🛡️Why NFTs remain a great loyalty weapon ?
Today's Agenda...
Boost loyalty with NFTs and transform prospects into lifelong fans !🚀🎨
The Web3 CFO’s mental load: how to stay sane in a chaotic industry🧠⚡
⏰ Reading Time: 9 min
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How NFT can transform your prospects into loyal customers
Rémi Valade is CMO and CPO of Kamea Labs, a platform for all entrepreneurs who wants to raise funds easily, accepting fiat and crypto. After a very successful sale (2,5M€ raised for their first customer) in February 2024, the platform officially opened in June. Since then, thanks to the crypto market, the traction has been massive and Kamea Labs has just broken its sales record this January. Rémi has spent the last 15 years working on customer experience, focusing on the ways to attract visitors and transform them into loyal customers. On the side, he's been experimenting with crypto since 2014 (yeay MtGox), trying NFTs, DeFi and various blockchain For The Tech™.
While the hype around NFTs has cooled, their potential as a powerful marketing tool for brands is just uncovering.
As a CMO and long-time NFT collector, I've seen the unique ability of these digital assets to create connections with customers.
Recently, randomly browsing my Magic Eden account searching for an NFT I could sell for liquidity, I stumbled upon this NFT. For a few seconds, my mind travelled into the time I bought it, thinking (1) it was really cool and (2) it would probably explode in value. It did not (explode in value). But I don't really care, I like it!
As humans, we love collecting. We have a capacity to link memories and emotion to things. If you pause for an instant, look around, your gaze might stop on an item and you'll remember something. It might be this mug filled with hot coffee that you bought last time you were in NYC, the favorite socks you're wearing or maybe a piece of art hanging on your wall.
I believe that NFTs, by bringing scarcity to virtual things, is a way for brands to create an emotional connection with prospects and customers.
If NFTs are mostly known for the crazy valuation of famous collections like BAYC or Cryptopunks, I don't think a brand should go on this field. Some have done it (Nike, Lacoste, LV...) but 95 % of those projects didn't survive last bull market and did not deliver on the expectations of their buyers.
The use I'm thinking of NFTs and brands is a lighter one. Closer to a notebook offered at a conference than a Pudgy Penguin.
We like Free
Free is often better then giving a way a rebate. Behavioral economist Dan Ariely demonstrated that free items have a disproportionate impact on the receiver.
A brand offering a free NFT, even a simple one, can trigger a far more positive response than a significant discount on a high-value product.
Offering an NFT, if done right, could trigger the same type of behavior. The receiver feels appreciated and valued.
If you add to your drop a collectible spirit, your operation will be memorable. If we like free stuffs, we adore collecting. You could do:
A limited in time drop. Once the end date has passed, no more mint will happen.
Different level of rarity: 3 different version of the NFT, each with a different number of mints (think something like bronze/silver/gold).
Make each NFT unique: a more complex but rewarding approach involves creating various layers and traits (e.g., different backgrounds, accessories, expressions) that are algorithmically combined to generate a collection of unique NFTs. This ensures each holder receives a truly one-of-a-kind digital asset.
Rarity enhances desirability!
Building a community: beyond a transactional relationship
When you give away a t-shirt, you most of the time don't ask people for their email. And even so, they could give you a false one. The best ROI you could have is to see a famous influencer wearing it on an Instagram post.
The NFT has one special feature: it's on the blockchain.
You can track precisely which addresses hold your NFTs.
With that information, you can:
Foster a community: with your NFT, people could connect to a special area on your Discord, giving them a VIP feeling. On this dedicated Discord channel, you could host exclusive AMAs (Ask Me Anything) with your team, offer early access to product betas, or even create NFT-gated contests and giveaways.
Understand your users: NFT collections they like, protocols they are interacting with, their ENS or cluster name, how often they interact with the blockchain... Many information that would allow you to adapt your products and services.
Prepare future engagement: holding one of your NFT could unlock special interaction with your brand. For example, a special discount, access to features before every one else or access to VIP events.
Enhance Loyalty: giving back to your users is a way to build your relationship with them. It shows you care about them beyond a simple transactional relationship. This will create a positive association and encourage repeat purchases/less churn.
A cost effective way to show appreciation
Cost might be the best argument for brands using NFTs.
Technically, creating an NFT cost cents.
If you are using Solana or an Ethereum L2/sidechain, minting the NFT yourself and airdropping it might cost less than 10€, depending on the amount of NFTs and receivers.
The more costly part will be the NFT itself, how it looks and its benefits.
You can find artist for hire starting at 30$ on freelancers platforms like Artistree or Fiverr. Though I would recommend to aim a bit higher if you're looking for quality. Depending on the artist and his fame, a serious job could start at 100$ for a talented lobbyist up to ten of thousands of dollars for a visible artist.
If you are a bit limited on budget but have a good visibility, you could agree with the artist to get a percentage of each sale on the secondary market, automatically (thank you blockchain!).
If you have a tight budget, you could use AI to generate the art. Just be sure that you know how to use these tools so your NFT doesn't look like the thousand AI images generated each day. If your NFT looks cheap or common, people might not appreciate it at its true value (which is your deep respect for them).
Small investment, big impact
As a CMO in an early-stage startup, I have to find actions that are both impactful and cost-effective. I strongly believe that NFT should be part of a marketing strategy, relevant for all customer's journey steps.
Forget the overhyped, overpriced ape avatars. NFTs can be so much more. Think of them as digital collectibles, loyalty rewards, and community-building tools all rolled into one.
Imagine offering limited-edition NFTs that grant access to exclusive events, product sneak peeks, or even personalized experiences. Suddenly, you're not just selling a product; you're fostering a community of engaged fans.
And the beauty of it is, creating and distributing NFTs is surprisingly affordable. The real investment lies in the creativity and the value you offer to your customers.
So, if you're looking for a way to forge deeper connections, enhance loyalty, and drive engagement, don't overlook the power of NFTs. They're a small investment with the potential for a big impact on your brand.
The Web3 CFO’s mental load: how to stay sane in a chaotic industry
Being a CFO in the Web3 space is unlike any other finance role. Your job isn’t just about managing cash flow and financial reporting—it’s also about navigating evolving regulations, handling multi-chain transactions, and keeping a treasury stable in an industry where volatility is the norm.
With so many moving parts, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Here are some practical ways to reduce the mental load and bring more clarity to your role.
1. Embrace uncertainty (but have a framework)
Web3 finance operates in a constantly shifting environment. Regulations change, markets fluctuate, and new technologies emerge overnight. Instead of chasing perfection, focus on building adaptable frameworks:
Establish clear internal policies for treasury management, risk assessment, and compliance.
Document processes so you (or your future replacement) don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time.
Accept that some answers will remain unclear—being comfortable with ambiguity is part of the job.
2. Automate what you can
If you're still manually reconciling transactions across multiple wallets, it’s time to rethink your workflow. The right tools can save you hours and reduce errors:
Use accounting and treasury management platforms that support multi-chain assets.
Set up alerts for key treasury movements instead of constantly checking Etherscan.
Automate reporting to investors, auditors, and tax authorities as much as possible.
The less manual work, the fewer headaches.
3. Manage treasury with a long-term mindset
Market swings are inevitable, but financial stability shouldn’t be. A well-balanced treasury ensures that payroll, operations, and strategic investments aren’t disrupted by short-term volatility. Some best practices include:
Holding a mix of stable assets (fiat, stablecoins) and growth assets (BTC, ETH, etc.).
Establishing clear guidelines for diversification and risk exposure.
Avoiding over-reliance on high-yield DeFi protocols that introduce unnecessary risks.
Web3 moves fast, but financial sustainability requires patience and discipline.
4. Filter out the noise
The Web3 space is flooded with information—some of it useful, much of it distracting. Regulatory updates, market trends, and new technologies are important, but constant exposure to speculation and FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt) is draining.
Set boundaries on social media and news consumption.
Follow a select group of trusted sources rather than trying to absorb everything.
Schedule time for strategic thinking rather than reacting to every market movement.
Not every tweet requires your attention.
5. Take care of your mental resilience
The pressure of being a Web3 CFO is real. Balancing compliance, volatility, and operational efficiency takes a toll. To stay effective long-term:
Build a support network—whether it’s peers, mentors, or a strong internal team.
Take regular breaks. Web3 never sleeps, but you should.
Keep perspective: at the end of the day, it’s about making informed decisions, not controlling the uncontrollable.
Being a Web3 CFO is demanding, but with the right systems and mindset, it’s possible to stay ahead without burning out. Focus on what you can control, delegate where possible, and don’t forget to log off once in a while.
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Disclaimer : The goal of this newsletter is to inform and produce content related to management in the world of Web3. It is not investment advice. Investments in crypto-assets and NFTs are risky and can result in the loss of your entire capital. Always conduct your own research and exercise caution.
Love the idea of turning digital collectibles into emotional brand connections instead of just chasing hype. The free + rarity combo makes total sense .Do you think NFTs work better for luxury brands or could smaller startups leverage them just as effectively?