Mobile Dev Memo Podcast

In this engaging conversation with Kate Minogue, a seasoned fractional CPO and AI advisor, listeners dive into the intricate world of fractional executive roles. Kate shares insights on ad monetization opportunities for AI apps and discusses the critical need for defensible moats in a rapidly evolving tech landscape. She highlights essential capabilities for optimizing AI-native products and stresses the importance of external expertise for startups. With practical negotiation tips and a look at the future of ads in AI applications, this discussion is packed with valuable takeaways.

Dan Pantelo, Founder and CEO of Marpipe, shares insights on dynamic product advertising for eCommerce. He highlights the importance of creative experimentation and how catalog ads can drive discovery and conversion despite often looking unappealing. The discussion covers leveraging AI in creative production and the evolving role of profit optimization in catalog bidding. Pantelo also explores the potential of catalog ads beyond retail and how they can inform product strategy, emphasizing the richness of product data as a creative prompt.

Tim Higgins, a Business columnist at The Wall Street Journal and author of iWar, dives into Apple's ongoing battles for dominance over the App Store. He recounts the fierce campaigns from rivals like Spotify and Epic Games, revealing how Apple's aggressive legal strategies and vast resources shape competition. Tim explores the complexities of App Store economics, the challenges developers face, and how Apple’s decisions echo across global regulatory landscapes. A captivating look at the conflict between innovation and control in the tech industry.

Daniel McCarthy, an Associate Professor of Marketing at the University of Maryland and co-founder of CLV-focused ventures, dives deep into Customer Lifetime Value (LTV) in this engaging discussion. He unpacks the critical role of LTV in business strategy and highlights common pitfalls in its calculation. Daniel stresses the importance of appropriate segmentations and collaboration with finance teams for accuracy. He also examines how digital markets differ in LTV measurement, using Netflix’s monetization shift as a case study.

Adam Singer, VP of Marketing at AdQuick and creator of the Hot Takes blog, shares his insights on the troubling trend of 'blandification' in marketing. He argues that brands lose their identity by playing it safe and advocates for creativity and originality in branding. Singer discusses the challenges faced by CMOs today, the potential of AI in marketing, and reflects on what David Ogilvy would think of modern strategies. He also sheds light on the backlash against the American Eagle ad campaign and critiques the rebranding efforts of Cracker Barrel.

Andrew Lipsman, an independent analyst renowned for his expertise in digital advertising and retail media, dives into the complexities of agentic commerce. He questions its viability, exploring fundamental flaws and whether independent agents can thrive against giant platforms like Amazon. The discussion highlights the conflict between consumer interests and commercial goals, the risks of automation in shopping, and the crucial role of human trust. Lipsman also sheds light on how AI is reshaping consumer engagement while emphasizing the need for authentic interactions in commerce.

The discussion dives into Google's ambitious shift from acting as a distribution tool to becoming an engagement powerhouse with AI. Google's Gambit, featuring AI Overviews and AI Mode, aims to keep users within the search framework, leading to concerns among publishers about plummeting traffic. The content explores the emerging competition from LLM-powered chatbots and the potential risks they pose to the open web. By tracing historical media shifts, the podcast sheds light on how technological advancements continue to influence user engagement and content delivery.

Itai Kafri, Head of Product Growth at Voyantis and former senior exec at TikTok, dives into the fascinating world of signal engineering. He explores how this emerging tactic enhances digital marketing, especially amidst rising platform automation. Itai discusses the best practices for employing existing vs. new event signals, and the roles of different teams in optimizing user engagement. He also shares insights on how various advertisers—mobile games, e-commerce, and subscription apps—adapt their strategies and the common traits of successful companies in this space.

Chris Hewish, President of Xsolla and a veteran from Skydance and Activision, dives into the evolving world of mobile monetization. He discusses the impact of Apple and Google's payment policy changes, highlighting how developers can leverage off-platform payments for better conversion rates. Hewish shares his insights on the 'trust premium' required for success and common pitfalls to avoid. He also emphasizes the growing adoption among larger companies and innovative strategies like offer walls to enhance engagement and revenue in mobile gaming.

In this discussion, Adam Epstein, Co-founder and CEO of Gigi, shares insights into Amazon's innovative advertising strategies. He highlights Amazon's recent partnerships with Roku and Disney, emphasizing their potential for growth in connected TV advertising. Adam explains how Amazon's AI tools differ from those of competitors like Meta and Google and the importance of leveraging first-party data for effective advertising. He also addresses misconceptions about Amazon's advertising approach and how it is navigating the rapidly changing digital landscape.