{ "componentChunkName": "component---src-templates-blog-posts-jsx", "path": "/blog/category/general-articles/8/", "result": {"pageContext":{"postsPerPage":6,"categories":[{"id":"dGVybTox","name":"General Articles","slug":"general-articles","count":129},{"id":"dGVybToyMTc=","name":"Shopify","slug":"shopify","count":5},{"id":"dGVybToyMjE=","name":"Shopify Development","slug":"shopify-development","count":4}],"pagesCount":22,"currentPage":8,"categoryOriginPath":"/blog/category/general-articles","pageHeader":{"background":null,"backgroundOpacity":1,"color":null,"fieldGroupName":"page_header","title":"Latest Articles: Stay Informed","opacity":1,"position":"on","size":{"desktop":64,"tablet":48,"mobile":32},"spaces":{"top":null,"bottom":null,"leftright":null,"units":"em"}},"pageMetaData":{"title":"Latest Articles: Stay Informed","description":"UTD Blog — Shopify, eCommerce & Growth Insights"},"posts":[{"id":"cG9zdDo2MDM2","title":"Level Up Your Marketing Automations: Ezra Firestone’s Expertise in New Templates","date":"07.06.2023","schemaDate":"2023-06-07","modifiedGmt":"2023-07-26T05:49:29","slug":"level-up-your-marketing-automations-ezra-firestones-expertise-in-new-templates","acfSchemaPost":{"blogPostingImage":null},"categories":{"nodes":[{"id":"dGVybTox","name":"General Articles"}]},"levels":{"nodes":[]},"acfPost":{"fieldGroupName":"acfPost","excerpt":"Marketing automations are designed to save you time and boost your business—that’s kind of their whole thing. Set up an automation to reach your customers at the right time, with the right message, and let it do the work for you on autopilot.","squaredImage":{"altText":"Level Up Your Marketing Automations: Ezra Firestone's Expertise in New Templates","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#f89878","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/e983560526b3a037c5f2388ac8f03145/b956e/email-automation-new-templates.webp","srcSet":"/static/e983560526b3a037c5f2388ac8f03145/d1fa5/email-automation-new-templates.webp 750w,\n/static/e983560526b3a037c5f2388ac8f03145/b956e/email-automation-new-templates.webp 1024w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":1,"height":0.4228515625}}}},"metaData":{"title":null,"description":"Discover three new marketing automation templates integrated directly into Shopify that will save you time and enhance your business. These templates include a welcome email series with a discount or brand story, as well as a thank you email customized for first or second-time customers. Learn expert tips from Ezra Firestone"},"banner":{"title":"Level Up Your Marketing Automations: Ezra Firestone's Expertise in New Templates","showTitle":true,"image":{"altText":"Level Up Your Marketing Automations: Ezra Firestone's Expertise in New Templates","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#f89878","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/e983560526b3a037c5f2388ac8f03145/b956e/email-automation-new-templates.webp","srcSet":"/static/e983560526b3a037c5f2388ac8f03145/d1fa5/email-automation-new-templates.webp 750w,\n/static/e983560526b3a037c5f2388ac8f03145/b956e/email-automation-new-templates.webp 1024w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":1,"height":0.4228515625}}}}},"timeToRead":null,"sections":[{"fieldGroupName":"post_Acfpost_Sections_ArticleRichTextContent","content":"

Marketing automations are designed to save you time and boost your business—that’s kind of their whole thing. Set up an automation to reach your customers at the right time, with the right message, and let it do the work for you on autopilot.

\n

That’s why we’re excited to share three new marketing automation templates, built directly into Shopify, that will have you up and running with marketing best practices in just a few minutes:

\n\n

Create automation

\n
\"New
\n

Our team didn’t build these alone, either. We worked with Ezra Firestone, whose commerce marketing experience is the stuff of legend. He’s the founder and CEO of Boom! By Cindy Joseph, CEO of oVertone and Zipify, and the founder of Smart Marketer.

\n

His expert advice is weaved into how these automation templates work, from content tweaks to the timing of each email. But he has more advice than can fit into a template, so read on to get all of his top tips to make the most of your welcome series and thank you emails.

\n

Your welcome series is a perfect introduction to you and your business

\n

One of the best ways to engage new subscribers is to send them a series of welcome emails in the first few days after they join your list, instead of just a single welcome email. This gives you a better chance to build a strong connection right from the start, and keeps your brand top of mind.

\n

\"Welcome

\n

But if you’re wondering what to say in four whole emails, we’ve got you covered with advice from Ezra.

\n

Email Idea: Introduce yourself

\n

“What would be interesting as one of the first emails to send—which increases the intimacy between the brand and the subscriber, and it just works—is a ‘meet the founder’ or ‘our story’ email,” says Ezra.

\n

Introducing yourself and sharing your brand’s story is a great way to build trust and establish a personal connection with your subscribers. Plus, almost every brand has a founder or leader who can step in as the face of this email.

\n

\"Example

\n

Email Idea: Mix promotional and relationship-building emails

\n

When it comes to a welcome email series, it’s not just about closing the sale every time. Balance out your promotional content with more information about your business to keep your subscribers engaged and interested.

\n

Not sure what else to include as relationship-building content? “Every brand could do manufacturing transparency emails. Every brand could do social proof,” says Ezra. “The point of these emails is to build trust between you and your subscribers. Here’s some ideas of what you could include in there: where you’re located, why you started your brand, who you’ve served in the past, or a story about how your product helps somebody.”

\n

“The point of these emails is to build trust between you and your subscribers.”

\n

Email Idea: It’s not just about discounts

\n

Incentives in your emails can help you close a sale, but that doesn’t mean you always have to offer a discount. Consider other ways to motivate your subscribers to take action, like free shipping or hassle-free returns.

\n

“Some kind of incentive to take action is going to work so much better than not including one, even if it’s a free shipping threshold communication. Just something to incentivize the shopping experience from the first communication, you know, even if it’s like ‘hassle-free returns’ or ‘free shipping with returns,’” says Ezra.

\n

Set up thank you emails to connect with new and returning customers

\n

Showing gratitude to your customers, both new and returning, has never been easier. With the new thank you automation template, you can set up different emails based on whether someone just placed their first or second order with your store.

\n

\"Thank

\n

On top of that, Ezra has a tip to take this template a step further with a small customization. He recommends adding a wait step, and then sending a second (or even third) email after the first thank you, to hype up the order that’s en route. It’s something he does, and sees working, in his businesses.

\n

“We have our pre-arrival excitement builder emails, which are like, ‘Hey, before your order arrives, here’s what you should know.’ One of the things that pre-arrival excitement builders do is they reduce refund rates, and they increase the number of reviews you get. So we have that category of email: Here’s what your product’s gonna look like when you get it, here’s what you need to know, all that stuff.”

\n

You can either add that content directly to your thank you email, or add a wait step and a second email to your thank you automation.

\n
\n
\n
\n

Email Idea: You don’t need tons of images in every email

\n

And last but not least, if you’re worried that you might not have images for every one of these new emails, that’s OK, says Ezra. In fact, it might even perform better.

\n

“One thing that’s interesting is that what’s performing best for us most of the time are HTML light emails,” says Ezra. That means fewer images, less formatting, and more text—more like an email you’d send to a friend, less like a branded email.

\n

There’s a time and a place for leading with imagery, but it’s worth testing out whether low-formatting emails will work for your brand, too.

\n

Boost your results with new marketing automation templates

\n

Whether you want to upgrade your current welcome email to a series, add thank you emails to your repertoire, or explore the rest of the available marketing automation templates, you can now do it all right within Shopify. Just make sure that as you set up new automations, you’re considering how they all work together—you don’t want to accidentally send three welcome emails at the same time!

\n

https://www.shopify.com/blog/marketing-automation-templates-welcome-thank-you

\n"}]},"page_header":{"background":null,"backgroundOpacity":100,"color":null,"fieldGroupName":"page_header","title":"Ezra Firestone's Automation Boost","opacity":100,"position":"on","size":{"desktop":64,"tablet":null,"mobile":null},"spaces":{"top":null,"bottom":null,"leftright":null,"units":"em"}},"link":"/blog/level-up-your-marketing-automations-ezra-firestones-expertise-in-new-templates"},{"id":"cG9zdDo2MDMw","title":"How James Hoffmann Found His Niche and Became the Coffee Expert on YouTube","date":"07.06.2023","schemaDate":"2023-06-07","modifiedGmt":"2023-07-26T06:04:54","slug":"how-james-hoffmann-found-his-niche-and-became-the-coffee-expert-on-youtube","acfSchemaPost":{"blogPostingImage":null},"categories":{"nodes":[{"id":"dGVybTox","name":"General Articles"}]},"levels":{"nodes":[]},"acfPost":{"fieldGroupName":"acfPost","excerpt":"While James has cemented his status as the go-to coffee expert on YouTube—with a community of close to two million subscribers on the platform—he didn’t start drinking the beverage himself until after he got into the bean business. \r\n“I started working in coffee before I started drinking coffee, which is kind of weird,” he says. “I was demonstrating little espresso machines in a nice department store in London. I had no idea what I was doing, but the more I read and discovered about coffee, the more interested I got. And it became a full-blown obsession pretty quickly.”","squaredImage":{"altText":"How James Hoffmann Found His Niche and Became the Coffee Expert on YouTube","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#088868","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/5409ffbc55aa434e5798ae4018b0a921/98549/Masters_JamesHoffman_03.webp","srcSet":"/static/5409ffbc55aa434e5798ae4018b0a921/2b35b/Masters_JamesHoffman_03.webp 750w,\n/static/5409ffbc55aa434e5798ae4018b0a921/98549/Masters_JamesHoffman_03.webp 1024w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":1,"height":0.423828125}}}},"metaData":{"title":null,"description":"Discover the journey of James Hoffmann, the renowned coffee expert on YouTube, as he shares his tips for creating engaging content and building a niche community. Overcome the fear of public failure, develop expertise outside of content creation, and establish a clear distinction between personal and brand channels. Learn how James turned his passion for coffee into a thriving YouTube channel and multiple successful businesses. Listen to his insightful interview on Shopify Masters"},"banner":{"title":"How James Hoffmann Found His Niche and Became the Coffee Expert on YouTube","showTitle":true,"image":{"altText":"How James Hoffmann Found His Niche and Became the Coffee Expert on YouTube","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#088868","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/5409ffbc55aa434e5798ae4018b0a921/98549/Masters_JamesHoffman_03.webp","srcSet":"/static/5409ffbc55aa434e5798ae4018b0a921/2b35b/Masters_JamesHoffman_03.webp 750w,\n/static/5409ffbc55aa434e5798ae4018b0a921/98549/Masters_JamesHoffman_03.webp 1024w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":1,"height":0.423828125}}}}},"timeToRead":null,"sections":[{"fieldGroupName":"post_Acfpost_Sections_ArticleRichTextContent","content":"

If you’ve ever searched for a video about coffee, chances are you’ve seen James Hoffmann.

\n

While James has cemented his status as the go-to coffee expert on YouTube—with a community of close to two million subscribers on the platform—he didn’t start drinking the beverage himself until after he got into the bean business.

\n

“I started working in coffee before I started drinking coffee, which is kind of weird,” he says. “I was demonstrating little espresso machines in a nice department store in London. I had no idea what I was doing, but the more I read and discovered about coffee, the more interested I got. And it became a full-blown obsession pretty quickly.”

\n

This obsession led to James developing a multifaceted career within coffee that spanned winning the World Barista Championship, opening Square Mile Coffee Roasters, and acquiring a café called Prufrock Coffee. His biggest passion, however, is sharing what he’s learned through all these experiences with others.

\n
\"A
Before James started on YouTube, he had extensive experience in coffee, from winning the World Barista Championship to running a roastery and café. Square Mile Coffee Roasters
\n

James began sharing his coffee knowledge online through blogging and eventually found himself on YouTube.

\n

\n
Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to Shopify Masters.
\n

In this latest video podcast collaboration with Learn with Shopify and Shopify Masters, James shares his tips for creating content that resonates with a niche community.

\n

1. Overcome the fear of failing publicly

\n

Starting anything new comes with a learning curve. For content creation, there’s the added pressure of having your learning process and failed attempts seen by the public. And for James, that was an important hurdle to overcome.

\n

“I hate failing publicly,” admits James. “But I had to. I think I just accept that that’s part of the process of making videos.”

\n
\"James
James says that the YouTube algorithm works in beginners’ favor when learning and creating videos. James Hoffmann
\n

The algorithm, though, can work in a beginner’s favor.

\n

“The good thing about YouTube is, despite the fact that billions of people use it, YouTube won’t show your video to them unless it’s any good,” James says. “And so you can get into the habit of making and publishing and building a small audience and kind of going through that process of learning and developing what you want to do early without really that many people seeing it.”

\n

2. Have an expertise and passion outside of content creation

\n

Even though James transitioned his career into being a YouTuber full time, he still stresses the importance of having an expertise and passion outside of video making.

\n

“I think spending time to develop expertise is really important,” he says. “I spent quite a long time trying to educate myself about coffee and also to practice sharing coffee before I started making content, and that definitely made that bit easier.”

\n
\"
James’ expertise and passion in coffee allowed him to work beyond YouTube, where he’s written books on the subject and provides useful content to a wider audience.  James Hoffmann
\n

Developing his expertise and passion also allowed James to create content that was helpful to his community.

\n

 

\n
\n

 

\n

“If it’s a passion, you’ll have a great time doing that, even if you never make a video about it ever,” says James. If you do wanna start making videos, those will be useful to a much wider audience of people.”

\n

3. Build distance between personal and brand channels

\n

It takes a little bit of research to connect Square Mile Coffee Roasters and Prufrock Coffee to James. This is something he’s done deliberately. “I feel like, in principle, there’s a fundamental difference between a personal channel and a brand channel,” says James. “There are plenty of brand channels I watch and enjoy, but a personal channel makes a promise that you’re interacting with me, an individual. I’m trying to get you excited and interested in coffee [whereas] the purpose of a brand channel would be to sell you a product or to build a long-lasting relationship.”

\n
\"A
James has made a clear separation between his YouTube channel and the businesses he runs, to solely focus on educational coffee content. Square Mile Coffee Roasters
\n

The separation of the businesses James works on from his YouTube channel has allowed him to establish trust in the coffee knowledge he shares.

\n

“If I’m looking like I’m here to build a relationship with you that’s just about education, but quietly trying to just sell you products, I don’t think that’s being honest, and I don’t think that helps you build a real, meaningful, lasting relationship with your audience that way,” he says.

\n

These are just some of the tips James shares on how he’s turned his passion for coffee into a thriving channel and multiple businesses.
\nTo hear more about James’s career and business journey, listen to his full interview on Shopify Masters.

\n

https://www.shopify.com/blog/james-hoffmann-niche

\n"}]},"page_header":{"background":null,"backgroundOpacity":100,"color":null,"fieldGroupName":"page_header","title":"Coffee Expert James Hoffmann","opacity":100,"position":"on","size":{"desktop":64,"tablet":null,"mobile":null},"spaces":{"top":null,"bottom":null,"leftright":null,"units":"em"}},"link":"/blog/how-james-hoffmann-found-his-niche-and-became-the-coffee-expert-on-youtube"},{"id":"cG9zdDo2MDI0","title":"Shopify Markets Pro: 10 Ways To Optimize Your Store After Activation","date":"07.06.2023","schemaDate":"2023-06-07","modifiedGmt":"2023-07-26T06:05:58","slug":"shopify-markets-pro-10-ways-to-optimize-your-store-after-activation","acfSchemaPost":{"blogPostingImage":null},"categories":{"nodes":[{"id":"dGVybTox","name":"General Articles"}]},"levels":{"nodes":[]},"acfPost":{"fieldGroupName":"acfPost","excerpt":"Congratulations on activating Shopify Markets Pro! You’ve just taken a step toward global greatness. We understand that venturing into international markets can be daunting, but with Markets Pro in your corner, it’s now easier than ever before. To accelerate your journey to international selling success, we’ve put together a comprehensive checklist of best practices. Follow these top tips to maximize your success when selling internationally with Markets Pro.","squaredImage":{"altText":"Shopify Markets Pro: 10 Ways To Optimize Your Store After Activation","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#082828","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/6952f5b3195ee54fa4629b79b94a2213/e1bd7/Blog-header-checklist.webp","srcSet":"/static/6952f5b3195ee54fa4629b79b94a2213/7513b/Blog-header-checklist.webp 750w,\n/static/6952f5b3195ee54fa4629b79b94a2213/e1bd7/Blog-header-checklist.webp 1024w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":1,"height":0.5244140625}}}},"metaData":{"title":null,"description":"Unlock global greatness with Shopify Markets Pro! Take your business to new heights with our comprehensive checklist of best practices. From ensuring duties collection to optimizing shipping rates, localizing your store, and investing in international marketing, we've got you covered. With Markets Pro"},"banner":{"title":"Shopify Markets Pro: 10 Ways To Optimize Your Store After Activation","showTitle":true,"image":{"altText":"Shopify Markets Pro: 10 Ways To Optimize Your Store After Activation","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#082828","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/6952f5b3195ee54fa4629b79b94a2213/e1bd7/Blog-header-checklist.webp","srcSet":"/static/6952f5b3195ee54fa4629b79b94a2213/7513b/Blog-header-checklist.webp 750w,\n/static/6952f5b3195ee54fa4629b79b94a2213/e1bd7/Blog-header-checklist.webp 1024w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":1,"height":0.5244140625}}}}},"timeToRead":null,"sections":[{"fieldGroupName":"post_Acfpost_Sections_ArticleRichTextContent","content":"

Congratulations on activating Shopify Markets Pro! You’ve just taken a step toward global greatness. We understand that venturing into international markets can be daunting, but with Markets Pro in your corner, it’s now easier than ever before. To accelerate your journey to international selling success, we’ve put together a comprehensive checklist of best practices. Follow these top tips to maximize your success when selling internationally with Markets Pro.

\n
\n

Your Markets Pro optimization checklist

\n\n
\n

Start optimizing your store

\n

1. Ensure duties collection by using Markets Pro labels

\n

All international orders must be fulfilled using a Markets Pro–generated shipping label from our partner carrier accounts. This is to ensure correct duties handling, as Markets Pro guarantees duties amounts, collects them on your behalf, and remits them to carriers and customs agencies. While you have to use Markets Pro labels on international orders (this does not apply to domestic orders), how you fulfill those orders is up to you. Here are your options:

\n

Print labels from Shopify

\n

Make sure your warehouse staff know how to retrieve labels in your admin.

\n

Use a compatible 3PL

\n

Shopify Markets Pro orders can be fulfilled through compatible fulfillment services. The list of compatible partners continues to grow and will be updated in help docs.

\n

Custom integration 

\n

If you or your 3PL require an integration, make sure to follow the integration steps and exclusively use Markets Pro labels for non-domestic orders.

\n

2. Add new markets for your top regions and localize their buyer experience

\n

At activation, Markets Pro automatically creates an International market that includes all global regions you can sell to. This is to ensure you’re set up to sell everywhere from day one. To apply additional localization settings to specific regions, you can set up single country markets. For example, you can set up a single country market called “Canada,” while the long tail of countries (the dozens of countries from which you get less frequent sales), remain in the new International market that Markets Pro created for you.

\n

\"Shopify

\n

Advantages of setting up single-country markets

\n\n

3. Find and grow international opportunities

\n

Go into your store’s analytics and take a look at where you’re getting organic traffic. To better convert this traffic into sales, make sure you’ve set up markets for these regions. You can do this by adding these countries to the International market or by creating one or more additional markets.

\n

\"Shopify

\n

4. Grow organic search volumes by adding subfolders

\n

A subfolder is a localized extension to your URL that will optimize SEO in that country. Organic search volume grows by more than 10% on average when subfolders are enabled.

\n

\"Shopify

\n

Best practices for subfolders

\n

While subfolders help with organic search exposure, be mindful not to create too many unique URLs. We recommend creating single-country markets with subfolders for countries or regions where you are specifically focusing on growth and/or have unique experiences or different content.

\n

Having unique subfolders based on the presence of a local currency or local language alone is not recommended; the experience should be differentiated based on unique content or structure of the site. For example, if you’re based in the US, and you sell to Canada (where there are two dominant languages, English and French) and you also sell in France (where the dominant language is French), you’re better off targeting Canadian French and France French on a single shop.com/fr subfolder. Only if you had different experiences between the two (for instance different pricing, images, or different product catalogs) would you want a unique country-language subfolder pair like shopxyz.com/fr-ca and shopxyz.com/fr-fr.

\n

Learn more about subfolders and SEO strategy in the Help Center.

\n

5. Improve conversion by translating your store

\n

Boost traffic, improve your SEO, and build trust with audiences around the world by localizing the content on your Shopify store for different markets. On average, brands see a 13% increase in conversion rate when a storefront is translated into a buyer’s local language.

\n

The Translate & Adapt app is built by Shopify, specifically for Shopify. It lets you auto-translate up to two languages for free and manually add as many translations as you wish. The side-by-side editor makes it easy to compare and review your translations, and can also be used to adjust content between markets that speak the same language to ensure cultural, seasonal, and regional relevance.

\n

\"Shopify

\n

Download the app here.

\n

See more localization options here.

\n

6. Optimize your shipping rate strategy

\n

At activation, Markets Pro will suggest what shipping rates to charge customers across different countries. You will have the option to select flat rates that are calculated based on your expected label costs on average, or dynamic rates that cover your label costs per order. You can also choose to opt out of those options and set shipping rates yourself. If you decide to set your own rates, consider your business goals:

\n

Setting rates to prioritize margin

\n

If your goal is to protect your margins, then you may decide to pass the entire cost of the label to the buyer using flat rates (to cover your average label cost) or dynamically calculated rates (to pass along the cost on a per order basis).

\n

We generally recommend the flat rate approach, as this provides the best buyer experience; customers know what they are going to be charged for shipping upfront and can factor that into their buying decision, rather than waiting until they get to checkout. Flat rates encourage buyers to increase cart size and boost average order value, with peace of mind that the shipping rate will not change.

\n

If you choose the flat rate strategy and sell a wide range of product sizes (e.g., 1 to 20 pounds), consider setting two flat rates to cover the increased cost for higher weight products (e.g., 1 to 8 pounds and 9 to 20 pounds).

\n

Learn more about how to configure shipping rates here.

\n

Setting rates to prioritize growth

\n

If your goal is to increase global sales volume, then keeping shipping costs low could help boost conversion at checkout. Consider subsidizing the shipping rates (charging the buyer less for shipping than your label cost). You can do this by creating subsidized shipping flat rates and/or free shipping rates.
\n
\nA common practice is to subsidize label cost, keeping shipping rates low while increasing international product prices to offset the subsidy. This approach encourages higher checkout conversion and also protects margins. If you’re transitioning from offering standard shipping methods to express shipping, this approach is especially recommended.

\n

Learn more about how to adjust product prices by market here.

\n

7. Update your shop’s shipping policies and FAQs

\n

Update your store’s shipping policies so customers know the new benefits of your online store. For example:

\n\n

\"Shopify

\n

8. Invest in marketing to supercharge growth for your international markets

\n

Now that Markets Pro is handling the operational complexity and buyer experience for your global business, it’s up to you to grow brand awareness in these new markets. Start investing in marketing campaigns in your top secondary markets to build a customer base and drive international sales.

\n

Traffic Generation

\n

Create region-specific campaigns: To optimize advertising in new regions, we recommend splitting your campaigns and localizing both their copy and imagery. If you use dynamic retargeting in Facebook, Google, or Pinterest, localize information like language, pricing and stock availability to the buyer’s regional preferences. There are many options when it comes to displaying the local currency and language with your social advertising and retargeting. Here are a few recommendations that work well with Shopify Markets:

\n\n

Check these guides to learn more about advertising on social media platforms:

\n\n

Make sure to review the advertising policies on your chosen ad platform based on industry and region.

\n

Find and partner with regional influencers: Regional influencers can help you drive traffic, convert new buyers, and sell your products in the new regions you’re expanding to. Connecting with the right influencers is easily done with Shopify Collabs, Shopify’s influencer marketing tool built right into your admin. Install Collabs in the app store, set up your brand profile, and get started recruiting creators by clicking on Recruit.

\n

There you’ll find a huge database of influencers you can search and filter by location, keywords, social platform, audience size, and more. Sending samples, incentivizing with affiliate commissions, tracking performance, and paying commission can all be done right from Shopify, and Collabs is also free to install with your Shopify plan.

\n

\"Shopify

\n

Lead Capture and Nurture

\n

Create first-purchase promotions for international customers: Check your current customer list to see if you have any customers who live in your new countries already (i.e., signed up to be on your email list, but haven’t made a purchase because you didn’t sell there at the time.) Save that segment, set up an exclusive discount that can only be used by that segment, and then send a Shopify Email to that segment promoting the discount and your new availability there.

\n

\"Shopify

\n

Add or update an instant answer in Shopify Inbox: Let international customers know your new shipping availability in the new countries by updating the automatic answers customers can find in your Shopify Inbox online store chat.

\n

Add Shopify Forms to your store to build your email list: When you’re promoting your store in a new market, you’re spending time and money getting people to your store, and it’s important to make the most of every visit you get. Shopify Forms is a free lead capture tool that lets you easily promote discounts or other benefits of being on your list, so even if someone isn’t ready to buy, you can email them and build a relationship.

\n

\"Shopify

\n

You can download the Shopify Forms app here.

\n

Limitations

\n

Shopify Forms works with Shopify Email’s double opt-in, and won’t trigger any marketing automations from Shopify until an email is confirmed. However, we don’t yet support multiple languages on a form, so localized stores can only show a form in one language for now.

\n

9. Comply with regional consumer privacy rules

\n

While Markets Pro is GDPR compliant with the information it accesses through Shopify’s checkout, it does not imply compliance on behalf of the merchant or the data/cookies merchants have access to when a consumer visits their storefront.

\n

Merchants should use explicit opt-ins in order to comply with UK and EU consumer privacy rules. Consider installing Shopify Privacy and Compliance to manage consent and data sharing, and build trust with your online store visitors.

\n

\"Shopify

\n

For more options, see third-party cookie tracking apps that block tracking or provide data/cookie management.

\n

10. Prepare to receive weekly payouts

\n

Markets Pro payments are made four times per month, with “Flow Commerce”appearing as the depositor on your banking statement. You can find payout details in your admin by taking the following steps:.

\n\n

The breakdown of fees include taxes, duties, remitted VAT, shipping costs, and the Markets Pro processing fee. For accounting purposes, refer to the fee breakdown by clicking on each order.

\n

\"Shopify

\n

Only fulfilled orders with valid tracking numbers are eligible for payouts. Transactions will be shown as pending until the next payout is issued.

\n

More detailed information about payouts is available in the Help Center.

\n

Get ready for global greatness

\n

We hope that this checklist of best practices will help you make the most of your experience with Markets Pro. Remember, expanding your business globally is a journey—one that can be accelerated with the right combination of steps.

\n

For more motivation to reach for global greatness, check out a merchant success story from WOLFpak— a brand that leveraged Markets Pro to grow cross-border revenue by 528%.

\n

https://www.shopify.com/blog/markets-pro-optimization

\n"}]},"page_header":{"background":null,"backgroundOpacity":100,"color":null,"fieldGroupName":"page_header","title":"Shopify Markets Pro: Optimization Tips","opacity":100,"position":"on","size":{"desktop":64,"tablet":null,"mobile":null},"spaces":{"top":null,"bottom":null,"leftright":null,"units":"em"}},"link":"/blog/shopify-markets-pro-10-ways-to-optimize-your-store-after-activation"},{"id":"cG9zdDo1ODk4","title":"It’s Actually a Great Time To Start a Business (No, Really)","date":"05.06.2023","schemaDate":"2023-06-05","modifiedGmt":"2023-07-26T06:13:55","slug":"its-actually-a-great-time-to-start-a-business-no-really","acfSchemaPost":{"blogPostingImage":null},"categories":{"nodes":[{"id":"dGVybTox","name":"General Articles"}]},"levels":{"nodes":[]},"acfPost":{"fieldGroupName":"acfPost","excerpt":"If you’re thinking of starting an ecommerce business, don’t let the macroeconomics of it scare you. Despite falling valuations of public and private companies, it’s still possible to raise money from venture capital firms.\r\nJon Sakoda is a founder of Decibel Partners, a venture capital firm specializing in infrastructure software, and he’s worked in the industry for more than 15 years. Ahead, hear Jon’s insights about starting a company—and getting it funded—in 2023.","squaredImage":{"altText":"It’s Actually a Great Time To Start a Business (No, Really)","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#f8f8e8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/95b538fe3bd22d342865b7c50c6f0829/b956e/Masters_Bridge_Jon_Sakoda_05.webp","srcSet":"/static/95b538fe3bd22d342865b7c50c6f0829/d1fa5/Masters_Bridge_Jon_Sakoda_05.webp 750w,\n/static/95b538fe3bd22d342865b7c50c6f0829/b956e/Masters_Bridge_Jon_Sakoda_05.webp 1024w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":1,"height":0.4228515625}}}},"metaData":{"title":null,"description":"Discover insights from venture capital expert Jon Sakoda on starting and funding a company in 2023. Learn about the opportunities and challenges in the current market, the optimism in the venture capital industry, and the bright future of ecommerce and AI. Tune in to the Shopify On Location miniseries for invaluable lessons on innovation and risk-taking. Listen now!"},"banner":{"title":"It’s Actually a Great Time To Start a Business (No, Really)","showTitle":true,"image":{"altText":"It’s Actually a Great Time To Start a Business (No, Really)","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#f8f8e8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/95b538fe3bd22d342865b7c50c6f0829/b956e/Masters_Bridge_Jon_Sakoda_05.webp","srcSet":"/static/95b538fe3bd22d342865b7c50c6f0829/d1fa5/Masters_Bridge_Jon_Sakoda_05.webp 750w,\n/static/95b538fe3bd22d342865b7c50c6f0829/b956e/Masters_Bridge_Jon_Sakoda_05.webp 1024w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":1,"height":0.4228515625}}}}},"timeToRead":null,"sections":[{"fieldGroupName":"post_Acfpost_Sections_ArticleRichTextContent","content":"
\"It’s
\n
\n

 

\n
\n

Join us each Thursday for Shopify On Location in San Francisco, a special miniseries from the podcast team. For the new few months, tune in for invaluable lessons about how to innovate and when to take risks. Listen to Shopify On Location here:

\n

\n
\n

If you’re thinking of starting an ecommerce business, don’t let the macroeconomics of it scare you. Despite falling valuations of public and private companies, it’s still possible to raise money from venture capital firms.

\n

Jon Sakoda is a founder of Decibel Partners, a venture capital firm specializing in infrastructure software, and he’s worked in the industry for more than 15 years. Ahead, hear Jon’s insights about starting a company—and getting it funded—in 2023.

\n

\n

There is no bad time to start a company

\n

During his career, Jon has started his own companies and invested in others through several difficult times: the bust of the dot-com bubble in the early 2000s, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis.

\n

“With the fullness of time, most people would say that there really isn’t a bad time to start a company,” Jon says. “The challenge is you have to survive the short term in order to get to the long term.”

\n

Jon finds there’s often an emotional element that pushes founders toward starting a business. “I don’t think founders are wholly rational,” he says. “I think there is a part of you that really feels like, even though maybe there’s something safer to do, you still want to take the riskier path.”

\n

Venture capital is still growing

\n

There are also plenty of reasons to be optimistic about raising money this year. According to Jon, there are still about 1,000 active venture capital firms in the US, and they’re on track to invest in 12,000 to 15,000 companies this year.

\n

Jon’s optimism comes from the data on the venture capital industry’s “dry powder” (the amount of capital in funds that is set aside to invest in startups). “The industry has just been growing bigger and bigger and has healthier balance sheets,” he says.

\n

Jon also notes that venture capitalists are eager to make investments, even when the economy isn’t in an upswing. “We try not to pay attention to macroeconomic conditions when we’re making new investments in new companies,” he says. “In general, the smaller you are, the macroeconomic conditions, in theory, don’t affect you as much because you are focusing usually on technology or product.”

\n

The future of ecommerce and AI looks bright

\n

In terms of new business, some industries look even more promising. One emerging technology has taken hold of the conversation in consumer and business products lately: AI. “What has been many years of research is now being open sourced and made widely available through APIs to everybody and productized in ways that we have not yet seen,” Jon says.

\n

And he remains bullish on the future of ecommerce. “I can’t think of a lot of industries where you’re adding a trillion dollars of net new market every couple of years, like ecommerce does,” Jon says. “If you’re a founder and you’re trying to break into a new market, this is one of the more obvious places to spend one’s time.”

\n

To hear more about Jon’s research on the venture capital market and his thoughts on being “a recovering entrepreneur,” listen to the full interview on Shopify Masters.

\n
\n"}]},"page_header":{"background":null,"backgroundOpacity":100,"color":null,"fieldGroupName":"page_header","title":"Ideal Time: Start Now","opacity":100,"position":"on","size":{"desktop":64,"tablet":null,"mobile":null},"spaces":{"top":null,"bottom":null,"leftright":null,"units":"em"}},"link":"/blog/its-actually-a-great-time-to-start-a-business-no-really"},{"id":"cG9zdDo1ODkx","title":"What Is Affiliate Marketing? Everything You Need to Know in 2023","date":"05.06.2023","schemaDate":"2023-06-05","modifiedGmt":"2023-07-26T06:40:42","slug":"what-is-affiliate-marketing-everything-you-need-to-know-in-2023","acfSchemaPost":{"blogPostingImage":null},"categories":{"nodes":[{"id":"dGVybTox","name":"General Articles"}]},"levels":{"nodes":[]},"acfPost":{"fieldGroupName":"acfPost","excerpt":"Affiliate marketing is a great way to generate some additional income. You can become an affiliate marketer and recommend other brands, or you can start an affiliate program to start promoting your own existing brand.\r\nThis complete guide will walk you through how to become an affiliate marketer who promotes other brands. We’ll go over how to start making money in affiliate marketing, online marketing tips to help you succeed, and tricks to help you earn more money.","squaredImage":{"altText":"What Is Affiliate Marketing? Everything You Need to Know in 2023","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#78d8f8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/188fc3cfb35b584fe3dbc28026777f28/96453/paukova_shopify_affiliate_FINAL.webp","srcSet":"/static/188fc3cfb35b584fe3dbc28026777f28/73e0d/paukova_shopify_affiliate_FINAL.webp 750w,\n/static/188fc3cfb35b584fe3dbc28026777f28/96453/paukova_shopify_affiliate_FINAL.webp 1024w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":1,"height":0.525390625}}}},"metaData":{"title":null,"description":"Learn how to become an affiliate marketer and start generating additional income. This complete guide covers everything you need to know about affiliate marketing, including tips for success and ways to increase your earnings. Whether you want to promote other brands or create your own affiliate program, this guide will help you get started. Explore different types of affiliate marketing, understand the pros and cons, and discover how affiliate marketers make money. Start your affiliate marketing journey today and build a profitable online business."},"banner":{"title":"What Is Affiliate Marketing? Everything You Need to Know in 2023","showTitle":true,"image":{"altText":"What Is Affiliate Marketing? Everything You Need to Know in 2023","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#78d8f8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/188fc3cfb35b584fe3dbc28026777f28/96453/paukova_shopify_affiliate_FINAL.webp","srcSet":"/static/188fc3cfb35b584fe3dbc28026777f28/73e0d/paukova_shopify_affiliate_FINAL.webp 750w,\n/static/188fc3cfb35b584fe3dbc28026777f28/96453/paukova_shopify_affiliate_FINAL.webp 1024w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":1,"height":0.525390625}}}}},"timeToRead":null,"sections":[{"fieldGroupName":"post_Acfpost_Sections_ArticleRichTextContent","content":"

Affiliate marketing is a great way to generate some additional income. You can become an affiliate marketer and recommend other brands, or you can start an affiliate program to start promoting your own existing brand.

\n

This complete guide will walk you through how to become an affiliate marketer who promotes other brands. We’ll go over how to start making money in affiliate marketing, online marketing tips to help you succeed, and tricks to help you earn more money.

\n

Smart entrepreneurs running a thriving business know there’s always more they can do to make that business grow. One way of taking things to the next level is by finding an alternate stream of income.

\n

Table of contents

\n\n

What is affiliate marketing?

\n

Affiliate marketing is a process where publishers earn a commission by using an affiliate link to promote a product or service made by another retailer or advertiser. The affiliate partner is rewarded a payout for providing a specific result to the retailer or advertiser.

\n

Typically, the result is a sale. But some affiliate marketing programs can reward you for leads, free-trial users, clicks to a website, or getting downloads for an app.

\n

Most affiliate programs are free to join, so you don’t have to worry about high startup costs. Done right, an effective affiliate marketing strategy can go from side hustle to profitable online business idea by netting you a healthy income.

\n
\n

How affiliate marketing works

\n

Affiliate marketing involves referring a product or service, often by sharing it on a blog, social media platform, podcast, or website. The affiliate earns a commission each time someone makes a purchase through the unique affiliate link associated with their recommendation.

\n

Here’s how it works at a high level:

\n\n

Commission rates for affiliate sales vary depending on the company and the offer. On the low end, you’ll earn about 5% of the sale, but with some arrangements, you can earn as much as 50%, usually when promoting a class or event. Some affiliate marketing programs provide a flat rate per sale instead of a percentage.

\n

Types of affiliate marketing

\n

Affiliates always carry a bit of mystery—you never know if the person has ever really used the product or if they are just promoting it for the money. Both cases still exist today.

\n

It wasn’t until 2009 when renowned affiliate marketer Pat Flynn broke down the different types of affiliate marketers into three groups. Understanding these types of affiliate marketing can show you the different ways people make money online in this space, regardless of your moral compass.

\n

1. Unattached affiliate marketing

\n

The first type of affiliate marketing is referred to as “unattached,” or when you have no authority in the niche of the product you’re advertising, i.e., There’s no connection between you and the customer. This often involves running pay-per-click (PPC) advertising campaigns with the affiliate link and hoping people will click it, buy the product, and earn a commission.

\n

Unattached affiliate marketing is attractive because you don’t need to do any legwork. Affiliate marketing businesses rely on reputation and trust with a target audience online. Some affiliate marketers don’t have the time or desire to build those relationships, so this type of marketing is their best option.

\n

“Unattached affiliate marketing isn’t a genuine business model, it’s for people who just want to generate income,” explains Elise Dopson, founder of Sprocker Lovers. “Our focus for Sprocker Lovers is building community and providing free education around a particular niche first, which in our case is the sprocker spaniel dog breed, and selling second.”

\n

2. Related affiliate marketing

\n

Related affiliate marketing is the practice of promoting products and services you don’t use but that are related to your niche. An affiliate marketer in this case has an audience, whether it’s through blogging, YouTube, TikTok, or another channel. A related affiliate marketer also has influence, which makes them a trusted source for recommending products, even if they’ve never used them before.

\n

While related affiliate marketing can generate more affiliate income, it comes with the risk of promoting something you’ve never tried before. It could be the worst product or service ever, and you wouldn’t even know. It only takes one bad recommendation to lose the trust of your audience. If you don’t have trust and transparency, it’ll be hard to build a sustainable affiliate marketing business.

\n

3. Involved affiliate marketing

\n

Involved affiliate marketing refers to only recommending products and services the affiliate marketer has used and truly believes in. “Involved affiliate marketing is the way forward,” says Elise. “It’s rooted in trust and authenticity, which is best for your audience and business.”

\n

In this type of marketing, an affiliate marketer uses his or her influence to promote products and services that followers may actually need, instead of paying to get clicks on a banner ad. It takes more time to build this type of credibility with an audience, but it’s necessary for building a sustainable business.

\n

Elise explains that the involved approach makes advertising much easier for affiliate marketing partners: “You don’t have to hide behind expensive PPC ads and hope for clicks and sales. An organic Instagram Story or blog post about your experience with a product will go a long way.” Elise prefers this method because it’s honest and is “the only genuine way to become a trusted source on any topic.”

\n

Involved affiliate marketing is the only genuine way to become a trusted source on any topic.

\n\n
\n

Pros and cons of affiliate marketing

\n

Yes, affiliate marketing is worth it, given its growth in popularity. Statista estimates the affiliate marketing industry was worth $8.2 billion in 2022, up from $5.4 billion in 2017. It’s also a low- to no-cost business venture you can profit from immensely. But before diving in, consider the pros and cons of entering the affiliate marketing world.

\n

Pros

\n

While industry growth is a good indication of success, entrepreneurs also take this referral marketing route for a few other reasons.

\n

Easy to execute

\n

Your side of the equation involves simply handling the digital marketing side of building and selling a product. You don’t have to worry about the harder tasks, like developing, supporting, or fulfilling the offer.

\n

Related Content:

\n\n

Low risk

\n

Since there’s no cost to join affiliate programs, you can start making money with an established affiliate product or service without any upfront investment. Affiliate marketing can also generate relatively passive income through commission—the ideal money-making scenario. Though initially you’ll have to invest time creating traffic sources, your affiliate link can continue to deliver a steady paycheck.

\n

Easy to scale

\n

Successful affiliate marketing offers the potential to significantly scale your earnings without hiring extra help. You can introduce new products to your current audience and build campaigns for additional products while your existing work continues to generate affiliate revenue in the background.

\n

Before you get too excited, know that great affiliate marketing is built on trust. While seemingly there are an endless number of products or services to promote, it’s best to only highlight those you personally use or would recommend. Even when a product interests you or fits within an existing hobby, becoming a great affiliate marketer for that product takes a lot of work.

\n

Read more: The Beginner’s Guide to Setting Up an Affiliate Program for Your Shopify Store

\n

Cons

\n

Affiliate marketing also has a few disadvantages compared to other types of marketing campaigns. Before jumping in, let’s look at a few challenges you’ll face on your journey to affiliate marketing success.

\n

Requires patience

\n

Affiliate marketing is not a get-rich-quick scheme. It requires time and patience to grow an audience and gain influence.

\n

You’ll want to test different channels to see which connect best with your audience. Research the most relevant and credible products to promote. Spend time blogging, publishing free content on social media, hosting virtual events, and doing other lead-generating activities on your marketing channels.

\n

Commission-based

\n

There’s no boss handing you a weekly paycheck as an affiliate marketer. Affiliate programs work on a commission basis, whether you’re paid by lead, click, or sale.

\n

Companies use a temporary browser cookie to track people’s actions from your content. When a desired action is taken by someone, you receive the payout.

\n

No control over program

\n

Affiliates must obey the rules set by a company for their program. You need to follow their guidelines for what you say and how you present their product or service. Competitors must follow the same recommendations, so you have to get creative to differentiate yourself from the crowd.

\n

How do affiliate marketers make money?

\n

Affiliate marketing income spans a large spectrum. There are some affiliate marketers that will make a few hundred bucks per month and others that make six figures a year. The larger your following, the more money you can make as an affiliate marketer.

\n

\"\"

\n

Compensation software company Payscale reports that the average annual salary of an affiliate marketer is more than $53,000, based on over 7,000 salary profiles, with many affiliate marketers earning significantly more.

\n

But how do affiliates actually get paid? When you choose an affiliate program to promote, you’ll notice there are different payment models. Companies also call it a price model, payout model, conversion type, or another variation.

\n

Regardless of the name, the payment model tells you what goals you will get paid for. If you’re promoting a software product, the action could be a free trial signup. For an affiliate marketer who promotes physical products, the goal will likely be a purchase.

\n

Many programs run with last-click attribution, which means the affiliate who receives the last click before purchase gets 100% credit. However, this is changing, as programs improve attribution models and reporting. For example, you could share equal credit for a sale if there were multiple affiliates in a buyer’s conversion funnel.

\n

Five common ways affiliates get paid include:

\n
    \n
  1. Pay per sale, where you earn a commission for each sale you make. It’s a common payout model for ecommerce offers.
    2. \n
  2. Pay per action, which earns you a commission for a specific action. Many affiliate programs use this payout model because it’s broad and can be applied to different offers: a newsletter signup, a click, contact request, form submission, etc.
    3. \n
  3. Pay per install, where you are paid for every install generated from your website traffic. The goal of your content would be to promote mobile apps and software so that people download or install them
    4. \n
  4. Pay per lead, which pays you every time someone signs up for something. It’s a popular payout method because companies use it for sweepstakes, lead generation, and other types of offers. Cost per lead offers are common for beginners because it’s easier to generate leads than to sell products to an audience.
    5. \n
  5. Pay per click, a rare payout system where you earn commission on every click on your affiliate link. Pay per click programs are used by big merchants with a goal to build brand awareness. Customers don’t need to sign up or buy anything, just to visit the merchant’s website.
    6. \n
\n

How much you make depends on your affiliate niche. For example, research conducted by Shopify in 2021* found that the highest average commission rate ($70.99) was for business-related programs, while books and media and clothing categories earned just over $6 per commission. The maximum average commission we found was around $289.06 per sale.

\n
\"affiliate
Affiliate marketing program commission and conversion rate by niche
\n

How to start affiliate marketing in 4 steps

\n
    \n
  1. Pick your platform and method
    2. \n
  2. Decide your niche and audience
    3. \n
  3. Find your products
    4. \n
  4. Choose your first affiliate program
    5. \n
\n

Just like running your own small business, becoming a successful affiliate takes dedication and discipline. Use the following step-by-step guide to start your affiliate marketing business.

\n

Pick your platform and method

\n

The first step is figuring out the platform you want to build your audience around. Every affiliate marketer has a different approach and platform. There are many affiliate marketing ideas you can choose from based on different methods:

\n\n\n\n

No matter which route you take, authenticity and audience building are the two most crucial elements for affiliate marketing. If you can’t authentically connect with your audience, chances are you won’t have success in converting them into affiliate sales.

\n

To pick a platform and method, ask yourself:

\n\n

Common platforms affiliate marketers use are:

\n\n

Starting with a marketing platform you’re comfortable with helps you create high-quality content. This can result in a stronger, more engaged audience you can turn into sales.

\n

Decide your niche and audience

\n

When it comes to choosing a niche, aim for something you’re passionate and knowledgeable about. This helps you come across as authentic and as a trusted source of information for potential customers. It also helps you evaluate which products and brands you want to promote.

\n

Say, for example, you started a blog about dogs. You own a sprocker spaniel and you’re passionate about helping other owners care for their sprockers.

\n

You create a blog like Sprocker Lovers, and you regularly post and encourage people to subscribe to an email list and share your content. Sprocker spaniels are your niche, and you’re going to invest in content marketing and optimization to grow your audience of owners.

\n

“The niche you choose for your affiliate site guides how much time or effort you’ll need to put into building it to a point where you begin to see SEO results,” says Elise.

\n

“SERPs for software, marketing, and health care, for example, are all dominated by huge blogging sites with even bigger marketing budgets. The secret is finding untapped areas where competition isn’t as fierce—and getting in there before other people recognize it.”

\n

As you post more, you can use affiliate marketing tools like social listening, website analytics, and social media insights to discover who your audience is and what they like.

\n

It’s important you know your audience so well, that you understand why they follow you in the first place.

\n

Remember, you’re not paid to post. Affiliate marketing is a performance-based online business. If you know what your audience likes, you can then refer the best products to them and earn more affiliate income.

\n

Find your products

\n

To earn revenue as an affiliate marketer, your audience needs to connect with what you’re saying. The items or services you promote need to be products they genuinely want. Getting this wrong can hinder your success and diminish your credibility—as well as your audience.

\n

If you’re curious where to look for products or brands to work with, don’t worry. There are tons of affiliate marketplaces, including:

\n\n

Another option is to visit the websites of the products and services you use and like to see if they have an affiliate program. Large companies often have programs they promote on their site, such as Amazon Associates or the Shopify Affiliate Program.

\n

\"\"

\n

You also can take a more direct approach. Reach out to the owner of a great product you come across and see if they offer an affiliate marketing program. If they don’t, they might be happy to set up an arrangement with you, such as offering you a special coupon code to share with your followers.

\n

The best deals often are found when you’re the first to inquire and have a relevant distribution channel, such as approaching the seller of a new fitness product if you’re a health and wellness blogger.

\n

Affiliate marketing programs will have terms of service you need to follow, so read the fine print. For example, your affiliate link usually will have a cookie with a specified timeframe, and some programs don’t allow you to purchase pay-per-click ads using the product or company’s name.

\n

Choose your first affiliate program

\n

As you brainstorm products or browse through affiliate platforms, the most important criteria to keep in mind is that the product should be aligned with your audience, or the audience you hope to build. Ask yourself, is it something your target audience would find valuable? Does it fit with your area of expertise?

\n

A food blogger probably wouldn’t promote beauty products, for example. A wide range of other products, such as cookware, meal kits, gourmet ingredients, or even aprons would make more sense.

\n

Also make sure the product or service you’re promoting is a fit for the platform you’re promoting it on. For example, home décor and clothing are well suited to image-heavy platforms like Instagram. However, if you’re promoting more in-depth purchases, like software, your conversion rates may be higher on longer-form platforms, like a blog or YouTube.

\n

Tips for affiliate marketing success

\n\n

As we mentioned earlier, affiliate marketing revenue can eventually become a form of passive income, but you still have to do some heavy lifting upfront. The success of your program will depend on the quality of your review.

\n

To create a good review, it’s best to get personal. Share your experience in your blog, social media post, Instagram Story, or YouTube video. If you’re writing a personal review, give a candid opinion based on your experience with and knowledge of the product. The more open you are, the more authentic you will be. People will be more comfortable following your advice if they feel they can trust you.

\n

Trust is a key factor in your affiliate marketing efforts, because people need to trust you enough to act on your recommendations. The level of trust you’ll need to make affiliate sales depends on your industry and the products you’re recommending—for example, it takes more trust to be an effective affiliate for a $1,000 course than it does for a $20 t-shirt.

\n

“Beyond just sharing your experiences, you can build trust by limiting the number of affiliates you promote, or by only becoming an affiliate for products you personally use and sticking to your area of expertise,” says Desirae Odjick, founder of Half Banked. “For example, people trust my recommendations for Canadian financial apps, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to have much luck as a Sephora affiliate.”

\n

\"\"

\n

Talk to a product expert

\n

Another option is interviewing others who use the product or service, or even interviewing the person who makes or sells it. This can give your review more depth, creating a narrative for the reader.

\n

Create a product tutorial

\n

While your success with affiliate marketing can depend on the overall size of your following, another way to drive traffic is by providing a tutorial on the offer.

\n

People often perform “how to” Google searches, such as “how to save money for college” or “how to decorate a laundry room.” If you offer a tutorial that solves a searcher’s problem and clearly showcases the value of the product, your referrals will make more sense in context, and you’ll provide the customer with a stronger incentive to purchase the product you’re recommending.

\n

Build an email list

\n

An email list is a list of contacts you’ve gathered who would like to receive information from you. It’s important to build a contact list because it’s one of the best ways to connect with people outside of social media. When it comes to purchases made as a result of receiving a marketing message, email has the highest conversion rate (66%) compared to social and other marketing channels.

\n

\"\"

\n

Gather emails from your content and send a newsletter weekly or biweekly to subscribers. Affiliate marketers can send many different things to subscribers on their list:

\n\n

Use your email list as an opportunity to show value to subscribers. If they send you an email back, respond. Be consistent with your newsletter cadence and quality. Then, every once in a while, promote an affiliate product or two to subscribers.

\n

There’s no hard rule on how many times to send promotional emails. Just don’t send them every time you have a promo or you’ll come off as spammy and untrustworthy. If you’re promoting good products once a month, you’re only providing value to subscribers who need them.

\n

Find relevant search terms

\n

If you’re promoting an offer through a blog post, research which keywords someone might use in a search engine to find an answer to a related problem. Google Ads Keyword Planner is a great tool that can help. (It’s free to use, but you’ll need to create an account.)

\n

Read more: What is SEO Marketing and How Does It Work?

\n

Consider your angle

\n

Depending on your offer, figure out how much energy you should invest in instructional or tutorial content, which is often a natural lead-in to someone trying a product for themselves.

\n

For example, you could record a video of yourself using and getting the most out of a physical product or showing off the benefits of a digital product, like software. Unboxing posts are popular, so if you receive the product in the mail, document your experience opening it up.

\n

Set your distribution strategy

\n

Once you’ve written your promotional content, share it on your website or social media platforms. If you have a subscriber list, you can create an email marketing campaign. And be sure to have an affiliate marketing hub on your website with a resources page where you share a quick list of all of the tools you use and love.

\n

Try offering a bonus

\n

Sometimes marketers promote their affiliate programs by offering bonuses to anyone who purchases the offer. For example, you could give a free ebook you wrote to any follower who makes a purchase.

\n

Promotions like this encourage customers to buy by sweetening the deal. They’re especially persuasive if the bonus you offer is something you normally sell, because then shoppers can see its actual dollar value right on your site.

\n

You can find several examples of affiliate bonuses in action when business coach Marie Forleo opens her popular B-School for entrepreneurs each year. To encourage sign-ups through her affiliate link, Laura Belgray, Forleo’s own copywriter, offers a one-on-one copywriting session as a bonus.

\n
\"\"
\n

Keep things legal and above board

\n

Don’t forget to disclose to followers that your post contains affiliate links. For one thing, it’s required by the FTC. But explaining the reason for your affiliation also can help you connect with your audience.

\n

For example, the financial independence bloggers at Frugalwoods offer this disclosure:

\n

\"\"

\n

“Frugalwoods sometimes publishes affiliate endorsements and advertisements, which means that if you click on a link and buy something, Frugalwoods might receive a percentage of the sale, at no extra cost to you. We only write about and promote products that we believe in. We promise not to tell you about stuff that’s dumb.”

\n

If you need help figuring out what language to use in a disclaimer, it’s worth taking time to consult a lawyer.

\n

Read more: 16 Affiliate Marketing Tips & Strategies to Earn More Money

\n

Affiliate marketing program examples

\n

Looking at some of the companies that participate in affiliate marketing will provide you with inspiration—as well as proof that this is a legit and high-paying revenue stream.

\n

Shopify

\n

Shopify’s Affiliate Program is a network of entrepreneurs, educators, influencers, and creators who send referrals to Shopify. It’s free to sign up for the program, you only need to apply.

\n

Once approved, affiliate partners get a unique affiliate link to share with their audience. They earn affiliate income each time someone signs up using their link.

\n

\"Screenshot

\n

On average, Shopify Affiliates earn $58 for each referral who signs up for a paid Shopify plan. Affiliates can earn as much or as little as they want, it all depends on how much time they spend on their affiliate marketing strategy.

\n

I have worked with dozens of companies over my 11 years online, and I have to say that Shopify has been one of the best to work with! Their affiliate managers and program have made it easy for me to promote their product, make money, and provide value to my community.”

\n\n
\n

Amazon

\n

One of the most common examples is Amazon’s affiliate marketing program, known as Amazon Affiliates. In fact, Amazon Affiliates currently has the biggest market share of affiliate networks (45.81%), followed by CJ Affiliate (8.14%), and Rakuten Affiliate Network (7.85%).

\n

\"\"

\n

Amazon Affiliates offers different products across many different categories. It’s a great way to get into affiliate marketing as a beginner. Creators, publishers, and bloggers can use an Amazon affiliate link to direct their audience to product recommendations. From the link referral, you can earn money on qualifying purchases.

\n

Take Sprocker Lovers, for example. Site owner Elise Dopson wrote a blog post titled Are Spaniels Good Running Partners? & 6 Tips for Safe Running. In the article, she recommends a tip about how spaniels should wear a high-vis dog jacket when running at night.

\n
\"sprocker
Sprocker Lovers website on-page affiliate program implementation
\n

If a reader wants to buy a high-vis dog jacket, they can click the link and head to Amazon to complete the purchase.

\n
\"Amazon
Amazon affiliate program example from Sprocker Lovers
\n

Healthish

\n

Water bottle retailer Healthish used affiliate marketing to build a million-dollar brand. Rather than take the traditional affiliate route, it used Instagram influencers to build awareness for the launch of its keystone product, the WB-1 bottle.

\n
\"healthlish
Healthlish affiliate program website
\n

The brand continues to work with influencer accounts, ranging from those with 100,000 followers and up. It works with around 300 creators per month to create content that markets and sells the bottle at scale.

\n

Learn more by reading The Pre-Launch Strategies of a Million-Dollar Brand.

\n
\n

Frankies Bikinis

\n

Swimwear brand Frankies Bikinis refers to its affiliates as ambassadors, hashtagged #Frankiesgirls. It uses ShareASale, RewardStyle, and Skimlinks to manage its program. The brand encourages active women with strong social presences to apply. Commissions are paid in cash, and the brand offers an updated list of active promos for ambassadors to use.

\n

\"\"

\n

Juice Beauty

\n

Juice Beauty is a skin care brand based in California that offers an affiliate program via Rakuten. Affiliates earn 6% commission on all sales, and have access to special deals and discounts. Juice Beauty doesn’t charge any application or membership fees to its affiliates.

\n

\"\"

\n

Urikar

\n

Retailer Urikar offers a high-ticket affiliate program with average commissions of $1,460, according to data from ShareASale. It sells fitness and wellness products like massage guns, indoor and outdoor workout equipment, and accessories.

\n
\"urikar
Urikar affiliate program website
\n

Urikar offers a 10% commission on all sales, which can add up quickly if you are a fitness influencer with a big following. Its most popular product, an AI-powered muscle massager, retails for $139.99, which means you’ll earn $13.99 for each sale. Urikar’s program also provides your own dedicated account manager and affiliate dashboard to track conversions and sales.

\n

Start your affiliate marketing business today

\n

Earning money with affiliate marketing programs can be a rewarding way to add a new revenue stream for little or no money in upfront investment. Affiliate marketing takes time, but by putting in the hours to find the right affiliate network and dial in your strategy, you can build an affiliate system that generates passive income for years to come.

\n

Click here to apply to the Shopify Affiliate Program.

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Read More

\n
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  • How To Start Affiliate Marketing With No Money
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    • \n
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Affiliate marketing FAQ

\n
\n

What does affiliate marketing mean?

\n
\n
Affiliate marketing means you earn a monetary commission by promoting a company’s product or service. An affiliate partner, which is you, is rewarded a commission for providing a specific result to a merchant or advertiser, be it sales, leads, downloads, etc. Start your affiliate marketing with Shopify!
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

How do I start affiliate marketing?

\n
\n
\n
    \n
  1. Decide on a niche.
    2. \n
  2. Choose your platform.
    3. \n
  3. Find relevant affiliate marketing programs.
    4. \n
  4. Create valuable content.
    5. \n
  5. Build an audience.
    6. \n
  6. Follow FTC guidelines.
    7. \n
\n

Get started with Shopify

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Is affiliate marketing worth it?

\n

Yes, affiliate marketing is worth it. The affiliate marketing industry is estimated to grow from $5.4 billion in 2017 to $8.2 billion by 2023, according to Statista. Affiliate marketing is inexpensive to start and carries low risk compared to other online business models.

\n
\n
\n

What are the top affiliate networks?

\n
\n
\n
    \n
  • Affiliate Future
    • \n
  • AvantLink
    • \n
  • CJ Affiliate
    • \n
  • ClickBank
    • \n
  • FlexOffers
    • \n
  • LinkConnector
    • \n
  • ShareASale
    • \n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

What is an example of affiliate marketing?

\n
\n
Shopify offers an affiliate program where entrepreneurs can refer merchants to the platform. It’s free to sign up. After a partner applies and gets approved, they receive a referral link. The partner goes and shares that link with their audiences. When someone signs up through the link for a paid Shopify plan, the affiliate partner earns a commission.
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Affiliate marketing FAQ

\n
\n

What does affiliate marketing mean?

\n
\n
Affiliate marketing means you earn a monetary commission by promoting a company’s product or service. An affiliate partner, which is you, is rewarded a commission for providing a specific result to a merchant or advertiser, be it sales, leads, downloads, etc. Start your affiliate marketing with Shopify!
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

How do I start affiliate marketing?

\n
\n
\n
    \n
  1. Decide on a niche.
    2. \n
  2. Choose your platform.
    3. \n
  3. Find relevant affiliate marketing programs.
    4. \n
  4. Create valuable content.
    5. \n
  5. Build an audience.
    6. \n
  6. Follow FTC guidelines.
    7. \n
\n

Get started with Shopify

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Is affiliate marketing worth it?

\n

Yes, affiliate marketing is worth it. The affiliate marketing industry is estimated to grow from $5.4 billion in 2017 to $8.2 billion by 2023, according to Statista. Affiliate marketing is inexpensive to start and carries low risk compared to other online business models.

\n
\n
\n

What are the top affiliate networks?

\n
\n
\n
    \n
  • Affiliate Future
    • \n
  • AvantLink
    • \n
  • CJ Affiliate
    • \n
  • ClickBank
    • \n
  • FlexOffers
    • \n
  • LinkConnector
    • \n
  • ShareASale
    • \n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

What is an example of affiliate marketing?

\n
\n
\n

Shopify offers an affiliate program where entrepreneurs can refer merchants to the platform. It’s free to sign up. After a partner applies and gets approved, they receive a referral link. The partner goes and shares that link with their audiences. When someone signs up through the link for a paid Shopify plan, the affiliate partner earns a commission.

\n

https://www.shopify.com/blog/affiliate-marketing

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\n"}]},"page_header":{"background":null,"backgroundOpacity":100,"color":null,"fieldGroupName":"page_header","title":"Affiliate Marketing 2023","opacity":100,"position":"on","size":{"desktop":64,"tablet":null,"mobile":null},"spaces":{"top":null,"bottom":null,"leftright":null,"units":"em"}},"link":"/blog/what-is-affiliate-marketing-everything-you-need-to-know-in-2023"},{"id":"cG9zdDo1NzI0","title":"How To Make Money On TikTok: 8 Proven Ideas (2023)","date":"31.05.2023","schemaDate":"2023-05-31","modifiedGmt":"2023-07-26T06:47:51","slug":"how-to-make-money-on-tiktok-8-proven-ideas-2023","acfSchemaPost":{"blogPostingImage":null},"categories":{"nodes":[{"id":"dGVybTox","name":"General Articles"}]},"levels":{"nodes":[]},"acfPost":{"fieldGroupName":"acfPost","excerpt":"Despite only launching internationally in 2017, TikTok has become the authority on what’s hot in culture, politics, fashion, and beyond. TikTok is a force, growing rapidly year over year, and is expected to reach two billion users by 2024. The short form video app has attracted a sizable Gen Z user base, and for entrepreneurs, that’s a lot of marketing potential. \r\n\r\nIf you want to leverage TikTok’s massive user base in building your audience, here’s a look at the strategies of some of the social media platform’s top creators and marketers. Get tips on how to make money on TikTok, from fan merch sales to paid subscriptions.","squaredImage":{"altText":"How To Make Money On TikTok: 8 Proven Ideas (2023)","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#f89828","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/1d9afc83ce80ddeea1252fe56c438fef/b956e/how_20to_20make_20money_20on_20tiktok.webp","srcSet":"/static/1d9afc83ce80ddeea1252fe56c438fef/d1fa5/how_20to_20make_20money_20on_20tiktok.webp 750w,\n/static/1d9afc83ce80ddeea1252fe56c438fef/b956e/how_20to_20make_20money_20on_20tiktok.webp 1024w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":1,"height":0.4228515625}}}},"metaData":{"title":null,"description":"Discover how to make money on TikTok and leverage its massive user base to build your audience. Learn about the strategies of top creators and marketers on the platform, including joining the TikTok Creativity Program, selling merch to fans, collecting virtual gifts during live streams, partnering with influencers or brands, creating in-feed ads, crowdfunding projects, collecting tips, and using Patreon for fan subscriptions. Explore the various ways to monetize your TikTok account and engage with your audience without being too promotional. Join the TikTok creator economy and tap into the opportunities of the booming creator economy."},"banner":{"title":"How To Make Money On TikTok: 8 Proven Ideas (2023)","showTitle":true,"image":{"altText":"How To Make Money On TikTok: 8 Proven Ideas (2023)","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#f89828","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/1d9afc83ce80ddeea1252fe56c438fef/b956e/how_20to_20make_20money_20on_20tiktok.webp","srcSet":"/static/1d9afc83ce80ddeea1252fe56c438fef/d1fa5/how_20to_20make_20money_20on_20tiktok.webp 750w,\n/static/1d9afc83ce80ddeea1252fe56c438fef/b956e/how_20to_20make_20money_20on_20tiktok.webp 1024w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":1,"height":0.4228515625}}}}},"timeToRead":null,"sections":[{"fieldGroupName":"post_Acfpost_Sections_ArticleRichTextContent","content":"

Despite only launching internationally in 2017, TikTok has become the authority on what’s hot in culture, politics, fashion, and beyond. TikTok is a force, growing rapidly year over year, and is expected to reach two billion users by 2024. The short form video app has attracted a sizable Gen Z user base, and for entrepreneurs, that’s a lot of marketing potential.

\n

If you want to leverage TikTok’s massive user base in building your audience, here’s a look at the strategies of some of the social media platform’s top creators and marketers. Get tips on how to make money on TikTok, from fan merch sales to paid subscriptions.

\n

How to make money on TikTok

\n
\n

Deciding how to monetize TikTok users becomes easier once you’ve gained a deeper understanding of your target audience. There’s no single approach to monetization, but the highest earners usually maintain a number of complementary income streams. From sponsored content to organic marketing, the opportunities with TikTok are virtually endless.

\n

Let’s go over some of the most common ways users earn money on TikTok:

\n
    \n
  1. Join the TikTok Creativity Program (formerly TikTok Creator Fund)
    2. \n
  2. Sell merch and other products to your fans
    3. \n
  3. Go live and collect virtual gifts
    4. \n
  4. Partner with TikTok influencers or other brands
    5. \n
  5. Create in-feed ads with the TikTok ads manager
    6. \n
  6. Crowdfund projects by collecting donations from fans
    7. \n
  7. Collect “tips” from your audience
    8. \n
  8. Use Patreon to offer fan subscriptions
    9. \n
\n
\n

Connect with shoppers on TikTok

\n

Shopify comes with powerful tools to help you tell your brand story and create TikTok in-feed ads in minutes. Make sales on TikTok and manage all your orders, returns, and payments from Shopify.

\n

Start selling on TikTok

\n
\n

1. Join the TikTok Creativity Program (formerly TikTok Creator Fund)

\n

Users who’ve built up a substantial following might consider making money through the TikTok Creativity Program. Announced in February 2023 and launched in May, this program replaces the TikTok Creator Fund.

\n

US-based creators with at least 10,000 followers and 100,000 authentic video views within the past 30 days are eligible to join this program, which, as of May 2023, is still in beta. The program should be available to more users in the coming months.

\n

Eligibility:

\n\n

2. Sell merch and other products to your fans

\n

\"A

\n

Selling your own products on TikTok is great for monetizing nearly any type of content. Creators⁠—whether they’re a dancer, a singer, or a comedian⁠—can make and sell merch to their most loyal fans.

\n

And with a wide variety of print-on-demand companies on the market, there’s a ton of merchandise to choose from. You might sell t-shirts, tote bags, pillow cases, hats, coffee mugs, stickers, notebooks⁠⁠—or any combination of products.

\n

Selling print-on-demand products even has benefits beyond revenue. Owning branded merch gives your fans a deeper connection to your personal brand, and every follower who wears your merch spreads the word about your business.

\n

💡 Learn more: TikTok Merch: How To Make and Sell It on TikTok

\n

3. Go live and collect virtual gifts

\n

LIVE Gifting is one of TikTok’s most useful features for creators looking to monetize their content through livestreaming.

\n

Most social networks have a livestreaming feature, but what makes TikTok unique is that it allows followers to show their appreciation in real time by sending virtual gifts, which can be redeemed for payment.

\n

Engaging with users in real time is great for building valuable relationships with your fans. Audiences that have a strong connection to a creator tend to develop a personal stake in their success, which means going live can help to boost other monetization streams as well.

\n

4. Partner with TikTok influencers or other brands

\n

\"Two

\n

One of the most innovative ways TikTok allows its creators to make money is through its Creator Marketplace.

\n

The Creator Marketplace helps connect the right brands to the right influencers, facilitating partnerships in a way that’s fast and easy for both parties. TikTok makes it incredibly easy to create valuable sponsored content.

\n

Brands looking to run an affiliate marketing campaign can browse the marketplace and quickly shuffle through content made by creators they know are open to collaborations with brands.

\n

The Creator Marketplace acts as an influencer agency, letting both sides indicate their willingness to work with one another, relieving some of the awkwardness of approaching influencers that marketers might experience with influencer marketing on other platforms.

\n

If you’re looking for an easy way to find brands to partner with, generate affiliate links, and manage your brand partnerships all in one place, try Shopify Collabs.

\n
\n

Find influencers to drive sales with Shopify Collabs

\n

Shopify Collabs makes it easy to partner with creators, promote your products, reach new customers, grow your sales, and track affiliate campaign performance all from Shopify admin.

\n

Discover Shopify Collabs

\n
\n

Like so many great businesses, skin care brand Peace Out Skincare was created when its founder encountered a problem that didn’t have a solution⁠—until he created one.

\n

 

\n

\n

After struggling with acne and hyperpigmentation, among other skin issues, Enrico Frezza started researching the skin care product development process and building his own brand of skin care products. The brand found early traction partnering with TikTok influencers to build authenticity—and make more sales. The creators involved also monetized their accounts by being paid for content.

\n

🎧 Learn more: On this episode of the Shopify Masters podcast, hear how founder Enrico Frezza found success on TikTok through influencer marketing.

\n

5. Create in-feed ads with the TikTok ads manager

\n

TikTok has a ton of great organic marketing opportunities, but if you’re willing to spend a little to expand the reach of your content, you might consider creating your own in-feed ads with the TikTok ads manager.

\n

TikTok ads appear in users’ “For you” feeds and auto-play like any other TikTok video. With paid ads, you can make sure your videos are reaching audiences that are most interested in your products.

\n

But the best part? TikTok’s ad manager seamlessly integrates with Shopify. That means you can create TikTok ads, select a target audience, and track your ad’s performance⁠—all from your Shopify store. TikTok really can be one of the best online marketing tools at your disposal.

\n

6. Crowdfund projects by collecting donations from fans

\n

Crowdfunding is one of the most accessible money-making avenues for creators. You put a lot of time and effort into creating content for your fans⁠, so offering an easy, no-pressure way for them to give back is great for securing a regular income stream.

\n

Crowdfunding can take many forms, depending on what type of funding you’re looking for. If you’re looking for startup funds for a specific project, you could rally your followers by setting up a funding goal and hosting live fundraising events.

\n

If you’re looking to fund a specific project, here are some crowdfunding sites to explore:

\n\n

💡 Get more ideas: 10 Top Crowdfunding Sites: Fund Your Vision in 2023

\n

7. Collect “tips” from your audience

\n

\"AFor a fast and easy way to accept donations, consider using a tipping platform. Tipping platforms work just like a real-life tip jar, and viewers who like your videos can thank you with a small donation. The option is available to fans, but not mandatory, and they can donate any amount they like at any time they want.

\n

If this sounds more appealing to you, here are some great tipping platforms to check out:

\n\n

8. Use Patreon to offer fan subscriptions

\n

Crowdfunding works for big projects, and tipping is the simplest way to collect funds quickly. But what if you’re looking to secure a more regular passive income stream? Try a creator-based subscription platform, like Patreon.

\n

Subscription-based models of income work great for content creators, because you can keep individual subscription costs low and focus on growing your number of subscribers.

\n

A low-cost subscription of, say, one dollar a month is an easy sell to a single dedicated fan. If you have a lot of dedicated fans, those dollars start to add up.

\n

Patreon was the first large platform built to let creators and influencers generate revenue through paid memberships from their most loyal fans⁠. On Patreon, you can set up membership tiers that allow you to offer exclusive content to your biggest supporters.

\n

Alternatives exist (most notably Ko-fi, which also includes a tipping feature), but Patreon has the added benefit of brand awareness, which adds a level of trust from prospective supporters.

\n

If you’re thinking a subscription service might be the best way of monetizing your TikTok account, here are some best practices to keep in mind:

\n\n

Understanding TikTok users—and your audience

\n

\"AOn TikTok, your audience is likely to skew younger. A majority of users (62%) are under 30, and a whopping 32.5% of active users are under 20. Many people think of TikTok’s popularity with Gen Z as its defining characteristic, but this could change quickly.

\n

One survey shows a growing number of millennials joining the platform, and social networks tend to be most popular with teens at their inception⁠—so a head start on catering to TikTok’s older users could give you a big advantage in a few years.

\n

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to TikTok, but having a solid understanding of your audience will put you in a better position to find the best ways to monetize your following.

\n

💡 Learn more: TikTok Trends: The Ones To Watch in 2023

\n

How to sell without annoying your audience

\n

The tricky part of using social media to sell products is not overdoing the amount of promotional material. Your fans understand that you need funding to keep creating the content they love, but no one wants to follow an account that just feels like it’s advertising constantly.

\n

This is especially true with TikTok, since the platform itself is so geared toward forming personal connections with your audience.

\n

Users appreciate good content, so it might help to take a “content-first” approach. Rather than starting with your sales pitch and building content around it⁠, create the content first and let it inspire the best ways to monetize your account. Your TikTok posts should offer value to your audience—not just sell to them.

\n

Partly Sunny Projects is an online plant brand shipping stunning California greenery across the country. Founder Sonja Detrinidad started the business as a distraction from the stress of her day job and took to TikTok to capture the process.

\n

It didn’t take long for TikTok audiences to fall in love with Sonja’s captivating personality. Her authentic TikTok videos align with her audience’s interests.

\n

 

\n

\n

What makes Sonja’s use of TikTok for her business so successful is that she is focused on creating content she knows her viewers enjoy. Sonja covers topics related to gardening, effectively capturing the attention of the exact type of follower that can be turned into a customer.

\n

🪴 Learn more: Read how Sonja turned her viral TikTok success into a blooming business.

\n

Join the TikTok creator economy

\n

Creators aren’t just artists anymore. They’re artists, entrepreneurs, marketers, salespeople, accountants, founders, CEOs⁠—and everything in between. In the creator economy, stars are self-made⁠ out of their own creativity, passion, and desire to build something unique.

\n

Time is money for artists⁠—and making more money from your art grants you more time to create. If the money itself isn’t rewarding enough, the extra time it buys will be. TikTok is one of many platforms offering creators the ability to make money online. Do what you already do best—and get paid doing it.

\n

💡 Learn more: If you enjoyed this guide to making money on TikTok, check out our tips for how to make money on YouTube and how to make money on Instagram.

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Read More

\n
\n
\n
    \n
  • How to Start a Dropshipping Business- A Complete Playbook for 2023
    • \n
  • How To Source Products To Sell Online
    • \n
  • The 13 Best Dropshipping Suppliers in 2023
    • \n
  • How To Start Affiliate Marketing With No Money
    • \n
  • What Is Affiliate Marketing and How to Get Started
    • \n
  • 6 Tips for How To Be a Successful Dropshipper (Full Playbook)
    • \n
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    • \n
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    • \n
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    • \n
  • How to Use Facebook Ad Types (with Ad Examples)
    • \n
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How to make money on TikTok FAQ

\n
\n

Can I make money on TikTok?

\n
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Yes! Anyone can make money on TikTok with the right tools and an effective strategy. If you’re looking to make money on TikTok, take a look at the tips above and start considering which strategies are best for you.

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How do creators make money on TikTok?

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The most successful TikTok users make money through a combination of revenue streams that can include sponsorships, fundraising drives, product sales, and accepting tips. TikTok users can also promote products through an affiliate link to get paid directly from brands. Making money on TikTok is also possible for larger accounts through programs like creator funds.

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Do you get paid for uploading videos on TikTok?

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TikTok does not directly pay creators to produce and upload videos. TikTok does offer funding for creators in the form of the TikTok Creativity Program. Still, payment varies based on factors like the number of video views, engagement rates, and the authenticity of users engaging with the post.

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In some cases, brands might pay a popular micro-influencer to create videos, but TikTok’s highest-paid users usually monetize their accounts through multiple income streams⁠. Multiple income streams provide greater security, but your audience is the biggest factor when deciding how to make real money on TikTok.

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Who makes the most money on TikTok?

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According to Hopper HQ, these were the highest earners on TikTok in 2022:

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  • Charli D’Amelio, $105,770 per post (147.6 million followers)
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  • Khabane Lame, $92,270 per post (150.2 million followers)
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  • Bella Poarch, $66,829 per post (91.1 million followers)
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  • Addison Rae, $65,194 per post (88.7 million followers)
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  • Will Smith, $53,741 per post (72.1 million followers)
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How do I get paid on my TikTok account?

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How you get paid depends on the method you choose to monetize your TikTok content. Usually, you will get paid through whichever app you use for monetization, whether that’s a tipping platform, TikTok’s own Creativity Program (formerly Creator Fund), a crowdfunding site, or your own online store platform (in the case of selling merch or your own products to your fans).

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https://www.shopify.com/blog/make-money-on-tiktok

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