Commerce Beyond Borders

Content Is the Game: Inside the Real State of Social Commerce with Dave Morrissey (ex-TikTok & Meta)


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In this episode of Commerce Beyond Borders, we go deep into what actually works in social commerce today — and what doesn’t.

From London, former Meta & TikTok executive Dave Morrissey joins Renee (in Portugal) and Chris (in Shanghai) for a candid conversation about live shopping, the role of creators, why most brands are doing content wrong — and what the smartest brands are already doing next.

🔑 Key Insights
  • Live shopping is not the answer for everyone — and most brands are doing it wrong.

  • The TikTok Shop winners are founder-led, community-first brands.

  • Why 40+ videos a month is becoming the new baseline for e-commerce success.

  • AI should power creativity — not replace it.

  • The rise of video search and why TikTok is quietly becoming a rival to Google.

  • TikTok Shop: do you need affiliates, creators, paid ads… or all three?

  • The secret moat now?

    👉 Doing the hard things your competitors won’t.

    💬 Favorite Quote from Dave

    “Content is the game. The algorithms will do the delivery.

    Your only job is to get great at content.”

    🔍 What We Cover

    00:00 – Introductions across Portugal, Shanghai & London

    04:00 – From music industry → Meta → TikTok Shop
    09:45 – Live shopping: what’s working & what isn’t
    16:30 – Why discount-led TikTok strategies are dangerous
    22:10 – Content at scale: how brands should build it
    28:00 – The role of AI — and where it shouldn’t be used
    34:20 – Affiliates vs creators: who actually drives sales?
    41:10 – TikTok as a search engine
    46:30 – What Western brands can learn from China
    52:00 – The principle that doesn’t change: be real, be useful

    📢 Listen Now

    Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts

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    Commerce Beyond BordersBy Renee Hartmann and Chris Baker