Launched -
June 1, 2022
Goal
LTK Connect is a self-service solution tailored to facilitate direct connections between brands of all scales and LTK Creators, aiming to boost traffic, sales, and elevate brand recognition.
To establish a seamless payment process enabling brands to charge for collaborations and ensure prompt payouts to influencers, we ask: "How can we design a comprehensive end-to-end payment experience?"
Problem
The previous payment system relied on manual support from the Operation and Sales teams, utilizing Netsuite and PayPal for billing. However, this setup had restricted visibility into payment and payout statuses, as well as financial accounting and reporting systems.
The integration of Stripe has empowered brands and creators to take charge of their payments and payouts, allowing them to access transaction details, payout statuses, summaries, breakdowns, and choose their preferred payment method directly within the LTK Connect SaaS platform.
Constraints
Key Metrics
Defining Success
Research
We engaged in discussions with brands currently utilizing the self-service beta platform to evaluate our strengths, identify their challenges, and explore potential unaddressed opportunities.
During these conversations, we specifically sought out task completion errors, grievances, areas of excellence, and requests for modifications.
Insights
Brands often struggle to navigate the process of compensating Creators for collaborations and lack clear guidance on where to find relevant information.
Additionally, they frequently remain unaware of changes in their campaigns, and even if they do become aware, they face challenges in locating the necessary details.
Persona
Informed by user research, the design team developed a persona named Sandi to establish a clear understanding of our users, their requirements, and the rationale behind their need for this payment integration.
Sandi represents a brand business owner striving to expand her business, cultivate influencer relationships to boost sales and visibility. She seeks an all-in-one brand management solution for compensating creators. Her primary challenges revolve around the uncertainty of choosing the right creators and determining appropriate collaboration fees.
User flows
Mapping user flows for various scenarios involving Brands and Creators helped identify and define issues, areas of discomfort, and potential enhancements. These insights can be leveraged to improve the user experience and help users achieve their objectives more effectively.
Site map
I created a site map to provide a visual representation of how the entire platform, encompassing its navigation, structure, and components for both Brands and Creators, will seamlessly interact together.
Market Analysis
I performed market research to gain insights into how LTK's competitors address and present payment solutions.
Stripe Capabilities
In addition to market research, I delved into Stripe's capabilities from a design perspective while the engineering team was in the process of integrating the API. By studying Stripe's documentation, I became the subject matter expert on Stripe.
Design System
At the project's outset, the company had only basic foundational design system elements in place. I initiated the development of the design system and co-led cross-team collaboration efforts to establish brand consistency.
Impact and Results
with 93 subscribers as of April 2022, we are 23.25% of the way to reach our 400 goal by July 2022. As of April 2022, there has been 178 accepted collaborations and $100K+ in processed Stripe payments.
Press
"shortyLOVE has been on the LTK platform since Day One and we’re believers!” says Sloane Gibney Grossberg, founder of shortyLOVE and former Marc Jacobs bags and accessories design director. “Running a successful influencer campaign is surprisingly easy on the LTK platform ... no agencies. No consultants. We do it all in-house with LTK Creators who not only know what they’re doing, they care about doing great work. Now we have a real brand presence across Instagram and on the LTK app. I never dreamed it would be this simple!”
Challenges
The construction of the foundational design system had to occur throughout the entire project, resulting in extended design phases.
The project scope was trimmed multiple times during its course, necessitating revisions to previously approved designs.
Learnings
User research and testing proved invaluable in enhancing my understanding of user behavior and the essential refinements required for the LTK Connect Payments project.
The longer I worked on the project, the more adaptable I became in response to shifts in project direction and reductions in scope.
