Shopify, which has become a major force in e-commerce by providing online tools to merchants, is rolling out a new service that will allow content publishers to link to merchants in the Shopify network in exchange for a cut of transaction revenue, according to people familiar with the situation.
The nascent move into an area known as affiliate marketing is designed to offer publishers and retailers looking for an e-commerce partner an alternative to internet retail giants like Amazon and Walmart, both of which have long given websites that send business their way a small portion of those sales. BuzzFeed already has signed on to the new program and integrated it into its site. Shopify has approached a number of other digital media companies, including Complex Networks and Vox Media, people familiar with the matter said.
Under the new program, digital media publishers will be able to include links from articles and other content directing readers to products from Shopify’s network of more than a million retailers. The initiative also will enable publishers to create their own Shopify-powered online stores if they choose to, allowing customers to purchase products from retailers in Shopify’s ecosystem without leaving the publisher’s site.
Source: TheInformation