Podcast Summary:

In this episode, Teikametrics CEO Alasdair McLean-Foreman sits down with Charlotte Maines, Director of Fire TV Business and Devices Advertising at Amazon, to explore how Fire TV, Alexa, and other Amazon devices are transforming the advertising landscape. From full-funnel strategies and AI-powered personalization to GenAI-powered creative production and campaign accessibility for e-commerce brands, this conversation is packed with actionable insights for any brand advertising on Amazon.

Timestamped Episode Outline:

00:00

🔹 Introduction: Charlotte Mayes’ role at Amazon and her history with Fire TV

00:40 🔹 Fire TV’s global growth (250M+ devices) and role in Amazon’s advertising ecosystem

02:08 🔹 Devices as a full-funnel opportunity: engaging customers in relaxed, non-transactional moments

03:50 🔹 The power of pairing Fire TV UI placements with Prime Video ads (2x incremental reach)

05:02 🔹 Accessibility: How eCommerce brands can buy Fire TV ads through Amazon DSP

06:17 🔹 Including devices in broader DSP buys to hit KPIs and maximize efficiency

08:25 🔹 GenAI and large language models for content discovery and personalization

10:05 🔹 How GenAI supports advertisers: faster creative production with brand control

13:16 🔹 GenAI-generated audio ads: using product detail pages and reviews to outperform traditional ads

15:01 🔹 Trust, IP, and the role of human input in generative workflows

17:08 🔹 Future trends: Avatars, Alexa Plus, and the rise of humanized brand engagement

19:20 🔹 Fire TV as a discovery engine: the six-minute window to capture attention

22:03 🔹 Testing on a budget: Why Alexa and Fire TV placements offer high ROAS and low risk

24:33 🔹 Final thoughts: Education, accessibility, and the future of full-funnel Amazon advertising

✅ Key Takeaways:

• Fire TV is a full-funnel ad solution with over 250 million devices sold globally and 4.2+ hours of daily viewership per user.

• Advertisers can access Fire TV and Alexa placements via Amazon DSP, making them available to even small and mid-sized eCommerce brands.

• Pairing Prime Video ads with Fire TV placements yields more than 2x incremental reach.

• GenAI is streamlining creative production, especially for asset-heavy placements like the Fire TV “feature rotator.”

• Amazon’s GenAI audio ads use detail pages and reviews to create ads that can outperform human-generated creative.

• Testing is low-risk via CPC-based DSP campaigns; advertisers only pay for what works.

• Alexa Plus and Fire TV represent a new wave of contextual, immersive brand engagement—reaching users while they’re relaxed and attentive

  
  

In this episode of Human in the Loop, host Cameron Yoder welcomes Jeff Cohen to break down Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC)—Amazon’s powerful, privacy-safe analytics tool. Jeff explains why AMC is crucial for understanding customer journeys, optimizing ad spend, and increasing conversions by leveraging full-funnel insights.

Listeners will walk away with a clear understanding of how AMC works, why it’s a must-have for advertisers, and how brands are already leveraging it to maximize their Amazon advertising ROI.

The episode also covers real-world case studies, including how Funko and Connolly (a French skincare brand)optimized their budget allocation using AMC and achieved significant increases in brand purchases, sales, and conversion rates. Plus, Cameron shares exciting updates on how Teikametrics is making AMC more accessible for sellers with new audience creation tools.

Timestamps of Key Sections

⏱ (00:19) What is Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC)?

⏱ (01:50) Why advertisers should be using AMC today

⏱ (03:09) How AMC helps with audience creation and campaign optimization

⏱ (06:53) Practical use cases: Bid boosting, audience segmentation & measurement

⏱ (09:08) Case study: Connolly’s success with DSP and Streaming TV ads

⏱ (12:21) Case study: Funko’s strategic budget allocation using AMC

⏱ (16:45) The future of AMC & new Teikametrics updates

⏱ (18:42) Final thoughts & where AMC is headed next

Key Takeaways

🚀 AMC unlocks full-funnel visibility: Instead of just last-click attribution, sellers can now track the entire customer journey—seeing how multiple ad types interact before a conversion.

🎯 Audience targeting just got smarter: Sellers can create precise audience segments using shopping behaviors, purchase frequency, and even category browsing habits.

📈 Data-driven bidding boosts ROI: Advertisers can now adjust bids dynamically based on customer intent signals, leading to higher conversions at lower costs.

💡 Cross-campaign optimizations are a game-changer: AMC allows sellers to analyze how different ad types (like Sponsored Display and Streaming TV) impact search behavior.

🔄 Testing & iterating is crucial: Sellers leveraging AMC should experiment with audience segments, bid boosts, and cross-channel data to refine their ad strategies continuously.

📊 Budget allocation is now backed by hard data: Companies like Funko increased brand purchases by 44% and overall reach by 48% by shifting budgets towards upper-funnel tactics based on AMC insights.

🛠 Teikametrics is making AMC more accessible: A new audience creation tool launching on March 10 will allow sellers to easily build audiences without needing coding expertise.

📢 AMC is still evolving: The future holds predictive analytics and real-time bidding adjustments, making AMC an essential tool for long-term success on Amazon.

Top 3 Quotes from the Episode

1. 🗣 “Instead of guessing what might work, AMC lets you see exactly how customers interact with your ads—and then adjust strategies accordingly.” — Jeff Cohen

2. 🗣 “AMC is turning data signals into actionable insights—helping sellers make smarter decisions on where to invest their ad dollars.” — Jeff Cohen

3. 🗣 “Brands that integrate AMC into their strategy are seeing higher ROI, better audience targeting, and smarter budget allocation.” — Cameron Yoder

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Podcast Summary

In this episode of Human in the Loop, we tackle a major challenge ecommerce sellers are facing right now: rising tariffs. With new import duties hitting products sourced from China and beyond, sellers are being forced to rethink everything—pricing, advertising, and inventory strategy.

Cameron breaks down how these tariffs are impacting profitability, and what actions sellers can take right now to protect their margins. From adjusting ACOS targets and reallocating ad spend, to strategic pausing and shifting product focus, this episode is a tactical guide to staying profitable in a high-cost environment.

Whether you’re an Amazon or Walmart seller, this is your tariff response playbook.

⏱️ Key Timestamps

• 00:00 – Introduction: What’s happening with tariffs, and why it matters now

• 02:28 – How tariffs are directly affecting costs, margins, and planning

• 05:45 – Tactical ad strategy shifts: Where to cut, where to invest

• 09:10 – Should you raise prices? How to do it without losing the Buy Box

• 13:22 – Recalculating ACOS targets and rethinking budget allocation

• 16:35 – When it’s smart to pause ads (and when it’s not)

• 19:48 – Inventory strategy shifts in response to tariffs

• 22:10 – Staying agile: Adapting to changing conditions in real-time

✅ Key Takeaways

• Tariffs as high as 145% are significantly impacting sellers sourcing from China.

• COGS increases mean tighter margins—pricing and ad strategy must evolve.

• Reallocate ad spend to high-margin products and use real-time profit tracking tools.

• Adjust ACOS goals per SKU based on updated COGS and margin scenarios.

• Strategic price increases must be monitored closely—watch for Buy Box suppression and conversion drops.

• AI-powered tools are critical for adjusting bids, budgets, and strategy at scale.

• Sellers should rethink inventory mix and sourcing strategy to reduce tariff exposure.

• Pausing ads can be smart—but only if done surgically, not reactively.

📣 Subscribe & Follow

Check out our blog: https://www.teikametrics.com/blog/adapting-to-tariffs-how-ecommerce-sellers-can-stay-profitable-agile/

If this episode gave you value, make sure to follow Teikametrics on LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram for more data-driven strategies.

And don’t forget to subscribe to Human in the Loop on Spotify or Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode.

In this episode of Human in the Loop, host Cameron Yoder sits down with Adolfo Fernandez, Head of Product Strategy & Operations for TikTok’s eCommerce division, recorded live at ShopTalk. Together, they dive into the rise of TikTok Shop, how creativity and automation are powering eCommerce success, and what brands need to know to win in 2025.

Adolfo shares insights on what makes TikTok content convert, how AI is shaping advertising with tools like GMV Max, and why authenticity will always be the cornerstone of TikTok’s commerce experience.

Timestamps:

• 0:00 – Introduction to Adolfo and his role at TikTok

• 0:29 – Why brands should be on TikTok in 2025

• 2:00 – What brands should do today to start seeing results

• 3:06 – What GMV Max is and why it matters

• 4:44 – How TikTok Shop Ads may evolve in 2025

• 6:01 – Balancing organic content and paid ads

• 7:32 – A sneak peek at upcoming features for TikTok Shop Ads

• 8:05 – The secret to high-converting TikTok content

  
  

Key Takeaways:

• TikTok Shop has seen explosive growth since launching in the U.S. in 2023, with shopper engagement tripling monthly.

• Creativity is king—quality and quantity of creative content directly drive conversions on TikTok.

• Automation is a game changer—TikTok’s GMV Max automates campaign optimization, blending organic and paid content.

• Search behavior on TikTok is booming—users now use TikTok like a search engine, signaling an eCommerce shift.

• Balance is key—successful sellers combine paid ads with engaging organic content for total return on investment.

• Authenticity wins—real, relatable content connects better than polished productions.

• Speed matters—videos should hook users quickly and stay snappy.

• GMV Max will continue to evolve with more features, making it easier and more effective for sellers.

💬 Three Key Quotes

“Half of the incremental sales we see on TikTok are driven by the quality and quantity of creatives.” — Adolfo

“With GMV Max, we’re optimizing for both return on investment and return on effort.” — Adolfo 

“Authenticity is the number one key to high-converting content on TikTok.” — Adolfo

👉 Follow @Teikametrics on LinkedIn and subscribe to Human in the Loop on Spotify or your favorite podcast platform.

Kate successfully built a brand from scratch using TikTok, leveraging organic virality, strategic content, and a customer-first approach. This episode dives into her journey, from launching a unique product (a diaper-shaped heating pad) to overcoming Kickstarter hurdles, and ultimately using TikTok and Instagram to build a thriving ecommerce brand. Kate shares her content strategy, the difference between TikTok and Instagram, and how she balances quality vs. quantity in content creation.

⏳ Key Timestamps

• 00:00 – Introduction: Kate’s success story with TikTok

• 00:44 – The unique product idea & inspiration

• 01:32 – How a viral TikTok post changed everything

• 00:02:21 – The power of email collection before product launch

• 03:51 – Kickstarter rejection & pivot to Shopify

• 05:25 – Biggest challenge and the rush to solve problems

• 06:03 – Content strategy: What works on TikTok

• 11:05 – TikTok vs. Instagram: What drives sales?

• 13:22 – Building an audience & transitioning viral moments into sales

• 18:15 – Best advice for new content creators

🎯 Key Takeaways

1. Viral Content Can Spark a Business – A single TikTok post with 1.2M views led Kate to go all-in on launching her product.

2. Start Collecting Emails Early – Capturing audience interest before launch ensures long-term success.

3. Kickstarter Rejections Aren’t the End – When Kickstarter banned her campaign, Kate quickly pivoted to Shopify using a pre-order system.

4. Content Hooks Matter – Simple text-over-B-roll videos mentioning key terms like “endometriosis” consistently go viral.

5. Instagram vs. TikTok for Sales – TikTok drives awareness, but Instagram’s automation tools drive more direct conversions.

6. Quality > Quantity for Content Creation – Prioritizing high-impact content over daily posts leads to better audience engagement.

7. Founder-Led Content Builds Trust – Sharing real struggles and lessons fosters authenticity and audience loyalty.

8. Audience Engagement is Key – Direct messages and emails often lead to deeper customer relationships than social media comments.

💬 Most Impactful Quotes

1. “Every single time that I’ve gone viral, it’s been hook text over B-roll—something that speaks to my audience.”

2. “I started collecting emails before I had a product. If you do nothing, you’re going to have nothing.”

3. “Creating a life that people actually want to see will take your content so much further than just chasing views.”

Check out REB Relief: https://rebrelief.com

In this episode of Human in the Loop, Cameron Yoder sits down with Stephen Geary, CEO and Co-Founder of Accelerazon, an Amazon-specific marketing agency. Together, they tackle one of the biggest challenges in eCommerce today: launching and scaling a new brand on Amazon in 2025.

With Amazon’s massive marketplace becoming increasingly competitive, many brands struggle to gain traction against well-established players. Stephen breaks down the key barriers new brands face, how Amazon’s algorithm is shifting, and the strategic steps sellers can take to boost visibility, drive traffic, and ultimately win on Amazon.

Topics covered include:

✅ Why launching on Amazon is harder than ever

✅ How Amazon’s algorithm prioritizes sales history over new sellers

✅ Why new brands need a long-term mindset (Hint: You might not be profitable in 6 months!)

✅ How content, relevancy, and nimbleness can give new brands a competitive edge

✅ The evolving role of AI and technology in Amazon success

Plus, Stephen shares his top strategies for overcoming these challenges, the mistakes brands often make, and the key advantages new brands can still leverage to stand out.

Key Timestamps:

📌 [00:00] - Introduction & Why launching on Amazon is harder than ever

📌 [04:08] - The biggest barriers to success for new brands

📌 [10:00] - How Amazon’s algorithm favors established sellers

📌 [14:10] - What’s working for new brands today & key advantages they can leverage

📌 [18:17] - The role of technology & AI in scaling Amazon brands

📌 [22:30] - The most common mistakes new brands make when launching

📌 [30:02] - Why traffic generation (advertising & relevancy) is critical for new brands

📌 [36:46] - Future outlook for Amazon & what sellers need to prepare for

Key Takeaways:

🔥 Amazon’s success has made it harder for new brands – It’s a competitive landscape, with 2,300 new sellers joining daily, but only 0.1% of sellers account for half of all third-party sales.

🚀 Sales history is king – Amazon prioritizes proven sellers with strong conversion rates and sales velocity, making it difficult for new brands to rank.

🔑 Relevancy matters more than ever – Amazon’s algorithm has evolved, giving new brands a better shot if they optimize listings properly with the right keywords and content.

💡 New brands should focus on being nimble – Big brands are often slow to adapt. Smaller sellers can gain an edge by testing, iterating, and optimizing faster.

📈 Amazon is now a pay-to-play platform – Organic traffic alone won’t cut it. Brands must invest in advertisingto gain visibility and traction.

🤖 Technology is a tool, not a replacement – AI and automation can boost efficiency, but human strategy and brand identity still win the game.

Most Important Quotes:

📢 “Amazon’s success is exactly why it’s so difficult for new brands to break in. The winners keep winning, and the losers lose hard.” — Stephen Geary

📢 “Relevancy is rising in importance, but sales history is still king. If you don’t build that, you won’t rank.” — Stephen Geary

📢 “Amazon is a pay-to-play marketplace now. You cannot rely on organic growth alone—advertising is essential.” — Stephen Geary

Follow & Subscribe:

Stay ahead in the world of ecommerce! Follow Teikametrics on LinkedIn, and subscribe to Human in the Loop for more deep dives into AI, ecommerce, and Amazon selling: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/hitl.

🎙 Episode Summary

In this episode of Human in the Loop, host Cameron Yoder welcomes Kiri Masters, an expert in retail media and ecommerce, to discuss the evolving role of AI in online shopping. The conversation dives deep into Rufus AI, Amazon’s AI-powered shopping assistant, and its implications for ecommerce sellers. They explore how AI is reshaping product discovery, search relevance, and advertising on Amazon, while also touching on broader AI trends that could redefine the way consumers shop in the near future.

⏳ Key Timestamps

1:00 – Kiri’s background in ecommerce, founding Bobsled Marketing, and her current work

2:14 – What is Rufus AI and why is it significant?

5:31 – Why sellers should take Rufus AI seriously, rather than dismissing it as a passing trend

10:24 – Breaking down Rufus AI’s underlying technology and search model

17:16 – Advertising opportunities within Rufus AI and potential monetization by Amazon

•18:38 – Actionable steps sellers can take to prepare for AI-driven search and discovery

22:26 – Other major AI trends in ecommerce, including OpenAI’s Operator and the rise of AI-driven personal shopping assistants

30:07 – Closing thoughts and where to follow Kiri’s insights

📌 Key Takeaways

1. Rufus AI is more than just a chatbot – Amazon is using AI to fundamentally change how customers discover products. Instead of relying on keyword searches, Rufus AI understands consumer intent and context.

2. Search is shifting from keywords to semantics – Amazon’s semantic similarity model means that exact keywords are becoming less important. AI will determine the best products based on context and previous interactions.

3. Visual content is critical – Rufus AI can analyze product images alongside text, meaning high-quality visuals will play a bigger role in search rankings and discoverability.

4. AI-driven personalization is here – Rufus AI learns from click behavior, optimizing search results based on individual shopping patterns, making it even harder to predict organic ranking factors.

5. Advertising within Rufus AI is emerging – Amazon is already testing ad placements within Rufus AI, creating new opportunities for sellers to reach consumers.

6. AI-powered shopping assistants are the future – Cameron and Kiri predict that within the next two years, AI assistants like Rufus will largely replace traditional search bars, changing how consumers navigate ecommerce platforms.

7. Retailers must embrace AI to stay competitive – Just like early skeptics doubted online apparel sales, businesses that dismiss AI-driven commerce may fall behind.

8. Other AI disruptors are on the horizon – OpenAI’s Operator demonstrates how AI can handle end-to-end shopping, from price comparison to purchase execution, further reducing consumer interaction with traditional online stores.

💬 Three Standout Quotes

1. “I think we’re at the beginning of a massive shift—search bars may not be the primary way we interact with product catalogs in just a couple of years.” – Kiri Masters

2. “Rufus isn’t just another Amazon experiment. AI-driven discovery is here to stay, and sellers need to adapt before they’re left behind.” – Cameron Yoder

3. “If Rufus AI is the worst it will ever be, imagine how powerful it’ll become in the next two years. Ignoring it now would be a mistake.” – Kiri Masters

🔗 Follow & Subscribe

Stay ahead in the world of ecommerce! Follow Teikametrics on LinkedIn, and subscribe to Human in the Loop for more deep dives into AI, ecommerce, and Amazon selling: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/hitl.

Find Kiri's Podcast here: https://www.retailmediabreakfastclub.com

Enchanted Scrunch represents an entirely new way of doing business today. 

Dasha’s (the founder's) ability to create an instant connection with her audience through content is an inspiration to re-think the way many approach selling a product online, while building a community at the same time. 

Branding is changing. The way people shop online is changing. Dasha is an incredible example of how to do things differently, and how to create a true connection with your audience.

The goal in this episode is to walk you through Dasha's story behind Enchanted Scrunch, to show just how much ecommerce is evolving today, and to show you how to best evolve in the fast-changing world of ecommerce.

Takeaways - Creating engaging content is key to success on TikTok. Passion and authenticity are crucial for building a strong brand.

- Use haters as fuel to keep pushing forward. Expanding to different sales channels, such as Amazon and retail stores, can help grow a business.

- Stay adaptable and open to new platforms and trends in social media.

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction and Background

01:06 - Starting Enchanted Scrunch

02:02 - Inspiration and Early Challenges

03:00 - Going from Etsy to TikTok

05:11 - Using TikTok to Drive Sales

07:22 - Creating Engaging TikTok Content

09:06 - Dealing with Age Restrictions on TikTok

10:24 - Expanding to Amazon and Retail Stores

11:07 - Types of Content that Succeed on TikTok

12:55 - Designing and Expanding the Product Line

13:53 - Dealing with Haters and Negativity

15:24 - Expanding to Amazon and Retail Stores

17:07 - Advice for Selling on TikTok

19:07 - Keys to Success for Online Brands

20:03 - Future Plans for Enchanted Scrunch

21:07 - The Changing Landscape of TikTok Content

23:12 - Where to Find Enchanted Scrunch

23:34 - Final Advice and Closing

In the latest episode of Human in the Loop, Cam and Emma delve into the fusion of artificial intelligence and technology to enhance product listings. 

They dissect the hurdles sellers confront in crafting impactful listings amidst fierce competition. Their dialogue underscores AI's pivotal role in researching, preparing, and brainstorming for listing optimization while stressing the necessity of verifying AI-generated content. 

Additionally, they explore the integration of AI tools like ChatGPT into the listing creation process, advocating for deeper AI copywriting and personalized messaging. They also touch upon leveraging reviews within ChatGPT and the strategic incorporation of AI into listings to maintain authenticity and resonate with the audience. 

The conversation underscores the importance of cultivating brand identity, understanding customer avatars, and staying abreast of influencer marketing trends and e-commerce's evolution.

Key Takeaways:

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction and Background

02:07 - The Changing Landscape of Listing Optimization

06:58 - Using AI Tools for Listing Optimization

12:53 - Workflow and Integration of ChatGPT

16:23 - Prompts and Essential Uses of ChatGPT

23:03 - Using Reviews for Chat2PT

25:08 - Finding the Balance of Interacting with AI

26:02 - Prioritizing Thoughtfulness over Speed with AI

27:10 - The Importance of Brand Identity and Customer Avatar

29:48 - The Lack of Clarity on Customer Avatars

31:04 - The Power of Brand Identity in Customer Experience

32:04 - The Changing Landscape of Influencer Marketing

37:15 - Action Step: Create or Refine Customer Avatars

40:52 - The Future of E-commerce

We encourage you to contact and follow Emma as well:

Summary of the Podcast Episode

The podcast episode is a discussion between Cameron Yoder and Michelle Lough, head of product at Veeqo, during the Amazon Accelerate event. The conversation focuses on the challenges sellers face in managing their sales, inventory, and profitability across multiple channels, and how Veeqo's Profit Analyzer helps solve these problems. They dive into the specifics of Veeqo's product suite, which includes shipping software, inventory management tools, and advanced profitability insights. The conversation highlights the importance of real-time data for decision-making, the pain points sellers experience with manual data aggregation, and how Veeqo simplifies multichannel retail management.

Key Takeaways

• Vico Profit Analyzer: Provides a centralized, real-time view of profitability across various sales channels and marketplaces, automating the aggregation of data from multiple platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Shopify.

• Key Problems Solved:

• Manual data aggregation, which takes hours weekly and is prone to errors.

• Lack of real-time insights, which prevents sellers from responding quickly to market changes.

• Difficulty in obtaining a unified view of multichannel data, particularly with costs like advertising, shipping, and product costs scattered across platforms.

• Granular Insights: The platform helps sellers dive deep into advertising spend, product costs, and shipping fees, enabling data-driven decisions to optimize profitability.

• Future Developments: Vico plans to add more sales channels, automate profitability insights, and expand advertising integrations with platforms like Google and Facebook.

Timestamp Summary (Key Sections Only)

• 0:00 – 1:06: Introduction to the episode and Michelle Lough from Veeqo.

• 1:06 – 2:23: Overview of Veeqo Profit Analyzer and how it provides real-time profitability insights across multiple sales channels.

• 3:40 – 6:08: Main problems Veeqo solves: manual data aggregation, lack of real-time insights, and difficulty getting a comprehensive view.

• 6:08 – 7:20: How the Profit Analyzer works, syncing data automatically from platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Shopify.

• 7:20 – 10:38: Advertising spend tracking and attribution, allowing sellers to optimize ad performance by SKU.

• 16:05 – 19:17: Future plans for Veeqo, including more integrations, automated insights, and expanded ad support.

Subscribe for more episodes from Human in the Loop, and click here to request a free demo from Teikametrics: https://www.teikametrics.com/lets-talk/