Thinks Out Loud: E-commerce and Digital Strategy

Tim Peter
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  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Thinks Out Loud: E-commerce and Digital Strategy

Thinks Out Loud, a weekly production of Tim Peter & Associates, looks at the e-commerce and digital trends that influence your business strategy. Hosted by Tim Peter, each episode explores the rapidly shifting digital marketplace and uncovers tips to help you put those trends to work to improve your brand and business. Thinks Out Loud also looks at how mobile and social shape your customers' activities online and how you can develop the right marketing and customer experience strategies to drive growth for your organization.

  1. 2D AGO

    AI Can’t Save Bad Strategy: Why Fundamentals Still Matter in 2025 (Thinks Out Loud Episode 455)

    If there’s one thing I hate to see, it’s marketers, e-commerce, and customer acquisition folks who talk about AI as if it’s going to solve every problem their business has. Yes, AI can be an incredibly valuable tool. But it’s only a tool. The fact is that AI can’t save your business from bad strategy. Only you can. Thinking about AI as a “magic bullet” is a big reason why so many businesses still aren’t seeing the returns they’d hoped for from their AI efforts. Instead, the businesses succeeding with AI in marketing and customer acquisition are those that have figured out their core strategies first, then examined how they can use AI to execute against those strategies faster, easier, or more cheaply. How can you do that? How can you avoid the “bad strategy” gap for your business? And how can you make AI work for you to gain more customers and drive more revenue? That’s what this episode of Thinks Out Loud is all about. Want to learn more? Here are the show notes for you. AI Can’t Save Bad Strategy: Why Fundamentals Still Matter in 2025 (Thinks Out Loud Episode 455) — Headlines and Show Notes Show Notes and Links * The State of AI: Global survey | McKinsey * Gil Amelio – Wikipedia * Quote Origin: No One in This World Has Ever Lost Money by Underestimating the Intelligence of the Great Masses of the Plain People – Quote Investigator® * Best of Thinks Out Loud: Will AI Kill Content Marketing for Customer Acquisition? * AI, Content, and Revenue: Why Clicks Are Overrated (Thinks Out Loud Episode 450) * Should You Use AI to Create Your Content? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 454) * When Will AI Get Good at Marketing? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 446) * What’s the Point of Your Website in an Age of AI? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 447) You might also enjoy this webinar I recently participated in with Miles Partnership that looked at "The Power of Generative AI and ChatGPT: What It Means for Tourism & Hospitality" here: Free Downloads We have some free downloads for you to help you navigate the current situation, which you can find right here: * a href="https://www.timpeter.com/?feed-stats-url=aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3VzZXJjb250ZW50LmNvbS8wOGFiZWMzNjA1MTI3NjdlYzBiZDA0NmU1L2ZpbGVzL2MyZjg4ZTgyLTE2ZWQtOWNlZS1mZTYxLTMzMWI3OTdlZmE1MS9UUEFfQ29udGVudF9EaXN0cmlidXRpb25fQ2hlY2tsaXN0X0Jsb2dfR...

    14 min

  2. MAR 27

    Should You Use AI to Create Your Content? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 454)

    Artificial intelligence plays an ever-increasing role in marketing, e-commerce, and customer acquisition. Loads of companies and marketers use AI to plan, create, personalize, and measure their marketing activities. In general, that’s a good thing. AI can help you manage your marketing and customer acquisition more efficiently and effectively. So far, so good, right? However, when it comes to content marketing — still one of the most important parts of your customer acquisition process — there’s a huge question we need to ask. And that is: Should you use AI to create your content? My answer is… well, it’s complicated. Should you use AI to create your content? What is the proper role of artificial intelligence in content marketing? How can you put AI to work for your brand and business to drive customer acquisition? That’s the topic of this episode of Thinks Out Loud. Want to learn more? Here are the show notes for you. Should You Use AI to Create Your Content? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 454) — Headlines and Show Notes Show Notes and Links * NewsNet Issue 1060 | U.S. Copyright Office * What I learned at the 2025 Google Search Central Meetup in NYC – Lily Ray * Google’s John Mueller Says Programmatic SEO Often A Fancy Banner For Spam * What If I’m Wrong About AI and Marketing Jobs? (Thinks Out Loud 453) * AI, Content, and Revenue: Why Clicks Are Overrated (Thinks Out Loud Episode 450) * How Should You Think About Website SEO for AI? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 448) * Will AI Kill Content Marketing for Customer Acquisition? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 449) * The Rebirth of Trusted Gatekeepers (Thinks Out Loud Episode 307) * Content is King, Customer Experience is Queen (Thinks Out Loud Episode 188) * Is "Content is King" Dead? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 306) * a href="https://www.

    17 min

  3. MAR 20

    What If I’m Wrong About AI and Marketing Jobs? (Thinks Out Loud 453)

    I’ve long believed that AI won’t steal your job, but rather that smart people who put AI to work will. After all, marketing, e-commerce, and customer acquisition roles are simply too complicated to automate away. No business leaders would ever be foolish enough to turn these critical functions over to artificial intelligence, right? Well… let’s consider the alternative. I do believe that these roles will survive the age of AI. But, what if I’m wrong about AI in marketing and customer acquisition? It’s certainly true that senior leaders will cut costs or slow down hiring if the economy gets tight. Why wouldn’t they think about using more automation — and fewer people — in some cases? In that case, the real question becomes how do you make sure you remain employed — and employable — no matter how big a role AI and automation play. And that’s what this episode of Thinks Out Loud is all about. Want to learn more? Here are the show notes for you. What If I’m Wrong About AI and Marketing Jobs? (Thinks Out Loud 453) — Headlines and Show Notes Show Notes and Links * AI and the Future of Marketing and E-commerce — How You Stay Relevant * AI Won’t Steal Your Job: Smart People Who Put AI to Work Will (Thinks Out Loud Episode 208) * Is ChatGPT Going to Steal Your Job? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 371) * Revisiting “The Only Way to Succeed Next Year” (Thinks Out Loud) * When Will AI Get Good at Marketing? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 446) * Is AI Destined to Make Marketing — and Music — Worse? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 432) * What Marketers Really Need to Know About Putting AI to Work (Thinks Out Loud Episode 426) * It’s time to take AI job loss seriously * Nobody knows what to do about AGI – by Timothy B. Lee * Can OpenAI do creative writing?

    22 min

  4. MAR 13

    Best of Thinks Out Loud: Will AI Kill Content Marketing for Customer Acquisition?

    Content marketing plays a crucial role in driving results for your business. Done well, it’s your organization’s 24/7/365 ” salesperson and your 24/7/365 customer service rep. But the emergence of artificial intelligence puts pressure on content marketing. Almost anyone can produce large volumes of content easily and cheaply using generative AI, making it tougher for your business to cut through the noise. How can you compete in such an environment? What can you do to stand apart from the competition and get your message heard by your customers? Ultimately, will AI kill content marketing for customer acquisition? In this “Best of…of Thinks Out Loud” episode, we dive in and help you uncover how to make content marketing work for your business in an age of AI. Want to learn more? Here are the show notes for you. Best of Thinks Out Loud: Will AI Kill Content Marketing for Customer Acquisition? — Headlines and Show Notes Show Notes and Links * Will AI Kill Content Marketing for Customer Acquisition? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 449) * Deal With It: Digital Makes Marketing Easier for Everyone, Which Makes Marketing Harder For Everyone (Thinks Out Loud Episode 213) * How to Put Big Tech and AI — the Biggest Threat and Biggest Enablers of Your Business — to Work (Episode 428) * Digital Transformation is All About Customers (Thinks Out Loud Episode 323) – Tim Peter & Associates * When people are your brand – Tim Peter & Associates * Big Digital Marketing Trends: Who Speaks For Your Business? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 377) * Belonging to the Brand: Why Community is the Last Great Marketing Strategy eBook by Mark Schaefer (Kindle Store) * The Rebirth of Trusted Gatekeepers (Thinks Out Loud Episode 307) – Tim Peter & Associates * Will AI Kill Your Brand (Thinks Out Loud Episode 435)

  5. MAR 6

    AI and the Future of Marketing and E-commerce — How You Stay Relevant

    I’ve long argued that artificial intelligence won’t take your job, but that smart people who use AI might. What you might want to think about though is what “smart people who use AI” looks like in practice. Because your future in marketing and e-commerce undoubtedly depends on using AI well. In this episode of the Thinks Out Loud podcast, we take a look at what “using AI well” in the future looks like. We also break down the skills needed now… and in the future. And, most importantly, we explore how you can stay relevant as AI continues to change marketing, e-commerce, and customer acquisition overall. Want to learn more? Here are the show notes for you. AI and the Future of Marketing and E-commerce: How You Stay Relevant (Thinks Out Loud Episode 452) — Headlines and Show Notes Show Notes and Links * AI Won’t Steal Your Job: Smart People Who Put AI to Work Will (Thinks Out Loud Episode 208) * Is ChatGPT Going to Steal Your Job? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 371) * Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics * IDC Estimates that GenAI Will Increase Marketing Productivity More Than 40% by 2029 | Business Wire * [AI Replacing Jobs Statistics and Facts [2024*]](https://electroiq.com/stats/ai-replacing-jobs-statistics/#google_vignette) * Top Marketing Trends for 2025: AI, Automation, and More * AI usage in marketing 2022 | Statista * What Jobs Will AI Replace & Which Are Safe in 2024 [+ Data] * The AI Marketing Jobs Boom: Top Roles, Skills,

    20 min

  6. FEB 27

    Google vs. ChatGPT: Who’s Really Winning… And Why It Matters for Your Business (Thinks Out Loud Episode 451)

    With all of the discussion around ChatGPT, generative AI, and large language models, you’d think that OpenAI’s tools — or those from Perplexity or Anthropic — are crushing Google. It would be easy to assume that search is dead. Here’s the thing, though: The numbers don’t back that up. If anything, Google’s position over the last few months has gotten stronger, not weaker. That’s great, right? If Google’s winning, then you just need to keep doing what you’re doing and business will keep pouring in from Google’s paid and organic search, right? Well, no. In fact, Google winning in the marketplace has as many potential downsides for your business as Google losing. Why is that so? What happens if Google beats ChatGPT in the marketplace? And why does that matter for your business? That’s what this episode of the Thinks Out Loud podcast is all about. Want to learn more? Here are the show notes for you… Google vs. ChatGPT: Who’s Really Winning… And Why It Matters for Your Business (Thinks Out Loud Episode 451) — Headlines and Show Notes Show Notes and Links * Chegg sues Google over AI search summaries | TechCrunch * Chegg – Get 24/7 Homework Help | Rent Textbooks * ChatGPT Subscribers Nearly Tripled to 15.5 Million in 2024 — The Information * Why Google’s 4th Quarter Results Raise Questions for SEO & PPC * ChatGPT Search by the Numbers: How is it Performing in the Search Space? | Datos * Browse All of Google’s Products & Services – Google * Google 2024 Earnings PDF link * AI, Content, and Revenue: Why Clicks Are Overrated (Thinks Out Loud Episode 450) * How To Run Your Business As If Google Didn’t Exist (Thinks Out Loud Episode 298) * Four Big Threats (Plus a Bonus Threat!) To Google’s Dominance Next Year (Thinks Out Loud Episode 436) * a href="https://www.timpeter.com/?

    17 min

  7. FEB 20

    AI, Content, and Revenue: Why Clicks Are Overrated (Thinks Out Loud Episode 450)

    Is it possible that clicks are overrated in digital marketing and in marketing more generally? Isn’t the point of marketing to drive revenue? I think so, in both cases. You absolutely can drive revenue without clicks. Great marketing has done that for years. But, if that’s the case, how do you measure the value of your marketing, and especially, of your content marketing? How do you stand apart in a sea of sameness? And what role does AI play in all of this? AI, content, and revenue — and why clicks are overrated — is the topic of this week’s episode of Thinks Out Loud, our marketing and customer acquisition podcast. Want to learn more? Here are the show notes for you. AI, Content, and Revenue: Why Clicks Are Overrated (Thinks Out Loud Episode 450) — Headlines and Show Notes Show Notes and Links * Traffic Is Down; Revenue Is… Up? – SparkToro * Will AI Kill Content Marketing for Customer Acquisition? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 449) * How Should You Think About Website SEO for AI? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 448) * What’s the Point of Your Website in an Age of AI? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 447) * When Will AI Get Good at Marketing? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 446) * Learn more about Audacious: How Humans Win in an AI Marketing World from Mark Schaefer’s website, Schaefer Marketing Solutions: We Help Businesses {grow * Buy “Audacious: How Humans Win in an AI Marketing World” on Amazon You might also enjoy this webinar I recently participated in with Miles Partnership that looked at "The Power of Generative AI and ChatGPT: What It Means for Tourism & Hospitality" here: Free Downloads We have some free downloads for you to help you navigate the current situation, which you can find right here: * a href="https://www.timpeter.com/?feed-stats-url=aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3VzZXJjb250ZW50LmNvbS8wOGFiZWMzNjA1MTI3NjdlYzBiZDA0NmU1L2ZpbGVzL2MyZjg4ZTgyLTE2ZWQtOWNlZS1mZTYxLTMzM...

    18 min

  8. FEB 13

    Revisiting “The Only Way to Succeed Next Year” (Thinks Out Loud)

    There’s only one way to succeed this year & and every year. Success is more than just what you do in digital or marketing. Success goes far beyond just your business. Of course success in digital and marketing and your business matters. But, business success often follows from success across multiple areas of your life. Successful people may seem like they’re accomplished in many areas… because they are. They’re not focused solely on being “their best selves” only at work or only in part of their lives. They bring that to every aspect of what they do. It’s the idea of being your best self that’s at the heart of the conversation I want to have with you this week. What does “being your best self” look like in practice? What can you do to achieve it? And how does it apply not only in business, but across many areas of your life? That’s what this episode of Thinks Out Loud is all about. Want to learn more? Here are the show notes for you. Revisiting “The Only Way to Succeed Next Year” (Thinks Out Loud) — Headlines and Show Notes Show Notes and Links * The Only Way to Succeed Next Year (Thinks Out Loud Episode 444) * Why New Year’s Resolutions Set You Up to Fail | Psychology Today * New Year’s resolutions often don’t last. Here’s why they fail and how to keep them, according to an expert. – CBS News * Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi – Wikipedia * 8 Traits of Flow According to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi * AI Is Not the Future. You Are (Thinks Out Loud Episode 443) * wheel of life – Google Search * Navigating Life’s Spheres: Your Guide to the Balance Wheel | Love Light & Inspiration * The...

    25 min
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    Thinks Out Loud, a weekly production of Tim Peter & Associates, looks at the e-commerce and digital trends that influence your business strategy. Hosted by Tim Peter, each episode explores the rapidly shifting digital marketplace and uncovers tips to help you put those trends to work to improve your brand and business. Thinks Out Loud also looks at how mobile and social shape your customers' activities online and how you can develop the right marketing and customer experience strategies to drive growth for your organization.

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