Stay Ahead of the Changes and Maximize Your Collabs Strategy
Shopify just announced some significant changes to their Collabs program, and as a handmade seller, it’s important to know how these updates will impact your partnerships with creators and influencers. Effective November 1, 2024, Shopify will be streamlining how creators discover and apply to your program. But don’t worry—there’s plenty you can do to ensure you stay connected with the right partners. Let’s break down what’s changing and how you can adapt to this update.
What’s Changing in Shopify Collabs?
Up until now, Shopify Collabs has allowed creators to discover your brand and apply to work with you directly through Shopify’s creator experience. This gave influencers and content creators a convenient way to seek partnerships with brands, helping handmade sellers expand their reach with minimal effort.
But starting on November 1, 2024, Shopify is removing the ability for creators to apply to your program through the broader creator experience. What does this mean for you? Creators will no longer be able to easily discover your store within the Collabs platform. Instead, they can apply via your store’s dedicated application page or by invitation only. I think this is a good change. For one of my brands, we get hundreds of applications each week. It's overwhelming and hard to keep up! And while you can automate applications based on certain criteria you define, I like to connect manually with interested influencers. Say that three times fast :) I've had a stuggle here, but recently hired a part time VA to manage all our collabs because I see the ROI.
Why Is Shopify Making This Change?
Shopify is making room for new features and tools to help brands like yours connect with the most relevant creators more efficiently. While the specifics of these new features are still under wraps, the goal is to better match brands and creators for more meaningful collaborations. This change is aimed at helping you develop more tailored and strategic partnerships.
But don’t wait for those new features to roll out—there are a few things you can do right now to make sure your Collabs strategy is still running smoothly.
What Handmade Sellers Need to Do
While these changes may seem daunting, they actually provide you with an opportunity to take control over how creators find and apply to work with you. Here’s what you should do to stay ahead of the changes and ensure you’re still attracting the right partnerships.
1. Set Up a Store Application Page
If you don’t already have a dedicated application page for creators, now is the time to create one. This page will act as the primary point of contact for influencers and creators who are interested in collaborating with you.
Here’s how to set it up:
Step 1: Go to your online store and access application settings in your Collabs app.
Step 2: Customize the information you want to collect from creators. This can include details like their audience size, content style, and past brand collaborations.
Step 3: Use the theme editor to personalize the design of your application page. Make it visually appealing and reflective of your brand to attract the right influencers.
Step 4: Add the application page link to your store’s navigation, so it’s easy for creators to find when they visit your site. Curious what this looks like? Here's are two of my collab pages for Orglamix and Wicked Good.
2. Send Direct Invitations to Creators
While the Collabs creator experience will no longer include a discovery feature, you can still take matters into your own hands by sending direct invitations to creators you’d like to work with. This gives you full control over who you partner with, allowing for more curated and strategic collaborations.
Think about the types of creators who align with your brand’s aesthetics and values. Reach out to those who resonate with your handmade products, whether through Instagram, YouTube, or Pinterest, and invite them to apply through your dedicated page.
3. Prepare for New Features
While Shopify hasn’t yet released specifics, it’s clear that exciting new features are on the horizon to help brands and creators match more effectively. Keep an eye out for these updates as they roll out in the coming months.
To make sure you’re ready for these changes, keep your Collabs profile up to date and continue refining your strategy around what types of influencers best suit your brand.
Why This Matters for Handmade Sellers
As a handmade seller, influencer marketing can be a powerful tool for growing your business and getting your products in front of new audiences. Shopify Collabs has been a crucial piece in that puzzle, and while the discovery feature is going away, these changes offer a great opportunity for more personalized collaborations.
Handmade businesses often rely on authentic, story-driven marketing, which is why connecting with the right creators is so important. This update gives you more control over the partnerships you form, ensuring that the creators you work with align perfectly with your brand’s values.
By setting up a dedicated application page and directly inviting creators who align with your products, you can continue to attract the right partnerships that drive meaningful results for your business.
My Plan: Testing These Changes
I’ve already started setting up my application page and refining my Collabs strategy to stay ahead of the November 1st deadline. I’m looking forward to the upcoming features Shopify hinted at and will be testing different ways to connect with creators during this transition.
While I’ll miss the convenience of the creator discovery experience, I’m excited about taking a more hands-on approach to building partnerships that really drive sales and help me grow. I’ll report back on my findings after a few months of using the new system!
Conclusion: Stay Ahead of the Game
As Shopify rolls out these changes, the key takeaway for handmade sellers is to be proactive. Set up your dedicated application page, start sending invitations to creators, and prepare for new features to help match you with influencers. By taking these steps, you’ll continue to build strong, strategic partnerships that can help grow your handmade business.
Ready to make the most of Shopify Collabs? Set up your creator application page today and get ready for a new wave of exciting partnerships!
Comments