Vox & Coin: Choose Engagement Over Followers for Social Success

Welcome to the first episode of Vox & Coin, where eCommerce insights collide with unfiltered conversation. Hosted by Jake “The Wizard” Tlapek and Dave Valentine, this debut episode dives deep into the real ROI of influencer marketing and why engagement rate trumps follower count in 2025 and beyond.

Whether you’re a startup founder, marketing exec, or eCom brand owner, this episode breaks down:

• Why micro-influencers often outperform macro-celebrities in lead generation

• How to find influencers already talking about your product using social search

• Why authenticity and BS-free brand storytelling drive conversions

• The real math behind TikTok’s algorithm (and how to hack it)

• How to use influencer content as ad creative gold without making it suck

• The case for bringing humor, relatability, and even brand mascots into your ad strategy

Plus, we unpack a real-world example where a product gifted to a small creator outperformed campaigns with creators 10x their size—and why that kind of authentic brand advocacy is the future of social commerce.

This isn’t theory—it’s the playbook. From Topgolf and Totino’s to Lincoln and Duolingo, we dissect what works, what flops, and what you should do next.

If you’re tired of wasting money on follower counts and want to grow your brand with real engagement, authentic partnerships, and high-converting content, this is your new favorite podcast.

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Keywords to help you find us: influencer marketing, eCommerce podcast, TikTok algorithm, micro-influencer strategy, engagement rate, social media ROI, user-generated content, authentic branding, product marketing, digital advertising, social proof.

Subscribe and leave a review if you’re ready for honest takes and tactical breakdowns that’ll help you market smarter, not louder.

Follow Jake at @wizardmarketing and Dave at @realdeval on TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn.