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
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/smarter-ecommerce-gmbh
Newsletter: https://smarter-ecommerce.com/en/newsletter/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smarterecommerce/

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
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/smarter-ecommerce-gmbh
Newsletter: https://smarter-ecommerce.com/en/newsletter/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smarterecommerce/

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
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/smarter-ecommerce-gmbh
Newsletter: https://smarter-ecommerce.com/en/newsletter/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smarterecommerce/

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
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/smarter-ecommerce-gmbh
Newsletter: https://smarter-ecommerce.com/en/newsletter/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smarterecommerce/

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.

• AI Overviews and AI Mode represent massive shifts in search, with Google generating answers directly and using "query fanning" to search multiple queries behind the scenes
• Ads will be integrated directly into AI Overviews and AI Mode conversations, changing how users interact with advertising
• "Agentic" shopping experiences allow Google's AI to make purchases without users visiting websites, potentially transforming e-commerce
• Smart Bidding Exploration allows Google to miss ROAS targets by 10-30% to explore new queries, though the benefit to advertisers remains unclear
• New channel-level performance reporting for PMAX provides visibility into which channels and ad types drive results
• Enhanced New Customer Acquisition features offer more granular exclusion options for existing and warm traffic
• Asset Studio and Product Studio provide new creative tools for building and managing assets
• Commerce Media Suite introduces retail media network capabilities, allowing retailers to make first-party audiences available
• Three new AI Experts (Ads, Analytics, and Marketing Advisor) aim to provide conversational assistance for campaign management

Visit smarter-ecommerce.com to access resources like our State of PMax report, our brand versus non-brand PMax script, and our new PMax script to help understand channel performance reports.

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
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/smarter-ecommerce-gmbh
Newsletter: https://smarter-ecommerce.com/en/newsletter/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smarterecommerce/

We broke the news: Temu hit the brakes – hard. In this episode, Mike and Chris dig into

• Why Temu suddenly killed all ads in the US, and what happened next
• Signs that Temu's ad spend shifted to Europe
• OpenAI’s move into ecommerce, joining Amazon, Perplexity, and Microsoft in the AI shopping race
• Does Google’s silence might signal hesitation or confidence?
• A debate: how profit vs growth is now the defining tension in retail strategy

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
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/smarter-ecommerce-gmbh
Newsletter: https://smarter-ecommerce.com/en/newsletter/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smarterecommerce/

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.
💬 Drop your thoughts: Is zero-click search good or bad for the web?

#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
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/smarter-ecommerce-gmbh
Newsletter: https://smarter-ecommerce.com/en/newsletter/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smarterecommerce/

#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
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/smarter-ecommerce-gmbh
Newsletter: https://smarter-ecommerce.com/en/newsletter/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smarterecommerce/

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.
💬 Leave a comment: How would YOU feel about running ads next to fake AI profiles?

Grab the State of PMax 2025 report—free on the blog or as a downloadable PDF:
https://shorturl.at/ali5A

—

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
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/smarter-ecommerce-gmbh
Newsletter: https://smarter-ecommerce.com/en/newsletter/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smarterecommerce/

#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
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/smarter-ecommerce-gmbh
Newsletter: https://smarter-ecommerce.com/en/newsletter/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smarterecommerce/

Digital ads in 2025 are anything but boring. In this episode, Mike and Chris unpack:

• Mark Zuckerberg’s eyebrow-raising claim that ads aren’t important (despite 98% of Meta’s revenue coming from ads)
• Amazon’s move to sell its ad tech to other retailers—friend or Trojan horse?

Plus details from our comprehensive new PMax research:

• How Google’s Performance Max is finally shedding its “black box” label, with fresh data from 500+ accounts
• Why your PMax campaigns need 30–60 conversions a month, no matter what Google says
• Why campaign segmentation should follow business logic, not default categories

Grab the State of PMax 2025 report—free on the blog or as a downloadable PDF:
https://shorturl.at/ali5A

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
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/smarter-ecommerce-gmbh
Newsletter: https://smarter-ecommerce.com/en/newsletter/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smarterecommerce/

Big changes on Growing Ecommerce! Chris Scharmueller joins Mike Ryan for a fresh, unscripted take on the latest in online retail. In this episode:

• Amazon vs. Temu: What Amazon’s “Haul” launch says about their playbook and profit risks
• Perplexity AI: Can it challenge Google by fusing search and shopping?
• Nike’s DTC misstep: When cutting out retail partners backfires
• Marketing strategy: Are you spending where influence occurs?

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
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/smarter-ecommerce-gmbh
Newsletter: https://smarter-ecommerce.com/en/newsletter/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smarterecommerce/