Thinks Out Loud: E-commerce and Digital Strategy

ChatGPT has opened up its app platforms to all businesses. In general terms, that’s a Good Thing. Seriously. The question is whether this general good thing is specifically good for your and your business.

In this episode of the podcast, host Tim Peter looks at ChatGPT’s apps and addresses the following questions:

Anyone who’s read my writing or listened to the show knows that I’m generally bullish on the potential benefits of AI for customers and brands. Where I’m far less bullish is when “experts” tell you that AI will prevent you from building meaningful connections between your brand and your customers. Whether they mean to or not, they’re describing a world where every brand becomes a commodity. And, frankly, I simply refuse to go along. That view is simply nonsense. Brands exist so that customers can easily identify the products and services they know and trust. That was tru...

The holidays are a great time to catch up on some of the big ideas we’ve covered on the podcast this year. And one of the biggest is the notion that “Your brand is the prompt.” That idea is even more important now that ChatGPT has opened access for any business to release their own app on the ChatGPT platform.

Once businesses start taking advantage, your biggest problem won’t be getting ChatGPT to find you. It will be getting them to show you instead of the millions of other businesses who also want ChatGPT to show the...

2025 has not been a year of incremental change. We’re living through dramatic changes. Most marketers and e-commerce folks started the year “playing with AI.” Now we’re considering when it will replace everyday interactions with our customers.

This much change, this fast, requires us to take a moment and reflect on what we’ve learned in the last year, why it matters for our businesses, and what we need to do to deal with whatever comes next. That’s what this episode of the podcast is all about.

Most importantly, I try to wrap up these les...

You’ve heard me say that “gatekeepers gonna gate” for a long, long time. Hell, I wrote a whole book about the topic. The funny thing is that most folks assume that OpenAI and ChatGPT are going to bypass the gatekeepers — and will likely become the biggest gatekeepers of all.

Maybe… But I’m not so sure.

While I could be wrong about this, I think that OpenAI is in fact in deep trouble and largely because of their own actions — and, more importantly, those of Big Tech gatekeepers. I’m reasonably sure that gatekeepers — and the reality th...

You may have heard that Amazon is suing Perplexity, alleging that Perplexity’s Comet browser violates the e-commerce giant’s terms of service. Amazon goes even further, though, as an article from The Verge points out:

Amazon’s statement says third-party applications that purchase products for customers on its site “should respect service provider decisions about whether or not to participate,” and claims the comment provides "a significantly degraded shopping and customer service experience”

Amazon knows better than just about anyone that gatekeepers gonna gate… and that a consequence of those gatekeepers’ actions often is “a significantly de...

I am incredibly fortunate to do get to do what I do. I’m even more fortunate that I’m surrounded by amazing people every single day. And I’m tremendously thankful for all of those.

In honor of Thanksgiving here in the US, I thought it made sense to share what I’m most thankful for this year. I also thought it was worthwhile to share how those might be useful to you too.

Curious about the five things I’m most thankful for this year? That’s what this episode of the podcast is all about...

I’ve been talking about the idea of “the brand is the prompt” for a while now. But I think now would be helpful to dive into what that means in a lot more detail. Why? Because too many folks seem to think that AI agents and answer engines will always come between you and your customer.

I don’t believe that has to be true.

I’ve studied how we can build brands beyond Big Tech for over 20 years. That’s the core of what Digital Reset is all about. And while AI is different, I...

We’ve seen a lot of work around agentic AI in the last handful of weeks and months, with Google adding agentic AI to Chrome and in its Search Labs; ChatGPT offering its Atlas browser that offers agentic capabilities, and Perplexity doing the same with its Comet browser. This last one seems to be ruffling some feathers, as Amazon has “demanded” that Perplexity stop using its agents to buy stuff on Amazon.

Part of me wants to say, “Boo-hoo, Amazon. Not so fun when the shoe is on the other foot, is it?”

BUT…

Amazon has...

With customers increasingly turning towards AI to get the answers they need for their business, you might be rethinking the value your website provides to those customers — and to your business. It’s absolutely worthwhile to ask the question. The answer, though, might surprise you.

In this episode of the podcast, Tim Peter looks at whether you still need a website in the age of AI, what its value is to your customers and your business, and, most importantly, how to make sure your website works for both in the longer term.

Want to learn more...

I’m generally bullish on AI and its potential benefits for customers and brands. What I’m less bullish about are all the folks essentially telling you that AI will make you give up building meaningful connections between your brand and your customers. Without meaning to, they’re describing a world where every brand becomes a commodity. And, frankly, I simply refuse to go along.

Instead, we need to do the work, right now, that will drive customers to ask for us by name. And that depends on building brands customers care about. In short, in the age of...

Are you as sick as I am of hearing people claim that SEO is dead? I mean, c’mon. How is that we keep regurgitating the same foul nonsense to drive clicks, engagement, and a little bit of anger among the marketing community. I promise I’m not going to ask “is SEO dead?” or claim that “SEO is dead” or anything similar anytime soon.

What’s also true is that how your customers search for what they need is changing — and quickly.

Some folks want to call these changes GEO. Some call them AEO. Some call them A...

I assume most people know that Google makes almost all of its money from ads. And, in practice, those ads are based on clicks. Paid clicks. That fact means that Google can’t survive in a zero-click world. While that same reality is not (yet) true for ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, and other AI answer engines, they’re almost certainly going to need some form of ads—again, probably clickable ads—to fund their operations.

For example, ChatGPT alone is planning to invest over 1 trillion dollars in their compute and infrastructure. That’s “trillion.” With a “T.” Some quick back-of-the...

OpenAI just introduced Instant Checkout and apps in ChatGPT, allowing customers to buy products and services directly within the AI. This is, as they say, “the next step in agentic commerce.” It’s genuinely a capital-B, capital-D, Big Frickin’ Deal. No doubt about it.

At the same time, some folks might be rushing to claim these a whole new world, or a complete upending of commerce as we know it.

I’m… not convinced. Instead, I’m concerned that too many people are going to trade the Big Tech intermediaries we face today with a different set...

Google has now added agentic AI to Chrome and in its Search Labs. Google has enormous reach with these tools, which means your customers could start using them almost any day.

The question is, what happens to your content? Will agents replace the content you’ve worked so hard to create and curate, giving customers answers to their questions? In shortt, will agentic AI kill your content marketing?

I’m not convinced. More than that, I believe we must actively work to make sure that doesn’t become true.

Why? What’s so importan...

Whether you want to call it SEO, AEO, AIO, GEO, or something else altogether, it’s clear that search is changing… or is it? Yes, customers are using AI answer engines much more often. Yes, Google and other “traditional” search engines are responding by adding more AI answers into their results.

The question, though, is how much you ought to change how you do what you do to answer your customers’ questions.

Is search as we know it completely different? Or do some fundamental truths remain that we still need to to keep in mind? That’s wha...

While Judge Amit Mehta has imposed penalties on Google for its anticompetitive behavior, I’m convinced that the big winner in the antitrust trial is… Google. And, to a lesser extent, the rest of Big Tech wins, too.

Confused? Don’t be.

What did Judge Mehta’s ruling say? Why do I think Google won more than they lost? And, more importantly, what does all of this mean for your business?

That’s what this episode of the podcast is all about.

Want to learn more? Here are the show notes for you. <...

For all the talk about zero-click search, folks seem to keep overlooking one of its key consequences: How Google (and others) will make money. In short, Google can’t survive in a zero-click world. Their entire business depends on clicks. Paid clicks.

The shift towards zero-click results signals a genuine turning point for how you think about marketing your business, in part, because it will absolutely grow your costs for acquiring new customers.

So, what’s the real story behind zero-click search? Does it forecast a world where Google is doomed? And, most importantly, what does...

For all the talk about zero-click search, folks seem to keep overlooking one of its key consequences: How Google (and others) will make money. In short, Google can’t survive in a zero-click world. Their entire business depends on clicks. Paid clicks.

The shift towards zero-click results signals a genuine turning point for how you think about marketing your business, in part, because it will absolutely grow your costs for acquiring new customers.

So, what’s the real story behind zero-click search? Does it forecast a world where Google is doomed? And, most importantly, what does...

Agentic AI is almost certainly going to be huge… and probably soon. Early versions of agentic AI already exist today. Some of them even work pretty well. And the early data suggests customers are OK with the idea of agentic AI.

Those facts lead to a few key questions for you:

Agentic AI is almost certainly going to be huge… and probably soon. Early versions of agentic AI already exist today. Some of them even work pretty well. And the early data suggests customers are OK with the idea of agentic AI.

Those facts lead to a few key questions for you:

Unlike a lot of folks, I’m not convinced that AI agents are the end of brands. Sure, there’s a risk. But I still believe most customers will choose brands that work for their needs & and will train their agents, as those evolve, to pick their preferred options in many cases.

Of course, getting customers to train their agents that you’re the right choice isn’t something you can wait to do when (or if) agents become available. Instead, it’s something you can (and should!) do right now. Even better, it works for your brand and...

Unlike a lot of folks, I’m not convinced that AI agents are the end of brands. Sure, there’s a risk. But I still believe most customers will choose brands that work for their needs & and will train their agents, as those evolve, to pick their preferred options in many cases.

Of course, getting customers to train their agents that you’re the right choice isn’t something you can wait to do when (or if) agents become available. Instead, it’s something you can (and should!) do right now. Even better, it works for your brand and...

Google seems scared. Customers seem ready to jump. Behaviors are shifting fast and furious.

While I tend to think Google is in the best possible position to win the AI wars, they’re also the fattest target for startups like OpenAI. The Mary Meeker report illustrates many of the ways that ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Anthropic threaten the Big Tech status quo. But, increasingly, Google’s own actions also show that they’re concerned. My suspicion is that their data — which they have more of than anybody — isn’t giving them much comfort. (That’s only a suspicion; I could defini...

Google seems scared. Customers seem ready to jump. Behaviors are shifting fast and furious.

While I tend to think Google is in the best possible position to win the AI wars, they’re also the fattest target for startups like OpenAI. The Mary Meeker report illustrates many of the ways that ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Anthropic threaten the Big Tech status quo. But, increasingly, Google’s own actions also show that they’re concerned. My suspicion is that their data — which they have more of than anybody — isn’t giving them much comfort. (That’s only a suspicion; I could defini...

Does it seem like you are destined to fall behind when it comes to AI? I know for many marketers and e-commerce professionals, especially at small or mid-sized businesses, it can seem that way.

In some ways, it’s not just possible, but actually likely that you will. AI is incredibly fast. It’s incredibly powerful. To think that human beings can outthink AI is not realistic. As I like to say, “You’re not going to out-AI AI.”

But, in a far more meaningful way, I’m don’t think that our inability to keep up with A...

Does it seem like you are destined to fall behind when it comes to AI? I know for many marketers and e-commerce professionals, especially at small or mid-sized businesses, it can seem that way.

In some ways, it’s not just possible, but actually likely that you will. AI is incredibly fast. It’s incredibly powerful. To think that human beings can outthink AI is not realistic. As I like to say, “You’re not going to out-AI AI.”

But, in a far more meaningful way, I’m don’t think that our inability to keep up with A...

You may have heard me say that “gatekeepers gonna gate.” Well, Google’s AI Mode shows exactly what that looks like in practice. AI Mode is so disruptive to the way the web has worked for years that it looks like Google’s closing the gate on marketers, setting the stage to make a big move away from organic traffic and towards more paid traffic.

Google’s not alone, of course. Pretty much all the Big Tech gatekeepers are doing something similar.

What can you do about it? How can you make sure that Google’s not closin...

You may have heard me say that “gatekeepers gonna gate.” Well, Google’s AI Mode shows exactly what that looks like in practice. AI Mode is so disruptive to the way the web has worked for years that it looks like Google’s closing the gate on marketers, setting the stage to make a big move away from organic traffic and towards more paid traffic.

Google’s not alone, of course. Pretty much all the Big Tech gatekeepers are doing something similar.

What can you do about it? How can you make sure that Google’s not closin...

One of my favorite facts about the internet is that people will always tell you when you’re wrong. Seriously. It’s a feature, not a bug. Because when that happens, it helps you think more clearly, more deeply about your topic and your ideas. If you want to know what you really think, ask the internet. They’ll let you know whether you got it right… or not. That’s what happened last week when I talked about how companies can win in AI-powered search. Whether we’re talking about Google’s AI Overviews, AI Mode, ChatGPT, or agentic AI, I’...

One of my favorite facts about the internet is that people will always tell you when you’re wrong. Seriously. It’s a feature, not a bug. Because when that happens, it helps you think more clearly, more deeply about your topic and your ideas. If you want to know what you really think, ask the internet. They’ll let you know whether you got it right… or not. That’s what happened last week when I talked about how companies can win in AI-powered search. Whether we’re talking about Google’s AI Overviews, AI Mode, ChatGPT, or agentic AI, I’...

Apple told us at their WWDC that they’re seriously rethinking how they use AI on their devices, largely because they way they’s previously announced AI on their devices straight up didn’t work. You may also know that Apple has apparently begun looking at partnering with ChatGPT and others as the default search engines on their devices.

As you’re undoubtedly aware, Google is currently Apple’s default search engine on its devices. It’s also, arguably, the biggest player in consumer adoption of artificial intelligence.

Something’s got to give.

The point is t...

Apple told us at their WWDC that they’re seriously rethinking how they use AI on their devices, largely because they way they’s previously announced AI on their devices straight up didn’t work. You may also know that Apple has apparently begun looking at partnering with ChatGPT and others as the default search engines on their devices.

As you’re undoubtedly aware, Google is currently Apple’s default search engine on its devices. It’s also, arguably, the biggest player in consumer adoption of artificial intelligence.

Something’s got to give.

The point is t...

Mary Meeker’s latest report is out and it’s all about artificial intelligence. It’s a brilliant report. But it’s missing why all of these changes matter for marketers and e-commerce/customer acquisition leaders.

That’s where this episode of the podcast comes in.

Tim asks:

Mary Meeker’s latest report is out and it’s all about artificial intelligence. It’s a brilliant report. But it’s missing why all of these changes matter for marketers and e-commerce/customer acquisition leaders.

That’s where this episode of the podcast comes in.

Tim asks:

Google’s AI Mode in search, to put it bluntly, sucks. At least it does if your job is to drive traffic and revenue for your business. We all know that “gatekeepers gonna gate.” Well, AI Mode is a sure sing that Google is closing the gate on marketers. They’re removing access to the kinds of traffic we’ve taken for granted for years.

Will AI Mode kill your company’s traffic? Not exactly. It’s slightly more complicated than that. It does suck, mind you. But it’s not as simple as “AI Mode won’t link to you.”

Google’s AI Mode in search, to put it bluntly, sucks. At least it does if your job is to drive traffic and revenue for your business. We all know that “gatekeepers gonna gate.” Well, AI Mode is a sure sing that Google is closing the gate on marketers. They’re removing access to the kinds of traffic we’ve taken for granted for years.

Will AI Mode kill your company’s traffic? Not exactly. It’s slightly more complicated than that. It does suck, mind you. But it’s not as simple as “AI Mode won’t link to you.”

It’s Memorial Day weekend here in the US. And Tim’s got some quick thoughts for you to enjoy before you take off for the weekend. Be sure to give a listen and let us know what you think.

Want to learn more? Here are the show notes for you.

Touch Grass — Memorial Day 2025 (Thinks Out Loud 462) — Headlines and Show Notes

Show Notes and Links

It’s Memorial Day weekend here in the US. And Tim’s got some quick thoughts for you to enjoy before you take off for the weekend. Be sure to give a…

The post Touch Grass — Memorial Day 2025 (Thinks Out Loud 462) appeared first on Tim Peter & Associates.

This is a slightly different episode than usual, and, to be honest, slightly more self-promotional than usual, too. You see, I am very excited to share the news that my new book, Digital Reset: Driving Marketing and Customer Acquisition Beyond Big Tech is now available.

This has been a labor of love over the last few years, informed by my experiences working with clients to drive direct revenues and lower the cost of customer acquisition. In this episode episode of the podcast, I focused on some of the lessons you can learn from the book, as well...

This is a slightly different episode than usual, and, to be honest, slightly more self-promotional than usual, too. You see, I am very excited to share the news that my…

The post Digital Reset is Here (Thinks Out Loud 461) appeared first on Tim Peter & Associates.

According to Search Engine Journal, Apple might be thinking about replacing Google with ChatGPT or Perplexity as its default search engine in Safari. I know, I know, it sounds crazy. How in the world could Apple drop Google?

Well, whether Apple dropping Google is likely or not isn’t the point.

Instead, the point is that while any one member of Big Tech could (at least in theory) get pushed out of the club at any time, Big Tech itself will continue to roll right along. And that gatekeepers gonna gate, whether those gatekeepers are th...

According to Search Engine Journal, Apple might be thinking about replacing Google with ChatGPT or Perplexity as its default search engine in Safari. I know, I know, it sounds crazy.…

The post Is Apple Dropping Google? What Does That Mean For Your Business? (Thinks Out Loud 460) appeared first on Tim Peter & Associates.

My friend Mark Schafer just asked a brilliant question on LinkedIn about whether small and mid-sized businesses are destined to fall behind when it comes to AI. It’s a beautiful post and I’d highly encourage you to read it.

Is it impossible for marketers and e-commerce folks to keep up with AI? Is your business doomed to fall behind?

In one way, yes. But, in a more meaningful way, I’m not convinced. Instead, there are a few ways that marketers can keep up—and keep ourselves relevant. And those tips and techniques are at t...

My friend Mark Schafer just asked a brilliant question on LinkedIn about whether small and mid-sized businesses are destined to fall behind when it comes to AI. It’s a beautiful…

The post Is It Impossible for Marketers to Keep Up With AI? (Thinks Out Loud 459) appeared first on Tim Peter & Associates.

This is a huge week around here. I’ve just announced the release of my new book, Digital Reset: Driving Marketing and Customer Acquisition Beyond Big Tech. Which, yay, and all. I mean, good for me. But how does that help you?

Instead, what you need to focus on is the animating idea behind the book. And that is that Big Tech wants to be a gatekeeper between you and your customers. They’ve admitted it again and again. The question you should be asking is how do you escape their web and bypass Big Tech?

An...

This is a huge week around here. I’ve just announced the release of my new book, Digital Reset: Driving Marketing and Customer Acquisition Beyond Big Tech. Which, yay, and all.…

The post Digital Reset: Build Customer Relationships Big Tech—and AI—Can’t Touch (Thinks Out Loud 458) appeared first on Tim Peter & Associates.

Google may have just told marketers they can never use AI to create content. Or… maybe not. Their actual recommendations are somewhat more nuanced than simply “AI bad” or “AI great.”

What’s important about what they said, though, is that they’re being clear about what they’re looking for — and, more importantly, what your customers are looking for. And their guidelines make it relatively easy to understand when you can use AI, when you can’t, and what you should expect from your AI tools when creating content.

In this episode of Thinks Out Loud, we break d...

Google may have just told marketers they can never use AI to create content. Or… maybe not. Their actual recommendations are somewhat more nuanced than simply “AI bad” or “AI…

The post Google Says You Should Not Use AI To Create Content… Kind Of (Thinks Out Loud 457) appeared first on Tim Peter & Associates.

So, the economy has been going through it over the last couple months — and especially over the last week in particular. That’s a plain fact. But it’s more than just a tough economy. It’s a bizarre economy.

It’s easy at times like this to get discouraged, distressed, or just plain confused about how you can make marketing and customer acquisition work in genuinely bizarre economic times.

So how do you do that? What works when the economy is… strange? What can you do to connect with customers when the economy is unpredictabl...

So, the economy has been going through it over the last couple months — and especially over the last week in particular. That’s a plain fact. But it’s more than…

The post Here We Go Again: Marketing in Another Bizarre Economy (Thinks Out Loud 456) appeared first on Tim Peter & Associates.

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 an...

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.…

The post AI Can’t Save Bad Strategy: Why Fundamentals Still Matter in 2025 (Thinks Out Loud Episode 455) appeared first on Tim Peter & Associates.

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 answe...

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,…

The post Should You Use AI to Create Your Content? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 454) appeared first on Tim Peter & Associates.

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 t...

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…

The post Best of Thinks Out Loud: Will AI Kill Content Marketing for Customer Acquisition? appeared first on Tim Peter & Associates.

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 continue...

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…

The post AI and the Future of Marketing and E-commerce — How You Stay Relevant appeared first on Tim Peter & Associates.

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?

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…

The post Google vs. ChatGPT: Who’s Really Winning… And Why It Matters for Your Business (Thinks Out Loud Episode 451) appeared first on Tim Peter & Associates.

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 topi...

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…

The post AI, Content, and Revenue: Why Clicks Are Overrated (Thinks Out Loud Episode 450) appeared first on Tim Peter & Associates.

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. Duration: 00:25:16

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…

The post Revisiting “The Only Way to Succeed Next Year” (Thinks Out Loud) appeared first on Tim Peter & Associates.

We’re living through an evolving landscape around content marketing in the age of AI. This evolution raises the question of whether AI will kill content marketing for customer acquisition.

What do we think? Nope. No way. AI absolutely has its place. But quality content without human connection won’t work for customer acquisition. While AI can enhance content creation, it should not replace the human element that customers actively seek every single day. Personalization and community play a key role in your marketing and customer acquisition strategies. And relying on AI to “be human” almost guarantees that you...

We’re living through an evolving landscape around content marketing in the age of AI. This evolution raises the question of whether AI will kill content marketing for customer acquisition. What…

The post Will AI Kill Content Marketing for Customer Acquisition? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 449) appeared first on Tim Peter & Associates.

Google’s AI Overviews show up regularly for lots of search queries. Plenty of people also use ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, and others for “search” (albeit, with different behaviors than we’ve long seen on Google). This reality has plenty of people asking how to ensure their website and their content shows up in search results. What can you do to drive website SEO for AI?

It’s a great question. It’s one that’s worth paying attention to. It’s also not necessarily the first question I would ask.

What is the first question? Where should you...

Google’s AI Overviews show up regularly for lots of search queries. Plenty of people also use ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, and others for “search” (albeit, with different behaviors than we’ve long…

The post How Should You Think About Website SEO for AI? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 448) appeared first on Tim Peter & Associates.

Do you still need a website in an age of AI? More broadly, what is the point of your business’s website in an age of AI?

As AI becomes more prevalent, we’re hearing more people suggest that maybe your website isn’t important any longer. To put it mildly, that’s a load of crap. In some ways, your website becomes more important in an age of AI.

Why is that? What do you need your website to do for your customers, your brand, and your business now more than ever? Most importantly, what is...

Do you still need a website in an age of AI? More broadly, what is the point of your business’s website in an age of AI? As AI becomes more…

The post What’s the Point of Your Website in an Age of AI? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 447) appeared first on Tim Peter & Associates.

Artificial intelligence is part of marketing today. But, to hear most people tell it, it’s a frustrating part. AI is either the thing that will put all marketers out of work or it’s a useless collection of vaporware, continually overpromising and underdelivering.

While it’s impossible for both of these to be true at the same moment, it’s clear that we’re facing a question: When will AI get good at marketing? When will it live up to the hype — or its potential — and deliver meaningful results for our businesses?

The reason why AI isn’t r...

Artificial intelligence is part of marketing today. But, to hear most people tell it, it’s a frustrating part. AI is either the thing that will put all marketers out of…

The post When Will AI Get Good at Marketing? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 446) appeared first on Tim Peter & Associates.

“It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” These words from one of the 20th century’s most sagacious philosophers, Yogi Berra, take hold of my mind every new year as I think about the days and weeks and months ahead.

Far be it from me to reject Yogi’s wise words, but I’m not sure he’s right. Oh, don’t get me wrong the wrong. The future’s not always easy to see. But we can work to make it what we want. I generally think that instead of predicting the future for your business...

“It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” These words from one of the 20th century’s most sagacious philosophers, Yogi Berra, take hold of my mind every new year…

The post Predicting the Future of Your Business (Thinks Out Loud Episode 445) appeared first on Tim Peter & Associates.

Your business likely depends on Google, whether you like it or not. The whole reason I’m so focused on the role of gatekeepers — and how you can bypass them for marketing and customer acquisition — is because of their dominance in the marketplace. And no company is more dominant than Google.

Most businesses get at least a plurality of their traffic and usually a significant chunk of their revenues downstream of Google. That could include traditional web search. It could include local search. It could include metasearch, product search, YouTube recommendations, and a host of other channels within...

Your business likely depends on Google, whether you like it or not. The whole reason I’m so focused on the role of gatekeepers — and how you can bypass them…

The post Revisiting Is Google Doomed in 2025? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 440) appeared first on Tim Peter & Associates.

One of the big themes behind Thinks Out Loud over the course of its 400-plus episodes is how you can bypass gatekeepers and still grow your business. The emergence of artificial intelligence in marketing and customer acquisition introduces an entirely new way to approach that goal. Or does it? Does artificial intelligence provide you a tool kit that allows you to bypass Big Tech? Or does it allow Big Tech to place more gates between you and your customers?

In this episode of the Thinks Out Loud podcast, our company founder and president, Tim Peter, takes a...

One of the big themes behind Thinks Out Loud over the course of its 400-plus episodes is how you can bypass gatekeepers and still grow your business. The emergence of…

The post Revisiting Is AI a Gatekeeper? Or is it a Key? (Thinks Out Loud) appeared first on Tim Peter & Associates.

As far as I’m concerned, there’s only one way to succeed next year. And, truth be told, it goes beyond success just in your business.

I don’t mean to say that business success isn’t important. Of course it is. But, business success often follows from success throughout your life. Most successful people 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 at a given hobby.

It’s the idea of being your best self that’s at the he...

As far as I’m concerned, there’s only one way to succeed next year. And, truth be told, it goes beyond success just in your business. I don’t mean to say…

The post The Only Way to Succeed Next Year (Thinks Out Loud Episode 444) appeared first on Tim Peter & Associates.

I’m having a ton of conversations lately about how AI will affect the future of work and employment. Many of these conversations start off with questions like “What will AI do to my job?” And, of course, “What happens to my job in the future?”

AI is a big deal. No two ways about it. But, here’s the thing: AI is not the future. You are.

You have control of what your future looks like. Sure, AI could affect pieces of your life. It already does. But you have lots of say in terms of wha...

I’m having a ton of conversations lately about how AI will affect the future of work and employment. Many of these conversations start off with questions like “What will AI…

The post AI Is Not the Future. You Are (Thinks Out Loud Episode 443) appeared first on Tim Peter & Associates.

Google faces the most serious challenges in its history right now. And any stumble Google suffers also hurts your business. Organic search, paid search, local search, metasearch, product search, and all the rest depend on Google getting lots of traffic. If Google loses, even a little, you stand to lose too.

So how does Google lose? How likely is it to occur? How does that loss affect your business? And what can you do about it to ensure that you win, no matter what happens to Google? That’s what this episode of Thinks Out Loud is al...

Google faces the most serious challenges in its history right now. And any stumble Google suffers also hurts your business. Organic search, paid search, local search, metasearch, product search, and…

The post How Google Loses (Thinks Out Loud Episode 442) appeared first on Tim Peter & Associates.

It’s Thanksgiving time again. Which means it’s time for me to share what I’m thankful for in 2024… and what I’m looking forward to in 2025.

What am giving thanks for this year? And, more importantly, how do they help you learn and grow as you look ahead to next year? That’s what this episode of Thinks Out Loud is all about.

Want to learn more? Here are the show notes for you.

Giving Thanks 2024 (Thinks Out Loud Episode 441) — Headlines and Show Notes

Show Notes and Links

It’s Thanksgiving time again. Which means it’s time for me to share what I’m thankful for in 2024… and what I’m looking forward to in 2025. What am giving thanks…

The post Giving Thanks 2024 (Thinks Out Loud Episode 441) appeared first on Tim Peter & Associates.

Just a few months after its 26th anniversary, Google faces more threats heading into next year than ever. The rise of artificial intelligence provides users with an alternative way to search. Regulators, legislators, and courts are trying to break its market dominance. And younger consumers, especially, increasingly turn to social platforms to find the answers they need.

And, yet, in the midst of these threats… Google just had the most successful quarter in its history.

So, what’s the reality? Is Google doomed in 2025? Or is its continued position as king of the hill assured next...

Just a few months after its 26th anniversary, Google faces more threats heading into next year than ever. The rise of artificial intelligence provides users with an alternative way to…

The post Is Google Doomed in 2025? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 440) appeared first on Tim Peter & Associates.

It’s time for Big Tech’s earnings once again. And, this time around there were some notable updates, particularly from Meta Platforms (i.e., Facebook) and Microsoft that hint at the future of computing — and, more importantly, the future of your customers’ digital experience.

Meta, in particular, shared a compelling vision of where they’re looking to go as a company, not only for the next few quarters, but for the decade ahead. I’m not convinced they’ll succeed. But I’m impressed by the clarity of vision Mark Zuckerberg and Susan Li expressed.

Microsoft, by...

It’s time for Big Tech’s earnings once again. And, this time around there were some notable updates, particularly from Meta Platforms (i.e., Facebook) and Microsoft that hint at the future…

The post The Future of Computing? Big Tech Earnings and the State of Digital Q3 2024 (Thinks Out Loud Episode 439) appeared first on Tim Peter & Associates.

Do artificial intelligence and digital more broadly scare you? Do their potential harms keep you up at night? In short, are these tools evil?

I don’t think they are. Truly. And, most of the time, neither are the people who create them.

That doesn’t mean that AI and digital can’t cause harm for your customers, for your business, and for you.

The question instead should be, “How can you keep these tools from causing harm in the world?” And that’s what this episode of Thinks Out Loud is all about.

Do artificial intelligence and digital more broadly scare you? Do their potential harms keep you up at night? In short, are these tools evil? I don’t think they are. Truly.…

The post Are AI and Digital Evil (Thinks Out Loud Episode 438) appeared first on Tim Peter & Associates.

Some folks think that artificial intelligence is a white knight, coming to rescue their businesses from gatekeepers such as Google, Amazon, Facebook, and the rest. But is that true? Is AI the key to unlocking Big Tech’s gates? Or is it just another gatekeeper waiting in the wings?

In this episode of the Thinks Out Loud podcast, our company founder and president, Tim Peter, takes a look at whether artificial intelligence might play in helping you bypass gatekeepers, and how you can start connecting directly with your customers no matter what.

Want to learn mo...

Some folks think that artificial intelligence is a white knight, coming to rescue their businesses from gatekeepers such as Google, Amazon, Facebook, and the rest. But is that true? Is…

The post Is AI a Gatekeeper? Or is it a Key? (Thinks Out Loud Episode 437) appeared first on Tim Peter & Associates.

AI might kill your brand — but probably not. It’s far more likely that AI will kill Big Tech’s brands, and in particular, Google. The search giant faces more threats to its business right now than at any time in the last decade-plus.

What are the big threats facing Google’s dominance? Why do those threats matter to your business? And, most importantly, how can you make sure that the four big threats Google faces next year don’t become threats to your business too? That’s what this episode of Thinks Out Loud is all about.

AI might kill your brand — but probably not. It’s far more likely that AI will kill Big Tech’s brands, and in particular, Google. The search giant faces more threats…

The post Four Big Threats (Plus a Bonus Threat!) To Google’s Dominance Next Year (Thinks Out Loud Episode 436) appeared first on Tim Peter & Associates.

Artificial intelligence will shape the way your customers interact with your brand. That’s undoubtedly true. In fact, it’s possible we’ll see cases where the customer might not interact directly with your business, letting their AI agent handle the transaction on their behalf. OK, that’s still probably a few years away. But it’s clearly on the horizon.

And that potential behavior might mean trouble for your brand. In theory, it’s possible that AI could kill brands for good. Or could it?

As it happens, I don’t think AI will kill your bran...