Human in the Loop

Teikametrics

This brand new show explores the dynamic intersection of human intelligence and cutting-edge technology within the ever-evolving landscape of ecommerce. From in-depth discussions on artificial intelligence, to viral brands that launched on TikTok, to the stories behind today’s biggest technology companies, brands, and sellers.. Welcome to the forefront of the ecommerce revolution, where being a Human in the Loop is not just a just a strategy... But the very essence of progress.

  1. JAN 7

    Introducing ARI: Artificial Retail Intelligence with Alasdair McLean-Foreman

    In this episode, Cameron sits down with Alasdair McLean-Foreman, CEO & Founder of Teikametrics, to unpack ARI (Artificial Retail Intelligence), the most significant platform evolution in Teikametrics history. The conversation clarifies what ARI is, why it matters now, and how it represents a fundamental shift from ad optimization toward a unified, AI-powered orchestration layer that helps brands manage and scale their intellectual property across multiple retail channels. Key Takeaways ARI is a platform shift, not a feature releaseIt marks Teikametrics’ evolution beyond ads into a holistic retail intelligence and orchestration layer. Intellectual property is the core asset ARI optimizesProduct content, listings, imagery, and brand IP are treated as strategic inputs that fuel performance across channels. Generative AI enables what wasn’t possible beforeAdvances in AI over the last 6–12 months made ARI feasible at a quality level brands can trust. Multichannel growth becomes operationally simplerARI is designed to help brands move faster across Amazon, Walmart, TikTok, and beyond without duplicating effort. Teikametrics is expanding into a new categoryARI positions the company closer to product information management, feed management, and channel orchestration—powered by AI. Episode Timeline 00:00  | Introduction and why ARI matters now 00:55  | What ARI is and how the concept was formed 01:40  | How ARI differs from previous Teikametrics solutions 03:10  | The role of generative AI and why timing matters 04:30  | ARI’s impact on multichannel ecommerce strategy 05:25 | How ARI aligns with Teikametrics’ long-term mission 06:30 | Future implications for sellers, partners, and employees 08:10 | Closing thoughts and what’s coming next Key Quotes “ARI is the most important thing we’ve ever done—it’s the evolution of our company beyond ads.” “Brands have intellectual property, and ARI is about orchestrating that IP across channels using AI.” “When you shift the problem from ads to content and IP management, you enter a completely new category.”

    9 min
  2. 09/10/2025

    From the Show Floor: Announcing GenAI Smart Pages with Alasdair McLean-Foreman

    This episode is all about Teikametrics' most recent release: GenAI Smart Pages. Cameron Yoder chats with Alasdair McLean-Foreman, CEO & Founder of Teikametrics about what GenAI Smart Pages is, how it's impacting sellers now, and what's to come in the future. Key Timestamps: 00:00 | Setting the stage at Let’s Grow 2025 – Event energy, Teikametrics’ growth, and seller engagement. 00:28 | Introducing GenAI Smart Pages – Why this is the most important product Teikametrics has built. 01:13 | How Smart Pages work – Generative AI + patented algorithms producing optimized listings. 01:43  | Immediate seller results – Increased organic sales, higher ROAS, and unlocking ad spend confidence. 02:31 | Future roadmap – Seasonal optimization, AI-powered images, video, and even avatars. 03:36  | The “Magic Button” – Seamlessly mapping Amazon success onto Walmart with optimized listings. 04:26 | Seller impact – Simplifying messy, time-consuming listing optimization at scale. 05:10 | All-in-one solution – Research, keyword targeting, AI content, listing uploads, and ads in one clean package. 05:45 | Closing thoughts – Why Smart Pages are a game-changer for sellers and the future of ecommerce. Key Takeaways Smart Pages = Teikametrics’ biggest innovation: AI-driven, automated listing optimization delivering measurable performance boosts. Real results already happening: Sellers are seeing higher organic sales and improved ad efficiency. The flywheel effect: Better listings → better sales → better ads → more budget unlocked. Magic Button: Game-changing ability to port success from Amazon to Walmart with AI-mapped listings. Future vision: AI-powered content tailored by season, images, video, and even avatars. Ultimate value: Saves sellers massive amounts of time while driving growth at scale.

    6 min
  3. 06/24/2025

    Inside Fire TV & Alexa Advertising: Full-Funnel Strategies with Amazon’s Charlotte Maines

    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

    25 min
  4. 05/05/2025

    AMC Demystified: Smarter Ad Strategies for Sellers

    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 Subscribe & Follow 🚀 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe to Human in the Loop on Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/hitl 📲 Follow Teikametrics for more cutting-edge insights on Amazon & Walmart advertising: 🔹 LinkedIn 🔹 Twitter/X 🔹 Instagram

    21 min
  5. 04/24/2025

    Adapting to Tariffs: Strategies to Stay Profitable

    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.

    17 min
  6. 04/16/2025

    Inside TikTok Shop with Adolfo Fernández

    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.

    10 min
  7. 04/02/2025

    The TikTok Content Playbook: How to Build, Engage & Sell on TikTok

    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

    21 min
  8. 03/19/2025

    Lessons From the Front Lines: Launching Brands on Amazon

    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.

    21 min
5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

This brand new show explores the dynamic intersection of human intelligence and cutting-edge technology within the ever-evolving landscape of ecommerce. From in-depth discussions on artificial intelligence, to viral brands that launched on TikTok, to the stories behind today’s biggest technology companies, brands, and sellers.. Welcome to the forefront of the ecommerce revolution, where being a Human in the Loop is not just a just a strategy... But the very essence of progress.