Paid Ads, Real Results: How AI + First-Party Data Can Boost Your ROAS

In this episode of The Ecommerce Revolution Podcast, we break down paid advertising myths, mistakes, and money-making moves with Daniel Rose, Account Director at AdScale, an AI-powered ad platform built for ecommerce brands.

If you’re struggling with when to start ads, how much to spend, or why your ROAS is stuck, Daniel brings the clarity—and strategy—you’ve been waiting for.

We talk about:

* Smart ways to leverage your first-party data

* Google vs. Meta: which one, when, and why

* Budget minimums (and what to expect in return)

* What a "good" ROAS really looks like in 2025

* How AI builds and optimizes your ads—so you don’t have to

📍Chapter Timestamps

00:00 – Why you must be comfortable with your ad budget01:10 – Meet Daniel Rose from AdScale03:30 – What AdScale actually does and how it uses your store’s data06:15 – Why lookalike audiences are the holy grail07:50 – When are you really ready to run ads?09:00 – In-person sellers and first-party data collection11:10 – Meta or Google? How to pick your starting platform13:00 – Why AdScale combines budgets across platforms14:10 – How much should you spend on ads?16:00 – Ideal budget ranges and what they unlock17:00 – What does ROAS success look like today?18:45 – Realistic expectations for timeline to results20:45 – Shopify, Woo, Wix… does your platform matter?23:10 – Brand building vs. performance: which ad platform wins?25:00 – AI campaign optimization explained27:40 – Can humans override the AI? (Nope.)29:00 – Pay-As-You-Grow vs. Plus: What’s the difference?32:00 – How AdScale helps small brands scale up34:10 – Breaking through fear of ads with the right mindset36:00 – The “hazard zone” of low average order value39:00 – Why creative matters less than you think41:00 – Why relevant visitors matter more than volume43:00 – AI brings us back to pre-2021 targeting45:00 – Daniel’s favorite personal use of AI (memes + jokes!)

🔗 Links & Resources

* 💻 Visit AdScale

* 🛒 Join the Ecommerce Revolution: ecomrevolution.co

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