Tim Wilson is the Chief Revenue Officer at ProductWind, which offers influencer-as-a-service products to help brands win online. He’s an experienced sales and business development professional focused on helping the world’s largest advertisers understand how eCommerce and digital marketing impact their brands. Before ProductWind, Tim was an Affiliate Partner at Pattern, guiding partnerships and driving global eCommerce sales for brands.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

• [3:27] The problem with modern industry conferences: why most speakers don’t share valuable insights
• [6:22] Tim Wilson shares the leading eCommerce trade shows and how to maximize their value
• [11:42] Tim’s observations on AI-powered tools at industry events
• [14:52] How the current financial landscape will impact eCommerce brands
• [18:36] The risks of haphazard AI adoption
• [26:47] Strategies for launching products during times of economic hesitation
• [31:11] Why brands should train platform algorithms and data strategically

In this episode…

Navigating eCommerce conferences can be a frustrating experience. While networking opportunities are abundant, many presentations fail to provide authentic, actionable insights, leaving attendees wondering if these events are worth the investment. How can professionals maximize their time at these gatherings and extract real value beyond surface-level discussions?

Digital commerce expert Tim Wilson believes in building strong relationships and strategically leveraging AI-driven tools. He suggests that professionals should focus on unstructured networking opportunities, such as impromptu meetups and informal discussions, rather than relying on scripted presentations. Additionally, he emphasizes the importance of training retail algorithms well in advance of major sales events to ensure optimal product visibility. 

In this episode of The Digital Deep Dive, Tim Wilson, the Chief Revenue Officer at ProductWind, joins Aaron Conant to discuss maximizing networking opportunities in the eCommerce space. Tim shares product launch strategies, the importance of data security in AI, and how the financial landscape will impact eCommerce brands in the future.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Aaron Conant on LinkedIn
• BWG Connect
• Tim Wilson on LinkedIn
• ProductWind
• James Thomson on LinkedIn 
• Shoptalk
• Prosper Show
• Amazon Accelerate

Quotable Moments:

• “Getting to know somebody and talking to somebody has infinite upside. And really, the downside is quite small.”
• “The best way to win Prime Day isn’t to load up on Prime Day.”
• “When you go to a lot of these conferences, the information that’s shared is generally pretty well available.”
• “If you’re there to sell or pitch, first of all, the presentation usually sucks.”
• “Most people won’t admit that they’re confused, so it’s important to speak in a way they understand.”

Action Steps:

1. Maximize networking at conferences: Prioritize informal conversations and spontaneous meetups over scripted presentations to gain deeper industry insights. Building relationships with peers can provide long-term value and open doors to unexpected opportunities.
2. Train retail algorithms ahead of key sales events: Increasing engagement on product listings before Prime Day or Black Friday helps establish momentum with the algorithm. This ensures stronger organic rankings and higher visibility when competition peaks.
3. Be cautious with AI tools and data privacy: Avoid inputting proprietary company information into AI models that may use or share the data externally. Understanding AI’s limitations can help prevent security risks and unintended data exposure.
4. Adapt to evolving product launch strategies: Economic uncertainty and tariff fluctuations require brands to be flexible with their go-to-market plans. Monitoring cost structures and market conditions closely can help mitigate risks and optimize timing.
5. Position yourself as an educator in leadership discussions: Senior executives may not fully grasp the intricacies of digital commerce, making it crucial to explain concepts clearly. Framing insights as opportunities rather than challenges can make decision-making more effective.

About BWG Connect...

BWG Connect provides executive strategy and networking sessions that help brands from any industry with their overall business planning and execution. We network and knowledge share together to better understand and adapt to the newest trends, strategies, and pain points shaping growth in the digital space. BWG Connect, in conjunction with BWG Strategy, has built an exclusive network of 125,000+ senior professionals and hosts over 2,000 virtual and in-person networking events on an annual basis.

In addition, we have had 1x1 conversations with over 5,000 brands and have a real-time pulse on what digital strategies are successful and why. This in-depth knowledge allows our team to operate on the cutting-edge and provide our clients with best-in-class guidance on how to win in the digital world. We have provided free consultations and strategy sessions for companies of all sizes, from start-ups to Fortune-100, to enable growth, resolve issues and make curated service provider introductions that can impact your digital footprint.

We have held to the philosophy of providing high-level insights and actionable knowledge with no sales pitches in order to provide to our network the ability to listen, learn and act to improve themselves as well as their organizations. Our ultimate goal is to be the resource out there to help digital executives find the research they need to excel in the modern marketplace.

If you are interested in getting involved with any of our current or past events, you can find them here. If you are looking for help & would like to set up some time to chat with our team, you can schedule a time or reach out directly to Aaron@bwgconnect.com or Tiffany@bwgconnect.com.