Lucas Bean

CEO @ Social Proof | Leader, Ai, Adtech, Analytics, AiO, Fintech, Games, Entertainment, Web3, Creator Economy | ex Atari, Sony, Experian, Deloitte | User Acquisition Expert | speaker, advisor, ENTP

I’m a seasoned tech executive with deep entrepreneurial experience ready to help you build, scale and win.

I'm top 3 globally in:
• User acquisition
• Retention
• Community building
• UX optimization

20+ years in marketing, data science and product leadership
Author of Community Market Fit - Published April 2025 
Ex-Atari, Sony Pictures, Experian, Deloitte
Founder, CEO, GM, CMO, COO, SVP of Marketing & Ops

I specialize in scaling businesses fast through:
• User acquisition & retention strategy
• Data-driven marketing
• Product development
• P&L management
• Advanced automation
• Consumer experience design
• Growth operations

Proven wins:
✔️ Helped raise over $50M in venture capital
✔️ Built & exited a solo venture at $500K+/year
✔️ Took an adtech company public (founded in 2008, IPO in 2017)
✔️ Executive roles at 3 companies that exited for $1.4B+ combined

Marketing expertise:
• Copywriting
• SEO
• Email marketing
• Content creation
• Influencer strategy
• Video & display ads
• Marketing automation
• Flywheel effects
• Full-stack paid media (desktop/mobile)

Industry experience:
Fintech, Adtech, Gaming, Entertainment, Dating, Web3, Creator Economy, Social E-commerce

Leadership style:
I’ve built scrappy teams from scratch and turned underperforming teams into high-output machines.

I believe complex systems can be distilled into simple, marketable messages that resonate deeply with customers, fans, and stakeholders.

Now? I’m focused on helping others build fast, scale smart and stand out.
Open to clients, partnerships, and strategic opportunities.

GM & Head of Product 

Strategic Consulting to startups, founders, executive management of fortune 1,000 companies. Providing expert advice and execution on Web3, NFT, Operations, General Management, digital marketing efforts, Web3 onboarding, core operational issues, Data Analysis, Strategy, P&L Management, Product Development, Product Innovation, User Experience, User Acquisition & Retention. 

I help turn new and existing businesses into finely tuned digital powerhouses by auditing current 
 internal processes. I then use analytics, acquisition, retention, mentoring & media management to determine KPI's and hyper improve performance metrics with precise strategic tactics. 

Channels Leveraged: Analytics, Influence Marketing, Community Building, Social, Display, Search Paid + Natural, email, mobile.

Current Business fields of expertise (no one is an expert, always learning):
NFTs
Web3 (P2E Gaming, Metaverse etc.)
Gaming and esports 
Mobile Gaming
Fintech
Influence Marketing
e-commerce (social selling)
Entertainment 
Mobile Apps
Digital Products
Digital & IRL Events

I’ve learned not to hold people hostage 
to who they used to be.

We all carry outdated versions of ourselves: 

mistakes we’ve made
ignorance we’ve acted on 
pain caused before we knew better 

I’ve seen how one bad chapters can become someone’s whole story in the eyes of others 

But people grow
They stumble
They learn 

They often try to make things right. 

We all have regrets
but that doesn’t mean we can’t begin again.
I’ve watched friends become softer,
more grounded. 

Change isn’t always dramatic
it’s often slow and quiet. 


But it’s real. 


When we dismiss someone for who they were
we miss who they’ve worked to become.

No one should be forever judged
by a version they’ve outgrown.

If we offer ourselves grace
we should offer it to others too.

♻️ Share this with someone who inspires you 
🔔 Follow me Lucas Bean for more

Lucas Bean 

20 years Marketing, Data Science & Product Executive | Author of Community Market Fit | ex Atari, Sony, Experian, Deloitte | User Acquisition & Retention Expert | consultant, speaker, advisor, Ai Automation Expert

This is why most people quit.

When
it takes
more work
than we thought
it would.

It’s way easier to:

- quit
- make excuses
- get discouraged
- go watch Netflix
- grab a bottle of booze
- go and smoke weed and zone out 


Instead, set yourself up to win by:

- setting time blocks
- setting expectations
- setting up exact tactics
- setting up a realistic timeline


Our aspirations are always greater
then the reality of how much work it is.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 > 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Don’t let 2025 get away from you 


share this to help others in your community 
Follow me Lucas Bean for more
We miss you Mr. Obama

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10 Phrases High EQ Leaders Would NEVER say:
(and what they would never say)

You hear them in meetings.
 Stressful moments.
 Tough conversations.

Some words inflame.
 Others invite collaboration.

Here are the worst ones,
and how emotionally intelligent leaders flip them 👇

❌ "You need to calm down" 
✅ "Let’s take a 10-minute break and come back to this."

❌ "This is a nightmare"
✅ "Let’s figure out what we control and fix it."

❌ "I told you so" 
✅ "Let’s fix the problem, not the blame."

❌ "Why did you do that?"
✅ "I take full responsibility, where can we do better?"

❌ "You should have had this done by now" 
✅ "How can I help you accomplish this goal?"

❌ "I said that already"
✅ "Here’s a one-sheet with instructions."

❌ "Not my job, figure it out"
✅ "Let’s walk through this together." 

❌ "That’s your job, not mine"
✅ "Let me sit down with you and we can figure it out together."

❌ "This is how we’ve always done it"
✅ "Let’s find a new way and document it for others."

❌ "Calm down"
✅ "This seems important, let’s revisit when we’re in a better headspace." 

The real difference?
One erodes trust.
The other earns it.

You get to choose your words.
 Choose the ones that build connection.
—
♻️ Repost to help someone lead better 
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10 Signs You're Emotionally Intelligent:
(and you might not know it)

First how do you define emotional intelligence?

Emotional Intelligence is the ability to recognize, 
understand and manage emotions in yourself and others.


The pros: 
These powerful skills help you bring out the best
in both yourself and others.


The cons:
They can leave you feeling drained and exhausted
having to manage peoples emotional state to get the best out of them. 


10 signs you are an emotional intelligent powerhouse:

1. You sense what people need
↳ You can tell when someone needs to talk
 vent or just be left alone.

2. You read between the lines
↳ A short “okay” in Slack tells you everything you need to know.

3. You absorb emotional tension
↳ People naturally calm down when talking to you
 even if you don't say much.

4. You speak everyone’s language
↳ You know exactly who needs all the details 
 and who just wants the headlines.

5. You catch unsaid questions
↳ You notice when someone wants to speak but stays silent.

6. You feel others' stress
↳ Deadlines, tough meetings you feel nervous for your coworkers 
 even when you’re not involved.

7. You notice fake enthusiasm
↳ You can tell the difference between genuine excitement
 and polite agreement.

8. You're everyone’s reality check
↳ People often ask, "How did that really go?" 
 because they trust your judgment.

9. You sense when meetings go off track
↳ You recognize the moment people start checking
 their phones more.

10. You spot hidden burnout
↳ You notice when colleagues aren’t themselves
 even if they try to hide it.


♻️ Repost to inspire someone.
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Most people only see what’s above the surface.
They miss what actually matters.

1. Confidence vs Ego

→ Confidence grows downward.
→ Quiet. Rooted. Patient.

Ego grows upward.
Fast. Loud. Hollow.

One survives storms.
The other snaps at pressure.


2. “Your success was lucky”

→ Luck is the story people tell
→ when they do not see the roots.

They did not see the long nights.
The rejections.
The empty rooms.

Success looks sudden
only when effort was invisible.

3. Validation

→ Most people ask the crowd
→ who they should become.

The truth is simpler.
The only approval that matters
is the one looking back at you.

Everything else is noise.


4. The common path

→ The path everyone takes
→ works for most people.

That does not mean
 it works for you.

Different goals
require different routes.
Confusion is not failure.
It is a signal.


5. Consistency vs Burnout

→ Consistency looks boring.
→ Repetition. Restraint. Patience.

Burnout looks impressive.
Urgency. Hustle. Collapse.

One compounds quietly.
The other burns bright and fades.


6. Progress underground

→ Progress rarely announces itself.
→ It happens in silence.

Below the surface.
Out of sight.

If nothing looks different yet
that does not mean nothing is happening.


7. Time perspective

→ Your younger self is cheering.
→ Your older self is counting on you.

You are the bridge
between who you were
and who you will become.

Keep building.
Even when no one is watching.
Especially then.

♻️ Share this with someone who needs it
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Seven things that might matter more

For much of my life, I measured myself
through the eyes of others.

“They’re judging me.”
“They don't like me.”
“I look foolish.”

It was exhausting.

But I learned something powerful:
The moment you stop seeking validation
is the moment you begin to feel free.

Perspective shapes reality.

“They’re judging me” becomes
“I'm proud to be trying.”

“They’ll hate it” becomes
“I’m proud of what I’ve created.”

“I look foolish” becomes
“I'm OK with being seen trying in public.”

Life isn’t defined by how others see us.
It’s defined by the story we tell ourselves.

When that story is built on respect,
purpose, and authenticity,
everything changes.

The loudest voices aren’t always the wisest.
The most important approval is your own.


❔What story will you tell yourself today? 


♻ Share if someone needs this reminder.
🔔 Follow me Lucas Bean for growth + purpose.

I’ve mistaken movement for momentum.
Being too busy, as if that’s winning.

It isn't.

I’ve seen teams sprint nonstop:

endless activity
new projects
new goals

And yet months later,
they wonder why nothing has changed.

Because motion isn’t momentum.
And being busy isn’t progress.

Speed is exciting.
It makes us feel like we’re ahead.

But without direction,
 you’re just running in circles, faster.

True momentum requires:

✅  Clear goals
✅ Aligned priorities
✅ Consistent execution

The ones who live their dreams
aren’t the fastest.

They’re the most focused.

💡 Progress isn’t about speed.
 It’s about moving forward with intention.


👉 Do you ever confuse busy with progress?


♻ Share this with someone chasing clarity

🔔 Follow me (Lucas Bean) leadership + growth

Increase your luck surface area by showing up


90% of success is literally just showing up.

So create your own luck 

How many:

days
weeks
months
decades

were they showing up consistently? 

They showed up everyday and you call it luck?

It only takes that one time to land an opportunity of a lifetime or to miss it. 

Be consistent.


Follow me Lucas Bean for more

What People Think Marketing Is:

→ Cold emails
→ Pop-up ads
→ PR headlines
→ Trendy logos
→ Funny TikToks
→ Clever taglines
→ TV or radio spots
→ Weekly newsletters

What Marketing Really Is:

 → Split testing
 → Earning trust
 → Crafting offers
 → Guiding prospects
 → Tracking data + ROI
 → Mapping experiences
 → Building communities
 → Knowing buyer behavior

And that’s just the start.
Most assume marketing is about being loud, catchy or viral.

But real marketing isn’t surface-level.

It’s about creating trust,
guiding decisions,
and building relationships that last.

♻ Repost if you agree 
🔔 Follow Lucas Bean more insights.

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Be brave enough to suck at something new 


Scared to:

→ write that article 
→ publish that video
→ post that comment 
→ send that DM to someone
→ Just do it and figure it out later


Your goals should be that of action:

→ have a sense of urgency
→ take action instead of overthinking
→ Focus on the future, not on the past 
→ plan 20% and execute 80% of the time

A ship does not sail on yesterday's wind. 

________________________________

♻️ share to help others take the leap

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People won't remember how much money you made
but 

they will remember how you made them feel.

Anyone can show off their success.
Very few know how to get the best out of people.

This is how Emotionally Intelligent leaders lead:

✅ Make sure everyone feels safe to speak
❌ Don’t speak over people during meetings
➟ Let introverts shine here 

✅ Invest in building relationships that drive team results
❌ Don’t only focus on the core results
➟ build team confidence, everyone wins 

✅ Highlight the whole team and their wins
❌ Don’t take credit for other peoples work
➟ When they are shown winning, you win

✅ Listen to listen first, speak to understand
❌ Don’t push the company agenda at all costs
➟ Let people take ownership on execution 

To get the best out of your team:

1. Give real recognition, not just a pat on the back
 ➟ be specific with your praise
 ➟ Explain how they contributed 

2. Make 1:1's an employee first meeting
 ➟ Ask what you can do for them
 ➟ Don't make this a micro-management meeting 

3. Make an effort to get to know your people 
 ➟ Not all want the spotlight 
 ➟ Everyone does want to know they are doing well 

4. Don't fix the blame, fix the problem 
 ➟ People won't take risk if you react out of emotion 
 ➟ Go over what happened and mutually agree on next steps

Emotionally intelligent leaders get better results. 

When people are appreciated
they wake up with a purpose 
and motivation to do 
their best work

When the team is shown winning in public,
You are shown winning in private.

P.S: Which one is your favorite? 
Tell me in the comments below 👇 

 ♻️ Repost to help your network grow 
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The average person sits for 12 hours a day 
(Moving will increase your EQ)


Research shows that people who engage in regular physical activity 
will have higher levels of emotional intelligence


So here are 15 habits to increase your emotional intelligence:

1. Dedicate at least 30 mins to physical activity daily.
2. Use a fitness tracker to monitor your daily steps.
3. Participate in group fitness classes for motivation.
4. Use a standing desk while working.
5. Hold meetings while walking instead of sitting.
6. Go outside during lunch when the weather is nice.
7. Challenge yourself by setting achievable fitness goals.
8. Choose stairs over elevators whenever possible.
9. Walk or bike to work if feasible.
10. Incorporate stretching exercises into your daily routine.
11. Stand up and stretch every hour.
12. Use apps or alarms to remind you to move every hour.
13. Engage in active family outings like hiking or biking.
14. Dance to your favorite music as a fun way to get moving.
15. Do simple exercises like leg lifts or seated marches at your desk.

A sedentary lifestyle is also a silent killer,
that takes away our health every day we don't move.

The less time you spend sitting during the day,
the better your chances of living a healthy life. 🙏

♻️ Repost this to spread the message
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7 Simple Rules to Live an Amazing Life: 
(number 2 is my favorite) 

1. Let it go
↳Don't take yourself too serious 
↳ Don'r ruin a good day by thinking about a bad day

2. Ignore them 
↳ Don't listen to what other people think of you
↳ People want you to succeed but not more than them

3. Give it time
↳ Give it time, time heals all 
↳ People act out of emotions, don't let them affect you

4. Don't compare 
↳ Don't compare you act 1 to another act 13
↳ The people you compare yourself to are only human

5. Stay Calm
↳ Stay calm, its ok to not have everything figured out
↳ It's a super power to be calm when others are are upset 

6. It's on you
↳ You are 100% responsible for your life 
↳ Harsh truth, no one is coming to save you

7. Smile 
↳ You will never be as young as you are now
↳Life is short, enjoy the moment, this time right now


Which is your favorite? 
Tell me below  ↓ 



♻️ Repost this to help your community!
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7 simple rules for an amazing life

Who you spend time with matters more than you think.

If you surround yourself with people who:

→ Aim higher than you do
→ Push beyond what feels “comfortable”
→ Dream so big it feels almost unrealistic

Something powerful happens:
 
- Your own vision expands
- Your own standards rise
- Your own belief grows

It’s not magic, it’s proximity.

 We absorb the energy, habits and mindset of those people.

📊 Research backs this up too.
Sit near a high performer → your output rises.
Sit near a low performer → your results drop.

The same principle applies in life:

 • In the gym → Train next to disciplined lifters.
 • In work → Work with people who challenge you.
 • In life → live with those who live with purpose.

But the opposite is also true.

 Stay too long in small rooms with small dreams…
 your ambition shrinks to fit those rooms.

So ask yourself:

Who’s in your circle?
 Do they lift your vision higher or lower it?

Choose people who fuel your drive, not drain it.
Because ambition spreads.

And the right company can change your trajectory.

♻️ Repost this if it resonated.
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The best sales people don’t pitch first.
 They ask smarter questions.

Here are the top 7 Socratic Sales Questions to win:

1. “What’s stopping you from fixing this already?”
 What it means: Reveals the real blockers behind inaction.

2. “What happens if you don’t fix this?”
 What it means: Surfaces urgency and the cost of doing nothing.

3. “What have you already tried, and why didn’t it work?”
 What it means: Shows what failed and where you can stand out.

4. “What would fixing this look like if it worked?”
 What it means: Helps them visualize success emotionally.

5. “Why does this matter to you now?”
 What it means: Exposes timing, urgency, and hidden triggers.

6. “What needs to happen for you to say yes?”
 What it means: Moves from pitching to co-creating the solution.

7. “Who else cares about this problem?”
 What it means: Reveals stakeholders and how deep the pain runs.

💡 Ask better questions.
 You’ll sell without sounding like you’re selling.

👉 Which one do you already use in your calls?

♻ Repost to help someone sharpen their sales
 🔔 Follow Lucas Bean for smarter selling

The toughest truth about being a creator
(and all the future creators out there):

Not everyone will celebrate your growth.
Some will only remember the old version of you.
Others will feel uneasy when you outgrow their expectations.

Not everyone will want to collaborate with you. 
Some will see you as competition and ignore you. 


But being a creator is an evolution. 

You’ll be:
↳ Breaking free from old mindsets
↳ Replacing habits that no longer serve you
↳ Making calls others can’t see or won’t understand

And yes… it can get crazy lonely.
↳ Some will question your choices
↳ Some will try to hold you in the past
↳ A few might even resent your momentum

But you didn’t work this hard to stay the same.

5 ways to grow without losing clarity:

1. Release outdated expectations
➟ You don’t owe loyalty to your past self.
➟ You only owe loyalty to the person you’re becoming.

2. Audit your values regularly
➟ Growth means refining what matters most. 
➟ Stay anchored, but never stuck.

3. Explain the “why”
➟ When you pivot, bring people along. 
➟ Don’t just change connect the dots for them.

4. Choose your circle wisely
➟ Remove people who ask “Why change?”
➟ Surround yourself with people who ask, “What’s next?” 

5. Trust the long game
➟ Growth doesn’t always look like progress in the moment but it compounds.
➟ You’re not supposed to be the same creator you were last year.

 The right people will meet you where you are now not where you used to be.
So keep evolving. 

Keep pushing forward.
 Your next chapter is waiting.

Which version of you are you building next? Tell me below 👇 

♻ Repost to inspire a leader in your network
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5 Stoic Principles to live a better life:
(And how to apply them daily)


Simple mindset shifts can create powerful changes in your life.


Marcus Aurelius, Rome’s most powerful man, used these principles to stay calm, clear, and in control. 

Now you can use them to: 


1. Control your thoughts
↳ Negative thoughts distort reality and fuel suffering.
↳ Say: “This is temporary. I’m in control of how I view it.”


2. Control your reactions
↳ You can’t control events, only your response.
↳ Say: “I choose how I react—calmly and with perspective.”


3. Appreciate beauty
↳ Overthinking blinds you to joy.
↳ Say: “This moment is enough. Look up, breathe, be here.”


4. Separate facts from meaning
↳ Most things are just opinions, not truth.
↳ Say: “Let me verify before I react or assume.”


5. Don’t seek revenge
↳ Wasting energy on payback keeps you stuck.
↳ Say: “Living well is the only revenge that matters.”


Mastering these five will help you stay unshaken in a chaotic world.


♻️ Repost to help someone in your community. 
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Five tips for a better life for Marcus Aurelius

Why First Movers Often Win 
(It’s NOT always quality)

We like to believe the best product always wins.

It’s the first product people remember wins 
Being first in awareness often beats best quality.


Think about it:
→ The first name in a category becomes default 
→ Competitors fight uphill to steal market share
→ Customers go with familiar not always superior

Winning attention matters more 
than a perfect product. 


The strategy is simple:
Minimum viable product 
Get it out there fast and test it 
You could become the industry standard. 


→ Capture awareness now.
→  Perfect the product later. 


Done now, is often better than done perfect later. 

No one is impressed with your perfectionism. 

Do you agree? Tell me below 👇 

♻️ Share this with a perfectionist you know 
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0 quotes to make quick work of Mondays:
(# 10 is my favorite) 

1: “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs
↳ Passion fuels consistency and quality.
↳ Without love, work becomes a grind.


2. “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln
↳ Don’t wait—build what you envision.
↳ Ownership beats guessing.


3. “The difference between ordinary & extraordinary is that 
little extra.” – Jimmy Johnson
↳ Going 10% further sets you apart.
↳ Details separate leaders from the crowd.


4. “Never give up on your dreams, no matter how impossible
they may seem.” – Walt Disney
↳ Resilience turns vision into reality.
↳ Doubt kills more dreams than failure.


5. “The only person you are destined to become 
is the person you decide to be.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
↳ Identity is a daily choice.
↳ Intention creates direction.


6. “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao Tzu
↳ Start before you feel ready.
↳ Movement beats perfection.


7. “The only way to fail is to give up.” – Winston Churchill
↳ Keep going—progress is built through effort.
↳ Quitting is the only dead end.


8. “The best way to learn is by doing.” – Aristotle
↳ Action creates clarity.
↳ You can’t think your way to mastery.


9. “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow 
will be our doubts of today.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
↳ Belief shapes outcomes.
↳ Doubt delays action.


10. “Show up where you don’t belong because 
one day, you will.” – Lucas Bean
↳ Confidence is built through showing up.
↳ Belonging starts with courage.


♻️ Share to help your community
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10 quotes to make quick work of Mondays

Here is a list of things that are not doing the thing:

“Preparing to do the thing 
isn't doing the thing.

Scheduling time to do the thing isn't doing the thing.

Making a to-do list for the thing isn't doing the thing.

Telling people you're going to do the thing isn't doing the thing.

Messaging friends who may or may not be doing the thing 
isn't doing the thing.

Writing a banger tweet about how you're going to do the thing 
isn't doing the thing.

Hating on yourself for not doing the thing 
isn't doing the thing.

Hating on other people who have done the thing 
isn't doing the thing.

Hating on the obstacles in the way of doing the thing 
isn't doing the thing.

Fantasizing about all of the adoration you'll receive once you do the thing 
isn't doing the thing.

Reading about how to do the thing 
isn't doing the thing.

Reading about how other people did the thing 
isn't doing the thing.

Reading this essay isn't doing the thing.

The only thing that is doing the thing is doing the thing.” 

— Strangest Loop

Now go do the thing

Ashley Wright

Want to scale your brand to $100k+/mo with TikTok Shop?👋

Are you struggling to see the results you want on TikTok Shop?

Over the past two years, I've generated over $80,000,000 on TikTok for some of your favorite brands.

A few of our current and past clients include:
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This success isn't just luck it's about understanding the platform, pushing boundaries, and being unafraid to test what works.

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Glad you dropped by. 
To your success!

Mentor

1:1 video mentoring sessions with the world’s most in-demand startup mentors.

Tomorrow is my birthday.

I write one of these every year because it forces me to slow down and take an honest look at the last 12 months. 

Not the highlight reel, the real lessons.

This year felt less about chasing growth and more about refining it.

Earlier in my career, progress meant doing more. 

More clients, more calls, more output. 

Now it is about building something that runs with clarity and ownership. 

Systems over chaos. 
Operators over passengers. 
Direction over noise.

A few reflections from the past year:

1) Leadership changes when the business grows.

You stop measuring impact by how much you personally do, and start measuring it by what the team can execute without you in the middle. 
That shift is uncomfortable, but necessary.

2) Not all growth is worth it.

There were plenty of opportunities that looked exciting on paper. 

The biggest wins came from focus. Saying no protected momentum more than saying yes ever could.

3) Authority is earned through execution, not noise.

The industry has become louder. More operators, more agencies, more opinions. 
What cuts through is results. 
Case studies, outcomes, and staying focused on delivering real value rather than chasing attention.

4) Family changes perspective in ways you cannot fully predict.

As Bodie gets older, it hits differently. Ambition feels more grounded. 
Time feels more valuable. The way you define success shifts when you realise you are not just building for yourself anymore.

Personally, this year has been about tightening everything. 
Cleaner structure inside the business. Clearer thinking. 
Being far more intentional with where time and energy go.

Looking ahead, the focus is simple:

- Build something that scales cleanly.
- Create leverage through people and systems.
- Stay close to what actually drives outcomes.

Grateful for the team, the clients, the partners, and everyone who has been part of the journey.

Another year in. 
Still building.

Let’s go.

Helping 8+ Figure Brands Win on TikTok Shop | CEO of Social Tale | Speaker | Social Commerce Growth Expert | DM for growth, audits, or collabs

Most brands ask if they're ready for TikTok Shop.

To be honest, not everyone should be on TikTok Shop right now, and that's okay.

I built this decision tree to help you figure out if you're actually ready or if you're about to waste 6 months and $50K:

Your team ran a TikTok Shop test for 2 months, didn't see results, and shut it down.

Now you're saying TikTok Shop doesn't work.

The thing is, you didn't actually test TikTok Shop. You tested with outdated methods and called it a channel test.

TikTok Shop doesn't work in 2 months because the algorithm needs time to learn what actually converts for your product.

Creators need to post multiple times to figure out which hooks land. Your audience needs to see the product 3-4 times before they trust it enough to buy.

The brands doing $100k+ on TikTok Shop didn't get there in a couple of months.

They spent time building the infrastructure, testing content angles, and finding which creators actually move product.

Then they scaled what worked.

You can't judge a new channel the same way you judge a Meta ad campaign. Different platform, different timeline, different mechanics entirely.

Think about it this way:

Would you launch a new retail store, see zero customers in week 1, and immediately shut it down before you even finished setting up the shelves?

That's basically what your TikTok Shop test was.

Most brands kill TikTok Shop before momentum even has a chance to compound. Then six months later, they're watching competitors scale.

The reason why the TikTok shop isn't working for you is that you didn't give it enough time to actually work.

Khairul Aming just did RM2.3 million in sales in a single day on TikTok Shop.

That's ~$589K USD from one 12-hour livestream.

He sold 51,700 products and got. 5.42 million views.

TikTok Shop LIVE has already proven in Asia.

In Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, creators are doing 6-7 figures in single sessions.

Most brands in the US and UK are stuck posting 3x/week, hoping something hits.

They haven't even tested LIVE yet.

Meanwhile, the playbook already exists.

Here's what Khairul did that you can copy:

He ran a 12-hour livestream set up like a virtual Ramadan bazaar with different product stations.

He rotated through curated products from 14 local brands. He answered questions in real time. He created urgency with cash giveaways and limited-time offers.

And people bought.

This is what TikTok Shop rewards in 2026.

Not polished brand content.
Not hoping a video goes viral.
Not waiting for the algorithm to pick you.

Real-time engagement.

The infrastructure exists in the US and UK now. The audience is ready. The conversion mechanics work.

But most brands think LIVE is "too much work" or "not professional enough."

So they're leaving 6-7 figure revenue opportunities on the table.

Are you testing LIVE for your brand?

Meta Ad spy tools show you WHO is running ads.

GoMarble shows you WHY they work.

One gives you a list of ads. 

The other gives you strategic patterns + creative analysis.

Every ad spy tool shows you competitors.

None of them explains why an ad actually performs.

GoMarble doesn't just list competitor ads.

It watches them. Dissects hooks, copy, formats, angles. Finds patterns of what's actually converting right now.

Search 150M+ ads by funnel stage, hook type, and offer structure.

Not just brand names.

Then it connects to your ad account.

Compares competitor patterns against your top and bottom performers.

Shows you what's missing, overused, or mis-positioned.

Turns that into ready-to-shoot briefs.

We're using it for TikTok Shop creative research.

But it works across platforms.

Also, GoMarble built a Competitor Intel report. 

Enter your website, and GoMarble instantly shows competitors’ ads, their best hooks, winning angles, and a gap analysis against your own ads. 

Repost + comment “GoMarble” and I’ll DM you the link.

P.S. Repost for priority access.

Premium brands fear TikTok Shop.

"Won't this turn us into a discount brand?"

I get it. The platform feels risky.

But poor execution damages positioning.

Not the platform itself.

The brands losing their premium positioning are letting creators run wild with messaging, competing on price instead of value, and treating TikTok Shop like a liquidation channel.

The brands winning are doing something different.

1) They bundle intelligently to increase AOV

Instead of slashing prices, they create exclusive bundles that justify higher order values.

Limited edition sets. Product + accessory combos. Starter kits.

2) They use value adds instead of discounts

Early access to new launches.

Gift with purchase.
VIP creator events.
Not 30% off everything.

3) They anchor around hero SKUs and storytelling

Creators don't sell on price.

They sell the transformation, the outcome, the experience.

Premium positioning comes from how the product is framed, not what it costs.

4) They control the commission strategy

Commission happens behind the scenes.

Public-facing pricing stays premium.

No race to the bottom on discounts that train customers to wait for sales.

5) They use TikTok Shop as a discovery engine

Acquire new customers at full price through creators.

Then monetize repeat purchases through DTC retention flows.

TikTok brings the customer in. Your brand keeps them.

TikTok Shop doesn't cheapen premium brands.

Weak operators do.

TikTok Shop just pulled a full U turn.

After weeks of noise, back and forth, and “potential updates” to Seller Shipping, this landed in inboxes:

“At this time, Seller Shipping remains unchanged, and previously shared deadlines are not going into effect.”

Translation, the dramatic shift is not happening, for now.

The last few weeks have been messy.

There was a strong push toward tightening control over shipping, clearly a move toward a more Amazon style model where the platform owns more of the infrastructure and margin.

From a platform economics perspective, I get it.

Own fulfillment, own experience, own more revenue.

But timing matters.

If your goal is onboarding serious $10m+ sellers, introducing a sudden operational roadblock with short turnaround deadlines creates friction at exactly the wrong moment.

We had multiple conversations with TikTok.

We supported brands through contingency planning.

We looked at operational impact, margin compression, warehouse shifts, customer experience risk.

And rightly so, several brands were hesitant to opt in under pressure.

High revenue operators do not like instability in core logistics.

This reversal is the right move.

Not because platform owned shipping will never happen.

But because forcing structural change before the ecosystem is fully ready slows momentum.

TikTok Shop is still early.

It needs enterprise brands.

Enterprise brands need predictability.

Platform growth is not just about monetisation.

It is about trust.

For now, Seller Shipping remains unchanged.

And that gives brands breathing room to scale without unnecessary friction.

The bigger takeaway is that TikTok is still iterating in real time. If you are building on the platform, expect volatility.

Build systems that can absorb it.

That is the game.

TikTok Shop + AI for brands = cheat code.

Over the past six months I have gone deep into this.

Courses.
Software.
Testing workflows.
A lot of AI credits.

And honestly, I feel like we are finally at a place where this is ready to roll out properly.

Brands keep telling me they cannot hire fast enough to keep up with content.

You do not need a bigger team. You need a different system.

Here is the blueprint we are rolling out:

Multiple marketing pages, not just one brand account.
Affiliate style pages testing angles at speed.
AI generated variations, different avatars, hooks, and languages like Spanish.
High volume testing inside TikTok Shop to find real conversion signals.

Then when something works?

Move it to Meta and scale it.

TikTok becomes the performance lab.
Meta becomes the amplifier.

And for the people who say AI is fake or not real.

Many brands already pay UGC creators who do not care about the product, follow a script, and move on to the next brand.

Execution speed is what matters.

Move with the times or get left behind.

PS, The videos below are AI generated. Could you tell?

"Is TikTok Shop actually profitable?"

Every brand asks this around week 6.

And most kill it at day 45.

Right when it's about to work.

They see the GMV.

They see the commissions.

And they panic and say it's not profitable.

What they are missing is that launch ROI and scale ROI are two different games.

In the first 60 to 90 days, you're not extracting profit.

You're building infrastructure:

- Higher commissions to attract creators.
- Heavy content investment to test what converts.
- Tighter margins to build momentum.

This phase isn't supposed to be efficient.

It's supposed to prove the model works.

Most brands expect immediate profitability and pull the plug before the system matures.

They're chasing vanity GMV instead of watching contribution margin.

Those who see success treat TikTok Shop like a flywheel.

They focus on contribution margin, not vanity GMV.

They track what actually matters, such as profit per order after commissions, returns, and fulfillment.

They double down on repeat creators who already know their product.

These creators drive better conversion rates, which means lower effective commission costs and better MER.

They identify hero SKUs that drive volume without killing margin.

One or two products that hit the algorithm sweet spot can carry your entire catalog's profitability.

They increase content velocity until the algorithm picks up momentum.

More content from proven creators means the platform rewards you with cheaper traffic and better MER.

By month 4, MER improves. By month 6, it scales.

TikTok Shop is profitable when you stop chasing paper metrics and start building for the long game.

The question isn't "Will this work?"

It's "Are you willing to build it right?"

Tarte did $45 million in GMV on TikTok Shop in 6 months and sold 1.6 million products.

Everyone thinks it's because they're a big brand.

So, I looked at where the revenue actually came from.

88% was affiliates and 11% was the Shop tab.

Less than 1% came from their brand account.

Many brands think TikTok Shop success comes from posting great content on their brand account.

Tarte's posting maybe once a week.

Meanwhile, they activated 6,600 creators in a single month who published 23,000 videos.

That's 800 videos per day hitting the platform.

They're not waiting for one video to go viral.

They built a system where content just keeps flowing.

And the algorithm rewards that.

I pulled up one of their top creators.

Kaley Solitro has over 50K followers.

She's generated over $1 million in sales for Tarte.

Not because she has a massive audience.

Because she posts consistently and knows how to make content that converts on TikTok.

Their best-selling product is the CC Corrector.

$11.7 million from one SKU.

It works on TikTok because it's simple to show.

Clear before and after.

You see the result in 15 seconds.

That's what a TikTok-native product looks like.

Most brands are still trying to figure out what to post on their brand account.

Tarte just recruits hundreds of creators, gives them samples, and lets them do what they do best.

Then they amplify the ones that are already working.

TikTok Shop Brand Safety Governance Checklist for 2026.

The exact framework we use to help brands scale to 7 figures per month without destroying their retail relationships or brand equity:

You don't need a massive budget to scale on TikTok Shop.

I've watched brands burn $100K+ in 90 days with nothing to show for it.

Meanwhile, smaller brands with tighter budgets are doing $50K months.

The difference isn't money.

It's focus.

Here's what profitable brands are doing:

---

1) Pick 1-2 hero SKUs, not your entire catalogue

Most brands launch with 20+ products.

The algorithm doesn't know what to push.

Creators don't know what to promote.

Customers get confused.

Narrow it down.

One or two products that demonstrate well on video.

Give the algorithm a clear signal.

Give creators a clear story to tell.

---

2) Pay creators with retainers, not just samples

Sending samples and hoping the creators' post is expensive guessing.

We pay $30-150 per video retainer plus commission.

That guarantees posts.

Guarantees volume.

Guarantees the algorithm gets fed consistently.

Samples work for discovery.

Retainers work for scale.

---

3) Hit 250+ pieces of content per month minimum

The algorithm needs volume to learn what converts.

20 videos per month isn't enough signal.

250+ gives the platform enough data to optimise.

That's roughly 8-10 posts per day across your creator network.

Sounds like a lot, but it's just 25 creators posting once a week.

---

The algorithm rewards consistency over budget.

Most brands think that more money solves the problem.

It doesn't.

More focus and the right strategy do.

To all e-commerce brands here doing TikTok shop.

You can get the same product to convert 2-3x better by running multiple creator angles simultaneously, and letting the algorithm tell you what works.

Here's how to do it (and why most brands miss this):

- take your top 3-5 products
- recruit 5-10 creators per product
- split them into 3 different messaging angles
- each angle is a different hook and use case

Example for a sleep supplement:

- angle 1 targets the problem (can't fall asleep at night)
- angle 2 targets demographics (busy moms who need rest)
- angle 3 targets use cases (natural sleep without grogginess)

You're basically testing which message the algorithm rewards with sales.

Brief each group of creators with their specific angle.

Give them the same product, different talking points.

Use custom UTM parameters or creator codes so you can track performance separately.

For these to actually perform, treat every angle like a separate campaign.

Separate sample batches, separate discord channels, and separate commission structures if needed.

Then, track GMV per angle over 30 days, and double down on the one that drives highest revenue per video.

Before you ask, this does NOT waste samples.

We've been running this strategy for 2+ years across dozens of brands, and the data always tells you what converts.

TikTok Shop doesn't care if it's the same product.

They care whether the content resonates with different audience segments.

As long as each angle serves a specific pain point or demographic.

---

♻️ Repost, bookmark, and share with your network if you found this helpful.

Brands check their TikTok Shop dashboard every day.

But they're looking at the wrong numbers

Most brands manage TikTok Shop on GMV.

Check the dashboard. See last month's revenue. Decide if it's working.

But revenue shows you what happened 30-60 days ago.

The creators posting today drive sales in 4-6 weeks.

So when you only track monthly revenue, you're reacting to old data.

We don't manage TikTok Shop on GMV.

We manage it on leading indicators.

1) Creator Activation Rate

How many creators actually posted after getting samples. If it's below 70%, your brief is broken, or you're targeting the wrong people.

2) Content Volume

How many pieces of content hit the platform each week. We need 100+ per month minimum, or the algorithm doesn't have enough signal.

3) Repeat Creator Density

Which creators keep posting multiple times. One creator posting 10 times beats 10 creators posting once.

I watched a client hit $120K months.

Then they cut samples by 60% to "save budget."

Two months later, GMV dropped to $45K.

It wasn't seasonality.

It wasn't algorithm changes.

It was a broken content pipeline caused by cutting samples.

The work you do today shows up in revenue 30-60 days later.

Most brands celebrate a big month, then forget to keep sending samples.

Revenue drops 8 weeks later, and they panic.

TikTok Shop rewards consistency, not monthly sprints.

If you're managing TikTok Shop on last month's GMV, you're operating on a 60-day delay.

AI-generated UGC is outperforming real creators for some of our clients.

Here's the breakdown of when to use it and when not to.

Most brands think they need to choose between real creators or AI content.

These days, you need both.

When AI UGC works:

1) Testing new messaging angles fast. Instead of waiting 2 weeks for a creator to post, we test 10 different hooks in 48 hours with AI-generated content.

2) Scaling content that already converts. If a creator's video drives $15K in sales, we use AI to create 5 variations of that same framework with different angles and scripts.

3) Filling content gaps. You need 30 pieces of content posted before a sale. AI helps you hit volume without burning through your entire creator budget upfront.

When AI UGC doesn't work:

1) Complex product demos. If your product needs a detailed walkthrough or before/after that takes time, real creators win every time.

2) Building long-term trust. The creators posting 10+ times for your brand can't be replaced by AI. Their audience knows them and trusts them.

3) Trend-jacking. AI can't jump on trending sounds or formats fast enough. Real creators living on the platform will always move faster.

For our clients, we use this split:

70% real creator content (building relationships, ongoing partnerships, trend content)

30% AI-generated UGC (testing hooks, scaling winners, filling volume gaps)

AI doesn't replace your creator strategy. It amplifies it.

Are you using AI to scale or trying to replace humans entirely?

A 9-figure CEO messaged us before we spotted it.

A creator had posted a video implying the brand was "shutting down."

The video was getting traction.

Not a good look when the CEO sees it before you do.

What happened is that the creator used an aggressive hook to drive hold rate. "Is [Brand] shutting down?" "Why are they discounting so heavily?"

It worked. People watched. The algorithm pushed it.

But when you're working with enterprise brands and board-level scrutiny, you can't let performance run unchecked.

We're now having the same conversation with every brand:

What's your risk appetite?

Will you sacrifice short-term GMV to protect positioning? Or are you comfortable leaning into aggressive hooks for faster scale?

You can't optimize for both.

So we've built a clear creator brief with boundaries on what hooks are off-limits.

Automatic scanning before we put paid spend behind content.

Escalation protocols when risky content gets traction.

Because once you amplify a video with ad spend, you're not just distributing content. You're amplifying risk.

The difference between agencies that scale brands and agencies that get burned is simple.

You either build governance around growth, or growth exposes your weaknesses.

Scale without control isn't a strategy. It's a gamble.

And serious brands don't gamble with reputation.

TikTok just released its 2026 trend report:

"People will come to TikTok for unfiltered stories and BTS moments, with most resonant brands showing real process and people over curated perfection."

This is why polished product videos aren't working anymore.

The brands winning on TikTok Shop in 2026 won't have the best brand guidelines.

They'll be the ones showing:

- Messy unboxings, not staged ones.
- Real customers in real situations, not actors.
- Behind-the-scenes of fulfillment and shipping.
- Actual product usage, not perfect lighting setups.

This is why creator-led commerce works.

Creators aren't polished and show the process.

Your 10-page brand guideline asking creators to match your aesthetic is the opposite of what audiences want.

TikTok Shop rewards what people watch.

And people want unfiltered, not curated.

Are you still optimizing for brand perfection or giving audiences the real stories they're craving?

An 8-figure brand asked me why they aren't getting TikTok Shop sales. They're sending samples to 50+ creators a month. Getting maybe 5 posts back. So why isn't it working?

I get the frustration. You see other brands crushing it.

But spray and pray with samples actually works, you're just executing it wrong.

Think of it this way.

If you're only getting a 10% post rate, you're sending samples to anyone with a follower count. No brief. No guidance. No clear angle. Just "here's a sample, hope you post." You should be hitting 85%+ post rates with the right system.

Those relationships are your creator partners who get clear briefs, understand what angles convert, know exactly what to post, and actually follow through consistently (not just take samples and ghost).

This is called creator-led commerce.

It's backed by the algorithm and it is the foundation of your entire TikTok Shop strategy.

It's the only way to scale on TikTok Shop in 2025 and beyond. It's better than hoping content goes viral, better than running ads alone, better than sending samples to randoms with zero structure.

Are you building a structured creator network or just hoping samples turn into sales?

TikTok Shop is on 'easy mode' for brands right now.

So here's a quick 2026 copy-paste content brief:

First, you don't need complicated 10-page brand guidelines.

You need a 3-section brief that takes creators 2 minutes to read and actually helps them convert.

TikTok Shop is rewarding content that converts right now.

The beauty brands are going viral with before/after transformation content. The wellness brands are going viral with problem-solution demos.

Their secret isn't long creative briefs. It's clarity.

Here's a quick run-down of the content brief structure.

1. The Hook (first 3 seconds that stop the scroll)
2. The Story (why this product matters to their audience)
3. The Offer (what to say and where to send people)

Most brands send creators:

- 8-page brand guidelines
- Approved messaging frameworks
- Required hashtags and disclaimers

Then wonder why creators don't post.

For example:

Hook: "If you're struggling with [problem], this changed everything" 
Story: Show the problem → Show the product solving it → Show the result 
Offer: "Use my code [NAME] for 15% off"

To structure your briefs use these 2 frameworks:

The Hook-Benefit-Demo (grab attention, explain outcome, show proof)

The Problem-Agitate-Solve (call out pain point, make it hurt, present solution)

Make sure every frame delivers value per second. Use real results and specific product benefits.

This strategy has driven $80M+ for our clients.

TikTok Shop isn't saturated, but complicated creative briefs are. Focus on giving creators freedom within a clear framework, not 10-page brand guidelines they'll never read.

---

Repost if you want more TikTok Shop strategies. 

Follow me, Ashley Wright, for practical insights on TikTok Shop and eCom growth.

You're paying creators $500+ per video.

Meanwhile, your best testimonials are sitting unused.

You probably have hundreds of customer reviews sitting in your Shopify backend.

Real testimonials from real people who bought your product like:

"This serum cleared my skin in 2 weeks."
"Best purchase I made all year."
"My toddler destroyed this dress and it still looks new."

But they're just text buried on your product page.

Nobody sees them.

Here's what you can start doing:

AI takes those exact words and turns them into video content for your brand account to post on TikTok Shop.

You're not making anything up or creating fake reviews.

You're taking what Sarah actually said about your product and putting it in a format that performs on TikTok Shop.

Because text reviews don't sell on TikTok.

Video testimonials do.

Your affiliates drive traffic and create authentic content from their accounts.

Your brand account posts AI testimonial videos that add social proof and conversion power.

Most brands waste all their content budget on creator videos and forget their brand account needs to post consistently too.

AI testimonial videos solve that without hiring a content team.

Are you using AI testimonials on your brand account or leaving it empty while affiliates do all the work?

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