Shopify powers new publisher revenue streams
Future. Shopify is launching new features that allow for publishers to take advantage of affiliate marketing and also create e-commerce platforms that are backed by Shopify. As Shopify quickly grows into an e-commerce powerhouse, Amazon and Walmart may finally have a real competitor… which could drive down prices for customers and increase payouts for publishers.
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Shopify is stepping on Amazon’s and Walmart’s turf.
- It’s rolling out a new affiliate marketing feature that will let publishers link to Shopify merchants.
- BuzzFeed has already signed on, and Shopify is also reportedly in talks with Complex Networks and Vox Media.
- Another feature will allow publishers to open their own “Shopify-powered online stores” that will work inside a publisher’s platform.
- Publishers will also be able to bring in brands that they work with into the deal, even if they don’t have Shopify stores.
Shopify revenue hit an all-time high of $2.9 billion last year.
Store wars
Shopify’s move to enter the affiliate market space is a big win for brands and publishers, and a thorn in the side of both Amazon and Walmart that could give them a new competitor in a generally uncontested space.
BuzzFeed’s decision to use Shopify is a game-changing move — 70% of the company’s affiliate revenue previously came from Amazon. It was clearly looking to diversify… especially after Amazon suspended and then temporarily cut its affiliate commission rate last year.