dear digital

With dear digital we want to help e-commerce companies grow in Europe by being the best possible partner for them. We offer both digital marketing and development services.

As a Business Lead I focus achieving the most important milestones in the growth of our agency.

With my start-up funding background I guide our clients in their finance and funding stories.

Co-Founder & CEO

Puzzle in a bag

Scaling our own DTC brand in Europe, we won "Starter of the year 2020" in Belgium.
We try to reinvent the puzzle by making culturally relevant puzzles by young designers.
We sold 3.000 puzzles in our very first month.

Co-Founder

BeerSelect

Lid raad van advies

Birdhouse Services

Founded a funding agency and raised about 20 million EUR for start-ups in 2 years. We also created his our own investor network and organised a 6 day investor academy teaching seed investors how to best invest in young companies.

CEO & Co-founder 

Vlerick Business School

Executive Masterclass Corporate Finance

The Birdhouse

Manager Birdhouse Services

PwC Belgium

Junior Auditor

Aerey

Board Member

Hiring an Odoo Consultant ➤ Helping brands scale their e-commerce channel ➤ Business Lead dear digital ➤ Scaling our own DTC brand Puzzle in a Bag

Hiring Business Analysts, Functional Analysts, Project Managers & Designers , more info here:
https://dear-digital-bv.odoo.com/job

Young entrepreneur who loves new concepts that dare to challenge the status quo and lives for big challenges!

Started his first company in 2018 with which he raised about 20 million EUR for start-ups, created his own investor network and organised a 6 day investor academy teaching seed investors how to best invest in young companies.

Decided mid 2020 that is was time for a change and founded a digital marketing agency with a focus on e-commerce companies. Now he focuses on everything there is to know about e-commerce companies and understanding how to scale them as fast as possible.

Always available for a chat or coffee!

Niels Desot

Rachel J.

Andzen

Working with Andzen in a Board Member capacity, with a specific focus on strategic growth of the agency, providing insights and recommendations, and supporting key decision-making.

Agency Board Advisor

Klaviyo

Klaviyo Community Champions are Klaviyo’s most passionate and experienced advocates. Hand-selected through an application process, Champions have a deep understanding of Klaviyo products, marketing best practices, and are eager to help others achieve success. Klaviyo recognizes Champions for their exceptional leadership, love for knowledge sharing, and dedication to fostering innovation and growth within the Klaviyo Community.

Klaviyo Community Champion

Polaris Growth

Supporting Polaris through their next phase of growth as Fractional COO to define growth opportunties, build out a management structure and statically grow the agency.

Fractional COO

Cartstars

Providing strategic advice as the CartStars community continues to grow and crossing over our collective community of brands and agencies where it makes sense.

Business Advisor

Alpha Inbound

As a Non-Executive Director, I support senior leadership teams to drive growth, streamline operations, and prepare for successful exits. 

With almost a decade of experience in guiding 100s of agencies, with multiple 7 and 8-figure exits, I bring strategic insights and tailored solutions to help agencies scale and thrive.

VideoWise - Shoppable Video

The best shoppable video experience on Shopify to increase engagement & boost growth for innovative eCommerce brands.

Advisor (Agency Enablement & Partnership Strategy)

Investor

Quickfire Digital - Shopify Plus Agency

Working with Quickfire in a Board Member capacity, with a specific focus on operationalising the agency, I provide strategic insights and recommendations, contributing to key decision-making.  

With almost a decade of experience in guiding 100s of agencies, with multiple 7 and 8-figure exits, I bring strategic insights and tailored solutions to help agencies scale and thrive.

Agency Board Advisor 

Rainy City Agency - Award-Winning Shopify Plus Agency

As a Non-Executive Director, I support senior leadership teams to drive growth, streamline operations, and prepare for successful exits. 

With almost a decade of experience in guiding 100s of agencies, and multiple 7 and 8-figure exits, I bring strategic insights and tailored solutions to help agencies scale and thrive.

ROSWELL

Harris Web Works - eCommerce Services

#1 Trusted Advisor for Ecommerce Agencies | Simplifying the Process of Scaling Ecommerce Agencies | Founder of Ecommerce Partnerships & Ecommerce Agency Growth | Grade A Shenanigator ☘️

Leading trusted advisor for ecommerce agencies. Dedicated to enabling agency owners to get out of the day-to-day of running their agency so they can focus on taking it to the next level. As former COO of a leading ecommerce agency, I've support 100+ ecommerce agencies across the globe as fractional-COO, non-executive director, and board advisor.  

Number 1 authority in implementing best practice operations, systems, and processes to scale ecommerce agencies profitably and efficiently. From building scalable retainer models to coaching high-performing leadership teams, I work with ecommerce agencies to simplify the next steps in scaling their ecommerce agency.

Feel free to contact me directly: rachel@ecommercepartnerships.com

Fractional Chief Operations Officer

At Smart Solutions, our goal is to build great websites that increase overall revenue for your business and provide an easy way for customers to connect with you online. 

We are dependable, certified eCommerce experts who will help you strategize, execute, and grow. We are a privately held, boutique agency founded in 2004 and exclusively focused on eCommerce. We have an excellent team of employees and a great group of partners who take your business success personally. We do what is right for our customers, not what is easy.

I've pinpointed a concerning trend with LinkedIn - it's quickly becoming a pay to play model! Despite all the best practice advice from all the LinkedIn 'gurus': be consistent, don't use AI to write content, use images etc...it's clear that things are moving towards an increasingly commercialised model. 

I've posted consistently for a year, I hand write all my content (occasionally using AI to consolidate when I've gone over the word count - story of my life), managed to dig out a handful of photos. And yet, here we are...

I'm being pushed into boosting posted immediately after they go live. And the engagement numbers are directly related to the posts that LinkedIn seems to recommend as one to boost. 

I've kept a close eye on this in the last month and there is a direct correlation which means this is not really about writing unique content, or providing value. It's about 'hacking' the algorithm, or jumping on the bandwagon of generic click bait nonsense, sharing swipe files of little to no value or uploading what can only be described as Tinder worthy pictures.

If that's the case, I'm out. Why there isn't an alternative to LinkedIn by now is shocking...I know I'm ready for a new platform! 


#linkedIn #business

Rachel Jacobs

#1 Authority in Scaling Ecommerce Agencies

What kind of leader are you: do you enable or empower?

Here's the truth: the people you hire can make or break you as a leader.

I see two types of leadership styles in agencies:
👉 Those who micro-manage
👉 Those who empower

Empowering sounds great, and it is. But there's a catch...If you hire the wrong profile, empowerment turns into enabling. 

Suddenly, you're carrying dead weight because you've handed freedom to task-completers who can't thrive without constant direction.

That’s why hiring goes beyond core skills. You need to look for qualities:
✅ Self-motivation
✅ Initiative-driven problem-solving
✅ Proactive ownership

Skip this, and you’ll end up frustrated and micromanaging anyway. Get it right, and you’ll build a team that operates like a well-oiled machine, even when you’re not in the room.

So ask yourself: are you hiring problem-solvers or ticket-takers?



#leadership #business #agencygrowth

As I start onboarding new agencies for 2026, I’m noticing some trends that I believe will influence 2026: a pull back in the traditional one-size-fits-all full service model in favour of a deeper focus on single service expertise.

And the best agencies, they're cutting the dead wood and being intentional about doubling down on what they do best.

One thing is very clear: there’s a shift toward depth, not breadth. Expertise, not volume. And I’m not surprised, it's about time agencies cleaned up.

One could argue that AI is speeding this up, but not because it’s replacing people - because it’s replacing inefficiency. Clients no longer need agencies to 'do' as much, they need partners who think, advise, and deliver results faster.

If you’re still being paid as a ticket taker, you’re in trouble.
If you’re not investing in AI and automation, you’ll get left behind.
If you’re not revising services for what clients need now, you’ll be forgotten.

Industry leading agencies that I work with are using this as an opportunity to simplify. And simplicity leads to excellence (thanks Bruce Lee)

They’re stripping out low-margin services, refocusing on core expertise, and refining who they serve.

One agency I onboarded recently decided to cut two service lines that weren’t profitable and rebuild their positioning around one specific niche. Within a quarter, they had clearer messaging, happier clients, and a 9% lift in margins.

That’s what happens when you go deeper instead of wider.

Now is the time to consolidate. Remove the stuff holding your team back. 

Decide what you want to be known for, and build around that.

Because if you look like everyone else, sound like everyone else, and sell what everyone else does, you’ll get the same results as everyone else.

As you plan for 2026, ask yourself:
 • What are we truly world-class at?
 • What needs to go to make space for that?

Wanna know what leading agencies are focusing on next year? Perhaps it's time to join Ecommerce Agency Growth, a growing community of global ecommerce agencies who are sharing their insights with eachother.

#agencygrowth #ecommerceagency #strategy #ai

If you're like lots of ecommerce agencies in my network, you're likely looking ahead at your events scheduled for 2026. Here’s where you can connect with likeminded agencies in Q1:

→12 Jan, NYC — NRF Agency Workshop https://luma.com/vuxw98q9

→19 Jan, Colombia —  Annual Planning Agency Workshop https://luma.com/zuvfqnvm

→12 Feb, London —  Agency Workshop: Marketing  https://luma.com/dfdc6xee

→24 Mar, Vegas — Shoptalk US: Opening Night Meetup https://luma.com/l5ikequp

→25 Mar, Vegas — Shoptalk US: Agency Masterclass https://luma.com/0dur800o

→25 Mar, Vegas — Shoptalk US: Private Dinner https://luma.com/1mdvalig

If you want to connect with other ecommerce agencies in 2026, join us! 

#eagcommunity #ecommerceagency #agencygrowth

It's that magical time of year when common courtesy exits the building and ghosting suddenly becomes an acceptable communication style.

So here is a gentle reminder for the people who seem to forget how basic communication works:
No saves time.
Maybe wastes time.
Yes moves things forward.

Ghosting is never ever an acceptable approach.
It's a complete disrespect of someone’s time. 
No one should ever be that guy or gal. 
Integrity and reputation is priceless.

And to the seasoned ghosters who circle back six months later in crisis mode, expecting me to eagerly jump in to save the day after ignoring countless emails and calls when I previously helped for free, your pattern is noted.

If you're guilty of this, here's some free advice that will save your reputation and everyone else's sanity: just say no if you aren't interested.

Or say the timing isn't right and you'll follow up when you're ready, which is a polite way of saying they can expect to never hear from you and you indeed wasted their time with no intention of ever paying for their time or services. 

Just say anything other than nothing so at least we can write you off our list and avoid wasting any further time.

And please, for the love of God, when you next see me at one of my events that you always seem to have time for, as long as it is free (am I right?!), don't awkwardly avoid me or, worse, act like we're best pals telling everyone how unbelievably fantastic I am and how grateful you are for everything I do.

Either don't come, email ahead or address it in person out of respect. No one should have to apologise for making a choice, just be an adult and communicate clearly.

Yours sincerely,
Every single entrepreneur


#business #entrepreneur #entrepreneurship

As part of 2026 annual planning workshops with my 1:1 agencies, I've had a lot of conversations about the anticipated impact of AI on agencies.

Ultimately, those who start planning now will have the competitive advantage. The agencies that resist will die off, while those who embrace it will become leaner, more profitable, and more valuable. 

Here’s how you can stay ahead:

1. Automate Low-Value Work to Focus on Strategy

AI tools are replacing manual reporting, ad optimiations, and cookie-cutter campaign execution. 

✅ Automate execution using AI

Use ChatGPT or Claude for content drafts, product descriptions, and ad copy.

Use Supermetrics to pull automated reports instead of manually compiling data.

✅ Reposition your services

Change 'we run ads' to 'we build AI-powered growth systems' Package AI automation as a benefit, not a threat. 

❌ Old: $10K/month for media buying

✅ New: $10K/month for AI-driven media buying + human oversight + strategic growth planning

2. Charge for Thinking, Not Just Doing

Agencies that rely on execution alone are at risk. AI does the tasks faster, cheaper, and often better. Clients will not pay premium prices for something they can automate.

✅ Sell strategy, not just execution

Instead of just running ads, offer growth roadmaps, data-driven insights, and brand positioning strategies. If AI optimises ads, optimise customer journey touchpoints.

✅ Focus on AI integration consulting

Offer workshops or training on how brands can use AI in their own teams. 

✅ Make AI your selling point

“We don’t replace humans with AI - we use AI to make humans 10x more effective.”

3. Use AI to Run a Leaner, More Profitable Agency

Big agencies with bloated teams will struggle. AI allows smaller teams to do more with less, give boutique agencies a competitive advantage.

✅ Increase output with a lean team

Cut repetitive roles and reinvest in higher-level strategists. Instead of 3 media buyers, 1 strategist using AI tools can handle the same workload.

✅ Charge based on impact, not hours

AI reduces execution time, so stop billing based on hours. Move to performance-based retainers or value-based pricing.

✅ Focus on profit, not just revenue

Fewer team members = lower costs = higher margins. A lean, AI-optimised agency can be more profitable at $2M revenue than a bloated agency at $5M.


Bottom line - AI is a competitive advantage, if you use it right. The future belongs to agencies that leverage AI strategically, not the ones that ignore it.


✔ Audit your services: Identify what AI can replace and where humans add value
✔ Integrate AI tools: Automate reporting, media buying, and content generation
✔ Reposition your agency: Shift from execution only to strategy-driven value
✔ Run leaner: Reduce unnecessary hires, improve efficiency, and increase margins

AI isn’t a threat, it’s a multiplier for those who leverage it correctly.

#ai #artificialintelligence #agency

ANNUAL PLANNING AGENCY WORKSHOP, 19-23 JANUARY, COLOMBIA 

Most agency teams start the year reacting instead of leading. Without protected time to plan, it’s easy to fall back into the same patterns that kept the agency stuck the year before.

The Annual Planning Workshop creates the space to step out of day-to-day execution and make decisions with clarity. Our 2026 edition in Colombia brings together agency leaders who want structure, alignment, and a plan their teams can actually follow.

Throughout the session, we’ll refine financial priorities, sharpen marketing focus, and set measurable goals that support intentional, sustainable growth. The value comes from the work you do in the room, and from collaborating with operators who understand the realities of building an agency the right way.

🔗 Event details: https://luma.com/zuvfqnvm

If you want to learn more about the community or join future learning experiences, feel free to reach out.

#agencygrowth #agencyplanning #ecommerceagency

A hill I'm *almost* willing to die on, and when I say die I mean have a wee bit of verbal jousting and remain unswayed: Gemini is far superior to Chat GPT.

Having used CGPT for the last year, I spend more time correcting the repeated mistakes and navigating the unpredictability of what can only be described as digital bipolar, whereas Gemini requires next to no context and gets the job done...well!

I haven't really dabbled with Claude, and I hear great things from my team who are obsessed with it...but I'm going all in on Gemini.

Anyone feel brave enough to challenge me?!

#chatgpt #claude #gemini #ai #LLM

Loved joining Nihar on the ROSWELL podcast where we talked about all things agencies, partnerships and growth in an ever changing market!

Having supported Nihar in his role as MD for the last 5 years, we've navigated some interesting ups and downs together. What's been most impressive is his growth as a leader. 

He goes out of his way to share insights and is an inspiration to so many agencies in our Ecommerce Agency Growth community across the global.

Looking forward to 2026 together 🚀  💪 

#agencygrowth

🚀 New Orbit episode is live — featuring one of the true community leaders in our ecosystem, Rachel Jacobs!

We’re excited to share our latest conversation with Rachel Jacobs, a standout force in eCommerce partnerships and someone who continuously strengthens the connective tissue of this industry.

In this episode, Rachel dives into:
 ✨ The principles behind building authentic, high-value community
 🤝 What great partnerships actually look like in practice
 🔍 How to show up with intention — across brands, technology, and agencies
 🌱 Why long-term relationships, not quick wins, drive real growth

Rachel has become a trusted voice and connector for so many in our space, and we’re proud to spotlight the impact she makes across the broader eCommerce ecosystem.

👉 Watch the full episode: https://lnkd.in/eT7Xdu8F 👉 Or listen here: https://lnkd.in/eKYXYkMD
If you’re invested in partnerships, retention, or community-led growth, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

#TheOrbit #RoswellNYC #ecommerce #partnerships #communitybuilding #podcast #dtc #shopify #marketingleaders

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The Battle

Niels Desot

Rachel J.

Followers

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taplio

The Battle

Niels Desot

Rachel J.

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Rachel J.'s LinkedIn Performance

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