Stories, insights and strategies to supercharge customer acquisition

For marketers and social media managers, understanding the psychology behind creator <> consumer interaction is critical to crafting campaigns that convert. One of the most powerful yet often under-leveraged psychological drivers in social commerce is reciprocity.

Humans have an uncanny ability to “smell a rat.” We know when something feels off—even if we can’t always articulate why. Whether it’s a politician’s too-perfect smile, a friend’s evasive response, or a social media post that rings hollow, we’re highly tuned to detect inauthenticity.

Creator Storefronts are becoming essential tools for brands connecting creator marketing with direct sales. This article outlines The key elements brands should consider when evaluating Creator Storefront solutions and highlights how automation and optimization can drive conversions, scale partnerships, and reduce friction—along with how SimplicityDX solves these challenges.

Creator affiliate programs are transforming influencer marketing by aligning creator incentives with sales performance, offering brands a scalable, revenue-driven approach to long-term creator partnerships. Here we look at key strategies for success, from simplifying onboarding to building a thriving creator community.

The true potential of AEO lies in its ability to generate a "flywheel effect," where improvements in multiple metrics compound, significantly boosting revenue and return on ad spend (ROAS). This article dives into what makes for a better landing experience and how it drives this effect.

Running A/B tests on Meta is an essential part of any optimizing your Meta ad strategy. But why do CPMs rocket and ROAS plunge when running tests? Don't panic, its normal.

Landing traffic from social media doesn't work well on product pages. Custom Landing Pages might look like the answer but are beset with problems. Time for a rethink. In this article we introduce the concept of 'Infinite Scroll' and set out why it works so well for social media traffic.

No doubt you’re familiar with SEO, the process of optimising web content to rank higher in organic search results. Now there’s an equivalent approach for paid traffic: Ad Engine Optimization, or AEO for short. And it can have a big impact on revenue and Customer Acquisition Costs for brands and retailers selling direct to consumers.

We're frequently asked by executives that reach out to us: “We’re thinking about our social commerce strategy: Where are the landmines? Where are the low hanging opportunities? Should we be selling on TikTok?” In this blog we’ll explore the different aspects of developing a social commerce strategy.

Landing efficiency is emerging as an important driver of end to end ad performance. In this article we explore how ad platforms use landing quality, how to measure landing efficiency and the effect on CPM’s when efficiency is high.

Our holiday merchant A/B tests compared performance for different social prospecting campaigns by landing traffic on different types of pages. The results are startling.

The Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) for most brands has risen creating a perfect storm squeezing profitability. In this blog we explore potential ways of reducing Customer Acquisition Cost.

Learn which pages are the best suited to land the traffic you drive in from social media ad campaigns for higher conversions and sales.

Learn how you can optimize your promotional strategy to drive more conversions on the social sales funnel by creating seamless shopping experiences.

Learn the real reason why social media shoppers often bounce from brand sites and never come back to make a purchase. Tips on what you can do!

Learn how the social conversion funnel broke, its impact on customer acquisition and what your brand can do to convert your target audience.

Looking for ways to make sales out of influencer collaborations and content? Here is how to use AI Social Campaign Stores to create shoppable experiences for all creator content.

Learn how long it typically takes to convert a social media shopper and the average number of ad touch points it takes for the funnel to complete.

Learn all about TikTok paid ads for eCommerce businesses and how you can double your return on ad spend (ROAS) from the channel.

Planning to run Instagram paid ads for your eCommerce business? Here's everything you need to know.

Planning to run Facebook ads to promote your eCommerce business products and details? Here's everything you need to know.

With almost 50% consumers finding products and deals on social media, it's time to move your BFCM campaign to the edges with Social Campaign Stores.

Looking for the best way to measure the success of your social media campaigns? Here are the social media ad metrics we recommend eCommerce businesses measure closely.

Learn how leading enterprise brands on Shopify Plus are using AI to generate more ROI for their business.

Learn how a fast scaling Shopify Plus store such as yours can reduce social media customer acquisition costs to double down on business profitability.

Looking for a partner who can help your brand get set up and scale globally? Here are the best Shopify Plus agencies you can work with.

Looking for a way to reach your target audience faster? Here's how Shopify stores can get started with omnichannel marketing to increase sales.

Looking for ways to measure the success of your social media campaigns? Here's how leading brands like ModCloth measure their organic and paid campaigns.

Do you have a social storefront to promote your products? Here's how to optimize it for higher conversions.

Want to double your sales this BFCM? Here are the social commerce strategies you need to get started with.

User generated content is proven to help brands use social proof to sell more. Here's how you can use UGC for social commerce!

Learn all about the social media Shopify sales channels and how you can integrate them to your storefront to double your social sales.

Learn how to use link in bio on social media for eCommerce and why the feature is not enough to grow your online business.

We attended and presented at the eTail Boston Conference 2023. Here are the key takeaways for eCommerce businesses.

Learn all about social storefronts and why eCommerce businesses need to now focus on the rising trend of shopping on social media.

How does one really measure the impact of social campaigns? Here are the key takeaways from our conversation with ModCloth at ETail Boston 2023.

Learn how to choose the best social commerce platform to promote your eCommerce brand on and reach your target audience faster.

Struggling to reach your ideal customers on social media? Here's how to find the right eCommerce social media ad targeting data.

Want to measure if your business is really growing? Here's what you need to know about eCommerce profitability.

We're excited to announce that SimplicityDX is recognized as a Gartner Cool Vendor in the category of Digital Commerce. Here's what it means!

Running your eCommerce business on assumptions in the post-cookie world? Here's how you can still collect eCommerce customer data.

Is your social media traffic not converting? Your eCommerce user experience could be the reason behind higher bounce rate and here's what you can do.

Is your brand using social media for marketing and advertising? Here's why impulse purchases are not helping your business grow.

If you have been experiencing lower conversion rates on your eCommerce landing pages for high-volume social media ad campaigns, this is for you.

Are you using social media and social commerce to reach your target audience? Here's how to create eCommerce customer journey maps for social media shoppers to find opportunities to sell more.

Struggling to drive more sales from social commerce? It's time to understand the psychology of online shoppers to nudge them towards making a purchase.

With shopping moving to social media, what does the future of social commerce look like? Here's looking into the role of AI and how brands can make the most of technology to grow.

Want to get started with selling on social media? Here's the latest guide on creating a social commerce strategy to increase online sales.

Are you using social media to promote your brand through marketing and advertising campaigns? Here are the social media metrics you should be measuring.

Want to optimise your eCommerce advertising campaigns? Here's the list of tools that can help you monitor campaign performance and increase conversions on it.

Is the traffic you're driving from social media platforms converting? If your social media bounce rate has been high, you need to read this because it's harming your eCommerce business.

Download this infographic to get all the insights from the research on the cost of social media bounce rate and its impact on eCommerce business growth.

SimplicityDX Academy surveyed 1000 US consumers to analysze the cost of a bounce for social referrals to the brand site. The research also considers the reasons, impact and advice from shoppers on how to stop them bouncing.

The latest list of the best conversion rate optimization tools for eCommerce businesses to improve the performance of their marketing and advertising campaigns to drive more sales.

Learn how the eCommerce and social media marketing funnel come together and enable online brands to create seamless shopping journeys for buyers. Get tips on how to leak proof your funnel for more conversions!

Learn about the latest strategies and conversion hacks that online brands can use to reduce the eCommerce customer acquisition costs on social media.

Pinterest is a great channel for consumers to explore lifestyle images which indirectly impacts their online purchase decisions. But will setting up shoppable Pins really help brands sell on the platform? In this blog we explore why Pinterest Shopping is broken and how you can fix it.

TikTok has quickly become a popular channel for eCommerce businesses to promote their brands and products on. But are TikTok shops really helping brands sell more? In this blog we explain why TikTok Shops are broken.

GenZ is the one segment of online shoppers that is extensively using social media to make purchases. But their preferences and usage of social media has a big impact on how social commerce works.

Social commerce is more than just setting up shops on the social media platforms. With technology changing, social commerce has been evolving rapidly, changing how online shopping works. In this blog we explore the social commerce trends for 2023 and beyond.

Meta has just announced that they will no longer support Shops without checkout in the U.S. and other major markets. In this article, we look at what this means for brands and highlight three key decisions they need to consider in response.

Facebook is one of the most widely used social media platforms in the world, with over 2.8 billion active users. In this article we will look at Facebook Shops and why brands are struggling to gain traction.

Look no further, we have created the definitive guide to social commerce. ‍In this guide, we'll help you understand the benefits of social commerce, learn how to boost your sales with the power of social media, and much more. 

Changes to Instagram Shops by Meta mean that you can no longer send traffic to your site. Here's what to do now.

Looking to keep up to date with best practice social commerce examples. Look no further, these hand picked examples show how to leverage leading social media platforms to reach your target audience.

Learn how to effectively set up and utilize eCommerce Edge storefronts for health and wellness brands in this comprehensive guide. Boost your online presence and sales today!

Watch the recording of recent webinar, with leading eCommerce expert Charles Nicholls and SimplicityDX CMO Ruth Peters

Cookies have been an essential part of online advertising and eCommerce. However their use is increasingly controversial and in this article we look at the reasons for their demise and what the future looks like without them.

The beauty market is expected to grow annually by 4.84% CAGR between 2023-2027. Learn how to set up and use eCommerce edge storefronts for beauty and cosmetics brands to boost customer engagement and increase sales.

Learn how to set up and use eCommerce edge storefronts for fashion and apparel brands to boost customer engagement and increase sales.

In this blog you'll learn what eCommerce edge storefronts are, why they are important & how they are the future of online shopping across social media & other channels.

Check out the key SimplicityDX takeouts from recent research on how U.S. consumers shop using social media, their preferences and concerns, what their experience is when checkout is on social, and how brands view social commerce.

New research from SimplicityDX shows that just like the older age groups, about half of Gen Z online shoppers think that social media is a great place to discover new products, but three-quarters prefer to buy on the brand site rather than checking out on social. If you want to market effectively to Gen Z on social media, follow our 4 recommendations to approach the next generation of online shoppers the right way.

SimplicityDX has announced the introduction of AI-powered Edge Storefronts for social commerce. For the first time, brands can turn the rich experience of social media into full shopping experiences that drive customers from product discovery through to purchase.

SimplicityDX has launched AI-powered Edge Storefronts for social commerce to help online retailers acquire customers and drive campaign revenue on social

Today, SimplicityDX announced the immediate availability of AI-powered Edge Storefronts for social commerce. With Edge Storefronts, brands can create multichannel and campaign-specific e-commerce stores in minutes.

The news that Meta’s Instagram will pull back from its drive into online shopping confirms what many have seen as inevitable for some time.

In recent years, the cost of acquiring customers via search engines has risen dramatically. Find out why many businesses, are turning to independently successful stores is a good alternative for attracting new clients.

Shopping cart abandonment rates hover at around 70% across all industries — and have done for the last few years. It’s a pretty alarming number when you take it at face value.

While there are multiple steps to purchase, social media is where many customers will discover your brand and your products. It’s essential, then, to ensure that your social strategy is airtight. This means posting the right things, on the right platform, at the right time. to encourage sales.

The way consumers interact with brands has changed. Find out in this blog, what social commerce is and the Top 8 Reasons Brands like yours Need It.

What makes an eCommerce experience social? Are we thinking about social commerce the right way? Learn from the best retail examples.

Missed the webinar? Never fear, you can watch the whole event at your leisure right here.

The way we shop today has changed. More and more consumers are moving away from what we would consider to be traditional online shopping and towards shopping at the edge. In this blog we discuss that transition, define shopping on the edge and outline the benefits and challenges for retails, as they move to understand and adjust to the new reality.

Omnichannel retail is embraced by almost all of the world's most successful businesses. Discover all you need to know to succeed in this blog.

In this article, we dive deeper into the challenges of edge shopping and how brands can use edge storefronts to help overcome these pain points.

The different types of retail commerce analytics. Which commerce analytics matter most for your retail business. And the value a commerce experience analytics solution can provide when introduced correctly.

How much of your working day do you spend talking? And how much do you spend listening? They say that great salespeople achieve an 80/20 ratio — for 80% of a sales call or pitch meeting, they actively listen to the client’s needs. Why should it be any different for brands?

When as many as 93% of shoppers use online views in their purchasing decisions, a handful of “bad” reviews can cause a serious dent in revenue figures.

As shopping increasingly moves to the edge, social is launching its shopping capabilities. However, it’s safe to say that social commerce is synonymous with Meta at this point in time. But does that mean that Meta apps are the most valuable for brands in social commerce?

Explore our Instagram mystery shopping study on 21 retail brands. See how they are performing and our recommendations to improve performance.

Over the last 30 years, the eCommerce process has been refined and tuned. In the past, brands could guide customers from search > home page > category > product > checkout with ease. But, there is a new way to shop..

The holiday season is consistently the busiest period of the year for shoppers and businesses alike. Following a difficult couple of years for shoppers and their finances, we review what retailers can expect this peak season?

Social media is where customers spend 2.5 hours each day on average. Almost half of consumers (48%) think that social media is a great place to discover new products as well. Use these tips to leverage social commerce and avoid making the same mistakes that most brands make. Read on to learn more.

When you run or manage an eCommerce business, there’s almost no limit to what your competitors can do — or how many of them there can be.

Charles Nicholls, long-time retail and social commerce commentator, has quickly penned his thoughts below on why Instagram is pulling back from online shopping and what went wrong.

New research shows that Generation Z shops differently from other demographics, and that 80% plan to use social media to find holiday gifts. In this article, we look at the implications of this new data and recommend 3 essential GenZ tactics this holiday season. ‍

Most brands are not tracking the full value of their social commerce efforts. SimplicityDX research shows that currently only about 25% of social commerce revenue is being measured by analytics tools. Find in this article 3 essential tips for fixing social media revenue underreporting.

Are brands increasingly looking to social to drive sales?

Brands who know how to use social commerce well can be where their customers are and engage them when they are receptive to new purchases. In this guide, we look at the social features brands should be focusing on to enhance their social commerce strategy.