Do This, NOT That: Marketing Tips with Jay Schwedelson

Dive into a whirlwind of fresh marketing insights! Discover why harnessing Spotify Wrapped can elevate brand engagement. Explore the quirky phenomenon of Brown Friday and how it sparks brand creativity. Learn about the holiday unsubscribe spike and what's behind it. Plus, Jay hilariously reacts to Jenna Bush Hager’s astonishing 19 bridesmaids. It’s marketing wisdom wrapped in a fun, lively discussion!

Moving woes lead to a lively discussion on a game-changing email tactic: animated GIFs. Adding GIFs can boost click rates by around 20%, making emails more engaging and lively. The hosts explore how these visual elements can effectively stop the scroll and tease video content. They also debunk concerns about GIFs harming email deliverability and share tools like AI and Canva for easy GIF creation. With plenty of humor along the way, this chat is packed with actionable insights for marketers!

Monique Ruff-Bell, Chief Program & Strategy Officer at TED, brings over 25 years of experience to the table. She emphasizes the importance of intentional career-building and stacking cross-functional skills to become executive-ready. Monique shares her journey of shifting careers, embedding with sales, and how to build genuine mentorship by offering help first. She also discusses the elements that make TED talks impactful, focusing on sharp ideas supported by strong storytelling. Tune in for insightful strategies to elevate your career!

Learn how to revive a dormant email list with two powerful tactics that boost engagement. Discover why year-end is perfect for sending heartfelt 'letter-style' emails from executives, significantly increasing open rates. Jay also shares quirky insights about his unexpected love for Spirit Airlines and humorously ponders why passengers dash to the airplane bathroom before takeoff. This blend of marketing wisdom and relatable chaos makes for an entertaining and informative discussion!

Bagel Bites takes a stab at the fading 'six seven' meme, signaling its end for marketers. Lo-fi content is dominating engagement, proving that authenticity beats polish in today’s digital landscape. Discover how to cleverly hide your Instagram stories for those holiday surprises. And in a surprising twist, Jay’s love for Hallmark movies shines through, with a wild stat about one actress's prolific career. Plus, he shares a peek into the new season of 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' that contrasts with Hallmark’s comfort.

This discussion dives into the holiday marketing vibe, highlighting the power of the word 'most' to enhance engagement. From year-end roundups to nostalgic content strategies, the hosts explore what resonates with audiences. They also discuss how AI simplifies creating 'most' lists and how terms like 'most bought' can drive sales. Plus, there's some light-hearted banter about running habits and workout classes, adding a dash of humor to the insightful marketing tips.

Marketers keep saying the funnel is dead, but this chat actually explains what changed and what to do about it. You’ll hear how to rethink content for 23-word questions, why website traffic is shrinking, and what to build instead, plus a hopeful take on AI that puts humans back in charge. And yes, Jay Schwedelson gets personal with Yamini Rangan about college drop-offs, plants that refuse to live, and the real reason personality now beats playbooks.ㅤFollow Yamini on LinkedIn and explore HubSpot’s Loop playbook content and the HubSpot Media Network for practical examples you can borrow.ㅤBest Moments:(02:45) The college drop-off half-tear that turned into a full-on drive-to-the-airport cry.(05:01) Is the funnel dead or just changing shape as HubSpot shifts thinking toward a loop.(06:41) Eight out of ten Google searches end with no click, and what that means for your site.(08:50) Content has to answer specific LLM-level questions with citations and case studies.(12:52) Personality beats generic content as podcasts, YouTube, and newsletters win on trust.(16:15) AI won’t replace humans; it finally makes one-to-one personalization at scale real.ㅤCheck out Jay’s YOUTUBE Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelsonCheck out Jay’s TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@schwedelsonCheck Out Jay's INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/

Discover how a simple, printable calendar can supercharge your year-end marketing and boost signups across B2B, consumer, and nonprofit sectors. Learn strategies for creating impactful industry event calendars and engaging wellness habit calendars. Explore the ins and outs of regifting etiquette—it's okay if the gift is good! Plus, hear a strong defense of reusing gift bags. Get ready for practical tips and debunking of holiday myths!

This week features a surprising Zoom mishap at Target, revealing how employees learned about layoffs via email. A clever subject line tweak—adding brackets—can boost email opens by 15%. The impact of short-lived marketing moments shines through with a viral Cash App campaign racking up 30 million views. Additionally, Gemini's usage is on the rise, while ChatGPT's popularity declines. The conversation wraps with a spicy take on social media responsibility, as Jay criticizes the dangers of amplifying celebrity misinformation.

In this lively discussion, Daniel Murray, host of The Marketing Millennials and expert in virtual events, shares insights on launching impactful LinkedIn newsletters. He reveals a timing mistake that could cost subscribers and emphasizes the power of newsletter notifications to beat the algorithm. The duo also dives into quirky marketing gimmicks like blindfold karaoke, judged by Nick Lachey, and strategies to boost registrations. Get ready to elevate your marketing game with actionable tips and a dash of humor!