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Case Study
Nov 6, 2023

Bustle Affiliate Revenue Success Tripled

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Bustle, a prominent brand in the digital media landscape, has made its mark by providing diverse and engaging content across various lifestyle categories. Leveraging its influential position, Bustle actively explores innovative strategies to enhance its revenue streams. Through the strategic utilization of affiliate links, particularly from product reviews and lifestyle recommendations, Bustle taps into a rapidly growing source of revenue in the media industry. With the integration of Vendo, Bustle envisions a promising opportunity to significantly amplify its sales commissions—potentially experiencing a 3-5x increase. This involves seamlessly embedding shoppable products and a user-friendly shopping cart into its diverse content. Here's a detailed breakdown of how this innovative approach could reshape Bustle's financial dynamics, offering an enriched experience for its audience seeking lifestyle insights and recommendations.

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Streamline your marketplace operations with Vendo – the one-stop-shop that has it all. From an automated platform for day-to-day operations to a curated brand catalog (or the ability to invite your own), merchandising tools, and the flexibility to sell through various channels, Vendo ensures ongoing daily support as your marketplace business expands.

Vendo stands out in the affiliate marketing landscape, prioritizing prolonged visitor engagement, robust customer data protection, and avenues for successful upselling.

Unlocking Success in Digital Publishing

Bustle, founded in 2013, has emerged as a prominent online media platform that caters to the interests and needs of millennial and Gen Z women. Offering a mix of news, lifestyle, culture, and entertainment content, Bustle has carved its niche as a modern, inclusive publication that addresses a diverse range of topics. With a focus on empowerment, Bustle aims to provide a voice to its audience and keep them informed on the latest trends and issues.

Success Factors of Bustle

1. Diverse Content Portfolio:

Bustle's success is attributed to its diverse content portfolio, covering a wide range of topics including news, beauty, fashion, wellness, and pop culture. This broad spectrum appeals to a diverse audience with varied interests.

2. Inclusive and Empowering Messaging:

Bustle's messaging is inclusive and empowering, resonating with its predominantly female audience. The platform embraces diversity and strives to empower women by addressing issues that matter to them.

3. Digital-first Approach:

Embracing a digital-first approach, Bustle effectively utilizes online platforms, social media, and digital content delivery. This approach aligns with the preferences of its target demographic, which is digitally savvy and relies on online sources for information.

4. Trendspotting and Pop Culture Coverage:

Bustle excels in trendspotting and coverage of pop culture, keeping its audience up-to-date with the latest trends, celebrity news, and cultural phenomena. This dedication to staying current contributes to the platform's relevance.

5. Social Media Engagement:

Bustle actively engages its audience on social media platforms, fostering a sense of community. Social media plays a crucial role in extending the platform's reach, encouraging discussions, and amplifying its content.

6. Lifestyle and Wellness Focus:

The platform's focus on lifestyle and wellness content meets the interests and concerns of its audience. Bustle provides insights into self-care, mental health, and lifestyle choices, catering to the holistic well-being of its readers.

7. Interactive and Visual Content:

Bustle incorporates interactive features, quizzes, and visually appealing content to enhance user engagement. The platform recognizes the importance of visual elements in capturing the attention of its audience.

8. Relationship and Dating Advice:

Offering relationship and dating advice contributes to Bustle's success. Recognizing the importance of these topics in the lives of its readers, the platform provides relevant content and perspectives on modern relationships.

9. Community-driven Journalism:

Bustle embraces community-driven journalism, featuring personal essays and perspectives from its readers. This approach adds authenticity to the platform and creates a space for diverse voices to be heard.

10. Brand Collaborations and Partnerships:

Collaborations with brands and partnerships with influencers contribute to Bustle's revenue streams. These collaborations not only enhance the platform's financial sustainability but also introduce its audience to relevant products and services.

Bustle's Audience and Values

Millennial and Gen Z Women:

Bustle's primary audience comprises millennial and Gen Z women who seek a mix of news, lifestyle, and entertainment content. The platform caters to a diverse group of women with varying interests and preferences.

Empowerment, Inclusivity, and Trend-consciousness:

Bustle's audience values the platform for its commitment to empowerment, inclusivity, and staying on-trend. Readers appreciate content that reflects their values and addresses their evolving interests.

Suggestions for Sustaining and Enhancing Success

1. Emerging Platform Expansion:

Explore expansion into emerging platforms and technologies to reach new audiences. Platforms such as TikTok and emerging technologies like virtual reality offer opportunities for innovative content delivery.

2. Virtual Events and Experiences:

Host virtual events and experiences to bring the Bustle community together. Virtual meetups, workshops, and interactive events can strengthen the sense of community among readers.

3. Niche Content Hubs:

Create niche content hubs or microsites focusing on specific interests within the target demographic. This allows Bustle to provide specialized content tailored to distinct segments of its audience.

4. Mental Health and Wellness Advocacy:

Amplify advocacy for mental health and wellness, addressing the unique challenges faced by the audience. Providing resources, expert insights, and personal stories can contribute to Bustle's role in supporting readers' well-being.

5. Multimedia Storytelling Projects:

Undertake multimedia storytelling projects that combine written content with audiovisual elements. Podcasts, video series, and documentaries can provide a more immersive storytelling experience.

6. Augmented Reality (AR) Beauty and Fashion Features:

Integrate augmented reality (AR) features into beauty and fashion content, allowing readers to virtually try out products or see fashion items in a virtual space. This enhances the interactive and experiential aspects of the platform.

7. Sustainability and Eco-conscious Content:

Increase coverage of sustainability and eco-conscious living, aligning with the growing interest in environmentally friendly practices. This can resonate with readers who prioritize sustainable choices in their lifestyles.

8. User-Generated Content Challenges:

Launch user-generated content challenges, encouraging readers to share their experiences, stories, and creative works. This fosters a sense of community participation and showcases the diversity of the Bustle audience.

9. Career and Professional Development Section:

Introduce a dedicated section focusing on career development, professional insights, and entrepreneurship. Addressing the professional aspirations and challenges of the audience enhances Bustle's role in guiding and inspiring readers.

10. International Perspectives and Features:

Incorporate international perspectives and features to offer a more global outlook. This expansion can appeal to readers interested in diverse cultures and perspectives beyond the local context.

In conclusion, Bustle's success is grounded in its commitment to diverse content, inclusivity, and staying culturally relevant. By embracing emerging technologies, expanding content offerings, and deepening community engagement, Bustle can continue to be a trusted and influential platform for millennial and Gen Z women.

However, consider a different approach for monetizing your online audience to diversify your revenue streams.

Maximize your affiliate sales by launching your own multi-brand marketplace on Vendo, potentially tripling your commission to 20-30%.

In addition to the prolonged user engagement on your pages, expect a surge in customer data retention that can fuel the growth of your email list, opening doors to various future upselling prospects.

START YOUR OWN MULTI-BRAND MARKETPLACE ON VENDO 

  • Book a demo call: We’ll set up your demo marketplace and populate it with products
  • Customize your Storefront: We’ll help you craft a storefront that aligns with your branding guidelines,
  • Onboard Brands: Invite your favorite brands or choose brands from the Vendo brand catalog. We can also start reaching out to brands you’d like to sell on your behalf.
  • Select Products: Curate product collections manually or automate the process to efficiently manage your catalog and meet customer demand.
  • Embed products: Make your editorial content shoppable with products embedded right where your customers expect them to find. Simplify and streamline product discovery.
  • Start Selling Programmatically: Push products through multiple touch points: on your website, share it on social media, and include products in your newsletters. 
  • Get Paid: Get paid as soon as products are shipped by the brands. No need to wait 30-60 days or worry about orders not attributable to your affiliate links.
  • Get Repeat Sales: Since you’re not linking out, your customers will keep coming back. We’ll help them with abandoned cart emails and promotional email blasts. 

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