For patients suffering from conditions such as bad allergies, asthma, and heartburn, stocking up with the right relief medication can be a costly affair. While these drugs are almost certainly at every big pharma outlet, they come at exorbitant prices. Affected individuals may struggle to not overstretch their budget or exhaust their insurance limits.
Curist is a customer-centric health brand that is helping solve this problem by delivering doctor-recommended, FDA-approved medication directly to consumers (and at a fraction of ‘Big Pharma’ cost). The company’s goal is to help Americans access the *exact* same formulas that they are used to buying at major pharmacies but at the most affordable prices.
In this episode of the LOGIE brands’ highlights, we interviewed Ethan Goldstein, the founder and CEO of Curist, to learn more about the brand’s story, product, and impact.
What products does your company offer?
Curist Products
Curist is a brand of high-quality, incredibly affordable medicines for the self-treatment of common conditions like heartburn, pain, and allergies.
Who are your target audience(s)?
Whoever suffers from the conditions we treat! Our products are incredibly affordable as well as effective, so we find that our best customers are those who want relief at a better price than the other options on the market.
What’s the story behind your company?
Our founder Ethan suffers from bad allergies and asthma, and his dad is a celebrated allergy doctor. Growing up in his house meant a lot of dinner conversations around medicine and why it’s not easier for people to self-treat at home. So, Ethan set out to simplify the pharmacy aisle for the better, starting with allergies. Since starting in 2018, Curist has expanded to help people with symptoms ranging from allergies, heartburn, to pain and beyond.
What do you love most about your products?
It’s incredibly rewarding to be able to deliver affordable medicines to people to help them better manage their health. I’ll share a customer review – “Out of frustration and disgust over the exorbitant price for this drug through my insurance plan, I searched and found Curist and only wish I’d done so a lot sooner. It’s very effective for relief of allergy symptoms at a fraction of the price and the customer service is excellent.” from Carolyn L. This type of impact is what keeps us going!
Where do you see your company in 5 years?
We are in an exciting growth phase of our business, where we are launching innovative products for our customers and continuing to deliver on our promise of quality medicines at incredibly affordable prices. For instance, we just launched our Gas Relief Maximum Strength and our Medicated Wipes with Witch Hazel. We are excited to continue to bring new products to our customers.
Conclusion
If you have any questions for Curist or would like to learn more about the company and its products, let them know by leaving a comment below.
Live shopping has generated a lot of focus in light of this year’s prime shopping season. Major social platforms unleashing features to enable creators to sell more via livestreams and shoppable content.
TalkShopLive – a live stream social shopping network – is one of the latest companies to join the holiday shopping frenzy. The company announced this week (Tuesday 22nd November 2022) that it’d launch the first-ever live commerce window shopping experience.
By partnering with a technology provider and select retail windows within New York City, the platform will allow consumers to shop live with convergence of the physical and digital. Shoppers can watch live shows as they pass by and scan QR codes on the windows to shop.
The live shopping showcase will begin on Wednesday, November 23 at 8 p.m. Eastern time and run throughout the Holiday season. In the first live showcases on retail windows, music superstar Gloria Estefan will promote her new holiday Album. Other celebrities to be featured include music superstars Dolly Parton and Shania Twain. Celebrity chef Bobby Flay will also do a cooking demo while TikTok super-influencer Noah Schnacky will showcase a couple of new products.
While live shopping has had a slow start in the west, there’s been a flurry of activity this year as multiple players take steps to play a leading role. Creators now have more tools and platforms than ever to get the most out of their content. TikTok just recently enabled in-app shopping for businesses in the UK. YouTube has been running a number of programs dedicated to live shopping and Pinterest just last week announced that it’d showcase a range of video shopping tools this holiday season.
More so important, creators now have the full capabilities of Logie to connect the dots and make sure that they get the highest possible payouts this season with brand commissions of up to 50%.
In the age of m-commerce and live shopping, influencers are a force to be reckoned with. Consumers prefer to receive advice from people they know and trust. Creators around the world help move billions of dollars worth of products each year – mostly via social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Nonetheless, a new trend is creeping up that is threatening to change the status quo as we know it – virtual influencers.
What are virtual influencers?
A virtual influencer is basically a digital character that is generated using computer graphics software. These characters are given a personality (by the people behind them) and appear as influencers on major social media platforms. Interestingly, they can do just about anything that a human being can do, only with more control and engagement. Companies around the world are using this concept to create their own ‘profit-generating’ influencers using computer software. The proliferation of this trend has left some wondering whether virtual influencers will replace real humans in the near future.
Advances in CGI have made virtual influencers way easier to create
Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) technology has come a long way over the years. This technique is most widely used in the entertainment industry, where artists use software to create realistic-looking nonhuman characters for computer games, movies, and music videos. Jurassic Park is perhaps a gold standard of films that have excellently utilized CGI (to create realistic-looking dinosaurs). Other famous movies that have utilized CGI include Avatar, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, and Star Wars. Given the rise of social commerce, some companies are using this technology to create social media influencers. Sometimes, the entire character (from head to toe) is generated using the software. Other times, the companies behind this trend will just superimpose a head on a real human model for applications such as fashion advertising.
A local or global trend?
The concept of virtual influencers is particularly dominant in South Korea but also increasingly popular in Brazil, India, and other parts of the world. Lil Miquela is a virtual influencer that was created by an American tech startup. She is regarded to be the world’s most famous virtual influencer and has endorsed major brands such as Prada and Calvin Klein. Lil has over 3 million followers on Instagram.
There’s no doubt that the ‘virtual human’ industry is booming. Marketing companies are riding on this wave to create and own future influencers who are digitally flawless, scandal-free, and never aging. A peek at Google Trends data shows that the subject of virtual influences has become increasingly popular since the start of the pandemic, hitting peak popularity sometime this year. What’s even more shocking is that a recent report by HypeAudior showed that computer-generated influencers have almost three times more engagement than real influencers.
Popularity Index
This virtual influencer is generated millions in profit for her maker
Profitability is the main motivation behind the creation of virtual influencers. These characters are generating thousands of dollars in profits for the companies that create them. One example at work is Rozy, an Instagram virtual character created and operated by a South Korean company. Rozy’s profile is dotted with sponsored content where she advertises a wide range of skincare and fashion products. She has even represented luxury brands such as Chanel and Hermes, along with magazines and media companies. Her ads sometimes appear on television and billboards. The company behind Rozy predicts that the total amount of profit she has generated will reach over 1.5 million dollars this year.
Rozy – a South Korea-based virtual influencer | Copyright: Locus X
The whole concept of virtual influencers is of questionable ethics
There’s a raging debate over the ethics of virtual influencers. To start with, it doesn’t seem right to market products to consumers who often don’t realize that the model being used isn’t even human. There’s also the risk of cultural appropriation when you create influencers of different ethnicities. Facebook and Instagram’s parent company Meta, which has more than 200 virtual influencers on its platforms, has already acknowledged the risks. The company said in a recent blog post that synthetic media has the potential for both good and harm. Meta is already working to develop ethical frameworks to guide the use of virtual influencers.
We asked a few creators what they think about this subject
Ilka Tamar
IIka Tamar, an Amazon creator and influencer, has experienced fake virtual live streamers and wonders what’s next in the industry. She thinks it’s so unfair that this is even allowed by major social media platfors. Meta’s Instagram has previously said that they have verified dozens of virtual influencer profiles.
Jim Mullen, a creator and entrepreneur, acknowledges that this trend exists but argues that virtual influencers can’t have products in hand the same way that human creators can.
Conclusion
Amid the increasing presence of virtual influencers and their utilization by brands, some creators are worried that these characters could threaten their business. Others maintain the opinion that virtual influencers and human influencers will coexist with (not replace) their human counterparts. As the technology behind this trend continues to improve and social media platforms play a leading role, it remains to be seen where this goes. Have unique thoughts on this subject? Add your two cents in the comments section below.
Pregnant women and new moms must take utmost care of themselves. Focusing on a healthy diet, following doctor’s advice, and using non-harmful organic products can go a long way to ensure the safety and well-being of this special group. Lital Bernstein is a mom who used her experiences and background as a Shiatsu therapist and mind-body balancing practitioner to create natural, organic personal care products for people like herself. Her company, WholeNest, offers a wide range of ointments and sprays to help new moms live their best life.
In this episode of the LOGIE brands’ highlights, we interviewed WholeNest, Lital Bernstein’s “Made in the USA” brand that is at the forefront of creating natural wellness products for pregnant/postpartum moms, healthcare providers, and young professionals.
What products does your company offer?
WholeNest company offers all natural, pure, and safe line of products for postpartum and multi-use care
WholeNest Products
What audience do you cater to?
Pregnant / postpartum moms, new mothers, young entrepreneurs, professionals in the healthcare industry with focus on postpartum and family wellness, doulas, conscious consumers.
Why are you passionate about your target consumers?
I’m passionate about sharing this line of products with expecting mothers and doulas so they can enjoy the benefits of healing and recovery in a safe and natural way, just like I did after giving birth, being introduced to these old traditional “recipes” that then become WholeNest products. I believe that the closer we are to Mother Nature, using 100% natural ingredients, our bodies will respond better, and those mommies will be able to enjoy more of their precious newborns and focus on their families. Raising families with consciousness is what I’m passionate about, and that includes using the right products for the household. I also believe young entrepreneurs will find in this brand a combination of knowledge, experience, and practicality.
Please tell us a little more about the body-mind balancing philosophy behind your brand?
I started my career in the healing and wellness field over 20 years ago, as a shiatsu therapist, body mind balancing practitioner, Pilates instructor, and a wellness coach. I’ve also used essential oils in my practice and deepened my knowledge in other healing modalities. Understanding the connections between the internal organs, to our emotions, to the way we think, eat and live, is a key to overall health. Usually, the body follows the mind and is an indication where our state of mind is. Body and mind cannot be separated and should be dealt has a whole. WholeNest products are an extension of that theory. The ingredients in the products are helping the body to heal, as well as lifting the spirit and “chase the blues away” as stated in one of our product reviews.
Given that you cater to a sensitive demographic, what are the challenges? How do you tackle these challenges?
WholeNest is a new and starting brand and is unfamiliar to the general public yet (even though I’ve been working on the products for practically years now to create the ultimate formulas etc.), so I’d say the challenge is to bring the products into the market and to reach enough people who will trust us and become our consumers. We are currently sending our products to doulas to try them out on their clients, as well as to new mommies, and influencers in the business.
Please describe the main benefits/value-proposition behind your brand and products?
Honey Magic Lavender is an easy to use, effective, multipurpose ointment, with exceptional results in postpartum care, to heal the perineum tear, reduce swelling, pressure like sensation and even relieves pain. It is also good for: bruises, stitches, face care, cuts, and scars.
Wonder Spray. This is our mega star product with limitless functions. Infused with high vibrational healing water, frankincense oil from different sources, and witch hazel, it is unique and powerful and is good for the healing of postpartum stitches, headaches, stress and anxiety, energy booster, skin irritation, acne &face care.
Go Away Cold is a room and pillow spray for nasal congestion, common colds, seasonal allergies, and open up airways.
Less Than a Day hemorrhoids relief blend made from pure essential oils and may provide immediate relief from symptoms like discomfort, irritation, and itchiness. Lastly, I’d like everyone to know, that every product we are making, is done with much love, care, intention, and a prayer of healing& recovery for anyone who’s using it
Is there anything else that you feel is important for creators and consumers to know about your company?
WholeNest products are manufactured in the US in small batches to maintain the integrity and quality of the brand. They’re packaged in recycled dark amber glass containers. We only use high end therapeutic ingredients such as pure essential oils and pure honey from different sources, no chemical, toxins, or preservatives added. They’re safe for pregnant women, breastfeeding, babies, and kids. We support few charities organizations and provide other services like the healing circle which is a form of guided meditation that is done online in groups of 3 people or more, to support others who need healing in cases like postpartum depression, before or after surgery, or any life challenge.
Pinterest – the visual discovery engine – has said that it’d showcase a range of video shopping tools this holiday season. Dubbed the ‘Shop the Holidays on Pinterest TV’, the program will feature 10 hours of daily programming from November 15 to November 18th in the US and Canada. The company revealed that more than four leading North American publishers and over 60 brands would take part in the series.
40 hours of Shoppable Content
Some brands that will contribute to the over 40 hours of shoppable content include NUDESTIX, Wayfair, and JENNY BIRD. The focus of the event is holiday shopping and gift-giving, with participating brands announcing discounts, flash sales, and popular gift guide merchandise.
Joins Other Major Companies Focusing on Live Shopping
This announcement adds to the number of big-tech players who are pulling major strings to get ahead of the competition in the U.S. live shopping scene. Just last week, TikTok quietly introduced the TikTok Shop (its in-app shopping service) to the U.S. market. YouTube recently launched a 9-day shopping event that started on November 10 and ends on November 19. The video streaming giant had earlier this year announced that it’s also partnering with Shopify to bring live shopping to hundreds of millions of its users.
For Live Shopping, the Pandemic was a Blessing in Disguise
Live Shopping became mainstream at the height of the pandemic. With people locked down and unable to visit their favorite stores, key opinion leaders and celebrities became increasingly important in decision-making. The live-stream shopping boom was particularly evident in China, where influencers helped move hundreds of billions of products.
Renewed Confidence in the Growth of the Sector
Live commerce has seen a much slower adoption in the U.S. and Europe. Meta’s own push in the industry ended with failure when the company decided to pull back in October. This led to speculation that live stream shopping could turn out to be a hard sell in the west. However, the entry of more big-tech players shows renewed confidence in the growth of the sector.
TikTok is one of several big-tech players that appears to leave no stone unturned in the push to dominate the U.S. live commerce sector.
The company just recently announced job vacancies that indicated plans to challenge Amazon with eCommerce fulfillment centers. Now the short-video giant has made a move by bringing TikTok Shop to American consumers.
Previously, TikTok Shop has been available to consumers in seven Southeast Asian nations along with the U.K.
The official TikTok Shop site quietly listed the U.S. as a place where businesses can register to the program. This would enable them to sell their merchandise directly via the TikTok app. The quiet live testing in the U.S. appears to be a direct challenge for Amazon.
Select U.S. businesses have already been invited to participate. The launch is another way the company is continuing to invest in the U.S. live shopping scene. Apparently, TikTok Shop brings in merchants, brands, and creators through in-feed live videos and a product showcase tab. Merchants will by paying a 1.8% commission over the first 90 days after they join the company before rates go up to 5%.
It’ll be interesting to see what kind of adoption this gets in the U.S. and how that affects dominant players such as YouTube. The video streaming platform recently announced a 9-day shopping blitz that’s focused entirely on live shopping. The Alphabet company is also partnering with Shopify to integrate live shopping into videos on the platform.
YouTube is done marking time on live shopping. From holding its second annual shoppable Beauty Festival to hosting the first-ever Shopping on Shorts challenge, the company seems poised to play a leading role in the live burgeoning sector.
9-Day Shopping Event Revealed
YouTube is getting ready for the biggest shopping season of the year with a new multi-format shopping event that will run for nine days. Dubbed ‘From YouTube to You’, the upcoming shopping blitz will feature a blend of shoppable shorts, interactive live shopping events, and video gift guides.
Event runs from November 10 to November 19, 2022
The event will take place on Nov. 10 to 19, 2022. It will include five nights of live streams with customers being able to shop in between by going to YouTube.com/Shopping. More than 30 creators and popular brands will get to feature their recommendations, deals, and exclusive offers.
Top YouTube Stars Involved
Among the creators participating in the event is MrBeast, the #1 highest-paid YouTube Star in the world with over 110 million subscribers. Others include notable names with millions of subscribers and massive influence in specific niches.
Viewers to Access Premium Content
Throughout the 9-day stint, fans will enjoy the opportunity to participate in Shorts Challenges with popular brands, access to over 20 new holiday gift guides, while also watching top YouTubers reveal their favorite gadget reviews and holiday looks.
More Creators to get Access to Shoppable Links
The holiday shopping event comes barely weeks after news that YouTube was paving the way to give more creators access to live commerce tools. Through the Partners Program, the video streaming giant aims to give users the capability to tag their content (shorts, videos, and live steams) with shoppable links. These features will be launched by this year’s end but will only be available to creators from the US, UK, Brazil, and India who have more than 20,000 subscribers.
Livestream Shopping Partnership with Shopify
The latest live shopping developments at YouTube follow an announcement mid this year that the company would partner with Shopify to bring live shopping to millions of users. The goal behind this collaboration is to enable viewers to buy products without having to leave the platform. In an emerging area where Meta has called it quits, YouTube seems to be making all the right moves.
For most people, finding success as an Amazon creator and entrepreneur is never a silver-spoon experience. And even when you finally make it, things can still happen that threaten your months or years of hard work.
Imagine having your Amazon influencer account and storefront shut down…and having to start from scratch all over again. And as if that was not bad enough, not being able to benefit from the content you created so painstakingly despite it still being online.
In this issue of the Logie Creators’ Highlights, we talked to Karen LeBlanc, a professional TV show host and lifestyle journalist who also ventured into Livestream shopping. Karen shares her incredible experience along with important tips for fellow creators.
Tell us about working on national shopping channels
I’ve worked on-air as a guest shopping channel host for the past ten years at Home Shopping Network (HSN) doing live appearances to sell products in home décor, beauty, and fashion. I currently work as the guest host/brand ambassador for Born Shoes and BOC handbags. I regularly appear on HSN featuring the latest launches and talking about the features, benefits and fashion trends associated with the brands. I appear to live with an HSN host and together we do a “dance” where the host introduces me and talks about the colors and sizes available and the price points. I then romance the products helping the consumer connect with and envision owning the products. I speak for several minutes then toss it back to her to talk about price and pricing/financing options. There is a give and take that balances the hard sales ask and the aspirational conversations.
What motivated you to shift to online live shopping?
I work as a professional TV show host and lifestyle journalist so online live shopping is a natural fit for my skills and experience plus, I love shopping and reporting about the latest looks, trends, and products. My broadcast TV experience made this an easy transition. I also like the ability to work from home, connect with people, build community, and have control over my schedule.
What baby steps did you take to make this transition?
I signed up for an Amazon Associates account and began dabbling with affiliate links, inserting them into my blog posts. Then Wahool approached me and told me about the influencer program and helped me sign up and get started. Wahool gave me some basic training on how to do an Amazon live stream and I started doing live streams for Wahool on Amazon with the products they provided. I began receiving requests from Amazon vendors to include their products in my live streams and/or to create shoppable videos. I now spend most of my time as an influencer creating shoppable videos. Vendors pay me to create the shoppable videos and I earn commissions on products that sell through my shoppable videos creating a passive income stream.
What were the biggest challenges you faced?
Karen LeBlanc
Mastering the learning curve of Amazon’s live streaming interface and how to integrate OBS to enhance my live streams. Initially, I found the entire process very clunky and not very user-friendly. I spent a lot of time trying to figure it out all on my own with the help of YouTube videos. It was very time-consuming to set up a live stream and struggle with finding the time and justifying the time it took on the front end to prepare and create my live streams which is why I began focusing on creating shoppable videos.
You mentioned something about having your account shut down. What happened and how did that affect you?
I had to reapply as an Amazon Influencer under a new social media account and rebuild my entire storefront after Amazon shut down my influencer account and storefront. I lost more than 100 shoppable videos that were earning my commission as a result. Here is what happened. I receive a vague email from Amazon explaining that my Amazon associates ID/account was in violation of policy because some “unauthorized” website was referring traffic to my Amazon associates account. I could not figure out where or what this “unauthorized website” was, so I called Amazon and received zero help. I reached the influencer program division, and the Amazon employee told me she had no way of letting me know which “unauthorized website” was referring traffic creating the violation. She referred me to the FAQ page for Amazon Associates which was no help. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how, why, and where I was in violation. I got frustrated so I deleted my Amazon Associates ID that was reported in violation thinking it was an old one not attached to my influencer account or storefront.
When I deleted the Amazon associates ID, it took down my influencer account and storefront. I called Amazon and spoke with different employees a total of 9 times and each tine was told my account could not be restored and that I had to reapply to the program. I repeatedly tried to reapply as an influencer, but my existing social media account was still tied to the original influencer account even though Amazon disabled it and deleted it. I was stuck in limbo for weeks asking Amazon to disconnect my social media account to my now defunct Amazon influencer account so I could reapply. That never happened despite numerous emails and additional phone calls. So, I had to reapply using another social media account and rebuild from scratch. Meanwhile, all my shoppable videos continue to live on product pages and I don’t earn a cent of commissions. Amazon conveniently deleted my influencer account but kept my videos up and continues to use them without paying me a commission. I’m now in the rebuilding process of creating new shoppable videos and starting from zero to rebuild my commission earnings.
How did you recover from this (wait…don’t tell us you had to start from scratch)?
Yes! I had to reapply as an Amazon Influencer under another social media account and start over. My original social media account is still locked to my old influencer account despite repeated requests to unlink it.
What channels/platforms do you use across the board?
I use Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. I’m just starting to learn about and create with TikTok.
Looking back now, what would you say have been your biggest strengths and skills in this journey?
Resilience and patience. At one point, I was so frustrated and discouraged that I considered quitting the Amazon influencer program; however, I do believe it can be a solid source of passive income if one puts in the time and effort.
What tips do you have for creators who are trying to find success?
Know your value. A lot of vendors approach me asking me to create shoppable videos in return for a free product. This is my business. I don’t work for free. My talent, skills, experience, and time are worth more than a free product, so I charge a fee for each shoppable video. There are many vendors who are willing to pay a very low fee of $10 etc., but I’m not interested in that either. Stick to your price. Know your value. If we accept work for free or let vendors lowball us, we do the entire program a disservice. We need to elevate the value and worth of what we do as influencers, live streamers, and content creators. We all benefit and rise together.
Also, if a vendor asks for a copy of your shoppable video, charge an additional usage fee. Many vendors will ask to use my shoppable videos for other purposes. I charge for that in addition to my original fee to create the video. If a vendor asks me to post the shoppable video to my other social media platforms, again I charge extra for that exposure and service.
One final tip, know your niche. I’m a lifestyle expert who knows home décor, fashion, and beauty. I don’t do a lot of tech products because that is not where I’ve built my expertise or credibility. Take on products that you can stand behind, and that are a good fit for your knowledge, talent, and skills.
Amazon is continuing early access sales with the “Holiday Beauty Haul” promotion. This is the second time the annual event has been organized by the company.
The promotion started on Monday, October 24th, and will run for two weeks until Sunday, November 6. Holiday Beauty Haul allows customers on the platform to choose from thousands of great offers from famous brands such as Revlon, L’Oréal Paris, Cetaphil, and the Dollar Shave Club. Amazon is hosting “Live Festival” livestream shopping shows as part of the promotion. These enable creators to share their favorite beauty deals from the event and interact with consumers via live chat.
Beauty Products
Second Beauty Haul Event Running
Beauty Haul is a holiday version of Prime Day. This is the second annual promotion of this type that Amazon has organized. The first Holiday Beauty Haul event took place in 2021 and was included as part of “Black Friday-worthy” deals. The original promotion ended earlier in the season but ran for longer (October 4 to October 25, 2021) than this year’s Holiday Beauty Haul is expected to last.
Hot on the Heels of Prime Early Access
With beauty essentials on markdown for as much as 70 percent, Holiday Beauty Haul is hot on the heels of Prime Early Access which offered hundreds of thousands of deals. This is the two-day global shopping event for Prime Members that Amazon helped earlier this month in October 11 and October 12, 2022. Prime Early Access Sale was available to customers in 15 countries, including the U.S. and U.K., along with Canada, Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden, Turkey, and China.
More Promotions in Guides & Lists
In addition to time-limited promotions and sales events, Amazon is using guides and lists to highlight top items in various categories. For instance, the Holiday Gift Guides feature showcases some of the top products in the toys and home categories. A toys gift guide lists dozens of popular toy items from leading brands such as Disney, Hasbro, Fisher-Price, and National Geographic.
Conclusion
Holiday shopping events and online sales festivals seem to be taking an increasingly prominent role in eCommerce shopping. Perhaps the best example of a holiday shopping event at work is the Singles Day Chinese commercial holiday that gives single people a chance to celebrate being partnerless. With sales exceeding $139 billion in 2021, this event is a case study for eCommerce players. Creators can benefit by continuing to explore ways in which they maximize revenues during both large and smaller sales promotion events by Amazon and other eCommerce vendors.
Becoming a successful Amazon entrepreneur and creator takes a lot more than just spending a few hours or weekends on your side hustle. You’ve got to do thorough research and give it your best work to beat your competition and cut a niche for yourself. First and foremost, you must learn to become the person you want to buy from. Only then can you a strong groundwork and set the stage for the kind of success you want to see.
In this episode of the LOGIE Creators’ Highlights, we interviewed Misty Hill.
Misty was a payment processing desk clerk who left her job to become a stay-at-home mom and pursue her passion. She is a case study for how to become an Amazon affiliate and influencer. She shared her best tips and strategies for choosing products, delivering value to customers, and analyzing results for continuous improvement.
Misty Hill
How did you get started as an Amazon seller and content creator?
I left my career in Payment Processing to become a stay-at-home mother to my one-year-old daughter in 2017. Once I discovered my passion for play-based learning, I started my blog called The Maternal Hobbyist as a way to share my experience with other moms. I designed my website on my own and began learning about blogging. As a way to earn affiliate income, I monetized my blog by joining the Amazon Affiliate Program and the Amazon Influencer Program.
Do you specialize in a specific niche or promote from across the board?
After discovering my daughter was being lead poisoned, I became an advocate for lead-safe products and therefore began testing hundreds of items for heavy metals. After discovering many of the children’s products I purchased contained lead, cadmium, arsenic and/or mercury, I began testing all Amazon products. Today, I specialize in Amazon products that DO NOT contain heavy metals. I also work to provide the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission with test results in order to prevent other children and families from being exposed to these dangerous heavy metals. Testing is costly, but keeping others safe is worth it.
What would you say are your greatest strengths?
I think my greatest strengths are my faith, my attention to detail, and my work ethic. I am a believer in Christ, a wife to my husband of 10 years, and a mother of two. I currently homeschool in addition to content creation and blogging. My husband and I work as a team to create and shoot content for Amazon and ongoing brand campaigns. He is an agency-signed model and I have a background in working on set, so we truly enjoy shooting/filming projects together as a family.
Could you share your website/blog link with our audience?
We noticed that this is a pretty vibrant blog. How has it worked out for you?
Due to the vibrant colors, my audience is primarily women, and more specifically moms. I have stayed true to what I enjoy, and it has allowed me the opportunity to connect with thousands of other women on a personal level, and make true friends along the way. From a content creation perspective, I only work with brands that I truly support. That means I have thoroughly researched the brand and their products, tested their products for heavy metals, use their products for myself, and I believe in their mission. This may seem like too much for some, but I stay true to my values, and it has garnered a new level of trust with my audience. They know that if I recommend something, they can trust it.
Do you have any tips for creators who are struggling to build a strong brand on Amazon?
Stay true to what you are passionate about to avoid burn out.
Feature products you actually use and love which makes it easier to tell your audience why you love them so much.
If you create Amazon product videos, every week, go back and look at the “Views” and “Avg % views.” If you see a video with a high number of views, but it has a low Avg % views, double check the “Avg view duration” because your video may be too long. For example, I had a 2:10 video with 780 views, and 46% Avg % views. But my Avg view duration was only 59sec. which tells me that I lost all of that potential commission because my video was too long. So I went back and edited my original video down to 59 seconds in order to increase my Avg % views to as close to 100% as possible. My commission for that video is now sky rocketing! So utilize your (LOGIE.ai) statistics to learn what is working and what isn’t working for you and make changes from there.
I added videos of the same products filmed vertically vs horizontally. After 30 days, My horizontal videos have substantially more views so moving forward, I am choosing to focus filming only horizontal videos.
What social media channels do you prefer and what is the right way to build a strong following?
First, more and more brands are working with micro-influencers because their engagement rates are higher. The follower count doesn’t matter as much as the engagement rate, so be encouraged that you can be successful no matter the size. Post your niche in your feed and preferably reels for IG as they recently cut engagement down for photos and carousels of photos. Post everything else in your stories, even if it’s not in your niche. Ask your audience what they want to see and create a poll or interactive features. Second, consistency is KEY! I myself have struggled with this as I am juggling the responsibilities of a family, but during times of consistency is when I see the most growth despite the ongoing algorithm changes. Finally, from my experience, brands are paying the highest rates for TikTok vs Instagram. You can also utilize TikTok to create short product videos with your affiliate links and increase your commissions significantly.
