Do This, NOT That: Marketing Tips with Jay Schwedelson

You think you know email deliverability? Think again. Jay Schwedelson teams up with Guy Hanson and Danielle Gallant for a rapid-fire, no-nonsense "kitchen sink" episode of Spamageddon, where they serve up 10 essential (and sometimes controversial) deliverability tips. From wild British vs. American word wars to why the Gmail Promotions tab is scarier than you think, this one's packed with sharp takes and real talk on surviving the modern inbox.Best Moments:(01:10) British vs. American word chaos—table this or talk about it now?(05:08) DMARC’s “none” policy is a fraudster’s dream, and it’s about to become a problem for everyone.(06:23) Spam complaint rates—don’t settle for the “generous” 0.3%, aim for 0.1% or lower.(07:30) Double opt-in: future mandate or marketer’s nightmare?(09:41) Data hygiene starts at signup—think address validation, Captcha, and keeping bots out.(11:10) Delete those dormant subscribers or risk deliverability doom.(12:00) Use feedback loops to permanently ditch serial complainers.(13:19) Gmail is using AI to auto-insert promo annotations—take control before weird images show up.(15:12) AI summaries are coming for your emails—start thinking SEO and alt text, now.(16:40) Don’t blast at the top of the hour if you want your emails to actually land.(17:39) Accessibility issues are everywhere—don’t let your emails be part of the 90% problem.(18:24) New AI laws mean you need to update privacy and rethink your risk, pronto.(19:16) BIMI and logo verification—don’t be the email sender with no face in the inbox.Guy and Danielle invite you to check out the Email After Hours podcast and explore deliverability tools and guidance from Validity.Check 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 a clever way to transform your inbox into a treasure trove of marketing insights using ChatGPT and strategic email hacks. Learn how to curate newsletters tailored to your industry needs, enhancing your knowledge without the usual networking grind. The conversation takes an unexpected turn as the hosts explore nepotism in entertainment, revealing the challenges faced by celebrity offspring. From industry-specific tactics to the pressures of legacy, there's something to pique everyone's interest.

Meta’s finally doing it—ads are coming to WhatsApp. Jay Schwedelson explains what that means for marketers (especially if you’re already running ads on Facebook or Instagram). Plus, you’ll learn a sneaky trick to boost your content downloads, get a disturbing stat about AI relationships, and hear what restaurant chain is opening more locations than seems humanly possible.Best Moments:(00:50) WhatsApp is opening up to ads for the first time ever(01:49) “Growth,” “micro,” and “quick fix” as secret weapons for content titles(04:04) 16% of singles are open to AI relationships—and most people don’t think it’s cheating(05:29) Starbucks opened 589 new stores last year, and that’s somehow not the weirdest stat(06:28) “Echo Valley” is the new Apple TV thriller, but Jay’s hyped about something way more wholesomeCheck 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/

Most marketers think attribution is the answer to everything, but Jay Schwedelson and Daniel Murray take it apart with stories about chasing TikTok-famous restaurants, tracking referrals that don't show up in dashboards, and why "where did you hear about us?" is still the secret weapon. Turns out, the biggest marketing fights aren't about numbers—they’re about team alignment. Plus, you’ll get their real-life hacks for finding hidden gem restaurants (spoiler: Reddit and TikTok win).Best Moments:(00:56) Daniel finally scores a cool invite from a Miami restaurant thanks to his newsletter(02:31) Attribution is a compass, not a map—most marketers get lost by taking it too literally(03:21) Jay explains why last-touch attribution is nonsense, especially for anything more expensive than a phone case(05:39) Why obsessing over Facebook dashboard numbers makes marketers miss the real sales cycle(06:54) Jay’s agency rips out their website for a single “book a call” page—here’s what happened(08:42) Alignment, not attribution, is where the real fights (and fixes) happen between sales, marketing, and finance(09:25) The top companies put marketing leadership on actual sales calls—spreadsheets aren’t enough(10:18) How “where did you hear about us?” and AI-powered call analysis catch what dashboards miss(10:37) The surprisingly non-glamorous way Daniel finds new restaurants (hint: TikTok, Reddit, and a lot of menu stalking)Go follow The Marketing Millennials podcast, but also tune in to this series—Bathroom Break—for quick marketing tips and more. Tell Daniel and Jay what you want to hear next by reaching out on LinkedIn.Check 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/

Sometimes, marketing advice gets a little wild, and that’s what makes this episode a must-listen. Jay Schwedelson is on a mission to shake you out of boring subject lines with A/B tests that are completely opposite. Think “you don’t need this email” vs. “you absolutely need this email,” or "letting your inner guilt trip loose." You’ll pick up plenty of unexpected ideas (and maybe rethink what “we need to talk” really means), plus get a peek into Jay’s annual guys trip and his quest for the world’s most embarrassing gag gifts.Best Moments:(01:32) Reverse psychology wins with “you don’t need this email” pulling a 17 percent higher open rate(02:20) Humanity trumps robots when “a human with three cups of coffee wrote this” beats out AI(03:34) “Boom. Offer inside” vs. “Psst. Over here”—and the quiet approach steals the show(04:15) “We need to talk” outperforms “you left us no choice” by 19 percent(05:02) Passive-aggressive guilt pays off when “still ignoring us?” gets a 21 percent lift(06:01) “Not mad. Just disappointed” nails the parent-text vibe with a 12 percent higher open rate(06:32) “Fine. I’ll open it” (the inner monologue test) crushes with a 26 percent boost(08:45) Jay’s pool party humiliation story and the legend of the “I pee in pools” shirtDynamic DTNT sponsors and callouts

You never know where someone’s career will take them, and Jay Schwedelson is totally fascinated by Adam Ryan’s unconventional path—from ninth-grade American government teacher to building the B2B creator community platform Workweek. Adam breaks down why the future of content and community isn’t about brands, but about real, trusted personalities—and why “community” might be the most overused word in marketing right now.Check out everything Adam and his team are building at Workweek, and explore their creator-led communities and content: https://workweek.com/Best Moments:(01:45) Lesson plans at 6:30 AM and why Adam left teaching for good(02:33) Your career isn’t linear—scroll Adam’s LinkedIn if you need proof(04:45) People crave learning from individuals, not faceless brands(07:45) When you need trust, a real human should lead your newsletter—even if it’s ghostwritten(11:13) Why most brand “communities” flop and how Workweek thinks differently(14:06) Engagement loops are the secret sauce to keeping communities alive(17:01) The TikTok lesson: relevance is everything for ongoing community valueCheck 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/

Think your emails are tanking just because they land in Gmail’s promotions tab? Jay Schwedelson teams up with Danielle Gallant and Guy Hanson for Spamageddon—a crossover mini-series that’s equal parts email myth-busting and inbox apocalypse survival kit. This time, they’re going deep on the tab that everyone blames for their marketing woes, debunking the panic with data, real user behavior, and a few shots at turkey pardoning. If you think the promotions tab is your biggest problem, you might want to listen twice.Best Moments:(01:30) Why does the US president pardon a turkey—and do Brits secretly judge us for it?(03:40) Danielle nails four reality dating shows in under ten seconds (and teases her reality TV debut)(06:50) The myth about promotions tab “killing” your email performance(08:20) How many people actually use tabs in Gmail and Apple—and why open rates don’t tell the whole story(10:05) Should you “game the system” to escape promotions? Here’s what mailbox providers will do if you try(13:30) Gmail’s annotations and why being in the promotions tab can actually boost your marketing(15:10) Apple’s new tabs: why it’s a tiny slice of users and why you probably shouldn’t care (yet)Subscribe to Email After Hours podcast for more real talk from Danielle and Guy.Check 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/

You ever wonder why some content just falls flat while other stuff is suddenly blowing up, even when it feels like not much has changed? Jay Schwedelson has a wild take on why your old playbook is getting ignored—and the data behind what’s actually clicking right now. From what business marketers can steal from the latest consumer trends to the absolutely bonkers headlines coming out of celebrity gossip, this episode is equal parts useful and ridiculous in the best way.Best Moments:(01:07) Denver’s airport is apparently the worst-smelling in America and Jay’s not over it(01:45) Why your “safe” content is out of touch and what the data says about switching it up(03:01) Economic-related offers are seeing a 40% spike in downloads for B2B—yes, 40%(04:15) Easy ways to make your content feel hyper-relevant right now (and Jay’s favorite email subject lines)(05:09) How to make savings content fun without sounding desperate(06:30) Jay’s surprisingly nuanced takes on Timothy Chalamet, Kylie Jenner, and celebrity relationship gossip(08:35) Pro tips on happiness from the Billy Ray Cyrus-Elizabeth Hurley situation—plus Jay invites himself to their weddingCheck 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/

LinkedIn has rolled out powerful analytics for all users, revealing what types of content truly boost follower growth. Short videos, carousel posts, and selfies are standout performers, while memes and links lag behind. The latest troubles with the Apple Mail app leave many frustrated. Plus, a delicious new McFlurry is on the horizon, though it comes with a wait! Interestingly, collaborations aren’t just for the stars; even small brands can leverage partnerships for greater reach.

In this episode of The Bathroom Break, host Jay Schwedelson and Daniel Murray break down why naming your content or sale matters way more than you think—and swap tips (and jokes) about traffic and viral salads.=================================================Best Moments:(01:56) Content names matter more than content itself(02:41) Ebook vs. guide: “guide” gets more downloads(03:47) Test names like checklist, playbook, blueprint(05:27) Sale names: don’t stick with “summer sale”(06:04) Segment lists—custom names for each group(06:46) Write 20 headlines before any content(08:08) People buy the menu name, not the dish(09:41) Viral salads ruined Jay’s favorite spot=================================================Check out our 100% FREE + VIRTUAL EVENTS! ->EVENTASTIC - The worlds LARGEST event about EVENTS! June 5-6 2025Register HERE: https://www.eventastic.com/RegistrationGuru Conference - The World's Largest Virtual EMAIL MARKETING Conference - Nov 6-7!Register here: www.GuruConference.com=================================================Check 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/=================================================AND don’t miss out on this awesome FREE upcoming Quick Hit!Marigold: Should I Switch Email Platforms? 5 Truths & Myths!6/24 11am – 12pm ET.Register HERE: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7325947932031991808/comments/=================================================MASSIVE thank you to our Sponsor, Marigold!!Email chaos across campuses, branches, or chapters? Emma by Marigold lets HQ keep control while local teams send on-brand, on-time messages with ease.Podcast & GURU listeners: 50 % off your first 3 months with an annual plan (new customers, 10 k-contact minimum, terms apply).Claim your offer now at jayschwedelson.com/emma