Tuesday Dec 31

 🚨 In today’s newsletter 🚨

• Your Next Big Win Might Start as "Just Another Idea"

• Why Should You Highlight Return Policies?

• Learnings From 2024

• Latest News: ByteDance appears to be skirting US restrictions to buy Nvidia chips: Report & more…

  Let's Dive Into It! 👇

#1

Your Next Big Win Might Start as "Just Another Idea"

Sometimes the best opportunities come when you're already juggling too much. Johnny Hickey’s wife and her partner didn’t let previous ventures hold them back—they launched a t-shirt brand in 2020, despite already having businesses. Now, that "extra" idea just hit $55M in sales.

Moral? Don’t dismiss the next idea just because you're busy.

#2

Why Should You Highlight Return Policies?

It’s New Year’s Eve, so I’m going to keep today’s email relatively short!

For first-time shoppers, a brand’s return policy might be the ultimate roadblock to checkout… though you’d be shocked how many brands fail to communicate their policy effectively.

It’s not enough to simply lay it out on an FAQ page. Shoppers should not have to navigate a maze of pages on your site only to discover that they are actually eligible for free 60-day returns.

If you’ve got a favorable return policy, or even just the option to return, you should show it off in as many places as possible—the product page, cart, and checkout are no-brainers. Not only will you reassure more reluctant shoppers, but you will likely also experience fewer support inquiries regarding returns.

Perhaps you have a more nuanced return policy for specific items—final sale, perishables, etc. In such scenarios, you’ll want to personalize the appropriate message for the respective cart so the shopper is properly informed.

We know what you’re thinking. How will this impact returns? Will we see an uptick in returned products with shoppers more aware of our policy? Go ahead and test the experience—you can track returns out of the box.

Alright folks, that’s it for today. Hope y’all have an amazing time with your family and friends, and here’s to hoping everyone has a wonderful beginning to the 2025!

-Ibrahim

#4

Learnings From 2024

As we close out 2024, it’s time to reflect on the big lessons Meta ads taught us this year.

If you’ve been in the trenches running campaigns, you know this year was all about refining strategies, adapting to new tools, and understanding what really moves the needle.

Here are the 7 key takeaways from 2024 that every marketer and founder should keep in mind as we head into 2025.

1. Exiting the Learning Phase = Lower Costs 💡

Meta’s learning phase isn’t just a buzzword—it’s your ad’s ticket to efficiency. Ad sets that successfully exit this phase saw a 19% reduction in CPA (Cost per Acquisition) this year.

Pro Tip: Keep ad sets focused and aim for 50 optimization events in 7 days to hit this milestone.

2. Stop Over-Tweaking Your Campaigns 🛑

If you’re constantly editing your ads, here’s the hard truth: You’re probably sabotaging their performance. Each edit resets the learning phase, throwing Meta’s algorithm off its optimization game.

Pro Tip: Plan ahead and let your ads run undisturbed to gather reliable data.

3. AI-Powered Ads Are Taking Over 🤖

Meta’s AI tools, like Advantage+, have been a game-changer, automating ad performance while delivering better ROAS and operating margins. AI isn’t replacing marketers; it’s supercharging them.

Pro Tip: Experiment with AI-powered tools for creative optimization and predictive targeting.

4. Social Commerce is Booming 🛍️

Shopping on Facebook and Instagram has evolved from casual browsing to seamless, direct purchases. Social commerce is no longer a future trend—it’s here.

Pro Tip: Invest in shoppable posts, live shopping events, and influencer collaborations to ride this wave.

5. Sustainability Sells 🌱

Today’s consumers don’t just want great products; they want brands that align with their values. Brands that showcased their sustainability efforts saw higher engagement and customer loyalty.

Pro Tip: Highlight eco-friendly initiatives in your campaigns—think carbon-neutral shipping, sustainable packaging, or community impact projects.

6. Omnichannel Consistency is Non-Negotiable 🔄

Your audience expects a seamless experience, whether they’re scrolling Instagram, visiting your website, or walking into your store. Disjointed messaging? That’s a dealbreaker.

Pro Tip: Sync your messaging, visuals, and offers across every touchpoint to create a cohesive brand experience.

7. Winning Ad Creatives are Still King 👑

Despite all the new tools, the basics remain true: Great creatives drive great results. Videos dominated this year, but static ads—especially offer-based ones—performed exceptionally well in Q4.

Pro Tip: Double down on your best-performing creatives from 2024 and test new formats to keep things fresh.

The Meta ads landscape is constantly evolving, and 2024 was proof that adaptability is the key to staying ahead.

These learnings aren’t just about wrapping up the year—they’re your playbook for 2025.

If you want us to Scale Your Meta Ads in 2025

📰IN THE NEWS

👉ByteDance appears to be skirting US restrictions to buy Nvidia chips: Report

ByteDance is acquiring NVIDIA chips indirectly, fueling concerns about export controls and the geopolitical tech race. These actions highlight challenges in enforcing restrictions and their impact on global AI competition.

👉From AI agents to enterprise budgets, 20 VCs share their predictions on enterprise tech in 2025

2025 enterprise tech will be shaped by AI agents revolutionizing workflows, a surge in no-code and low-code development for innovation accessibility, and heightened automation in enterprise budgets. Cloud efficiency and cybersecurity will remain critical as companies emphasize operational resilience.

👉How Island Creek Oysters Sells Premium Seafood At Scale

Island Creek Oysters shares how it transitioned from a small, local shellfish farm to a scalable, direct-to-consumer business using Shopify. The company emphasizes the importance of adaptable business models, leveraging e-commerce, and maintaining a balance between growth and brand authenticity.

Have any questions that you need help with?

Ask here - look out for Friday’s issue where Ibrahim will answer them.