WorkMagic Aims to Automate Marketing Tasks for Shopify Sellers Effortlessly

Startups utilizing generative AI to automate marketing tasks are on the rise, and WorkMagic is making a significant impact by targeting Shopify sellers. Founded in June, WorkMagic delivers a comprehensive platform designed to streamline everything from image and content creation to campaign management and performance analytics, helping small-scale sellers save on marketing costs.

Co-founder and CEO Lidong Yang, who previously led growth at TikTok Ads, understands the challenges faced by independent e-commerce operators. “A skincare shop run by a small team often spends a month shooting photos for Black Friday, with costs skyrocketing to $10,000–$20,000. Our platform can simplify this entire process,” Yang explained.

While there are similar tools like ZMO.ai that assist users in generating marketing materials through AI prompts, WorkMagic sets itself apart by automating attribution — a crucial component in assessing how marketing strategies drive conversions and sales. By integrating with user accounts on platforms like Facebook and Google, WorkMagic evaluates each campaign's effectiveness. Utilizing both established models and proprietary AI, the platform suggests and creates alternative images and copy that may yield better results.

According to Yang, the inclusion of an attribution model allows continual optimization, as real-time data feedback informs which content performs best and identifies the specific campaigns that lead to conversions. Instead of seeing WorkMagic as a competitor to product photographers and marketers, Yang positions it as an “empowering” resource for Shopify entrepreneurs, particularly targeting small businesses with annual gross merchandise values under $1 million. Larger brands can also benefit by optimizing their media spending.

With the boom in Shopify, Yang emphasizes the growing need for entrepreneurs to develop marketing skills, both creatively and analytically. "Our ultimate goal is to empower individuals to manage their own businesses effectively," he stated.

Since the launch of its marketing platform in early September, WorkMagic has garnered “thousands of registered users” and “hundreds of” subscriptions. The startup recently secured $2 million in its initial funding round from Sinovation Ventures, led by AI expert Kai-Fu Lee. Co-founded with Shuting Zhao, who previously served as a senior product data scientist at Waymo, WorkMagic has rapidly expanded to over 30 employees across five countries within just three months.

“Generative AI has evolved rapidly over the last several months, prompting companies to frequently learn new tools and even discard outdated processes,” Yang commented on competition within the AI marketing sector. “Whether it’s tools, use cases, or development strategies, businesses are now navigating an entirely different landscape. Previous solutions may no longer be effective or relevant,” he added.