Why Most Agencies Are Failing (And Brands Don’t Notice)
In this episode of Social Commerce Club, Jordan West, Parker, Bryan, and Mateo break down the truth about why 50%+ of agencies still suck at media buying, how TikTok Shop actually works today, and what brands must understand to scale profitably in 2025.
We cover:
– Why outdated agency strategies are still everywhere
– What REALLY drives GMV on TikTok Shop
– The correlation between impressions, GMV & creator volume
– Why most brands misunderstand media buying
– The hidden costs & path to profitability on TikTok Shop
– When brands should hire agencies vs. build in-house
– How creative strategy, content volume & platform structure decide wins
– What brands get wrong about CPMs, ROAS & attribution
– The future of social commerce & brand building
If you're scaling e-commerce, running TikTok Shop, or hiring an agency… this episode will save you months of mistakes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
📌TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 – Intro
01:06 – Why Agencies Are Still Failing Brands
05:03 – Outdated Media Buying & TikTok Shop Mistakes
10:18 – GMV Max, Media Structure & What Platforms Optimize
15:30 – Content Volume, Quality & Impressions → GMV
21:20 – Profitability Problems: Fees, Commissions & Margins
24:25 – Quick Wins, Case Studies & Rapid Scale Examples
26:02 – Market Research: In-House vs Agency Trends
31:49 – Creative Strategy: Who Should Own It?
35:48 – True Cost of Building Internal Teams
38:49 – Hybrid Models & Operating Systems for TikTok Shop
40:11 – Agency Turnover, Client Responsibility & Hiring Mistakes
42:21 – Brands: Look in the Mirror (Self-Awareness)
43:03 – Final Takeaways
===============================
🔗 - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-west-marketer/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-west-marketer/]
🐦 - Twitter: https://twitter.com/jordantwestecom [https://twitter.com/jordantwestecom]