#210 HTE - Twitter's Blue Bird Flew the Coop for X Everything π!
Hey there!
Welcome to the spectacular world of HTE, where the fun never stops!
Buckle up, because we're about to take you on a wild ride through the most mind-boggling marketing tales out there. π’
π Stay tuned for updates and dive into the world of HTE! Let's go!
Here is what we have today:
π¦ Elon Musk's X Everything π: A New Era Dawns as Twitter Logo Vanishes, Paving the Way for a Powerful FinTech Venture
π Netflix Bids Farewell to its 'Basic' Plan in the UK, US, and Canada, Welcomes New Ad-Supported Options!
π° Unleash Your E-commerce Potential with Drip: All In One, Stress-Free
ποΈ TikTok Takes on Shein and Temu with New E-Commerce Venture Selling China-Made Products in the US
π Snap's Q2 Report: Revenue Slump, Surging User Growth, and Exciting Innovations
π TikTok Levels Up with New Text-Post Feature, Taking Inspiration from Instagram's Playbook
π TikTok Ads Boost Amazon Brand's Sales to Record Highs, but Margins Pose Challenges
π Top Reads Of The Week
βοΈ HTE JOB BOARD: Plenty Of Jobs Await You!
Elon Musk's X Everything π: A New Era Dawns as Twitter Logo Vanishes, Paving the Way for a Powerful FinTech Venture
Elon Musk, the mastermind himself, has killed the iconic blue bird π¦ But fear not, for a new era has dawned!
Welcome to X Everything π, where the game is about to change in a BIG way! π
In a jaw-dropping move, Twitter Inc. merged with X Corp four months ago, and just like that, Twitter as we knew it vanished into thin air!
π€― Say goodbye to the blue bird logo, and say hello to Xβthe future of the Everything App! Prepare for a wild ride as X sets its sights on becoming the most powerful FinTech company the world has ever seen! πͺ
But wait, let's rewind the clock! We're taking a trip down memory lane to the days of X.comβa daring online bank co-founded by none other than Elon Musk himself, alongside the genius minds of Harris Ficker, Christopher Payne, and Ed Ho, back in 1999.
Can you believe that tiny seed grew into the mighty PayPal $PYPL we know today? It's a journey filled with twists and turns, leading to one of the most influential payment and finance companies worldwide! πΈ
So there you have it, folksβa transformation of epic proportions! With Elon Musk at the helm, X Everything π is set to redefine the digital landscape and revolutionize the way we connect, communicate, and transact. π
Netflix Bids Farewell to its 'Basic' Plan in the UK, US, and Canada, Welcomes New Ad-Supported Options!
Big news in the streaming world! Netflix, our beloved go-to for endless entertainment, is shaking things up. Brace yourselves for the scoop!
So, you know that sweet little "Basic" plan that allowed us to escape pesky ads while indulging in our favorite shows? Well, sad to say, it's bid us farewell in the UK, US, and Canada. Farewell, Basic, we'll miss you!
Now, if you're a seasoned subscriber, don't worry, you're safeβfor now! But, newbies, listen up! When you sign up for Netflix, you've got some decisions to make. No more simple Basic option. Nope, nope!
Here's the dealio: you'll have two choices. First, you can embrace the ads and settle for the "ad-supported" content option. It's like watching regular TV but online, and it'll cost you $6.99 in the US or Β£4.99 in the UK. Not too shabby, huh?
But if you're a no-ads purist like us, you'll have to dig a bit deeper into your pockets. The "standard" plan, which allows you to watch in HD and on more than one device at a time, will set you back $15.49 in the US or Β£10.99 in the UK. Oof, a bit of a price jump there!
By the way, Canada, you've already gone through this Netflix ordeal, so you know the drill. Commiserations!
But hey, here's a silver lining: those of us already on the Basic train can keep riding it, as long as we don't make any changes. Phew, thank goodness for that!
Now, this is all part of Netflix's master plan to conquer the streaming universe. They've been growing like crazy, and you know why? Their sneaky crackdown on password sharing! Yep, it's working like a charm, and the numbers don't lie!
During a fancy earnings call, one of Netflix's bigwigs, the co-CEO Greg Peters, spilled the beans. They want to "optimize" their plans, giving us more options to choose from. Sounds good, right? But, and it's a big but, if you want those entry-level prices, you gotta make friends with the ads.
So, there you have it, amigos. Netflix is evolving, and we're right there with it! Don't worry; there's still a plan for everyone. Time to grab some popcorn, pick your plan, and embark on some epic streaming adventures!
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TikTok Takes on Shein and Temu with New E-Commerce Venture Selling China-Made Products in the US
TikTok, the app that's been making waves (and sometimes enemies) in the US, is gearing up to unleash its latest trickβa fancy e-commerce business! Yep, you heard that right, folks! Prepare to shop 'til you drop, right there on TikTok!
According to some behind-the-scenes sources, the Wall Street Journal spilled the beans that TikTok's e-commerce platform is set to make its grand entrance in early August. So what's the deal? Well, they're planning to sell China-made products to all you American shopaholics! It's like bringing a piece of China right to your doorstep!
Now, here's the plot twist: TikTok is not just getting into e-commerce for fun; they mean business! They're aiming to take on the big dogs like Shein and Temu, those popular shopping platforms that have already stolen our hearts (and wallets).
But wait, there's more! TikTok's got some haters on its tail in the US, worrying about user security and whether it's secretly besties with the Chinese government. Ooh, spicy drama alert! Some lawmakers even want to kick TikTok out of the country! Talk about a wild rollercoaster ride!
Meanwhile, in the land of new features, TikTok's been flexing its creativity muscles. They've introduced "Text Posts," a snazzy way for users to share all sorts of cool text-based content with their followers. It's like Instagram Stories but with a TikTok twistβbackground colors, music, and stickers, oh my! The fun just never stops!
In a flashy blog post, TikTok said they're all about empowering creators and their community with nifty tools for self-expression.
And "Text Posts" is their latest way of saying, "Hey, go wild with your words, peeps!" Imagine all the creative thoughts and wild ideas that will now flood the TikTokverse. Prepare for some epic wordplay!
So there you have it, folks.
TikTok's got big plans, from selling you fantastic Chinese goodies to giving you more ways to express yourself than ever before! The countdown to August is on, and we can't wait to see what TikTok's got up its sleeve next.
Snap's Q2 Report: Revenue Slump, Surging User Growth, and Exciting Innovations
Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat, spilled the tea on its Q2 results, and boy, it's a mixed bag of goodies! Let's break it down, shall we?
First things first, revenue blues! Snap's total earnings clocked in at $1.07 billion, which might sound like a lot, but it's actually down 4% compared to the same time last year. Ouch! On the bright side, they did manage to shrink their net loss to $377 million, so it's not all doom and gloom.
Now, here's the juicy partβuser growth! Drumroll, please! Snap had a fantastic 14% boost in daily active users (DAUs), reaching a whopping 397 million. That's right, people are snapping away like crazy, and it's surpassing what the experts predicted. Go Snap!
But hey, it hasn't all been smooth sailing for the platform. Last quarter, they faced some tough challenges with ad spending slowing down and TikTok giving them a run for their money. Revenues took a 7% hit, and DAU growth missed Wall Street's high expectations by a tiny margin. It's like navigating choppy waters, but they're still afloat!
On the bright side, Snap is stepping up its innovation game! They introduced Snapchat+, their subscription product, and guess what? Over 4 million paying subscribers hopped on board! Custom Story Expiration and Custom Notification Sounds sweetened the deal, making it irresistible.
But wait, there's more! They're not slacking in the innovation department either. Lens Studio 2.0, Camera Kit, Snap MinisβSnapchat's got all the cool features to make users and advertisers swoon! Their AR and AI tech investments are like rocket fuel, propelling user growth and engagement to the stars!
And hold up, there's this AI expansion thingy! It was initially for Snapchat+ peeps only, but now it's free for everyone on the platform. Analysts are loving it, saying it'll make up for some losses from Apple's privacy changes. That's some clever data magic right there!
But of course, every rose has its thorn. Ad spending woes have put some pressure on Snap's main money-makerβadvertising. They're trying to diversify with fresh revenue streams, monetizing those famous 'streaks,' and tempting users to join Snapchat+. The competition is fierce, with Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok on the prowl.
Oh, and don't forget the voting power drama! Snap likes to keep it cozy by centralizing voting power among its top brass. Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy are calling the shots, making it a bit tough for investors (and advertisers) to hold them accountable. Sneaky Snap!
So there you have it, Snap's Q2 rollercoaster!
Ups and downs, twists and turns, but they're still riding strong. Let's see what surprises Snap has up its sleeve for the next round! π
TikTok Levels Up with New Text-Post Feature, Taking Inspiration from Instagram's Playbook
Get ready for a game-changer, because your favorite short-video app is spicing things up with a brand-new featureβtext posts! That's right, TikTok is venturing beyond videos and images, giving you more ways to express yourself creatively.
Just like Instagram Stories, TikTok's text-post feature lets you share all sorts of cool stuffβstories, lyrics, poems, you name it! It's like having a mini blogging platform right in your pocket. How cool is that?
So, here's the lowdown on how it works: when you open the app's camera page, you'll see three optionsβphoto, video, and now, ta-da, text! Pick the text feature, and you're off to the races! Get typing, and jazz up your words with sounds, location pins, and even Duets! The more, the merrier, right?
But hold your horses; there's more to it! You can go all-out with stickers, tags, hashtags, and a rainbow of background colors to make your text posts pop. Express yourself in style, TikTok style!
Oh, and guess what?
If inspiration strikes, but you're not quite ready to hit the publish button, no worries! You can save your masterpieces as drafts, perfecting them later. Or, if you decide they're just not cutting it, toss 'em away like yesterday's news. The power is in your hands!
Now, some folks might've raised an eyebrow at this text-post idea, but let's be realβTikTok's been nailing the game of adding new stuff. Remember when they introduced image support? Yeah, now it's a staple! So, we've got high hopes for this text-post magic too.
TikTok knows what's upβthey're keeping a keen eye on the competition. With Meta (yeah, Facebook changed its name) launching Threads, TikTok wants to offer you an alternative way to share your thoughts. And hey, they're not just copy-pasting what Threads or Twitter does; they're putting their own spin on things, just like they always do!
This move tells us something importantβTikTok's all about growth! They've already conquered the short-video market, and now they're broadening their horizons. They want to give you expressive mediums and keep up with the social platform bigwigs.
Here's how it's going to level up your marketing game:
Diversify Your Content: You know how important it is to keep things fresh and exciting for your audience. With text posts, you can mix up your content strategy, adding a dash of written magic to your video and image posts. Spice up your storytelling game, share catchy taglines, or even craft powerful calls-to-actionβall in the text-post format!
Showcase Brand Personality: DTC brands thrive on building authentic connections with their customers. And guess what? The text-post feature lets you do just that! Express your brand's personality, values, and quirks through witty and engaging text posts. Your audience will feel like they're chatting with a friend, and that's a surefire way to win hearts.
Tap into Trending Topics: TikTok is the place for trends, and text posts open up a whole new world of opportunities. Stay on top of the latest hashtags and viral challenges, and cleverly integrate them into your text posts. By riding the wave of trends, you'll boost your brand's visibility and keep your audience hooked.
Call Out New Product Launches: Got a fabulous new product hitting the shelves? Shout it out loud with text posts! Use creative text-based teasers and sneak peeks to build anticipation and excitement. Your followers will be on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting your big reveal!
Encourage User-Generated Content: TikTok is all about user-generated content, and text posts can be the catalyst for more of it! Encourage your fans to share their stories, testimonials, or even poems about your brand through text posts. You'll create a strong sense of community and loyalty around your DTC brand.
Drive Traffic and Sales: Don't forget the ultimate goalβdriving traffic and boosting sales! With text posts, you can craft compelling CTAs that direct your audience to your website or online store. Whether it's limited-time offers or exclusive discounts, text posts are a powerful tool to spur action.
Tell Captivating Stories: Storytelling is a marketer's secret weapon, and text posts are an excellent canvas for that. Use captivating narratives to share your brand's journey, behind-the-scenes peeks, or heartwarming customer success stories. Emotionally charged text posts will keep your audience glued to their screens.
So there you have it, marketing maestros and DTC brand champions! TikTok's text-post feature is a goldmine waiting for your creative genius. Embrace this exciting medium, connect with your audience on a deeper level, and watch your brand soar to new heights! π
TikTok Ads Boost Amazon Brand's Sales to Record Highs, but Margins Pose Challenges
Picture this: our brave brand decided to take the plunge and run some TikTok Ads after the Christmas craze settled down. They were all hyped up, hoping to boost their sales and make it rain with dollar bills! πΈ
Guess what? It worked like a charm! π TikTok Ads sprinkled their magic, and it became the highest sales period of the entire year! Woohoo, major success! The pets were wagging their tails with joy!
But, oh dear, there was a tiny hiccup. You know how it goesβhighs and lows, folks! The product they were selling was in the pet niche, and it cost a mere $15, with just a teeny-tiny margin. Cha-ching, right? Not quite!
See, they had already poured their marketing budget into the ads and creating killer content. And here's the kickerβtheir return on investment (ROI) didn't quite add up. Ouch, that's a tough pill to swallow! π©
They realized that TikTok campaigns can be a bit like rollercoastersβexpensive at the start but cheaper as you go along. If only they had kept going, things might've turned around!
You see, Amazon loves TikTok traffic, and these ads had some serious potential. But alas, they had to make a tough call and hit the brakes.
Don't fret, though! If you're running ads, there's always a chance for success. Every brand and product is unique, and sometimes it's all about finding that perfect match made in marketing heaven! π
So, to all you marketing magicians out there, keep the TikTok dream alive! Who knows, your brand might just soar to new heights and have pets and people dancing with delight! ππΊ
Remember, it's not always smooth sailing, but with a sprinkle of creativity and a dash of perseverance, you'll find your sweet spot. Keep those ads running, and may your Amazon brand conquer the TikTokverse like a champion! You've got this! π
π Top Reads Of The Week
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Authentic Brands Group acquires Rockport out of bankruptcy
Wayfair names new chief marketing officer
Pacsun opens store dedicated to activewear
Serta Simmons Bedding names CEO
βοΈ HTE JOB BOARD: Plenty Of Jobs Await You!
β‘οΈ Management Accountant - Clear Course
β‘οΈ Wholesale Channel Lead - Driftaway Coffee
β‘οΈ Associate Consultant (Global Benefits) - Lockton
β‘οΈ Senior Customer Marketing Officer - SQA
β‘οΈ Senior Marketing Executive - The British Red Cross
CHOOSE SUCCESS below, and have a great Wednesday! Get that D2C business runninβ.