Shopify Collabs: How it works, cost, eligibility, and more

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With the rising influencer marketing trend, collaborating with influencers has become one of the fastest ways to grow a business, and Shopify Collabs offers the perfect platform for it. 

Micro-influencers with 10,000-100,000 followers and mega-influencers with 1 million+ followers have undeniable influence over their loyal fan base, making them powerful marketing channels for your brand.

Shopify recognized this shift and introduced Shopify Collabs, a platform to facilitate partnerships between brands and influencers. It simplifies collaboration for both business owners and creators, leading to enhanced brand visibility in an increasingly competitive market. 

This comprehensive guide will explore how Shopify Collabs works, its costs, eligibility requirements, and tips for success. Let’s get into it.

What is Shopify Collabs?

Shopify Collabs is an intuitive platform designed to bridge the gap between Shopify merchants and content creators. 

The platform simplifies the often complex practices of influencer marketing and brings the power of managing all influencer activities in one place. It helps brands leverage creator partnerships to boost their visibility and sales. 

By combining Shopify’s ecommerce platform with the reach of influencer marketing, Shopify Collabs opens up new avenues for growth and engagement. It’s not just another tool — it’s a gateway to more sales, find the right influencers, and run an affiliate program all within your Shopify admin.

Its key features include:

• Connection hub: Easily find and connect with creators that match your brand’s niche and values
• Partnership management: Streamline the process of working with multiple influencers
• Sales tracking: Monitor the impact of your collaborations with detailed analytics
• Cost saving: Save on ad costs and platform fees by showcasing products with influencers

Shopify Collabs offers the following benefits for store owners:

• Access to a diverse pool of influencers
• Simplified influencer discovery and outreach
• Efficient management of multiple partnerships
• Clear performance metrics to measure ROI

For creators, the advantages include:

• Easy product and brand discovery tailored to your niche and audience
• Straightforward commission structure
• Automated payment processing
• Performance tracking tools to gauge your impact

How does Shopify Collabs work?

Shopify Collabs is a seamless extension of the Shopify ecosystem, cultivating a mutually beneficial relationship between merchants and creators. Let’s break down the process for both parties to give you a clear picture of how this platform operates.

Process for brands

As a brand owner, if you’re wondering how to use the Shopify Collabs app, here’s your step-by-step guide:

1. Install the app: Go to the Shopify app store and search for the Shopify Collabs app. Install it to access all the influencer collaboration options.
2. Create your profile: Start by setting up an engaging brand profile. This is your chance to showcase what makes your brand unique and attractive to potential collaborators.
3. Find the right creators: Use the platform’s advanced search functionality to discover creators who align with your brand values and target audience. You can find Shopify influencers by niche, location, audience size, and more.
4. Set up your creator application page: Customize your application page to attract the right kind of collaborators. Here, you can outline your brand’s mission, collaboration terms, and what you’re looking for in a collaborator.
5. Extend invitations: Once you’ve identified potential collaborators, send them personalized invitations through the platform. This allows you to reach out to multiple creators simultaneously, saving time for your outreach efforts.
6. Offer incentives: Decide on the commission structure or discount offerings. This could be a percentage of sales, a flat fee per post, or exclusive discount codes for the creator’s audience.
7. Automate workflows: Leverage tools like Shopify Flow to automate payment processes and other administrative tasks. It’ll free up your time to focus on strategy and growth.
8. Track performance: Each creator gets unique discount codes or referral links. Use these to monitor sales generated from their promotions and gauge the success of your partnerships.

Here is a Shopify Collabs dashboard with all the sales information along with creator information on one page:

Process for creators

Shopify Collabs takes the guesswork out of influencer marketing. It creates a transparent, efficient system so brands and creators can focus on what they do best — creating great products and building customer relationships.

Content creators looking forward to getting monetized can join the platform for free to collaborate with big brands. Here’s how to make the most of the Shopify Collabs app:

1. Discover brands: Browse through a diverse range of Shopify stores to find brands that resonate with your personal style and audience preferences
2. Generate custom links: Once you’ve found brands you love, create personalized links for the products you want to promote
3. Share and promote: Integrate these products naturally into your content across various platforms, whether it’s Instagram, YouTube, or your blog
4. Monitor your impact: Use the Shopify Collabs dashboard to track conversion, visits, sales, and earnings to see your overall performance
5. Get paid automatically: You can activate auto-payouts from the Settings page in your Shopify Collabs account for hassle-free payment

Eligibility and requirements

Before diving into Shopify Collabs, it’s crucial to understand who can use the platform. The eligibility criteria ensure that both merchants and creators are well-positioned to benefit from these collaborations.

For merchants

To use Shopify Collabs as a merchant, you’ll need to meet these requirements:

• Complete your profile within Collabs
• Avoid operating a dropshipping store because Collabs Network does not accept them.
• Add at least one product and set a price in the Collabs Network settings
• Set up auto-payments since Collabs Network only uses auto-payouts
• Generate at least $10,000 in sales over the past 12 months

For creators

Creators looking to join Shopify Collabs should meet the following criteria:

• Minimum of 1,000 followers on a single social media platform
• A completed and verified Shopify Collabs profile
• You can apply to a maximum of 10 brands each week
• Must be located in the United States, Canada, or the United Kingdom

It’s worth noting that the minimum follower count is only 1,000, which means you can begin without having a huge follower base. However, a more substantial and engaged audience increases your chances of securing successful collaborations.

Shopify Collabs pricing

One of the most beneficial aspects of Shopify Collabs is its pricing structure. Let’s break it down:

• Installation cost: Free for both merchants and creators
• Subscription fees: None
• Commission processing fee: A 2.9% fee may apply to automatic payments made through the platform, and foreign currency exchange fees may apply

This pricing model makes Shopify Collabs accessible to businesses of all sizes. You’re not risking a significant investment, which is particularly beneficial for small businesses dipping their toes into influencer marketing.

Shopify Collabs for creators comes with no fee, which means you can explore potential partnerships without any financial barriers. You’ll earn based on your performance, with the platform taking a small cut to cover processing costs.

This performance-based model aligns the interests of all parties involved. Brands only pay when they see results, and creators are incentivized to produce engaging content that drives sales. It’s a win-win situation that fosters productive, long-term partnerships.

Tips for maximizing success with Shopify Collabs

Success on Shopify Collabs isn’t just about finding the right partners — it’s about nurturing relationships, leveraging data, and constantly refining your approach. 

The following tips are designed to help both merchants and creators extract maximum value from their collaborations. By implementing these strategies, you’ll be well-positioned to create impactful partnerships that drive sales on Shopify and foster long-term growth.

1. Establish clear communication

Effective communication is the bedrock of successful collaborations. Ensure you’ve regular check-ins with your collaborators to ensure everyone’s on the same page. Clearly outline campaign goals, expectations, and deliverables from the outset. This transparency helps prevent misunderstandings and keeps all parties aligned. 

Use Shopify Collabs’ built-in messaging features to keep all communications in one place, creating a centralized record of your interactions. Remember that good communication isn’t just about talking — it’s about listening too. Encourage open feedback from your partners and be receptive to their ideas and concerns.

2. Set realistic expectations

When starting with influencer partnerships, it’s important to set realistic expectations. The results may vary based on audience size, engagement rates, and product-audience fit. Thus, consider this before setting the benchmarks.

Start with smaller campaigns to test the waters and learn what works best for your brand or niche. This allows you to refine your strategy before scaling. 

While collaborations can generate immediate sales, building brand awareness and fostering long-term customer relationships are equally valuable outcomes. Set short-term and long-term goals to gain a holistic view of your campaign’s success.

3. Leverage data analytics

Data can help you regularly review the performance metrics provided by Shopify Collabs to gain insights into your campaigns’ effectiveness. Key indicators to track include:

• Click-through rates
• Conversion rates
• Overall sales generated
• Engagement metrics (likes, comments, shares)
• Payments 

Use these insights to refine your strategy and inform future collaborations. For instance, if you notice certain product types or content formats consistently outperform others, you can adjust your approach accordingly. Experiment with different strategies and use A/B testing to optimize your campaigns over time.

The payments dashboard can provide an overall view of the payments so you can track the same and calculate profits:

4. Personalize your campaigns

When working with influencers, you need to understand that every creator has a unique voice and audience. So, you may have to tailor your campaigns according to the audience they are targeting and be open to changes. 

Provide creators with detailed information about your brand’s values, unique selling points, and target demographics. This knowledge empowers them to create content that aligns with your brand and their follower base as well. 

Encourage creators to share genuine experiences with your products, as authenticity often translates to higher engagement and conversions. To add an extra layer of personalization, consider creating exclusive offers or custom product bundles for each influencer’s audience.

5. Focus on long-term relationships

While one-time collaborations can be effective for quick visibility and boosting sales, the real power of influencer marketing lies in building long-term relationships. 

Nurture connections with high-performing creators who consistently deliver results and align well with your brand values. These ongoing partnerships allow influencers to become genuine brand advocates, leading to more authentic and impactful content. 

Consider offering exclusive perks to your top partners, such as early access to new products, higher commission rates, or opportunities to provide input on product development. Investing in these relationships builds a valuable brand ambassador rather than just a promotional channel.

6. Offer compelling incentives

Creating an attractive incentive structure is key to motivating creators and driving results. Consider implementing a tiered commission system that rewards higher performance with increased rates. This approach encourages creators to put more effort into promoting your products.

Remember, non-monetary incentives can be just as valuable, especially for creators looking to grow their brand alongside yours. So, beyond monetary incentives, think about offering:

• Featured spots on your website or social media
• Collaborative product lines or limited edition items
• Exclusive discount codes for the influencer’s audience
• Performance-based bonuses

7. Optimize your product listings

Your product listings play a crucial role in converting influencer-driven traffic into sales. 

Ensure your product pages are mobile-friendly and easy to navigate, as much of social media traffic comes from mobile devices. Use high-quality images and detailed, compelling product descriptions to support creators’ promotional efforts. 

Consider creating special landing pages for influencer campaigns that tie into their promotions’ specific content or theme. This cohesive experience can significantly boost conversion rates. 

Also, optimize your site’s loading speed — every second counts for keeping potential customers engaged.

8. Diversify your creator partnerships

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket when it comes to influencer partnerships. Work with a mix of micro and macro-influencers to reach diverse audience segments and maximize your impact. 

Experiment with different content formats such as:

• Unboxing videos
• Tutorial or how-to content
• Lifestyle integration posts
• Live streaming events

Explore cross-platform promotions to reach audiences across various social media channels. This diversified approach helps you identify the most effective strategies for your brand while mitigating the risk of relying too heavily on a single influencer or platform.

Apart from these, you can promote your collaborations on Instagram for higher visibility. Promoting these creator partnerships using email marketing apps for Shopify can also get you views, as customers like it when their brands collaborate with their favorite influencers.

Over time, experiment and refine your approach based on what works best for your brand or creator profile.

Enhancing Shopify Collabs with Omnisend

While Omnisend doesn’t directly integrate with Shopify Collabs, it can significantly amplify your influencer marketing efforts through its powerful integration with Shopify. Here’s how you can leverage Omnisend to enhance your Shopify Collabs campaigns:

1. Personalized follow-up campaigns: Use the customer data from your Shopify store, including insights from influencer-driven sales, to create targeted email automation workflows. For example, set up a special welcome series for customers who made their first purchase through an influencer link.
2. Segment your audience: Create custom segments based on which influencer referred a customer. This allows you to tailor your messaging and offers to align with the content they’ve previously interacted with.
3. Retargeting campaigns: Omnisend’s SMS marketing features can help you re-engage customers. These are the ones who discovered your brand through an influencer but are yet to make a purchase.
4. Performance analysis: Combine store performance data with Omnisend’s analytics to get a more comprehensive view of how your Shopify Collabs platform is helping you generate sales. This can help you identify which influencer partners drive revenue, email subscriptions, and long-term customer value.
5. Cross-channel promotion: Use Omnisend to create multi-channel campaigns that complement your influencer marketing efforts. For instance, you could run an email campaign featuring products promoted by your top-performing influencers.

Integrating Omnisend with your Shopify store allows you to create a holistic marketing strategy that nurtures customer relationships long after the initial influencer-driven purchase. This can significantly boost your customer lifetime value and turn one-time buyers into loyal brand advocates.

FAQ

1. How do I get collabs on Shopify?

To start using Shopify Collabs, install the app from the Shopify App Store. Create your profile, set up your creator application page, and start browsing the creator marketplace to find potential collaborators that align with your brand.

2. How much does Shopify Collabs cost?

Shopify Collabs is free for both merchants and creators to install. The only cost is a 2.9% commission processing fee on automatic payments made through the platform based on sales generated from collaborations.

3. Is Shopify Collabs free for influencers?

Yes, Shopify Collabs is free for influencers to join and use. There are no upfront costs or subscription fees. Influencers earn commissions on the sales they generate through their unique affiliate links.

4. Who is eligible for Shopify Collabs?

Merchants need an active Shopify store that is in good standing. For creators, while there’s no strict minimum follower count, having an engaged audience (typically at least 1,000 followers on one platform) and a verified Shopify Collabs account.