Hey! It’s Doone, your hype girl in business. It’s a new month, which means your girl is cooking up some new ways we can educate & connect with our community (YOU!). Hit “reply” if there’s something you’ve been dying to learn more about; we’re all about growing thriving in this space ✨together✨.

Today we’re covering 👇

• This 8-figure founders’ gifting strategy

• Becoming a content business in 2024

• Launches 🚀 raises 💸 & more female-founded news

• Amazon’s Small Biz Grants Program ($250,000)

• & our top reccies this week!

Gifting Strategy of a 8-Figure Brand 🎁

Let's talk about a strategy that might seem old-school but is one that’s actually more powerful than ever: gifting. In the fast-paced world of digital marketing, it's easy to get overwhelmed by all the different channels and strategies available. But sometimes, the simplest approach = the best results 🌟

Jackie's top tip for today's launchers? Ditch Meta. Instead, stick to the basics and concentrate on building your brand through gifting. Ensure that virality is ingrained in your brand's purpose; if you're offering something unique, people will want to try out your product. Let's dive deeper:

1. Allocate Your Units Wisely 📦

• If you have a limited number of units (let's say 1000), allocate a portion (let's say 100) for gifting purposes - so aim for around the 10% mark

• Keep track of everyone you gift your product to and follow up with a survey, asking:

  • Have you shared your experience with anyone else?

  • Would you be willing to share your experience with someone else?

2. Measure Your Results 📈 

• Track the responses to identify who is spreading the word; who are your hero brand evangelists? (aim for 10% of people spreading the word)

• Use this data from your survey responses to guide future gifting efforts and longer term partnerships

By focusing on gifting as a way to create buzz around your brand, you can tap into the power of word-of-mouth marketing (gifting is not just about giving away free stuff—it's about building ✨meaningful connections✨). Remember, the key is to create products and experiences that people want to talk about. So, get creative, stay consistent, and jump into the spirit of gifting.

Listen to the full breakdown on the podcast → 

“You’re not a product business, you’re a content business” 🤳

Every DTC brand needs to realise they’re not in the product business… They’re in the content business.

Think about it for a sec: in today's digital age, it's not just about selling stuff; it's about creating an experience, telling a story, and building a community. And where's the sweet spot that brings all of that together? TikTok Shop.

So, why should you care about TikTok Shop? Well, do you remember the power of a viral video? That has just been amplified (x1000). What was already a very powerful tool now leaves your future customer only one click away from buying your product (without leaving the platform). That’s huge.

Butttt, let's talk strategy. To succeed on TikTok Shop, you gotta think beyond just selling products. Bc you're not just a product business; you're a content business. This is how you grab attention and make sales:

• Create videos that resonate with people: share engaging narratives about your brand, products, or customers to captivate your audience

• Make 'em laugh, make 'em cry, make 'em feel something: share real stories and experiences that evoke emotions like joy, empathy, or inspiration to build trust and authenticity in your brand

• Go LIVE (often!) to increase product visibility: showcase your products in live videos and host Q&A’s to connect with your audience

For more on what works best on TikTok Shop, take a cue from our FSC hype girl - Melody. She does weekly recaps of trending products, giving us (and now you!) the lowdown on what's hot with the latest trends and strategies.

Tune in to your ultimate TikTok Shop Guide on the podcast →

• Bella Hadid wants you to smell like her farm

• Studs jumps on the lab-grown diamonds train

• Why it matters that men can now initiate convos on Bumble

• Ansa raises $14M (& female investors lead the way)

• This is not a drill! We can boogie to Billie & Taylor again

• TikTok-beloved Experiment closes a $3.3M funding round

• Sundae launches in BEAUTY BAY in the UK

• & Novara Beauty launches into Nordstorm

• Future Sextech Unicorn founder Cindy Gallop - is raising atm (we invested!)

This week's accelerator...

Amazon is back with its 2024 Small Business Grants Program giving US-based founders a chance to win $250,000+ in grants(!!!) | APPLY HERE.

This week's lineup...

This week's recommendations...

Ways I can help you this week…

REMOTE 🏝️

• Leading digital creative platform Creatively Squared is looking for a Head of Marketing to join the team | APPLY HERE.

• SleepSmrt is seeking a visionary and entrepreneurial-minded individual to join their mission as Co-Founder | APPLY HERE.

MEXICO 🏔️

• The world’s most accessible financial services company TALA is hiring a Social Media Analyst to connect with their audience | APPLY HERE.

MELBOURNE 🌆

• SeenCulture, a decision intelligence platform for pay & performance reviews, is hiring a Full Stack Engineer | APPLY HERE.

That’s all for today folks! & BTW, if you’re in a low right now, a peak really is right around the corner ✨