Shopify Collabs Direct Link to Products

In the past, only big brands could promote their products through famous personalities. While celebrities remain a privilege for major brands, the landscape has evolved. Now, almost anyone can have their moment of fame and work with a brand to endorse products to an engaged audience. Brands, regardless of their size, can leverage influencer marketing to expand their reach through various content creators across social media platforms.

Interesting fact: As per HubSpot’s 2023 report on Consumer Trends, “30% of 18-24-year-olds and 40% of 25-34-year-olds identify as content creators.” Not all of these creators engage in branded content, and many brands may overlook the value of these “micro-influencers,” despite their potential to resonate with target audiences. This untapped potential can be effectively captured through an app like Shopify Collabs.

What are Shopify Collabs?

Shopify Collabs is an application that connects Shopify store owners with influencers for affiliate marketing purposes. Launched in August 2022, the app is free to install for both creators and Shopify merchants, though it’s currently available in the US, UK, and Canada. Creators with a minimum of 1,000 followers on a single platform can participate.

For brands, this app is an all-in-one solution for selecting and recruiting both macro and micro-influencers, managing their collaborations, and automating the payment process. Shopify's core mission is to empower the new generation of entrepreneurs. On Shopify Collabs, content creators can find new products that match their interests, receive samples, and gifts to create content, or they can promote products they already love and earn rewards for their loyalty to the brand.

The relatively new Shopify Collabs app enhances the e-commerce experience for merchants and content creators within this community. It allows merchants to reach specific customers who express interest in particular content and provides data-driven results on their influencer marketing efforts via affiliate links. Content creators also benefit from the app as it showcases their talent, enabling them to focus more on content creation rather than searching for brands and navigating the complex process of forming partnerships. By fostering mutually beneficial partnerships, Shopify Collabs effectively connects creators with merchants.

How Does Shopify Collabs Work For Creators and Merchants?

With today’s technology, it’s easier than ever for creators and merchants to connect and collaborate. This technology has not only improved production capabilities but also enhanced the overall quality of transactions. However, this convenience has led to a surge in participants, making it harder to find the most suitable partners among the vast number of potential collaborators, which has created a need for intermediaries.

Many creators don't fully support themselves financially, and they need consistent funding to create new content. On the other hand, businesses often miss out on micro-influencers who have the potential to make a significant impact on niche audiences at a lower cost. By eliminating the need for a middleman and saving resources for better content, Shopify Collabs acts as a democratizing force in e-commerce marketing.

How Creators and Merchants Collaborate on Shopify Collabs

Both content creators and Shopify merchants can sign up for Shopify Collabs, with the installation being free for both. Creators need to sign up and provide their profile details. When they generate sales, they are automatically paid their commission. Additionally, merchants pay a 2.9% processing fee.

Shopify Collabs connects merchants and creators through the following:

• Influencer Database Search: The platform hosts millions of influencer profiles selected based on strict criteria. Businesses can search and filter content creators who align with their brand values and business goals
• Creator Application Form: Finding the right influencers among many can be time-consuming. Businesses can create custom surveys to determine if applicants meet their criteria, allowing for more informed decision-making.
• Personalized Invitations: Merchants can directly contact trending or high-performing influencers on the platform or invite influencers they already work with. Similarly, creators can apply to collaborate with brands they admire, provided the brands are on Shopify.
• Partnership Details: Businesses can specify campaign details, such as budget, duration, and promotion type (e.g., affiliate marketing, product bundling), when initiating a partnership request.
• Referral Links and Promo Codes: Merchants can generate unique affiliate links for influencers to share with their audience. When customers purchase through these links, creators are automatically paid. As affiliate marketing is performance-based, merchants can track the performance of their creator teams using analytics and reward top-performing affiliates with higher commissions.
• Product Samples and Gifts: Sending samples for content creators to try out is a great way to seed products. Merchants can also send gifts to build deeper relationships for future collaborations. The process is simplified by allowing creators to select options like color and size and provide their shipping address on the platform.

Monetizing Social Influence: A Win-Win for Creators and Merchants

In one of our previous blog posts, we discussed why social proof is one of the most effective forms of advertising a brand can have. The authenticity and sincerity of user-generated content are powerful trust signals that drive sales. According to HubSpot, 40% of Gen Z respondents “have purchased a product due to an influencer in the past three months and consider influencer recommendations more impactful on their purchase decisions than those from friends or family.”

Not every brand can afford marketing campaigns featuring celebrities, and depending on their scale, they don’t need to. By targeting specific audiences and collaborating with influencers, brands can deliver their messages more authentically and cost-effectively. This collaborative ecosystem allows influencers to access the resources needed to create content that adds real value. While influencers can monetize their influence, merchants can effectively reach niche audiences at a time when customer acquisition has become more complex and expensive.

The Shopify Collabs app makes managing this monetization process easy. Its user-friendly data tracking and revenue management dashboard automatically calculates earnings, expected payments, performance metrics, and more. In addition to visualizing insights, the app identifies gaps for performance improvement.

Navigating Shopify Collabs

Shopify Collabs is an easy-to-use app with a clean, intuitive interface. First, you need to install the Shopify Collabs app, which is free for everyone. While the signup process can be a bit challenging for creators, providing detailed information improves understanding between parties and enhances the quality of collaborations.

Since Collabs operates within the Shopify ecosystem, it simplifies the entire process by centralizing management within the merchant’s Shopify admin. This seamless integration ensures that inventory, orders, and customer data are consistently updated, providing a real-time, comprehensive view of the merchant’s multichannel sales.

The entire process can be broken down into three steps:

1. Creating a Shopify Collabs Account: After installing and opening the app and agreeing to the terms and conditions, you’ll need to provide the following information to help Collabs match you with creators:

After completing the initial setup, you should customize your profile details, including brand information, partnership details, social media accounts, and target markets. Once that’s done, you can start promoting your Collabs community.

2. Finding and Collaborating with Brands: Creators can search for their favorite brands and apply for projects, while brands can improve their visibility and recruit new creators in several ways:

Collabs Network Overview: Merchants can share their products with vetted creators instantly via the Collabs Network. To qualify, you need to add at least one product and rate in the Collabs Network settings, set up auto-payments, and have generated at least $10,000 in sales over the past 12 months.

Collabs Profile to Online Store: You can add your Collabs profile to your online store, allowing customers to collaborate with you.

Storefront Pop-up: Add a floating button to your storefront to attract new creators to work with your brand.

3. Promoting and Earning with Product Links: Shopify Collabs allows both merchants and creators to generate affiliate links. As mentioned earlier, creators can generate unique links to the products they discover on the Collabs Network. They can promote the brand’s store or specific products on their websites, social media channels, or email campaigns. Merchants can offer instant commissions through the Collabs Network or create an online store page to collect affiliate applications. They can select creators based on audience size and engagement levels and generate unique affiliate links for each creator.

The Financial Framework of Shopify Collabs

Shopify Collabs is the rebranded version of Dovetale.com, founded by Mike Schmidt. Shopify acquired the company and teamed up with Schmidt to create a beneficial ecosystem for merchants and creators. Shopify Collabs automatically sets a 10% discount and a 10% commission tier, but businesses can customize these tiers according to their resources and goals. The system supports influencers in creating more authentic content while earning a living, and top sellers enjoy the most benefits.

Payment Structures and Revenue Channels

Creators on the platform have two revenue channels. They can either apply to work with brands they are interested in or use the Collabs Network to get discovered. Brands can choose creators from the Collabs Network based on their industry, audience size, and social channels, and accept applications via Shopify’s proprietary onboarding process. Brands can directly invite influencers to collaborate.

Brands can pay creators via PayPal or Payoneer, and Shopify Collabs supports automatic payments through multiple payment providers. Additionally, brands are allowed to accept affiliates without payment. Brands can also share one-off gifts and promo codes.

Protecting the Integrity of Shopify Collabs

Influencer marketing is a relatively new field, so there’s always the risk of dealing with counterfeit creators, dishonest merchants, or inexperienced third parties. However, Shopify Collabs mitigates these risks. Before being listed in the Collabs Network, influencers must pass a rigorous vetting process that includes verifying their identity, social media accounts, audience size, and engagement level.

Similarly, brands must provide verified product details, along with sufficient payment proof, before they can recruit affiliates and pay creators. Shopify Collabs also provides an extensive report on campaign performance, and both sides can rate and review each other, fostering a transparent ecosystem for everyone.

Get the Most Out of Shopify Collabs

If you’re ready to expand your business, try Shopify Collabs for influencer marketing. Here are a few tips to get the most out of the app:

• Leverage Micro-Influencers: Micro-influencers may have smaller audiences, but their followers are highly engaged. These influencers can help brands establish a loyal customer base in specific niches.
• Set Clear Campaign Goals: Identify what you want to achieve with your campaigns. Whether it’s increasing brand awareness or driving sales, defining your objectives will help you measure success.
• Monitor Performance: Use the analytics tools in Shopify Collabs to track how well your campaigns are doing. This will allow you to adjust your strategy as needed.
• Build Long-term Relationships: Building lasting partnerships with creators can lead to more consistent and authentic promotions.

With Shopify Collabs, you can create a marketing strategy that not only reaches new customers but also builds stronger connections with your audience.

Final Words

Shopify Collabs presents a powerful tool for businesses and creators to form meaningful and mutually beneficial partnerships. By leveraging this app, brands can tap into the authenticity and influence of micro-influencers, reaching niche audiences in a cost-effective manner. At the same time, creators can monetize their content more easily, focusing on what they do best—creating. With its user-friendly interface, comprehensive features, and smooth integration into the Shopify ecosystem, Shopify Collabs is poised to revolutionize the way brands and influencers collaborate, making it a must-have for anyone looking to expand their reach and impact in the digital marketplace.

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