsored
🚀 A Look at Blume’s Rapid Growth
Wellness blend brand Blume is growing quickly and has just reached a new milestone: in just three months, they made 1 million in sales from their superfood latte lineup and new gut-friendly powder SuperBelly.
Due to popular demand, the new SKU sold out multiple times.
How did they do it? Let's examine their tech stack to see how they created buzz for the product and which Shopify apps are helping them grow their conversions and AOV.
1️⃣ SC Conjured Referrals: Turn your loyal customers into your strongest referrals! Use your VIP clients to build trust with new customers.
Reward them with incentives like gifts or gift cards. This is a great way to help with your new customer acquisition strategy.
On this landing page, Blume makes it simple for customers to become a 'Blume Buddy.' They offer a $10 incentive for referring customers, which can be shared via social media, email, or WhatsApp.
2️⃣ Tidio Live Chat & AI Chatbots: This live chat plugin helps customers find the perfect item. It also includes an AI chatbot that can handle commonly asked questions and recommend products based on past transactions.
It's easy to set up and use so you can start immediately.
3️⃣ Rebuy Personalization Engine: This AI-powered app can recommend products based on customer behavior and past purchase history, as well as upsell and cross-sell products at checkout.
Blume uses the call-to-action 'Complete Your Ritual' to get customers to add more items to their cart and increase their AOV.
Reply to the newsletter and tell us which brand or industry you want us to investigate! 👀
🎧 Amazon: The Big, Bad, Bane of SMBs? Maybe Not.
Amazon might seem like the enemy of small businesses, but are they really?
Sure, Amazon has engaged in some questionable business practices, but you can't ignore their massive share of the ecommerce market and the incredible logistical advantages they offer sellers.
Pilothouse shares many brands write off Amazon entirely because they want to focus all sales on their DTC site. Although that can be warranted, don't sleep on Amazon as just a logistics provider for your business.
💡 Consider this: The cost to pick, pack, and ship a box of shoes anywhere in the US via Amazon's Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) program is around $7.64. Compare that to USPS, UPS, or other carriers, which can charge upwards of $15 for the same service! 😲
Even with bulk discounts, it's nearly impossible for any business to match Amazon's shipping rates, not to mention the cost of packing materials, the labor to prep the order, and the insane speed of shipping via Amazon Prime!
Plus, Amazon handles delivery issues, customer service, and refunds for you!
🍁 Note for our Canadian friends 🍁 – the economics are often even better, as shipping costs in Canada are notoriously high - and utilizing Amazon's FBA may be the only way it's worth even selling within Canada (especially on lower AOV purchases).
While it's essential to recognize Amazon's advantages, it's equally important to be aware of the challenges and risks.
Amazon has knocked off products made by small businesses, have some very annoying pricing policies, and typically causes a lot of headaches for sellers on their platform.
Typically, the biggest gripe about selling on Amazon is the ~15% referral fee. But when you factor in these logistical savings, many brands come out nearly even despite the fees.
If you don't want to make Amazon a significant sales channel, it's worth considering, even if it's just to fill orders from your DTC site.
Embracing Amazon's strengths might transform a daunting challenge into a remarkable opportunity.
🌐 IN THE SOCIAL SPHERE
Running out of fresh ideas? Here are some ways to repurpose your existing content and still show up consistently on your socials.
📥 Got a B2B Biz?
Join dozens of B2B companies finding demand-gen success through our niche community of 160k brand leaders and founders this year. Talk to our team to learn more.
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DTC Newsletter is written by Rebecca Knight and Frances Du. Edited by Eric Dyck.
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Please note that items in this newsletter marked with * contain sponsored content.
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