Mike Rhodes has a knack for turning ideas into impact. As the founder of Mike Rhodes Ideas, he has built and sold four businesses, including WebSavvy, an award-winning Australian agency named by Google as one of the top 18 agencies worldwide. With over $250 million in ad spend managed and 10,000+ business owners and marketers trained, Mike has become a trusted leader in the digital marketing space. He’s also the co-author of The Ultimate Guide to Google Adwords—the world’s best-selling book on Adwords, with over 140,000 copies sold—and a sought-after international speaker featured at events like the Traffic & Conversion Summit and Synergy Digital Forum.
Known for his creativity and no-nonsense approach, Mike is reshaping how ecommerce businesses tackle challenges and stay ahead. In this episode, he talks about the power of sticking to your strengths, making sense of hidden ad data, and preparing for the coming wave of AI in e-commerce.
Ideas Over Execution: Playing to Your Strengths
Mike’s business philosophy flips the script on the traditional focus on operational mastery. For him, it’s all about doubling down on what he loves—generating ideas and solving problems—and outsourcing the rest. For Mike, that means prioritising idea generation and problem-solving over the day-to-day grind.
I’m not an ops guy, but that’s okay because I know where I thrive. I’d rather spend my time solving interesting problems than managing the day-to-day.
This mindset isn’t about neglecting the operational side of business—it’s about recognising where your energy and talents are best spent. By letting go of tasks that don’t align with his strengths, Mike has built a model that not only fuels his creativity but also empowers the people around him.
His advice? Stop trying to be everything to everyone. Identify your strengths and build a support system around them.
“The best businesses don’t need you to do everything; they need you to do your thing really, really well.”
Visibility in the Black Box: Decoding Ad Spend
Ever wonder where your Google Ads budget actually goes? For many businesses, Google’s Performance Max campaigns can feel like a mystery, but Mike’s PMAX scripts are changing the game. By pulling back the curtain on Performance Max campaigns, these tools show exactly how your dollars are being spent across shopping, video and display ads.
Most people don’t realise how much of their budget is going to areas they’re not even tracking…PMAX scripts let you see the invisible, and that’s where optimisation starts.
The value of this insight goes beyond just knowing where your money is going—it’s about taking back control. By understanding the nuances of your ad campaigns, you can make smarter decisions about where to allocate resources and how to get the most bang for your buck. But Mike stresses that tools like these aren’t just about uncovering data; they’re about acting on it. You can’t afford to sit and forget.
“Whether it’s PMAX, Facebook, or even your own site’s analytics, dig deeper, experiment, and act on what you learn. Growth doesn’t come from autopilot.”
AI’s Ecommerce Revolution: Gradually, Then Suddenly
Artificial intelligence is quietly reshaping ecommerce in ways that many businesses are only beginning to notice. Smarter product recommendations, better shopping insights, and AI-driven automation are already enhancing customer experiences, but Mike predicts that we’re heading for a tipping point where these changes will snowball into something much bigger.
“It’s happening gradually now. But one day, we’ll look back and realise it all hit at once.”
This isn’t just a prediction—it’s a call to action. Businesses that wait too long to adapt risk being left behind when AI becomes a dominant force in the industry. Mike emphasises the importance of preparing for this shift today.
“Make sure your content is crawlable by AI…Think about how APIs can improve your customer experience. You don’t need to overhaul everything at once, but you do need to start opening the right doors.”
Stay in Control of Change
Mike’s insights boil down to one clear message: don’t wait to react. Whether it’s leaning into your strengths, cracking the code on your ad spend, or getting ready for AI, the businesses that thrive are the ones taking charge now. The best ecommerce businesses aren’t just keeping up—they’re shaping the future. Find your zone of genius, make your data work harder, and prepare for what’s coming before it’s already here.
