DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built

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.