January 5, 2024

It's a whole new year...

There

The holidays are over, and 2024 is upon us! This week, we’re taking a look at how the e-commerce landscape has shifted — and how it might continue to evolve in the coming months. Here are some can’t-miss stories to get you through the weekend….

Amazon Prime to roll out ads for streaming customers — viewers who want an ad-free experience will have to pay extra.
Point-of-sale lender Affirm’s stock quintupled in 2023, reflecting a stronger-than-expected economy.
Shopify is shifting focus away from entrepreneurs with new enterprise-oriented services.
Improve your organic traffic with these 7 SEO (search engine optimization) tests.

The Amazon Corner

Ads Incoming: Amazon Prime to Roll Out Ads This Month

Time to say goodbye to ad-free streaming? In a recent email to subscribers, Amazon announced that they’d start displaying advertisements to streaming customers starting this month. According to the company, the introduction of ads will allow them to “continue investing in compelling content and keep increasing that investment over a long period of time.” They also noted that the goal is to have “meaningfully fewer ads” than traditional broadcast television.

While this news will no doubt disappoint many Prime users, Amazon’s move is in line with a broader trend within the streaming industry, with competitors like Netflix also introducing paid tiers of service supported by ads. U.S.-based customers will be given an option to upgrade to an ad-free experience for an additional $2.99 per month.

Learn more here...

Comeback Season: After a Rough 2022, Affirm's Stock Quintupled in 2023

After-Rough-2022-Affirm-Stock-Quintuples

Photo Credit: Gabby Jones | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Can we chalk it up to positive affirm-ations? Point-of-sale lender Affirm’s shares were down 90% by the end of 2022, with many wary customers opting out of their buy-now-pay-later services in light of economic uncertainty. Against all odds, the company managed to turn it around in 2023, outperforming all other U.S.-based tech companies valued at $5 billion or more and seeing its stock price increase by an incredible 430%.

With more retailers than ever adopting their services — including Amazon —fears that Affirm’s days were numbered have dissipated. Great Hill Capital chairman Tom Hayes explains that while many forecasted increased unemployment, higher interest rates, and diminished consumer spending, “the exact opposite has happened on all fronts,” setting the stage for what may well be a historic comeback.

More of this story here...

The Big Shift: Shopify To Expand Beyond Entrepreneurs, Target Large Enterprises

Photo Credit: Sean Kilpatrick | The Canadian Press

It’s always a risk to rest on your laurels: In a move that’s sure to shake up the world of global merchandising, Shopify is shifting focus from smaller entrepreneurs to larger partnerships in 2024. While the Canadian tech giant carved its niche by helping small- and medium-sized businesses build out their online marketplaces, its stock price declined sharply in 2022, prompting a renewed emphasis on major partners, including Adobe, Oracle, and Salesforce.

As part of this new effort, the company will offer à-la-carte features — which will allow for greater customization — for global retail partners with $500 million or more in annual sales. The bid seems to be primed for success, with Shopify Plus — the company’s premium platform for high-performing merchants — contributing substantially to their overall revenue.

This Week's Featured Article

The E-Comm Playbook: 7 SEO Tests to Run to Improve Organic Traffic

Testing is the name of the game: Improving organic traffic to your site is one of the best ways to increase conversions, and testing the effectiveness of your SEO (search engine optimization) strategy is a crucial step to success. Luckily, there are a ton of tools out there to help you tackle this task. In this guide, we’ll walk you through seven of the most reliable tests you can run to make sure your SEO strategy is on point….

A Little More

QUICK TIP

Try this. Change up creative from platform to platform — what works on Facebook might not work as well on Instagram.

FUN FACT

70% of consumers will pay 5% more for eco-friendly products.

LISTEN UP

In this 117th episode of The E-Comm Show, host Andrew Maff explores the myriad of Facebook Ad audiences that e-commerce sellers should test. He delves into the specifics, from Video Viewer lookalikes to various population percentages for visitors, purchasers, and email lists.

Furthermore, Andrew discusses the importance of creating an omnichannel experience in e-commerce. This approach not only boosts brand awareness but also enhances customer comfort with their purchases. Additionally, he reveals strategies for increasing Facebook followers without direct payment. Andrew focuses on designing ads that serve dual purposes: achieving primary goals while simultaneously bolstering follower growth.

Watch the full episode below, or visit TheEcommShow.com for more.

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