D2C Digest #34 | Amazon’s Generative AI Tool, 40% of Americans use TikTok as a Search Engine, Google’s Privacy Settings for European Advertisers

Hey there, great people of the D2C community who are building fantastic things! This is your host Berkay writing.

Take a 5 mins break and dive into D2C Digest for a quick overview of what’s happening in the D2C market worldwide!

🆕 Amazon’s New Generative AI Tool

Amazon just unveiled a new AI tool for its mobile app, aiming to revolutionize the online shopping experience. This tool provides quick, AI-generated answers to product-related queries by analyzing product descriptions and customer reviews. It's more than a chatbot; it's an AI shopping assistant that can creatively describe products in unique styles, like a haiku or Yoda's speech.

So what’s new?

  • Instant Answers: Imagine being able to ask specific questions about a product and receiving immediate, concise responses. That's exactly what Amazon's AI tool offers. By summarizing key information from product reviews and listings, it provides shoppers with quick and relevant answers.
  • Creative Quirks: Need a product description in Yoda's style or a haiku about a t-shirt? This tool can do that, adding a dash of creativity to the otherwise mundane task of product research.
  • Focus on Products: Unlike broader AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Amazon's tool sticks strictly to product-related queries, ensuring the focus remains on shopping.

For DTC entrepreneurs, this is a wake-up call to optimize your product listings for AI compatibility. Enhanced descriptions could lead to better visibility and engagement. Embrace AI in your e-commerce strategy to stay competitive in this rapidly evolving digital marketplace.

🤔 40% of All Americans use TikTok as a Search Engine

TikTok's not just for dance trends anymore – it's now a go-to search engine, especially for Gen Z. Adobe Express highlights that 40% of Americans, and a whopping 64% of Gen Zers, are using TikTok for searches, from recipes to DIYs. This shift has big implications for DTC entrepreneurs:

  1. Boost in Business Promotion: Many businesses are now using TikTok for marketing, focusing on influencers to drive product sales.
  2. Budget Shifts: About 15% of marketing budgets are channeled into TikTok content.
  3. Content Creation Hurdles: Despite its effectiveness, businesses struggle with maintaining engagement and producing consistent, diverse content.

Why does this matter to you?

As a DTC entrepreneur, understanding TikTok's role as a search engine is crucial. It's not just a platform for entertainment; it's a tool for discovery and research. Embracing TikTok in your marketing strategy could be a game-changer, especially for reaching younger demographics.

Action Points

  • Optimize for TikTok Search: Tailor your content strategy to include tutorials, reviews, and personal anecdotes.
  • Leverage Influencers: Collaborate with TikTok influencers to tap into their engaged audiences.
  • Embrace Video Content: Invest in creating high-quality, engaging video content that resonates with your target audience.

😬 Google’s Privacy Settings for European Advertisers

Google's ramping up privacy and consent efforts in 2024, making significant changes that impact advertisers, especially in the European Economic Area. They're enforcing the EU User Consent Policy more strictly, requiring advertisers to send verifiable consent signals for campaign effectiveness until March. Google's also updating consent mode in Google Ads, Google Marketing Platform, and Google Analytics, requiring quick action to maintain ad personalization.

Partnering with Google’s Consent Management Platforms (CMP) can streamline the process of implementing consent banners and managing consent signals. For those needing more control, Google offers resources for custom solutions. Advertisers using Google APIs/SDKs must upgrade to the latest versions to comply with these changes.

This year is crucial for marketing, with Chrome's third-party cookie deprecation and evolving regulations.

Read the details here.