Amazon ads now on Pinterest, BuzzFeed, etc. [Crew Review]

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Amazon used to feel like an exclusive club. But the coolest kid on the block is slowly becoming more open to other sites.

It started with the Buy with Prime program where customers can use their Amazon login to purchase products from other e-commerce sites.

PUBLIC WEBINAR

Choices, Choices, Choices

Whether you’re an Amazon business owner or a marketing manager, you’re making decisions daily that (hopefully) impact the brand positively.

Coming up with options is taxing enough. There should be an easier way to ensure that you’re making the right choices.

Join us this coming August 30 at 10 AM (PST) for a public webinar so our guest expert can show you how.

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TikTok to Ban Other E-Commerce Sites?

If you can’t beat ’em, kick ’em out.

Amazon’s latest business moves tell us that the company wants its listings and services available everywhere—or at least on as many sites as possible. But Tiktok has other ideas.

The social media giant has been working on its e-commerce front for a while now. In fact, according to a report, it’s on track to lose more than $500 million in the US this year because of its heavy investments in e-commerce.

Perhaps in order to limit competition on its own platform, the social media app is reportedly planning on banning links from other e-commerce sites like Amazon. This means that if you’re selling on Amazon or Shopify, you can’t advertise your products on TikTok anymore.

This will affect not only brand owners but influencers as well. If the plan pushes through, TikTok influencers won’t be able to promote products that are not sold on TikTok Shop and other TikTok-approved or -affiliated sites.

The Everything Store has its own Amazon influencer program, but it’s not as powerful when it comes to making things go viral, resulting in sold out products.

There’s no confirmation from TikTok yet about this alleged plan. But in case it does happen, e-commerce sellers should look into how they can start selling on the platform.

Amazon Gurus?

Brothers John and Roman Cresto are facing a lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for allegedly scamming e-commerce sellers of a total of $22 million.

According to the complaint, the brothers were “falsely promoting themselves as ecommerce experts and self-made millionaires who have helped thousands of consumers generate tens of millions of dollars” through various companies, most notably Empire Ecommerce LLC.

The brothers, through their companies, allegedly offered automated e-commerce stores for $10,000 to $125,000 for the initial investment. They’ll also ask for working capital ranging from $15,000 to $80,000.

According to the FTC, most of the investors lost their investment. Meanwhile, the Cresto brothers continue to advertise themselves as legit businessmen living lavish lifestyles.

Etc.

Shopify + Solana. Through one of its newest partnerships, Shopify provides its users a means of making transactions easier and cheaper.

Alibaback. Alibaba returns with more ecommerce-focused marketing campaigns, tapping into content creators.

Labor pains. A complaint was filed against Amazon for allegedly restricting discussions about organizing and for terminating an activist before a unionization vote.