What's the Deal with Buy Now Pay Later? Plus NewZ, ReferralZ + FunnieZ
Vol 134 High. Heels. On my tippies.
Hanukkah’s over. There are 11 days left in 2023. Iceland is exploding. The economy is imploding. But you know what? Nicki Minaj has a new single and we’re here for it. As we collectively punt all our work to 2024, I’m SO HAPPY you’re here with me. For 133 episodes and counting (PINCH ME!), you all have been my ride-or-dies, trudging through newZ clippingZ, laughing, crying, and jingling all the way and I’m just so grateful for it all.
Before I get too emotional ova here, let’s fire this B up, shall we? I have a brand new ABZs post for you today — courtesy of an excellent Q a smart reader posed this week about Buy-Now-Pay-Later features. It was such a great question, I’m turning it into a post!
Ready? Of course you are let’s gooooooo.
NewZ
There’s a new twist in the soap opera starring Amy Robach and TJ Holmes. As you may recall, the former Good Morning America anchors were fired in January after it was revealed that the married coworkers were having an affair. They also have a podcast now, which I guess is what you do in that situation? WELL. 🍵 It turns out their exes are NOW DATING EACH OTHER. Trauma bond for the win. 💣
The EU is officially investigating Twitter/X. In response, X stated, "Our commitment is to foster a 'safe and inclusive environment for all users on our platform, while protecting freedom of expression, and we will continue to work tirelessly towards this goal.'" Which is a lot nicer than the statement Elon gave to advertisers last month when he told them all to “Go f–k yourself.” And yet again, a punchline writes itself.
MGM+ (WHO?!) has picked up the second season of Beacon 23 (WHAT?!). based on the best-selling book by Hugh Howey (WHO?!). The scifi thriller returns this April and is produced by Boat Rocker (OK YER DONE).
Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, and World Fishing Network launch a new lineup of lifestyle series beginning January 1. Super relevant news for the readers of this publication, no doubt.
Cameron Diaz recently shared that she thinks it should be normalized for couples to sleep in separate bedrooms, and even have separate houses. It is normalized, honey. It’s just not called marriage.
If you thought your bonus was dismal, at least it wasn’t a potato. Twitter/X user AmandaJPanda tweeted this week that her company was hosting a potato bar as the team’s bonus this year. But, wait, there’s more. Employees were also TAXED ON THEIR POTATO, WITH AN AWARD VALUE OF $15. Best of all, the NY Post covered this story and referred to the woman as Panda throughout. As if that’s her last name. 😭
ReferralZ
What kind of affiliate marketer would I be if I didn’t offer a referral program? Thank you for reading I Have Zlata Thoughts — your support allows me to keep doing this work. If you enjoy I Have Zlata Thoughts, it would mean the world to me if you invited friends to subscribe and read with us. If you refer friends, you will receive benefits that give you special access to I Have Zlata Thoughts.
How to participate
1. Share I Have Zlata Thoughts. When you use the referral link below, or the “Share” button on any post, you'll get credit for any new subscribers. Simply send the link in a text, email, or share it on social media with friends.
2. Earn benefits. When more friends use your referral link to subscribe (free or paid), you’ll receive special benefits.
Get a 1 month comp for 3 referrals
Get a 3 month comp for 5 referrals
Get a 6 month comp for 25 referrals
FunnieZ
Congrats! Your day will be better after this.
5 Things Brands Should Consider Before Choosing a Buy Now Pay Later (BPNL) Service
As Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) solutions like Klarna, Affirm and others gain popularity, brands are getting more curious about the feature by the minute. BNPL offers e-commerce shoppers a flexible payment option, allowing them to purchase items immediately and pay over time. For brands, it helps create a more flexible and palatable buying environment, increasing both conversions and average order value by giving customers a chance to pay for their purchase over time instead of all at once — without the risk or cost of interest or revolving credit (provided they pay on time). This is especially relevant in high-ticket spaces, where consumers appreciate the opportunity to budget their buys. BNPL technology has been around for years, but in the last 12 months or so, it’s really taken off.
The biggest provider is Klarna, which reports to reach some 37 million consumers, compared to runners up Affirm and Afterpay, both of which have about 16.5 million users. Pay Pal is also in the mix now, offering its own payment solutions. (I tried to look up their users too, but couldn’t find hard numbers and I’m leaving it lingering awkwardly at the table anyway… like your least favorite uncle at Christmas.)
Aside from table stakes like security and reputation, here are a few key things publicists and marketers should be thinking about so they can counsel brand clients as they’re exploring BNPL providers.