Summary In this episode, Joe Shelerud interviews Corey Brown from buffaBRAND Marketing about AI image generation and its potential impact on advertising. They discuss the various tools available, the importance of having a strong creative foundation, and the challenges of using AI to generate realistic and effective images. They also explore the future of AI image generation and how it could change the industry. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the need for a balanced approach to AI,...

Summary In this episode, Joe Shelerud interviews Dan Brownsher from Channel Key. They discuss the current state of the e-commerce space, the challenges and opportunities for brands on platforms like Amazon, and the key factors that contribute to a brand's success. They emphasize the importance of high-quality products, brand building, and maximizing total lifetime value. They also highlight the need for brands to utilize upper funnel activities and measure them correctly. Takeaways The...

Summary In this episode, Keith from Made In discusses his journey in the e-commerce space and the strategies he implemented to scale the new-to-brand customer on Amazon. He shares insights on testing incrementality, maximizing lower funnel opportunities, expanding search terms, and utilizing Amazon Marketing Cloud. Keith also compares the Walmart Marketplace to Amazon and talks about the potential for international expansion. The episode concludes with a discussion on upper funnel...

Summary In this episode, Abe from XP Strategy joins the Ad Project Podcast to discuss his experience participating in an AI hackathon at the Prosper Show. The hackathon involved creating a new product and all the necessary assets within a tight timeframe using AI tools. Abe shares the challenges and successes of the hackathon, including using ChatGPT for image generation and product packaging. He emphasizes that AI is a tool that can enhance experts and provide a starting point for those who...

Summary We are live from Prosper Show! In this episode, Joe is joined by Jérôme de Guigné to discuss the process of expanding internationally, specifically to the European market. They cover topics such as general benchmarks for international expansion, competition and cost per click, localization and AI tools, product packaging and customization, and the importance of VAT and compliance. They also provide a step-by-step guide for selling in Europe and share where to find more...

Summary In this episode, the Joe & Matt discuss the differences between Sponsored Display and DSP on Amazon. They explain when to consider using each platform and the various audience targeting options available. They also compare the pricing models and creative options in both platforms. The hosts highlight the advantages of using Amazon's DSP, such as the ability to use custom creatives and access to Amazon Marketing Cloud for advanced data insights. They conclude by emphasizing the...

Summary Anders Hjorth, an expert in retail media, discusses his journey into the Amazon and retail media space and the rise of Amazon ads. He defines retail media as advertising in commerce and highlights the differences between retail media in Europe and North America. Anders also explores the challenges of allocating budget and achieving consistency in data and reporting. He shares his excitement about the future of retail media, including the integration of video and CCTV and the ability...

Summary In this episode, host Joe Shelerud interviews Dom from Sproutbrite, an Amazon seller with a unique background in music and entrepreneurship. Dom shares his journey from a successful music career to starting his own business on Amazon. He discusses the challenges he faced, including financial setbacks and copycat competitors. Dom also emphasizes the importance of passion, authenticity, and creating value in the products and content he offers. Takeaways Passion and authenticity are key...

Summary In this episode, Joe and Sean discuss the power of first-party data in Amazon advertising. They explore the challenges and opportunities of using Amazon's DSP to target audiences off the platform. They highlight the importance of audience segmentation and tracking, as well as the benefits of using hash lists to build lookalike audiences. They also discuss the complexities of conversion attribution and the need for careful measurement. Overall, they emphasize the value of utilizing...

Summary In this episode, Joe Shelerud and Melissa Barnstorf discuss Walmart advertising and the differences between Walmart and Amazon ads. They provide tips for getting started with Walmart advertising, including leveraging top-performing keywords from Amazon. They also share a case study of a brand successfully launching on Walmart. The episode concludes with an update on brand term targeting on Walmart and the early days of Walmart advertising. Takeaways Walmart advertising has...

In this episode, Joe Shelerud is joined by Jack Lindberg from The Mars Agency to explore the intricacies of Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC) and data clean rooms. They discuss the technical and analogical aspects of data clean rooms, highlighting their significance in maintaining privacy while sharing valuable data. The conversation delves into use cases, including ASIN purchase overlap reports and insights into customer behavior after viewing ads. Key Points: Understanding the concept of data...

Join Matt and Joe in this insightful episode as they dissect the top trends, providing marketers and advertisers with a concise overview of the pivotal shifts defining digital advertising in 2024. Key Highlights: Retail Media Growth: Prediction of a surge in the importance of retail media within the advertising space.Examples of major players like Amazon, Walmart, and Target utilizing first-party data for precision advertising. Streaming's Growth in 2024: Anticipation of significant growth...

In this episode of The Ad Project podcast, Joe Shelerud and Maarja Hewitt explore distinctive trends observed during the recent holiday season, comparing them to previous years. A significant focus is placed on the extension of holiday deals, as major retailers like Walmart and Amazon initiated Black Friday promotions as early as November. This departure from the conventional concentrated shopping period posed challenges for both consumers and advertisers. Key Discussions: Extended Holiday...

Dive into the practical side of advertising metrics with Joe and Matt as they debunk the TACOS myth on The Ad Project. They cut through the noise to explore the limitations of TACOS and introduce a spread of alternative metrics—including Nachos, Chili, Guacamole, Tortas, Tortilla, Fajita, and Queso—each contributing a distinct perspective on advertising effectiveness. Join Joe and Matt as they dissect these alternative metrics, breaking down their impact from the crispiness of Nachos to the...

Summary In this episode, Joe Shelerud interviews Dave Katz from Amazon Ads. Dave is a marketing technology strategist at Amazon Ads. He guides developers, product teams, and data practitioners to build scalable and effective technology. He has over 15 years of experience in the advertising technology industry working on both the buy and sell sides. As a former marketing analyst, Dave led the adoption of full-funnel attribution analytics for multiple large consumer and business brands. Key...

This week we welcome Michael Swenson from RocketBike to the podcast! The focus of the discussion is on the importance of creatives and product detail pages in driving conversions on Amazon. Key Takeaways: Elevator Pitch with Second Images: Michael introduces a game-changing strategy—using the second image as a powerful "elevator pitch" to boost conversions and captivate consumers quickly.Visual Prominence in Main Images: Explore the critical impact of main images on click-through rates and...

In this episode of The Ad Project, co-founders of Ad Advance Joe Shelerud and Matt Wiklund discuss the upcoming Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, highlighting the evolving trend of extended deal days beyond the traditional shopping holidays. They speculate on how this shift might impact consumer behavior, making it more challenging to decide when to make purchases. The conversation then transitions to the introduction of sponsored TV and upper-funnel video ads on Amazon. They explore the...

In this episode of The Ad Project, the discussion revolves around selecting the right agency for retail media advertising, particularly concerning Amazon. The episode begins with an introduction to Jeremy Bugbee, Director of Business Development at Ad Advance. The core focus of the episode is on guiding listeners through the key questions and considerations when evaluating agencies for advertising and retail media services, especially in the context of Amazon. Joe and Jeremy unpack topics...

Live from Amazon unBoxed! Join us as we sit down with representatives from five different teams within Amazon Advertising to talk through newly announced features and gain insights into what they're excited about in the future of Amazon Advertising. Special guests include: Kelly McClean - VP Amazon DSPRuslana Zbagerska - VP of Technology and Product Development Amazon AdsMiranda Chen - Director of AMC Growth and MonetizationTeresa Uthurralt - Director of Partner DevelopmentJeff Cohen -...

Today we welcome back Melissa Barnstorf, Director of Walmart Marketplaces & Account Manager at Ad Advance, to explore the fascinating realm of Walmart advertising and how it stacks up against the giant - Amazon. If you've been wondering about the ins and outs of Walmart ads or if you're looking to understand the key differences between these e-commerce powerhouses, this episode promises valuable insights. Melissa kicks off the conversation by offering a glimpse into Walmart's advertising...

In this episode, we're joined by Adam Runquist, a seasoned expert with a deep understanding of the ever-evolving world of e-commerce on Amazon in 2023. Together, we explore the intricate strategies that are currently driving success in the Amazon marketplace. What sets this discussion apart is our focus on real-world experiences and practical advice that can help you thrive on Amazon today. We don't just scratch the surface; we delve into the nitty-gritty details of what's working right now....

Are you up to date on the latest developments in Amazon Advertising? In this podcast episode of the Ad Project Podcast, we are joined by the wonderful Maarja Hewitt to dive into the ever-changing world of Amazon advertising and unpack some of the updates and features that have come our way recently. The episode kicks off with Joe and Maarja by chatting about one of the big changes - Sponsored Product ads being shown off Amazon. They give their take on this new feature - the pros (like having...

This week on The Ad Project, hosts Joe Shelerud and Keith O'Brien discuss the dynamic world of Amazon e-commerce and advertising. Keith, an Amazon expert with nine years of experience, shares insights into the platform's evolution and the increasing significance of video advertising. The conversation covers Keith's background and journey within the Amazon ecosystem, from driving product reviews to founding his own agency. They reminisce about earlier strategies and set the stage for exploring...

This week on The Ad Project, Joe Shelerud and Matt Wiklund take a pragmatic look at the world of advertising metrics - specifically TACOS. Joe has reservations about TACOS, and he'll explain why. Matt, on the other hand, sees its merits as a budgeting tool. Here's what you can expect: TACOS, which measures ad spend as a percentage of total sales, is introduced, and Joe raises some concerns about its usefulness.Joe argues that TACOS can be manipulated by advertisers and lacks a comprehensive...