DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built

In this episode, Jay and Ramon are joined by guest Raphael Paulin-Daigle, Founder & CEO of SplitBase.SplitBase specializes in building high-converting landing pages and strong on-site experiences for eCommerce brands.With SplitBase’s experience in landing page optimization, Jay and Ramon join forces with Raphael to discuss how brands can get even more for their influencer marketing efforts using personas.One-to-one marketing, or at least the idea of it, has become increasingly important as consumers have become tired of catch-all traditional advertising. Thus, brands have turned to user-generated content to break through stale advertising.How do you dial in your marketing efforts even more?By segmenting consumers into personas, and using that user-generated content to create an even push to the one-to-one marketing consumers are asking for.We’ll discuss why traditional product pages aren’t the best place to send audiences and offer some suggested tools you can use to improve your conversion rate. We’ll also dive into why brands need to continue to optimize and how not doing so could result in you missing your maximum potential ROI.If you’d like to learn more about Trend and our influencer marketing platform for users and brands visit trend.io. You can also follow us for tips on growing your following and running successful campaigns on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.If you are interested in using the tools that Raphael mentioned during the podcast, here are the links:Unbounce: https://unbounce.com/Instapage: https://instapage.com/Shogun (Shopify app): https://apps.shopify.com/shogunFor more information on Raphael's company, SplitBase, visit: https://splitbase.com/

In this episode, Jay and Ramon discuss how you can set up your eCommerce store and make your first sale.Despite current events, eCommerce is at an all-time high. Shopify is reporting record earnings while web hosting companies like GoDaddy are seeing the same.Since consumers can’t shop in-store as easily as they could before, they are now turning to online shopping to get purchase products.That’s creating a huge opportunity for brands to capture new customers by going digital.We’ll discuss how you can set up your online store, plus give you some tips as to where you should spend your first dollars, especially if you’re on a budget. We’ll also dive into what first time online stores can do to help win customer trust.If you’d like to learn more about Trend and our influencer marketing platform for users and brands visit trend.io. You can also follow us for tips on growing your following and running successful campaigns on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

In this episode, Jay and Ramon discuss how to create a strong relationship between brands and influencers.Most brands try to persuade influencers to join their campaign through wither brand recognition or by paying them. But does that really create an authentic relationship?When brands do influencer marketing this way, they end up spending a ton of money and time trying to convince influencers and creators to produce content for them.But there has to be a better way to get brands the creators they need and have creators enjoy working on a project for a brand.Enter the influencer network.We’ll discuss how influencer networks can help brands create authentic relationships with creators without having to waste time and money in outreach. We’ll also argue how networks are actually better than databases for everything from relationship management to the actual vetting process.If you’d like to learn more about Trend and our influencer marketing platform for users and brands visit trend.io. You can also follow us for tips on growing your following and running successful campaigns on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

In this episode, Jay and Ramon discuss the potential end of the influencer era. Or at least that’s what everyone’s calling it.Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many brands are holding their wallets tight. As a result, some influencers are finding it increasingly difficult to find partnerships and brand deals.A few writers are now referring to deals drying up as a sign that the influencer era may be coming to an end.With an increasingly difficult ability to create content in different locations, and brands putting less into influencer marketing, many are asking what does the future of the industry look like?Are some influencers being hit harder than ever? If so, who are they?We’ll discuss how the influencer marketing industry is evolving right before our eyes and what both brands and influencers can expect as a result of world events occurring.If you’d like to learn more about Trend and our influencer marketing platform for users and brands visit trend.io. You can also follow us for tips on growing your following and running successful campaigns on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

In this episode, Jay goes through a list of questions all brands should ask before selecting an influencer marketing platform to use.As the influencer marketing industry has grown, so have the number of platforms to manage influencers. There are now 100s of platforms out on the market.Many brands are now turning to influencer marketing platforms to help scale their efforts and evolve their in-house processes.Even though jumping to a platform can be appealing, you should make sure you truly need a platform and if you do, ask what kind of platform you need.Knowing the answers to these questions can help you save time and moneyJay will discuss 6 questions you must ask before purchasing an influencer marketing platform and help you answer whether you even need a platform in the first place. For more on this topic, check out our blog post: https://trend.io/blog/pick-influencer-marketing-platformIf you’d like to learn more about Trend and our influencer marketing platform for users and brands visit trend.io. You can also follow us for tips on growing your following and running successful campaigns on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

In this episode, Ramon discusses how to create an influencer marketing campaign that generates an ROI and why it’s so important to pay creators.Many brands brag about working with influencers just for exchange of product.By doing this, brands do not value the efforts of the influencers which can lead to poor outcomes.The brands that are doing influencer marketing the best lean in on their roots and their story. They are able to effectively communicate how influencers should capture their product and elevate the brand.Ramon will discuss how your brand can be like other brands that have experienced success with influencer marketing. He will also discuss why influencer marketing is a long game and brands need to be willing to be patient to see results.For more information on this topic, check out our blog post on this topic:https://trend.io/blog/influencer-marketing-case-studiesIf you’d like to learn more about Trend and our influencer marketing platform for users and brands visit trend.io. You can also follow us for tips on growing your following and running successful campaigns on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

In this episode, Jay and Ramon discuss content creators, influencers, and content studios.Some people confuse content creators with influencers and blend them together as one thing.While it’s true that there are some similarities between the two, there are some key differences.Creators focus more on the content, centering their attention on high-quality content, while influencers tend to focus more on the sharing aspect of the content.And what’s this all got to do with content studios?Well, content studios are typically what brands use to product content. With more brands turning away from in-house content creation it’s important to look at creators and influencers and establish which group is better for your campaign.We’ll discuss how more brands are turning to creators and influencers and away from content studios. We’ll also discuss how creators and influencers can position themselves as the market continues to shift this way.For more information on this topic, check out our blog post on this topic:https://trend.io/blog/content-creators-vs-influencersIf you’d like to learn more about Trend and our influencer marketing platform for users and brands visit trend.io. You can also follow us for tips on growing your following and running successful campaigns on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

In this episode, Jay discusses marketing strategies for first-time and long-time eCommerce stores.The eCommerce market is predicted to grow to $6.5 trillion over the next two years. A number which could be even higher as eCommerce sales soar due to the coronavirus.As the market gets more competitive, it will be tougher for brands to keep, and grow their market share Many eCommerce marketers rave about running pay-per-click ads but that’s not the only way to grow your business. Having other strategies in place allows your brand a bigger safety net should PPC costs become too high.We’re going to discuss strategies you can implement right now to grow and maintain your eCommerce store, and what to sell online if you’re trying to get started.For more on this topic, check out our blog post: https://trend.io/blog/ecommerce-marketing-strategies-not-ppc/If you’d like to learn more about Trend and our influencer marketing platform for users and brands visit trend.io. You can also follow us for tips on growing your following and running successful campaigns on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

In this episode, Jay and Ramon discuss ideas for keeping your Instagram busy.Customers are 68% more likely to recommend your brand to their friends if they find your Instagram engaging. Instagram is still a leading platform for eCommerce and it’s only becoming bigger. With shopping, swipe ups, and stories, Instagram is leading the charge for connecting brands with audiences and driving sales.On the influencer side, Instagram continues to be the best platform for opportunities.So, how do you keep your Instagram feed filled and engaging?We’ve put together 6 ideas for you to help you step up your Instagram marketing game and drive sales, or connect more with your audience if you’re an influencer.For more information on this topic, check out our blog post on this topic:https://trend.io/blog/6-ideas-for-instagram-posts/If you’d like to learn more about Trend and our influencer marketing platform for users and brands visit trend.io. You can also follow us for tips on growing your following and running successful campaigns on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

In this episode, Jay and Ramon discuss how Coronavirus will impact US eCommerce.COVID-19 is having a heavy impact on the US economy and consumer habits.With most retail stores closing, consumers have turned to eCommerce to provide their goods.Consumer habits are also in the process of changing as more people find themselves with extra time at home and time savings from working at home.Some brands are embracing the shift and putting more effort into eCommerce and getting creative on how they can still provide products to their customers.We’ll take an in-depth look at how brands and influencers can weather the storm and offer some ideas as to how both groups can keep work going despite the external pressures that are being placed on them.We’ll also look at whether these consumer behaviors are here to stay and the impact it will have on the future of online shopping.For more information on this topic, check out our report on COVID-19’s impact on eCommerce:https://trend.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/COVID-19-Impact-on-US-eCommerce-2.pdfIf you’d like to learn more about Trend and our influencer marketing platform for users and brands visit trend.io. You can also follow us for tips on growing your following and running successful campaigns on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

In this episode, Jay discusses influencer marketing expectations for brands and influencers. Whether you are creating your first influencer campaign, have been burned on influencer marketing, are experienced, or are working with a brand for the first time, you need to make sure you have the right expectations.The rise of social media has introduced a new channel of marketing, influencer marketing. This channel has become extremely popular among brands and influencers.Most brands now say they have a budget for influencer marketing and are working to prove its ROI, with some brands even earning $5 for every dollar spent on influencer marketing.Creators on the other hand, are experiencing increasing success in monetizing their work. We’re also seeing a rise in high-quality content and creators.With influencer marketing becoming so popular, how do you jump on this fast moving train? And what should you expect from influencer marketing.We’ll answer what expectations you should have and how you can get the most out of influencer marketing. If you’d like to learn more about Trend and our influencer marketing platform for users and brands visit trend.io. You can also follow us for tips on growing your following and running successful campaigns on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

In this episode, Jay and Ramon discuss whether influencer marketing actually works. SPOILER: It does.Influencer marketing has seen tremendous growth over the past few years, growing at more than a $1 billion per year.89% of marketers say they receive comparable or better ROI when using influencer marketing while the average return on influencer campaigns is more than $5 for every $1 spent.Instagram has become the biggest channel for influencer marketing with Instagram influencers benefiting and turning their posts into a highly lucrative business.We’re going to discuss how brands can find success with social media influencers and Instagram marketing, and how to improve their influencer marketing ROI.For more on this topic, check out our blog post: https://trend.io/blog/influencer-marketing-case-studies/If you’d like to learn more about Trend and our influencer marketing platform for users and brands visit trend.io. You can also follow us for tips on growing your following and running successful campaigns on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

In this episode, Jay discusses 17 things you can copy to improve your Shopify store.Online retail continues to grow at blazing speed. With Gen Z spending almost twice the amount as millennials on online shopping, it’s clear that online retail isn’t going anywhere.With so many stores popping up, it’s important for your brand to stand out in what might be considered a sea of sameness.We’ll take a look at 15 of the most successful Shopify stores today and give you some actionable tips that you can copy right now.Plus, we’re even including 2 bonus tips that aren’t available on our blog post.For more on this topic, check out our blog post: https://trend.io/blog/15-most-successful-shopify-stores/If you’d like to learn more about Trend and our influencer marketing platform for users and brands visit trend.io. You can also follow us for tips on growing your following and running successful campaigns on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

In this episode, Jay and Ramon discuss user-generated content (UGC) and its role in building audiences for both brands and influencers.Brands and influencers are always trying to create engaging content to grow their audiences. To create the most engaging content, brands and influencers have turned to user-generated content due to its authenticity and its ability to connect with audiences.UGC is especially important for brands as it has been proven to be highly influential in the purchasing decisions of potential buyers.Over 60 million images are posted to Instagram every day making one of the most scalable ways for brands to market products, recognize fans, and drive sales.In this episode, we’ll discuss how to create and acquire great UGC, how users interact with UGC, and how brands can reuse UGC to scale their business.For more on this topic, check out our blog post:https://trend.io/blog/user-generated-content-guide/If you’d like to learn more about Trend and our influencer marketing platform for users and brands visit trend.io. You can also follow us for tips on growing your following and running successful campaigns on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

In this episode, Jay and Ramon discuss two viral campaigns, Barstool Sports Zillion Beers and Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s meme campaign.The Zillion Beers challenge started from Barstool employee named Dana tweeting about drinking a zillion beers while working.Barstool’s president Dave Portnoy called out Dana and Dana responded by saying if he could sell $100k in merch that Dave would have to leave him alone and give him a cut.That bet quickly turned into a $1 million bet for $100k. As of recording the podcast, Zillion Beers had sold $720k. That number is now up to over $1.5 million.Our other story is how Mayor Mike Bloomberg decided to run meme ads through meme accounts on Instagram.Bloomberg partnered with Jerry Media to create fake conversations with meme accounts that were then posted on popular meme pages.Will Bloomberg’s risk pay off in the primaries? We discuss.If you’d like to learn more about Trend and our influencer marketing platform for users and brands visit trend.io. You can also follow us for tips on growing your following and running successful campaigns on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

In this episode, Jay and Ramon discuss Casper’s IPO launch and how it’s been built on influencers.Casper is the first company to mention in their S-1 filing that influencers adversely affect the brand and subject them to penalties.They are also the most recent money-losing “unicorn” to go public. We’ve seen it with Uber and Lyft, both of which haven’t gone so well.It’s incredible that Casper reached a $1 billion valuation, sometimes selling themselves as a tech company with an app, podcast ads, and more.How will they fare in the public market though?As of this podcast publishing, Casper’s stock has already dropped almost 20% from its initial list price.If you’d like to learn more about Trend and our influencer marketing platform for users and brands visit trend.io. You can also follow us for tips on growing your following and running successful campaigns on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

In this episode, Jay and Ramon discuss KOLs, more commonly known as key opinion leaders.KOLs have become increasingly important in China due to a distrust of advertising from brands.They have some similarities with influencers in the sense of the power of their voices but their goals tend to differ.Key opinion leaders are viewed as experts in their field and their presence drives credibility and sales to a brand.We’ll discuss KOLs play an important role in influencer marketing in China along with exploring China’s $17 billion influencer marketing industry.For more on this topic, check out our blog post:https://trend.io/blog/kol-influencer-marketing/.If you’d like to learn more about Trend and our influencer marketing platform for users and brands visit trend.io. You can also follow us for tips on growing your following and running successful campaigns on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

In this episode, Jay and Ramon discuss the power of everyday influencers.When most people think of influencers they think of celebrities. Often left out are everyday influencers. They are the hidden gems of Instagram.They live normal lives, which makes them highly relatable, but they have a specific passion that post about, such as baking, fashion, the best restaurants around town – you name it.As a result, they have built an audience that is interested and trusts them when it comes to that specific niche.We’ll discuss how this makes them more credible for sponsorship and why brands should be working with this group.For more on this topic, check out our blog post: https://trend.io/blog/everyday-influencers-explained/If you’d like to learn more about Trend and our influencer marketing platform for users and brands visit trend.io. You can also follow us for tips on growing your following and running successful campaigns on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.