Explore every episode of the podcast Growing Ecommerce – The Retail Growth Podcast
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ecommerce Trends 2026: Google AI, Temu & CPC Forecast | 23 Dec 2025 | 00:36:30 | |
In the final episode of 2025, Chris and Mike trade their suits for matching Christmas pajamas to deliver a raw, honest review of the year in digital marketing. 🎄 They break down the biggest surprises of the year, from Google’s unexpected pivot toward transparency to the "Naughty List" players who frustrated the industry. Mike reveals details about his behind-the-scenes meeting with Temu, while Chris explains why Mark Zuckerberg is on his bad side this year. Plus, we look ahead to 2026. Will CPCs finally slow down? What is "Gen 2 Commerce," and how will AI reshape the shopping experience next year? In this episode, Mike and Chris cover:
Ready to grow your Ecommerce business? Visit us at: https://smarter-ecommerce.com About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Are Your Google Ads Lying to You? - Marginal ROAS Explained | 16 Dec 2025 | 00:39:35 | |
In this episode, Mike Ryan and Chris dive into the fundamental issue plaguing advanced performance advertisers: the lack of data integrity between ad platforms and a retailer’s backend systems. Why are sophisticated retailers taking optimization decisions on ad platform data when their final bottom-line evaluation comes from a different source? Mike calls this the "optimization gulf". The hosts argue that this disconnect is a major tactical issue that is driving platforms like Google and Meta to pursue cross-channel solutions to regain trust. Key discussion points include:
About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Google AI’s Secret Plan: The BIGGEST THREAT to Your Retail Business Yet? | 30 Sep 2025 | 00:30:38 | |
Will Google's new AI strategy kill ecommerce as you know it? In this episode of Growing Ecommerce, Mike Ryan and Chris Scharmueller dissect the biggest news from DMEXCO 2025 in Cologne, Germany, and reveal their bold take on the future of paid search and online retail. Chris shares his on-the-ground insights from the conference, including his talk on a major stage in front of over 600 people. He and Mike dive deep into why Google Search is still an unstoppable "money printing machine" despite new competitors like ChatGPT and Perplexity. They discuss staggering online search stats, like the 5.8 trillion search queries that happen globally each year, with over 90% of them going through Google. But here's the twist: They explore how new AI products like AI Overviews (AIOs) are already creating "zero-click events", which could massively disrupt the classic e-commerce funnel. Could Google's "buy on Google" feature make a comeback? And if it does, what does it mean for retailers who could become just a "warehouse for Google"? This episode isn't just about what's happening; it's about what's coming. Don't miss this crucial conversation on how to adapt to the future of e-commerce. About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Google's A/I Max & The Temu Takeover: Navigating the E-commerce Future | 23 Sep 2025 | 00:28:30 | |
Welcome to Episode 10 of Growing ecommerce! Get ready to cut through the noise with your hosts Mike and Chris, as they tackle the real-world implications of three massive forces in the market. First, they take on Google's newest AI-powered ad product, A/I Max. While Google promises performance, Mike and Chris reveal how it can lead to chaotic bidding on competitor terms and the low-quality Search Partner Network. The hosts also discuss why an "old school" strategy called search query sculpting is more relevant than ever to regain control and maximize your ad spend. Then, the focus shifts to the critical, yet often overlooked, topic of conversion lag and latency. The hosts explain how this natural consumer behavior creates discrepancies between your ad platform data and your backend sales reports, and why it's a key metric for both marketing managers and business leaders. Finally, they reveal the latest data on Temu’s staggering growth across Europe. With fresh numbers in hand, the hosts reveal which countries are feeling the most pressure from this new market giant and what this means for local retailers struggling to compete. This episode is packed with the insights you need to navigate the ever-changing world of ecommerce. Tune in and get ready to level up your ad strategy. About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| AI's Reality Check: Financial Bubble or Foundation for the Future? | 16 Sep 2025 | 00:28:49 | |
Welcome to Episode 9 of Growing Ecommerce! In a world buzzing with AI hype, we're cutting through the noise to ask the big question: Is this the next dot-com bubble, or a long-term, foundational shift for the future of business? Join hosts Mike and Chris as they debate the financial health of the tech giants driving the AI revolution and challenge the notion that AI has delivered on its promised productivity gains. They'll also reveal some mind-blowing data on Google Shopping's mysterious lack of market shock when Amazon's ads disappeared, and expose the "hellscape" of Google Merchant Center account suspensions. Tune in to get the full picture behind the headlines and learn what’s truly happening in the world of ecommerce. About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Google vs. Amazon vs. TikTok vs. Meta: Welcome to the AI Ad Wars | 09 Sep 2025 | 00:37:05 | |
In this week’s show, Mike Ryan and Chris Scharmueller dive headfirst into the "PMAXification" of the advertising landscape, a term Mike coined to describe how platforms from Google to TikTok are rushing to automate your ad spend. But just as we thought the black box was here to stay, Google is making a surprising U-turn, opening up more control and data for advertisers. We'll break down if the other platforms, like TikTok with its mandatory GMV Max campaigns and Meta with its "AI-first, no control" strategy, will follow suit. Don't go anywhere because things get even spicier. Mike starts a "crusade" against Google's Search Partner Network, exposing why some of the "partnerships" are a little unsettling and what brands need to watch out for. And finally, in a lightning round you won't want to miss, the hosts go head-to-head on the most important question in tech right now: is AI a bubble, yes or no? One of them is a believer, and the other is a skeptic, and it's not who you think. About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Is AI Shattering Google’s Fortress? Plus: Inside Amazon’s Risky Ads Test | 02 Sep 2025 | 00:40:01 | |
Is AI a wolf in sheep’s clothing for Google's empire? Mike Ryan and Christian Scharmueller are back to spill the tea on the biggest players in ecommerce! This week they're dissecting Google's "fortress" of a business and Meta's uncanny ability to sell us things we didn't even know we needed. Our hosts will also dive into the mysterious case of Amazon's Google Shopping Ads blackout and try to figure out if it was a secret negotiation tactic or just a costly mistake. Plus: Chris and Mike are checking out how JD.com is making bold moves in Europe with unexpected partners like IKEA and Media Markt. Grab a coffee and join the chaos! And if you don't want to miss our next unfiltered take on the industry, hit that subscribe button. About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Google Marketing Live Recap: AI Overviews, PMax reporting, AI Max, and more | 05 Jun 2025 | 00:45:36 | |
Google is positioning AI at the center of its advertising ecosystem with substantial changes to search, shopping, and campaign management. The new "PowerPack" approach combines Performance Max, Demand Gen, and AI Max for search campaigns, though questions remain about how these components will work together without cannibalizing each other. About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Big exits & bold bets: Temu stops ads in US while OpenAI enters ecommerce. Plus, debating the marketwide pivot to profit. | 08 May 2025 | 00:35:17 | |
We broke the news: Temu hit the brakes – hard. In this episode, Mike and Chris dig into
This one’s all about who’s advancing, who’s retreating, and who’s holding the line in a market full of shakeups. About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Will AI Break Google Search? Plus: Tariff Shocks & the Rise of Zero-Click | 01 May 2025 | 00:44:01 | |
Google’s turning into an answer engine—so why does it feel like the internet’s disappearing beneath it? In this episode of Growing Ecommerce, Mike and Chris tackle the search shake-up and what it means for everyone from advertisers to publishers: • AI Overviews (AIO) could kill clicks — We break down how Google’s zero-click model is reshaping the internet and threatening entire business models. • Can Google hold its ground in the AI era? Or are leaner, AI-native rivals closing in? • What is “Vibe Marketing” and why are creative teams obsessed with it? We explore the rise of aesthetic-driven strategy in ad workflows. • Tariffs are back—and they’re shifting ecommerce strategies fast. Why they might force brands to focus on profitability instead of just revenue growth. • 2025 is not just about riding the AI wave. It’s about surviving the cracks forming underneath. Whether you're a marketer, brand strategist, or just trying to stay sane in the age of AI illusions and platform power plays, this episode is your no-BS guide to what’s really happening. 🎧 Subscribe for more deep dives into the future of digital marketing, AI, and platform ethics. #AIinMarketing #GoogleSearch #EcommerceStrategy #DigitalAdvertising #MarketingPodcast #GoogleAds — About smec (Smarter Ecommerce): At smec - Smarter Ecommerce, we specialize in transforming business goals into optimized ad campaigns. With over 16 years of experience in Google & Microsoft Ads, our intelligent software and expert services help retailers achieve superior results. We're committed to giving you the tools and insights needed to stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of digital advertising.
Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights. smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com #Instagram #GoogleAds #TikTok #Zuckerberg #DigitalMarketing #AIinAdvertising #BrandSafety #EcommerceTrends #MarketingPodcast About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Instagram's Fake AI Influencers? Plus: A CSAM Scandal Rocks Google & Zuckerberg’s Moderation Cuts | 24 Apr 2025 | 00:36:08 | |
Who’s real anymore? In this episode of Growing Ecommerce, Mike and Chris break down the chaos unfolding across the digital advertising world: • Instagram is testing AI-generated user profiles — Are we entering a world of fake influencers, and what does it mean for ad targeting? • Zuckerberg pulls back on content moderation — We dive into the actual data behind Meta’s shift in strategy. • Google's ads are showing up next to harmful content — A CSAM scandal rocks Google's Display Network. How many brands were impacted? • TikTok Shop expands to Europe — Could this reshape the e-commerce landscape or is it just another platform grab? Whether you're a marketer, brand strategist, or just trying to stay sane in the age of AI illusions and platform power plays, this episode is your no-BS guide to what’s really happening. 🎧 Subscribe for more deep dives into the future of digital marketing, AI, and platform ethics. Grab the State of PMax 2025 report—free on the blog or as a downloadable PDF: — About smec (Smarter Ecommerce): At smec - Smarter Ecommerce, we specialize in transforming business goals into optimized ad campaigns. With over 16 years of experience in Google & Microsoft Ads, our intelligent software and expert services help retailers achieve superior results. We're committed to giving you the tools and insights needed to stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of digital advertising. — Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights. smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com #Instagram #GoogleAds #TikTok #Zuckerberg #DigitalMarketing #AIinAdvertising #BrandSafety #EcommerceTrends #MarketingPodcast About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| 2025 State of PMax Report, plus: Zuckerberg shrugs ads, Amazon shares its ad stack | 17 Apr 2025 | 00:36:25 | |
Digital ads in 2025 are anything but boring. In this episode, Mike and Chris unpack:
Plus details from our comprehensive new PMax research:
Grab the State of PMax 2025 report—free on the blog or as a downloadable PDF: About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Black Friday Bloodbath: ROAS Down 12%, Gross Margins Down 9% | Post-Mortem Data | 09 Dec 2025 | 00:44:16 | |
In this post-mortem episode, hosts Mike Ryan and Chris dive deep into the data behind the last peak season to reveal the true cost of Black Friday. They confirm what many performance marketers feared: the event is a "promotional bloodbath where margins are lost". The numbers are shocking: Google Ads spend was up over 31% year-over-year, but revenue only grew 15%, resulting in a massive 12% drop in Return on Ad Spend (ROAS). But the real trouble is profitability. Mike reveals an exclusive chart showing how the average gross profit margin dropped by 9 percentage points in the final week of November. What else is covered in this data-driven post-mortem:
About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| New co-host, same chaos: Amazon Haul, Nike's DTC regrets, Perplexity AI Shopping, and more | 10 Apr 2025 | 00:37:23 | |
Big changes on Growing Ecommerce! Chris Scharmueller joins Mike Ryan for a fresh, unscripted take on the latest in online retail. In this episode:
All that and more, plus a hot take or two. Hit play. About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| 2024 Year End Recap: Google’s Legal Challenges, Amazon vs. Temu, and Other Platform News | 17 Dec 2024 | 00:34:09 | |
Discover the forces reshaping the ecommerce landscape leading into 2025 as host Mike Ryan guides us through a labyrinth of game-changing developments and strategic maneuvers. From the Department of Justice's legal challenges against Google to the emerging battleground between Amazon and Temu, Mike gives insight into how these seismic shifts might just redefine what we know about monopolies, market dynamics, and consumer engagement. Could the verdicts against Google have unintended consequences? How are AI shopping assistants poised to shake the platforms? What is going on with Temu and Amazon's I-hate-you-so-much-that-I'm-going-to-copy-you-exactly strategies?Prepare for a year-end review like no other, as Mike tracks the tectonic movements of e-commerce titans and advertisers. Witness Pinterest’s alliance with Google as it seeks to unlock new monetization avenues, and get a glimpse into Meta's latest updates aimed at refining attribution and take over account structures. With AppLovin's unexpected rise in digital advertising and Microsoft's steady pursuit of relevance, this episode brims with expert analysis and provocative questions about what lies ahead. Whether it's the AI evolution or the competitive dynamics between industry giants, Mike Ryan unpacks the strategies and potential pitfalls in this ever-evolving landscape. About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Q2 Highlights: Wins and losses for Netflix, Amazon, Pinterest, and Google | 30 Jul 2024 | 00:34:25 | |
Can a new low-price, slow-shipping strategy from Amazon truly rival Temu's direct-from-China model? On this episode of Growing ecommerce, host Mike Ryan dissects some of the biggest headlines from Q2 including Amazon's attempt to fight back against Temu, and Netflix's advertising woes, which led to another VP dismissal just one day after earnings were reported. He also discusses how Pinterest's ad deal with Google is shaping up, changes to Meta's remarketing mix, first reactions to Prime Day, and more.Tune in for an episode packed with insights and strategies that are shaping the future of the industry. About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Tech's Impact on Health & Beauty with Rob Davis of THG | 11 Jun 2024 | 00:43:04 | |
(Recorded live at IRX Birmingham) About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Google Marketing Live: Ads in an AI-First Search Experience | 28 May 2024 | 00:33:28 | |
Join Mike Ryan for a discussion of his highlights from GML 2024. Was the event overshadowed by Google I/O? Do advertisers need to worry about the biggest shake-up ever to Google's SERP? He answers these questions and unpacks the news around core ecommerce feature announcements like profit bidding, interactive Shopping ads, and improvements to asset and video reporting in Performance Max campaigns. All in all it was a good GML for paid teams, but a worrying one for organic teams and publishers. Mike explains it all in this episode. About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| The State of MarTech with Daniel Smulevich | 14 May 2024 | 00:47:18 | |
Learn about the future of marketing from Daniel Smulevich of Jellyfish, as he guides us through the MarTech revolution in a landscape brimming with change. This episode isn't about chasing shiny new tech; it's about strategic problem-solving and making tech work for your marketing needs.We dissect the tech FOMO that grips the industry, using platforms like Roblox as cautionary tales, and emphasize the importance of thoughtful tech adoption. Daniel describes the imperative for realignment of data and analytics roles, which need to shift from mere tech support to strategic business advisors. We also discuss choosing between creating your own technology or investing in off-the-shelf solutions. either way, you must ensure that your decisions are informed by deep industry knowledge and the right balance of manual and automated processes.This episode is a must-listen for any marketer looking to stay ahead in a dynamic, data-driven world. About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Behind Temu's Digital Advertising Landslide | 30 Apr 2024 | 00:39:20 | |
Temu's advertising has been at the center of countless headlines in recent months. However, journalists don't know advertising well enough and don't have the data necessary to tell the full story. Mike has monitoring Temu for months – and mega-advertisers like Amazon, Wish, and eBay for years. He ties together all of his research on Temu so far into a single story exploring their dramatic rise, and their performance impact on other advertisers. This episode isn't Wall Street analysts or regular consumers, it's for ecommerce advertisers and operators, and it's a story that no one else can tell.Please note there is a lot of data in this episode and you might want to watch the video feed for the best experience. About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Google's MMM Answer to Meta's Robyn, plus a change in Temu's strategy | 11 Mar 2024 | 00:32:09 | |
Mike shares updates about two trending areas to watch this year. First is the rise of marketing mix modelling. He digs into Google's new Meridian model, including a refresher on Marketing Mix Modelling, a reminder of Meta's competing offer (Robyn), and Meridian's USPs. Then he shares a big change in the marketing activity of fan favorite Temu. We'll leave you in suspense on that one – listen to find out! About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Marketplaces: Navigating the Digital Storefront Landscape with Vinny O'Brien | 27 Feb 2024 | 00:53:14 | |
Get a heap of ecommerce & marketplace insights from Vinnie O'Brien, whose expertise from eBay to DTC brands sets the stage for a riveting discussion. Together with host Mike Ryan, he tackles the contrasting marketplace ecosystems across the US and EU, dissecting how these differences influence business tactics, and debates whether retail media networks are now indispensable in today's digital economy. For up-and-coming brands, Vinnie gives his seasoned perspective on navigating Amazon's platform and the discipline required to succeed. He also addresses the contentious emergence of marketplace software providers like Miracle. This episode is a must-listen for anyone in the e-commerce space looking to refine their strategy and understand the broader industry landscape. About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Temu & SHEIN: Dissecting China's Ecomm Conquest with Stefan Wenzel | 13 Feb 2024 | 01:01:45 | |
Unravel the complexities of the ecommerce universe as we sit down with Stefan Wenzel, veteran leader from eBay Germany, Otto Netherlands, and McLaren Automotive. This episode holds a wealth of insights, from understanding Otto's metamorphosis into a leading marketplace to examining the undercurrents that differentiate established goliaths like Amazon and eBay from emerging powerhouses Temu and SHEIN. Stefan's seasoned perspective guides us through the convoluted terrain of marketplace dynamics, acquisition strategies, and customer experience nuances that only a true expert can decode. About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Google is bidding on the WRONG products: The ‘Clicked vs. Bought’ dilemma explained | 02 Dec 2025 | 00:32:11 | |
In this episode, Mike Ryan and Christian Scharmueller dismantle a massive technical flaw in Performance Max: the "Clicked vs. Bought" discrepancy. In a keywordless world, product targeting is your main lever. But Mike reveals that Google places its bids based on the product a user clicks, while being completely blind to the product they actually buy. This means Google is often bidding on the wrong item, unaware that your user cross-shopped into a lower-margin alternative or a different brand entirely. The result? You might be hitting your ROAS targets on paper, but your actual profit is bleeding out. The duo reveals the only technical fix for this—Conversions with Cart Data—and debates the ultimate trust exercise: is it finally time to share your Cost of Goods Sold (CoGS) with Google to bid on true profit? About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| The Future of Ecommerce Advertising in the Post-Cookie Era | 23 Jan 2024 | 00:29:14 | |
Join us as we navigate the choppy waters of ecommerce remarketing with Phillip Ivellio-Vellin, exploring the ramifications of the impending Digital Markets Act (DMA) and Google Consent Mode's implementation deadline of March 6, 2024. This episode promises to equip you with the knowledge and strategies to t thrive in an environment where privacy regulations and tech giants' policies collide. https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/14505993 About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Google Ads' New Frontiers: Performance Max, Demand Gen, and YouTube Shorts | 19 Dec 2023 | 00:31:56 | |
Are you ready to uncover the future of Google Ads? Brace yourself as we navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of Google's advertising platform, with a specific focus on the rising dominance of Performance Max (PMax), Demand Gen campaigns, and YouTube shorts. Mike dissects how PMax is transitioning from a mere extension of Smart Shopping campaigns to a possible replacement for all campaign types, and grapples with the changing nature of this technology.He dives into the prospect that PMax could replace keyword search campaigns, an idea that Google is at least flirting with, as evidenced by a recent survey. Mike further attempts to disentangle the relationship between PMax and Demand Gen campaigns, and predicts a sharp rise in YouTube Shorts ads throughout 2024. This future could be a mixed bag for different kinds of advertisers, presenting both challenges and benefits. So gear up and join us on this enlightening exploration as we decode what future holds for Google Ads! About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| The Future of Pay-Per-Click Advertising: A Conversation with Wijnand Meijer | 14 Nov 2023 | 00:38:35 | |
Unveiling the hidden world of Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising and software development is none other than one of the founders of True Clicks, Wijnand Meijer. Meijer joins us to guide us down his unique path into PPC and software development - a journey sparked by a simple idea to bridge a gap in the market. This lightbulb moment led to the genesis of the PPC Survey, a community-led initiative that aims to share invaluable, up-to-the-minute data within the PPC industry. Since its May 2022 inception, this project has garnered an overwhelmingly positive response. About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Product Segmentation for Ecommerce: Tackling Efficiency and Scale | 24 Oct 2023 | 00:30:13 | |
Wondering about the hidden potential of product segmentation in ecommerce? Join as we peel back the layers on this fascinating topic. We'll discuss the tension between efficiency and scale, and explore how product segmentation can help you navigate these opposing forces. Discover the relevance of the 1970s BCG Matrix in today's ecommerce world, learn about the role of algorithms in solving the fascinating "multi-armed bandit" problem, and get insights into Google's Shopping Graph and Audience Graph. About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Google's Auction Games: Beneficial or Manipulative? | 26 Sep 2023 | 00:36:26 | |
Are you ready to peel back the curtain on Google's shadowy world of search auctions? Prepare for a shocking journey that will explore the murky details of Google's alleged auction manipulation, as revealed in the Department of Justice antitrust investigation. This is an absolute must-listen for anyone in the e-commerce space, as we navigate the mechanics of their reserve price increases, the mysterious RGSP system, and the controversial practice of 'squashing.' We'll dissect how these manipulations effectively push up the average Cost Per Click (CPC) and what this means for advertisers. About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Exploring Amazon's Edge, AI Influence in Ecommerce, and Ad Tech Future | 12 Sep 2023 | 00:51:15 | |
Ever wonder why Amazon seems to always be ahead of the curve while Google seems to be playing catch up? Join me and James Hercher from AdExchanger as we pull back the curtain on the lucrative yet often under-discussed world of e-commerce and D2C. We dive into the intersection of commerce, media, and advertising technology, highlighting why Amazon's risk-taking approach grants them the edge ahead of Google and how human input continues to be pivotal in automation-dominated platforms. About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| The Impact of Google's Automation on Advertisers | 29 Aug 2023 | 00:50:25 | |
Ever wondered how small advertisers navigate the labyrinth that is Google Ads? We dive into the thick of this challenge with Collin Slattery, founder of Taikun Digital, as we address the growing complexities of mid-funnel marketing. From Google's demand-gen campaigns and YouTube Shorts to the rise of Google's automation - we scrutinize it all. About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Performance Max: Navigating the Labyrinth of Mystery Placements and Estimations | 15 Aug 2023 | 00:43:42 | |
What if I told you that the elusive world of Performance Max campaigns could be demystified? That's right, after an exhaustive year-long investigation, analyzing over 3000 campaigns, I've begun to crack open the black box of Performance Max. Together with the help of data experts, we will shed light on the hidden facets of these campaigns and guide you through the labyrinth of mystery placements and estimations. We’ll even unpack the unique challenges faced by multi-brand retailers and reveal the surprising trend of PerformanceMax leaning heavily into mobile traffic. About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| An In-depth Look at Digital Marketing with Stefan Bures from metoda | 01 Aug 2023 | 00:46:14 | |
Ready to unlock the power of Amazon Ads? Join us for a fascinating deep dive into the world of Amazon advertising with our special guest, Stefan Bures, founder and CEO of metoda. Stefan is here to share his wealth of knowledge on Amazon Ads, offering a unique lens into its history, strengths, and how his company metoda is helping equip the retail industry to compete with Amazon. Expect to be enlightened on DSP linkout campaigns, product segmentation, and the concept of retail readiness. About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Exploring Feed-Based Advertising and AI in Product Management with adidas's Senior Product Manager, Onur Polat | 18 Jul 2023 | 00:57:29 | |
Get ready for a ride as senior product manager at adidas, Onur Polat, steps into the spotlight. His journey from launching a jobs portal in Albania to charting the intricacies of corporations and scale-ups like Criteo and Channable is nothing short of inspiring. We'll be picking his brain about the significance of feed-based advertising in product management, and we promise, his insights are a treasure trove of knowledge you won't want to miss. About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Google AI Max is A TRAP?! New Data on ROAS, Demand Gen & DSA Sunset | 25 Nov 2025 | 00:37:06 | |
Is Google's new AI Max for Search the future, or is it a hidden trap? In this episode of Growing E-commerce, Mike Ryan and Chris dive into brand-new, independent test data on AI Max for Search and discuss the strategic role of Demand Gen and the future of Dynamic Search Ads (DSA). The analysis of over 250 e-commerce campaigns reveals significant concerns:
Mike predicts that Dynamic Search Ads (DSA) is on its way to being fully sunset/upgraded to AI Max by early 2026. The shift signals Google’s move to consolidate broad automation into AI Max and the visual discovery into Demand Gen. The hosts also warn that many advertisers are creating unnecessary data fragmentation and overlap by running AI Max, DSA, and PMAX concurrently. The key discussion focuses on the Demand Gen Strategy: Demand Gen is best used as a visual discovery engine to compete with Paid Social/Meta and is heavily driven by video ads across YouTube and Shorts. Learn how to use it strategically as a mid-funnel tool to feed Performance Max (PMAX). What to do now: AI Max is here to stay. Mike and Chris offer advice on how to use AI Max's built-in controls (like negative keywords) to make the feature work smarter for your business. About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Shedding Light on Marketing Mix Modeling: Lampenwelt's Data-Driven Strategies | 04 Jul 2023 | 00:57:20 | |
Ever wondered what it takes to navigate the world of performance marketing amidst a global pandemic? Join us as we chat with Stefan Huß, Head of Performance Marketing at Lampenwelt, a mid-to-top market lighting brand and part of the Luqom Group. Learn how Stefan's fascinating career journey, which began with Aldi Süd and led him to the world of performance marketing, prepared him for the unique challenges and opportunities he encountered when he joined Lampenwelt just one month before COVID-19 struck. About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Unveiling the Power of Generative AI in Ad Campaigns | 20 Jun 2023 | 00:51:37 | |
What if artificial intelligence could revolutionize the e-commerce industry? Join us in our captivating conversation with Ralph Mayr, director of Product Management at Smarter Ecommerce, as we delve into the intriguing world of AI and its impact on ecommerce. From high-level concepts like philosophical zombies to current applications in performance marketing, Ralph shares his expert insight from both a consumer and product manager's perspective. About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Google Marketing Live: Exploring the Impact on Ecommerce | 06 Jun 2023 | 00:40:27 | |
Welcome to growing e-commerce. This time, Mike is discussing Google marketing live, also known as GML. As the recording takes place between GML and IO (Google's big developer conference), it was a pivotal month probably in the history of the company. Most importantly, ecommerce was at the forefront of GML and it felt very much like an ecommerce event. Listen to the episode to learn about the features coming to Google search and Google ads and what they mean for you. We'll cover conversational campaign creation, product, studio, Merchant Center next and more. Overall direction of Google technology - 3:00
About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Power of AI in Ecommerce: Bing Search with Fabrice Canel | 16 May 2023 | 00:46:25 | |
With the introduction of the AI powered BING search, its an interesting time for the world as the advertisers are at an inflection point between learning, testing and generating results. Welcome to Episode 9. of Growing Ecommerce. Today Mike is joined by Fabrice Canel, Principal Program Manager for Bing Search. As he is responsible for crawling and indexing at BING and ultimately for the product relevance and customer expectations, we discuss what's changing with the integration of AI chat into Bing search and what's staying the same? We talk about AI hallucinations, AI for e-commerce, and how search marketers should react to technology.
About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Google Ads and PMax: The Great Brand vs. Non-Brand Debate | 20 Apr 2023 | 00:56:36 | |
Welcome to Episode 8. of Growing Ecommerce. Today Mike is joined by two guests, Kirk Williams, owner of ZATO marketing making his second appearance on the show, and Ben Kruger who's a senior ecommerce growth consultant at Google. In exchange for a packed agenda you get a stimulating conversation about the grand brand-non brand debate in Google ads, the ways in which PMax is like paid social and the discussion about whether or not CPCs matter anymore. About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Increase Your Reach and Profitability with Microsoft Advertising | 04 Apr 2023 | 00:52:53 | |
Welcome to Episode 7. of Growing Ecommerce. About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Forecasting for Ecommerce: Guide to profitability | 21 Mar 2023 | 00:48:40 | |
Welcome to Episode 6. of Growing Ecommerce. Today Mike is joined by Sam Tomlinson, of Warshawski, a boutique marketing agency in the US. Sam is also teaching at Johns Hopkins, University and Georgetown. Mike caught him while he was attending SMX Munich and discussed the conference briefly before diving into Sam's views on forecasting and emphasizes that forecasting is not out of reach. Then, we switch gears and we discuss the intersection of large language models and search. It's not a new topic to this podcast, but here is a new perspective, Sam explains where he's not quite as convinced
About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| AI in marketing: BING vs. Google (The War of Search Engines), prompt engineering, and what are we doing wrong? | 07 Mar 2023 | 00:48:20 | |
Welcome to Episode 5. of Growing Ecommerce. Today, Mike is joined by Mike Taylor, who is making his second appearance on the show. He's the co-founder of Vex Power and author of the upcoming book marketing memetics. Last time we talked about testing, marketing, mix modeling and generative aAI, but this time we are digging in: we talk about the prospect for marketers in an age of AI, an interesting field called Prompt Engineering and so-called war of the search engines between the new BING experience powered by chat GPT and google's Bard.
About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Ecommerce in the UK: Performance Max, Microsoft Ads and Agency vs in-house. | 21 Feb 2023 | 00:44:33 | |
Welcome to Episode 4. of Growing Ecommerce. Today Mike is joined by his colleague Mark Haupt, smec`s UK commercial director. He brings years of online retail experience in several different contexts to the table as he talks to Mike about the Post Brexit, post - pandemic economic situation in the UK, how Google's Performance Max has landed with the UK market, the increasing allure of Microsoft ads and the agency in-house relationship. Join Mike and learn more about the paid marketing in the UK .
About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| 2022 ecommerce retro: Consumer Confidence, Inflation and Google Ads funnel metrics. | 07 Feb 2023 | 00:43:29 | |
Welcome to Episode 3. of Growing Ecommerce. About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Google's $155 Billion Backlog: The Real Cost of Advertising | 18 Nov 2025 | 00:27:40 | |
Q3 earnings are in, and the consolidation is real. Hosts Mike Ryan and Chris dive into the gravity-defying numbers, confirming that Google's core ad revenue is up a strong 12.6% year-over-year (YoY), and their massive Cloud backlog sits at $155 billion USD. Chris states that Google is not the "bee-headed chicken" but remains the dominant "American eagle". The focus then shifts to Amazon, which has truly become a services business (Cloud and Ads), with its retail component no longer the core driver of its wealth. But the big story isn't the growth—it's the crisis. Mike and Chris reveal a dangerous surge in ad costs: CPCs in PMAX and Shopping are up an alarming 30% year-to-date (since week one of the year), with Shopping CPCs specifically soaring by 36% YoY. Chris warns that this kind of inflation is a "real threat" to Google's business model because it is "forcing especially small and middle businesses out" of the auction. They discuss whether a competitor like OpenAI could challenge Google by offering "massively discounted CPCs" to eat into market share. Finally, Mike introduces the free smec Market Observer tool that helps online retailers benchmark their CPCs and check competition levels from giants like Amazon and Temu. About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Building brand on data: Amazon advertising for retailers. | 24 Jan 2023 | 00:45:11 | |
Welcome to Episode 2. of Growing ecommerce. Today, we are joined by Scott Kennedy. He's a senior director at Franklin Sports where he's responsible for ecommerce analytics and tech capabilities. In the US, Franklin is synonymous with baseball and baseball for many is synonymous with stats. It is a numbers game, so it's only fitting that Franklin is a remarkably data driven organization and Scott is at the forefront of that. We discussed that data culture in quite some detail, getting into employee mentoring and we discussed Amazon advertising, the amazon data landscape, and the balance of retail and direct to consumer at franklin with advice for smaller brands too.
About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Advertising 60 million products: How to set and measure your paid advertising? | 10 Jan 2023 | 00:47:20 | |
Welcome to Episode 33. of Growing ecommerce. Today, we are joined by Arend de Ruiter from bol.com, a dutch retailer and retail platform generating over €5 billion in annual revenue. Arend leads SEA measurement and data activation at this retail giant. We discuss what it's like to advertise 60 million products, how to approach segmentation in supersized accounts, and how to deploy automation in this huge oil tanker like organization.
About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| Google Analytics 4: challenges, opportunities, and how to collect your data? | 13 Dec 2022 | 00:36:23 | |
Welcome to Episode 32. of Growing ecommerce, the last episode of 2022. Today, we are joined by Philip, Ivelio Vellin who is an expert in analytics and tracking. This time, Mike and Phillip talk about google analytics 4, the complaints, the benefits, and how to get it right. They discussed cardinality, data retention, migration strategy, consent mode, and model data plus server side tagging. It's a great introduction to the topic and now is actually an opportunity to update your data strategy as Philip explains why this is core to succeeding next year and beyond.
About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||
| COO: How to integrate marketing & operations for better Facebook campaigns | 29 Nov 2022 | 00:51:31 | |
Welcome to Episode 31. of Growing ecommerce. Today, we are joined by Tim Aton, COO at Range Leather, where in a classic scale-up fashion, he wears a lot of hats. From paid, and owned media channels to product merchandising to managing shipping and wholesale teams. We discuss approaches to blended ROAS, meta advertising, Facebook in particular, and how is life looking post-iOS 14. Then we move on from marketing and discuss the interplay of marketing and operations.
About Smarter Ecommerce (smec): Smarter Ecommerce (smec) empowers e-commerce brands with AI-driven PPC automation that optimizes for profit and business outcomes while maintaining strategic control. The platform activates first-party data - profit margins, customer lifetime value, and key business metrics - to automate campaign optimization toward goals like profitability and efficient growth, while detailed campaign insights provide full transparency and enable PPC teams to focus on strategic oversight rather than manual execution. As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages over €500 million in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport. Make sure to follow smec - Smarter Ecommerce for more performance marketing insights: smec - Smarter Ecommerce: https://www.smarter-ecommerce.com | |||