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March 10, 2022

On the web

Pinterest Expands Shopping Features With In-app Checkout | Engadget

Engadget

Pinterest is moving deeper into e-commerce with some more features it announced at its annual advertiser summit. The platform says users have long been asking for a way to shop directly on Pinterest and you can now complete some purchases without leaving the app.  The in-app checkout feature is currently in beta for some Shopify sellers in the US. Pinterest plans to expand access in the US this year. It will contact folks who run stores through Shopify with more details soon.”

March 9, 2022

On the web

Twitter Expands E-commerce Efforts With Launch of Mobile Storefronts, Twitter Shops

TechCrunch

“Twitter today is introducing a new shopping feature called Twitter Shops, which will allow merchants to curate a collection of up to 50 products to showcase on their Twitter profile. The mobile-first feature, which is free to use, aims to encourage users to go from talking about products on Twitter’s platform to actually clicking through to browse the merchant’s selection, then check out.”

February 7, 2022

On the wires

December 2, 2021

On the web

TikTok Launches New Tips Feature Powered by Stripe

Silicon Republic

“Creators who meet the minimum follower requirements can now receive tips from viewers, opening up a new way to make money. TikTok is turning up the thermostat in the content monetising space with a new tips feature for creators. Users in some parts of the world will now be able to directly tip their favourite TikTok creators with payments handled by Stripe.”

August 25, 2021

On the web

Linktree Partners With PayPal to Allow Users Globally to Accept Direct Payments

TechCrunch

“Linktree, the popular “link in bio” service with more than 16 million users, is partnering with PayPal to expand its recently launched “Commerce Links” tools for direct payment on Linktree globally. The Melbourne-based startup says creators in over 200 countries where PayPal operates can now accept payments through the transaction tools. Launched in March, Commerce Links allow users to take payments directly on their Linktree profile without opening a new browser or tab. The new integration lets Linktree customers connect their PayPal account and receive payments from their followers or customers via PayPal, a debit card or a credit card.”

June 8, 2021

On the wires

Pinterest Takes the Best of Offline Shopping and Brings It Online

“Today, we are announcing the expansion of our shopping features to Australia, Canada, France and Germany, offering Pinterest users the opportunity to shop right from Pins, on boards, from search, and from the inspiration they find in the real world using Lens camera search. Pinners will also be able to get inspiration from Shopping spotlights, which showcase expert recommendations and trends from influential fashion and home tastemakers as well as publishers.”

May 24, 2021

On the web

Twitter Previews Ticketed Spaces, Says It’ll Take a 20 Percent Cut of Sales

The Verge

“Twitter’s getting ready for the launch of its Ticketed Spaces feature, and today, it’s previewing what users can expect when they go to host their first one. US users will be able to apply to host paid live audio rooms starting in the next couple weeks. Anyone who wants to charge has to have 1,000 followers, have hosted three spaces in the past 30 days, and be at least 18 years old. The company is partnering with Stripe to handle payments, and it says users will receive 80 percent of revenue after Apple and Google’s in-app purchase fees are taken. So if you sell a $10 ticket, Apple would presumably take a 30 percent cut, leaving you and Twitter to split the remaining $7. Eighty percent would go to you, and 20 percent would go to Twitter. The company says it’ll cover the cost of Stripe’s transaction fees. (Hosts will also need a Stripe account.)”

May 12, 2021

On the web

TikTok Begins Testing In-App Shopping to Challenge Facebook

Bloomberg

ByteDance Ltd. ’s TikTok is working with brands including streetwear label Hype to test in-app sales in Europe, a move that will intensify its competition with Facebook Inc. and further blur the line between social media and online shopping. The popular video app is hoping to replicate abroad the success of its Chinese-only cousin Douyin, which racked up $26 billion of e-commerce transactions in just its first year of operation. TikTok has begun working with merchants in markets including the U.K. on ways they can sell products directly to millions of users within the app, people familiar with the matter say.”

May 6, 2021

On the web

Twitter Is Testing a New Tip Jar Feature for Sending Money to Your Favorite Accounts

The Verge

“Twitter has started rolling out a new Tip Jar feature on its Android and iOS apps, which ( as rumored ) will allow users to send money directly to their favorite accounts. To use the tip jar, simply tap on the freshly added dollar bill icon next to someone’s username when viewing their profile on one of Twitter’s mobile apps…Tip Jar supports a variety of payment options and links: Bandcamp, Cash App, Patreon, Paypal, and Venmo. Twitter is using those services’ external payment processors for transactions; it doesn’t take a cut.”

April 13, 2021

On the web

Clubhouse Rolls Out Payments to Over 60K Creators Following Initial Test

TechCrunch

“At the beginning of April, Clubhouse said it would give a “small test group” of creators the ability to accept payments from their fans and supporters through the social audio app. These donations go 100% to the creators, Clubhouse noted at the time. Though tests began with just 1,000 users, Clubhouse this weekend rolled out payments to another 60,000-plus users in the U.S., the company said during its Town Hall weekly event. And it expects to have payments roll out to everyone over the next few weeks.”

April 6, 2021

On the web

Audio App Clubhouse Floats Payments Feature for Creators

Reuters

“Audio-chat app Clubhouse said on Monday it will launch a monetization feature for its creators on the platform and that it will not receive any payment from it. Starting Monday, all users will be able to send payments through the platform, Clubhouse said. The feature to receive payments will initially be available only to a small test group, and later rolled out to other customers.”

March 4, 2021

On the web

Twitter Tests New E-commerce Features for Tweets

TechCrunch

“Twitter confirmed it’s testing a new way to display tweets that link out to e-commerce product pages — like products on a Shopify store, for example. With a new Twitter card format, the company is experimenting with tweets that include a big “Shop” button and integrate product details directly into the tweet itself, including the product name, shop name and product pricing.”

February 25, 2021

On the web

Twitter Announces Paid Super Follows to Let You Charge for Tweets

The Verge

“Direct payment tools have become increasingly important for creators in particular in recent years. Patreon has been hugely successful, and other platforms including Facebook, YouTube, and even GitHub have all launched direct creator payment features. Twitter will presumably take a cut — the company has been hinting at subscriptions features that would offer it a new source of revenue — though it doesn’t appear to have said yet what that fee will be.”

December 7, 2018

On the web

FB QVC? Facebook tries Live video shopping

TechCrunch

“Want to run your own home shopping network? Facebook  is now testing a Live video feature for merchants that lets them demo and describe their items for viewers. Customers can screenshot something they want to buy and use Messenger to send it to the seller, who can then request payment right through the chat app.”

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