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In today’s market, we’re seeing more and more brands popping up that offer excellent online experiences and have built strong, loyal relationships with their customers. However, brand loyalty is fading fast as consumers are confronted with more choice. Additionally, as purchase costs continue to rise, these brands are trying their best to explore new ways to maintain a strong relationship with their target audience. Various programs which enhance the positive connection between the brand and customers are gradually becoming significant as brands are interested in both short-term and long-term strategies to improve performance brand development. By doing this, they hope to create long-term customers and step into a new paradigm of brand loyalty.There are a few points that set successful NFTs apart from the flops in 2021. Firstly, they were consistent with the brand and easily recognizable as part of the larger brand community. Secondly, they were targeted at the brand’s existing community of consumers who were most likely to appreciate and invest in the NFT market. And lastly, they were authentic and presented truly rare items rather than simply focusing on mass production. All these factors will weigh heavily in creating brand loyalty for the next generation of consumers.&nbsp;Here’s how Nike, a renowned brand <a data-mce-href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/26/style/nike-nft-sneaker.html" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/26/style/nike-nft-sneaker.html">utilized NFTs appropriately</a>:In February 2021, Nike partnered with a creator-led organization on a project called Cryptokicks which introduced a new way for fans to collect digital sneakers. The model was based on scarcity, similar to how Nike releases limited editions of real-world sneakers. What was different about this project was that NFT (non-fungible token) owners would get a specific percentage of shares from sales with Nike. This was entirely new and hadn’t been seen before in the industry. A large number of NFTs immediately sold out and therefore this project got the attention of many fans. This demonstrated a new way for brands to interact with and engage their fans, which will only become more popular in the years to come. The result: an army grown up on brand loyalty.&nbsp;By introducing NFTs as rewards for their customers, brands are providing a unique and innovative way to show appreciation for their loyalty. In October 2021, beauty brand <a data-mce-href="https://www.clinique.com/nft" href="https://www.clinique.com/nft" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">Clinique</a> became one of the first to launch such a contest, in which participants were rewarded with a branded digital collectible NFT for sharing stories of joy and optimism. This NFT gave them access to fan-favorite out-of-stock products. With smart rewards member programs like this, brands are modernizing the way loyalty programs function. By opening up NFT access only to their loyalty program members, brands are both rewarding and incentivizing their members to join.&nbsp;NFTs (non-fungible tokens) are starting to gain more attention as organizations begin to see their potential applications. NFTs, digital assets, and new technology are beginning to be integrated into loyalty programs to encourage engagement and long-term customer loyalty. NFTs are becoming a social currency that allows people to connect with brands on a more personal level. Since NFTs offer a more creative canvas, brands can use them as a more potent touchpoint.<h3>Keys To Success</h3>There are many opportunities for businesses to integrate NFTs and loyalty programs right now. By creating a piece of brand history or rewarding certain behaviors, brands can establish themselves as relevant and engaged members of the blockchain community. However, simply executing a successful NFT project is not enough. Brands must also focus on establishing engagement and community to stay relevant in this rapidly-moving space.&nbsp;Reach out to <a data-mce-href="datacurve.io" href="datacurve.io">The NFT Brewery</a> to learn how we can empower your loyalty rewards programs with NFTs and digital assets.&nbsp;

NFTs For The Next Generation of Brand Loyalty

NFTs have a wide range of potential uses that include projects like profile pictures (PFPs) and earning from games (P2E). NFTs are also being used by the sports industry for enhancing fan experience by providing them the opportunity to interact with team players. NFTs have become increasingly famous and it is estimated that the sector will grow further in the coming years. Let’s take a look at some of the uses of NFTs aimed at enhancing the overall fan experience.<h3>Sports Leagues And Fan Experience</h3>Sports enthusiasts look for opportunities where they can interact with their national team players whether it is watching live games or attending major events. This presents a great opportunity for sports organizations to make more profit by producing an online marketplace where fans can trade digital assets. So far, sports leagues have been the biggest beneficiaries of this trend, but other businesses are starting to get in on the action as well. For example, the National Basketball Association (NBA) which is quite famous, recently launched its own digital collectibles platform called <a data-mce-href="https://nbatopshot.com/" href="https://nbatopshot.com/">NBA Top Shot</a> where fans can trade digital versions of highlights from the games. This is just one instance of how companies are trying their best to take advantage of fan involvement. As fans become more and more interested in their favorite teams, we can expect to see even more innovative ways for businesses to cash in.The NFL is beginning to make some big changes when it comes to the fan experience. They’ve only recently started to encourage advertising for sports betting, which has led to the rise of several betting companies, like FanDuel or DraftKings. These companies are now turning to NFTs to take things to a new level. In a recent press release, DraftKings announced that it has partnered with the NFL to <a data-mce-href="https://reignmakers.draftkings.com/" href="https://reignmakers.draftkings.com/">launch exclusive NFTs</a> for the 2022-2023 season. DraftKings will hold the licensing rights for NFL athletes as the NFTs will be minted to look like the player. This is a big move by the NFL and it’s sure to enhance the fan experiences even further. With DraftKings’ help, fans will be able to get even closer to their favorite players and teams.Sports organizations that use digital assets in the right way could make a big difference in how fans feel about their favorite teams. For example, it will be easier for fans to keep up with the teams and athletes they care about the most. However, the focus should be on getting fans to take part, not on trying to make quick money by selling tokens.<h3>Keys To Success </h3>The best fan engagement solutions will put the user first and focus on high engagement and retention rates. Additionally, educating people about NFTs (non-fungible tokens) will help bring the sports business into the Web3 era. There is a lot of potential for businesses in the sports industry to offer blockchain-based assets to their customers, as 76% of passionate sports fans around the world want to learn more about NFTs. NFTs can increase sports fan engagement by converting real-world things into digital assets which can be traded.&nbsp;In addition, sports teams and leagues can get ever closer to their fans by creating meaningful experiences for them. Understanding fan behavior and personalizing them in real time will create enormous value for sports franchises while adding meaningful interactivity for a large set of next generation of consumers. <a data-mce-href="datacurve.io" href="datacurve.io">The NFT Brewery</a> is working with the <a data-mce-href="https://iifx.org/" href="https://iifx.org/" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">IIFX</a> to create a range of fan experiences that will usher in a new generation of interactivity and unlock value for fans and leagues alike.&nbsp;

How NFTs Can Enhance Fan Experience

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In our conversations in the last twelve months with several clients and potential ones, both small businesses and large enterprises, it has become apparent that there are a lot of companies and marketers questioning whether or not they should implement an NFT strategy in their brand marketing. While they may have heard about top brands utilizing NFTs in their marketing, they are unsure whether or not NFTs can deliver for their brand.&nbsp;Fashion brand Louis Vuitton launched <a data-mce-href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/louis-the-game/id1574401807" href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/louis-the-game/id1574401807">Louis the Game</a> and integrated NFTs to celebrate its 200th anniversary. &nbsp;Gucci went digital by auctioning an NFT that was inspired by its autumn-winter collection. &nbsp;Mc Donald’s launched its first ever NFT project with the McRib NFT available to those who engaged in their social media. &nbsp;Tag Heuer introduced an NFT viewer for its customers to showcase their digital asset collection on their Connected Calibre E4 smartwatch. &nbsp; Bentley announced the release of a limited <a data-mce-href="https://nft.bentleymotors.com/" href="https://nft.bentleymotors.com/">Genesis NFT</a> to be dropped sometime late this year which will offer unique access and exclusive reward to holders. &nbsp;State Farm Insurance launched an augmented reality treasure hunt for NFTs. &nbsp;JP Morgan Chase opened a lounge in the metaverse. &nbsp;Budweiser launched its NFT collection, the Heritage Collection and sold out in less than an hour. &nbsp;These are companies from very different industries who have experimented in various ways, to utilize NFTs. &nbsp;These use cases provide evidence that NFTs are not limited to a certain market, but spans across different industries.But why should a marketer consider implementing NFTs in their marketing strategy?First of all, marketers should not think that this is a choice between traditional marketing and a non-standard approach. &nbsp;Digital marketing is nothing new. &nbsp;Marketing through current digital channels like Facebook (now Meta), Instagram, Twitter have proven to be effective strategies because this is where the target market is. &nbsp;Back in the day, there were only 3 marketing media channels: &nbsp;tv, radio, and print. &nbsp; Marketing budgets were mostly allocated to tv ads since people were always glued to the tv. &nbsp;And then came the internet, and marketers started investing in Google ads, email marketing, and utilizing social media influencers. &nbsp;Now the market is moving towards the virtual world and blurring the lines between their real physical life and their digital life. &nbsp;The younger market, specifically the Generations X, Y (millennials), and Z continue to push the digital world forward. &nbsp;Marketers will need to move with the times and stay relevant; and find a more engaging way to communicate. &nbsp;NFTs do that.NFTs provide a unique opportunity for marketers to reach and interact with their audience. &nbsp;Remember, we now have a generation of consumers, Gen Z, who did not know a world without the internet. &nbsp;Digital natives who grew up sharing their lives on social media and going to school through online distance learning. &nbsp;If this is the brand’s target market now or will be in the future, marketers will need to find a way to keep this generation updated and interested; and provide an avenue for them to interact with their products and technologies. &nbsp; NFTs do that.But is there more to NFTs than the art and investment based tokens? &nbsp;Absolutely. &nbsp;In fact, the utility-based tokens – the ones that offer real world value, would be the most effective use of NFTs. &nbsp; While NFT collectibles have become a popular implementation of NFT projects, consumers — even the most loyal collector — will appreciate additional perks such as early access, discounts, or exclusive offers. &nbsp;NFTs can do all of that, and <a data-mce-href="datacurve.io" href="datacurve.io">The NFT Brewery</a> is creating many such use cases for marketers to easily plug and play with their workflows.&nbsp;NFTs provide a new way to share the brand’s story and a new method for fans and customers to interact with your product. &nbsp;NFTs can open up opportunities for your customers to have a unique experience of your brand. &nbsp;NFTs can elevate your brand’s image by being relevant and increase brand recognition. &nbsp;NFTs encourage interaction with your audience while creating renewed interest in your products.These are some of the reasons marketers should start looking into NFTs as part of their marketing strategies. &nbsp;If you’re still unsure about whether or not you need an NFT strategy, reach out to us at <a data-mce-href="datacurve.io" href="datacurve.io" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">The NFT Brewery</a>. &nbsp;Let’s discuss your marketing goals and we’ll propose the right NFT strategy and solutions for your company.

Here’s why Marketers Need an NFT Strategy

Today’s e-commerce marketplaces need to evolve to support Web3 and NFTs and eventually transform themselves for the Metaverse.&nbsp;An NFT Marketplace is a Web3 enabled platform to trade virtual properties such as images, videos, documents, memes, gifs, etc in the form of non-fungible tokens. &nbsp;It is a decentralized platform where the digital assets can either be sold at a fixed price or through an auction. &nbsp;Most marketplaces in the market today require that participants, both buyers and seller, have an electronic wallet and pay in cryptocurrency in order to complete a transaction. &nbsp;The most popular NFT Marketplaces are <a data-mce-href="https://opensea.io/" href="https://opensea.io/">OpenSea</a>, <a data-mce-href="https://www.niftygateway.com/" href="https://www.niftygateway.com/">Nifty Gateway</a>, <a data-mce-href="https://rarible.com/" href="https://rarible.com/">Rarible</a>, <a data-mce-href="https://superrare.com/" href="https://superrare.com/">SuperRare</a>, that trade a variety of digital assets from a variety of brands. &nbsp;A custom NFT marketplace, on the other hand, is a personalized online platform for an individual, a company, or a brand that trades only the company’s or brand’s digital assets with add-on features carefully selected to attract your target audience, satisfy your customers’ needs, and present your brand the way you want to.A Brief ExplanationWith a custom NFT marketplace, content creators convert their digital assets into NFTs and sell them according to their terms and conditions. Creators can customize it to attract a large number of clients and develop their business. Entrepreneurs can build their own NFT marketplaces and transform their digital assets into NFTs and sell them. These marketplaces are developed on well-known and reliable blockchain networks through which transactions are made in a decentralized way which means that there is no need for third party financial gatekeepers such as banking institutions. It requires less time and expense for its initiation as compared to building an NFT marketplace from scratch.&nbsp;There are several advantages and features for brands to seriously consider when creating their own NFT marketplaces:&nbsp;- The need to build their NFT marketplaces from scratch or work with an experienced team to white label a solution. with a list of add-on features to choose from. - Security of private information and prevent doxxing of wallets&nbsp; - Ease of integration with a plethora of wallets now available across global markets&nbsp; - The need to audit smart contracts and ensure that there are no technical flaws in the architecture and design - Time to market is a major decider for enterprise projects, and should have as little time as required for its development and onboarding users - Flexibility to accept payments in either cryptocurrency or fiat - Easy and flexible onboarding process as there is an option to allow participants to complete transactions without a pre-established electronic wallet - Storage and security of digital assets and how not to create the next generation Napster&nbsp; - Analytics that allow users to find all the details of a particular NFT and track its previous transactions.&nbsp;These are but just a handful of issues that businesses need to think about when creating their own marketplaces and their own Web3 and NFT strategies. Engaging with <a data-mce-href="datacurve.io" href="datacurve.io">The NFT Brewery</a> early on is the best way to ensure that costly mistakes can be avoided and businesses can add utility to their NFTs in ways that engage with their users and consumers. The NFT market has seen a rapid growth since 2021 due to an immense appetite from the younger generation of consumers. As a generational shift, this trend is on an upswing and it is a great time for brands and enterprises to build and deploy an NFT marketplace and lay the foundations for their Web3 and Metaverse strategies.&nbsp;

Considerations for an NFT Marketplace

We are pleased to announce that <a data-mce-href="https://datacurve.io" href="https://datacurve.io" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DATACURVE</a> has joined the Metaverse Standards Forum as a principal member. &nbsp;We are proud to be a part of this collaboration that will shape the future of the Metaverse.The <a data-mce-href="https://metaverse-standards.org/" href="https://metaverse-standards.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Metaverse Standards Forum</a> brings together companies and standards organizations to foster alignment on requirements and priorities for Metaverse interoperability standards, and accelerate their development and deployment through pragmatic, action-based projects.As indicated on the Forum’s launch <a data-mce-href="https://metaverse-standards.org/news/press-releases/leading-standards-organizations-and-companies-unite-to-drive-open-metaverse-interoperability/" href="https://metaverse-standards.org/news/press-releases/leading-standards-organizations-and-companies-unite-to-drive-open-metaverse-interoperability/">press release</a>, the forum “brings together leading standards organizations and companies for industry-wide cooperation on interoperability standards needed to build the open Metaverse. The Forum will explore where the lack of interoperability is holding back Metaverse deployment and how the work of Standards Developing Organizations (SDOs) defining and evolving needed standards may be coordinated and accelerated. The Forum will focus on pragmatic, action-based projects such as implementation prototyping, hackathons, plugfests, and open-source tooling to accelerate the testing and adoption of Metaverse standards, while also developing consistent terminology and deployment guidelines.The Metaverse is motivating the novel integration and deployment of diverse technologies for collaborative spatial computing, such as interactive 3D graphics, augmented and virtual reality, photorealistic content authoring, geospatial systems, end-user content tooling, digital twins, real-time collaboration, physical simulation, online economies, multi-user gaming, and more – at new levels of scale and immersiveness.”We, at<a data-mce-href="https://datacurve.io" href="https://datacurve.io"> DATACURVE, </a>are committed to making web 3.0 infrastructure available to all companies and projects. &nbsp;We empower businesses to develop and deploy innovative products built with web3 technology. &nbsp;At the same time, we make it easy for incumbent brands, companies and businesses to integrate the web3 infrastructure to their existing workflows. For example, brands can leverage their existing product inventory and monetize with a new line of digital products in a Metaverse environment. Or, a concert goer can log on to an afterparty and engage with the band or other fans and share their experiences.We are looking forward to collaborating with the &nbsp;Forum members including <a data-mce-href="https://google.com" href="https://google.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Google</a>, <a data-mce-href="https://nvidia.com" href="https://nvidia.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nvidia</a>, <a data-mce-href="https://wayfair.com" href="https://wayfair.com">Wayfair</a>, <a data-mce-href="https://ikea.com" href="https://ikea.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ikea</a>, <a data-mce-href="https://microsoft.com" href="https://microsoft.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Microsoft</a>, <a data-mce-href="https://meta.com" href="https://meta.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Meta</a>, <a data-mce-href="https://qualcomm.com" href="https://qualcomm.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Qualcom</a>m and other participants to define the open interoperability standards and help this new ecosystem develop and succeed.

DATACURVE +  Metaverse Standards Forum

<a data-mce-href="datacurve.io" href="datacurve.io" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DataCurve</a> (previously The NFT Brewery) and <a data-mce-href="https://intel.com" href="https://intel.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Intel</a> along with <a data-mce-href="https://iifx.org" href="https://iifx.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IIFX</a> are enhancing the fan experience by bringing Web3 and NFT experiences to the sports and entertainment markets.&nbsp;As a founding partner of the <a data-mce-href="https://iifx.org/xperience-consortium-2/" href="https://iifx.org/xperience-consortium-2/">IIFX Xperience Consortium</a>, DataCurve has been deeply involved in crafting fan experiences for the digital age. Together, with Intel, Dell, NTT, JCI, Genetech, Microsoft, and Axis we are collaborating with sports and entertainment venues and creators to bring memory-making fan experiences to life. &nbsp;&nbsp;Sports and entertainment events have always been about the fans. From nationally televised annual championship and specialty events to regionally important games of the week and concerts, fans gather to celebrate elite performers and to create memories they revisit for years. Fans are there for the spectacle and for the experience.&nbsp;<figure id="figure-mcfijgm8ohlyghtwt9" class=""><img id="mcfijgm8ohlyghtwt9" src="https://cdn.durable.co/covers/bBWrQNmcrxcD8Z1rzYY2RRZblIhPNIs8CkzBTrMCawVXtvn8WBl2fjZ2qox5tFJk.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: 45% 45%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="1:1" data-caption="" data-positionx="45%" data-positiony="45%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/covers/bBWrQNmcrxcD8Z1rzYY2RRZblIhPNIs8CkzBTrMCawVXtvn8WBl2fjZ2qox5tFJk.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: 45% 45%;"></figure>IIFX is the leading and most trusted global authority on providing exceptional fan experiences for the sports and entertainment industries. DataCurve and Intel understand that fan experiences are dynamic and change depending on the event itself. Gen-Z fans are digital-first and have different expectations when going to a sports event versus a musical concert. We believe that venues will provide the perfect space for the intersection of physical and digital environments where fans interact with celebrities, teams, and friends at the venue or those watching the event remotely.As such, DataCurve is empowering businesses to develop and deploy innovative products built with Web3 technology, loosely referred to as computing applications built on blockchain technology. Solutions such as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are enabling a much closer relationship between the fans and the performers. For example, these NFTs can be collectible offerings for fans, creating new monetization paths. A venue’s digital twin, a digital replica of the physical space, can serve as its own Metaverse, providing fans with a complete digital experience with augmented and virtual reality screens and games to incentivize participation and create a community that evolves over a period of time. The NFT Brewery caters to an ever-expansive set of use cases that are easily adapted to local requirements by the venues to provide an enriched fan experience.Stay tuned for the final eBook launching July 20, 2022.&nbsp;

Enhancing The Fan Experience | With Intel

DataCurve, Inc

DataCurve empowers businesses to turn their data into real-time actionable intelligence that drive deeper customer connections and more revenue. DataCurve focuses on sports & entertainment, retail brands, decarbonization, and smart cities as vertical industries. 

Ecosystem

NFTs For The Next Generation of Brand Loyalty

How NFTs Can Enhance Fan Experience

Here’s why Marketers Need an NFT Strategy

Considerations for an NFT Marketplace

DATACURVE + Metaverse Standards Forum

Enhancing The Fan Experience | With Intel